Beginnings of Manila Lodge No. 1

Title

Language

English

Source

The Cabletow XLIV (10) October 1968

Year

1968

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

Tfo.f (Formerly Manila Lodge No. 342, F. and A. M. Under the Jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of California) Early in the American occupation of the Philippine Islands the advisa bility of organizing a Lodge was dis cussed among the brethren, but no attempt at organization was made un til early in 1900 when, pursuant to a call published in one of our daily papers by Brother Manley B. Curry, a meeting was held, which resulted in the organization of the society known as the “Sojourners’ Club.” The Sojourners’ Club was composed of men who were believed to be Ma sons in good standing. Its object was to promote good fellowship among the brethren and to assist such of the brothers as might be overtaken by ad versity or affliction. Aid was ren dered to a number of distressed bre thren and at least one funeral at tended, at which such of the ceremo nies as could be, were used. Meetings were held twice each month, in the Manila Times Office, the Oriente Hotel, the home of Brother H. E. Stafford, and in the office of Brother W. G. Skidmore. The earliest record of the Club that can be found is of the meeting of April 2, 1900. The active membership of the Club was at one time quite large, but grew less and less, when many brothers lost interest because it seemed, for a time, impossible to secure a dispen sation for the Lodge, until finally there were but few more than the sixteen charter members of the Lodge. The meetings of this Club were purely of a social nature, but the deep-seated object and desire of the members was to organize a Lodge, and many earnest conversations were held, and many suggestions made, touching upon this subject. The great difficulty was in securing the neces sary twelve brothers who would dimit from their Lodges to assist in form ing a Lodge in Manila. The Sojourners’ Club observed the days of St. John the Baptist by a banquet at the Oriente Hotel on June 26, 1900, and St. John the Evange list by a banquet in the Paris Res taurant on December 27, 1900. After some delay, the necessary dimits were secured and the first pre liminary meeting for the purpose of organizing the Lodge was held in Worshipful Brother H. E. Stafford’s home, 73 Calle General Solano, San Miguel, Manila, May 22, 1901. From the date of the first preli minary meeting, the matter of organi zation did not lag; the brethren were in earnest, and much hard work had to be done to satisfy the requirements of the Grand Lodge of California, to whom it had been determined to ap ply for a dispensation. The con ditions in Manila at that time were not as ideal as could be wished, there being open hatred and opposition to the movement. The difficulty was made greater by the fact that we had no one among us who was familiar with the organization of Lodges in the jurisdiction of California. On the 27th day of May, 1901, a petition for Dispensation was signed by the charter members and forwarded to Very Worshipful Brother Grand Secretary George Johnson, at San Francisco, and on the 4th day of July, 1901, Most Wor. James A. Foshay, Grand Master, signed a Dispensation authorizing this Lodge to meet, ini tiate, pass, and raise all good men and true, who might apply and who were found worthy. Turn to next page •OCTOBER, 1968 17 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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