BE SINCERE
Every Mason occupies a distinct role in the drama. He, who is in the Light must stand, protect and keep its sanctity unsullied. Remember, that he, who pose to be the vanguard of that Light must possess in himself those shining qualities that befit him to the high honor of his station.
Mason is a name imbued with such peculiar trait that places a brother to the forefront and become an elect. He proves himself dignified, prudent and sanctified. In the throng of people he glitters as gold glitters in the mount of sands. Such, is the Mason who is in the Light. He must be absorbent of the glares of that Light and become instrumental to the diffusion of the rays of that Light to all his fellowmen. He shall never falter, it shall always be his duty to uphold the divine symbolism of that Light.
He must be sincere in himself, to his fellows and to G.’.A.’.O.’.T.’.U.’. A Mason who is in the Light, by the grace of Him, must be true and sincere.
DO WE ERR?
By BONAI
Well and good! If all the initiates can follow this teaching strictly or the votaries of the A.’.A.’.S.’.R.’. can make themselves conformable to these doctrines, we will not go astray and lost our ways. We will learn more to love children, respect old age, be affectionate to the female sex, admire our fellows and helpful to them and sympathize with our brethren.
What is more, remember that we are members of the same household, where mutual understanding, mutual help and reciprocity in the dealings of each other are indispensable. Let us endear our relation and make closer our attachment. The
In a small country like the Philippines, especially in its present turbulent condition which retrograde the morality and faith of the inhabitants the presence of a stable and unified front of the Institution of Brotherhood of men is imperatively necessary if she is true to her purposes and aims and for which she is committed.
Let us put aside the controversial point of sovereignty in the
Jurisdictional right should not be an obstacle to the fulfillment of our Masonic duties, the upholding of the avowed principles and the conglomeration of a race into a strong compact for the happy end of their Motherland. The sponsors of the Grand Lodge of the Philippine Islands before its establishment in 1912, said, that the
But one thing is true and beneficial to all Filipinos, and of which they should be proud of, and they must embrace it warmly, as warm as their love for their country, for it is purely “trade marked”, “Filipinos”, equivalent in some degree to Lincoln’s “of the people for the people and by the people” and this is the Masonic power for the Filipinos.
Illustrious Brethren –
Name Title Number Date of Invest.
Felix Polintan 33.o 528 March 31, 1921
Dr. Jose Elchico 33.o 609 Feb. 18, 1922
Timoteo Paez 33.o 730 Nov. 19, 1923
after selecting other members to compose the Supreme Council, and with the help of thousands of regular master masons founded and constituted the Supreme Council of the 33d Degree for the
In order to bring the constitution of this Masonic power within the bound of Masonic Laws, although we believed that the former procedure was already sufficient, it was re-organized in 1927. The Grand Constitution of 1875 provides:
“1.o En los lugares aptos para poseer un Supremo Consejo del 33.o y ultimo grado, un Delegado de un Supremo Consejo Confederado, Soberano Gran Inspector General de la Orden, Grado 33.o, tendra por este Decreto y conforme a las presentes condiciones, la facultad de exalter al mismo grado de autoridad a otro hermano, haciendose garante de que realmente es acreedor a ello por su character, conocimientos y grados; y tomara el juramento al favorecido.
“2.o Estos dos conferiran juntos y del propio modo el mismo grado a otro Mason, observando igual procedimiento, hasta llegar al numero de nueve Soberanos Grandes Inspectores Generales de la Orden, que es el minimum de miembros efectivos que necesariamente han de componer un Supremo Consejo.
“Par. IV. De este modo se formara el Supremo Consejo del Grado 33o y ultimo.” – ARTICULO II, CONSTITUCIONES Y ESTATUTOS DE LOS GRANDES Y SUPREMOS CONSEJOS, 1875.
“La Jurisdiccion territorial de todos los Supremos Consejos regulares actualmente reconocidos, sera respetada, pero en lo sucesivo no se podra fundar mas que uno para cada Estado Soberano.” Par. III, ART. V, GRANDES CONSTITUCIONES DE 1875,
The minutes of the reorganization, which was presided over by the then Delegate of the Supreme Council of the 33d Degree for Spain, who was clothed with authority by that Masonic Power to reorganize the Supreme Council of the 33d Degree for the Philippines, embodies part of the statement of that worthy Delegate in this wise:
“El Supremo Consejo
The formation of a Supreme Council in this jurisdiction has long been contemplated by the Filipinos. In 1915 when late Bro.’. Teodoro M. Kalaw was the Grand Master of the “Gran Logia Regional de Filipinas”, in his message at the convention held on May 15, 1915, he says:
“Consideramos que ha llegado el momento en que debemos pensar seriamente en la suerte de nuestra institucion. Hemos caminado hace tiempo como automatas, cuando debemos levanter la frente y mirar resueltos el porvenir”…”En medio de esta tremenda agitacion, nuestro deber nos aconseja que no debemos ser tardos ni perezosos en la marcha. Debemos colocarnos a la vanguardia porque asi lo exigent nuestro honor y nuestra responsabilidad. Tened en cuenta que los masones Filipinos somos LOS UNICOS RESPONSABLES de la Masoneria Filipina, que es carne de nuestra carne y hueso de nuestros huesos. Quiera el Gran Arquitecto del Universo que antes se haya realizado ya en el fecundo seno de nuestros Templos EL IDEAL DE RENOVACION que todos estamos llamados a acometer ahora con decision, serenidad y confianza!” – La Masoneria Filipina, pagina 161.
The Grand Lodge of the Philippine Islands no doubt is supported by the Mother Council in
Our country is already an independent country. Eventually, the Supreme Council for the Southern Jurisdiction of the
The eminent Southern Jurisdiction of the
The institution of masonry would not commit to itself what the ecclesiastical churches are intending to do. In all independent countries like America, China, French and others, there are American Cardinal, Chinese Cardinal, French Cardinal, etc., respectively; Philippines being already an independent country should have therefore, a Filipino Cardinal; but for obvious reason, rumor goes around that a foreigner is contemplating to apply foe a Philippine citizenship to be qualified for the position of Cardinal for the Philippines.
In the face of these truism, brethren from other jurisdiction called us in many ugly unmasonic appellations, such as, “Spurious”, “Clandestine” and what not, with a wink still of an eye and provocative gesture. We humbly say, we are not “spurious” or “clandestine” or any other unpleasant names. Besides the explanation in the preceding paragraphs, we may further add that the National Grand Lodge of the
From the beginning, fortunately, we adhere to the Christian Masonry and follow the teachings, as much as we can, of that Grand Master, who died on the Cross. We believe, as we always say that the content of the first paragraph of this article characterized any mason, and the same is in consonance with the teachings of Christ. All master masons should know and must learn the meaning of the paragraph. It pertains to the symbolic lodges and there is no reason why other brethren should tread to the opposite direction. Masons are considered to be the people of the G.’.A.’.O.’.T.’.U.’. They are the guardians of righteousness and the truth and the rightful media of human kindness and love.
No mason was specially designated by the G.’.A.’.O.’.T.’.U.’. to represent Him on earth and monopolize the inherent blessings. He can not claim superiority over his fellowmen. Otherwise, he violates the Masonic adage “
Pride and self-centered are qualities abominable to mason – to Christian masonry. Person who acquired the trait is anti-mason and should be deprived of that sweet and adorable name, Mason. He should be tolerant, helpful and charitable. These are the qualities a mason should possess and practice. Only those virtues are the necessary qualifications for the attainment of such end for which masonry was committed.
Let us not be extremist. When a priest confidently says that he is the representative of God on earth, we often express our doubt as to its veracity for reasons and Justice sake. Christ himself refrained from saying that he was the representative of God; he showed the way, the right way to approach Him and the ways agreeable to HIM. To be a representative is another thing. One may have exerted a great influence over Him because of his saintly acts and divine feelings still He would not make him His representative. True mason is the most democratic creature on earth. When they say equality – in dealings with each other and of his fellowmen there is no high nor low, rich or poor, white or black or brown or yellow or red – they meant it.
Sophism has no place in the Masonic World. Masons are virtuous men and imbued with rich and shining rays of moral teachings. They teach and practice truth and truth only. The great Master, for the sake of truth and in defense of truth, became the victim of Ignorance, Ambition and Hypocrisy. Rizal himself was ready to die for that truth. All masons must be inspired by the lessons extracted from the life of the Great Master and of Rizal “The Pride of the Malay Race”.
Let us forget the boats on which we are. Those boats have the same destination. Only one Spiritual Pilot conducts them to only one place – known only to HIM. Let us not spent our time on this controversial point. Let us materialize the dream of Rizal, which is “
The most important mission of Masonry specially today is to treble effort and maintain material and spiritual defenses to repulse the worms which rotten Philippine Nationalism.
Catholics grow very rapidly. Their adherents multiply in great proportion. Besides the propaganda that they employ, one effective means to win adherents is the recognition by the church of the “Lotrina” and the “kubol” of the barrio folks. The parish priest of a town shall at once attend to them and give them advice. He consecrate the “kubol” encourage the “lotrina” and the whole barrio afterwards are turned or converted into catholic.
We know that “Masonry labors to improve the social order by enlightening men’s minds, warning their hearts with the love of the good, inspiring them with the great principles of human fraternity, and requiring of its disciples that their language and actions shall conform to that principles, that they shall enlighten each other, control their passions, abhor vice, and pity the vicious men as one afflicted with a deplorable malady.”
This is an avowed obligation. Every Mason is conscious of the presence of organism which is rotting his true faith and nationalism but encouraging the expansion of fanaticism and the protection for everything but his own. LET US THINK FOR OURSELVES. The spirit of the ideals of our heroes and martyrs which was capitalized to conceive and win the blessings of an independent existence is now fading gradually away to the horizon. This present condition of affairs hinders if not paralyzes his effort to continue further his subtle work. Concerted action is therefore needed.
In the face of this decaying nationalism, we call on you for the fulfillment of this obligation, but you heed not; we call you brother, brother to win your appreciation and affection, but you look askance at us with contempt; we ask you to put down your bucket in the Philippine water which is sweeter than that found elsewhere, but you ignore and despise us; we are sincere in our intention to win you and the G.’.A.’.O.’.T.’.U.’. wills it that we join hands for the benefit and advancement of the Motherland. Still you neglect us and avoid our offer of comradeship. Why, DO WE ERR?
SOLIDARIDAD ISSUE FEB. 1949
A SALUTE TO THE ORDER
With the first issue of this organ of our fraternity goes our salute and gratitude for each and all our brethrens, who in some way or another have contributed something for the birth of this humble publication.
In our present complicated world trend, where love of power and money seems to be the paramount concern of majority of the people, it is not yet too late to have a publication of this kind dedicated to the service of our order in particular and to the amelioration of our inner life in general.
To attain the foregoing objectives, a publication of this humble magazine of the brotherhood is desirable to which the support of each and all the members of the jurisdiction is absolutely necessary.
Late is better than never.
January 16, 1949
V.B.E.
A “WARNING”
In the August issue of the New Age, the official organ of the Supreme Council 33o of the Southern Jurisdiction, there appeared a “warning” on the existence of Freemasonry in the Philippines, which is allegedly irregular and clandestine.
The implication in said warning is not entirely new for the masons affiliated and under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Council of the 33o for the Philippines, and it is believed that it is now time to correct the source of the information.
The Supreme Council of the 33o for the Philippines, which has been the recipient of too many unfortunate attacks from members of the Southern Jurisdiction, was organized and incorporated in 1924, and since then has been in existence with the status of private corporation. Under the law of the Philippine Republic, said body has a juridical personality, and any mason, who calls it irregular and clandestine is either spurious mason or a mason, who forgets that he is a mason, who is supposed to talk with reason and some sense of responsibility.
This humble organ of the order pleads for coolness of mind to those affiliated with the Supreme Council of the 33o for the Philippines. The incidence is quite unpleasant, but is a pleasure to forget and forgive.
Let us be satisfied that our order is not a stranger in our own land.
Kawit Cavite
Dec. 14, 1948
V.B.E.