May 2003

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RW DGM's Message for May 2003

THE BUSINESS OF CHARITY

The distinguishing characteristic of a Mason's heart is also never too far away from his consciousness. Charity has to be consistently enriched both in spirit and in substance, so as to maintain a constant flow of benevolence to the causes to which we have committed ourselves. One cannot deny oneself the opportunity to practise that virtue we profess to admire, for the reason that, at any point of time, we have not organised the resources to practise it.

Apart from our Masonic Charities which are naturally my prime concern, by virtue of my association as Trustee with at least two other Charitable Trusts, I have experienced some common problems. The most ubiquitous of these is the fall in revenue from charitable investments, consequent upon the parallel drop in statutory rates of interest. A Charity cannot invest in any avenues other than those which the Trust Acts approve, and which investments now barely provide a return of 6% (Six percent), when in the past, we could have had almost twice that percentage in income. Unfortunately overhead expenses do not fall nor do the needs of the beneficiaries of our Grants.

This therefore brings us to the consideration of additional sources of charitable revenue, other than the usual flow of collections from our charitable brethren, to sustain not only existing benevolent activity but to add to the alleviation of focused suffering, by new initiatives. I am convinced that every charity must have a gainful activity which assures a steady income which can be applied to the continuation of its declared charitable objectives and activities. In addition it is necessary to draw up plans for the future in our charitable activities, which would need to be given practical shape by the application of the appropriate resources, for which an inward revenue stream needs to be identified in advance, and realised.

A charitable 'business' therefore needs to be conceived which not only provides a revenue stream but an employment potential, if possible, for the socially, economically or physically challenged sections of our society. For example, can we not organize, through our own spouses, employment opportunities for women from our urban slums in a chosen business activity which has a ready demand from even within our own fraternity? Recently I have noticed an advertisement from the well known charity in Chennai "UDAVUM KARANGAL" informing us that they have a Gardening and Garden Management Service on offer. Can we not involve a charity such as this in growing vegetables and such marketable produce in some of our Masonic properties, where land is available?

I quote these merely as examples, to give a practical connotation to what might otherwise be dismissed as mere fancy, or an idea which might not be feasible.

We have to be business-like about our Charities otherwise we cannot have a sustained effort in benevolence, particularly as we are a small community which might suffer fatigue, if put upon too often, for donations from our Brethren, to maintain all of our charitable initiatives, ongoing and proposed.

Nevertheless, let's keep trying!

(DISTRICT GRAND MASTER) MADRAS