The Library and Museum’s latest exhibition tells the story of Masonic charity, from its origins to the establishment of the charitable institutions. The exhibition will also highlight some of the non-masonic causes that English freemasonry has supported at the level of Grand Lodge, Provincial Grand Lodge and individual lodge, such as disaster relief, lifeboats and donations towards local charities.

Masonic charities have been funded in various ways-festivals and charity jewels, theatre performances, simple collecting boxes. The extent of personal charitable contributions used to be marked more ostentatiously as with the collar shown on the poster, from the collection at the Library and Museum, owned by Charles Edward Keyser and including bars to mark all his contributions. Keyser was born in London in 1847 and educated at Eton and Trinity College Cambridge. He founded the Colne Valley Water Company and served as its chairman and on its board. He was also President of the British Architects Association and a keen cricketer. As a freemason, he was a member of 36 lodges. Keyser also served provincially for Hertfordshire as Grand Master and was Past Junior Grand Warden in 1915.