About
True Masonry came to Trinidad nearly 300 years after Christopher Columbus visited Trinidad in 1498. A lodge in St Lucia called 'Les Frères Unis', formed in 1787 with a charter from the Grand Orient of France, found themselves under considerable threat and pressure due to the Revolution in France - St Lucia being a French colony in those days.
The charter was brought to Trinidad in 1794, apparently in the nick of time as the temple in St Lucia was burned to the ground by a mob with the death of several of the brethren in that year. In Trinidad, the lodge met in a building located in ‘La Rue Trois Chandelles’, called so because of the three candles burning on the lodge gates on meeting nights (now Duncan St) in Port of Spain.
In 1798, ‘Les Frères Unis’ Lodge was granted a charter from the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. Fourteen years later, the war between Britain and America caused the lodge once again to reconsider its status, and they decided to apply to the Grand Lodge of Scotland for recognition, which was duly granted. Today known as Lodge United Brothers No 251 SC, the lodge is very strong and active, and proud of its chequered past.
In fact it is the second oldest lodge outside of Scotland under that country’s Masonic jurisdiction.
From KSM Article
Historical Facts of Les Freres Unis and Lodge United Brothers, [LUB]
LUB No 251 is the only overseas Scottish Lodge which has borne five [5] different numbers;
They were; 327 [1737 list], 322 [1809 list] 244 [1816 list], 255 [1822 list] and 251 [1826 and last] numbering.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1727 |
First Worshipful Master of Les Freres Unis in St Lucia, Louis Estribaud, born at Carcassoonne, France on 27th January. |
| 1752 |
Benoit Dert, founder of Freemasonry in Trinidad and a founder of Les Freres Unis in St Lucia, born at La Carbet, Martinique on 26th September. |
| 1786 |
Les Freres Unis Lodge, warranted by the Grand Orient of France, founded in St Lucia and "Parent Body" to the present LUB |
| 1786 June 27th to 1787 June 27th |
June 27th to 1787 June 27th; Les Freres Unis consecrated and erected and Installation Meeting. Six weeks later the French revolution occurred |
| 1787 to 1798 |
Les Freres under the Grand Orient of France |
| 1787 to the present |
Les Freres Unis/Lodge United Brothers, continuous Masonic work with Side and Higher Orders |
| 1794 |
During the French Revolution, the Temple at Micoud, St Lucia was burnt to the ground and many Freemasons were murdered and guillotined. The ferocity with which this was engineered by the French Mulatto Revolutionary, Victor Hughes, was indescribable in its savagery |
| 1794 |
Freemasonry arrived in Trinidad, Benoit Dert, officer in Les Freres Unis, fled from St Lucia and arrived in Trinidad with the Charter of Les Freres Unis. |
| 1795 |
The Grand Orient of France, [the Governing Grand Lodge of Les Freres Unis] and its Grand Master destroyed by the French Revolution |
| 1795 to 1797 |
Meetings at Duncan Street continued. The meeting place known as La Rue des Trois Chandelles, as three candles burnt at the Lodge gate on meeting night |
| 1797 |
The British captured Trinidad |
| 1798 March 13th |
March 13th; Brethren of Les Freres Unis signed a petition to the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania for acceptance. Bro Benoit Dert signed as the RW Master and Bro Vincent Patrice as Secretary |
| 1798 October 28th |
Les Freres inaugurated under the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania |
| 1803 |
The Surveyor General, Joseph Etienne Maingot, R.W.M. of Les Freres Unis, facilitated the purchase of a parcel of land for the building of a new Temple. They called this place Mount Moriah. |
| 1804 |
First Temple built/erected by Les Freres Unis at Mount Moriah, Piccadilly Street, Port of Spain, probably one of the oldest buildings in continuous Masonic use in the world |
| 1804 |
The Motto of the Lodge was placed above the main door of LUB, Audi, Vide, Tace - Listen, See, Be Silent. |
| 1809 |
General Santiago Marino, Commander of the Army of Liberation, under Simon Bolivar, himself a Freemason, was initiated at Les Freres Unis |
| 1812 |
England and America were at war which presented problems for Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania |
| 1813 |
Les Freres Unis applied to the Grand Lodge of Scotland for a Charter but did not advise the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania |
| 1813 November 1st |
Les Freres Unis got chartered, Charter No. 327 under the Grand Lodge of Scotland |