OGDEN — The Ogden Masonic Lodges raised 379 pounds of food last weekend when visitors brought non-perishable food to an open house there.
The effort was part of a statewide event that netted more than 900 pounds of food for the Utah Food Bank.
The Utah Freemasons are not a church, but a fraternity that encourages members who have a belief in God to take steps to better themselves, according to information distributed by the group.
"The object is to take a good man and make him better," said F.L. Jim Lee, Jr., a master mason in the Unity Masonic Lodge No. 18 that meets in the Ogden temple.
He spoke during one of the tours of the Ogden facility last weekend. Lee said during his service in the group, he has discovered how his charitable efforts are magnified as he serves in a group of men working toward the same cause.
"If you hitch an ox to a certain load, he can pull so much, but teamed together, oxen can do a great deal more," he said.
Lee said he’s a member of all three apendant bodies in the fraternity: the Scottish Rite, which serves children’s charities, the York Rite, which serves an eye bank and raises funds for scholarships for ministers, and the Shriners, which fund orthopedic and burn centers for children.
A highlight Lee shared was two bricks set on either side of a ceremonial stage in the Ogden temple lodge room.
One of the bricks was rough cut and the other smooth with the symbol of the masons stamped on it. The "G" in the symbol stands for both God and geometry, Lee said, explaining a number of geometric symbols the masons use to help men put their lives in order.
Lee said the goal of the fraternity is to help men move from their rough-cut selves toward a more perfect self with the help of their fellow Masons.
In addition to sharing their practices, Freemasons were pleased to be able to serve the Utah Food Bank.
"We were delighted to partner with the Utah Food Bank for this charitable initiative," said Grand Master of Utah Masons, Robert K. Chapman, in a news release to area media outlets. "The generosity of Utahns who visited our Masonic Temples for the tour was heartwarming. There are so many people in need, and these donations will go right where they’re needed most. I hope we can donate even more at our next open house."
Utah boasts 29 Masonic lodges in addition to many other Masonic groups, youth organizations, and clubs.
Source: http://www.standard.net/topics/events/2010/05/28/masonic-lodges-raise-900-pounds-food-tours
The effort was part of a statewide event that netted more than 900 pounds of food for the Utah Food Bank.
The Utah Freemasons are not a church, but a fraternity that encourages members who have a belief in God to take steps to better themselves, according to information distributed by the group.
"The object is to take a good man and make him better," said F.L. Jim Lee, Jr., a master mason in the Unity Masonic Lodge No. 18 that meets in the Ogden temple.
He spoke during one of the tours of the Ogden facility last weekend. Lee said during his service in the group, he has discovered how his charitable efforts are magnified as he serves in a group of men working toward the same cause.
"If you hitch an ox to a certain load, he can pull so much, but teamed together, oxen can do a great deal more," he said.
Lee said he’s a member of all three apendant bodies in the fraternity: the Scottish Rite, which serves children’s charities, the York Rite, which serves an eye bank and raises funds for scholarships for ministers, and the Shriners, which fund orthopedic and burn centers for children.
A highlight Lee shared was two bricks set on either side of a ceremonial stage in the Ogden temple lodge room.
One of the bricks was rough cut and the other smooth with the symbol of the masons stamped on it. The "G" in the symbol stands for both God and geometry, Lee said, explaining a number of geometric symbols the masons use to help men put their lives in order.
Lee said the goal of the fraternity is to help men move from their rough-cut selves toward a more perfect self with the help of their fellow Masons.
In addition to sharing their practices, Freemasons were pleased to be able to serve the Utah Food Bank.
"We were delighted to partner with the Utah Food Bank for this charitable initiative," said Grand Master of Utah Masons, Robert K. Chapman, in a news release to area media outlets. "The generosity of Utahns who visited our Masonic Temples for the tour was heartwarming. There are so many people in need, and these donations will go right where they’re needed most. I hope we can donate even more at our next open house."
Utah boasts 29 Masonic lodges in addition to many other Masonic groups, youth organizations, and clubs.
Source: http://www.standard.net/topics/events/2010/05/28/masonic-lodges-raise-900-pounds-food-tours