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G I V I N G T U E S DAY 2 0 2 0
WALK WITH ME As part of our Giving Tuesday Telethon, viewers enjoyed updates from our Scottish Rite Charities showcasing the life-changing work that your support makes possible. If you missed it, here are some highlights from these segments.
Monica: Masonic widows have always been dear to my heart but especially this past year. 2020 was hard for many of our members and many of my ladies, so I’m happy to have the ability to help them out in this difficult time.
Supreme Council Executive Director Brother Michael C. Russell, 32°, discussed the aid that the Grand Almoner’s Fund provides with Grand Almoner, Illustrious Peter J. Samiec, 33°: MICHAEL RUSSELL: THE VISION OF SCOTTISH RITE IS TO FULFILL OUR MASONIC OBLIGATION TO CARE FOR OUR MEMBERS. HOW IS THE GRAND ALMONER’S FUND DOING THAT?
Pete: By meeting the needs of every Brother that needs our support. We all knelt at the altar and promised that we would help aid and assist a worthy Brother in distress. That’s what we do, and we do it quickly. MR: THERE ARE SO MANY IMPACTFUL STORIES THAT HAPPEN WITH OUR GRAND ALMONER’S FUND. DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE?
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Pete: I think one of my favorites is a situation we had during the holidays a few years ago. We got a call from a family who was really destitute as a result of employment issues, and it looked like it was going to be a really terrible Christmas for the kids. We were able to pitch in. They were able to have a nice Christmas because of the Grand Almoner’s Fund and because of all the Brothers out there supporting the Fund.
MR: FOR THOSE WHO DON’T KNOW, WHAT IS THE WHITE FLOWER SOCIETY, AND WHY IS IT CALLED THAT?
Monica: The name for the White Flower Society goes back to a DeMolay ritual: If somebody had passed, you would take a white flower. But I think it’s grown to mean more than that. I think the white flower means hope and need and giving a hand out, so that we can support each other as a group.
First Lady Monica Glattly reflected on how the White Flower Society supports Masonic widows in need: MR: YOU’RE REALLY LEADING THE CHARGE IN HELPING OUR MASONIC WIDOWS. WHAT HAS IT MEANT TO YOU TO BE ABLE TO START THIS INCREDIBLE VENTURE, AND HOW IS IT GOING TODAY?
The Northern Light
