Washington Masonic Services: Designated Charitable Entity of The Grand Lodge of Washington

Our Legacy

In response to the growing need for a supportive and safe living environment for aging and infirm Masons, the Grand Lodge of Washington saw the creation of the Masonic Retirement Center (MRC) as a way to provide for aging Brothers, their families, and others in need. Today, Washington Masonic Services carries out the purpose of the MRC: supporting aging Masons and their families, and those in crisis to live with safety, dignity, and care.

Beginning

Our organization was originally formed in 1994 as the “Masonic Retirement Center of Washington” to operate the Masonic Retirement Center (MRC), which opened in 1926 in Des Moines, WA.

In 2012, the MRC was consolidated with the other nonprofit efforts of the Grand Lodge of Washington, and the resulting entity was named “Washington Masonic Charities”. The programmatic areas of focus are seniors, youth and education, and Masonic heritage.

Next Steps

Through the years, people’s thoughts on how they want to live in retirement shifted to staying in their homes and communities, which meant an ever-dwindling client base for the MRC as costs continued to escalate. Eventually operation of the MRC was no longer sustainable. With great regret, the property was sold in 2019.

Now: The programs and services continued unabated.

Today, Washington Masonic Services case managers work in close collaboration with the Grand Lodge, Blue Lodges, individual Masons, Appendant and Concordant Bodies, and other community partners. In addition, WAMS invests in youth through a robust and growing scholarship program and illuminates the impact of Masonry on Washington’s past, present, and future by operating the Masonic Library & Museum.

In order to better meet our mission of service to Masons, their families, and communities, in 2022 we began doing business as Washington Masonic Services to eliminate the barriers some people associate with the word “charities.”

Three Primary Programs and Services

Outreach Services

Outreach Services aim to build hope, agency, and dignity for the people we serve, nurturing their leadership and independence. Our program objectives are for clients to have quality support to meet their family’s needs in aging; and assistance to meet basic needs for dignified living. Examples could be partnering with a family to do safety planning and implementing necessary home modifications, finding care resources, or streamlining finances.

Youth Investment

Youth Investment builds bridges to help connect young people to pathways for their future. The WAMS Scholarship Program’s purpose is that qualified young people can further their education. This growing effort includes 20+ scholarships giving 17 awards, including tracks targeting Masonic Youth Groups, and youth from families who have immigrated to the US.

Library & Museum

The archives and exhibits of the Washington Masonic Library & Museum tell the story of Freemasonry’s role in the creation and growth of Washington State. The collection houses approximately 50,000 books and documents, 3,000 Masonic-related objects, and more than 250,000 physical and digital photographic and other images. The collection is available to researchers and the community for analysis, education, and personal growth.

See our other Member Spotlights on our News Page!