Mencius lodge no. 93 F. & A.M.

Title

Language

English

Source

The Cabletow Volume XXXIX (Issue No. 3) September 1963

Year

1963

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

Mencius Lodge No. 93 F. & A.M. Scottish Rite Temple 1828 Taft Avenue Manila, Philippines WE ARE NOT a memoirist but we ’ desire io keep our past alive, es pecially during this rainy month of June, by culling a little bit of his tory from the old pages ol The Cabletow when this publication re corded events invariably incorpora ting the four W's (Who, When, Where, and Why) and w’as thus rated according to its content, edit ing, and writing, one of the best Ma sonic journals then. Here is the chronicle inscribed for posterity which we quote for our own edifi cation: In the constitution of Mencius Lodge No. 9.3, on June 28 in the Masonic Temple, Escolta, Manila, there occulted an event unparal leled in the history of our great Institution. So far as we are aware, this is the first time in any of the (hand Lodge of Free and Accepted Ma sons has issued a charter to a Lodge tile membership if which is composed exclusively of nationals of tvhat was formerly known as the Celestial Empire. We have a large number of Chinese Masons in this jurisdiction, and main Chinese have become members of our Order in other jurisdictions as well. Mencius Lodge, however, i.s sni generis in that, from its Master down to its newest initiate, each and every member is of the blood of Cathay. Mencius Lodge had its origin in the desire on the part of some of our active Chinese Masons for a closer relationship in their Ma sonic work. The dispensation was granted January 15, 1921, the charter was issued on January 23. and June 28 marked the official constitution of the Lodge. The name chosen was that of one of the greatest of Chinese philoso phers. The Lodge membership is now dose1 to fifty, and includes many prominent and wealthy Chinese of this city. Work is put on in both English and Spanish, the two languages permitted in this jurisdiction. The constitution of the Lodge, and the installation of officers, immediately following, were both open to the public, and conducted in Spanish. During the constitution, the following brethren filled the of fices: Rt. Wor. Francisco A. Del gado, Senior Grand Warden, as Grand Master; Very Wor. Bro. Eugene A. Perkins, Junior Grand Lecturer, as Deputy Grand Mas September 1963 91 ter; Rt. Wor. Bro. Joseph H. Schmidt, Junior Grand Warden, as Senior Grand Warden; M.W. Bro. Newton C. Comfort, P.G.M., Grand Secretary; Wor. Bro. Juan Munoz. P.M. and present Master of Makiling Lodge No. 72, as Cirand Treasurer: Wor. Bro. Ra mon Mendoza, Master of BalongBuhay No. 27, as Grand Chap lain: Rt. Wor. Bro. Tcodoro M. Kalaw, P.J.G.W., Grand Orator; Wor. Bro. z\ntonio Gonzalez. Master of Luz. Oceanica No. 85, as Cirand Marshal: Bro. Jose L. Inlal, S.W. of High-Twelve No. 82, as S. G.D.; Wor. Bro. I’austino Manager, master of Pillar No. 15, as J.G.D.: Bro. .Andres Filoteo, S.W. of Luz Oceanica No. 85, as S.G.S.; Wor. Bro. Gelario Villegas, Master of Taga-llog Lodge No. 79, as J.G.S., Bro. Jose Arpal, Master of Batangas No. 35, as Grand Ptirsuiant; and Wor. Bro. Juan At.fyde, P.M. of Minerva No. 41, Tyler. 'With M.W. Bro. Rafael Palm i. P.G.M.. as installing officer and Wor. Bro. M. Goldenberg as Mas ter of Ceremonies, the following were installed as officers of Men cius Lodge: W.M. Bro. Luis L:m Bil'an; S.W. Bro. Yu Chun Teck: J.W. Bro. O. FI way Peck; Treas urer, Bro. Gonzalo C. Cio Quiolay; Secretary, Bro. Marciano Ong; Chaplain, Bro. Say Kock; S.D., Bro. Manuel Govantcs. J.W., Bro. Leandro Fua Guiocji; Master of Ceremonies, Bro. Chan I.in Ctton; S.S. Bro. Chua Chin Sian; J.S., Bro. I.im Su An; Or ganist. Bro. Tieng Sing; Tiler, Bro. Gaw Punso. Wor. Bro. I.im Billan, as one of the speakers alter the installa tion, stressed the fact that the founders of the Lodge were in no way actuated by a desire to make its membership exclusively Chi nese, and staled that applicants of whatever nationality or creed would be eligible as members, if found worthy. His words in this Connection forcibly reminded us of “that noble contention, or rather emulation, of who best can work and best agree.” M.W. Bro. Frederic H. Stevens, P.G.M., set for the part he had played in the formation of the Lodge, prophesied that events of great Masonic moment would re sult therefrom, and stated that Masonry expected much from Mencius No. 93. Rt. Wor. Bro. Teodoro M. Ka law, P.J.G.W., delivered a very able discourse, with special refer ence to the influence which Chi nese philosophy had had on the philosophical teachings of Mason ry saying that these principles had first gone from the Orient to the Occident, and were now re turning to the Orient in the form of Masonry. Rt. Wor. Bro. F. A. Delgado, in representation of the (hand Mas ter. spoke in both humorous and serious ve n, emphasizing the un derlying timils of Masonrv, and congratulated the new Lodge on its auspicous beginning. Bro. Delgado read a telegram of felicitation and best wishes from M.W. Bro. Wenceslao Tri nidad, (hand Master, who was unavoidably absent in the Visayas on business. Over four hundred people were present. 92 The Cabletow 1924 was, indeed, a year with the same fundamental problems as we have now. There was need of in creasing cooperation among men, and a demand lor national unity, enlightenment and discipline. Some of our Masonic pillars of 39 years ago are still with us and directing with wise word and counsel, the younger ones in furthering their Masonic work. They can rest as sured that we, the 83 Master Ma sons in the active rolls, are carrying on. An example of our present work which is nearing its fruition is the subm’ss’on of the report of the Spe cial Committee on the proposed Mencius Friendly Scholarship to be sponsored by our Lodge. The fund for this purpose, by the way, was further augmented by a substantial donation of P100.00. from W.B. Benjamin C. Gotamco. P.M. The amount turned in by our present worthv Treasurer on such auspicious occasion has certainly given the movement a great boost and since it is said that money begets money, the momentum now gaining under the force of a bright idea from our Bro. Johnny de G. Rodriguez will soon be translated into something tangible. Watch for further an nouncements. Have you chipped in your grain of sand? Remember that little poem: Lillie drops of water Little grains of sand Make the mighty ocean And the great big land Our Worshipful Master appointed Wor. Bros. James V. Limpc, Benja min C. Gotamco, Tan Chin Teck, and Bro. Eugene K. Liin to take charge of raising funds for the Scho larships which, after a careful and exhaustive study, the Lodge will sponsor at the College of Engineer ing, University of the Philippines. With the guidance and assistance of our Bro. Juan de G. Rodriguez, former Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and originator of the idea, negotiations are now in progress lot the enrollment of the first scholar at the College of En gineering. The Committee, how ever, is handicapped by insufficient funds for our project to be a con tinuing one, so it behooves each and every one of us to support this laudable enterprise where we have to make more, have more, want more and spend more. RICHARD KHOO, P.M. Secretary A A A gained the respoct of intelligent men and the love ef little children; who has filled hit nicho and accomplished his task; who has loft tho world better than he found it, whether by an improved poppy, a perfect poem, or earth's beauty or failed to express it; givon tho best ho had; whose life was a rescued sort; who has never lackod appreciation of who has always looked for the best in others and an inspiration, whose memory a benediction. September 1963 93

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