History of Lodge Perla del Oriente No. 1034, S.C.

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Part of The Cabletow

Title: History of Lodge Perla del Oriente No. 1034, S.C.
Language: English
Source: The Cabletow XXXIII (7) January 1958
Year: 1958
Rights
Fulltext: HISTORY OF LODGE PERLA DEL ORIENTE NO. 1034, S.C. Manila, Philippines The history of Freemasonry under Scottish Constitution in the Philippines is filled with events that are of interest to the Fraternity. By its introduction into the Philippines there has been added an element of strength to the Craft as a whole. The establishment and progress of Freemasonry under the Scottish Constitution in the Philippines is of great interest to Masons of this country. On June 1, 1907, several brethren, recognizing each other as Master Masons in good standing, assembled at the residence of Brother Manuel Camus at 196 San Sebastian Street, Manila. Their purpose was to map out measures for the institution of a Lodge of Free and Accepted Ma sons under the Scottish Constitution in Manila. Present at the assem bly were: Brother Manuel Camus, Manila Lodge No. 342, under the juris diction of the Grand Lodge of California. Brother Francisco Aguado, St. John's Lodge No. 618, Scottish Constitution, Hong Kong. Brothers Jose Fournier, Carlos Camus, Vicente Versoza, Joee Lopez Bogina, Jose Infante, and Rufino Victoria, members of Dalisay Lodge No. 177, under the jurisdiction of the Grande Oriente Espanol of Spain. A petition was prepared and signed by these brethren praying that the Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland grant a charter for the formation and constitution of a Lodge in Manila, Philippine Islands, to be named Lodge Perla del Oriente (Pearl of the Orient) Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons, the meetings, transactions and ceremonials thereof to be conducted in the Spanish language. The petition was presented through the Right Worshipful, the Honorable George Albert Watkins, 33°, of Hong Kong, who was the representative for Scottish Freemasonry in the Orient. Named as the first office bearers were the following brethren: Manuel Camus____________________ Master Francisco Aguado__________________ Deputy Master 248 THE CABLETOW Jose Fournier Senior Warden Carlos Camus............................ Junior Warden Vicente Verzosa .... Secretary George A. Watkins ......... .. Treasurer Jose Lopez Rogina ........ Senior Deacon Jose Infante .................. Junior Deacon Rufino Victoria ............. . Tylr On the 7th day of November, 1907, the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Scotland granted the Charter prayed for, transmitting il lo the District Grand Master of Scottish Freemasonry in Hong Kong for consec ration of the Lodge and the installation of the office bearers. As the Constitution of the Grand Lodge of Scotland provides that the Right Worshipful Master of -a daughter Lodge can be installed only by a Master or a Past Master of ils own jurisdiction, it was necessary for the Master-elect, Brother Manuel Camus, and his Deputy Master, Bro ther Francisco Aguado, to proceed to Hong Kong, where they were duly installed on April 23, 1908, by the Right Worshipful Gregory Paul Jor dan, District Grand Master. The other officers were duly installed at the first regular meeting under charter held by the Lodge at its new quarters at 70 Principe Street, San Nicolas District, Manila, on May 4, 1908, by Brothers Manuel Camus and Francisco Aguado. This was upon their return to Manila from Hong Kong. At the same meeting, several petitions for degrees were presented. The first addition to the membership of the Lodge was by affilia tion of Brother Eugenio Dievan from Dalisay Lodge No. 177, Grande Oriente Espanol of Spain. The first initiation was that of Manuel Martinez, and the first brother to be raised to the degree of Master Mason was Juan Lebron y Ocampo. It was the original intention of the founders of the Lodge to cop tine its ritualistic work to the Spanish language. It was not long, how ever, before Americans and other English-speaking candidates began knocking at ils portals in search of light. It was soon realized that English was slowly but surely supplanting Spanish in the Philippines, therefore it was agreed that both the Spanish and the English language be used in the Lodge. The action was heartily endorsed by the Englishspeaking brethren whose support and encouragement, by their frequent attendance at the meetings, and their participation in the social func tions, aided greatly in the upbuilding of the Lodge and ils growth to its present enviable position. The popularity and prosperity of the Lodge continued until the outbreak of the World War II in the Pacific. When the Japanese Im Jinuary, 19S8 249 perial Army invaded tbe Philippines in December, 1911, and when the Japanese occupied the City of Manila on January 2, 19-12, Lodge activi ties were suspended. The Japanese did not allow any mass meetings behind closed doors therefore Masonry was suspended in the Philip pines. The Plaridel Masonic Temple at 520 San Marcelino street, Ma nila, where the Lodge had held its meetings prior to the Japanese occu pation, was commandeered by the Japanese Army. The Masonic re cords and paraphernalia of the Lodges which had formerly held meet ings al the Plaridel Masonic Temple were lost. The American civilian members of the Lodge were herded into different internment campus. The Filipino members, on the other hand, were kept under strict surveillance as they were known to be helping American citizens and the citizens of other nations at war with Japan. After the liberation of the Philippines by the Armed Forces of the United States, several American and Filipino members of the Lodge promptly exerted efforts to have the Lodge resume its activities. In this connection, Lodge Perla del Oriente is deeply grateful Io Mttog Lodge No. 89, F. & A. M., under the Grand Lodge of the Philippines, for its permission for the Lodge to hold its first meeting in the post-war period at the Masonic Temple, Parunaque, Rizal Province, on December 15, 1915, at2:00 P.M., for the purpose of installing the officers elected in November, 1941. Duly installed by Brothers James Stevenson and Benito Manezc, Past Masters, were the following office bearers: R. H'. Master Irani. Past Mush y U'or. Sr. Warden H’or. Jr. Warden Secretary Treasurer Chaplain Sr. Deacon . ...__ ___ Jr. Deacon .... Director of Ceremonies Sr. Steward . Jr. Steward Inner Guard O. G.-Tyler . David W. S. Clawson Benito Mancze, P.M. Thomas H. Fenstermacher Albert C. Wright James T. Irwin, P.M. Benito Maneze, P.M. (Acting) Harry G. Ellsworth. P.M. Ed. Perenoud Lorenzo Tremper Arthur M. Hammond Lim Kao Hian Joseph W. Crow Maurice Funstenberg Salvador Vico After its meeting at the Muog Lodge Hall, Lodge Perla del Oriente, by force of circumstances, had to seek sanctuary elsewhere. Brother 260 THE CABLFTOW Thomas H. Fenatcrmachcr, kindly and thoughtfully, offered hie home located at 427 Tejeron Street, Ska. Ana, Manila, as a temporary lodge meeting place. Hia sala was converted into a Ixidge Hall, and it was duly consecrated on February 10, 1946, at 2:00 P.M., with Brother Benito Manezc officiating, assisted by other Lodge members. The Right Worshipful Master, the Senior and Junior Wardens, the Secretary and the Treasurer utilized small wooden boxes, piled on top of each other, as pedestals and tables. It was necessary to use car penter's tools for our Masonic working tools; the square and compasses; and hammers served as gavels; but on the Altar was the Holy Bible illuminated by candles as the three lesser lights. The officers' jewels, which had been saved by Brother Janies Stevenson, were strung in cords and used by the officers. Twelve white aprons were donated by Bro ther David W. S. Clawson, Right Worshipful Master of the Lodge. For several months, without interruption, regtdar meetings were held at this residence of Brother Fenstermacher. Lodge Perla del Oriente received, early in October. 19-1(5, an invita tion from Brother Louis M. Housman, Past Master of Manila Lodge No. I, F. & A. M. and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Mt. Arayat Lodge of l’erfoclion, for the Lodge to hold its meetings al the Scottish Rile Temple. 912 (now 1828) Taft Avenue. Manila, which was then being reconstructed. The first meeting of the Lodge al the Scottish Rile Temple was held on October 12. 1916, and from then mi (he Scot tish Rile Temple has become its permanent residence. It is interesting to note that although Lodge Perla del Oriente has not considered surrendering its Charier to the Grand Lodge of Scotland to enable it to join the Grand Lodge of the Philippines, its relationship with the latter has been one of complete friendship and cordiality. On the 17th Anniversary of the Lodge in 1925, the occasion was graced by the presence of many illustrious Masonic figures, notably the then Most Worshipful Grand Master, Brother C. W. Rosenstock, Pasl Grand Mas ter Milton E. Springer, and many other other distinguished brethren from the Grand Lodge of the Philippines, The 40th anniversary celebration of Lodge Perla d-l Oriente, the first in 19-17 since (he Liberation, was held in the ruins of the Scot tish Rile Temple with Most Worshipful Brother Emilio P. Virata, Grand Master, accompanied l>y officers and numbers of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines as the guest of honor. Notwithstanding the fact that lodge meetings during those days were held in sweltering heat, the occasion was veil attended and the fellowship enjoy,-<1 was some thing for the memory to treasure. r>, 195The following year—in Novembr, 1948—Most Worshipful Brother Conrado Benitez, Past Grand Master, and other members of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines, paid a courtesy visit to Lodge Perla del Orien te, and since then this reception of the Grand Master and Officers of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines has been an annual tradition with Lodge Perla del Oriente. It is the hope of every Perla member that this close relationship between Lodge Perla del Oriente and the Grand Lodge of the Philippines and its Subordinate Lodges shall continue un marred in the many, many years to come. The tenets of Freemasonry—virtue, morality and brotherly love— far transcend territorial jurisdictions and sovereignty, and it is in the light of this precept that Masonry in the Philippines has become a strong moral institution, a deep spiritual force, devoid of any conflict ing ideas or tendencies. Masons under the Scottish constitution work hand in hand with Masons of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines in complete harmony. Truly, it may be said, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for the brethren to dwell together in unity.” And in the words of Confucius. “. . . when there is concord among brethren, the harmony is delightful and enduring.” — Courtesy of Wor. Bro. Benito Maneze, P.M., Secretary, Lodge Perla del Oriente No. 1034. WHAT PRICE LIBERTY? (Indiana Freemason) It is fitting and proper that, as the lodges go into a season of vast activities, we give thought to that which lies immediately before us. With each passing hour, the news broadcasts of our country describe the crisis at hand. It is, unquestionably, the most serious crisis with which the free peoples of the Earth have ever been confronted. The issue is: Shall Liberty, and all that follow in her train, perish from the face of the earth? The Masons of another day established upon this continent the liberty which we love and for which Americans are new dying upon the farflung battlefields of the world. The Masons of this day have the solemn duty to preserve, defend and protect that liberty. As the war progresses, opportunities for service inertase. Today a clarion call is sounded to each of us. It is the call to dut . Whether that duty is to fight, to work, to contribute, buy bonds or shed blood upon the field of battle—it is a duty which no true Mason will seek to evade or fail to discharge. Sweat, blood and tears are the price of liberty. This price has always and everywhere been the same. Liberty never comes over the 252 THE CABLETOW
pages: 248-252