Freemasons New Zealand Grand Master Barry McLaggan, of Waikato, was in Alexandra recently for a celebration meeting at Lodge Dunstan No 103.
He said he has been saddened recently by the hardships he has seen across all sectors of society.
The Freemasons were increasingly being called on to help people with the basics of life, rather than using their funds to support other community causes, he said.
"We have people on the ground, and they report back to their lodges where they find people in need.
"It may be some elderly person needs a wheelchair, or some other form of assistance, and we help either in kind, or with money, or members go themselves to assist those in need," he said.
University students also received considerable help from Freemasons, and $350,000 was handed over in scholarships to 35 university students at a recent function at Government House.
A couple of weeks ago, $120,000 was given to the Cancer Society in Hastings to build chalets for people to stay in when their family members were receiving treatment at the hospital.
Mr McLaggan said most community members had always been ready to help others.
"There are still a vast number of community members who do that every day without any acknowledgement," he said.
"But more often these days, people seem to want to receive some sort of recognition from the community for what they have done.
"For Freemasons, just helping people is enough acknowledgement," he said.
