Skip to main content
THE HALF-REMEMBERED GRAND
LODGE INSPECTORS

Called “workhorse” by the Grand Lodge, the Grand Lodge Inspectors have several unique advantages over all other appointive officers. These are:

(1) They are individually installed in solemn and impressive ceremonies, which, much unlike all others who are herded and installed during the yearly ANCOM; and especially when performed by installing officers who have memorized their roles, are done impressively, indeed!
(2) The word “Grand” like that of “Grand Master”, “Grand Treasurer”, “Grand Secretary”, “Grand Chaplain”, etc., precedes all other words in their honorific titles thus eliciting serious mien to the general public since the uninitiated thinks those who have the word Grand as the second word are second fiddles; and
(3) The cute 7cm x 20cm appointment paper makes a novel memento when placed among the diplomas of merit, honors and citations that one has accumulated during one’s lifetime. And this do not exclude the diplomas one has received and plastered in a nook to serve as memory of one’s exploits and frivolous scholastic travels in this exciting world.

But as an old song goes: “that is where the good story ends” (with the word good supplied by the undersigned.).

Consider these:

1. Their names are not listed in the Annual Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines. It is likely that there is a folder that contained their names that after their term is over must have been stacked somewhere but where, only the GAOTU knows.. Which makes one wonder if they are indeed bona fide members of the Grand Lodge as contained in its roster..
2. They cannot vote during the Annual Elections of Grand Line officers, which again begs the question, if they are indeed officers, what benefits are they entitled to??
3. Their presence is not required during ANCOMS. While they can attend in their own capacity as members and/or as delegates of their own lodges since generally the core of their membership comprise the immediate past masters, they are not recognized in their capacity as GLIs thus again giving that cloud of doubt that they are indeed worthy Grand Lodge officers

RETRACING THE ANNUAL RECORDS

Let this writer now acquaint you on their activities as shown in the Annual Proceedings of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge, and culled mainly from the Grand Lecturer’s Report as submitted by the untiring Grand Lodge Lecturer of the olden days.

1951 Proceedings

“We believe and we are convinced that the Grand Lodge Inspectors assigned to the Lodges have done their work satisfactorily and well. It is regretted, however, that up to the preparation of this report only one Inspector has filed his report to the Grand Lecturers. This brother is no other than RW Sidney M. Austin, Inspector for Manila Lodge No. 1 and St. John Lodge No. 9. We congratulate him for this. If we had more reports from the Inspectors, it would have been possible for us to get their suggestions and recommendations. It is earnestly requested that the Inspectors be requested to remember this important duty before the holding of the Annual Communication in pursuant to Article V, Sec. 2 , paragraph 103, page 23 of the Masonic Law Book.”

1955 Proceedings

“There has been a variation in the appointment of Inspectors because their residence was taken into consideration, which was not done in the previous years. Wherever feasible, only those residing in the district of their respective lodges, or nearest to it, are selected.

We have closely observed the work of the Inspectors, especially in Manila and several in Luzon, and are proud to report that they have done their work well. To them, we heartily express our all-out appreciation and gratitude for the great sacrifice that they have made in performance of their duties.. . .

“However, we regret to mention that some Inspectors have not submitted their reports. . .”

1964 Proceedings

“In so far as the Grand Lodge Inspectors are concerned, while there is a good number of them that have shown interest and devotion to their duties and should therefore be commended, there are some who have seldom, if ever, visited the lodges assigned to them. This neglect has caused the officers and members of the affected lodges to become careless in their Masonic duties, in the manner of conducting their business and the conferring of degrees. In some instances, even more serious consequences have been noted.”

1967 Proceedings

“We have received oral reports from the Masters of some Lodges to the effect that their Inspectors had often visited them, corrected their work, and whenever possible conducted Schools of Instruction to teach the floor work in accordance with the Instruction Pamphlet for Subordinate Lodges. To those Inspectors, we wish to express our gratitude and appreciation for their valuable service.

Some Grand Lodge Inspectors, however, much to their regret, were not able to visit the Lodge to which they were assigned but only once during the yea, and the reason was that they had their places of abode far from their inspection districts. The resultant effect was very discouraging- sometimes, the Master and Wardens elect could not be installed for lack of examination by the Inspector or of the required Certificate of Proficiency.”

PERSONAL INSIGHTS

This writer, for his part, has been appointed as Grand Lodge Inspector three times, the third of which was in year 2001, or two years after he was appointed District Grand Lecturer. But if you think this is a record, an unassuming brother claimed he has held the position of Grand Lodge Inspector eight times before he was elevated to the position of DGL and to him the job of GLI was the more exciting!

The experience of this writer was in itself exhilarating. In year 2001 when the appointed DDGM who assumed the post straight from the Master’s chair, that is, sans the rigors of being appointed GLI nor DGL, could not get a GLI for a lodge noted for its raucous and boisterous meetings, he understandably asked for help and asked if this writer would accept the assignment? The latter said yes.

On meeting time, the first question asked was how would the GLI be addressed, would it be his previous title as VW or simply as Worshipful Inspector, which is in consonance with his present assignment. And his reply was epic; “In all other places within or without the lodge, he may be addressed as VW, but once seated in the East with the Worshipful Master, it is best he is addressed as Worshipful Inspector, otherwise he would not have accepted the assignment at all . And that was it!!

CURRENT EVENTS

The situation now is still pretty much the same as that of yesteryears. Lodges that are housed in the same temple, like those of Manila, Quezon City, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro and General Santos, generally experience the regular presence of GLIs; but lodges of districts that require travel, whether by land or by sea, suffer from anemic attendance because of the cost that had to be incurred.

On the recording front, current issues of the Annual Proceedings do not show substantial mention of the GLIs, and quite frankly, are hardly noticed at all. The reason is the Grand Lecturer’s report now concentrate on the more important affairs of the Grand Lodge, like accompanying the Grand Master on his trips and supervising a fairly large number of subordinates. The more mundane affairs of the GLI hardly deserved a word at all.

But the GLIs are there, the indefatigable workhorse of the Grand Lodge, sitting at the left side of the Worshipful Master, giving insights when asked, and not complaining at all.

And whatever happened to the other half of the title which says; “The Half-Remembered Grand Lodge Inspectors?”

But of course, it was half-forgotten and now relegated to the dustbin of oblivion!!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

AUTHORS OF HIRAM KEY ROCONSIDER STAND ON HIRAM ABIF

Remember the article “In Search of the Grand Master Hiram Abif?” where the lion rebutted the claim of Christopher Knight & Robert Lomas, authors of Hiram Key, that Grand Master Hiram Abif did not exist? Well, here’s an interesting update un the issue. In their recent book titled “The Book of Hiram” that was first published in the United Kingdom in 2003, it said in page 17.: “When we first heard this assumption (about Hiram Abif- GVG) we found it strange, and in the Hiram Key we said that the character of Hiram Abif does not seem to exist outside the rituals of Freemasonry. This observation caused a number of people to write us to tell us that we were mistaken, so let us here look more closely at what evidence there is in the Old Testament about the architect of Solomon’s Temple. First we are told that the Phoenician king of Tyre named Hiram supplied the design, workers and many materials for Solomon’s building works. This king’s name is variously spelled as Hiram, Hirom and Hur

THE FIVE PILLARS (OR ORDERS) OF ARCHITECTURE

As the three steps pertain to the symbolism of the three pillars of the Lodge, the five steps represent the five orders of architecture- the Tuscan, the Doric, the Ionic, the Corinthian and the Composite. But save for the architects who are expected to know these architectural orders, one may ask: “what do those words represent?” We are told that “the Doric, Ionic and Corinthian were invented by the Greeks, and that from there, the Romans added two- the Tuscan, which they made plainer than the Doric, and the Composite which was more ornamental and more beautiful than the Corinthian.” Of course the monitor also said that “the Tuscan is the Doric in its earliest state, and that the Composite is the Corinthian enriched with the Ionic”. Beyond these impressive statements, however, nothing else has been said to describe these orders, and so here is a briefing designed for the non-architects and the uninitiated. THE ORDERS OF ARCHITECTURE AS TRACED TO THE PAGES OF MERRIAM WEBSTER DICTIONARY

THE THREE PILLARS OF THE LODGE

In the second degree lecture, the first group of steps in the winding stairs lecture represent “Wisdom, Strength and Beauty” and are exemplified by the three elected officers of the lodge, namely, the Worshipful Master and the Senior and Junior Wardens. That will now be the subject of this article. As backgrounder, these three pillars were first mentioned not in the second degree lecture but in the conferral of the first degree. Portion of the first-degree lecture aptly reads: “A lodge is metaphorically said to be supported by three great pillars, denominated by Wisdom, Strength and Beauty, it being necessary that there should be Wisdom to contrive, Strength to support, and Beauty to adorn all great and important undertakings. These pillars are represented in the Lodge by the Worshipful Master, and the Senior and Junior Wardens.” From the foregoing paragraph, it is evident that this symbolic phrase can be interpreted two ways: 1. On the operative standpoint, and 2. On symbol