Philippine Freemasonry for 1966-67

Media

Part of The Cabletow

Title: Philippine Freemasonry for 1966-67
Language: English
Year: 1966
Rights
Abstract: Condensed from the address of our M.W. Raymond E. Wilmarth, Grand Master, at the Scottish Rite Luncheon, May 21, 1966.
Fulltext: fa 1966-67 [Condensed from the address of our M.W. Raymond E. Wilmarth, Grand Master, at the Scottish Rite Luncheon, May 21, 1966} We concluded on April 28, 1966, the Fiftieth Annual Communication of the most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons in the Phil ippines. During the twelve months that will follow, Philippine Freema sonry will he guided by the Grand Lodge Officers recently elected and installed. Today I shall briefly pre sent to you some of the objectives we hope to achieve and some of the guide lines we expect to establish for our Symbolic Lodges. Of course we must all bear in mind one fundamental thought: JVe can never accomplish anythin/} in this world if we don’t start doing something and we can’t expect to get anything accomplished once we start working on it, unless everyone works together for the com mon goal. Therefore, the basis of our Philippine Freemasonry for 1966-67 will be co ordinated positive action. Throughout the Philippines and the Far East areas served by the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons in the Philippines, there are one hundred thirty-eight symbolic Lodges composed of over eleven thousand Master Masons who are eager to worls, if properly directed l>v our Masonic Laders. Investigations conducted by Grand Jurisdictions throughout the world consistently report that decreases in Masonic at tendance and membership have gen erally resulted from loss of interest occasioned by Masonic inactivity in the Svmlxilic Lodge. It is clearly evident that if a Lodge offers noth ing to attract new members or to hold the attendance of its regular members, it will decline and eventually fade into darkness. If we are to spread light and truth, we must first of all insure that our leaders are imbued not only with the light and truth to spread, but with the will and energy to spread Officers should be elected for their Masonic leadership - not their popu larity, station in life, or affluence. Committees should be chairmanned by energetic workers who know how to make others work with a smile, and like it. Committees should be staffed with members who think of Masonry first and their personal convenience later. In the Grand Lodge the elected Grand Officers have been meeting nearly everv afternoon from 4 :30 P.M to 6:30 P.M. working out the appoint ments to the Grand Lodge commitThe appointments this year arc the coordinated results of the deliberation of all the elected Grand Lodge Of ficers. The administration of the Grand Lodge will he by all its elected Grand Lodge officers, under the direction of its Grand Master. Unless we project an image of unified, direct, positive action at the Grand Lodge level, we cannot expect to inspire the same in our Symbolic Lodges. As others see . ns. so shall we be known by them. June, 1966 The first regular meeting of the Board of General Purposes was held on May 12, 1966, in the Plaridcl Ma sonic Temple. On that occasion I presented the Board with the follow ing four matters to resolve: 1. One of the greatest problems facing our Lodges and the Grand Lodge is the raising of funds to sup port our programs and projects. These cannot be supported from con tributions of the Brethren alone. Like parish churches, our Lodges must engage in some kind of fund raising activities such as rummage sales, bake outs, bingos, etc. The problem for the Board to solve is. What can the Lodge do to raise funds that will not be in violation of our constitution? 2. A study of our jurisdiction will show the great need for new Lodges in many areas and perhaps too many over-lapping Lodges in other areas, like Manila. We want more Lodges but only strong, sclf-supfrorjing Lodges that can help the Grand I.odgc spread Masonry. We need to deter mine how many of our weak Lodges can become strong and self-support ing and we should determine what Lodges should join together with other Lodges to make a strong Lodge, where the separate weak Lodges cannot sur vive on their own. 3. It is no secret that some of our Brethren are elected to office in a Lodge and become installed on the basis of Certificates of Proficiency when in fact the Brother is not profi cient in accordance with our consti tutional requirements. We need to have this matter throughly considered and a definite recommendation from the Board us to whether or not present proficiency requirements for Lodge Officers should be enforced or revised, and if the recommendation is to enforce them, a further recommended plan to bring Grand Master Wilmarth addressing Scottish. Rite Luncheon. the proficiency standards of incumbent Symbolic Lodges up to the proficiency standards that may be recommended by the Board. 4. The sources of income of the Grand Lodge are very limited. The expenses of operating the Grand Lodge are becoming increasingly greater each year Some detailed plan must be deve loped for forward planning so that our Grand Lodge can effectively discharge its responsibilities and obligations. One of the greatest expense items is transportation of Grand Lodge Of ficers to attend installation ceremonies of provincial Lodges, another is special travel of Grand Lodge officers on specific events. We need a com plete study of our program for Grand Lodge visitations, paying more atten tion to travel for Grand Lodge Lec turers of the Craft than for ceremonial purposes. This is an. illustration of how we expect to utilize the Board for Gen eral Purposes during our Masonic Year 1966-1967. Incidentally. I have informed MW Cenon S. Cervantes. PGM', President of the Board, that I have at least nine ■ other matters which I shall refer to the Board in successive months. Turn to p«0» 30 The Cabletow PHILIPPINE FREEMASONRY.. . (From pago 4) We shall be concerned with our youth especially in the year to come. Every day we read of the great pro blems of juvenile deliquency and con trol of the younger generation that are facing government officials. These problems have become so great, many parents have become disillusioned as to the future for their children. As Masons, we have been concerned with this problem for years, because we realize today’s youth is tomorrow’s Masons. We shall constitute, through our Committee on Youth, a coordinating body with the positive mission of developing youth activities that will attract and inspire youths to expend their energies in constructive and self improving endeavors, with the ulti mate aim of creating within these young men and women an intense sense of pride and accomplishment in doing good. This will take time. This will take patience. Most of all, it will take the cooperative effort of Lodge and family for the coming year. I would like every Lodge to consider the youth of today, as a priority among their projects for community assistance. Closely akin to the problem of youth is the problem of the increase in crime. Since our Masonic Broth erhood is a Fraternity of men, it can not disassociate itself from the vital problems of men. Crime is one such vital problem. Masonry can be a strong aid in ever}- community in its fight against crime. It possesses the organization throughout the Philippines by which the nation can be united in its crusade against crime. Every Lodge can create an anti-crime committee to work with the local authorities in re ducing crime within their jurisdic tions. I look for our Committee on Edu cation and Public Service to develop and coordinate our efforts to assist law enforcing agencies suppress crime. From time to time we are asked: What is Freemasonry? What is its function ? I tried to answer that question in mv address in Dumaguete City at the Convention of Visayan Masonic Lod ges on January 8, 1966, when I ex plained : “Accorning to the ancient charges Freemasonry offers itself as the cen ter of union between good men and true, and the happy means of con ciliating friendship amongst those who must otherwise have remained at a perpetual distance. Freemasonry has survived centuries of changes in cul ture and political forms of government and has withstood persistent attacks from multitudes of uninformed and misinformed critics. The fact that Freemasonry has survived under these circumstances is ample evidence that it does serve an important purpose in the lives of men; most certainly those men who have embraced it and have remained active in it.” We shall encourage our Lodges to develop leaders with the vision to see and the courage to act for God, coun try, and our Order. Our Philippine history is filled to overflowing with accounts of heroism and sacrifice of Masons who have arisen from the solemnity of their Lodge rooms to lead their Brothers to victory in the cause of freedom from tyranny and oppression. Each year passes putting deeper away in the archives of time the actual events that made the history of this glorious land. We must not be so engrossed in progress that we forget Condudad on page 2B 20 The Cabletow PHILIPPINE FREEMASONRY... (From page 20) the sacrifices of those who have made this progress possible. Our Program Committee has been given the task of preparing suitable events and activities to keep before the eyes of our countrymen and alive within the hearts of all, the memory of those Filipino Masons and their deeds. In the year 1966-1967, Philippine Freemasonry will observe the holidays of all Masonic Heroes and establish a pattern throughout our Lodges to be followed in the years to come. In the few weeks that have passed since our recent Communication we have received two petition’s for dis pensations to open new Lodges. Our policy is to grant dispensations for new Lodges only when it is clearly evident that the new Lodge is finan cially capable to successfully meet its obligations, that its operation will not draw members from other Lodges thus weakening our present organization, and that the opening of the new Lodge will definitely increase the actual number of Master Masons, thus truly expanding Masonry in the Philip pines, And while we are considering the subject of new Lodges let us at the same time consider new members for our Craft. We want many new Master Masons just like we want many new Lodges. P.ut we want true Masons — Masons who will make our Lodges strong and carry the Mason ic wav of life to every remote part of the Philippines. We leant Masons who want to be Masons in deed as well as in name. When I look at the map of the Philippines in our Grand Secretary’s office, I see manv black dots indicat ing Lodges in Manila and in other cities. But there are still many pro vinces without a single Lodge. To me, this is a most serious objective for the year 1966-1967: to open at least one Symbolic Lodge in each pro vince where there is none today. How arc we going to interest good men to join our Fraternity? There is only one Masonically lawful way. We must project a favorable image that will create a desire in the hearts of good men to be one of us. How can that be done? By showing your com munity that Masonry is a good insti tution to be a member of and that membership in it will bring to the member the respect and admiration of hi; neighbor;'.. Tn the May issue of the Cable Tow the Grand Master's Message distin guishes between Attainable Objectives which can easily be accomplished bv the average Lodge and those far reach ing objectives that may never be reach ed by some. It points out how a Lodge can take a positive step forward in its cninmunitiv by just a little plain hard work. In September 1964. a conference of District Deputy Grand Masters was held in the Plaridel Masonic Temple. To niv mind this was one of the most significant Masonic achievements of recent vears. We shall have such a conference some time in October or November. It has been suggested that instead of having one in Manila, that we have two: One in Manila for Districts in the Northern Philippines and another in Cebu for Districts in the Southern Philippines. Hither plan will bring together our most valuable contacts with the Symbolic Lodges where mutual problems can be dis cussed and cvcrvone can contribute to the solutions. Working in unitv and harmonv is essential for any society of men. especially of ours. I like to listen to the old timers talk. They speak of the good old days when Turn to p«B* M 28 The Cabletow Masonry really meant something to its members. They recall how difficult it was for them to travel miles to stated meetings when there was no modern transportation, but how proud they were to overcome the odds. They des cribe the dignified appearance of the Lodges when all wore coats and ties and some Lodges required formal at tire, black tic and tails. They recount the pride taken in the ritualistic work and how keen was the competition for perfection. When I hear these stories told I wonder what can we do to bring back that kind of Masonry? Can’t we re orient the thinking of modern Bre thren? Perhaps we have developed a new set of values over the years. In many ways this may spell progress, but in some it may mean departing from our Masonic way of life. There are some things that arc fun damental to Masonry that just can’t be changed, if Masonry is to go Ctrl liv ing. They are as essential to Masonry as breathing is to man. And there are ether tilings which have always distinguished the true Mason, but which have not been practised by all. It is in this latter area that we must concentrate our efforts to return to tradition. We have made Masonry too easy to obtain and too comfort able to enjoy in recent years. In many cases it has become common place and monotonous. We must en deavor to break the monotony of our ways and inject an incentive for reviv ing the old standard of Masonic in terest. Whatever the old timers had, we must have lost. I certainly hope that during the coming year we can regain some of it. Freemasonry in the Philippines for 1966 and 1967 must meet the chal lenge of the times squarely, and as it has in centuries past, rise to thfe oc casion and maintain for the World li berty, equality and fraternity. In all |»irts of the world there are; mena cing elements that would strip man kind of these basic civil rights. These are the enemies of democracy and the foes of Freemasonry. We must stand united against any infringement upon these basic rights of free men and be prepared to render service to God. country and our Order as may be needed. Our Grand Lodge prossesses a unique organizational coverage of the Philippines and the Far East. It can be adapted to and used for the illu mination of the citizenry — if our Brethren will only feel the urge — accept the call — rise to the occasion. It is quite wonderful to think about the many things that can be done throughout the Philippines by our Lodges. It far better to start doing them. Let us then, my Brothen, join to gether in making Freemasonry in the Philippines for 1966-1967 an active, constructive, progressive, dynamic Masonry. Let us breathe life into our Masonry so that we may feel the plea sure of living as Masons. Let us make our Lodges places of harmony and temples of inspiration that the world may know us for what we are. And let our emblem, the Square & Compass become known throughout the world for what it really is: the symbol of brotherly love, relief and truth. For these are the three grand princi ples on which our Order is founded and it is on these same principles that our Freemasonry in the Philippines will continue, not only in 1966-1967, but throughout the centuries yet to come. & 32