<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3AMEUk_10Iy8IDY00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3AMEUk_10Iy8IDY00" width="1781" height="1163" ><figcaption>Fairview elementary students show off the $1,000 check the school received to support its summer reading program from the Montana Masonic Foundation, represented by local Masons Lance Averett (left) and Travis Rosaaen. The Foundation donated more than $7,500 to three area&nbsp;schools. Photo Submitted</figcaption></figure>Three public schools in Richland County recently received more than $7,500 in financial support from the Montana Masonic Foundation for projects including a lighting system in Savage, musical instruments in Sidney and a summer reading program in Fairview.The $7,522.85 donation to the three area schools is just part of the more than the $100,000 the Montana Masonic Foundation has contributed to public schools throughout Montana this year, said Foundation Board Member Wade Riden.“The primary purpose of the Montana Masonic Foundation is to support public education in Montana communities,” Riden said, adding that the organization has contributed more than $700,000 throughout the state in the past decade.Riden, the Grand Junior Warden of the Montana Grand Lodge, along with local Masons Lance Averett and Travis Rosaaen, distributed the checks to area schools last week.Westside Elementary School in Sidney received $3,279.81 for three soprano xylophones and three alto xylophones for the second-grade music class.Savage Public Schools received $3,243.04 to improve the lighting system for the stage used by the drama and music department.Fairview Public Schools received $1,000 for its summer reading program.Lower Yellowstone Lodge #90 in Sidney is part of the Northern Lights District of Montana Masonry, which also includes Masonic Lodges in Glendive, Malta, Hinsdale, Scobey, and Jordan.More than $23,000 was donated to schools within the district, Riden said, including Richland County, Dawson County, Dodson, Richey, Saco and Wibaux.Education is a bedrock principle of Masonry, Riden said, and the fraternity has supported public education in America since its founding.“Masons helped establish the first non-sectarian public schools and worked for tax-supported, compulsory education for all children,” he said. “There are many cases on record in which the local Masonic Lodges built the schoolhouse, bought the school books and paid the teacher’s salary until the community could organize to take over. When a bill was first introduced in Congress to establish land-grant colleges, it failed to gain support. The bill was reintroduced and letters were sent to Masonic Lodges across the United States asking Masons to support the bill. At the official signing ceremony the Masonic Fraternity was credited with helping secure passage of the legislation which today is helping to bring higher education within the reach of all Americans.”The Foundation offers public schools throughout Montana the opportunity to apply for funds to assist under-funded programs in music, drama, science and reading.“We encourage educators to apply for grants during our next grant cycle, which opens Oct. 1, 2025 and closes Dec. 31, 2025,” Riden said.The Montana Masonic Foundation also supports and rewards reading in public schools through its Kindles for Kids and Bikes for Books reading-achievement programs.The Foundation is also home to the Masonic Library and Museum in Helena. The Museum houses a large collection of items related to the establishment of Montana as a state, and Freemasonry, including the Masonic apron of Capt. Meriwether Lewis, co-commander of the Corps of Discovery.</div></body>

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Three public schools in Richland County recently received more than $7,500 in financial support from the Montana Masonic Foundation for projects including a lighting system in Savage, musical instruments in Sidney and a summer reading program in Fairview. The $7,522.85 donation to the three area schools is just part of...

Montana Masons support area schools

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Three public schools in Richland County recently received more than $7,500 in financial support from the Montana Masonic Foundation for projects including 

Montana Masons support area schools

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