Universal Fraternity Lodge No. 149 – Their Strength is in Prayer
by Carl G. Ek
The sound of singing could be heard in the anteroom as the lodge opened. The brothers again joined in song as a delegation from the Grand Lodge was received – in French, of course, as this is the native language of so many of the brothers of Universal Fraternity Lodge No. 149.
Yet the music lacked the joy usually associated with the brothers of this lodge. The songs were a capella, with the organist away, dealing with personal issues. Pro-tem officers filled the West and the secretary’s chair. And while the room was well filled, the majority of brothers were almost certainly visitors.
Recently installed Worshipful Master Leslie St. Victor welcomed his visitors – RW’s Deputy Grand Master Charles A. Buck, Jr., Grand Senior Warden James T. McWain, and Grand Senior Deacon Simon R. LaPlace, plus a number of past and present District Deputies and Associate Grand Marshals. All were present to bring early support to brothers just beginning to learn the horrors of Haiti’s earthquake.
Universal Fraternity Lodge No. 149, Stratford, was chartered at the
Grand Lodge of 2006, but nearly all of its charter members were made
Masons in their native Haiti. These good brothers bring traditions of
their homeland to their new Grand Lodge, making a positive impression
on those who have had the pleasure to visit their communications and
celebrations.
In Haiti, it was clear there was nothing to celebrate. The poorest
country in the western hemisphere, Haiti has been described as a
country lacking food, clean water, medical facilities, infrastructure,
or even a working government – and this was before the earthquake. On
January 16, less than a week after the quake, even factual information
was hard to come by.
WM St. Victor emotionally filled in some of the facts that were known
concerning “the inexplicable calamity of the island of Haiti” as it
affected members of his lodge. His mom was uninjured, and he was
planning to go to Haiti to bring her back to Connecticut. His
father-in-law had lived for a half century in Brooklyn, New York before
deciding to return to his homeland. His home was flattened; his own 98
year-old mother and an infant survived, but he did not. Bro. Leslie
knew of at least six of his relatives who had been taken by the quake
and its aftershocks.
The sister of one brother worked for the Archdiocese of Haiti. She died
in the collapse of the cathedral, as did the Archbishop. Another
brother had seven relatives – including his father and father-in-law –
living in the same house. What was left of the structure had been shown
several times on television news, but he could get no information about
his family. All that he was told was that there were “bad smells”
coming from the flattened dwelling.
The Master said that he and his brothers were, as best, coping, “not
understanding why, not understanding how, not understanding how much
their poor little country would have to suffer.” Against that backdrop,
all present took part in a program of hope. “We pray for those who
survive,” said WM St. Victor, who asked all present to “learn from the
devastation how merciful can be the Almighty.”
Noting that “there is strength in prayer,” the Master led the group in
the reading of several psalms, some familiar, others less so. “The Lord
is my shepherd; I shall not want… He restoreth my soul… Yea, though I
walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil:
for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” (Psalm
23:1,3 4) “I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why
go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?” (Psalm 42:9)
“Have mercy upon me, O God…” (Psalm 51) “Make haste, O God, to deliver
me; make haste to help me, O Lord… But I am poor and needy: make haste
unto me, O God: thou art my help and my deliverer; O Lord, make no
tarrying.” (Psalm 70:1,5) “Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy
people may rejoice in thee? Shew us thy mercy, O Lord, and grant us thy
salvation.” (Psalm 85:7) The readings were concluded by the singing of
the “Haitian Faith Battle Song,” en Francais, certainment.
A number of visiting brothers stepped forward as early responders to MW
Arthur H. Carlstrom’s  request that Connecticut brothers wishing to help
in Haitian relief send checks to he Universal Fraternity Lodge Relief
Fund. Worshipful Master Tony Foote of Corinthian Lodge No. 104,
Stamford, presented a check for $1,000, and RW Steven Bowen delivered a
Temple Lodge No. 65 check for $2,120. Bro. Chris Buck, Senior Warden of
Ansantawae Lodge No. 89, Milford, delivered the proceeds of a
collection taken the night before at his lodge. He was startled to find
exactly $149 in cash donations.
Several brothers mentioned gifts to other relief agencies, while a
number noted that they have not yet met but would be making donations
as soon as their lodges opened. In total, over $5,500 had already been
donated by lodges and brothers present in the 5 days after the initial
earthquake, with promises of far more in the upcoming days.
RW Deputy Grand Master Charles A. Buck, Jr. noted his sorrow that his
first visit to Universal Fraternity Lodge was under such circumstances.
He noted that Freemasons around the state share these brothers’ pain,
and will do all they can to lessen it.
Worshipful Master Leslie St. Victor was eloquent in his sadness. “We
are asking for prayer. We will be whole again. Please pray for us.”
And, as he said quietly to one of the brothers in the Grand Lodge suite
as they met in the East, “We’ll be all right. We’ll be all right.”
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