On September 25th, 2014, I received information that my son, accompanied by his wife, was in an accident in the Dominican Republic. They were in a Taxi travelling from the Airport to the hotel when the taxi was hit head-on by another vehicle. His wife died on the scene and my son was seriously injured and needed immediate blood transfusions and repair of multiple fractures. He needed approximately 8 units of rare “O” Negative blood of which only 2 units were available.

I emailed the information to The Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons of the State of New York, Honorable William J. Thomas, who in turn communicated the information to the Grand Lodge of The Dominican Republic. A short time thereafter, I received a copy of an email sent from the Grand Lodge of The Dominican Republic. Within one hour thereafter, I received a copy of an email from the Grand Lodge of the Dominican Republic, stating that a member of the Grand Lodge of the Dominican Republic, along with two other Brothers, one of whom is a Medical Doctor, are on their way from Santo Domingo, to visit him, approximately 120 miles away.

Soon thereafter, it would appear that a Clarion call was made from the Grand Lodge of the Dominican Republic to brother Masons for blood, and the Medical Facility was able to do the necessary surgery needed to preserve my son. Within a few days, he was airlifted to the nearest Trauma Center in the United States and continues to improve.

This brings another incident to mind. A few years ago, a brother’s wife went to her native country for a short vacation. While she was there, thieves broke in her room and stole cash and important documents, including her Passport. She could not leave the country without those documents. She tried everything on her own to no avail. Her husband contacted the Grand Lodge of New York, who in turn contacted the Grand Lodge of Columbia, and voila! Within days, his wife was on her way home in the United States.

Do not underestimate the influence of the greatest fraternity that was ever conceive by the imagination of man.

Let me make this as clear is possible. Masonry has no limits when it comes to good works towards humanity. Somewhere in history, it is rightly and wisely written: Although but one man among many, you cannot escape or shirk your share in this great responsibility. Your personal contact with others may be circumscribed by the limit of the circle within which your daily life is lived; but your influence passing through and from those whom that circle may surround, will reach further than you can conceive. Masonry bids you do your best in that which lies nearest to you; to see in your neighbor what you desire your neighbor should see in you, to remember that there is no term so often used within our midst, no words more freighted with the strength of man’s very best characteristics, no claim so glistening with the ties of honest affection, as our password of greeting, “My Brother”!