Brenda:

Thank you for your post. You may also want to post your comment on a Scottish Rite website in Georgia. The Atlanta hospital was built by the generosity of the Masons of Georgia.

The Scottish Rite also has a hospital in Dallas, which is very highly rated and is a quality institution in every respect.

The Shrine Masons (a different branch of the Masonic fraternity) are the real Masonic giants in hospital ownership. They currently own 23 orthopedic hospitals and there is no charge for the care given to children at their facilities.

The Masonic tradition in hospital ownership came about as a result of filling a need for health care in county seat towns during the early days of community development. Communities would often fund the construction of hospitals and turn the management over to the Masons, since the local lodge was the largest organization in town and often made up of the leading businessmen.