Daily Republican Register - SE Illinois
http://tristate-media.com/drr/news/local_news/article_a743f1ba-9fd3-11df-8ba8-001cc4c002e0.html

Child ID program offered Saturday at Masonic Hall

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

The Illinois Freemasons, in cooperation with the Illinois State Police Amber Alert program, will hold a Child Identification program Saturday, Aug. 7, from 2-4 p.m. at the Masonic Hall in Mt. Carmel.

Children of any age will have a still photo taken, partake in a brief interview which will be recorded and burned to a CD, be fingerprinted by trained professionals and have a DNA sample taken by rubbing a cotton swab on the inside of their cheek.

The child's basic information, such as height, weight and hair color among the pieces of information to be recorded.

All materials are kept by the parents or guardians, and none of the information is retained by any other person.

Only 200 identification packets will be available and on a first-come, first-served basis.

The program is free of charge and open to everyone.

Freemasonry is the oldest and largest fraternal organization in the world. Freemasonry in Illinois began on April 6, 1840 and today has more than active Masonic Lodges in 440 Illinois communities.

In North America, Freemasons contribute more than $2 million each day charities.

In Illinois, Freemasons operate Shriners Orthopedic Hospital for Children in Chicago, where children are treated without charge, and the Illinois Masonic Children's Homes in LaGrange and Murphysboro.

Each year the Grand Lodge of Illinois and the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasons award over $350,000 in college scholarships.