34 years ago in the cabletow

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34 YEARS AGO IN THE CABLETOW February 1, 1924 — This issue of The Cabletow features Past Grand Master Frederic H. Stevens. We quote: “We do not believe there are many Grand Masters in the world who have laid down the gavel after a year so full of hard, trying work and splended achieve ments as that which our beloved Bro. Fredric H. Stevens has to his credit. Upon assuming the purple of the Fraternity a year ago, he found weighty and intricate problems awaiting him which would have filled many a man with dismay; but in his characteristic energetic and fearless way he attacked these and disposed of them, and then looked around for more worlds to conquer. To make our Brethren realize how successful our Past Grand Master Frederic H. Stevens has been in leaving Masonry better and purer in these Islands than he found it, we shall mention some of his principal achievements: He cleared the way for the proper action by the Grand Lodge cm the matter of the labor organizations using Masonic emblems and forms. He made the most serious moves towards the solution of the problem of clandestine Masonry that have been made since the problem arose in these Islands, so that the final disintegration of the spurious bodies is only a question of time now. He stirred committees that had been practically dormant for years into action, x x x. He purified Masonry by making a personal investigation of numerous candidates and preventing the admission of many un worthy men who were about to get in; and by ordering the pro secution of Masonic offenders whose transgressions would other wise have been overlooked and condoned, and he even went to the extreme of arresting charters in his anxiety to preserve the Craft free from reproach and blemish. He saw that our Grand Lodge was worthily represented in the Laying of the Cornerstone of the George Washington National Masonic Memorial and the Communication of the Masonic Service Association in Washington, and near the Supreme Council of Ma 310 THE CABLETOW drid, in an Btrenous effort to clear up and settle the trouble with the clandestine Masonry of Spain. He created much interest in Masonry and in the discussion of Masonic subjects outside of the Lodge by the monthly conven tions of Lodge officers and the Tuesday luncheons, at which many important movements were initiated and much good was accom plished. He created the CABLETOW and inspired and stimulated the staff of the new review to such efforts that the same has become a source of pride to Philippine Masonry. By his recommendation of the discontinuance of certain activ ities of an organization of high degree Masons, by his frequent visits and the great interest he has shown in all the Lodges, and by his own personal qualities, he gained the friendship and ad miration of the entire membership of our native Lodges, and con tributed towards the satisfactory solution of the race question and the realization of the Masonic ideal of harmony. From his action in returning the Grand Master’s charity and expense funds untouched, we cannot but conclude that he has in curred heavy pecuniary sacrifices in the performance of the duties of his office, in addition to the many hours of his precious time. This is indeed a record to be proud of, and the CABLETOW takes special pride in congratulating M. W. Past Grand Master Frederic H. Stevens upon his splendid work for the Craft in this part of the world and hopes and trusts that he will not sleep on his laurels, but continue to be a pillar of the Fraternity in the Philippine Islands.” COMMENT: The above record is enviable. We are missing some of it now-a-days. M. W. Bro. Stevens has plans to go on an extended leave to the United States after the Annual Session of the Supreme Council, A & A S. R. of which he is the Illustrious Sovereign Grand Commander. WHO IS WHO AMONG . . . (Continued from page SOI) of the broken column and one of the most beautiful sections of our ritual. JOHN BARNEY —Born in Connecticut in 1780, died in 1874, learned ritual from Thomas Smith Webb, moved to Ohio and served as Grand Lecturer for seven years, attended the famous Baltimore Convention in 1844, moved to Illinois and was appointed Grand Lec turer of that Grand Lodge. His greatest work was disseminating the degree work and teaching the lectures. Ref.: 1957 Proceedings, Grand Lodge of West Virginia.

Date

1958

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In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

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