Inaugural speech of Wor. Bro. Perry C. Curtis

Title

Language

English

Year

1957

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In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

fihdqa eg Saj uuc ii . . INAUGURAL SPEECH of Wor. Bro. Perry C. Curtis Installed Master, Corregidor-Southern Cross Lodge No. 3 for 1958 Most Worshipful Sirs, distinguished visitors, Brethren, Ladies and Gentlemen: On behalf of the newly installed off.cers and myself, I wish to extend our warmest thanks to Most Worshipful Brother SIDNEY M. AUSTIN and to Most Worshipful Brother CLINTON F. CARLSON, both Past Grand Masters of Masons in this Grand Jurisdiction, for consenting to officiate at our installation tonight. All of us know the many demands made upon the time of these Distinguished Brothers, and to have them with us this evening is indeed an honor. Our Fraternity is one of many traditions and a long and honorable history. Freemasonry attracts many of the best men from every walk of life, every nationality, every faith and creed. We like to feel, that even the best of these arc able to find improvement in the study of the Moral Teachings of our Fraternity. Masonry, is, in its essence, a set of Moral Teachings, taught by degrees and illustrated by symbols; and although it requires its members to be Religious, at least to the extent that no Atheist can become a Mason, it is in no sense a Religion as we presently understand that word. In our Lodges in the Philippines, for example, are lo be found members of the Roman Catholic Faith, the Greek Orthodox, the many Protestant denominations, the Hebrew end Moslem Faiths. We point with pardonable pride, to the fact that under the influence of the teachings of our Craft, these widely divergent groups learn to lrve, act and work together as Brothers. Many of History’s greatest figures have been proud to call Lhcmselves Freemasons. We have numbered in our assemblies: Artists, December, 1957 PaRC 203 Philosophers, Teachers, Soldiers and Statesmen, men who have done much to shape the course of history. Mozart, for example, was a very active Mason and wrote several musical compositions expressly for our Masonic rituals. Voltaire, the great French writer-philosopher was also a Mason, and many of his writings, particularly in relation to Human Rights, show clearly the Masonic influence. It is in the field of Man’s search for freedom, however, that Masons of history have tert tneir most lasting mark. Garibaldi, lhe liberator and unifier of modem Italy was a Freemason. The history of the United States is filled with the names of men who have belonged to our Fraternity: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and the Marquis de Lafayette. Benjamin Franklin was a Grand Master of Masons in Pennsylvania. More that half of Washington’s generals were Masons. Twelve Presidents of the United States have been Masons. Today, six of the nine members of the United States Supreme Court are Masons, as are the majority of the State Governors and US Senators. Coming closer to home for us living here in the Philippines, a roll-call of Illustrious Filipino Masons, reads very much like the roll-call cf the National Heroes of this country: JOSE RIZAL, A. MABINI, MARCELO II. DEL PILAR, GRACIANO JAENA, JUAN LUNA and ANTONIO LUNA, were all active members of our brotherhood. In more recent times, the much beoved JOSE ABAD SANTOS, martyred by the Japanese during the last war, was an ardent member of our Fraternity. The late Pres. MANUEL L. QUEZON, was a Past Grand Master of Masons in the Philippine Islands. Less than two months ago it was my good fortune to participate in a Masonic Ceremony where I found myself seated beside our Brother General Emilio Aguinaldo, President of the first Philippine Republic and a Mason of many years standing. That so many men, of so many different Nationalities, sharing the same love of freedom, should also belong to the same world-wide Fraternity, surely seems more than mere coincidence. However, I do not wish to give the impression that Masonry is in any sense a revolutionary organization. On the contrary, Masons are enjoined to Page 204 THE CABLFTOW be exemplary in the discharge of their civil duties, and are instructed to be obedient to the lawfully constituted civil authorities. This does not mean, however, that a Mason is expected or required to be complainant in the face of tyranny and unbearable oppression. There is a greater obligation laid upon Masons, based upon the three principal tenets of our organization, namely: Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth. Where these three principals flourish, tyranny cannot exist. In reflecting upon the character of the Brethren who have gone before us, each Mason realizes the duty placed upon him to preserve the Ancient Landmarks, Customs and Usages which were so important to our forebearers. The duty falling to the Master of a Lodge, to supervise and direct its activities during his term of office is a particularly serious one. It is a duty and an honor not lightly bestowed nor should it ever be lightly bestowed nor should it ever be lightly accepted. I wish to thank my Brethren of Corrigedor Southern-Cross Lodge No. 3 for this honor, and I sincerely hope that this coming year will prove me adequate to the task and worthy of the trust placed in me here tonight. ACCEPTANCE SPEECH OF PAST MASTER’S JEWEL of Wor. Bro. Teofilo G. Guillermo, P. M. Magat Lodge No. 68, F. & A. M. Wor. Sirs, Distinguished Guests, Brethren, Ladies and Gentlemen: I am touched with a feeling of satisfaction and relief on being conferred the distinct honor of a recipient of this symbolic emblem of our institution. Not all men can own this jewel. Not even all Columbia Paint & Varnish Co., (Phils) Inc. Manufacturer o( Qual ty Paints a OFFICE: 224 Calvo Blds . Escolln. Manila TI LS. 3-06-25 3-X6-H) I FACTOHY: Knjuhau.n, Polo. Uulacun ( December, 1957 Pace 205

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