Acceptance speech of past master's jewel of Wor. Bro. Teofilo G. Guillermo

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Part of The Cabletow

Title: Acceptance speech of past master's jewel of Wor. Bro. Teofilo G. Guillermo
Language: English
Year: 1957
Rights
Fulltext: 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 Masons can have this emblem. It is a Fast Master’s Jewel, a Masonic Badge, awarded to a Mason who has served as a Master of a Blue Lodge under the jurisdiction of the M. W. Grand Lodge of the Philippines, of F. & A. M. I am inclined to believe that this jewel is possessed with some peculiar qualities or characteristics that are not found in any ordinary jewel. In making up with this assumption, I am confronted with the burden of how to conduct myself after I received this emblem. The ceremony of receiving it does not require any complicated process as you have witnessed. It is simple as just to receive it with my bare hands, but how to abide by the meaning it represents is something to consider with clear and honest mind. A Past Master who endeavors to receive this jewel must have in mind that he is in some way qualified to possess or earned the merit to own it. The recipient of this jewel must necessarily have a government of his conduct in order to govern and rule his flock over whom he was called to serve. He should not only be versed or proficient in our rituals, but likewise concerned of the welfare of his brethren, and sympathetic towards his neighbors. During the whole term of his administration, he would have accomplished the progrom he thought expedient to be done with cooperation of his brethren. His leadership is contagious, such that his ideas are converted into fruit-bearing actions by his colleagues with his instigation. In short, he should be an example of modesty and industry in al) his acts and doings. Corrclatively speaking and by these principles, am likewise faced by the bothering thought of qualifying myself as a rightful claimant of the jewel. It is said that, "A gift without the giver is bare", and I add to say that "A gift without the receiver is worthless”. My colleagues, you have given me this jewel, as an award after my one year with you, as one who guided our lodge, not as one who governed a lodge. After the installation of officers last year, giving the signal effect of my services to commence as Master of our Ixidge, I started running a RACE with your good expectation of me. 1 was afraid that, in that one year of RACE, I may stumble on my way, or on my policies of administration, that will prevent me from reaching this year’s goal, and which will subject me to the detestion of my brethren. The practice of giving a Past Master's Jewel after at least a period of eight months to an out-going master is a traditional role of the ledge. This was not my course of action or guide of my objective goal. I preferred to be honest to myself and sincere to my Page 206 THE CABLE7TOW brethren. I chose to work hard to earn your cooperation. Of course I was aware of my shortcomings. I was afraid that I might fail my brethren of my boundened duties to serve them. Thank God I I was never short of the tasks, and of my duties I vowed to dedicate and devote for the interest of the Fraternity. To run, like the “1U0Meter Dash” or the "200-Meter Run” is not hard, but to run a RACE of serving a lodge of men, consisting of good and selected men is something to face with strong nerve and determination. I do not need to recite you of my role of conduct as Master of this Lodge, for I feel that you know it better than I do. I do not like to receive this jewel, that you give me after this one year of my administration of my services as worshipful master, automatically coming to me by operation of tradition, regardless as to whether I am deserving or not. When I said that “ a gift without the receiver is worthless”; this jewel, that you give me after this one year of my administration is blank and nothing, if I did not work hard to earn it. As to my efforts, you are here left to judge, whether I am deserving or not. On the other hand, if you my brethren, failed to fulfill your duties to cooperate or work with me in the promotion of our ideals, and denied yourselves of the privilege of contributing something for the upliftment of humanity, of which we are part, I have the “gift without the giver”, and this jewel is bare. It is worthless and nothing. It may be a beautiful jewel as you see it, but docs not carry its meaning. The significance of every portion of it becomes meaningless. Let me cite you the pictures embedded in this Masonic Emblem, so that you can be appraised of its significance. You will find here on top, the name of Magat Lodge No. 68, F. & A. M. The letter "G” denotes the initial of the name of the Supreme Being and below it, is the name of the recipient followed by the Square and Compass circumscribing the symbolic sun at meridian height in all its glory. These are Masonic Emblems full of meaning tending to rule and 4- office * school supnlics 4 art materials < 4- drafting A engineering materials +• photostats j 4 plastic lamination 4 color photostats ) + while A blue prints j Manila fclna P'tinting (2a., Pnct 820 ARLF.GUL QUtAPO TEL. 3-55-66 t Manila Ulna pttintinty £nt., 9nc. 20 DW1O. liSCOLTA TI LS, 3-1S-2C ? December, 1957 Page 207 guide our conduct as a man. It creates in the mind of the owner a continuing fidelity to his trust and act as an instrument calling him for closer association to his brethren. There are interwoven in this jewel, masonic emblems representing Christian virtues, that the holder of it may not possibly perceive the deepness of its spiritual value, without himself attaining an spiritual rebirth, and cannot comprehend the meaning of its significance without himself becoming a new man. Holding this jewel is not therefore, altogether a glory or honor, if we are short of the qualities necessary to hold it. There is an obligation attached to it, in order to be worthy of its meaning. And to abide by its meaning, is a curtailment of our superfluities in life. I only hope that I can live-up to the level it holds, and which is expected of the owner of thia jewel. It is not therefore, gaining an honor, that is the concept, but becoming what I am, how I behave and conduct myself in keeping with the spirit it conveys, is all that is important of me as holder of this jewel. In accepting thia Past Master's Jewel, I do most hope therefore, that I do not accept it as an effect of a tradition of thia lodge, but by reason of hard labor and devotion to duty in the promotion of our ideals which befit the honor and glory that is in it. It is then, and only then, that I most humbly and sincerely accept'it And glady keep it for my children, and children's children to see, to hold and to adore. Thank you ever so much, my brethren. - oOo-----"THE GREATEST THING IN THE WORLD” Most Worshipful Grand Master, Dignitaries in the East. Brethren, Ladies and Gentlemen: Seeing in the horizon the ominous clouds of destruction which threaten to engulf the world of Christianity by the blasting of the first atomic bomb in this mad struggle for power among men and nations, I have selected "THE GREATEST THING IN THE WORLD” as the subject of my speech. If I were to ask you which is the greatest thing in the world, I suppose most of you, without hesitation, would say, money. Money, the God of some, the necessity of all, the goal of man and woman. Yet, some would say. power, the power to bestow misery or happiness, the power to give life or death, the power to rule the destiny of men and of the world. Page 20S THE CABLBTOW