To those who have heard of them, the freemasons may seem like a “secret society”, a group whose rituals and activities are shrouded in mystery.
In an effort to clear up the myths surrounding the group, it has for the first time made a major public announcement about a charitable initiative it is setting up.
The Masonic Charitable Foundation will be officially launched on Saturday (June 8) to financially support underprivileged students here.
Its launch coincides with Singapore’s bicentennial, which commemorates 200 years since a British trading post was established in Singapore by perhaps the most famous freemason, Sir Stamford Raffles.
Dr David Staples, grand secretary of the United Grand Lodge of England, said: “Singaporean history is intertwined with freemason history, and we think it’s nice to mark that.”
He and Sir David Wootton, assistant grand master of the United Grand Lodge of England, are in Singapore for the assembly of The District Grand Lodge of the Eastern Archipelago over the weekend, which is the coordinating body for lodges in the region and part of the United Grand Lodge of England.
