Further evidence that SOCIAL ACTION PROGRAMS would be the “niche” to define Fraternity Lodge No. 126 as we move into the future, we were blessed to have been awarded The Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service Award by The First Masonic District Association (FMDA). The Award was presented to Fraternity Lodge No. 126: “In appreciation of the invaluable volunteer services and contributions to New York City and beyond. Your selfless dedication, hard work and generosity have made a significant impact in our co mmunities.”
When RW Raul Rodriguez (14) President of The FMDA presented the Award, he made it clear that it was for our “body of work” in community service that was reviewed and impressed the Committee. When I presented our “body of work,” it was a three (3) page document. Before I highlight some of the charity work done by Fraternity Lodge No. 126 this past year, I want to emphasize that our motto has been and will always be the following: Work in the community can be done by an individual Brother or a group of Brothers. Everybody is committed to doing the work and giving his time, unselfishly. Everything is done in the name of Fraternity Lodge No. 126, a subordinate Lodge of the MWPHGLNY, Chartered on June 03, 2022.
Highlights of OUR community service:
➢ October, 2022: PM Scot Dread “adopted” a HS in the Bronx and provided money he collected from several Brothers to assist the football program to purchase helmets and uniforms. ➢ October, 2022: PM Carl Wright organized a Clothing Drive for the women at Bethany House in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Bethany House is a shelter for abused women and their children. This Drive is a continuation of the work we have been doing for many years when we were on the “other side.” ➢ November, 2022: Brother Harry Gomez represented Fraternity Lodge No. 126 at an event at the Grand East honoring our Veterans. Brother Gomez was an Army Veteran. We have several Army & Marine Veterans in our Lodge. Our fallen Brother Hannibal Herring was an Army Veteran. ➢ November, 2022: We gave a monetary donation to UGMBC for its “Feed The Community” event and a few of the Brothers worked the event. ➢ February, 2023: Fraternity Lodge No. 126 held a Clothing Drive for a Men’s Shelter in downtown Brooklyn. Brother Donald Salley and the WM delivered the items to them. ➢ February, 2023: SW Roy Johnson had a Fraternity Lodge No. 126 table at the 25 th Precinct event: National Night Out Against Crime. He and JW James Sheppard and three of our newly made MMs participated in the event. ➢ August, 2023: Over 700 bookbags, 500 notebooks, pencils and pens were distributed to families in the Shelter System by PM Shamell Lawrence, SW Roy Johnson, and Brother Ben Tobias.
The list continued to grow, but I believe I have made the point.
Fraternity Lodge No. 126 has established that SOCIAL ACTION PROGRAMS will be our niche. We will hopefully, be able to spread the light of charity through our communities as a Chartered Prince Hall Lodge.
The translation of the prayer in Latin at the beginning of the article:
“What doth it profit a man if he gain the whole world and suffer the loss of his own soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels and there will He render to every man according to his works.”
Prince Hall Sentinel May 2024 Page | 84
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