The Brother’s of Widow’s Son No 7 continued annual Thanksgiving support to our widows and the community.
On November 21st, Brothers showed up in impressive numbers for the Paramount Baptist Church Turkey Distribution, loading vehicles and delivering dinners to homebound members.
On November 24th, 10 Turkey Dinners were delivered to Rehoboth Baptist Church. Special thank you to all who supported both monetarily and physically.
On June 5, 2020 Widow’s Son Lodge No. 7 assisted the MWPHGLDC and the MDPTA, with delivering a little over 250 food baskets to families living in local Maryland Cities.
Worshipful Master Matthew Williams, in collaboration with Martha Chapter #11’s Worthy Matron Jeanette Steward, continued to demonstrate dedication in supporting those impacted by this pandemic. On Thursday, May 28th, the brothers and sisters donated 1,100 masks + $200 to Children’s National Hospital of Washington. Children’s Donation Committee were in awe of the effort, as masks are very hard to obtain, even for a hospital.
Breast Care for Washington (www.breastcaredc.org) is specifically designed to overcome current barriers that prevent low-income, medically underserved women from receiving high quality breast care. Located in the heart of Ward 8, Breast Care for Washington (BCW) is the first and only breast cancer screening facility east of the Anacostia River to offer 3D mammography. 3D mammography (also called breast tomosynthesis) is a new technology in the fight against breast cancer that allows doctors to examine your breast one layer at a time. 3D mammography uses high-powered computing to convert digital breast images into a stack of very thin layers or “slices” –building what is essentially a 3D mammogram.
WM Matthew Williams and JW Brian Williams were introduced to BCW last year, by their Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Brother and Hampton University classmate, Keith Reed. Brother Reed (Sons of Solomon No. 166, MWUGL of Florida PHA), currently Hologic’s Senior Director of Sales Enablement, visited DC in 2019 to donate several ~$400k 3D Mammography machines to BCW and speak to Congress on the importance of proactive screenings within the African American community.
As a result of this networking connection, on February 28, the brothers of Widow’s Son #7 supported the Annual Ladies Night In 2020 – Mardi Gras. “Because Women’s Health Deserves a Party”, is designed to provide a fun, pampering atmosphere while promoting breast cancer awareness and screenings. Over 80 women attended to receive free massages, facials, eye lashes and make-up, screenings, and a host of other pampering services. The event was held at BCW’s HQ collocated with the Community of Hope’s Conway Health and Resource Center. Community of Hope also serves the Ward 8 community, providing medical, dental, and behavioral services, regardless of insurance or ability to pay. The wife of Widow’s Son’s SW Brian Brock, Dr. Shayla Graham-Brock, volunteered for many years at Community of Hope, providing family medical services to those in need.
This event and our new partnership with Breast Cancer of Washington demonstrates the power of networking, leveraging relationships to practice charity. Ritualistic work is great, but how we serve others that are unfamiliar and uninstructed in the terms of Worshipful Master or Junior Warden, is how Freemasonry lives and sheds its beneficent influence upon mankind.
Blinded By Darkness “Too Blind To See”, given by Worshipful Eric Konohia, 33°, was definitely thought provoking! A great amount of esoteric knowledge was giving on the Badge that we all wear! The most important message coming out of this lecture was “Are You Mason, Or Are You An Impostor”
Brothers of Widow’s Son Lodge No. 7 enjoying The Georgiana Thomas Grand Chapter’s (GTGC) 2020 Charity Inaugural Ball. An afternoon of fellowship, awesome food, and dancing all while benefiting charitable endeavors. It’s always a pleasure listening to the uplifting words given by Grand Worthy Matron Eunice Dingle.
Widow’s Son Lodge No. 7, along with the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia, participated in the 39th MLK Day Parade on Monday, January 20, 2020. The starting point will be Anacostia Park and the ending point is St. Elizabeth campus.
The D.C. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Parade was conceived in 1977 by the late Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, founder of The Washington Informer and co-founder of the United Black Fund, along with his wife, the late Ward 8 Councilmember Wilhelmina J. Rolark, Esq., and the late Ralph “Petey” Greene, a community activist and radio personality. Thanks to these three renowned civic leaders, the District of Columbia was one of the first jurisdictions in the nation to hold a parade honoring Dr. King following his untimely death on April 4, 1968. It helped in the effort to establish a national holiday in Dr. King’s honor and today it reinforces the work being done by government agencies, community non-profit organizations and private citizens to promote peace and non-violence locally and around the world.
The parade began in 1979, six years before Kings’s birthday became a federal holiday. Across the nation and the world, Dr. King’s life and legacy is commemorated by a day of service and promoted as “A Day On and Not a Day Off”. The Martin Luther King Jr. Parade symbolizes the need to continue Dr. King’s work and reinforces the idea reflected in his words, “Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable… every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.” Those who believe in Dr. King’s message are considered members of the Coalition for Peace and are invited to join the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Parade every year.
Worshipful James Morgan, III did an outstanding job in providing the Craft information on the Origin of Prince Hall Origin. You can view the entire lecture below
Congrats to Worshipful Master Matthew Williams on being awarded the Senior Warden of the Year Award for the 2019 Masonic Year. Also a big congrats to PM William Thompson and PM Ramon Washington for their Superior Service Awards.
Widow’s Son Lodge No. 7 had the opportunity to deliver toys to the kids at Mayfair Mansion Community Center in Washington, DC. Thank you to all who contributed with your donations to make this possible.
1000 U. Street NW
Washington, DC 20001
Email: contact@ws7dc.org
