M.W. Carl Oscar Carlson 1970

Carl Oscar Carlson

Brother Carl Oscar Carlson was born in Ivoryton, Connecticut, January 13, 1910, the son of Carl and Alida (Larson) Carlson. The family moved with their young son when he was nine years old from Ivoryton to the Town of Deep River, Connecticut, where he resided the rest of his life.

Brother Carl continued his Elementary Education in the Town of Deep River and graduated from the Deep River High School in 1928. Like many other Americans at this time of the Great Depression of the thirties. Brother Carlson found himself taking whatever was available for employment to earn an honest living. For two years he traveled throughout the United States as a Chauffeur and followed this with a year of employment in the United States Department of Agriculture.

On November 15, 1935 Brother Carl O. Carlson entered the employment of the United States Post Office Department. By the year of 1940 he was serving as Assistant Postmaster in Deep River and he continued in that capacity for twenty-seven years retiring on December 31. 1967. Brother Carlson also served as First Selectman for the Town of Deep River in 1970.

On February 15, 1941 Brother Carl Oscar Carlson was joined in marriage to the former Hortense "Didi" LaPlace of Deep River and from this happy reunion has come two sons, Richard L. Carlson now residing in Newark, Illinois and Donald R. Carlson of Deep River. He also was blessed with two grandsons, Brian and Daniel Carlson of Newark, Illinois, and two granddaughters, Krista and Alexa Carlson of Deep River.

Brother Carlson held membership in the Old First Congregational Church of Deep River, thus proving himself a traditional New Englander, despite his Swedish lineage. He had been a regular Communicant at the Old Congregational Church since the family moved to Deep River.

Two fields of extra curricular activity had filled his non-working hours for many years:
Service Organizations and Sports Brother Carl had been closely associated with most of the local fund drives had served the Y.M.C.A. worked as head of the U.S.O. and filled the post of Treasurer of the Crippled Children's Organization for four years. He had been active both as a player and an Official in various sports arenas. For six years. Brother Carl was President of the Middlesex County Bowling League. and was Charter President of the Lower County Golf League. He had also served as Manager or Captain of most of the areas athletic teams and as President of most of its Leagues. Brother Carlson was an avid golfer shooting in the high seventies and low eighties. During the winter months he was equally active in local bowling.

Brother Carl Oscar Carlson began his Masonic Career in Trinity Lodge No. 43, A.F. & A.M.  Deep River, Connecticut when he was Raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason April 23. 1951. Less than five years later Brother Carl was Elected to serve as Worshipful Master of his Lodge for the year of 1956. In 1957 he was Appointed Right Worshipful District Deputy of the Seventh Masonic District by Brother Conrad Hahn Most Worshipful Grand Master for that year. In 1958 Most Worshipful Brother Albert H. Ruwet Grand Master for that year reappointed him to serve as the District Deputy of the Seventh Masonic District. In 1960 and 1961 Right Worshipful Brother Carl again served the Grand Lodge in his

Seventh Masonic District, as Associate Grand Chaplain with Right Worshipful Brother Henry Frank Stocek, District Deputy for Masonic District Seven South.

Brother Carl Oscar Carlson was Installed Right Worshipful Grand Junior Steward in 1963, an Appointee of Most Worshipful Brother Ernest R. Dayton, who had served as Most Worshipful Grand Master during the year of 1962. Brother Carlson's progression through the Chairs of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge had been steady. On April I. 1970, Brother Carlson was Elected Most Worshipful Grand Master and at Installation Ceremonies on April 2, 1970, Brother Carl Oscar Carlson accepted the Purple Mantle of Authority as the Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons in the State of Connecticut.

From the beginning of his Service in the Grand Lodge, Brother Carlson served on the following Grand Lodge Committees: Masonic Culture and Public Relations (4 years), Manual for District Deputies and Officers (3 years), Budgets and Appropriations Medals and Awards (3 years) and on the Committee of Welfare and By-Laws of Lodges.

Most Worshipful Carl Carlson held membership in several Concordant and Appendant Masonic Bodies: Charter Oak Lodge of Perfection; Hartford Council, Princes of Jerusalem and Cyrus Goodell Chapter of Rose Croix of H.R.D.M. in the Scottish Rite Valley of Hartford, and Connecticut Consistory S.P.R.S .• Thirty-Second Degree in Norwich. He was a Past High Priest of Burning Bush Chapter No. 29, Royal Arch Masons; and a member of Columbia Council No.9, Royal and Select Masters and Cyrene Commandery No.8, Knights Templar. Most Worshipful Brother Carlson also belonged to Sphinx Temple Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. and the Sphinx Caravan Shrine Club of Middlesex County. Brother Carlson's Home Lodge, Trinity No. 43, merged and was constituted on April 20, 1974 as Trinity-Mt. Olive Lodge No. 43, A.F. & A.M. Most Worshipful Brother Carl had served as the Grand Representative of Switzerland (Alpina) Near the Grand Lodge of Connecticut.

Most Worshipful Brother Carl Oscar Carlson, who resided at Founders Village, Clinton, Connecticut, passed from this earthly life to the Celestial Lodge above and into the eternal care of the Grand Master of the Universe, on Friday, March 9, 1990, at the Masonic Home and Hospital, Wallingford, after a short illness. Besides his wife Hortense "Didi" Carlson, he leaves two sons, Richard L. and Donald R., two grandsons, Brian and Donald Carlson, and two granddaughters, Krista and Alexa Carlson. Memorial Services were held on Monday. March 12, 1990, at 11:00 A.M., in the Deep River Congregational Church, Private burial was in Fountain Hill Cemetery, Deep River, Connecticut.

Thus passeth from this life, Brother Carl Oscar Carlson, our I 24th Most Worshipful Grand Master, a Brother to whom his Home, Family, his Church, his Community and his many Masonic Affiliations were ever matters of moment and responsibilities of love. May our memory of Most Worshipful Brother Carl Oscar Carlson encourage us to nobler deeds, higher thoughts, and greater achievements.