The Third Pillar in Freemasonry signifies a Mason’s work and life, and in some respect our work in our community. Community engagement is just as important to a mason as a financial donation. In this article our Eastern Area Charity Steward has spoken with Bro Kim Ho of Lodge of Harmony 298 to speak about the time he dedicates to serving the community and his voluntary work.

HMR Circle

● Quizzes – weekly 2 hours

Circle hosts an online quiz every Monday. I collect all the quizzes from our contributors, upload them to our online quiz platform, and prepare them for each Monday’s event, repeating the process on Fridays. Every three months, I also contribute by writing quizzes myself. We currently have five writers, and we’re always looking for more volunteers to join our team and create quizzes.

● Social Host – monthly 4 hours.

Circle organises monthly social events for our members, offering a wide variety of activities. These include coffee catchups, blokes’ breakfasts, walks, cinema outings, ten-pin bowling, lunches, evening meals, day trips, theatre visits, and other interesting events around Rochdale and Manchester. Occasionally, we also host weekend activities. For example, I recently led a Sunday tour of Ordsall Hall in Salford, where I looked after more than 20 Circle members.

● Weekend Promotional Activities – every 3 months – 5 hours

From time to time, we’re invited by the Arts Council to provide catering for special events across the Rochdale Borough. One example was the week-long “FestiDale in the Den 2024” event. We also work with social housing providers such as Rochdale Boroughwide Housing and Mosscare St Vincent’s, who invite us to promote our services to their tenants. For these occasions, we often set up a free brew and bacon stall to encourage people to stop by for a chat and give housing officers an opportunity to engage with tenants. In addition, we celebrate special occasions with our members — for instance, one year St Patrick’s Day fell on a Sunday, and we served a three-course meal to mark the occasion.

● Volunteer Driving – average 4 hours every 2 months

We are proud to deliver this essential service to vulnerable adults living in the Rochdale Borough area. The Volunteer Driver Service supports older adults who have difficulty accessing public transport and do not have a car. Our volunteer drivers provide transport to a range of destinations, including doctors’ appointments, hospitals, dentists, shopping trips, leisure activities, visits to friends, and Circle social events. The service relies on volunteers who have their own vehicles and some spare time to offer. A few Masons kindly volunteer as drivers for Circle, and we are always looking for more people to join them. During periods of high demand, I also step in to help as a volunteer driver.

WAMDS

● Set Building at St John’s Hall, Studd Brow, Whitworth – 6 hours – one off

Whitworth Amateur Musical Drama Society (WAMDS) acquired theatre-style seats from a theatre that had closed down. Volunteers were invited to help rebuild and install the seats in the auditorium. The result was an improved seating experience for audiences attending all WAMDS musical productions.

● Labouring/Renovation of St John’s Hall, Studd Brow, Whitworth – 6 hours – one off

A large window at St John’s Hall had become badly rotted and needed either replacement or bricking up. As replacing the window was too expensive, volunteers came together to purchase several tons of concrete blocks, sand, and cement. Once delivered as close to the Hall as possible, all materials had to be carried in by hand. Thankfully, plenty of tea, coffee, and bacon butties kept the volunteers sustained and in high spirits throughout the project.

● Fundraising – admin – 1 hour every 2 months

For all productions, advertising is crucial. I take an active role in promoting events and selling tickets to friends and family, a task that requires a significant investment of time and effort.

Freemasonry

● World Gravy Wrestling Championship Marshalling – 6 hours – yearly

The Rose ‘N’ Bowl, 264 Newchurch Rd, Stacksteads, Bacup OL13 0UG, hosts the annual World Gravy Wrestling Championship on Bank Holiday Monday in August to raise funds for East Lancashire Hospice. This popular event attracts over a thousand paying visitors.
Each year, Masons from North and East Lancashire volunteer to assist with marshalling, directing traffic, and monitoring available parking spaces around the venue. Their efforts help ensure the safety of attendees, keep traffic flowing smoothly, and contribute to the overall success of the event.

● Springhill Hospice – marshalling – 4 hours – yearly

Every November, Masons volunteer to assist with marshalling the car park at Kingsway High School in Rochdale for Springhill Hospice’s annual Christmas Fayre. This popular event attracts a large number of visitors, often exceeding the available parking capacity.
Masons help by directing traffic in and out of the car park, ensuring smooth flow and safety for all attendees. Although the weather can be cold and wet, spirits remain high, especially towards the end of the event when volunteers enjoy a warm drink and hot food to replenish their energy.

● Fundraising – admin – 4 hours every 6 months

Lodge of Harmony 298 organises a gala charity evening twice a year, in November and May. The design, printing, and distribution of tickets are a shared responsibility among the brethren of the lodge. Additionally, for our Ladies’ Evening, the brethren, along with their wives or partners, come together to help set up the rooms and decorations, ensuring the event is welcoming and well-prepared for all attendees.

● Helping with the Poppy Appeal at Morrisons in Kingsway – 4 hours – yearly

Masons have long supported manning the Remembrance Sunday stall at Morrisons in Rochdale Kingsway. Each year, we invite brethren to step forward and help run the stall, ensuring the event runs smoothly and successfully.

Culture Coop

● Admin – decision making – 2 hours every 2 months

I serve on a panel that helps make decisions and provides ideas to promote and support the arts in the Littleborough and Milnrow locality.

● Marshalling – 6 hours every 3 months

When artistic pieces or a series of events are commissioned in the Pennines locality of Rochdale, marshals are required to ensure the safety of performers and the public through crowd control. I am available as a responsible first aider if a situation arises that requires my assistance.

Breaking Barriers

● Marshalling/Walk Leader – 18 hours – yearly

Through my work experience with Circle and the networking opportunities it provides, I was invited to help deliver a programme of binaural sound and guided walks at the top of Blackstone Edge Reservoir. This unique artistic experience was produced by Breaking Barriers and funded by Rochdale Development Agency and Rochdale Council.
The first run of the programme took place in July and August 2024, lasting six weeks. Its success led to a second run in August 2025, coinciding with Rochdale being awarded the Greater Manchester Town of Culture 2025-26. I was again invited to assist with the production, which lasted two weeks and attracted over a thousand visitors, including attendees traveling from across Europe.

Tracey Lake

● Father Christmas – 6 hours – yearly

Each year, I dress up as Father Christmas to deliver gifts to the children and grandchildren of the staff who care for Tracey Lake. Tracey suffered a serious road traffic accident that left her brain-damaged and paralysed, requiring 24/7 care.
Tracey and her husband John are Circle members and greatly value her involvement in Circle activities, which allows her to interact with others and enjoy herself despite her condition. I have fulfilled the role of Father Christmas for them every year since 2016, with the exception of the Covid period.