FACT SHEET

Freemasonry is the world’s oldest and largest fraternal organization. Its members may be found in every free country in the world. There are over one million Freemasons in the United States alone.

Masonic Lodge #54 is a symbolic lodge (most commonly know as the Blue Lodge), which is the fundamental body of Freemasonry. The Lodge was chartered in 1865 and is one the oldest Masonic Lodges in Minnesota with membership in 14 states.

Masonic charity in the United States alone collects more than $1 million per day. Because Masonic charity has little overhead being operated by volunteers rather than a paid staff, over 90% of the $1 billion dollars per year goes to actual end users in medical research, care for the elderly, and other worthwhile objectives.

All Masonic bodies operate charitable organizations of some type. Some of these are:

Famous Freemasons

In politics: Benjamin Franklin, and the following Presidents of the US: George Washington, James Monroe, Andrew Jackson, James K. Polk, James Buchanan, Andrew Johnson, James A. Garfield, William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, Warren G. Harding, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, Gerald R. Ford and Lyndon Johnson. Also Sir Winston Churchill, Simon Bolivar, Bernardo O'Higgins, Giuseppe Garibaldi, J. Edgar Hoover.

In Music: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Franz Joseph Haydn, John Philip Sousa, Jean Sibelius, Irving Berlin,Robert Burns.

In aviation: Charles Lindbergh, Edwin E. "Buzz" Aldrin.

In entertainment: Arthur Godfrey, Red Skelton, Ernest Borgnine, Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, Will Rogers, Danny Thomas, Burl Ives, John Wayne

In the military: Omar Bradley, Arleigh Burke, Mark Clark, George C. Marshall, Richard E. Byrd, John "Black Jack" Pershing, Douglas MacArthur, Walter Boomer.

In business: Henry Ford, Harland D. Sanders (Col. Sanders of KFC), Dave Thomas (Wendy's)

Nicollet Lodge #54 Community Service

Scholarship program for H.S. graduates
Free Care Bears for law enforcement accidents victims
Children’s Diabetic Monitor Program for 5 school district nurses
St. Peter Community Hospital room sponsor
All night Graduation party, charter sponsor, (pancake breakfast) fundraiser
Nicollet Historical Society Cornerstone
Gault Park Playground equipment $25,000
St. Peter Hospital Cornerstone
Pastoral holy land pilgrimage
P.R.O.P. Food Shelter
St. Peter Youth Group softball/baseball
Ride for life
Little Saints Pre-School fundraiser
Wheelchairs for special needs children
Good Samaritan nursing home bed program
High School Choir and Band trips
Jobes Daughters Bethel Sponsor Lodge
DeMoley supporter
$20,000 St. Peter Community Hospital building project
Minnesota Square Park Veterans Memorial

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