The Lodge System of Masonic Education

Title

Creator

Corcuera, Aurelio L.

Language

English

Year

1966

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

BOOK REVIEW: THE LODGE SYSTEM OF MASONIC EDUCATION The Lodge System of Masonic Education was prepared by the Edu cational and Historical Commission of the Grand Lodge of Georgia for the use in the jurisdiction of that Grand Lodge. The book was revised in 1961 and has SO pages. Copies of the book may be obtained from the Office of the Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines for the price of Pl.50 per copy. The system as set forth in the book can be adapted for use in any Lodge, after making some small changes to conform to the laws and customs of the Grand Jurisdiction to which the Lodge belongs. By way of introduction the Com mission states: “It is simple, it is practicable, it costs nothing (referring to the administration of the System), it is employed under the imme diate authority and direction of the Lodge, it works at the point where education is most needed and best appreciated; namely, with the candidate, and the re sults, if the method is used con sistently, automatically guaran tee themselves (Italics supplied). “The Committee recommends this system unreservedly to every Worshipful Master. It has been thoroughly tested in the Grand Jurisdiction of New York and the District of Columbia.” As to the purpose. It is based on the fact that “every candidate is a stranger to Freemasonry and Free masonry is a stranger to him." With out guidance it is too much to expect that any man shall be able to be at home in the Order, or, unaided, to take his proper place in the Lodge with credit to himself and honor to the society. It is realized that be cause of the failure of the Lodge to give the new brother the information he should receive, many come, and go, undirected and uninslructed, and eventually cease to attend meetings of the Lodge. As to Method and Machinery. The Master of the Lodge appoints a com mittee of five, composed of Master Masons of experience, knowledge, and tact, who feel genuine interest in their work and can be trusted not to neglect it. After the petition has been favorably balloted upon, the Secretary notifies the petitioner to meet the committee at a designated time and place. He is given such instructions as he needs to enable him to receive the first Degree in the proper spirit, and to furnish him such information about the principles and teachings of Freemasonry as will give him a clear understanding of the kind of organization it is. Five 10minute papers are taken up by the committee — printed in the book. The subjects of the five papers are: (1) A Short History of Freemasonry; (2) The Qualifications; and (3) The Machinery and Organization of the Lodge; (4) The Powers and Func tions of the Worshipful Master; and (5) The Duties and Privileges of Lodge Membership. The new Mason, after his initia tion, is asked to meet the committee, where again he listens to five 10minute papers, prepared to give him an idea as to what the initiation cere monies meant. The subjects taken are: (1) The Meaning of the Term “Entered Apprentice”; (2) An Inter pretation of the Ritual of the First Degree; (3) The Principal Tenets; 26 (4) Symbols of the First Degree; (5) Duties, Privileges, and Limita tions of the Entered Apprentice. After being passed to the Second Degree the Fellow Craft meets the committee, where he listens to the reading, or reciting, of five 10-minutc papers. He comes to understand that while the First Degree appeals principally to the conscience, the Sec ond Degree addresses itself to the in tellectual faculties, as evidenced by the emphasis on the Liberal Arts and Sciences. The subjects of the papers are: (1) Meaning of the Term “Fel low Craft”; (2) Interpretation of the Ritual of the Second Degree; (3) Symbols and Allegories of the Second Degree: (4) Duties and Priv ileges of the Fellow Craft, (5) The Teachings of Freemasonry. The new brother meets the com mittee for the fourth time after be ing raised to the Third Degree. Now that he is a Master Mason he is given the information that will en able him to enter into his duties and privileges as a full member of the Institution. The five 10-minute pa pers he listens to are: (1) Inter pretation of the Ritual of the Third Degree; (2) Symbols, Emblems, and Allegories of the Third Degree; (3) The Legend of Hiram Abif; (4) The Landmarks: (5) The Du ties, Privileges, and Rights of a Mas ter Mason. Before the system is actually put into operation, the committee, which, to obtain the best result, should be headed by an experienced Past Mas ter, should go over the whole book carefully and determine where and what changes should be made to con form the system to the Constitution and Laws, the usages and customs of the Grand Jurisdiction under which the Lodge works. 4. L. Corcuera ACACIA MUTUAL AID SOCIETY INC. ELECTS NEW OFFICERS The directors elected by the mem bers on April 29, 1966 met early last month to elect the officers of the Board and of the Company to guide the activities of the insurance firm for 1966-67. Those elected officers of the Board are: Raymond E. Wilnuarth, Chairman; Luis R. Salvosa, Vice-Chairman; and Mariano Q. Tinio, Esteban Munarriz, Manuel M. Crudo, William H. Quasha, and Ceferino Villar, Members. Elected officers of the company are: Luis R. Salvosa, President and Ac tuary; William H. Quasha, VicePreident and Legal Counsel; Ceferino Villar, Vice-President; Esteban Munarriz, Treasurer; and Francisco r. Inciong, Secretary. Recently, the Board announced new benefits for the members, among which is double indemnity in case of death by accident in vehicles of pub lic convenience. Because of a larger excess of income over expenses in the previous year, the company distribut ed more dividends in 1966. The of ficers of the company are presently engaged in a campaign to have more lodges join the group insurance plan. There are still 37 lodges which are not members of the plan. Bi*o. Luis R. Salvosa, President and Actuary, hopes to see more Bro thers join the individual insurance plan. The maximum total face value of jrolicies has been raised to Fl0,000.00 from the previous total al lowable of P6,000.00. Bro. Salvosa re minds the brethren that members of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines, members of their families and sojourn ers in the Philippines are qualified to join the Acacia Mutual Aid Society, Inc. A June, 1966 27

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