One of the first things a Freemason learns is Benevolence
and Charity. In common with other branches of Masonry Mark
Grand Lodge places great emphasis on charitable donations.
Each Mark Mason contributes on a purely voluntary basis to
the Mark Fund of Benevolence. This is a fund controlled by
Mark Grand Lodge and it is used to assist non-Masonic
organisations.
In the year 2000 St.Johns Ambulance celebrated their 900th
anniversary. They decided to start to replace their ageing
fleet of ambulances to mark this occasion. The Mark Fund of
Benevolence immediately contributed the sum of
£2,000,000 to assist in this worthwhile cause. Some
50 ambulances are being provided nationally, and in the
Channel Islands, Two ambulances have been made available,
one for Jersey and the other for Guernsey.
The ambulance is the
Renault Crusader 900 vehicle, which was designed
specifically for St.Johns Ambulance Service, and comes
fully equipped to serve as a multiple purpose vehicle,
and complies with the latest regulations applicable to
such vehicles. They bear on both front doors the words
"Presented by the Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark
Master Masons of the Channel Islands".
The Jersey ambulance was presented
at an official function on Tuesday 5th December at the
St.John Ambulance Headquarters in Midvale Road,
St.Helier, Jersey, attended by a number of local Mark
Masons and members of St.Johns Ambulance. The
Provincial Grand Master, RW.Bro.Mark Holiday requested
the Commissioner John Gavey to receive the ambulance,
after which Revd.Adrian Pearce dedicated the ambulance
to the service of St.Johns Ambulance. This was
followed by a short demonstration of the capabilities
of the ambulance and its various fittings.
The Guernsey ambulance was
presented and dedicated at the St.John Ambulance
Headquarters in Rohais, St.Peter Port, Guernsey on
Saturday 28th April 2001 in the presence of the
Lt.Governor of Guernsey Sir John Foley. The event was
attended by a number of local Mark Masons and members
of St.Johns Ambulance. The Provincial Grand Master,
RW.Bro.Mark Holiday requested the acting Commissioner
Keith Fothergill to receive the ambulance, after which
Revd.George Lugton dedicated it to the service of
St.Johns Ambulance Service in Guernsey.