Lodge history of Camarines Norte # 107

Title

Creator

Lagumen, Gregorio S.

Language

English

Source

The Cabletow XLIV (10) October 1968

Year

1968

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

Lodge History . . WB Gregorio S. Lagumen, PM • • Camarines Norte #107 In March, 1931, Masonry was born in Camarines Norte. Attendant tra vails of birth were hers compounded many times over by coming amidst a prejudiced church, century-old traditions, customs, beliefs. To be come a Mason was to become a lost soul, so went the warning to many audiences. Notwithstanding, it was first officered by eminent men of their day. Jose Muniain, a ship cap tain, was the first Worshipful Mas ter; Felipe Fernando, a surveyor, Senior Warden; Jose Santos Seep ing, the manager of Siy Cong Bieng, an exporter, Junior Warden; Luis Miguel, proprietor and businessman, Treasurer; Elmer O. Worrick. retired U.S. Army man turned lumber man, Secretary: Mariano Sta. Romana, a ship officer, Chaplain; Cle mente Bernabe, a government em ployee, Marshall; Basilio Pena, ma rine engineer, Senior Deacon; Al fredo Suabillo, a ship officer, Jun ior Deacon; Antonio Baltazar, ship officer, Senior Steward; Gan Bok, businessman, Junior Steward; Tranquilino Matera, Alatco transporta tion manager, Tyler. Inside the Lodge and during meet ings, deliberations were in Spanish — a mark of education in those days. They met at the Tan Seng Cu building at Pandan, held its inaugu ration at the constabulary barracks near the first Rizal monument (in spired and designed after the tri square of the Masonic emblem), transferred to the old Diluangco Bldg., thence to the Seeping Bldg, and final ly arrested during the Japanese oc cupation In 1941. Reactivation start ed on Oct. 27, 1945. Bartolome Or tega, then a supervisor in the public schools, was the Worshipful Master. Destitute in everything — equipment, paraphernalia, money — she survived only thru grit and enormous deter mination. In recounting the existence of Ma sonry in Camarines Norte during the first half of this century, the follow ing data are enlightening; From 1931 to Dec. 1941: Members accepted ................ 7 Affiliation .............................. 1 From Oct. 27, 1945 to 1950: Members accepted .............. 5 Affiliation .............................. 0 Membership resource hardly aver aged one per year. That apparent ly is due to several things. Members of the Lodge in the early days were under the impression that Masonry’s aims, ways, activities, history, per sonalities need not be bruited about in public, but kept to themselves. They dispensed charity without osten tation, did good without expectation of any recompense, taught their doc trines quietly. In 1950, Masonry in Camarines Norte acquired strength and vigor biassed with strong and able Wor shipful Masters. Bro. Maximo Aba no was elected to the oriental chair and the first public installation was held. WB Paul C. Palencia was the installing officer. In 1952 a bigger public installation was held. “It brought together the cream of society in the province. MWB Fran cisco A. Delgado, PGM, was the in stalling officer assisted by WB Daniel Limbo. For the first time, the true face and feature of Free Turn to next page OCTOBER, 1968 13 Masonry was revealed to the public. Prominent men and women witness ed the solemn ceremony. In March 1953 a piece of land containing 936.68 sq. m. was acquired for the Lodge. The next phase, more difficult, necessitating big experience, wide influence proven reputation, able manager of men, had to be located . This was answered by Bro. Manuel K. Ong who was elected Worshipful Master from 1954 thru 1956. Responding to the will of the Lodge, WB Manuel K. Ong immediately obtained pledges and started collec tion. Thirty two members answered the call including Bro. Bert W. Palmertz, a member of a Lodge in Swit zerland. On a bright morning on January 29, 1955, with the then Grand Mas ter MWB Werner P. Schetelig of ficiating, the corner stone was laid. It was preceded by a parade to the site with the colorful drum and buj'.e corps of the Chung Hua School 'foliowed bv the members and their la dies and the general public. The trowel, symbolic tool of crafts men, was handed to Engr. Conrado M. Ong of the Omega-Beta Con struction. who was charged with the responsibility of designing and con structing the temple. Finally, on May 1, 1955, three months and a day from the laving of the cornerstone, the Masonic Tem ple of the Camarines Norte Lodge 107 was completed. The Lodge meeting was held in the new home that month, the first to be erected in the Bicol Valley after Liberation and in the 23rd year after her charter was granted. Continuous improvements have been added since. Painting the en tire building, enclosing the land with tai! concrete walls, raising the eround to prevent flcod. laving culverts, concreting the flag pole, completing the furniture, etc. They were main ly the products and contributions of Worshipful Masters during their terms of office. Never was there a greater or high er organizational success than the putting up into active functioning bodies of the four complete segments of the Scottish Rite Bodies of Ma sonry, namely: the Daet Lodge of Per fection, 4° to 14°; General Vicente Lukban Chapter of Rose Croix, 15° to 18°; Rafael Palma Council of Kadosh, 19° to 30°; the Manuel A. Roxas Consistory, 31° to 32°. Certificates of recognition for Masonic accomplishments as builder was awarded by the Grand Lodge of the Philippines to WB Manuel K. Ong; for meritorious services to WB’s Gregorio S. Lagumen and Za carias Burgos; for Masonic Leader ship to VWB Santiago Ferrer, Sr. thru his appointment as District De puty Grand Master (DDGM) from 1963 to 1966 and to VWB Eustaquio de Guzman from 1966 to the present time. Membership has grown to 74 as of June 1968. She regrets that not all applications could be accommo dated. Tn 1966 the Grand Master's Cup was awarded to the Camarines Norte Lodge 107, making her the OutstandTum to page 18 Dealer in Genuine Leather Goods VILLANUEVA LEATHER GOODS 1446 San Marcelino, Manila Also Available; Tear Gas Revolvers & Pistols Tear Gas Ball Pens Tear Gas Ammunitions 14 The Cabletow This Dispensation arrived in Ma nila late in August, 1901, and by the terms thereof had to be returned to the Grand Lodge at its next session with a report of the work done there under, together with a statement of the resources and liabilities of the Lodge. The Grand Lodge session be ing held early in October, did not permit any delay in the returning of the Dispensation. The first meeting under Dispensa tion was held on the 28th day of /Vugust, 1901, at which meeting the by-laws were adopted. The first stated meeting was held on Septem ber 2, 1901, and within three days thereafter the Dispensation and all necessary reports were mailed to the Grand Secretary for submission to the Grand Lodge. With these pa pers went the petition for a Charter. On the 10th day of October, 1901, the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of California granted the Charter prayed for, and the first meeting .un der Charter, the institution of the Lodge, and the installation of its of ficers was held on the 14th day of November, 1901. The first stated meeting of the Lodge was held on December 2, 1901. at which meeting the Sojourners’ Club presented the Lodge with fur niture and jewels to the value of about $275. The preliminary meetings, the meet ings under Dispensation, and the meetings under Charter up to April, 1902, were held in the home of Wor shipful Brother II. Eugene Stafford A Doing an injury puts you below your enemy; revenging one makes you even with him; forgiving one sets you above him. nenjamiv Franklin HAVE TOU EVER TRAVELED T For personalized and brotherly serv ice to all Foreign Countries. * Passports * Visas ’ Flight Insurance * Placements-Immigrants * Individual Travel Arrangements * Foreign All Inclusive Tours * Discounted Group Fares * Fly Now Pay Later Arrange ments Visit: ALL WAVS TRAVEL, INC. 1442 San Marcelino St., Ermita, Manila, D-406 Call: Tel. 50-44-11 CABLE ADDRESS: ALWAYS, MANILA CAMARINES NORTE #107 From P.a. 14 ing Lodge for that year throughout the Grand L.odge of the Philippines including lodges in Okinawa, Japan, the Marianas Islands, Korea and Guam. It was truly a signal honor. The previous awardees were Lincobn Lodge No. 34, Oiongapo, Zambales, 1962-63; Leonard Wood Lodge No. 105, Clark Air Base, 1964; Coral Lodge, Ng. 142 in 1965. In the same year WB Primo C. Ong donated to the Lodge almost a hectare of land for her use as ceme tery. Papers were approved by the town council and the Health Dept, and forthwith the cement walls sur rounding the area were erected. Un fortunately, he was summoned to the bosom of the Great Architect of the Universe before he could be installed Worshipful Master for the second term. The unfinished walls had to be completed by the succeeding Wor shipful Master, WB Cenon Dizon. A 18

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