Are you ready to help a Brother?
At Woodstock Lodge we are doing what I call the Mason Jar project, as Master of Woodstock I want us to be ready at all times to help a brother in need so we are using old blue mason jars made by Ball and here is a little History to why.
The Ball Brothers foundation
Edmund Burke Ball's estate gift of $3.3 million provided the bedrock of what officially became the Ball Brothers Foundation on November 19, 1926. The five brothers - George, William, Frank, Lucius and Edmund - shared a belief that philanthropy is more powerful than charity. They looked for ways to enhance the quality of life in the Indiana community that became home to their glass-manufacturing business in 1888. In the Foundation's second year in existence the board made grants exceeding $1 million, more than double that of the first year. To support the effort, family members sold parcels of land, invested in the stock market, donated a private art collection, named BBF as beneficiary of insurance policies and made bequests in their wills. These practices have continued into the 21st century.
The current mission of the Foundation is identical to its 1926 mission. Grants made today reflect the founders priorities. Among the founders earliest interests, for example, were educational initiatives. Today, these interests live on through grant commitments that support a continuum of educational opportunities promoting learning from birth through college and career.
Masonic Temple (Muncie, Indiana)
This Masonic Temple is the third building by the Masons in the city of Muncie. The land was acquired by the Masons to accommodate the increasing rise in membership. Beginning in 1920, construction ended in 1926 culminating in a cost of around $1 million. Well-known local architect Cuno Kibele was commissioned for the project.
The first rough estimates for the construction were around $250,000. Each organization within the fraternity was to have its own assembly room. Plans were changed, however, when the Ball brothers offered up a $150,000 donation in order to add an auditorium to the structure. Frank C. Ball, in particular, stated that his hope was to provide a place for high-level entertainments to be held in Muncie and that he saw the construction of the new Masonic temple as a perfect place.
The Ball brothers made other donations to support hospitals, schools, and nonprofit organizations. In Indiana these included funding for James Whitcomb Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis; Hanover College, in Hanover, Indiana; IU; and the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial at Lincoln City, Indiana. They also contributed to Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan.
The Ball brothers have also made donations to support The Indiana Masonic Home.
In like manner we are to help aid and assist our brothers and families. That is the purpose of the Ball Mason Jar, all I ask if you work 5 days a week just put a quarter in the jar when you put your change in your pocket before you go to work, this will add up to a $1.25 a week, $5.00 a month in 10 months you will have raised $50.00 if we can get 10 members to do this that we would have raised $500.00 to help a Brother.
Fraternally Thine,
Tim Anderson
Master Woodstock #639
Edmund Burke Ball's estate gift of $3.3 million provided the bedrock of what officially became the Ball Brothers Foundation on November 19, 1926. The five brothers - George, William, Frank, Lucius and Edmund - shared a belief that philanthropy is more powerful than charity. They looked for ways to enhance the quality of life in the Indiana community that became home to their glass-manufacturing business in 1888. In the Foundation's second year in existence the board made grants exceeding $1 million, more than double that of the first year. To support the effort, family members sold parcels of land, invested in the stock market, donated a private art collection, named BBF as beneficiary of insurance policies and made bequests in their wills. These practices have continued into the 21st century.
The current mission of the Foundation is identical to its 1926 mission. Grants made today reflect the founders priorities. Among the founders earliest interests, for example, were educational initiatives. Today, these interests live on through grant commitments that support a continuum of educational opportunities promoting learning from birth through college and career.
Masonic Temple (Muncie, Indiana)
This Masonic Temple is the third building by the Masons in the city of Muncie. The land was acquired by the Masons to accommodate the increasing rise in membership. Beginning in 1920, construction ended in 1926 culminating in a cost of around $1 million. Well-known local architect Cuno Kibele was commissioned for the project.
The first rough estimates for the construction were around $250,000. Each organization within the fraternity was to have its own assembly room. Plans were changed, however, when the Ball brothers offered up a $150,000 donation in order to add an auditorium to the structure. Frank C. Ball, in particular, stated that his hope was to provide a place for high-level entertainments to be held in Muncie and that he saw the construction of the new Masonic temple as a perfect place.
The Ball brothers made other donations to support hospitals, schools, and nonprofit organizations. In Indiana these included funding for James Whitcomb Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis; Hanover College, in Hanover, Indiana; IU; and the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial at Lincoln City, Indiana. They also contributed to Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan.
The Ball brothers have also made donations to support The Indiana Masonic Home.
In like manner we are to help aid and assist our brothers and families. That is the purpose of the Ball Mason Jar, all I ask if you work 5 days a week just put a quarter in the jar when you put your change in your pocket before you go to work, this will add up to a $1.25 a week, $5.00 a month in 10 months you will have raised $50.00 if we can get 10 members to do this that we would have raised $500.00 to help a Brother.
Fraternally Thine,
Tim Anderson
Master Woodstock #639
Woodstock Donates Bikes to local School
This program was started as a state wide program by our Past Master and Past Grand Master of the State of Kentucky Jeff Bumgardner. Both a girls and boys bike was delivered by our 2016 Master Kelley Mounceto Northern Elementary in Northern Pulaski County.