Anyone who thinks the world of Freemasonry is shrouded in mystery and self-service obviously didn’t get a taste of OrangeAid. Alluding to the distinctive RNLI lifeboat livery, the OrangeAid appeal saw Essex members of the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) create a feast of fundraising fun.

In one frantic weekend, people across the county rode bikes, raced balloons, washed cars and even pulled buses, raising £61,000 – more than double the sum needed to pay for Southend’s D class lifeboat. She was named The Essex Freemason in June, while the surplus bought a launching tractor and contributed towards a new Atlantic 85 lifeboat for Clacton lifeboat station.

‘Southend-on-Sea is one of the busiest areas in the country for rescues and [the lifeboat crew] plays a vital role in helping to save lives,’ says Neil Beverley, Event Coordinator. ‘We’re naturally proud to be involved. This is all about masons and their friends and families coming together to raise money for a good cause.’

Such charitable activities have long been at the core of Freemasonry. The principles said to form its basis are ‘brotherly love, truth and relief’. Brotherly love encourages tolerance, mutual respect and the creation of a harmonious and productive society. Truth emphasises high moral standards and the fulfilment of responsibilities, while relief refers to the provision of assistance and charitable donations. The United Grand Lodge of England, for instance, formed its Committee of Charity in the early 18th century, to help masons and their families and non-masonic charitable causes.

Clacton’s first ever lifeboat was funded by freemasons, in the days when horses, rather than tractors, were used to launch lifesaving craft. Delivered in 1878, the Albert Edward was named after the then Prince of Wales and Grand Master of the UGLE. The Prince had made safe passage home from his travels in India in 1876 and his fellow masons were so grateful to ‘The Almighty Architect of the Universe’ (all masons believe in a supreme being, whatever their religious interpretation) that they decided to fund two lifeboats: one at Hope Cove, Devon, the other at Clacton.

The UGLE set up The Freemasons’ Grand Charity in 1981. Funded by annual contributions and fundraising ‘festivals’, it was set up to make donations to charities and distressed individuals. It also has the ability to make emergency grants for disaster relief. One of the first of these was made to the Penlee disaster fund following the loss of the Penlee lifeboat and crew shortly before Christmas 1981 (see pages 31 and 46 for more on the Solomon Browne).