Choosing the better part

Media

Part of The Cabletow

Title: Choosing the better part
Creator: Navia, M. C.
Language: English
Year: 1964
Rights
Fulltext: Choosing The Better Part Rt. Wor. M. C. NAVIA, PDGM Grand Orator Like the GM HA viewing the temple to sec if any improvement could be made either for strength or ornament, we assemble here annually Irom here and Irom afar to take stock of the affairs of the Order and to prepare for the Masonic labors ahead. These are fruitful meetings well worth the sacrifice, for in this yearly assembly wc enrich our knowledge in the affairs of the Craft by sharing each other’s experience. The long agenda never becomes monotonous and the discomfort of this crowded hall is overlooked because in the end we take home not only the conscious ncss of a work well done but also pleasant memories of old and new laces we have met and warm hands we have clasped. Of course, there are also disappointments, but by and large we leave this hall feeling in our hearts that we have somehow advanced lhc good <>f the Order. , And yet, lor all these, one may ask if we do not, in our concern for the material well-being of the Older, neglect the more important part. For let us not forget that Masonry’s primary concern is not with material things but with intangibles of moral and spiritual value. To interchange their positions of relative importance is to miss completely the meaning ol Freemasonry. While Jesus ami his friends were in the home of the sisters Mary and Martha, Martha was much perturbed over the comfort of the visitors while Mary, sitting at the feet of Jesus, was completely absorbed in what the Teacher was saying. When Martha complained to Jesus of Mary’s lack of cooperation, Jesus reminded her that Mary had chosen the better part — those things that cannot be taken away. Sometimes I feel we arc like Mar tha, overly concerned with transitory matters, forgetting the things that endure. Dr. Jose Rizal once said that wc are like turtles — wc arc judged by our shells. Is this the reason why appearances ate so im portant, why the superficial is emphas.zed over the essential? In olden days the synagogues were lull of people who made a big show of religiousness. Jesus denounced them because they had no real piety in their hearts. Modern churches also suffer from a surfeit of religious pretenders, and like churches, Ma sonic lodges have a similar problem. The only difference is that church pretenders are hypocrites, while then Masonic counterparts sincerely be lieve that Masonry is just being a member of a Masonic lodge. In that belief lies precisely the weakness of Philippine Masonry. Here — and perhaps elsewhere too — the Order is just like a social or business club where attendance and payment of dues are about all that arc required to be in good standing. Incidentally, we, Masons, use the June 1964 401 phrase “in good standing" too loose iy. Its conventional meaning is that a brother is up-to-date in his dues. The honor conferred seems too high for the achievement. A Mason should be termed in good standing only il so adjudged by standards more indicative of Maso nic ideals. The tragic fact is that from time to time good men, worthy Masons, are dropped from lodge tolls because they can no longer pav their dues. But it is not surprising that our concept of Masonry is so materialis tic. After being raised to the sub lime degree, a new brother is told that all is over and lie is now a full fledged Mason. If he remembers some of the solemn charges and takes them to heart, the seeds of Masonry have not fallen on barren ground. But often — too often indeed — that is not the case, and the new-brother enters into the Fraternity conscious of no other obligation than to pos sess a fresh card every year and to be seen at slated meetings. Masonry is perhaps the most ideal istic and spiritual association in the world that is not a religious organi zation. It aims to make us "living stones" for that "house not made with hands eternal in the heavens.” What that house is, Masonic philo sophy, I presume, has volumes to say. For me, I am satisfied that it is a spiritual edifice in the form of a Brotherhood of all peoples under the Fatherhood of God, united by the bond of harmony and love. In order to fit into that structure as living stones, we must exert efforts to correct our defects, as stonecutters do with rough stones by the imple ments of their craft. If I do not misinterpret the message of Masonry, it is the message of Longfellow’s “Excelsior" — to ascend to higher and higher levels; the message oi “The Chambered Nautilus” of Olivet Wendell Holmes — to build more stately mansions for our souls; the message of David’s Psalms — to reach for the hand of God. In other words, Masonry is con slant striving for a better life toward perfection. Obviously, this is a task where we need Divine help and guidance. And it is here where Ma sonry and Religion meet. A good Ma son is a religious man whatever hipersuasion may be, because it is re ligion that steers him through dark uncertainties as he gropes for light and Truth. It is religion that sus tains his faith in the lasting rewards of goodness and virtue. How poor a concept then have we of Freemasonry when we regard it no better than a club or college fra ternity! So long as we do not set aright that concept. Masonry will remain an idle dream never to be realized, while ignorant critics have an easy time distorting its image. It is a sad irony that in the Philip pines, a country that owes its free dom to the libertarian sp:rit and sacrifices of Freemasons, the lattei are treated as a prescribed class by their own people. Today, Masonry is considered a liability in politics and a handcap for career men in government service. Only a few in public office are brave enough not to hide their membership in the Or der. If some Filipino Masons arc accepted in high society today, it is either because their membership is not known or their importance can not be ignored. Hence Masonry in our country does not draw member ship from the elite any more, as in the glorious days of Rizal and Del Pilar, or even in the time of Kalaw, Palma and Quezon. 402 The Cabletow Some years ago, the “Cabletow" referred to the case of a brother Ma son who had for a dinner guest an im portant Masonic personage. Noting the absence of his daughter who was a student in a religious school and of whom he was very proud, he sent for her. To his surprise and em barrassment, the girl firmly declared in the face of the guest that she did not care to sit at table with a Mason. Who was to blame? Certainly not the girl whose young mind was poisoned against Masonry. Not the school run by a sect well known for its implacable hatred toward our Order. The blame must fall on the father himself who did not lake his Masonry seriously. Too many of us, like this father, because it is fashion able and we can afford it, send our children to schools and colleges where we are certain they will be indoctrinated against our Institu lion. On the other hand wc keep members of our families out of our Masonic circle and associations. There is the Eastern Star and the Amaranth for our women folks, the De Molay for our boys, the Rainbow and Job’s Daughters for our girls. How many of us bring our families to these fine Masonic organizations to expose them to their wholesome atmosphere and at the same lime add another link io our family ties? Wc do not even talk to our families about the goodness of the Order. As a result, they are indifferent to Masonry and, as in the case of that girl, openly hostile to it. And so by being remiss in our duties to our Institution, wc give aid and comfort to its detractors. Hence the persistent question in the minds of many as to who of our leading Filipino Masons today can assure us that when they die their widows and children will not treat us with disdain, or will deny to us even thc duty of paying Masonic homage to the mortal remains of our brothers? What assurance have we that their families will not encourage claims of retraction however absurd? I have deep misgivings. But this let me say: What we experienced in the case of Brothers Tankiang, Ca mus, Carmona, and more recently General Aguinaldo, will be exper ienied again and again so long as we tlo not show in our lives that Masonry leads man along the paths of goodness, morality and virtue. To live Masonically is the best way to argue with those who w'ould condemn the Order. And so 1 say it is high time that we improse our perspective of Ma sonry. One of the most famous architects of England was also a great Mason. I refer to Sir Christopher Wren whom we arc told designed the City oi London and constructed great edibeers in Europe, among which was the famous Cathedral of St. Paul in London. In building this cathedral, it is said that Sir Christopher em ployed so many laborers and artisans that many of them did not even knowr him. One day, so the slots goes, lie walked among the stone cutters and addressed one of them thus, “My good man, what are you doing?” The man, without even looking up. answered, “I am cutting this stone just like the others.” Sir Christopher moved on and asked another man doing the same work the same question. This second la borer smiled and said, "Sir, I am earning a fesv shillings a day.” He walked on a little farther and asked a third man the self same question. Turn to page 419 June 1964 403 CHOOSING THE. . (From page 403) l liis third man, however, stood up, thrust his breast out and proudly said, “Sir, 1 am helping Sir Christo pher build this magnificent cathe dral!” What difference in thinking and attitudes! No doubt they were reflected in the respective qualities ol die men's work. 11 the Grand Master were to go down and ask each one of us what wc are doing here — in other words, why wc became Masons — and if wc will answer with candor, we will fall into three categories like Sir Chris topher's stonecutters. For is it not true, my brethren, that some of us joined the Fraternity just because others did so, perhaps a father, a friend or an important personage, as did all of Quezon's bootlickers in his heyday — exactly the same reason given by the first stonecutter? Then there are those who joined the Or der for selfish reasons — a profes sional after a bigger clientele — a merchant looking lor business con nections — a nobody alter some sort of distinction. They are like the second stonecutter, motivated by personal gain. Happily, there is a third group ol brother Masons among us, exempli cifd by the third stonecutter, who understand tile grand design ol Freemasonry to build for mankind a spiritual temple ol love and liar inony. They livc as true Masons and do honor to the Fraternity. What wc deplore is that this group is not larger. But it is pleasant to contemplate what a different society ours would be if wc had more ol their number. What is thc remedy? My Bre thren, 1 have been stating the remedy in the presentation of the malady. Nevertheless, suffer me in dosing, to impose on you further one brief observation. I have had the privilege to read proceedings of sister Grand Lodges all over the world. One significant thing I note is that Masonic Educa tion is a major enterprise of many (fraud Lodges. In some jurisdictions, institutes arc held regularly not only for Worshipful Masters and Secre taries to be instructed in their tech nical duties, but also for Brothers who seek more light in Masonic usages, history, philosophy, traditions, and related subjects. They provide a well rounded education in the Craft. In thc process they instill deeper respect for the Institution and con scquently more serious observance ol its charges. And while speaking ol institutes or seminars, why not ol Masonic spiritual retreats? Held periodically in different localities or Masonic districts and properly plan ned, these seminars and retreats should be educational anti inspira tional as well as enjoyable. But above all, there is a crying need for our elders to leatl the way by making themselves exemplary Ma sons — leading religious lives, walk ing'oi) the level — true brothers t<> their fellowmen. Yes, Brethren, it is high time that we re-examine our Masonry. The signs are disturbing. Pick up a newspaper any day and you have a dime sheet in your hand. It looks as if yesterday’s delinquencies arc the moral standards of today. And this seems to be true everywhere! We cannot dismiss this as the responsi bility of the government, the church cs. the schools and the homes, loi Turn to psg' 430 June 1964 419 TAGAYTAY LODGE NO. 165 Wor. Master ............ Senior Warden ....... Junior Warden ..... Secretary ................. Leon Vidallon 2951 Legarda Sampaloc, Manila Fortunato Ejercito Dominador Felix Gavino Feliciano Torres APO KAHOY LODGE NO. 166 Wor. Master ............ Narciso T. Reyes Co Senior Warden Tito Caledral Junior Warden ....... Arturo S. Lugod Treasurer ................. Reynaldo L. Fernandez Secretary .... Salvador L. Mercado 609 Guanzon Ext. Gingoog City GENERAL MANUEL TINIO LODGE NO. 167 Wor. Master ............ Mariano Q. Tinio Senior Warden ..... Feiix C. Mateo Junior Warden Felicisimo Gatmaytan Treasurer ................. Bonifacio U. Natividad Secretary ................. Apolinario A. Tabing Guimba, Nueva Ecija GENERAL LEANER A LODGE NO. 168 Wor. Master ............ Narciso J. Martinez Senior Warden ..... Marcelo FigueYba Junior Warden .... Emilio de la Rosa Treasurer ................. Dominador Cabrera Secretary .... Emiliano M., Ortiz 808 Gen. Tinio St. Cabanatuan City JUAN SUMULONG MEMORIAL LODGE NO. 169 Wor. Master ........... Exequiel P. Angeles Senior Warden (Aclg’, . Eulogio S. Eusebio Junior Warden ..... Virgilio J. Tamayo Treasurer ................. German Esguerra, Jr. Angelo S. Bayion San Carlos Heights Binangonan, Rizal KIDAPAWAN LODGE NO. 170 Senior Warden . .. Secretary ......... . Buenaventura A. Sabulao Ceferino Villanueva Alfredo Lachica William Louh Kidapawan, Cotabato NARRA LODGE NO. 171 Wor. Master ............ Buenaventura P. Eugenio Senior Warden ..... Pedro S. de Guzman Junior Warden ..... Oscar O. Azarcon Treasurer ................. Secretary ................. Jaime A. Patacsil San Jose, Nueva Ecija LOOCHOO LODGE NO. 172 Wor. Master ............ Cleveland McConnell Senior Warden . . . .. Junior Warden .... Secretary Murray V. Harlan, Jr. Theodore C. Scavy Benjamin C. Thorner, PM Malcolm L. Eastlick U.S. Army MP Group, APO 331 U.S. Forces CAPITOL.CITY LODGE NO. 174 Wor. Master ............ Senior Warden ....... Junior Warden ....... Placido M. Pilar Pedro N. Ylagan Leonardo G. Padilla 16-A Roosevelt Ave., Quezon City MICRONESIA LODGE NO. 173 Wor. Master ............ Horace J. Leavitt Senior Warden ..... Walter Fred Dupont Junior Warden ..... Elmer L. Gay, Jr. Treasurer ................. Secretary ........... Perry W. Stout US Trust Territories Pacific Islands, A A A CHOOSING THE. . . (from pa8. 419) 1 here is no blinking the facl that this is a challenge to our Institution whose symbolic tools arc precisely for building order and morality. 1 do not suggest that we sally forth into the field as crusaders, for Ma sonry’s mission of moral reform be gins at home, that is, with our own selves. To perform that mission is not only to be true to our obligations as Masons but also to contribute effec tively in hastening the realization ol an orderly, harmonious world which Masonry envisions and for which all humanity yearns. • 430 The Cabletow