Every Mason a responsible citizen

Media

Part of The Cabletow

Title: Every Mason a responsible citizen
Language: English
Year: 1964
Rights
Abstract: Inaugural address of MWB Charles S. Mosebrook during his installation as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines last April 30, 1964.
Fulltext: “Every Mason A Responsible Citizen” (Inaugural address of MWB Charles S. Mosebrook during his installation as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines last April 30, 1964) Members of the Grand Lodge, Most Worshipful Past (hand Mas ters, Brother Masons, Ladies and Gentlemen: I come well aware this evening of the distinct honor that has been bes towed upon me. I come to the Philippines as a stranger, you took me in and now by your good pleas ure you have elected me to the high est possible office in Masonry. I am well aware this evening of the men of distinction who have preceded me me in this high office. It is indeed ail honor to follow after them. I am also well aware this evening of that place that Masonry has played in the development of the Republic of the Philippines. All of the early revolutionary leaders were honored members of this fraternity. It was Masonry that gave them guidance and direction and they became the leaders in the movement of liberty and freedom for this land. This na tion and all free men owe to these early leaders a debt of gratitude. I would like to point out tonight that there is a wide gulf separating the world of 1 SUS*from thc world of I9(> 1 in which we live. I'he trans formation has been front bull cart lo jet airplane. Il is estimated that by 1970, only a lew years from now that it will be possible to fly from San Francisco to New York in 90 minutes and from New York to Paris in two hours. It will in that day be possible then to have break fast in San Francisco, lunch in Manila and dinner that evening in London. We live in a far different world to day in comparison to the world of 1898. Another fact is that since World War II fifteen new independent free nations have been born, the Philippines among them. There fore, those of us who are Masons here this night and intelligent men and women living in this Republic must face realistically the fact that we face far a different set of problems and circumstances from those in 1898. Thc Philippines today is an inde pendent free nation. Freedom has been won. There is an old hymn which says "New Occasions Teach New Duties.” Every institution upon the face of the earth is having to ask itself some very pertinent questions about its existence and about the contribution it has to make in thc 20th century. The Roman Catholic Church, one of the strongest institutions in the world has had to come fate to face with this great problem. It was not very many years ago that I I. G. Wells, a great historian, wrote a little book entitled “The Roman Catholic Chinch Against the Twentieth Cen tury” implying that many of thc teachings and practices of thc Church were decadent and no longer appli cable to the present day. Then came Pope John, old in years but wise in spirit and he called a Vatican Council. May 1964 365 One of the men who has been both influential in the Roman Ca tholic World and has perhaps in fluenced the thinking of the Vatican Council as much as any other one man is the man by the name of Hans Kung. He has written a book which has been widely read, criti cized on one hand and accepted on the other, entitled “The Council Re form and Reunion.’’ Listen to what he has to say about the Vatican Council. He says “This Council is taking place in an age when not only the eanh but the moon and beyond are at stake, a transition period on an unprecedented scale in which everything is being readjusted, the beginning of a new age. How will the church work in the year 2,000 or the year 2,500? Are we going to have the courage for risk and experi ment or are we going to be content with cheap and barren formula and let everything grow not in a scrip tural sense but in laziness and inac tivity, letting things lly? -Are our ratification going too limited, our reform too superficial, all our actions ultimately ineffective?” In this space age, the Roman Catholic Church has had to examine itself in the light of the 20th century.” One prediction is that next fall, this coming September the Second Vatican Council will again meet. And that the old Italian Curia will be broken and new reforms brought in. If an institution as powerful and strong as the Roman Catholic Church has had to examine itself in the light of the 20th century it is also imperative that every social institution look at itself objectively and ask the question what is its place and its destiny and its contribution in terms of the space age in which we now live. Governments have had to revise their approach. At the close ol world war I the United States ol America was an isolationist nation but now we know that after World War No. II America has become deeply involved in the issues of the world. We must look at the world from the point of technological changes that have come about not only in the speed of travel but in the area of communication, in the great advances that have been made in the field of medical science, realizing that we do live in one world. One world where there are no islands and where there are no separations as seen front thc space age above us. We need to be aware of thc fact that never before in the history of man has man held so much power within his hand for cither good or for ill. Never before in the history of man has man had the power to make this world the kind of a world that God had intended that it should be; a world where every man, woman and child would have enough food to eat, clothes to wear and adequate housing. At the same time man has within his power — power to totally destroy all that civilization has accumulated in the past centuries. We must be aware tonight as intelligent men and intelligent women that we are living in a new age, an age where man has within his power to either destroy the world or to build a better world. It is my sincere conviction that Ma sonry needs to seriously consider its application for the 20th century. There is no use fighting old battles. There are new issues that need to be faced; there are new problems that need to be considered. Masonry is not a religion. It is not a political force but at its heart are basic truths which men have disTurn to page 385 366 The Cabletow EVERY MASON A RESPONSIBLE . . . covered to be true across the ages. It operates not in lhe field of media nical or the material but in the sphere of ideas and relationships. And may 1 point out to you this evening that it is here where men of lhe 20th century need the most help in formulating new ideas, in finding new ways of understanding. It has been said that it is now possible for man to fly in lhe air like birds, to swim through the sea like fish but man has not learned how to walk upon the face of the earth like men. When they opened the World Fair the other day in New York City they heralded mechanical inventions lhe world has displayed there. But it was Nehru's daughter who said in the inauguration ceremony that there were also somethings in the Fair which were equally important which have to do with man's spirit anti man's ideas which are indeed needed to make this a better world. We are all agreed tonight that one of lhe imminent historians ol our day is Toynbee. He has written a scry interesting book entitled "Civil ization on Trial." I would like to read a portion of this book. He says - “For the impressiveness of lhe evidence for progress is met by thc obviousness of the fact that man is relatively good as dealing with non human material. We can make machines, but wc still have to learn how to obey law and order.” What he is lacking in his dealing with human nature, in himself and in his fellow human being. Man has been good in thc field of intellectual know how and a dismal failure in the things of thc spirit. For the spiri tual side of man's life is of far great er importance than thc material. (From page 366) Masonry is dealing with this non material in life. It is dealing with men’s basic relationship with man. And masonry from beginning to end teaches us to be obedient to law and order. I have a feeling this evening that Masonry in the Philippines has thc potential power and the ability to chart the way not only in the Philippines and some of the rest ol Asia but 1 believe that we can also have an influence upon world-wide masonry. Fiisi of all we rejoice this evening in lhe contribution that Masonry has made in the realm as securing liberty and freedom. We honored tonight Rizal, Bonifacio and others. We re joice in those who have followed in their trail and the other night in this hall wc had the Lodge of Sorrow and in that Lodge of Sorrows we honored some of our fellow masons who have recently passed down ihrugh the val ley of lhe shadow of death. One ol these men was onc of my closest friends, Dr. Guinersindo Garcia, Sr. Dr. Garcia had a 20th century con cern similar to that of Dr. Jose Rizal. We need tonight to be I idly appre ciative of (he historical gains that have been made. Wc can come to this' hall without fear of reprisal and enjoy libe rty and freed: m. In order to conserve this liberty and freedom, it calls for eternal vigilance. It calls for continual concern for lhe issues of the separation of the church and state, of the public educational sys tem, of the democratic way of life. May 1 draw to your attention this evening that in a neighboring nation not too far away from here it is im possible for masonry to hold its meeting. It is impossible for ncws-i papermen to print the truth. Thank May 1964 God tonight that that liberty and that freedom are ours and it calls for eternal vigilance in order to con serve that freedom. But we also need to be aware that the day in which we live is fraught with dangers. What was true yester day has been shaken loose today. There are new occasions which are teaching new duties. It is not enough for us to look continually backward. Masonic Concerns must be concerned with the problems of the living age in which we are privileged to live and work. We need to realize that there are porblcms facing us ol great influence on every side. I would like to suggest as our goal for our Masonic Lodge in the Philip pines “Every Mason A Responsible Citizen.” And if you and 1 are to become responsible citizens then we must become invoked in the* living issues. It ought to concern us to night that in this land with abun dant natural resources there are hun gry men, women and children. It ought to concern us tonight that there are hundreds of boys and girls who are being neglected. It ought to concern us tonight that the rate of population explosion in this coun try is so high that every social and political gain that is being set back by the new population of one million persons per year. We ought to be cncerned as responsible citizens to the natural resources that belong to this land are being ruthlessly des troyed and depleted. There are ideologies which not only threaten our Masonry but every other demo cratic institution. We in the Philippines, Guam, Okinawa and Japan, have an oppor tunity to make a contribution. We can begin where we are and we can do the things that are needed to be done immediately. I have some recommendations that I would like to make this even ing. First of all that we as thc Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons in the Philip pines adopt this year the theme “Every Mason, A Responsible Citi zen.” I suggest that we have dis cussions and lectures on this theme within our Lodges so that we may better know our masonic response bility and our masonic duty for the 20th century. Second, I would like to recommend that we make this year a “See thc Philippines Year With the Grand Master.” I think it is a real tragedy that there arc many, many Filipinos who have seen the United States ol America and Europe but not theii own country. It is a wonderful country and it ought not to be divid cd regionally as it is. And we ought to have a real sense of appreciation for every area of the land. We arc hoping this year that as we travel for some of our Masonic duties around this area that others of you will join our company. And I am recommending that wc make this a “See The Philippines Year’ accompanying the Grand Master. Thirdly, I recommend that we con tinue our concern for the public school system, recognizing that the public school system has given to thc Philippines the edge of leadership in all of southeast Asia. Thank God toight that there are many men who want to be President and thank God than many of them are capable men. Supposing that something should hap pen to Soekarno tonight, what would happen in Indonesia. Number Four. — I am recommend 386 The Cabletow ing that we sei upa Legal Committee that will have two functions. First, to advice our brother masons on whom to write a will so, that when they die it can not be said that they retracted and that they have turned their back on Masonry. The second function of this Committee will be to encourage our brother masons as they make out their wills to remem ber the Masonic projects — the Ma sonic Crippled Children’s Home. Time is coming when we need a Masonic Home lor the Aged. There are other institutions that we ought to become interested in. A brother mason in this jurisdiction a year ago said to me, "I have made out a will.” He had included a certain project that he knew I was interested in. I received this paper from the Court today and this masonic pro ject will be benefited because this man who loved masony when he made out his will said "I want my interest in masonry to continue. Af ter my death, when the will is set tled there will be a number of ma sonic projects that will benefit from it. There are others here tonight who ought to make a will in order to protect their families but they also ought to include something that will perpetuate their interest in ma sonic activities lor many years to come. Number Five. — I am recommend ing that we established a Historical Committee to gather Masonic relics, information and biographical sketches of masons who base made significant contributions to the masonic frater nity in the Philippines Number Six. — 1 hat we determine to complete the renovation of our (hand Lodge Temple so that wc shall have a more adequate place to hold our Grand Lodge Communica tion and to carry on the other func tions which are necessary. Number 7 — I am recommending tonight that we this year be men ol faith. Masonry is not a religion but masonry teaches us that each one has a right to choose for himself the way that he will worship Almighty God. 1 am not asking anyone of you to worship as I worship but I am asking you tnight lo worship God regularly and become men of faith. And I am urging tonight that every mason be known as God-fearing man who worships his God regularly as his conscience dictates. 1 am highly honored this even ing to be elevated to this high of fice. I thank the brothers who have placed their confidence in me and 1 am looking forward to working with these men for the good of Ma sonry in the Philippines, Okinawa, Japan, Guam and Saipan. A A SALUTE TO A. . . (From page 371) to tread the dusty road of Life so he could lead them, who are stranded on it, to the Path of Righteousness. The willingness lo serve others even if one had to go oui of his way to render ii and even without pro mise of material reward—such a noble concept of service exemplified so well by Dr. Guinersindo Garcia, Sr. in his lifetime, is a brilliant example and a lasting inspiration that we shall always love to cherish and immilate. He is indeed a giant among men! May you rest in eternal peace with Him in the Great Beyond! May 1964 387