Grand Master's message

Title

Language

English

Year

1960

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

(fated "Mtetoctyc LET US CREATE ENTHUSIASM FOR A BETTER MASONIC EDUCATION With no idea of trying to bring pressure on anyone. I should like to see more attention given to our Constitution and the Masonic Law Book. Masonry is a progressive moral science. No doubt our newly initiated members would like to learn more about the Fraternity to which they have pledged allegiance. To help in this matter it is suggested that at stated meetings, when time will permit, one of the experienced Masons should be assigned in advance to speak to the members on certain phases of the Constitution. This should be followed by an open forum in which many questions might be asked. Such discussions could no doubt create enthusiasm for learning more about our beloved Fraternity and its activities. It is believed that this procedure would result in increased attendance at our Lodge meetings. A thorough study of our Masonic Law Book would create among the Brethren a thirst for improving their masonic education. The practical object of Masonry has been defined as “the physical and moral amelioration, and the intellectual and spiritual improvement of the individual and society.” To practice Masonry we must know Masonry. Every Mason should know the essential characteristics and fundamental principles of the great Fraternity to which he belongs. Everywhere in our Masonic work, knowledge is stressed. There is no educational test to determine fitness for membership, but the candidate must learn our ritual and, to be a good member, he must have sufficient knowledge to understand and appreciate the history, teachings, and principles of Freemasonry. Again and again education and the acquirement of knowledge are urged upon the candidate. True Masonry consists in practicing the Masonic teachings. Above all, every Mason should become familiar with the ancient landmarks of Masonry, or what we sometimes refer to as the “unwritten laws” of our Fraternity by Albert G. Mackey, which are found in our Masonic Law Book. There is a liberal Masonic education in the twentyfive ancient landmarks that were handed down to us by our predecessors, and we are more or less in duty bound to transmit them to our successors. 41 In Lodges where your funds will permit, it is hoped that libraries will be established at your earliest convenience. It is realized that not all of our Lodges can afford to have masonic libraries, so it is suggested that in such cases efforts be made to obtain pamphlets and a fpw books on Masonry by writing to Masonic Service Associations. Since the Masonic Law Book was compiled in 1954, some provisions of our Constitution have become obsolete by Annual Communications of our Grand Lodge, but these obsolete provisions are known by the officers who have attended our Annual Communications and may also be found in our printed proceedings. Grand A .A A O OUR OBJECTIVE--OUR REASON FOR BEING Willi the end in view of bringing into focus the vital problems of our Public School System which cry for immediate solutions, the Supreme Council 33°, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry of the Philippines, and the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines, have decided to launch a joint program for the improvement of the Public School System in order to make it truly free and democratic, and financially stable. To chart the course of such an ambitious program, a Coordinating Committee was created under the chairmanship of Ill. Werner P. Schetelig, 33°. This Committee, after three meetings, in turn recommended the creation of an Action Committee to implement effectively the joint program, as the executive arm of the Coordinating Body, with Ill. Vicente Garcia, 33°, as chairman. Keenly feeling the need for a mouthpiece for its gigantic task of arousing public interest through the brethren and lodges throughout the country, the Coordinating and the Action Committees decided to issue a leaflet once a month to be known as Freemasons’ Educational Bulletin. It was the consensus that such a publication is of vital importance, particularly in the pivotal campaign to create a strong public pressure to bear on our Congressmen to support a bill in the next session of Congress stabilizing the financing of the public schools, similar to House Bill No. 3516, which was reported and calendared in the last session of Congress but was not acted upon. The Coordinating Committee is of the strong belief that all the problems that beset our public schools, such as lack of buildings and adequate equipment, lack of properly trained teachers, and lack of textbooks, can be solved only after the problem of financing our public school system is solved once and for all. VT 42 THE CABLE TOW October, 1960

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