WHAT WE DO
Overland Park Lodge is dedicated to the prime philosophy of Freemasonry:
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“We take good men and make them better through
faith, hope, charity, fraternity and brotherly love.”
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It is by this philosophy we teach each other to be the best men we can be. Though this we strive to become better men, better husbands, better employees, better managers, better leaders and better people. To help our families and communities in all the ways available to us as each is able.
Although Masonic ritual varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, a consistent message conveyed to every candidate is that charity is an essential part of Freemasonry. In some teachings, in fact, reference is made to the wide-breadth of the star-decked canopy of Heaven and that a Mason's charity should be equally extensive. This concept has remained throughout the centuries of Freemasonry's existence.
As Masons we are committed to helping our community and our neighbors. We co-sponsor a community-wide blood drive with the American Red Cross of Greater Kansas City during the Overland Park Fall Festival.
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You don’t need a special reason to give blood. You just need your own reason.
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Some of us give blood because we were asked by a friend.
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Some know that a family member or a friend might need blood some day.
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Some believe it is the right thing we do.
Whatever your reason, the need is constant and your contribution is important for a healthy and reliable blood supply. And you’ll feel good knowing you've helped change a life.
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Sign up to donate at http://www.redcrossblood.org with sponsor code OPMasons.
"To relieve the distressed is a duty incumbent on all men, but particularly on Freemasons, who are linked together by an indissoluble chain of sincere affection. To soothe the unhappy, to sympathize with their misfortunes, to compassionate their miseries, and to restore peace to their troubled minds, is the great aim we have in view. On this basis we form our friendships and establish our connections."
From this philosophy comes much of a '"Mason's work," given freely and willingly. Charity comes in many forms, both large and small. Whether it's something as simple as a holiday basket delivered to a shut-in by local lodge officers, something much larger such as a donation of funds to support a community project or on-going programs, such as those sponsored by the Kansas Masonic Foundation, or something as enormous as a chain of 22 hospitals which provide totally free care to burned and crippled children, Masons regularly engage in charitable work as part of their Masonic membership. No web site could fully and completely list all of the charitable work done by Freemasons. There are many which are local and private. In fact, much Masonic charity occurs in this quiet way. Other activities, however, are so broad that they cannot be hidden and we'll point you to some of them right here.
Masonic charity has often been 'quiet' as compared to civic charities whose presence is flouted in order to garner additional contributions. Thus a researcher can only capture the data from formally organized and public Masonic activities and even this doesn't tell the whole story. For example, the Masonic Service Association quietly oversees a Hospital Visitation Program with a goal that every Veteran's Administration Hospital in the United States have a Masonic volunteer working with patients. How can a value be placed on the more than 500,000 hours a year spent on this work?
Each year throughout the United States, Masons contribute in excess or $725 million or $2 million per day.
The members of Overland Park Lodge are dedicated to helping the community in and around our lodge.
Some of the many ways we give back are:
