Since 1844, the members of St. James Lodge, through their acts of charity, have amply exemplified the Masonic teachings of Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth. In 1845 the Lodge donated $41.50 to an orphan school in Missouri and $50.00 for a scholarship in Kentucky. In 1849, another $50.00 was donated to fire victims in Baton Rouge. In 1850, the body of a deceased brother was escorted to Memphis by boat by two members of the Lodge at a cost of $53.50. The minutes record many occasions when a widow’s taxes were paid in order to save her house from being repossessed. Mrs. Joseph W. Fowler, whose husband had passed away on May 5, 1849, received monthly payments from the Lodge for several years until her death in 1921. Payments were continued even after she moved her residence to Texas. Many advances made to brothers in financial and physical distress were written off when their circumstances did not improve. It was customary for the Lodge to pay the funeral expenses of its members. For the funeral of Capt. Reeder, the first Master of the Lodge, in 1873, the bill was $114.00. A year later, his widow’s rent was paid by the Lodge for several months.
Calls for help from Arkansas, Mississippi, Michigan, Nebraska, South Carolina, New York, France, China and Italy were answered even when the Lodge’s finances were in a precarious state. Two instances in particular give us a sense of the times. In April 1906 the Lodge sent $50.00 to earthquake victims in San Francisco, only to receive $10.00 back two years later with the explanation that all the money received by the Grand Lodge of California was not expended. A donation of $150.00 made to the Square and Compass Club at Louisiana State University to help them get started was returned in July 1938, because it was not used. During 1923, separate donations of $1,000.00 and $500.00 were made to the YMCA in Baton Rouge. More recently, a van was donated to the Baton Rouge General Hospital in 1979 for use as a Bloodmobile. Other recent recipients of donations include Dreams Come True, Baton Rouge Battered Women’s Program and Baton Rouge Child Protection Council.

Origin:  At its 1998 Annual Session held in Alexandria, Louisiana the Grand Lodge of Louisiana, F&AM adopted a resolution establishing instruction and training of children affected by dyslexia as its primary philanthropy and authorized the establishment of a pilot program at 5800 Masonic Drive, Alexandria.  In 1999 the Grand Lodge authorized expansion of the program.  Units are now in operation in every part of Louisiana under the auspices of the agency of the Grand Lodge designated as the Masonic Learning Center of Louisiana.

The Dyslexia Training Program:  The Masons of Louisiana propose to assist qualified children who are affected by dyslexia in very small classes which meet after school hours five days per week except for holidays which are observed by the public schools in the vicinity.  

How to Apply:  For information or application forms, you may contact any active Louisiana Mason or Call the office of the Masonic Learning Center of Louisiana (318) 487-4986

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