Masonically Inspired Essays

MASONRY'S BASIC PHILOSOPHY

2008-10-28T07:46:00.022+08:00

MASONRY’S BASIC PHILOSOPHY

Readers of the article “A HANDY GUIDE ON THE QUEST FOR MASONIC LIGHT” learned that six topics are involved in the study of the Craft. The first, which is labeled as “Rituals” need no elaboration as it merely involves memory work and nothing else. The second of course is called “philosophy” and will therefore be the subject of this article.

I. Philosophy’s Simplest Definition

Freemasonry has a myriad of philosophies, and no wonder, it involves and entire system of morality. But its basic theme involves man, his soul and his longing to reunite with his Maker. Let this writer now elaborate.

In simplest terms,. philosophy is synonymous to belief, way of life, set of values, or thinking that governs mankind. But Masonry’s philosophy transcends all these because when viewed on the higher plane, it gets straight to the longing of the creature to return to his Creator when his time to “pass his papers” has finally arrived. The final equation therefore is that “man with an immortal soul will at one time finally return to his Maker.

Curiously, this philosophy is not original, meaning, it was already there long before Masonry was established as a brotherhood. It was adopted from the existing philosophies of all religions invented by man which in turn were thought of after Cain slew Abel in envy which resulted why the burnt offering of the latter that consist of animal carcass rose higher than the smoke that consisted of plant harvest that the former offered to the Lord. This event also spelled out for the first time the need for caring for one’s own sibling became pronounced when Cain evasively asked: “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

And if this writer may be allowed to digress for a moment, the reason atheists and agnostics are barred from admission into the Masonic Fraternity is because the said philosophy requires belief that man has an immortal soul who yearns to return to his Creator when time his has come. Which also explains why the petitioner must answer in the affirmative the query “Do you believe in God?” And there are no ifs nor buts here.

II. The Need for Alternative Examples

Oddly, man often fails to comprehend even the simplest of terms. Sages from the ancient times had to invent ways of getting their messages across to their intended listeners. Aesop had to use animals to teach a lesson and called his examples “fables”; “allegories” and “metaphors” were also used to tell stories and even the Greatest Teacher of all time had to use what is called “parables” in order that he may be understood. Masonry, in like manner, had to resort to the use of the builders’ tools as symbols to convey messages that involve separate but clear and understandable meanings which the use of words oftentimes mess up in confusing jargons.

The main reason why Freemasonry has a good number of philosophies to live by is because it is defined as a system of morality and when morality is concerned, there are innumerable ways of achieving them. It has adopted the four cardinal virtues as its own, always to be in the right, know the truth even if it hurts and so on and so forth. But nowhere did it say that all these will in fine take him back to the Lord.

III. How then is Basic Philosophy is Conveyed to its Disciples

The question that most likely will be posed by the reader is: “where in Masonry’s teachings are these words contained?”

Okay then, in the lambskin apron it says:

“and when your trembling soul shall stand naked and alone before the great white throne, there to receive judgment for the deeds while in the body, may it be your pleasure to hear from Him who sitteth as the Judge Supreme the welcome words, ‘well done, my good and faithful servant, enter now into the joys of the Lord.”

Conversely, in the ending paragraph of the third degree lecture it admonishes:

So how important it is to imitate the GMHA in his truly exemplified character and in his unfeigned piety to God that we may welcome death, not as a grim ripper but as a kind messenger sent to translate us from this imperfect world to that perfect world where the Supreme Architect of the Universe forever resides.

And the Last Rites further expound on this when on the elocution for a departing brother it emphatically says somewhere in the middle of the discourse it said::

“then shall the dust return to the earth as it was and the spirit shall return to God who gave it

And that is not all for somewhere in the Chaplain’s concluding prayer it said:

“and when our work on earth is done, and our bodies shall have mingled with their kindred dust, may our immortal soul, freed from their cumbrous clay, be received into thy keeping to rest forever into that spiritual house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”

Amen!

A HANDY GUIDE ON THE QUEST FOR MASONIC LIGHT

2008-10-28T07:46:00.020+08:00

I. INTRODUCTION

A dilemma that undeniably confronts all newly-raised master masons is the admonition which is contained in the third degree “charge” that says:

“As a master mason, you are authorized to correct the irregularities of your less-informed brethren, to fortify their minds with resolution against the snares of the insidious, and to guard them against every allurement to vicious practices.”

Fine, a caution so eloquently phrased, but how is he expected to do it? More so if he became a master mason via the one-day conferral of the three degrees!!

And so, it may be necessary to briefly look back and assess the situation.

Still smarting from the bruises that he acquired while traveling the rough and rugged road (not on the one-day conferral though) but nonetheless feeling the euphoria of recently being elevated to the elite rank of master masons, and most probably also still tipsy at the recently-concluded fellowship that usually follow every raising ceremony, the newly-raised brother begins to wonder what the “charge” was all about. He has now attained the status of being called a peer to many celebrated and immortal men that have graced the rolls of the Craft, men who are listed as heroes, geniuses, statesmen and others in the many countries or nationalities where he may belong, men who have became presidents, kings, men of sciences and even of the cloth whose stature and fame reverberated within all corridors of fame and power, they who have answered to the call of being labeled as “Freemasons”, the newly-raised gentleman begin to wonder that after the completion of the three degrees, what so far, has he achieved?

More importantly, what is expected of him?

II. THE QUEST BEGINS

The question that consequently confronts the newly-raised brother therefore, is “how does one proceed to learn the ways of the Fraternity that he has recently joined?

Sadly, there is no ready answer but the very nature of the Craft’s basic philosophy in part provides a ready clue. Let now this writer mention one of the Fraternity’s simply worded definitions:

“Freemasonry is a system of morality illustrated in symbols.” Or, “it is a system of morality veiled in allegory.”

But how would a novice in the Craft ever understand that gobbledygook?” since the lodge that he has joined, and even the Grand Lodge that exercises supervision and control over its existence generally do not have guidelines that can help him understand the intricacies of this mystic brotherhood!! But learn he must if he aspires to earn the title of ever being called being called “a fellow of the Craft.”

III. A SUGGESTED GUIDE AS ENVISIONED BY BRO. ALLEN E. ROBERTS OF THE MASONIC BROTHERHOOD OF THE BLUE FORGET ME NOT

Scanning the inexhaustible source materials that the world of the Internet offers, this writer was fortunate enough to stumble upon an essay written about Bro. Allen E. Roberts, long time secretary of the Masonic Brotherhood of the Blue Forget me Not, who eloquently pictured the structure or body of Freemasonry in six broad categories as follows:

Ritual= Skeleton (or framework)
Philosophy= Bloodstream
Symbolism= Heart and brains
Benevolence+= Soul
Jurisprudence= Muscles
History= Flesh (or binder)

IV. HOW THE STRUCTURE IS DESIGNED TO WORK

Having thus enumerated the six categories of Freemasonry, a Freemason, whether newly-raised or an old timer who desires to study in earnest can thus proceed with the awesome goal of learning the tenets of the Craft by using the above-mentioned guide no different from a receptacles or storage area where he can periodically accumulate in the proper whatever knowledge he has learned which, understandably, should start with “RITUALS” as follows:

IV-A RITUALS

It is often said that “rituals” are what differentiates Masonry from all other fraternal organizations and that without it, Masonry will just be like any other . These rituals, the three most basic of which introduce the candidate to the ways of the Craft via its three degrees are understandably the best starting points. For the purpose of this article however, it will be necessary to include the other basic ritual instructions: These are:

1. The entered apprentice degree
2. The fellowcraft degree
3. The master mason’s degree
4. The installation ceremonies
5. The Last Rites and the Lodge of Remembrance

There are still other rituals but these will no longer be enumerated for the sake of brevity.

Suffice it to say that the newly-raised master mason must be patiently coached by an elder to commit to memory these rituals if he is to progressively advance his knowledge of the Craft, and here is how the time-tested “from mouth to ear method” of instruction is effectively put in play. He should start delivering the lambskin apron, the working tools, learn the role of the marshal, the stewards and the deacons, patiently and progressively committing to memory all the roles that he has performed. As he gains experience, he should also be ready to deliver the lecture of the three degrees until the time he is deemed ready by the lodge to handle more important roles and is therefore consequently chosen to perform the role of a “light” by being elected to any of the fixed stations of the lodge.

And these stored knowledge will come handy in scrutinizing and analyzing the myriad of data that he will later classify and sort in the five other categories mentioned earlier. For example, the novice will be able to clearly sort into their proper categories the following phrases as these are committed to his memory, thus:

*** in it you’ll find the important duties you owe to God, your neighbor or yourself, or
***by refusing to recommend anyone to the participation of our privileges unless you have strong reasons to believe that by similar fidelity he will ultimately reflect honor into our ancient institution, or
*** white balls elect and black cubes reject, or
*** justice is that standard or boundary of right that renders unto every man his just due without distinction,

and so on and so forth.

IV-B. PHILOSOPHY

A philosophy is usually a simple sentence or a “one liner” that best explains a basic belief. Thus, an oft-repeated philosophy of Freemasonry states that:

“it is a brotherhood of men under the fatherhood of God.”

From the above-mentioned phrase, note that three basic ingredients must always be present as follows”, men is in the plural form and that God must be present, the absence of one of which will render the tenet useless. Citing simple examples, hermits believe in God but do not subscribe to the brotherhood of men and therefore do not qualify; atheists, on the other hand may believe in brotherhood of men but do not think that God exists!

Of course, these philosophies can be rephrased differently but in effect, will produce the same result. Like,

“Freemasonry subscribes to the belief in God and in the immortality of the soul”.
In this instance, however, the tenet on brotherhood is implied as it lay hidden in the maxim “love thy neighbor as thyself”, a tenet expounded not only by the Greatest Teacher of all time, but by all known sages of the world. Note also that immortality pertains to the afterlife.

Other tenets, like “brotherly love, relief and truth, make the sentence more thought-provoking and are therefore appealing but in essence the phrase still convey the same message.

Curiously also, both the exoteric and esoteric applications of these philosophies are revealed to the discerning adept as follows:

The obvious meaning of “brotherhood of men under the fatherhood of God” pertains to our relationship with our neighbors in this world that is best measured by the square while the phrase “the immortality of the soul” pertains to a deeper meaning that relates more to the world where the compasses are effectively put in use.

IV-C. SYMBOLISM

Freemasonry, having borrowed its mode of communication from Operative Masonry, uses symbols as its most effective tools of relaying the messages that it seeks to convey. There is no need to itemize these in detail as members are understandably familiar with these already but for the sake of brevity, the reader is nonetheless advised to refresh himself on the symbolisms of the various tools that were used and were explained in the ritual of the Installation Ceremony. In addition, he is also advised to take interest of the various symbolisms that lay hidden but were nonetheless were impliedly explained in the floor works of the three degrees.

In hindsight however, symbols may, to the uninitiated, be tricky. Ever wonder why “hele” means “to conceal” or that a “black ball” actually meant a “black cube?” And has the reader also wondered why the square is the tool used to measure the surface of the earth whereas the compasses are used measure the heavens and those above it?

IV-D. BENEVOLENCE

Charity, the synonym of benevolence is first explained in the lecture of the first degree as the covering of a lodge in the following manner:

“the three principal rounds of which are denominated in faith, hope and charity, which admonishes us to have faith in God, hope for immortality, and charity for all mankind. The greatest of these is charity, for our faith may be lost in sight, hope ends in fruition but charity extends beyond the grave through the boundless realms of eternity.”
and was further amplified the second degree perambulation.

although quite frankly, it is doubtful whether many of the brethren understood it at all. Charity, after all, is not merely taking a paper bill from one’s own pocket when the Almoner pass around with the Almoner’s bag, nor rummaging the attic for used clothes when calamity occurs, bur it means much more than these. Imagine the ineffectiveness of Freemasonry if charity is deleted from its vocabulary!

And how does the reader puts the message of charity to practice??

IV-E. JURISPRUDENCE

Jurisprudence appears to be the most complicated topic of the six categories and indeed this may be so. The reader should however take consolation to the fact that like any citizen of whatever nationality who ideally should know all the rules and regulations of the country where he pays allegiance to, the same situation applies to Freemasonry. Ideally therefore, it is preferable that he is knowledgeable of all the rules and regulations of the Grand Lodge where his own lodge pays allegiance to although how it can be achieved is like looking for a needle in a haystack. It is still desirable however for the member to familiarize himself with the following:

1. The Constitution and by laws of Grand Lodge where he belongs,
2. The ancient charges of Masonry
3. The obligation of the three degrees (he has already committed these to memory, anyway),
4. The periodic edicts that govern the Grand Lodge
and so on and so forth.

IV-F HISTORY

All Grand Lodges that exist have their own unique history that deserves to be learned, and it is important to understand these to appreciate his membership better. Most masons are aware how the United Grand Lodge of England was created in the British Isles and therefore no longer needs further elaboration.

Masonry in the Philippines, on the other hand, was introduced by Jose Malcampo y Monje, a Spaniard who later became Governor General of Spain, when he organized the Primera Luz Filipina in 1856 under the banner of Gran Oriente Luisitano of Portugal to escape the clutches of the marauding Hongkong Masons that were established under the aegis of the British Masons. But let’s not talk about it any further as this paper may turn out to be a boring article.

Suffice it to add however that in addition to what may be called “local Masonic history”, it is also preferable that he should also have a general idea of the Masonic history of the mother grand lodge from where his own Grand Lodge came from. The Grand Lodge of the Philippines for example was a creation of the Grand Lodge of California which explains why the rituals and basic rules that govern both jurisdictions are in many respects, similar. How the Filipino Masons became Americanized despite its roots coming from Gran Oriente Luisitano of Portugal and later nurtured by Gran Oriente Espanol is a topic that deserves more than a page in order to be appreciated and therefore will no longer be touched in this paper.

But one may well wonder; did the masons of Cavite that were organized by Malcampo fraternized with the Masons of Manila where Jocobo Zobel, a Filipino fo a German father who joined in Manila and in like manner, did they fraternize with the Masons that were organized under the aegis of the Gran Oriente Espanol? The most likely answer of course is “probably not” because they were organized under different grand jurisdictions that coexisted during that time..

V. A SHORT TREATISE ON THE “MYSTIC TIE”.

Non masons are naturally baffled whenever they see Masons who are total strangers to each other conversing or helping each other whom they have met for the first time and probably will never meet again. This happens when, accompanied by a friend who is a Mason, would chance upon a total stranger in a foreign land, especially at airports who, upon recognizing each other as fraternal brothers would offer a helping hand in exchange of a mere “handshake”. The non mason will naturally suspect there is something mysterious but will never be able to know what the mystery is all about. Short anecdotes like these are common and none but the initiates can explain how it can ever come about.

VI. SUMMARY

Readers who have reached this page may complain that many topics still deserve mention; for example, why there are clandestine masons, how the relationship of the individual member to his lodge and to the grand lodge interplay with the Grand Lodges of other grand jurisdiction, or why there is a gap between the Prince Hall Masons and mainstream Freemasonry. In like manner, he may also wonder why Grand Orient of France was declared irregular by the others.

But these and many other topics were omitted on purpose. It is now for the reader to take interest, do some researches and consequently prepare a study guide of his own.

Teka, teka, but how shall we classify the fellowship that goes after every stated meeting, especially those that occur after the third-degree conferral of degrees?
Ah, but the answer cannot be divulged in this article and thus readers who may want it must send in their queries direct to the writer by email at jungalarosa@yahoo.com. The same procedure goes to readers who may want to submit their reactions or rejoinders on this article and thus expect a healthy exchange of ideas that will definitely redound to the benefit of the Fraternity that they both love!

So you have reached this line. Congratulations!!

FREEMASONRY AND THE HOLY SCRIPTURES

2008-10-28T07:46:00.019+08:00

Non-masons who attend the Craft’s installation ceremonies are invariably puzzled and attracted at the presence of a Holy Bible at the altar. More so if a Holy Quran is also placed beside it. Which generally strike them in wonderment and awe saying “What kind of religious organization is this?”

Before I tackle that question, allow me first to comment on all the objects atop the altar.. These comprise the “Three Great Lights of Masonry”, although at times the items are not only three but four; namely, the Holy Bible, the Square, the Compasses, and a Holy Quran.

Curiously, this modified phrase has existed for several centuries already but it seemed our ancient brethren did not mind the difference, so the word “Bible” has remained unchanged although it should have been modified long ago.

For the purpose of this article therefore, let me focus on the phrase “The Holy Bible.”, and more specifically, the King James Version to expound on the theme of this article..

THE HOLY BIBLE

The Holy Bible is no doubt the most widely translated and printed book man ever wrote. Consisting of two parts called the Old and New Testaments, the former was written in the “Habiru” or Hebrew language while the latter was in Greek,, both of which were, over a period of time, translated by the Roman Church into Latin and was made the basis for converting the Christians to the faith. In current times, it is said that there is no language on earth that exists does not have a local translation of the Holy Bible and although this claim cannot be verified with a reasonable degree of accuracy considering the magnitude of work that it will entail, it is safe to declare that it may indeed be so. In the Philippines for example, most of the local dialects possess translations that can be called their own; and if by chance the reader thinks this assumption is absurd, he better listen to Ely Soriano over the airwaves as he expounds his commentaries on his “Dating Daan” burgeoning Christian sect..

But whether these printed copies are ever opened and read is an entirely different story; and it is not impolite to ask: “Do you ever touch your own copy at your bookshelf?”

THE KING JAMES (OR THE AUTHORIZED) VERSION

The first thing that immediately comes to mind when the King James Version of the Holy Bible is mentioned is: “Just who the heck is King James?” Is he related to any of the characters mentioned in the Holy Bible during the time of Jesus Christ like Judas, Saul, Simon Peter or Paul?!

Well, this writer declares that King James has a namesake in the New Testament which allegedly is a brother of Jesus who continued the advocacy of the Messiah immediately after the latter’s death, but other than this similarity, no other attachment can be added to it. While this writer was able to trace the renderings or equivalent translations of several Anglo-Saxon names like Moses, John and Jesus to the Castilian Moises, Juan and Jesus, and thereafter to the Jewish Moshe, Yohan and Yeshu, he cannot decipher the English name James that was translated to the Castilian Santiago. But let’s get back to King James before we are accused of electioneering in the 2009 ANCOM.

Seriously now, King James’ real name was James Charles Stuart who was born on June 19, 1566 at Edinburg Castle in Scotland. He was crowned king James VI at the tender age of 13 months after his father’s murder and his mother’s abdicating the throne almost immediately after the murder.

Like many monarchs of the time, James never knew his parents and was thus raised by four tutors in succession, George Buchanan of whom, at 68 years of age, was the most influential. James became fluent in Latin, French, English, and Scots and was also schooled in Italian and Spanish. It was held that he needed no interpreter when entertaining other heads of state as he was found fluent in their respective dialects.

At age nineteen, he began his role as king of Scotland and ruled it well. Robert Lomas, a current Masonic writer and historian claims in one of his bestsellers that King James was made a mason during his reign as king of Scotland; Although he was not able to validly support his claim, this is hardly surprising because the famous Roslyn Chapel that is the crowning glory of the Knights Templar that still exist today was built in Scotland and at the precise era of his reign..

After the death of Queen Elizabeth of England in 1603, King James VI was also crowned King James I of England thereby uniting the two kingdoms and ruled both with superb administrative skills thus avoiding the threat of both internal and external conflicts from within and without his two kingdoms, a feat that was hardly recognized by later historians.
A rabid evangelist and believer of the Christian faith, in addition to the fact that English monarchs automatically also become the spiritual head of their kingdoms, he commissioned fifty four (54) linguists and scholars to translate the two volumes from the original Hebrew and Greek languages that were written in Hebrew and Greek respectively, to the prevailing English language of the time.
It was finally completed in 1611 and despite the opposition of its detractors, notably the Papacy, it was hailed by the English world that the King James Bible of 1611 as the absolute and final word of God. This translated work got further boost when the printing press was later invented and thus paved way for its circulation not only in the British isles but also in Europe and most especially in the northern hemisphere where he was the founding monarch of the United States since it was on his reign that the first successful colonies were planted on the American mainland, notably Virginia, Massachusetts and Nova Scotia (Latin for New Scotland) in Canada.
An unforgettable vignette in American history is George Washington’s use of the King James Version of the Holy Bible when he was installed first president of the United States.
THE USE OF THE HOLY BIBLE BY THE FREEMASONS

Masonic customs and traditions have it that a copy of the Holy Bible should always adorn the altar and that no lodge can be formally opened without it. Understandably, any version of the Holy Bible sufficed, especially because the Old World (this is how Europe was previously called) have different languages but it really did not matter for symbolically it stands for the word of the Deity, and its votaries in fine, did not mind.

The spread of Freemasonry to the believers of other faiths necessitated a modification. The believers of Allah who were the sworn enemies of the Knights Templar in the tug of war to claim the Holy Land mutually admired each other in the practice of their own professional disciplines and somehow adopted to each other’s ways which reasonably were also being run similar to the administration of lodges. In fine, the three religions that were founded in Semitic concepts namely, Christianity, Jewish and Muslims, soon adorned their altars depending on membership and thus paved way for the inclusion of the Torah and the Holy Quran. In addition to the Holy Bible.

During the advent of atheism in Europe, the Frenchmen, having a unique culture of its own, discarded the Holy Scriptures as a mandatory requirement to adorn its altars, not because its brand of Masonry does not profess in the belief of a Deity but to allow admission even to those who do not believe in it. Because of this, mainstream Freemasonry declared their Grand Lodge irregular and forthwith refused their members recognition.

Thus was the word “Bible” modified to read as “Scriptures” in many writings instead.

HOW THE SCRIPTURE IS ACCORDED IN INDIAN LODGES

If there is one country that exemplifies religious tolerance especially as it pertains to Freemasonry, none can match the Indian continent. Strategically located in what is called as the near East, it is religiously dominated by the Hindus and their breakaway groups called the Buddhists and the Jains who use the BHAGAVAD GITA as their Holy Writings. There are also Pharsis (called Pharisees in the New Testament) with an estimated 200,000 population whose Holy book is called ZEND AVESTA, those wearing turbans that are locally called Bombays in the Philippines but who are called Sikhs in their home country whose Holy Book is called GURU GRANTH. And when the Muslims attacked its frontiers sometime in the fifteenth century, it left its Muslim believers in its wake and consequently, the HOLY QURAN.

When the British occupied India in the eighteenth century, the British expeditionary forces took with them not only the King James version of the Holy Bible but the Catholic edition as well. It was not surprising therefore that when the Golden Lodge of Orange No. 304 was established in Nagpur, India in the mid eighteenth century, the King James Version that originally adorned its altar would soon be joined by the books of the other faiths, notably the Bhagavad Gita, the Zend Avesta, the Gura Granth and even the Holy Quran making its altar the conglomeration of all religious beliefs.

With that concluding paragraph, it’s now time to thank you for your attention. This writer hopes you are able to reach this concluding paragraph.

ONE LAST TIME FOR THE ROAD

2008-10-28T07:46:00.018+08:00

It was a role the aging lion earlier thought he would no longer perform. His two cubs were already members of the Craft fondly calling them Bro1 and Bro2 respectively such that he thought the need to do conferral roles again should now be left to the younger generation, whether as Solomon, a deacon or even a fellowcraft who man the gates which the Craft usually calls a ruffian.

But Bro2’s request sounded more than Webster’s definition of the word, it seemed more of an appeal that his patriarch gets down to the floor once more if only to recite the “charge” to Ferdie Garcia and Denver Langaman, another fellowcraft soon to be raised in their mother lodge whose entry to the Fraternity were derailed, one by a dreaded black cube and the other by a compulsory schooling at a police academy. Will the aging cat do it one last time to these candidates who have literally traveled the rough and rugged roads far longer than what were ordinarily required?

Lamely, the limping cat nodded (and you also would if you have but one leg to stand on), not only because of Ferdie whom the aging cat also liked but more so because it would also give the aging puma the chance to exhibit to his youngest cub how to portray roles during conferrals, that whatever part is assigned it should be performed as seriously as one would do, be it the role of Solomon, a ruffian or even menial tasks usually assigned elders like the proverbial “charge” (but not of the Light Brigade, dumdum).

The aging lion, who was as usual accompanied by the lion tamer arrived at the Temple at four in the afternoon at the precise time the lodge was in recess and after the usual pleasantries with the brethren at the Temple’s yard, promptly climbed the stairs and entered the lodge room. There he saw Bro2 examining the two candidates on their proficiency and noted that the trio are doing exactly what were expected of them. “Proficient”, the master and the lodge later chorused in unison!

Soon the conferral started and the aging cat noticed Bro2 performing the role of the senior deacon. So, the lion silently mused, these two roles were the underlying reasons why the young cub who is but five months a master mason wanted his lifetime mentor to be around. Invariably, the small pieces of advice the old cat has been feeding his two cubs ever since both donned their white lapel apron are now being put to the test and what better evaluation test is available other than to have the old lion to witness how he will do it?! Both have decided to be active during conferrals, the eldest at his mother lodge in 181 while the youngest where the old cat was raised a master mason at 122.

The roles of examiner and SD were performed by the young cub satisfactorily, and it turned out he still has another part to perform, that of guarding the third gate where the impostors of Hiram Abif are to pass. And he did it with aplomb, although for the purpose of this article, it could not be narrated as the experiences are only worth retelling during the hours of fellowship that usually last later than midnight and with the recipients enjoying the tales more than the kibitzers and even those of the ruffians. Also, the pivotal roles of the three lights during the first section were satisfactory performed by the lodge’ three lights namely WM Omar Equiza and Bros. Alden Bait and Godo Velarde, while the role of Solomon were alternated by VW Louie Reyes and WB Rogelio “Junjun“ Gevero and in addition the ageless VW Louie completing the task by giving the 3rd degree lecture to complete the task. VW Alan Bontuyan, an honorary member of the lodge was also there tending to the sounds and acting the cameo role of conferral secretary during the Craft’s roll call.

And what the heck happened to the old cat who delivered the “charge?”

Ay sus! But this article is not about the aging lion but about the road wherewith beers are made the scapegoats why the brethren usually get home drunk!

OF DUTIES AND OBLIGATIONS

2008-10-21T07:13:00.001+08:00

(Short talk delivered to the brethren of Laong Laan Lodge No. 185 on October 4, 2008

Worshipful Master Danny Gutierrez, VW Reuben Ganaden, other dignitarties in the East, brethren. First allow me to sit before I deliver this short speech this task that was assigned to me.

Immediately after the start of this stated meeting, our Worshipful Master called my attention requesting me to deliver a short talk on the topic “Obligations” for the benefit of the members and that I can do it after the balloting of a candidate to give me time to think of what I have to say to you.

Quite frankly, I can only nod my head for as we all know, the word of the master is law and that even if it was said in the guise of a request, it is still an order in itself and none but a stubborn brother would dare refuse this kind of assignment..

Which makes this limping cat wonder. What specific topic on obligation would the brethren probably like to hear? I figure it cannot refer to the obligations that are contained in the conferral of the three degrees because everybody has memorized these before they graduated to become master masons. And so I reckon that perhaps the topic that our Worshipful Master desired are the obligations that Freemasonry seeks to inculcate upon its votaries for as any discerning brother will realize “duties” and “obligations” are synonymous. Getting deeper into the matter therefore, I supposed that obligations that each and everyone of you may like to listen to pertain to the obligations that we owe to God, our neighbor and ourselves, especially those that apply to our daily lives, our families and those within our circles of activity. In short, it is those obligations that we owe to ourselves, our loved ones and those around us that we have to perform daily in the meantime we are still able to savor the breath of life.

And so here goes.

Two months ago at our adopted residence in Guindulman, Bohol, your sister and her ailing pet were figuring out how they will balance their budget. Their meager savings were already exhausted and the monthly pension of the aging cat can only buy eighty percent of the maintenance medicines of her ailing cat.. Good that the farm produce can support their subsistence, electrical and water bills but the deficit of his medical budget must be resolved one way or the other.

The lion tamer was understandably distraught. Having worked in a medical clinic, she knows the importance of sustained medical care, else the lack of it could be disastrous. She therefore suggested that we seek bailout from their three children in much the same way the flagging U. S. economy sought relief from the Bush Administration.. She surmised that surely, their three kids will undoubtedly be glad but the idea was vetoed by the aging cat right away. If he must live, he should manage to do it with determined resolve in the same manner he has always insisted that minimal help should be given him every time he moves around. He added that if doing it his way will not suffice, then it may well be his final trip to kingdom come. He also added that despite the difficulty, they should still consider themselves lucky for they are not part of the twenty million Filipinos who live way beyond the poverty line, are not living in the hinterlands playing a suspenseful cat and mouse game with the MILF renegades led by Kumanders Cato and Bravo in faraway Mindanao, nor have migrated to the famed land of milk and honey only to worry whether it is now high time to pack their bags and lead for home because of the recession that now plagues their countryside.

Which made the lion tamer sigh and at the same time shake her head. She knew that when her aging cat has already made up his mind especially when the issue pertains to his own health, then there is no way his decision can be changed.

Two months passed and it was time for his periodic checkup and gamely, he commented that he is still alive. The trip to the metropolis was two-pronged because their daughter sent them their plane ticket and their eldest son promised to meet them at the airport. It will also enable her to undergo her doctoral studies and expects to be back in a month automatically making her parents as “house dogs” or in local parlance, “taong bahay” meantime she is in the land of the Rising Sun. She must, the aging lion mused, complete her doctoral degree in Engineering for it is the most pressing obligation she owe herself and her family especially at this time when the JPEPA has already been ratified.

She is now there three days and at this very moment a transatlantic flight bound for Canada has just jetted off the NAIA runway with our youngest son on board that jetliner. He will be there for about ten days to attend a familiarization tour with the mother company of his employer. Our eldest has likewise just sent a text message saying that a 3rd degree conferral has been performed by his mother lodge and that he is now preparing to memorize the 2nd degree lecture called the 3, 5, 7 to prepare him for more important tasks in the Fraternity. All these tasks done by the three mind you are preparations to hone themselves for later duties and obligations either in the Craft or in their respective places of work..

But let’s get back to the aging lion’s decision to trim his medicines. What will happen next if he erred in omitting those that are more needed than what has been left behind?

But of course! VW “Pong” Lustre will just have to refresh himself in delivering the famous “Last Rites”.

(Note: At the time this is being written, Ivan has just returned from Canada narrating fond memories of his trip as a Mason including the upgrading of his seating arrangement from Economy to Business Class, courtesy of his fraternal brod, Ben Se of his mother lodge and the dinner at Toronto that was hosted by VW Johnny Chua and the other brethren residing there.. Our daughter, on the other hand is still two weeks away before she can head for home. By this email recipients are also requested to signify that they wish to continue receiving articles that the aging cat periodically sends via the Internet. Failure to do so will mean they are not interested and will therefore be automatically omitted from his mailing list.)

NOT JUST BY PRECEPTS, BUT MORE SO BY EXAMPLE

2008-06-19T09:52:00.000+08:00

(Short talk delivered at the raising ceremony held on June 14, 2008 at Quezon City Lodge No. 122)

Indeed, all of us are already hungry but this short discourse will only take a few minutes.

Nineteen years ago this month, in this lodge and on the same second Saturday, well, except that the date was June 10 instead of June 14, a similar raising ceremony involving three fellowcrafts was held on this checkered floor. Let me tell you about it.

The three lights that comprised the conferral team were composed of Bros. Eluderio Salvo, Jose Lustre and Saul Exmundo, sitting in the East, West and South, respectively.

Bro. Salvo was already Junior Warden in 1972 when martial law was declared. Incensed however, at what he believed was a passive attitude of the Fraternity for not taking an adversarial stand against the Marcos dictatorship, he vowed he will not attend lodge meetings until martial law is lifted and made good his word but dutifully paid his dues thereby retaining his membership. After the 1986 EDSA Revolution, he promptly returned to the lodge and was thereafter reelected Junior Warden by December of that year and was therefore reinstalled to that post in 1987, as Senior Warden in 1988 and as master of the lodge in the succeeding year.

Bro. Lustre was a successful rural banker and a second generation mason but did not know about it until after his father’s death several years later. He only learned his father was a member of the Craft in 1998 when he saw his father’s name listed in the roster when the Golden Anniversary’s Souvenir Program was issued in that year. This fact may be an oddity, but in the early postwar years Masonic membership was not a household word as it is now.

Bro. Saul Exmundo is an Ilonggo and province mate of the fiery Mirriam Defensor Santiago. True to his non-conformist attitude, he quarreled with the Dean while studying Engineering at the State University and thereafter saw himself graduating some years later on the same course at downtown’s National University.

The three candidates on the other hand were composed of the following:

Bro. Dennis Gabionza, handsome owner of the blue-colored MCBC bus line that plied the EDSA route. He epitomizes what the ladies would call the homo sapiens’ “makalaglag girdle” specie.

His younger brother “Boy”, a thirty two year old brilliant lawyer and managing partner of a law firm that he co-founded. He graduated SUMMA CUM LAUDE while in college.

This writer. And his credentials? Never mind!!

At the turn of the millennium, let’s see what have become of them.

Bro. Salvo who was installed master in 1989 was chosen one of the Ten Outstanding Masons in the field of Engineering in 1991. He was also adjudged Outstanding in the field of Sanitary Engineering by the Republic of the Philippines and was also listed among the Who’s who in the field of Engineering worldwide.

In 1997, he was appointed District Deputy Grandmaster thereby earning his purple apron.

Bro. Lustre ascended the Oriental Chair in 1990 and in 1992 was appointed District Deputy Grandmaster. During the term of MW Agustin V. Mateo, he was handpicked to become the latter’s Assistant Grand Secretary. Professionally, Bro. Lustre is a rural banker and was elected president of the Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines for a number of years.

Bro. Exmundo was installed master in 1991 and in 1994 was appointed District Grand Lecturer. True to his non-conformist attitude in life, he did not seek employment but earned his keep by being his own boss. He would buy an empty vacant lot within the Quezon City area, build two or three houses on it in about 6 months’ time, sell these within a year’s time and in the meantime would pore over the voluminous Masonic materials that he has compiled at home. This lifestyle enabled him to digest most of the rituals of both Blue Masonry and the Scottish Rite, thus earning for him the undisputed dean of rituals within the Capitol Masonic Temple’s earshot.

And yes, his only boss is Sis. Becky, his wife.

Bro. Dennis became charter member of Catanduanes Island Lodge No. 291 immediately after his raising and during the next year became master of that lodge. A year after that, he was appointed Grand Organist, a position that he would hold for two consecutive years.

Bro. “Boy” was installed master of the lodge in 1996 and in 1999 was appointed District Deputy Grand Master thereby easily entitling him to his purple apron.

This writer sat at the Oriental Chair in 1995, a year ahead of Bro. Boy and would have contented himself being sidelined to mediocrity had it not been for Bro. Boy’s special request that he will accept the appointment as DDGM only if his Bro. Jun is also appointed DGL. That is what may be called collecting his purple apron effortlessly.

So much for what happened nineteen years ago. Let’s now talk about the raising ceremony that was conducted today.

Professionally, WM Omar Equiza, and Bros. Alden Bait and Gudo Velarde are with the construction business, the Immigration bureau and at the power sector respectively. In contrast Bros. Nikko Chua, Mike Pena and Ivan Galarosa are from the construction, at PAGCOR and at the Call Center industry respectively, professions that surely can catapult them to considerable heights in searching for glory in this august Fraternity.

These predictions are not far-fetched for as we can see, WB “Jun jun” Gevero has just been adjudged Most Outstanding Worshipful Master in the last ANCOM and in the process also towed with him the distinct honor of making Quezon City Lodge No. 122 the Most Outstanding Lodge for the same year. In addition VW Boy Gabionza also collected the honor of being selected Most Outstanding Mason in the field of Corporate Law.

Curiously, all these awards and citations, despite the fact that most came from our Grand Lodge, belong to the “external” or what may be called as belonging to the worldly wealth or honors, None relates to the arcane attributes of Masonry, the quality that “recommends a man to be made a mason”.

But this is understandably so, for the realm of the esoteric is not within the gift of any Grand Lodge to bestow.

But whenever we see a grandson retracing the lost Masonic footprints of his deceased grandfather, like in the case of WB Junjun Gevero, or a son being personally raised by his own father, like our Senior Warden Bro. Alden Bait, or another son petitioning at another lodge because his father did not consider his idea of joining the Craft serious enough as experienced by WB Sonny Regala who had to petition at Laong Laan Lodge No. 185, or brothers following the footsteps of their siblings who have enlisted ahead of them as in the cases of Bros. Jerome and Joe Gabionza who followed the footsteps of Bros. Dennis and Boy, or as in the case of the newly-raised Bro. Ivan who followed the footsteps of his elder Bro. Ian who was raised at Sierra Madre Lodge No. 181 last year and who himself was gamely following the limping gait of their own father, then we can visualize the mystic light of Masonry shining in its radiating glory.

For it is not only by precepts did these who subsequently joined were motivated to enlist but more so by the examples set by their forerunners that they were inspired to join. As a popular adage says: “Live the full life of a mason, and sooner than later, those near you will take notice and follow.”

Which reminds this writer of the celebrated author Norman Vincent Peale, a revered elder of the Masonic Brotherhood of the Blue Forget Me Not who eloquently said in one of his articles that: “added together, the years that he, his father and his grandfather have devoted to the cause of Masonry has already totaled more than a hundred and that he is still counting. Definitely a lifetime vocation worth emulating by the future generations that will come later.

And to end this talk, if Bros. Nikko, Mike and Ivan will rise, I’ll extend to them my right hand and execute the strong grip of the lion’s paw in warm congratulations for their becoming members of this ancient and august fraternity.

Thank you all for your attention!
e wased BrHi

MILESTONE- A priceless gift

2008-03-10T14:40:00.000+08:00

The text message that the aging cat received from his youngest cub reads:

“Fair in the South, clear in the West, and bright in the East.”

Instinctively, he replied:

“Congrats. Pwede ka ng mabugbog ng Kuya. mo”, which when translated loosely means, “Congrats, your elder brother may now beat you black and blue!”

Other exchanges of text messages followed, but these no longer mattered, both knew it was the best gift the youngest cub could ever give to his ailing dad!!

Note: The cub petitioned at Quezon City Lodge No. 122, the aging lion’s mother lodge.

A SHORT TREATISE ON HARMONY

2008-02-08T06:08:00.000+08:00

Some two years ago, MW Hermogenes Ebadane Jr., (or is it another GM?) then the incumbent Grand Master, issued an edict authorizing the creation of a Harmony Officer in every lodge under the jurisdiction of the MW Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines. This short talk will not delve on the wisdom, or the lack of it, why the said office was created, as indeed the pros and cons of the said edict was not explained except that when disputes in the lodge arise, he who is elected automatically becomes the arbiter.

On a different note, this short talk will attempt to explain why Harmony is a tenet that is of paramount importance in our Fraternity.

Harmony is a dogma that is often hinted only in cryptic codes in our rituals. To the undiscerning multitude, this very important science is not even there, but to the adepts it stares at him squarely on his face. It’s much like the parables narrated by the Greatest Teacher of all time, to many it is as clear as mud, but to seekers of truth, it’s right in front of him.

The following observations may look intelligible when read at the start after the proper connections as will be explained later, it is hoped that it will be understood at least, by a serious few.. Consider these

I. THE RELEVANCE OF HARMONYAS EMBEDDED IN THE RITUALS

*** In the lecture of the first degree, it said:

“that when the building was completed (referring to King Solomon’s Temple) it had all the appearance of the handiwork the Supreme Architect of the Universe than that of human hands.”

*** In the lecture of the second degree, the seven liberal arts and sciences were made as basis of study for fellowcrafts. Interestingly, music is ranked 6th, a science that is of greater importance to Masons even more than Geometry. And should the listener (or reader) wonder why Music is treated as a science and not as an art as it is being classified today, it is worth mentioning that to the ancients, and that is, even up to the time of Julius Caesar, they have already classified these seven categories into TRIVIUM, composed of Grammar, Rhetoric and Logic, and QUADRIVIUM, grouping Arithmetic, Geometry, Music and Astronomy in this category.

*** In the lecture of the third degree, it eloquently said:

“There were employed in its erection 3 Grand Masters, 3,300 masters or overseers of the work, 80,000 fellowcrafts or hewers in the mountains and in the quarries, and 70,000 entered apprentices or bearers of burden, and those were all so classed and classified by King Solomon that neither envy, discord nor confusion was suffered to interrupt the peace and good fellowship which prevailed among the workmen except on the one occasion etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.”

***And finally, in the explanation of the trowel as the master mason’s working tool it said:

“for the more noble and glorious purpose of spreading the cement of brotherly love and affection which unites us into one sacred bond, or society of friends and brothers, among whom no contention should ever exist, but that noble contention, or rather emulation, of who best work and best agree”

II. BRIEF EXPLANATIONS ON THE RITUALS MENTIONED

In the operative sense, King Solomon’s Temple epitomizes not only the temple’s magnificence but also the wonder of her age. Symbolically, it represents the Temple where the rough ashlars were first perfected in accordance with the Divine Plan confirming to the specifications of “a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”

Music, on the other hand, emphasizes the need for harmony of God’s children through the wise use of the tenets of brotherhood where charity, filial love and truth reign supreme. This can be amplified by listening to classical music that are harmoniously orchestrated by the musical conductors using their musicao batons that produce the melodious sounds created by musical geniuses like Mozart, Beethoven and modern-day Bach!

And the workmen of King Solomon’s Temple? Imagine 153,303 workers working in unison and their fellowship not disturbed except on that one occasion where all Masons have exemplified as the legendary Hiram Abif!!

III. INVOKNG THE AID OF THE DIVINE PROVIDENCE

Of interesting relevance is the role of the Chaplain of whatever degree when it alternately invokes two opening prayers that says::

*** “Grant that the sublime principles of Freemasonry may so subdue every discordant passions within us, so harmonize and enrich our hearts etcetera. Etcetera, and,

***”Wilt thou be pleased that this meeting, thus begun in order, may be conducted in peace and closed in Harmony.Amen.

III. THE CREATION OF THE HARMONY OFFICER

Curiously now, is the Harmony Officer an innovation or is it a redundant duplication of one that already exist but whose functions nobody knows, hence is often omitted to the chagrin of the installing officer during installation ceremonies because none was appointed? Who then, is it?

But of course, none but the Organist who is symbolically charged by the Installing Officer with the following eloquent phrase:

“It is your duty to preside at the organ at the opening and closing ceremonies, and other ceremonials at the lodge . May the delightful labors of your position impress more deeply upon the minds and hearts of your Brethren that HARMONY is as essential for the strength and beauty of our noble brotherhood as it is for the excellence of the art and science in which you so greatly excel.”

But how many lodges in our jurisdiction have bothered to install their own Organists??

SILVER LININGS

2008-01-20T17:03:00.000+08:00

The year of the pig was both bane and boon to the aging cat. First, he barely escaped being drowned without his body being submerged in water because his lungs were full of mucus-aggravated liquid it hardly allowed his snubbed-shaped nose or in local parlance “pango” to breath, Luckily for him, the community hospital where he was confined on that fateful Holy Wednesday had an available oxygen tank for such an emergency. With steroid injected to help open up his lungs, the lady doctor managed to make him regain his breath and thus enabled him to return home to recuperate two days later and saved him from being unceremoniously dumped into the century-old waiting graveyard.

The second aborted trip to the Great Beyond occurred two weeks later when, shortly after his right leg was amputated, he was rushed to the Intensive Care Unit of St. Luke’s Hospital, that time because his heartbeat already dangerously dropped below normal level it might have stopped beating at all. Bad grass, he jokingly declared later, but then again, to him it was a puzzle why the Grim Ripper dilly-dallied in his assigned task of using his razor-blade scythe and thus granted the aging puma another reprieve at finally taking his one-way ticket to kingdom come.

So after the two aborted tries at knocking at the proverbial door where not one soul has ever returned before, the only recourse was to gather back his scattered wits and try to get back to normalcy. He obviously could no longer stand on his two feet once again because his right leg was no longer where it was supposed to be, but stand he must and what better recourse than to do it with his remaining left leg but this time aided by an artificial contraption that in medical parlance is called “prosthesis” .!

Fortunately for the aging lion, there is an age-old maxim that says “way above the thunderous clouds still exist the sun with its radiant light.”. Which simply means: “hope still springs eternal even to him who has fallen to the ground provided he has the will and a strong desire to stand!”

The road to recovery was Herculean. Fortunately a lot of relatives, fraternal brothers and friends made the awesome task at getting back to normal bearable and worth every sweat of his brow. The three cubs were likewise very supportive thus pondering at hard decisions became manageable, he ultimately slowly regained his composure and realized that life is still too precious on to, never to abandon nor ignore.

I. WELCOME NEWS AFTER THE STORM

Much like the passing of every thunderous storm, flickering lights slowly appeared on the horizon making him realize that despite the debacle, life- even with but a single foot, still deserves to continue. Never mind if medical tests reveal that both his kidney and his heart are already too weak to work unaided, and that unless assisted by maintenance medicines his breathing may just sputter like an overused engine and may conk without the driver knowing whatever the heck happened.

His first glad tidings after his misfortune happened when his eldest cub Ian, of his own free will and accord, became a member of the Craft.. Petitioning at Sierra Madre Lodge No. 181 because the incumbent master of the lodge was close to his wife Vicky, he doggedly endured the conferral of the three degrees until on June 16 when he was finally raised to what masons call the sublime degree.

Some five months later, or on November 17 to be exact, Ian’s younger brother Ivan called the aging cat long distance saying he has finally decided to petition for membership at Quezon City Lodge No. 122, the very lodge where the latter was made a master mason. Not receiving any comment at all at the other end of the phone from his dad, he realized his news will not be answered and so said he will call again later for his mother to learn of the news.

II. AN UNEXPECTED MEMBERSHIP CITATION

On November 21 or barely a week after his youngest son made the call, he received an unexpected mail that came from Ontario Canada. It contained a citation, a letter and a blue lapel pin, the citation of which reads as follows:

“Distinctive award for Outstanding Speculative and
Unselfish Service to Freemasonry and all Mankind”

His reply to the sender was:

The Masonic Brotherhood of
The Blue Forget-me-not
2 Knockbolt Crescent, Toronto, Ontario, Canada MIS 2P6

Attention: Bro. Nelson King, Secretary

It is with profound sense of humility that I accept my election as member of

“The Masonic Brotherhood of
The Blue Forget-me-not”

It is a distinctive honor that our two sons, the elder of whom is already a Mason while the younger has signified he will also join, and our four grandsons may hopefully be reminded and thus learn to emulate when they come of age someday.

Kindest fraternal regards!

Sincerely,

Geminiano V. Galarosa, Jr.

III. A BRIEF BACKGROUNDER ON THE BROTHERHOOD

Suffice it to say that he was surprised to receive the citation. He knew nothing of the “Masonic Brotherhood of the Blue Forget me not” at all, and eager to know what it was all about, he made the search through “Google” and learned it was organized on January 1, 1972 to recognize those Masons “who were devoting their lives and resources to Masonic education and writing.”. Some of the salient points as copied from the Internet include:

1. The recipient (of the citation) is judged by a Team of Masonic writers and educators before he is chosen for membership in the Brotherhood. His dedication to the whole of Freemasonry and his fellowman determines his qualifications. This Award cannot be purchased. His name must be presented by a member of the Brotherhood, then pass a unanimous ballot of the membership commission.

2. There are no fees or dues paid by the recipient. In every sense, membership in the Brotherhood is an Award for unselfish service to Freemasonry and mankind.

3. The blue forget me not (flower) has been chosen as a symbol of Masonic dedication, courage and fidelity. This symbol was born in the face of Nazi persecution of Freemasonry under the Hitler regime. Although the dictator ordered thousands of Freemasons murdered, tortured and incarcerated, those who would not renounce the Craft and its teachings continued to practice Freemasonry in secret. So they might know one another, a little flower was selected as their emblem. Against overwhelming odds these men, a scant handful, kept the light of Freemasonry burning throughout Nazi darkness.

4. It is not a degree; it is not a political award; there will never be a plea for a greater membership. There are no dues and fees to be paid by anyone. It is in every sense an award for service to Freemasonry and thus to our fellow man. Because of its non-political objective, and because its only members are workers in and for the Craft, many consider it the greatest honor one can receive in Freemasonry.

IV. MEMBERSHIP IN THE BROTHERHOOD AS ICING ON THE CAKE

It is worth mentioning that the list of Masonic writers that were elected to its roll include immortal authors like Norman Vincent Peale, William Denslow, Alphonse Cerza, John J. Robinson and MW Raymond Willmarth in the Philippine Masonic jurisdiction.. At the time of his election his name was numbered 481 and is at the tail end of the list thus making him only the second Freemason from the Philippine shore to be included in the roster.

Despite the international relevance of his membership in the brotherhood however, he considers the inclusion of his two sons into the Fraternity as the more valuable. It is true that many members of the Craft have sons in the fold, even the celebrated Norman Vincent Peale is a third generation Freemason and so are many other brethren in the local front have sons who have also joined the Fraternty. But aging cat still considers it a far more valuable honor because unless one has lived the full life of a mason, it would not reasonable to expect that his sons will follow his footsteps when they come of age someday that effectively echoes:

“No greater gift can a Freemason receive from the Craft other than see his son follow his footsteps of his own free will and accord!”

Which also reminds the aging cat of on adage on immortality that eloquently says:
“Plant a tree, write a book, sire a son”, and confidently he knew he has done all three. And gee whiz, isn’t it better that on the last-mentioned word, he has produced not only one but two?!”

MY SON, MY BROTHER

2007-08-14T17:21:00.000+08:00

Compared to his two siblings, Ian is the least exposed to the ways of the Masonic Fraternity. His sister, after all, joined the Job’s Daughters during her teens while his youngest brother fully exhausted seven years of his life in the DeMolay movement until the time he became a Senior DeMolay.

But it was understandable; he was already in his second year at Los Banos when his Dad joined the Craft and to confound matters, he got himself employed, got married and thereafter established residence in his adopted place. Except for some fleeting moments, like attending his father’s installation as Worshipful Master of his mother lodge in 1995 and acting as surrogate brother to the fraternal brod of his kid brother, Ivan, when the DeMolays tangled with a college fraternity, his link with the organization the aging puma has embraced was indeed rare. Suffice it to say that it came as a mild shock to the rest of the family when he said in late 2005 that he wants to knock at the Craft’s proverbial door timing his entry at the time he will reach the age of thirty five.

The aging lion was of course silently pleased at learning of his son’s decision but nonetheless was guarded in his reactions. The only question that he posed was: “Have you discussed this with your wife, Vicky?” and got a nod in reply. It turned out it was her employer at the farm where she works as an animal nutritionist that prodded her to allow her husband to follow the footsteps of his Dad because her boss is a mason in good standing at Sierra Madre Lodge No. 181 and it was from the latter that she consciously noticed the sterling qualities of a member of the Craft.

But knocking at the proverbial door was not easy. The cub’s first obstacle was that he was informed it will cost him some twenty grand to join and admittedly the sum was not peanuts. Another difficult problem to hurdle was that the lodge was forty two kilometers away from their residence and therefore will entail considerable travel time to attend meetings.

The prospects of knocking at the door of other lodges were considered. Nearby stood two other lodges, namely Makiling Lodge No. 77 and Pinagsabitan Lodge No. 26 in neighboring Sta. Cruz, but he knew of no one in these two lodges. He also contemplated submitting his petition form in any of the lodges at the Capitol Masonic Temple where his Dad once used to roam, but the distance was even more problematic than what it would entail him should he decide to join any of the lodges in Laguna. He also broached the idea of joining Jacques DeMolay 305 because he has an acquaintance there, but the same problem on travel time exists. Not only that, its stated meeting was on a Friday at six P.M. and reasonably, getting home after each meeting would pose a problem.

His big break came in January 2007 when he excitedly called his Dad long distance in Bohol saying he has already submitted his duly-accomplished petition form at Sierra Madre Lodge No. 181 and was asking what to do next. He received a reply saying: “Well, all you do is wait until your name is circularized by the Grand Lodge in what is called as “Circular No. 12. What he did not know was that his Dad emailed Elo at the GL office and learned that the his petition for membership was already circulated to the brethren by the end of the month of January.

Still a petitioner, his sponsor gradually exposed him and his wife to the public ceremonies of the Fraternity. They were invited to the installation ceremonies of Sierra Madre Lodge No. 181, Pinagsabitan Lodge No. 26 Malinao Lodge No. 25 and Makiling Lodge No. 77, and attended all of them.

Sierra Madre’s March stated meeting saw him and two other petitioners eagerly awaiting being balloted and at closing time were informed that the results were favorable. This made him send a text message to his Dad saying: “Tay, yelocrap na ako”. His Dad, feigning ignorance shot back: “Just what is that supposed to mean?” and received the epic reply: “yelocrap, the one who distributes ice during the fellowship!”

The three petitioners were initiated on March 30 and the lodge forthwith made plans for their second-degree passing and the third degree raising to the sublime degree. April 14 was tentatively set for the second-degree conferral while the third degree was set for the month of May.

Meanwhile the aging cat formulated plans of his own. He and the lion tamer were already scheduled to visit the kids at the metropolis and it would be a nice idea if he can request that he be the Conferral Master of the third degree, portraying the role of King Solomon, and thus symbolically raise his son to the sublime degree. That idea would indeed, be nice.

But like many dreams, there are some that regretfully vanish in the air, with the amputation of his right leg reducing that dream to wishful thinking. For how could one execute the strong grip of the lion’s paw and the five points of fellowship when the limping and aging lion could not even arise from bed with but one leg to stand on?!

And snags stood in the way. The “passing” was consummated only on May 19 while the “raising” was done on June 16. These two events were partially witnessed by the aging lion although he chose to be outside of the lodge while the second section of the third degree conferral was going on. Once the smoke has vanished he noted that compared with the two others, the cub was roasted “well done” that even showed visible signs of burnt residues on his breast while the two were only broiled medium rare. Which made the aging lion quip: “Well, like the sides of a coin, there are two sides of looking at a given experience, it either turns you into a ferocious lion to get even, or become a judicious sphinx because you believe that the manhandling was despicably wrong. Looking back, it appeared some lodge members did not look with favor his reply on the query why he wanted to join the Craft that “he wanted to follow the Masonic footsteps of his Dad” a dream many old timers wish but never could realize.

As a memento of his joining the Craft, the aging lion gave him the golden ring that he has proudly worn the past eighteen years saying:

“I have worn that ring proudly the past eighteen years and have always reminded me of three things, the Square, the extended Compasses and the letter G at the middle... May it also always remind you that the Square is an emblem of Truth and Morality, that the extended Compasses remind you to circumscribe your desires, and that the letter G means that the GAOTU watches over your actions”.

BROTHERLY LOVE, RELIEF AND TRUTH- A personal experience

2007-08-13T15:58:00.000+08:00

Short talk delivered to Laong Laan Lodge No. 185 on June 2, 2007

You have listened to the Entered Apprentice degree lecture earlier this afternoon where the three principal tenets Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth, three of Masonry’s greatest teachings, were taught. So simply worded, easily understood, yet oftentimes difficult to internalize and apply in our daily lives. Curiously however, without these tenets, this aging lion would not be alive today. So let me tell you this story.

For a start, allow me to apologize for my inability to strictly comply with the rules on proper attire. It is true I am impeccably dressed in white barong and matching black pants but I am not properly shod. Instead, I am wearing a sandal same as what Boaz must have worn in ancient times. Also, my right leg is missing from the knee down. Which reminds me of the answer that I gave to the question “What happened to your right foot?” that was asked by a brother last Saturday, May 26, on the occasion of the passing of our eldest son at Sierra Madre Lodge No. 181 to which I replied: “I accidentally entered a first degree conferral and inadvertently advanced my right foot first instead of my left as required!”

But seriously, the loss of my shoe is not without reason. In the ensuing confusion when we boarded the plane bound for Manila last April 11, I inadvertently left it at home at our den in Guindulman, Bohol. I was then already seriously ill such that when we saw Kuya Billy at St. Luke’s Hospital the next day, he said, “Kuya Jun, we need to amputate your right leg soonest possible. Gangrene has already seriously affected it and any delay and can easily cause your death!”

But before he can do that, a number of medical tests were needed. There was the CBC, to the Echo, Doffler, fasting blood sugar and many others. And the combined cost of these preparatory tests already exceeded P10,000 and soon drained our pockets.When the tests were over my niece who was an expert Endocrinologist and Diabetes specialist estimated that the total cost of the amputation will be in the vicinity of about P300,000. Whew!.

Naturally, it worried me greatly. Where will we get that money? I reckon, wrestling with the Grim Reaper may even prove a more viable alternative! As a result, I even considered having the amputation done in Cebu under Dr. Felix Vicuna, Jr. who said over the phone that the under the circumstances, it will only cost us some P50,000 as a charity patient! But the danger of my soul separating from the body because of the thin atmosphere while the plane is airborne was ominous. My weak heart and lungs may not withstand the rigors of air travel even the trip from Tagbilaran to Manila that was done previously was considered a wonder I escaped death unscathed.

I therefore reluctantly agreed to have my leg amputated at St. Luke’s with Doc Billy orchestrating the event and so checked-in at the hospital on Monday, April 16. But the amputation was done only on Thursday evening as the cardiologist was adamant in giving her go-signal because my lungs were full of water any miscue could trigger my weak heart to collapse. To lessen the risk, the anesthesiologist arranged that the operation be conducted while I was in sitting position so that I don’t drown while Doc Billy was ceremoniously separating my right leg from the rest of my body.

I was then returned to my room the next day, Friday, but no more than twelve hours later, was rushed to the Intensive Care Unit or ICU gasping for precious breath. Doc Billy and the cardiologist were giving medical instructions to the point, the life of the aging lion was at stake. Doc Billy even overruled the form signed by the lion tamer that the various attachments usually attached to patients during extreme emergencies and thus precluded the Grim Reaper from claiming the old cat for his prize.

And wonder of wonders, I stayed at the ICU for no more than a day which made the attending male nurse quip: “You are an exceptional patient. In my stay here at the hospital, I have not seen a patient get out of this room in less than twenty four hours alive! Bad grass, one might say, but I was given another chance to stay alive.

To sum it all up, the amputation was performed on Thursday, April 19, and exactly a week later the patient was discharged from the hospital The lion tamer who was accompanied by her daughter settled the bills but would not her pet to even have a look. He will surely wonder how the heck they managed to foot their bills to pay the foot that Doc Billy amputated!

This incident is being narrated because clearly, “brotherly love and relief” are divine attributes that motivated Kuya Billy to render his services for free and also goaded him to organize the medical team and thus enabled him to perform the amputation. In addition, he cajoled the brethren to take notice of the aging lion’s dire need for financial help by posting via the Internet my miserable plight, and in addition also sent text messages to brethren who knew me.

In so doing a good number answered the call, among them, WBs Benjie de los Santos, Bong Fajardo, Ka Albert, our Worshipful Master who was accompanied by Bro. Danny Gutierrez and VW John Teng. From out of the lodge those who responded include VW Pong Lustre who was accompanied by Sis. Del and their triplets, VW Nanding Pascua accompanied by Sis Shiela, the four Gabionza ladies of Quezon City Lodge No. 122, two of whom were accompanied by their respective hubbies VWs Jerome and Joe, VW Alex Fabian who hand-carried the contribution of Quezon City Bodies and VW Mike Maraan who gave the contribution of Juan Sumulong Lodge No. 169. and VW Rommel Corra.l. In all, their financial assistance totaled no less than P50, 000.

For her part the lion tamer called up relatives and friends and from the family of the late Bro. Eduardo Palac (he is the subject of a previous article titled “Requiem for a Departing Brother) accumulated about P170,000 cash. The children of the nonagenarian Bro. Antonio Maputol, her cousins, also sent P50,000. So did the aging lion’s youngest sister who also sent through the wire an equal amount. And many other relatives and friends who contributed in varying sums.

These are not all, even those who were unable to send money sent in word that they do care. The families of fishermen at our backyard and our neighbors called saying they hope for the aging lion’s early recovery.

But while the love and concern of those who helped clearly demonstrated the sterling values of both brotherly love and relief, the third tenet called “truth” at first glance, seems unconnected. On critical analysis however, truth was found to have buried itself in another virtue called “Charity” for in the second degree parambulation that was copied verbatim in the Book of Corinthians where it wisely said:

“Charity suffereth long and is kind
charity envieth not
charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up
doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own
doth not rejoice in inequity but rejoiceth in the TRUTH.

I guess this is how this short talk should now end. These three principal tenets are intertwined, after all.

Thank you for your attention!

(Note: This article was originally delivered in Taglish but was rehashed to conform to standard English presentation.)

LIFE, DEATH, THE SOUL AND THE BODY

2007-03-02T06:07:00.000+08:00

Death be not proud though you ultimately will succeed in separating the soul from its body,
But let it not be on piecemeal basis,
Like the throat being torn out of its roots and buried in the rough sands of the seas.
Or the heart given as prey to the beasts of the fields or the vultures of the air,
Or more especially its bowels taken thence and burned to ashes and the ashes cast to the four winds of heavens that no more remembrance may be had among men or Masons forever.

So let the soul soar up to the heavens, there to receive judgment for its deeds while in the body.

But let the decomposed particles merge the earth from whence it came, pulverized like dust to dust, earth to earth, or ashes to ashes, there to serve another soul and repeated into innumerable cycles till time shall be no more.

So in what manner shall decomposition be?
Will it follow that of Hiram Abif whose body was laid to rest three times, first in the rubbish of the Temple by the ruffians, next at the brow of a hill of Mount Moriah by the same, and lastly at the Sanctus Sancturum or the Holy of Holies where a marble monument, etcetera, etcetera, was said to immortalize his name?

Or would it undergo the process of cremation like the Indians, both of the near East and those of the Americans, who dutifully perform to the bodies of their departed as they soar upwards to that place they have not gone before?

Or simply be contained in a coffin and thereafter placed in a tomb to rot, but how the dust will recombine with the rest of the earth is a puzzle this chronicler is hard put to analyze and solve!

Note: Serious adherents of the Craft will realize that the above composition is neither novel nor new and is sent via the Internet by the aging lion for lack of anything to do.

Comments are welcome. The writer also will appreciate if you can pass this to other readers.

REQUIEM FOR A DEPARTING BROTHER

2007-02-26T06:43:00.000+08:00

REQUIEM FOR A DEPARTING BROTHER

It was, no doubt, the most unforgettable wake and burial the town of Guindulman ever witnessed. But let the aging lion narrate the events that transpired from the start..

Last Sunday, February 18, the lioness arose early at four in the morning and after applying mascara on her face and donning on her Sunday wear, left for the church but not after saying she will be home late in the afternoon as she, Baby and Arlene Palac, the last-named of whom just arrived from the States, are bound for Tagbilaran to do some grocery shopping. They will also be accompanied by Manny, Arlene’s husband and therefore may return home late as ladies’ talk will surely occupy their time. The aging lion can only meekly nod his head.

By seven, however, she was back teary-eyed, saying Tio Dadong Palac has just died and that while they will still proceed to Tagbilaran, it will be for another purpose- they will attend to all matters that will prepare the old man’s wake and burial after the four other daughters of the deceased and their respective husbands would have arrived from the States. Again, her aging pet could but nod his salt-and-peppery head.

Wires burned. Calling the four sisters overseas, they were informed they can only return home Thursday evening at the latest as Monday was President’s day at the other side of the hemisphere. It was fortunate Tante has a friend who owned a travel bureau and so the needed tickets were secured without difficulty. The two sisters and the lion tamer for their part, attended to the needs of the wake that will last the whole week that will culminate at two in the afternoon of Saturday.

Knowing that the deceased was a Mason, the lion tamer asked her pet what the aging lion’s plans are for the old man and received a curt one-word reply: “Nothing!” When asked why, he simply said “Unless of course the spokesperson of the family manifests that a Masonic Last Rite should be performed in this deeply parochial community as holding one would surely stir the hornet’s nest. “And what about the brethren of Dagohoy Lodge No. 84?” she barked back, and received this reply: “The old man’s death was already announced via the Internet and three lodge officers were furnished copies. As the three are second or third generation Masons of the lodge, that data sent via the Internet should suffice, and should there be no reaction on their part, then the death of the old man should be as good as the passing of the wind.

Relatives, friends and town-mates trove to the town’s most beautiful and definitely imposing house especially during the evening when the traditional prayers for the dead are regularly held. When one asked whether gambling should be held especially during the night as is the custom during wakes, the sisters curtly said no as the percentage of the pot (in local parlance, tong) is not needed. An announcement that flower offerings be omitted and in its stead money intended be given as donation for the ongoing church improvement be made instead But a few still could not help it, they wanted their names seen beside the coffin and ignored the announcement and sent in their condolences through wreaths of flowers anyway.

The folks from the States arrived Thursday evening with Tante, the eldest son-in-law, leading the pack in two sleek vans from Tagbilaran. Tante for his part, narrated their 36 hour arduous trip home but not after saying he again brought with him two books titled “The Gnostic Gospels” and “Inside Secret Societies”, the former with an eye-catching phrase that says The Complete Idiot’s Guide to, and the latter with the mystic skull and crossbones drawn inside a triangle that can easily mislead Freemasons that the book is about the Masonic Fraternity.

Then Saturday came. The well-attended mass at the at the church was held at one o’clock in the afternoon with the town’s parish priest officiating and with three other priests playing supporting roles as singers (The grapevine says the former was given P10,000 for his stipend and the three priests P500 each for their efforts.). During the homily, the priest extolled the virtues of the old man’s family and mentioned the valuable assistance that the family did in renovating the church (the roof, the attic, and now the sacristy) the last-mentioned of which is still ongoing. Four melodious, albeit sentimental songs were sang by the three men of the cloth before the coffin was brought to the funeral car to the cemetery and was followed by a motor caravan that saw for the first time the largest number of vehicles that trooped to the town’s cemetery atop the hill in living memory.

The final burial rites were likewise as imposing. The old man, being a war veteran during World War II with the rank of captain, was accorded the 21 gun salute and more than a hundred white balloons were let loose in the mid-afternoon air when the coffin was placed inside the tomb as if as if to signify that these balloons are to accompany the soul as it soars up the heavens. The family also saw to it that the accompanying mourners are well-cared for what with the abundant supply of sandwiches and tetra packed soft drinks that were distributed to quench their hunger and thirst.

For his part, the aging lion can just silently watch the entire proceedings at the sidelines. Never mind if he was unable to find a sprig of acacia to place atop the coffin, and never mind if no Last Rite was held; he fully knew that although in the end no one extolled his Masonic virtues during his wake and burial, he well knew that deep inside he was a good man the Craft has made better!

Note: This article is the final sequel to the article “Qoheleth at the Edge of the Earth!” Reactions from readers are welcome!

REPLY TO A 2007 ANCOM INVITATION

2007-01-26T03:09:00.000+08:00

Brethren:

Here is a reply to an invitation to join the 2007 ANCOM worth reading, but to achieve anonymity of the one who made it, his email was deleted and so was his name on the salutary portion of the lion’s email.
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Dear Brother:

That makes you the fourth brother who openly declared (all three are also out of the country and are timing the ANCOM for their homecoming) they hope to see the aging lion at the 2007 ANCOM and have extended similar invitations.

Curiously, those who wish the aging lion set forth his two feet in Luzon are not limited to brethren, his niece to whom he acted as a godfather thirty five years ago is getting married in May wish he play the same role as godfather during her wedding, his daughter is again sojourning to Japan in April and has already convinced her mother to serve as amah for her grandchildren and therefore wished the old cat tags along, to no avail. All things considered the pros of staying still outweigh the cons of leaving, and there’s no need to enumerate the reasons, it may just confuse the issue further.

But who knows? His eldest cub has just submitted his petition form to join one of our lodges in Laguna and if the date of his joining (whether initiation, passing or raising) coincides with the date of the ANCOM and other gatherings, then the balance may just tilt in favor of going. So far as the present is concerned, he has already instructed the lion tamer to take along with her the symbolic ring that he has proudly worn the past seventeen years and give it to their son, not on the time the aging lion is dead but on the occasion the first of his two sons joins the Fraternity. Using the local parlance “kung di ko man siya mabugbog sa bahay, baka pwede sa lohiya!”

In so far as the present is concerned however, fraternizing with the brethren through this 17 inch square contraption called “monitor” is as acceptable as watching the sun sets daily in the west unmindful of the drudgeries of life as the earth rotates upon its own axis from day to day.

But thanks for you very kind invitation.

With my kindest fraternal regards.

Leon

THE PRUNED MAILNG LIST

2007-01-26T03:05:00.000+08:00

Brethren:

It would not be right if the results of pruning the mailing list is not explained. And so here it is. Incidentally, this will also be the first email on the new mailing list.

Of the eighty two (82) email addresses in the original list, thirty three (33) signified their desire to continue receiving the lion’s articles; this represent 40 percent of the total number. Not a bad score!

Of those who did not reply:

Five were rejected (through Mailer Daemon) by supposed recipients, indicating that they have already discontinued use of their email addresses. For what reason, only they knew.

Most of those who did not reply were carry over from those who were registered two years ago under the Glphils@yahoogroups.com and are not really familiar with the aging lion. No wonder!

A few were, in one way or another, acquainted with the cat but for some reasons failed to communicate. It can be that they are quite busy or have simply lost their interest to read. Should they desire to do so later, they can always submit their confirmation and their email addresses will be added to the list.

The recipients of this email now comprise the 33 respondents and members of laonglaanlodge185@ yahoogroups. com because Kuya Billy insisted that this group where the aging cat holds honorary membership is entitled to receive the articles that he distribute to the brethren. And how the heck can he decline? Without Kuya Billy the pink panther would now be limping but with his right foot no longer planted on the ground as must have already returned ahead of his body as organic fertilizer to the earth where it belongs...

To the magic thirty three (same as the age of Jesus Christ and the number of degrees in the Scottish Rite, eh?!) please accept my sincerest thanks for your perseverance to read and indulgence! Rest assured that the aim to amuse and to please will be his objective. And there will be no ifs nor buts about this!

You may also refer or forward these to friends you knew but they are required to send their desire to receive copies so that they can be registered. Forwarding, of course, is a perfectly good alternative, although the aging lion is not required to answer questions of unregistered senders.

With my kindest fraternal regards!

Leon

THE ENIGMATIC SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST

2007-01-13T01:13:00.000+08:00

So you think you know St. John the Baptist! How about reading a short catechism on this mysterious patron saint, then?

I. SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST AS MENTIONED IN THE FIRST DEGREE LECTURE.

“This circle is supported by two perpendicular parallel lines representing St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist and on its top rests the Holy Writings. In tracing its circumference, we necessarily touch upon the parallel lines and also upon the Holy Bible; and while a Mason keeps himself circumscribed, it is impossible that he can materially err.”

As the reader will note, the paragraph merely likened the two saints to two perpendicular parallel lines and presto, he can live the life of a Mason free from the temptations of the flesh!

II. JOHN THE BAPTIST AS TOLD IN THE HOLY BIBLE

In contrast, the life of St. John the Baptist is ably chronicled in all the four Gospels and if likened to a singing quartet, Luke provided the role of soloist who crooned most of the lyrics while Matthew and Mark offered the echoing refrain by singing the Baptist’s ministry at the river Jordan and the closing hymn that marked his gruesome death. John the Evangelist (also called John the Beloved), for his part, simply reverberated the fading refrain by citing a testimony for the Baptist and for Jesus proclaiming the latter as the Lamb of God, totally ignoring the baptism aspect that the three synoptic gospels succinctly heralded. Which is curiously mysterious because John’s Gospel is supposed to be a first-hand account or direct testimony of his namesake’s Baptist’s ministry. But let us leave that curious puzzle unresolved to enable the writer to expound the gist of his story.

So let’s try to assemble the supposed opera in one whole piece as chronicled in all the Four Gospels.

Luke foretold the birth of John the Baptist when archangel Gabriel announced to Zechariah that the latter’s wife, Elizabeth, will bear him a son and he should name him John. As both Zechariah and his wife were already advanced in years and with the wife already barren, the husband naturally doubted Gabriel’s angelic tidings, and because of this, Zechariah was made speechless until the time John was born and his name ready to be announced. Incidentally, Elizabeth is the cousin of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and in like manner Gabriel also announced to Mary the glad news that Jesus will also be born to her and should be named Immanuel.

John was next seen at the river Jordan proclaiming baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins as it was written by the prophet Isaiah. Clad in cloth made of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist and subsisting in food consisting mainly of locust and honey, he would roundly castigate the Sadducees and the Pharisees who came to be baptized by him. Until later when Jesus, his cousin, came and was thereafter baptized and where John saw the spirit of God descending like a dove coming down upon Jesus of Nazareth.

The next scene narrated John being imprisoned by King Herod and there the former sent messengers to Jesus asking if the latter was already the one they are waiting for or whether they still have to wait for another deliverer. Jesus, in his typical answer of an indirect response simply said to report what the messengers have witnessed, that he “healed the sick and brought the dead back to life”, and the final scene being consummated when John’s head was presented to Salome on a silver platter and with the body later given to his disciples to be buried in a spot that was no longer narrated.

In fine therefore, the life of St. John the Baptist was narrated merely as a forerunner to the ministry of Jesus Christ and nothing more.

III.THE BAPTIST AS TOLD IN THE PAGES OF ALBERT PIKE’S “MORALS AND DOGMA”

Now, how many of the readers are aware that the immortal Albert Pike wrote in page 817 of his monumental book “Morals and Dogma” the following scathing words?

“The Johannites ascribed to St. John (the Baptist) the foundation of their secret church, and the Grand Pontiffs of the Sect assumed the title of Christos, Anointed or Consecrated and claimed to have succeeded one another from Saint John by an interrupted succession of pontifical powers.”

And another sentence on the same page that says:

“For Saint John himself was the Father of the Gnostics, and this current translation of this polemic against the heretical of this sect and the pagans who denied that Christ was the Word, is throughout the misrepresentation, or misunderstanding at least, of the whole spirit of the Evangel.”

And how come these teachings were not incorporated in Blue Masonry?

As Albert Pike later explained, the Blue Degrees are but the outer court or portico of the Temple. The true explanations are reserved to the Adepts and Princes of Masonry. But let the reader (meaning you!) do some research of his own by browsing upon the book Morals and Dogma to understand what Albert Pike is hinting at.

In addition, here’s another intriguing thought ascribed to Albert Pike as shown on page 816 of the same book.

The secret thought of Hugues de Payens in founding his Order (meaning the Knights Templar)was not exactly to serve the ambitions of the Patriarchs of Constantinople. There existed at that period in the East a sect of Johannite Christians, who claimed to be the only true initiates in the true religion of the Saviour.
.
IV. SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST AS TOLD IN THE BOOK “TEMPLAR REVELATION”

If there is a book that can be considered as having dealt with the life of John the Baptist in considerable depth, the one written by Lynn Pickett and Clive Prince that was published in 1997 would be it. It not only eloquently portrayed in vivid form the Last Supper painting what Muslim traders describe playfully as “a drinking spree of Jesus Christ with his apostles” (in local lingo, ang inyong Ginoo na nakipaghubugan sa iyang mga barkada) but a real dinner that also included a woman which tradition thought was an all male gathering.. Leonardo Da Vinci, who was born in 1452, by the way, is listed as having assumed the post of Grand Master in 1510-19 of the Priory of Sion the acknowledged progenitor of the Knights Templar.

But The Last Supper was not his only artwork that he left for posterity to behold. He also painted Mona Lisa with the enigmatic smile, and also the other masterpieces that showed the young Jesus Christ and John the Baptist but with the latter apparently portraying a superior stance on canvas. Why the great Leonardo painted those themes contrary to traditional views (that the Last Supper is previously thought to be an all male scene, and the young Jesus that was portrayed looked more inferior in stature when compared with his cousin John) was not explained by Leonardo himself. But the authors of Templar Revelation offered several interesting hypothesis. The reader is therefore advised to buy the book and read Item 1- The Secret Code of Leonardo da Vinci to understand what this paragraph is all about.

And to spice the tale of Saint John the Baptist further, Sections 14 and 15 of the same book with sub-titles John Christ and Followers of the King of Light narrates the life of John.

Let this writer now summarize what these two sections are all about.

Chapter 14- John Christ

This section of the book in sum retells the life of John the Baptist basically as told in the Holy Bible. In addition it also narrated additional information made by the Josephus (the 1st century Jewish historian that was mentioned in the third degree monitor) that John already had a sizable following of his own when he was baptizing and preaching at the river Jordan and also explained lengthily John’s complex interaction with Herod Antipas that ultimately led to his death. In this section was coined the phrase “Johannite Christians.

Chapter 15- Followers of the King of Light.

In this chapter the authors narrate that sometime in the 17th century, Jesuit missionaries narrate that somewhere in the heartland of what is now Iraq, are found people who call themselves St. John Christians. Their religious rites centered on baptism and adhered to a unique form of Christianity in which St. John the Baptist is preeminent in their beliefs.

But the authors narrate that the use of the word “Christian” as modern day readers understand it is a misnomer because while it is claimed that they do venerate John the Baptist, in reality they cannot be called Christians at all for they regard Jesus as a false prophet and that their leaders are also called “Christos” the Greek translation of the word Messiah. They have their own sacred book which they call “Ginza”. They are called Mandeans, and in the Holy Koran as Sabeans Sometime in 1978 it is estimated that they count to about 15,000 but the ruthless campaign of Saddam Hussein to eradicate them virtually insured that they are wiped out from the face of the earth. How many are left now, nobody can tell.

Oral tradition says that they left their homeland and moved to the Euphrates sometime in 50 CE at the height of the Roman campaign against the Jews and the Palestinians that lived in Perea in the east and Aeonon in the north two places in Jordan from where St. John was active in his ministry. Coincidentally, these people also claim that oral tradition has it that their rituals that comprise of the breaking of the bread and the baptism of repentance was taught to them by their ancestors and that it came from ancient Egypt. This hypothesis could not however be verified but the 14th degree conferral of the Scottish Rite degree in the Philippine jurisdiction has a striking resemblance.

So let the book “Templar Revelation” tell you more about this enigmatic patron saint of our Fraternity! It will also tell you many more interesting data about the Knights Templar! But you’ll have to get hold of a copy first!

And as a hindsight, this writer can but wonder whether the mysterious life of John the Baptist has been thoroughly discussed by Freenasons in the other Grand Jurisdictions!

Sources:

The Craft’s Monitor
The Holy Bible
Albert Pike’s Morals and Dogma
Templar Revelation
Holy Blood Holy Grail

Note:

The second jet pump that was the subject of the article “Water for the Rural Poor” was delivered by Darin Goertzen for installation at the site where it was intended. The third water facility that involved the installation of the connecting pipe from the reservoir was held in abeyance because the weather that has not abated since the aging lion and his tamer left for the big city last December.

Also, the clubfoot patient has temporarily returned home to allow Father time to heal the cemented portion of his legs and arms and will be back in about a month’s time.

A GLIMPSE AT ARCHITECTURE AND ITS IMPACT ON SYMBOLIC MASONRY

2006-11-02T02:11:00.000+08:00

A curious puzzle that confronts a student of the Craft is the alleged transformation of Operative Masonry into Speculative Masonry.. On the one hand he is told that apprentices of actual builders generally undergo seven years work under the direct supervision and guidance of a master (or fellow of the craft, depending on the nomenclature used) before he can graduate to become a journeyman. The entered apprentice of symbolic Masonry, on the other hand, takes only from one to a couple of months depending on his ability to memorize the obligation and a portion of the lecture of the initiatory degree and from there he is promoted to become a fellowcraft, and finally to the degree of master mason. The obvious question therefore is: “why the wide disparity in the length of time” when both practices admittedly involve serious and dedicated concentration before he learns the ropes?

To answer that question, it will be necessary to take a glimpse at the beginnings of both Architecture and Masonry, and their relevance to apprenticeship.

I. A QUICK LOOK AT THE BIRTH OF ARCHITECTURE AND MASONRY

Unlike religion, the birth and creator of architecture cannot be ascertained with absolute certainty. Historical records tell us that the need for food first made man to learn how to plant and since plants require water to survive, it also taught him how to irrigate. This innovation expanded his horizon and started the geometrical growth of civilization. No sooner, it also required him to learn how to build roads and bridges, then to assemble powerful armies designed for conquests that their nations may expand and power and prosperity achieved.. Additionally, he also learned to build houses made of woods and bricks, the former of which triggered the art of Carpentry while the latter, that of Masonry, enabling him to enjoy comfort of his home and even acquire knowledge to build monuments to sing praises to their leaders. Thus was Architecture effectively subdivided into Agricultural, Civil, Geodetic, Carpentry, Masonry, Interior Design and its other allied fields.

Masonic writers are wont to credit the birth of Masonry to the ancient civilizations of Egypt, the Chaldeans, the Hindus and the Greeks. Indeed, for awesome edifices confirm their existence like the pyramids of Egypt, the legendary Tower of Babel and the Hanging Garden of Babylon, the Dravidian temples of India and the Parthenon of the Greeks. In addition, ancient capitals (or chapiters), among them the Egyptian Papyrus, the Persian Animal, the Indian Foliage and the three Greek columns named Doric, Ionic and Corinthian which all Freemasons are familiar with, bring mute testimony that indeed, these ancient peoples were the main source of mankind’s architectural talents.

In its early form, we learn that the first architect to be recorded in the annals of history was named Imhotep who was born circa 2,600 BC, the son of the Royal Architect named Kanofer, the former of whom built Egypt’s first pyramid, and although like Hiram Abif, his name was not directly mentioned as Master Builder because the credit went to his benefactor, posterity later recorded that it was indeed Imhotep who built it instead of the ruling monarch King Joser. Imhotep subsequently left a son named Rahotep and started a long line of descendants beginning with Kanofer spanning twenty five generations and ending with Kumanubra, the Minister of Public Works under the Persian king Darius I who lived around 490 BC. One can then well imagine the wealth of architectural knowledge that must have passed down from one generation to the next and the magnificent and awesome edifices these string of descendants may have built. And how these were done, one could but speculate as no credible records were registered. And how these illustrious experts did it to preserve their knowledge this writer cannot tell. But that lineage must have started the disciplined art of apprenticeship where the novice is patiently taught the science of architecture unimpeded by the hazards of war, religion and pestilence, and consequently must have clearly portrayed the actual transmission of priceless knowledge from one generation to the next. It may also be worth noting that recent writers conjectured that Melchizedek, the priest-king of Salem whom the patriarch Abraham met (remember the Christmas carol that mentioned Abraham?) may have been responsible in building the pyramids but the hypothesis does not have a leg to stand on for it to be seriously believed.

II MASONIC LEGEND AND BIBLICAL HISTORY

Masonic tradition informs us that the number of workers used in the building of King Solomon’s Temple that was built around 950 BC involved the following, and here, the source of information is the monitor which is being quoted verbatim :

“that there were employed in its erection, three Grand Masters, three thousand three hundred masters or overseers of the work, eighty thousand fellowcrafts or hewers on the mountains and in the quarries, seventy thousand Entered Apprentices or bearers of burden, etc. etc.”

In contrast, the words used 1Kings, 5:29 in the New American Bible, New Catholic Translation, are:

“Solomon had seventy thousand carriers and eighty thousand stonecutters in addition to the three thousand three hundred overseers answerable to Solomon;”

and in 2Chronicles,2:16-18 of the same book it said:

“Thereupon. Solomon took a census of all the alien men who were in the land of Israel (following the census David, his father, had taken of them) who were found to number one hundred fifty three thousand six hundred. Of these he made seventy thousand carriers and eighty thousand cutters in the mountains and three thousand six hundred (300 more than the figure mentioned in 1Kings, 5:29) overseers to keep the people working.”

III. A QUICK ANALYSIS

Now, while the figures used in the Monitor basically agree with that of sacred history, the titles or designations differ. Consider these:

1. The title Grand Master was not yet used in ancient times. Solomon and Hiram of Tyre are kings, while Hiram Abif was not and therefore a common title for the three could not be framed. That there were three Grand Masters makes the use of the word questionable especially because the ritual made mention of 3 Grand Masters. A logical alternative would have been to rank one as Grand Master and the other two as Grand Wardens.

2. While the term “master or overseers of the work” may be logical, the 3,300 figure can only form 1,100 fellowcraft lodges and an equal number of entered apprentice lodges. This is so because two masters are required to form a lodge of fellowcrafts and one for the apprentices. These figures will therefore have an average of 75 and 65 members per lodge respectively which is rather large. And these averages far exceed the 3, 5, 7 membership that was mentioned in the monitor.

3. The terms “fellowcraft” and “entered apprentices”, like the title “Grand Master”, were appended apparently only to romanticize the hierarchal titles of the workers to project the Hiram Abif legend in accordance with the tenets of the Craft.

4.The fairly large number of entered apprentices or bearers of burden (as called in the Holy Bible) was precipitated by the fact that the cedars and marbles are to be sawed and hewn in the mountains and in the quarries in their exact specifications and therefore required care in transport to the place where the temple is to be built. Note that in the strict sense, the word apprentice cannot possibly be elevated to fellowcrafts because these are two distinct functions.

5.A crucial issue involves the designation of Hiram Abif as Grand Master. Some writers contend that he was merely a worker skilled in brass, etc, thus equating his functions merely to that of an interior decorator since nowhere in the Holy Bible was it mentioned that he was the master of the works. If we are to consider ancient customs where the colossal edifices are credited to rulers (remember King Joser?!) and especially because the workers are Phoenicians as chronicled in 2Chronicles,2:16-18, then the apparent downgrading of the functions of Hiram Abif is not at all unusual. The chroniclers of the Holy Bible, after all, are Hebrews who are exalting the God-given talents and wisdom of Solomon and not of the men of Tyre. In modern-day Philippines, credit is given Imelda Marcos for the building of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) while the architect who actually built it is all but totally forgotten..

IV. THE ANCIENT MASONIC “SCHOOLS”

It appears the most prominent “Masonic school” of ancient times are the mystery schools of Egypt where even the ruling kings participated in the ceremonies. It is in the confines of these mystery schools where the wisest of philosophers from other nations visited Egypt to be initiated in the sacred mysteries at Memphis, Thebes and Hermopolis, that included, ancient philosophers like Solon, Pythagoras and Plato.

India’s role as a seat of learning cannot be downgraded. Elizabeth Clare Prophet in her books “The Lost Years of Jesus” and “The Lost Teachings of Jesus” contends that Jesus spent the 17 lost years of his life to the study of Eastern discipline in the Near East, which although not exactly pinpointed to be architectural studies, their schools of learning conforms basically with Egyptian mysteries. Sadly however, the lack of written materials on architecture in India, like those in Iran and China, were not passed on to subsequent generations and the failure of the geometricians of their time to write did not leave verifiable trails that would support their architectural wizardries.

But the Greeks were blessed. Many of their works were put down to writing and were preserved for posterity and the future generations to behold!

V. HOW ARCHITECTURE THRIVED IN THE ANNO DOMINI

Undoubtedly, the forerunner of architecture that grew side by side with Christianity were propagated by the Romans through its Roman Collegia. This organization was already working full steam when Julius Caesar, the enigmatic figure who not only cavorted with Cleopatra after she was presented as a gift at the age of 22 that was seductively wrapped in an oriental carpet (whether she was in her birthday suit, history did not say), also took with him to Rome no less than 2,000 priceless manuscripts in 48 BC, and later, after the death of Julius Caesar, Marcus Antonius (Marc Anthony to you), also helped himself and took away several thousand volumes more. These twin ransacking of the Alexandrian libraries may have been the reason why Tuscan and Composite increased to five the Orders of Architecture that were previously invented by the Greeks. The Romans, not really good architects but able administrators who are proficient at the building of roads and bridges, compensated their deficiency by simply adopting the talents of the citizens of subjugated countries whose expertise are deemed indispensable to their needs. The architects of the latter willingly worked (a few of course, grudgingly) for their masters to ply their trade following the dictum “if you can’t lick em, then prudence demand that you join em.”.

Emperor Diocletian who ruled the Roman Empire until 312 AD bitterly fought Christianity and as a consequence dealt leniently with the Roman Masons until the time they refused to make a statue for Aesculapius, the demigod of healing and medicine in ancient Greek mythology and consequently, Diocletian tortured to death the four master masons named Claudius, Nicosastrus, Symphorian and Castorius, and one apprentice named Simplicius when they refused to perform the emperor’s bidding.. These martyrs became the patron saints of Masons throughout Europe after their deaths and a poem about them was written called the Regius MS, a clear testimony that apprenticeship already existed during these days. The four crowned martyrs would also provide the name of Quatour Coronati Lodge that was established sometime later.

In fine, Masonry spread far and wide because of Rome’s power and Christianity’s steady growth. What was then the known world that comprise the European mainland benefited from the architectural expertise both of the subjugators and religious propagators. France had its Campomagnes, Italy its Comacine masters, Germany its Steinmetzens and the Druids who were later called Britons organized the tenets of Craft in the form of lodges. Additionally, the Knights Templar was also organized in 1118 by nine knights led by Hugh the Payens, which, after Jacque’s DeMolays death in 1314 triggered the formation of four Masonic lodges, the first at Naples in the East, the second at Edinburgh in the West, the third at Stockholm in the North and the fourth at Paris in the Southern backdoor. All these organizations basically have similar rules and regulations in administering their members which curiously always include a belief in a Supreme Being wherewith they acknowledge worthy of pious devotion and respect. As the monarchs built castles and palaces, so did the ecclesiastical authorities produced magnificent cathedrals that were the wonders of the day. Similarly, they established a general procedure on apprenticeship that generally last seven years before these initiates are declared masters of the trade. Said initiates were formally registered or entered in lodge records before they are formally accepted by the guilds and thus the creation of the phrase “Entered Apprentices.”

The birth of the Grand Lodges, most notably the Grand Lodge of England that was established in 1717, being of more contemporary origin and more so because these were already subjected to so numerous books citing their impact on apprenticeship will no longer be mentioned in detail for reasons that no longer need explanation.

VI. PARALELISM OF THE BUILDER’S APPRENTICE WITH THE MASONS OF THE SYMBOLIC MASONRY

So this article has now reached the crucial stage of comparing the apprentice of the Operative Masonry with that of its symbolic counterpart and therefore since the time frame is obviously different does it follow that the two like words are, in substance, not the same?!

Now, before that question is answered, it is noteworthy to explain that save for the fact that apprenticeship in Operative Masonry existed, how it was done was never committed to writing. This situation is of course normal because mystery schools and guilds are undoubtedly shrouded in secrecy and wee never put to print. How then can we compare the apprenticeship of Operative Masons with that of Speculative Masonry?! Isn’t it a fact that when one becomes a master mason in the symbolic degree he in effect has earned for him the equivalent rank of journeyman in the operative degree who is entitled to travel withersoever he wishes?!

Well, the answer can be both yes and no at the same time. But note the seven years span of time required in the apprenticeship of Operative Masons and the same number of years it will take to take to undergo the progressive line of officers of Speculative Masonry as will be explained below, which for the sake of brevity and to safe-keep certain tenets that do not deserve to be put to print, will be explained in very general terms.

1.The Junior Steward (the 1st year of symbolic apprenticeship.)

The Junior Steward is the lowest-ranking officer of the Lodge. In ancient times he and the Senior Steward serve as the reliable assistants of the Junior Warden during refreshments. Conversely, their jewels is a cornucopia, the symbol of abundance. With the advent of catering and the presence of lower-ranked subordinates like petitioners, fellowcrafts and newly-raised masons during the hour of refreshments, lodge customs now relieve the stewards of this antiquated duty.

During conferrals, however, he is tasked to assist his Senior in preparing the candidate to receive all the three degrees of Masonry. His job is simple, he follows his Senior’s bidding and imitate his moves and actions especially as these pertain to the floorworks and the proper handling of the rods. In the closing and opening of the lodge, he does nothing but watch, watch, watch!

2. The Senior Steward (2nd year)

Having completed his 1st year’s apprenticeship and upon proving his proficiency, he now takes the responsibilities of the Senior Steward who is principally assigned to prepare the candidate and train his successor to his previous job. He now learns by heart the qualifications of the candidate so that questions asked by the Senior Deacon are answered correctly and with dispatch.. He also improves his knowledge on the floorworks and keenly observes the movements not only of the Senior Deacon but also the others inside the lodge to enable him to put these to good use later when the need arise.

3. The Junior Deacon (3rd year)

He is then appointed Junior Deacon, whose job complements that of the Tyler’s, and has the equivalent responsibility of an Inner Guard. He also acts as the messenger of the Senior Warden. During opening and closing ceremonies and teams up with the Senior Deacon to perform the indispensable floorworks needed by the rituals of the Craft.

Except for a cameo role in the conferral of degrees, he does nothing except to keenly observe the Senior Deacon because in the ensuing year he will be expected to perform the latter’s job flawlessly if he can.

4. The Senior Deacon (4th year)

Having honed his knowledge on floorworks and their symbolism, he now is responsible for the arrangements and care of the Three Great Lights of Masonry. He also takes charge escorting the candidate during the conferral of degrees once inside the lodge. In addition, he is also tasked to prepare himself for the winding stairs lecture because he might be required to deliver it should occasion require.

5. The Junior Warden (5th year)

The first of the three lights, he is elected and within three years’ time is expected to govern the lodge. He is responsible during the hour of refreshment (omit the hour of refreshment and attending a lodge meeting will be boring), and more importantly, sits as master during first-degree conferrals. He is examined on his proficiency on the first-degree lecture, although whether he is able to put it to good use later, no one can tell! During opening and closing ceremonies he is like Eddie Garcia playing a small part in the movies starred by one of his best friends in movieland. When the need for it requires, especially when both the Worshipful Master and the Senior Warden are nowhere to be found, it is his indispensable duty to open the lodge otherwise all that they can do is convert the aborted lodge meeting to the hour of refreshment, which is his primary duty in the first place.

6 The Senior Warden (6th year)

Next in line to the coveted title called Worshipful Master, he assists the latter in opening and closing the lodge. On the subject of conferrals, he sits in the East and performs the functions of its illustrious tenant. Conversely, it is his indispensable duty to open and close the lodge whenever the Master is not around. He is also examined on his proficiency on the Winding Stairs lecture but it is seldom put to good use during his time as Senior Warden because he cannot sit in the east and do lecture of a fellowcraft degree at the same time.

7. The Worshipful Master(7th year)

His duties require him to be conversant with all the edicts, rules and regulations not only of his lodge which he is called to preside but also of the Constitution and bylaws of the Grand Lodge where it is beholden, that is, in addition to proficiency in the ritual wherein he will be first examined before he can ascend the Oriental Chair. Mastery of the 3rd degree lecture is also a must.

Although the rules require specific duties on both the Senior and Junior Wardens during conferral of degrees and also on the latter during the hours of refreshment, he is never relieved of his overall responsibilities. He may berate his junior when one brother has drank one too many for intemperance and excess, because while lodge rules allow him to delegate, he can never escape from his sworn responsibilities on everything that happened in the lodge. After his term ends, he is awarded the past master’s jewel to symbolize that he indeed has graduated as a “true blue master” capable of governing the lodge wherewith he is called to preside.

And to end this rather long article, it may be worth answering a veiled question that was playfully hidden by the founding fathers of Symbolic Masonry and that is:

If the worth of the builder’s apprentice is not the same as the apprentice of Symbolic Masonry, what then is equivalent worth of the degree of a Master Mason who has not gone through the chairs in the symbolic degree when compared with that of Operative Masonry?

and the answer is:

What else but a mason classified under the acronym KSF, or the knight, spoon and fork degree, for even in ancient times the use of these implements in banquets and merrymaking are indeed indispensable tools in the in the supposedly mysterious realm of Masonry!!

Sources:

Ancient Engineers- L. Sprague de Camp
Freemasons for Dummies- Christopher Hodapp
Freemason, Inside the World’s Oldest
Secret Society- H. Paul Jeffers
Morals and Dogma- Albert Pike
The Secret History of Freemasonry- Paul Naudon
The Secrets of Freemasonry- Robert Lomas
The Holy Bible
The Craft’s Monitor

Note: The writer is indebted to Dr. Constante Pacis for the several books that he graciously gifted the writer and were consequently used as inspirational references in composing this article.

THE POMMELS (OR BALLS) ATOP THE CHAPITERS

2006-01-31T01:43:00.000+08:00

In the second-degree lecture, what the aging lion considers the most beautiful lesson is contained in a semi-coded sentence that says:

“The chapiters wr srmntd b pommls o bls rprsntg glbs.”

that was followed by an un-coded and rather long sentence that says thus:

“Their principal use, besides serving as maps to distinguish the outward parts of the earth, and the situation of the fixed stars, is to illustrate and explain the phenomena arising from the annual revolution of the earth around the sun as well as its diurnal rotation upon its own axis.”

Please note that two phrases that are subtly hidden in the sentence which can be summed up as follows: (1) “the annual revolution of the earth around the sun”, which means the year, and (2) “its diurnal rotation upon its own axis” which simply meant the day.

The greatest puzzle of course that confronts this writer is when was the second- degree lecture composed? Consider these curious facts that are presented in reverse order of occurrence as shown in Item III below. But first, let’s get to the Holy Bible where these phrases were derived:

I. THE PILLARS AND CHAPITERS AS MENTIONED IN THE HOLY BIBLE

2Chronicles 3:15-17 (King James Version) says:

“Also, he (meaning Huram or Hiram Abif) made before the house two pillars of thirty and five cubits high, and the chapiter that was on top of each of them was five cubits. And he made chains, as in the oracle, and put them on the heads of the pillars; and made a hundred pomegranates, and put them on the chains. And he reared up the pillars before the temple, and one the right hand, and the other on the left; and called the name of that on the right hand Jachin, and the name of that on the left Boaz.”.

that was followed by Chr. 4:11-12, that says:

. . . And Huram finished the work that he was to make for King Solomon for the house of God; to wit, the two pillars , and the pommels and the chapiters which were on the top of the pillars, and the two wreaths to cover the two pommels of the chapiters which were on top of the pillars.:

II. A MATTER OF SEMANTICS

Curiously, of the three key words that were used- namely, pillar, chapiter, and pommel, only “pillar” can be found in Webster’s New Compact Dictionary. The words chapiter and pommel are nowhere to be found. And so the need to consult the other versions of the Holy Bible.

Here are interesting discoveries.

King James New Amer. Bible Berkely Edition
(1) pillar column column
(2) chapiter capital capital
(3) pommel node bowl

The meanings as defined by the authoritative Webster Dictionary follow.

` pillar- a column or shaft standing alone especially as a monument

column- a pillar supporting a roof or gallery

chapiter- probably an archaic word as it is not listed in the dictionary

capital- the top part or piece of an architectural column

pommel- same as chapiter- probably an archaic word as it is also not in the dictionary

node- a thickened, swollen or differentiated area (as of tissue)

bowl- a concave vessel to hold liquids; a drinking vessel; a bowl-shaped part or structure.

On Item 1-

From the definitions listed above, it appears the word pillar is the more appropriate translation since the structures named Boaz and Jachin were built outside King Solomon’s Temple. It thus clearly shows that these are structural monuments and are not part of the building itself. The word “column” of course, may be considered a good synonym although not as accurate as the word “pillar”.

On Item 2-

While the word “chapiter” is not found in the dictionary, it appears to be synonymous to the word “capital” since both comprise the top part of an architectural column. This top part represents the identification mark of the different orders of architecture like the Tuscan, the Doric, the Ionic, the Corinthians and the Composite; architectural orders to which Freemasons are acquainted, and the Egyptian Papyrus, the Egyptian Date-Palm, the Persian Animal, the Indian Foliage and the Indian Plain Capital which even modern architects may not even have heard of.

On Item 3-

Here shows the most controversial renderings of the Hebrew word, whatever it is, from the manner these were translated three as shown above. While this writer cannot be definite in his own interpretation, it appears that pommel is a variant of “pomelo”, a round fruit, and therefore would look like a globe, which planet earth really is. The words “node” and “bowl” certainly have different appearances when differentiated from the word “pommel” and thus, interpretations on what was really atop the chapiters of King Solomon’s Temple will easily result in confusion..

And that is where the difference in the interpretation of planet earth, whether a globe or flat, or whether it is the sun that revolves around the earth or vice-versa are divergently rooted. Consider these.

III. SOME CURIOUS HISTORICAL OR BIBLICAL DATA

1. On 31 October 1992, some 350 years after Galileo's death, Pope John Paul II gave an address as vicar of the Catholic Church in which he admitted that errors had been made by the theological advisors in the case of Galileo. He declared the Galileo case closed, but did not admit that the Church was wrong to convict Galileo on a charge of heresy because of Galileo’s belief that the Earth rotates round the sun. (Source- Internet)

2. On April 12, 1961 Yuri Gagarin, the Soviet cosmonaut became the first human to orbit the earth. (Source- Internet)

Although not explicitly mentioned, this event confirms Galileo’s observation that it is the sun, and not the earth that is at the center of the universe. It also in effect confirmed that the moon is a satellite of the earth as not only did the scientific instruments validated this fact but Gagarin’s eyes in effect also did.

3. Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) was convicted of heresy by the Inquisition for advancing his belief on the heliocentric system, that is, that the sun is at the center of the universe and not the earth as propounded by Claudius Ptolemy (see Item 5 below).

4. In 1582 Pope Gregory XIII issued the Gregorian calendar that replaced the Julian Calendar of Julius Caesar that was created in 63 BC. This Gregorian calendar was based on the actual revolution of the earth around the sun consisting of 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds, which is 11 minutes and 14 seconds less than the Julian calendar of 365 days every three years and 366 days on the fourth or leap year.

Instead, however, of using the actual number of days and hours as mentioned above, the Georgian calendar that we still use today, Pope Gregory XIII simply deducted the 11 days that had accumulated from the Julian calendar in 1582 and amended it by continuing the 3-year 365 day and 1-year 366 leap year cycle, except that years ending with hundreds were not considered as leap years unless it is divisible by 400. This explains why year 2000 that elapsed five years ago was a leap year. Conversely, it is not certain whether Julius Caesar simply rounded off the 1465 (365 x 3 plus 366) days every four years or 365.25 for reasons of exigency and not for any other reason. Incidentally, the Mayans of ancient America also converted the year as 365.222 although the date of its use and why it was so was not known.

5. In AD 548, Cosmas, who became a monk and wrote his memoirs expounded
the Christian view of the Earth that is similar to the first tabernacle of Moses and is therefore rectangular in form. This belief also places Jerusalem at the center of the earth where “Jacob in his vision saw. . . . reaching from earth to heavens”, etcetera, etcetera. Note also the Masonic ritual that says “lodges were situated due east and west as Moses. . . .”

6. Claudius Ptolemy, a Greek astronomer (90-168) who lived in Alexandria, Egypt during the first century AD propounded the theory of the geocentric system based on mathematical observations that it is the earth that is at the center and that the sun and the other planets moved around it. This treatise, expounded extensively in his works titled “The Almagest” had a very lasting impression on the astronomers and geographers of the time and was ultimately replaced only when Galileo Galilei propounded the theory of the heliocentricity of the sun. This treatise also in effect supports the biblical supposition of the sun rising in the east, setting in the west and with earth being static at the center.

The basic flaw of this theory is that while the 365 days, 5 hours 48 minutes and 46 seconds may also result if the sun indeed rotated around the earth as the time that it will take will be the same because of the same distance, the position of the fixed stars will necessarily be different. Note also that the exact place of the earth also dictate the equinoxes and the solstices, positions that will be altered if it is the sun that rotates around the earth and not vice versa. And consider also that the location of the other planets like Mars, Jupiter, Venus, etc., at a given time will turn haywire if it is the earth that it is at the center of the universe.

7. Julius Ceasar reformed the Egyptian calendar in 63 BC using the traditional 365 days normal year and the 366 days leap year, that in turn, was amended by the Georgian calendar in 1582.

8. King Solomon built his magnificent temple sometime 950 BC where the chapiters and pommels (or bowls, or nodes depending on the translation used) are mentioned in the Holy Bible.

9. Joshua, successor of Moses, is said to have commanded the sun to stand still and the moon to stay so that the Israelites nay defeat the Amorites. This biblical event may have occurred around 1274 BC.

IV SOME RELATED OBSERVATIONS

From the foregoing ancient historical and/or biblical data, the following observations may be gathered.

a). The proponents of the bowl-like or basin-like earth supports the theory that the earth is either round or semi-spherical and that there could not exist antipodes on the lower part of a the earth as unlike the lizards that could walk on ceilings upside down, common sense would dictate that antipodes would fall down from the earth if this is so.

b) The biblical quotation on Item 9 in which Joshua is said to have commanded the sun to stop and the moon to stay at their respective places supports the theory of Claudius Ptolemy that it is the earth that is stationary and that those that move are the sun and the moon wherewith Joshua was able to stop and win his war with the Amorites.

c) Item 6 supports the premise that the earth is in the form of a bowl, a basin (or half a sphere) that contained the land and the seas and all things therein contained.

d) The other facts support the sphericity of the earth that is already known to the ancient civilizations, notably, the Chaldees, the Greeks, the Egyptians and the Romans even before the birth of Jesus Christ.

V. THE ELUSIVE SEARCH FOR TRUTH

Ending this article can be anti-climactic. Having explained the sphericity of the earth and its relationship with the sun has aptly explained the relevance of the pommels (or balls) that the Craft’s second degree lecture. But there is a more important message that lurks behind the curtain and that is the search for “truth”. In this regard, let the aging lion now digress.

Some of the readers may have come across the adage that to learn Islam, one must study the Koran in earnest using the Arabic language for much is lost in its translation. The same case would also appear to the study of the Holy Bible for as one can observe, mis-rendering of the original word is not uncommon.

But this writer wonders, will the truth that already stares at our face, fail to convince our stubborn minds, simply because common sense previously told us it is not so?!

Our hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, for example, may still be considered lucky for after his death at the hands of the ecclesiastical authorities by firing squad, the same Church Fathers concocted a blasphemous act of twisting facts by saying Rizal retracted his Masonic beliefs and therefore has returned to the religious fold. As a consequence, brethren wince whenever this issue is brought to the fore.

But the immortal Galileo Galilei who died at the dungeons after being made to sign a retraction that the sun is not at the center of the universe was undoubtedly vindicated by later events saying he was right. Despite the overwhelming scientific evidence proving that the world is round and that it rotates around the sun in rhythmic cadence from time immemorial and will continue be so until the GAOTU decides to change its course, however, the Roman Church still vehemently rejects the glaring error that was made by the Inquisition some 350 years ago..

Sources:

The Ancient Engineers
The Discoverers
The Holy Bible
Internet files
The World’s Religions

BROTHERLY LOVE-- OUTSIDE THE LODGE

2006-01-18T03:08:00.000+08:00

(Lecture delivered to the brethren of Dagohoy Lodge No. 84 on January 14, 2006)

Worshipful Master, brethren.

Today’s Masonic Education lecture is titled “Brotherly Love-- Outside the Lodge”. But before I deliver it to you, allow me to cite an anecdote that happened just a while ago that has relevance to this topic.

Before our lodge was opened a few minutes ago, and while waiting for the hat that VW Manuel Mende has ordered brought from his home to the lodge, Bro. Ryan Tirol, who was to act as master of the lodge due to the inability of both the Worshipful Master and the Senior Warden to sit in the East, with the former being indisposed and is scheduled for an operation, while the latter unduly late for the meeting, asked this writer if the lodge cannot be opened unless a hat is available.

Bro. Tirol, being a very young mason (he was raised less than two years ago), deserved to be given an explanation. And so the reply was: “our Fraternity relies heavily on symbolism, and that the master’s hat is indispensable as it makes him on top of all the other brethren. Without it, he will be just like any other, and therefore, subordination in the lodge cannot be effectively carried out.” He thereafter nodded as a sign that he understood.

So let me now get back to the topic.

Our monitor states that the first two things a master do when opening a lodge of whatever degree is (1)puts on hat, and (2) displays working tools. The first has just been explained and the second will now be done.

Note that we don’t have a working tool around. This inadvertence may be understandable as it may have been mislaid somewhere when we demolished our old lodge a few months ago. And so allow me to give the lodge a simple gift which I will now put below the Worshipful Master’s table to be displayed for all the brethren to see, thus complying with the requirement.

How I acquired the working tools is a story in itself. You see, last October, a few weeks prior to my departure for the metropolis to attend with my family the Christmas holidays, I sent two emails to two brethren.
These emails have more or less similar contents and sentence constructions except for the fact that one pertains to a request for working tools while the second for a set of gavels and columns that adorn the tables of the three lights. The first was addressed to Bro. Albert Encarnacion of Laong Laan Lodge No. 185 while the second was sent to VW Jose Ferlu Sudario of Juan Sumulong Lodge No. 169, lodges where the aging lion hold honorary membership, requesting if and would both lodges favor the aging lion with these Masonic furniture as gifts ?!

Let me now narrate what happened to the first email.

Bro. Albert’s reply was to the point. He simply said: “Approved.”

But before he was able to verbally present the request to the lodge, he accidentally met Bro. Rex Ramos, also of the same lodge, who readily said there is no more need to ask the lodge. He’ll buy it himself, anyway, he just closed an insurance deal and the commission was substantial.

The second email was as lucky. VW Ferlu accidentally narrated my request to WB Romulo Ignacio, past master of Antipolo Lodge No. 334 who assured the former that he will have the items carved somewhere at Taytay, Rizal, and to cut the long story short, the sets of gavel and the columns were immediately carved and given to VW Ferlu. And ultimately to the lion when he arrived in the metropolis the first week of December. When asked how much the furniture cost, the giver simply smiled and said: “since it is for your new lodge, Kuya Jun, that will be for free, or in the Castillan language, gratis et amore.”

Now, what makes the story interesting is that WB “Totoy” as the donor is called, and the aging lion, are not really known to each other, especially because the latter has already migrated to the scenic island of Bohol.

The incident that transpired on the working tools was not the same. Although the intended donee and donor have already met the first Saturday of December, the item was not yet purchased. During the multi-district convention that was held at the Grand Lodge last December 17, the aging lion chanced upon WB John Teng and so explained to him his predicament saying he might end up getting home without the item being brought along. Whereupon WB John, instead of replying directly, just dialed his cell phone and said “Bro. Rex, Kuya Jun is here with me at the Grand Lodge. I’m buying the working tools here at the Masonic Supply Store for him and you’ll just have to reimburse me when next we met. And that’s it!

Another gift that the lion expects to receive, although experiencing a snag in the mails, is a US $400 remittance that WB Dennis Alban of Integrity Lodge No. 997 promised; (in what part of the USA, the lion knows not where). He said he sent it last December 12 and yet by January 14, it hasn’t arrived yet. The aging lion therefore requested WB Moises Millanar, the addressee, to check it up with the post office to find out whatever happened while the lion assured the latter that he will make the corresponding follow-up with WB Dennis via email soonest he reach the lion’s den. This manna, when received, can easily fund the possible replacement of the tables of the three lights and possibly the rickety chairs that was used in the old, old, lodge.

There is yet another cash gift that is given by Bro. Orly Bernales of Leeward Lodge of the Grand Lodge of Hawaii, and at this instance, the lion requested that he stand so that his presence my be officially acknowledged and at the same time personally hand over the US $170 donation, coming as it is from his own lodge in scenic and hula-dancing island of Hawaii.

As you will note, dear brethren, those from other lodges outside our borders are as interested in our efforts to rebuild our own lodge. Time demanded that the old one be demolished as the structure, once mighty and imposing, has outlived its purpose. The founders of Dagohoy Lodge No. 84 surely will not fault us for making this bold move, their souls may even guard the new temple as indeed it is undoubtedly closer to their bones.

Note:

There are other donations received by the aging lion. From American Samoa, he received a total of US$ 80, the proceeds of which were spent mostly on the lion tamer’s harelip project and expenses related to the case of Melvyn Bernaldes who is undergoing treatment at the Vicente Sotto Hospital at Cebu City and to Jonel Lustrado who is taking medicines at home.

Another donor who insisted that he remains unidentified gave the aging lion P5,000 last December with the specific instruction that it be added to the Christmas expenses that the lion and his tamer are expected to incur at their backyard to celebrate Christmas. He said that the amount may not ameliorate or improve their lot, but about five hours merrymaking of these poor folks will already be good enough. He even promised that he will help defray the cost of a new project called “A Mini Park for the Kids” that is now being mulled by the lion tamer and his aging pet at their own backyard by the sea.

THE VAGARIES OF DIVERGING (IR)RELIGIOUS VIEWS

2006-01-04T00:55:00.000+08:00

Freemasonry, although not a religion, expressly prohibits atheists from joining the Craft due to religious considerations. Of course there are others who are barred from joining, like women, young men in their non-age and old men in their dot-age, but their exclusion are due not to religion but to other reasons.

But are atheists the only persons who are barred on account of their religious conviction, or precisely, the lack of it? Let the aging lion now offer two other curious words in addition to atheists as defined Webster’s in Dictionary. This group, for the purpose of this article, will be called unbelievers.

I. THE UNBELEIVERS

Atheist- One who denies the existence of God.

Agnostic- Of or relating to the belief that the existence of any ultimate reality (as God) is unknown and probably unknowable.

Naturalist- One who advocates or practice the doctrine that denies a supernatural explanation of the origin, development, or end of the universe, and holds that scientific laws account for everything in nature.

From the above-mentioned definitions, both the atheist and the naturalist share the same belief that denies the existence of an Omnipotent God whereas the agnostic does not know and will probably end up not knowing till the end of time.

The same premise apparently holds true in so far as the existence of the soul is concerned except that to naturalists, birth, death and resurrection indeed apply in the form of science by observing all living things although nothing is mentioned at all about the soul.

II. THE BELIEVERS

People who believe in the Almighty can be categorized many ways, the most common of which are traceable to the religions that sprouted from two ancient civilizations, namely, that from the ancient Near East in old India, those that were established by the Semites in ancient Mesopotamia and from other sources. Here are eight of them.

A. From the ancient religions of the Near East.

1. The Hindus- this religion has about 330 million Gods, the most famous of whom are Brahma, Visnu and Siva. Their book of the Holy Writings is called Bhagavad-gita and have four social classes called (a) the Brahmins (priests), (b) Katriyas (warriors), (c) Vaisyas and (d) Sudras, the last two of which are underlings who served the first two classes. Its principal tenet revolves around the karmic effect of reincarnation and the eventual cleansing of the soul until it finally soars to the mighty heavens when freed of worldly sins. The large number of Gods may be intelligible and may be incomprehensible to non-Hindus but may probably be understood if the other gods are simply classified as saints as Christians do.

2. The Buddhists- Buddhism is a religion founded by Siddhartha Gautama who was born around 586 BC and grew up amidst luxury. He eventually left the worldly life of comfort and took the life of a wandering recluse. Buddha is not a God but one who has achieved that status after death. Its scriptures, in addition to the Bhagavad-gita, are the compiled teachings of Buddha. Its votaries comprise the inhabitants of the Chinese mainland, Korea, Japan and many of the other Southeast Asian nations notably Burma, Laos and Thailand and accounts for about forty percent of the world’s population and is probably the largest religion in the world. Like the Jains, the Buddhists have deep respect for animal life.

3. The Jains- Like the Hindus, this religion was founded (or re-founded) by Mahavra who was born around 599 B. C and claims its existence from immemorial antiquity. Their beliefs are said to be more strict and terse than Buddhism, they who strains their drinking water, wear masks and so on, to prevent them from accidentally taking life of living creatures since this act, even when not done on purpose, can bring bad karmic effect. Their austere life explains their dwindling members now to only about 3 million and located in India.

This religion has no concept of a Creator and that the Universe is roughly like the shape of a person with the population located somewhere at the waist, with the upper part representing the Heavens and the lower part representing Hell.. When after a series of reincarnations the soul finally is purified from its earthly sins, the soul rises up where it then forever resides free from pain.

B. FROM THE SEMITIC RELIGIONS

1. Judaism- Generally believed to be founded by Moses who was said to be responsible for the compilation of the Pentateuch which is the first five books of the Old Testament, this religion echoed the spiritual cravings of the Israelites and is considered the mother religion of both Christianity and Islam. Its God is either called Yahweh, Jehovah, El Shaddai, etc depending on what version or translation of the Holy Bible one reads..

2. Christianity- a breakaway and revolutionary group from Judaism, this religion sprouted from the face of the earth after the death of Jesus Christ, the perceived Messiah of the Israelites. Curiously, its rapid growth was ignited not by the mainstream Jews but by converts to the faith, especially Saul who was at one time a Roman soldier and who later took the name Paul when he propagated the faith to the Gentiles..

This religion was further strengthened by Emperor Constantine in 325 AD when at the Council of Nicea he made Christianity the official religion of Rome. It then spread like wildfire to Europe during the Middle Ages and then to the Americas and finally reaching even the far-away Philippines.

Christianity, incidentally is the most fragmented religion in the entire world what with its many sects that sprouted like mushrooms everywhere, each one claiming to be the sole repository of religious truth. In the Philippines alone, it has the Iglesia Filipina Independiente or the Aglipayan Church, the Iglesia ni Cristo, the Ang Dating Daan Movementof Eli Soriano, and the many other Protestant denominations that were established in Europe and in the Americas that have also successfully established branches in almost all the corners of the entire world, in addition to the Roman Catholic Church that the conquering Spaniards brought with them at the advent of the age of the Conquistadors. .

3. Islam- this religion was founded by Muhammad who is believed to have been born in AD 570. Its sacred book is called the Koran, the word of God that was revealed in Arabic by archangel Gabriel to the prophet Muhammad. This religion initially started in Mecca and by painstaking effort converted the adjoining towns up to the time of his death. In its teachings, the prophets of the faith include Abraham, Ishmael, Moses, Jesus Christ, and Mohammad being the last prophet in line.

This faith is considered aggressive because it allows its votaries to use the sword if need be in propagating the faith, and it is from religion where the word assassin was derived. Reaching as far as India, it also managed to have devotees in Pakistan and Bangladesh that caused the undue reduction of the Hindus in those places. Like the Roman Catholics it ultimately found its way to the Philippines where the MNLF and the MILF are the source of irritants of the Philippine government This religion, by some estimates, accounts for about 15 percent of the world’s population.

To understand this faith clearly, one is encouraged to learn the Arabic language as adherents claim, much is lost during translation into other languages.

C. FROM OTHER SOURCES

1. Zoroastrianism- One religion that has placed impressive impact during the ancient times and has even profoundly influenced the medieval times is the one founded by Zarathustra, a prophet who live sometime 600 BC in Syria. This religion expounds the belief that there are two Gods; one of good and the other of evil, the former called Ahura Mazda, and the latter Angra Mainyu, who are perpetually battling each other with varied fortunes. This religion is apparently the mother religion of Manichaeism, the Bogomils and the Cathars of Southern France, religions that believed in the dual principal gods, the last adherents of which were wiped out during the Inquisition sometime in the 1330’s. Tailings of this religion may still be found in India in but in significantly reduced number and are called the Pharsees. This group apparently are the same believers that were mentioned in the New Testament and were called the Pharisees during the time of Jesus Christ..

2. Pantheism- Webster’s compact dictionary defines this word as “a doctrine that equates God with the forces and laws of the universe.” Unknown even to many, its tenets, if you may call it that, is expounded in the 18· conferral of Scottish Rite and is succinctly summarized in the acronym INRI, the first word symbolizing the Infinity of God, the second representing Nature, the third meaning Reason, and the last symbolizing the Immortality of the Soul. If you doubt the writer’s word, take or refresh yourself on the said Scottish Rite conferral but don’t dare doze off while the lecture is concisely being explained.

This writer could not say for certain but it appears this doctrine is much similar to Jainism (see A-3) that was explained earlier.

From these eight religions may be classified two groups of people, the first comprising the multitude who are being assisted by the priests and are therefore considered passive believers- those who pray, go to sacred sites like the Benares for the Hindus, Mecca for the Muslims and Rome for the Catholics, and do the biddings of their appointed leaders. The other group comprise the adepts who explore the mysteries of religion on their own. As Francis Bacon, in his treatise “The Advancement of Learning” in 1605 said:

“Nay, Solomon, the king, although he excelled in the glory of the treasure and magnificent buildings, of shipping and navigation, of service and attendance, of fame and renown, and the like, yet he maketh no claim to all those glories, but only to the glory of inquisition of truth, for so he sayeth expressly, “The glory of God is to conceal a thing, but the glory of the king is to find it out”, as if, according to the innocent play of children, the Divine Majesty took delight to hide his work, to the end to have them found out as if kings could not obtain a greater honour than to be God’s playfellows in that game.”

III. THE THORNY SUBJECT OF GOD AND CREATION

Let those believers and progenitors of the faith declare that theirs is the only true religion although these may have been established only in the last century. But to this writer, the question is simply whether to believe in the Almighty or not. If God is non-existent, should it not follow that creation is only a matter of semantics, a word that the irreligious or the nonbelievers insist is the case?!

Let now this writer offer a few fallacious statements of one imminent psychologist who debunks the belief that God is a myth in an article that was posted in the Web, the relevant portions of which will be quoted in this article but without the author being mentioned.

1. When President (George) Bush allegedly said:

“God told me to strike Al Qaeda and I struck them and then, he instructed me to strike Saddam, most Americans were not alarmed to learn that their leader was receiving orders that no one could hear. America is an unusually religious nation the majority of people claim to believe in God.”
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2. Quote from Albert Einstein

“I had deep religiosity, which, however, found an abrupt ending at the age of twelve. Through the reading of popular scientific books I soon reached the conviction that much in the stories of the Bible could not be true. The consequence was a positively fanatic orgy of freethinking coupled with the impression that youth is intentionally being deceived by the state through lies. It was a crushing impression. Suspicion against every kind of authority grew out of this experience, a skeptical attitude which were alive in any specific social environment- an attitude which has never left me.” (Autobiographical notes 1949)

3. Quote on the naturalist, William Paley, who laid the groundwork for the modern notion of intelligent design when he asked us to imagine what we would conclude wee we to come across a watch lying on the ground.

“The inference, we think is inevitable, that the watch must have had a maker- that there must have existed, at some time and at some place or other, an artificer or artificers who formed it for the purpose which we find it actually to answer, who comprehended its construction and designed its use.” (Natural Theology, 1802)

In other words, a watch is not a random assemblage of parts but a structured, ordered, obviously non-random assemblage of parts- and non random assemblage requires explanations. The existence of an intelligent assembler is a tempting explanation if only because it is at once so familiar and so complete. For most people, the material universe, biological life, and human consciousness are the kinds of curious, complex, well ordered phenomena that require explanation, an and intelligent designer provide just that.

But there are at least two problems with this explanation. First, the explanations that rely on the inexplicable are not explanations at all. They have the form of an explanation, but they do not have the content. Yet psychology experiments reveal that people are often satisfied with empty form. For instance, when experimenters approached people who were standing in line at a photo machine and said: “Can I get ahead of you?” the typical answer is No. But when they added at the end of his request the words” because I need to make some copies,” the typical answer was Yes.” The second request used the word “because” and sounded like an explanation, and the fact that this explanation told them nothing that they didn’t already know was oddly irrelevant.

Should the reader desire to read the article adverted to, he is advised to click http://www.edge.org/3rd_culture/gilbert05/gilbert05_index.html but the aging lion hereby warns you, you should be able to read, digest, discriminate, otherwise, this article is not for you..

This writer does not claim to be more knowledgeable than the author of the said article where these three quotations were lifted but point by point, here are his comments.

On Item 1- Too bad he accepted the words of President George W. Bush as gospel truth. Tsk,. tsk, tsk. Has it ever dawned on the author that Bush is a politician and an incorrigible liar, much like a lady president of another place.?

On Item 2- Albert Einstein, no doubt, was a genius in the scientific world. But about 70% of the world’s population are not Christians who do not believe in the Bible, and the while the remaining 30% are Christians, a large number doubts its infallibility and many of the remainder have not read that sacred book at all. It is much similar to an uninitiated who, after reading a portion of Albert Pike’s Morals and Dogma, generously supposed that it is Masonry’s sacred book and thus, any statement that counters his own beliefs are presumed by him to be sacrilegious and totally blasphemous.

Simply because Einstein said that there are many untruths (as he said it) in the Bible does not prove that God did not exist at all.

On Item 3- The example on the assumption that the watch probably has an artificer is fine. But the example on the copying machine is horrendous.

The second example using the word “because” won’t work because the natural law of “falling in line” demands that you wait for your turn. Except of course, if you press the nuzzle of a gun at the people ahead of you saying “If you don’t let me get ahead , I’ll use this gun at you.”

The start of creation then is a very tricky question. Naturalists claim that since Creation of the universe could not be proved then ergo, there is no Creator.

Well, oh well, this article has now exceeded the length allowed for an article like this. But now the writer knows why religion (or the lack of it) does not deserve to be discussed at all in a lodge room.

The conclusion is now yours!

RETRACING FOOTPRINTS

2006-01-01T00:24:00.000+08:00

AN OPEN EMAIL FROM THE AGING LION TO HIS ELDEST CUB

My dear son:

Your statement that you will soon petition for membership in Masonry was a pleasant surprise to your Tatay (Dad), for nowhere in time did he ever encourage you to join the Craft. The only occasion he recalls having invited you to a Masonic gathering was during his installation as master of his old lodge; but that was already a good ten years ago. Not that he objects to your intention but any self-respecting Mason will want that anyone, his son included, should join the Fraternity “of his own free will and accord.”

But since you have courageously expressed your desire to join, it may benefit you if you are apprised of the three most basic, yet very important tenets of the Craft before your petition is processed by the lodge where you intend to become a member.

I. BELIEF IN THE ALMIGHTY

You may well remember that your Tatay has dutifully took you, your Nanay and the rest of your siblings to church almost every Sunday from the time you could ever manage to walk. The three of you, that is, including both your sister and your youngest brother, were all enrolled at Angilicum School during your elementary and high school years thus enabling you to get a solid foundation of the faith where he himself was born to and though quite frankly your Dad may not be a deep-rooted Catholic (your Mom certainly is) ever since, we did endeavor to expose you to the Almighty the best way we knew.

But being nurtured to religion, as most Freemasons should be, will now offer a different twist. You should henceforth familiarize yourself to the fact that other members within the Fraternity may share diverging views. God may be called Yahweh, Jehovah, El Shaddai, Lord Krishna, Buddha, and even Allah, and that prudence should now dictate that you allow these members to practice their own respective beliefs they same way you will be allowed to practice your own. In many of his writings your Dad often calls the Almighty by the acronym GAOTU, the meaning of which you will surely learn later. Suffice it to say that these apparently divergent names meant all the same to him.

II THE IMMORTAILITY OF THE SOUL

The word “soul” in this context refers to your own and that it survives the grave, even when time shall be no more.

III THE BROTHERHOOD OF MAN

Being a bona-fide graduate of UP Los Banos, the word “brotherhood” should no longer be alien to you, especially because you have been very active in the Eagles Fraternity while still in college. But here are a few words on “Man” as symbolized in the context of the Craft.

“Man” is a generic term that should start with you, then to your wife Vicky and then to your two children on the first ladder of idyllic thought. In descending order of priorities, the ladder next involve your parents- your mother and myself. Then come your sister and your younger brother, their respective spouses and their children grouped together. Then come in lower rung your relatives from us, -your parents, and then to Vicky’s relatives. Next but still in descending order your officemates at San Miguel, and then your drinking buddies that you have accumulated from school and from your workplace all through the years. And then almost all in particular who somehow are interacting with you hence will also be added to the list.

“Brotherhood of Man” can get a little complicated since it is is extremely difficult to uphold harmonious relationship with all of them. But as the saying goes: “if you cannot maintain good relations with one or two, there is still no need to quarrel, simply shun those you don’t like and it will already suffice.” As Freemasons are wont to say: “cultivate relationship with those who can best work and best agree.”

Your Dad recalls with fond memories how he and your mother tried to raise you and your siblings the best way they could.. They spiritedly sent you all to Angelicum School in your formative years and also endeavored to enroll you all at the State University when you were already in the collegiate level. He also still recalls with clarity the time he handed you a bottle of beer after your graduation from high school since you have already qualified to study at UP in Los Banos, and subsequently enrolled you at a karate class that summer, with a terse reminder that since you will henceforth be away from the family, you might as well be ready to fight you own battles. He also cannot help but chuckle every time he remembers the date you were deposited at the Men’s Dorm at Los Banos where your Nanay dutifully presented you with a Catholic Edition of the Holy Bible, not knowing that inside it your Dad inserted a primer on “How Not to Contact Sexual Disease” that was issued by the United States Military Service. Even to this date however, he never had a chance to know which printed material you’ve read more often; you mother and your Dad never found out what the heck ever happened to these two priceless manuals of instruction.

You later graduated and in fine asked permission to get married with nary an objection heard from you father. All is well, he thought, you have aptly prepared yourself to face the world’s myriad of challenges, using your own wings and feathers that is the unseen vehicle of your soul..

And now you desire to join him in this oldest Fraternity.

It’s not a complicated thing really. You will be investigated upon by three members from the lodge where you intend to join and they will submit their evaluation on your strengths and weaknesses, on whether you are bad or good, and if the latter, can be made better. It is possible the record of your two sponsors may help but beyond that, it is your accomplishments that will really count as the basis of your eventual admission..

Your Dad is glad Vicky consented to your plan to join Freemasonry. That will loosen up some misimpressions that Masonry is not God fearing; also the fact that your sponsor is close to her because there might be some events you may not be free to relate to her and thus cause minor problems. But with the wife of your sponsor familiar with the actuations of her husband as a Mason, these possible irritants will considerably be lessened.

Wilfred Philip (Bong) Leano, your school buddy from way back in the upper eighties, is furnished a copy of this email and as such, may wish he is physically around during the time you will be raised. He may even daydream that he is once again a vaquero out to tame a young bull as you did together during your memorable and indeed suspenseful collegiate years..

Good luck on your petition, your Tatay hopes you make it.

THE WIDOWS OF THE HOLY BIBLE

2005-11-26T02:00:00.000+08:00

The Jewish people is a patriarchal society; so for readers who are too lazy to get a dictionary and get the precise meaning of the word patriarchal (this word is not found in the dictionary available in the Internet) it means that if the male rules the house, then it is patriarchal; on the other hand, if a lion tamer exists with a menacing whip on her hand- then it is matriarchal. But let us get back to the topic before the snoring lady in bed awakens and find out what this article is all about..

Readers of the Holy Writings will attest that only the masculine gender are given prominence in the Holy Bible; Adam Noah, Moses, David, Solomon, even Jesus Christ. Of course the female counterparts are also mentioned, like Eve, Mary, and Mary Magdalene. But these names were recognized mainly to exhort male chauvinistic traits, or to chronicle unpleasant events that the matriarchal society never wants.

. Take the case of Eve, for instance. She was mentioned because she goaded Adam to eat the apple, an act that would later be held responsible for the original sin of mankind.. Mary was important only because she is the mother of Jesus Christ. And Mary Magdalene?! She became prominent because she anointed Jesus with the spikenard and even on this aspect, she was made to appear as a prostitute although contemporary biblical scholars claim her role in the Bible was marginalized and that really, the hint of her being made a harlot is mainly to lessen her importance in the life of Jesus Christ. Ever heard that Jesus and Mary Magdalene living as conjugal partners that were bannered by the books “Holy Blood, Holy Grail, The Templar Revelations,” etc., books that claims the Magdalene was the human vessel that carried the blood of Jesus Christ and that they have procreated descendants that live to this day? Heretical and preposterous, to say the least, some would say.

But the role of women in procreation can never be ignored and they are presented in several categories. They either are shown as (1) barren women (in local parlance, “walang ng katas”), (2) harlots (the real putang inas) (3) virgins (yong di pa nagagalaw) and (4) widows (at biyudas ano pa!). And this brief (no, not the one used as underwears!) article is about the last-mentioned category.

Widows abound in the Holy Bible and this writer has tallied no less than eight, five of whom have Masonic relevance. Let’s take them up one by one, citing them in the reverse order of their appearance. Lifo- the accountants would brag.

I. THE WIDOW MENTIONED BY ELISAH

As backgrounder, Elisah, son of Elijah, is mentioned in 2 Kings 4:1-7 the gist of which are as follows:

“The woman, whose husband is already dead approached Elisha saying that her creditors came to take her two sons as bondsmen (in local lingo, alila or longkatuts). Whereupon Elisha asked her what she has in the house and she replied, ”nothing except the pot of oil”. Elisha then ordered her to borrow similar vessels (or pots) from her neighbors, all she could gather, he said, and after which, Elisha, in the name of God, filled all the vessels with oil. He later ordered the widow: “Go sell the oil, pay your debts, and live thou and thy children with the rest.”

This biblical passage has no Masonic import, but just as wishful thinking: “Wouldn’t it be nice, if Elisha were around to help GMA fill the drained tubs of Petron, Caltex and Shell, sell these, pay the nation’s debts, and live normally ever after with Virgilio Garcillano and Jock-Joke Bolante no longer at her heels?!

II. ELIJAH AND THE WIDOW OF ZAREPATH

Elijah is mentioned in 1 Kings 18: 1-16, and is particularly relevant to members of the Craft. The gist of this biblical passage was already detailed in a previous article titled “Elijah and the Widow of Zarepath” and therefore will no longer be discussed lengthily. Suffice it to say however, that the equivalent of the mariners’ signal of distress that is eloquently expressed by the acronym SOS for “Save Our Souls”, is emphatically depicted, but this writer no longer feels obligated to relate. Readers who would want further explanation are therefore advised to get back at that article and browse over it again.

III. HIRAM ABIF, THE WIDOW’S SON

Undoubtedly the most popular to Freemasons (and understandably so since all have represented Hiram Abif), this widow is neither named nor clearly identified in the Bible. To confound matters, the writer of 1 Kings says she is from the tribe of Napthali while the author of 1 Chronicles claim he is the son of a Danite woman. However, since Naptahali and Dan are sons of Jacob by the same mother named Bilhah, then it should follow that if Hiram Abif was a descendant of Napthali, then he could not be a descendant of Dan, and vice versa!!

On a parallel case, this writer also noticed that even the genealogy of Jesus Christ also suffers the same inconsistency when the Gospels of Matthew and Luke are compared. Matthew traced the genealogy that David’s son from whom Jesus Christ came from was Solomon, while Luke said that it was from his elder brother Nathan..

Talk about the infallibility of the Holy Bible and these two classic examples will easily stir a hornet’s nest. But oh, well!!.

IV. BATHSHEBA, THE MOTHER OF SOLOMON

How a very beautiful woman named Bathsheba became a widow is a unique story in itself.

The Holy Writings (1 Samuel 11: 1-27) says that one evening David walked on the roof of his house and saw a very beautiful woman washing herself. Learning later that she is the wife of Uriah the Hittite who is one of his generals, and secretly coveting her for himself, he ordered that Uriah be sent to the most dangerous part of the battlefield, there to do battle and consequently died. After the required mourning, David took Bathsheba as one of his many wives and on the second pregnancy, Solomon was born.

Bathsheba thus was recorded as a woman who was made widow and wife by imperial might.

V. NAOMI, ORPAH AND RUTH (See Book of Ruth in its entirety)

The widowed life of Naomi, Orpah and Ruth were not as tantalizing as that of Bathsheba. The three became widows as follows: Naomi by her husband Elime-elech; Orpah by Mahlon and Ruth by Chil-on, with the last two mentioned males being sons of Naomi.

After the death of their respective husbands, the three returned to Judah, no! not the name but the place. Since the two daughters-in-law were Moabites, Naomi persuaded them to return to their respective places so that they can return to their own normal lives before they got married. But while Orpah heeded her mother-in-law, Ruth decided to stay. It is while living with Naomi that Boaz, a wealthy land-owner and relative of Elim-elech took notice of Ruth, and in accordance with ancient Israelitish custom claimed her for his wife.

Boaz and Ruth would later sire Obed who is the father of Jesse and Jesse producing a son named David who became the second king of Israel.

The Masonic relevance of this biblical passage traces the part of the lecture in the EAM degree that says:

“You are neither barefoot nor shod, in allusion to an ancient Israelitish custom adopted among Masons. Concerning redeeming, we read in the Book of Ruth. . .”

There you are. You should now pick the continuation of the lecture from there!!

VI. TAMAR, THE WIDOW OF ER (Genesis 38: 1-30)

Judah, the fourth son of Jacob, had three sons named Er, Onan and Shelah. In fine Judah had Er married to Tamar. But Er died without producing a son and so in accordance with tradition, Judah required his second son Onan to cohabit with Tamar. Onan however, knowing that any offspring would not be credited to him but to his elder brother, spills his semen on the ground whenever the make contact and thereafter died likewise without a descendant. Again, in accordance with tradition, Judah convinced Tamar to stay in his house so that he can give Shelah to her for a husband when he fully grows up.

Shelah finally matured without the promise being fulfilled and so Tamar tricked Judah, who by that time had already become a widower, by covering her face with a veil and wrapped herself up so that she will not be recognized. She thereafter disguised herself as a harlot and to whom Judah promised a kid or young goat as payment for carnal relations, and thereafter the sexual act was consummated.

After the event, Judah bid leave but since payment was not yet effected, he was required to leave behind his signet, bracelet and staff as guarantee for payment. Too late did he learn three months later that Tamar was pregnant and that the seed came from his own loins on that epic misadventure at the wayside...

The underlying message of it all is that by tricking Judah to that sexual act, she consigned herself to the role of a lioness who became the matriarchal ascendant of the tribe from whom David, Solomon, Jesus Christ and even Emperor Hail Selassie of Ethiopia lay claim on that immortal phrase “Lion of the Tribe of Judah.”

ELIJAH AND THE WIDOW OF ZAREPATH

2005-11-17T07:42:00.000+08:00

Spoon-feeding is oftentimes not nice. And so for this transmission, what the reader will get is a quotation from the King James Version of the Holy Bible (1 Kings 17: 17-23) but will not tell them what the lion is hinting at as it is being sent in the form of a teaser to arouse your curiousity.

“And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick: and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him. And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, o thou man of God, art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son? And he said unto her, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a loft, where he abode, and laid him up on his own bed. And he cried unto the Lord and said, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn by slaying her son? And he stretch himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the Lord and said; O Lord my God, I pray thee, let this child’s soul come into him again. And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came to him again.”

The aging lion bets no uninitiated will ever comprehend the meaning of this send-out; and any brother who is in the dark is advised that he better get back into the lodge and again attend a third-degree conferral. He surely will need a refresher on what Freemasonry is all about!

Or is it possible, recipients don’t really bother to read the messages that the aging lion periodically send out? And those who would bother to react, please do so, it will make the lion aware you are still alive!!

FREEMASONRY AND RELIGION

2005-11-09T04:47:00.000+08:00

Who says religion cannot be discussed within the confines of the Craft? Then why is it being asked in the petition form to what religion the petitioner belongs? Now, don’t answer that. The aging lion will answer it for you.

The reason is because atheists are barred from joining and therefore it is a mandatory requirement that a prospective brother should have a particular religion; but what it is, is no longer the concern of the Fraternity.

The implied prohibition therefore, is that discussion of a particular religion is taboo, like the ones always hotly being debated upon by Eli Soriano of “Ang Dating Daan” and Pete Buluran (probably of the Iglesia ni Cristo) at the airwaves. But religion, per se, is not at all prohibited. If you doubt it, then take a refresher of the 18th degree lecture assuming you are already a Scottish Rite Mason, or if not better enlist at Quezon City Bodies (how’s that for advertisement?!) or the other Bodies in the Philippine jurisdiction and there you will learn that Right, Truth, and Religion, are one and the same. But a word of warning: Don’t doze off into slumber while the lecture is going on.

So now, let the lion take the bull by the horns.

Are you aware that no less than ninety percent of the world’s population trace their religious roots to two ancient civilizations, namely the Semites of ancient Mesopotamia and the Hindus of the Indian continent? How’s that again? Does it mean that about 5.4 billion of the world’s population trace their religious roots to the Hebrews and the Indians? Oh, no! not the American Indians, but the Hindus of India!

Let us take both one after the other.

The Semitic religion of the patriarch Abraham (remember the Christmas song Father Abraham?!) spawned three of the world’s great religions, namely, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Judaism had its roots from Abraham then to Moses, filtering down to David, then to Solomon and down the line to the time Jesus Christ. But after the death of the world’s greatest teacher, a tender branch sprouted and in less than three centuries grew to a size that relegated the adherents of Judaism to mediocrity. Until finally, during the council of Nicea in AD 325, the congregation voted on the divinity of Jesus Christ. Thus would Christianity blossom mightier than an oak in the woodlands and from there it spread all through Europe and the entire world, namely, the Americas and up to the Far East in the eastern hemisphere that include the Philippines.

In AD 570 Mohammed was born and during his lifetime propagated Islam, the religion that claims to have started its roots also from Abraham. Curiously, its prophets include Ismael- Abraham’s first-born son, Moses, Jesus Christ, and finally Mohammed at the end of the line. These three religions, meaning Judaism, Christianity and Islam when combined, easily accounts for about 45 percent of the world’s population that now is estimated at about 6.1 billion.

For the moment, let the lion digress from the Semites or the Hebrews and let him focus his sight on the Hindus or the real Indians.

Said to be once ruled by the Aryans, ancient India, which previously include Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Ceylon to the south and up to the Himalayas and Afghanistan in the north, accounts for about the same percentage as that of the combined religions of the Semites. Initially it comprise the Vedas or Brahmmins and the Jain religions at the forefront. In 563 BC however, Siddarta Gautama was born and to him was credited the birth of Buddhism. This religion leapt later to China, Korea, Japan, Ceylon, Burma and Thailand to the extent that it is now said to comprise about 40 percent of the total world population. In addition, the Sikhs also trace their roots to the Indian sub-continent although they have a distinct Volume of the Sacred Law of their own..

There are of course other religions that planted their roots somewhere else; like those of the American Indians and the aborigins of Australia, the voodoo religions of the South Americas; and for those who would not want to be excluded, even Apo Kahoy of the Malakas and Maganda mythology if there indeed is any. But these religions no longer account for a sizable percentage of the total religions of the world.

In sum therefore, religion is like a tree that sprouts a stem that subsequently turns into a trunk and rising upwards grows new branches. Take the case of the religion of Abraham. Judaism was its main trunk and after several centuries, a new twig grew in the form of Christianity. This branch thereafter produced several twigs of its own, like Eastern Orthodoxy, Pauline Christianity from where the Roman Church later stood, and even Nestorian Christianity that is obviously unknown to the outside world. Eastern Orthodoxy thrived in the Baltic states of Europe that include Russia, while Pauline Christianity whose base was in Rome propagated the faith simultaneous with the conquests of the Southern Americas and ultimately to the Philippines.

But the growth of Christianity was not without misgivings. The German Martin Luther established Protestantism in Europe and the monarchs of England and Scotland as heads of state (and religion) formed their own so that when at last they made the conquest of North America and Canada, they brought with them their Protestant faith which is, in many respects, different from the faith nurtured by Saint Paul and the Roman Church. In the Philippines, Isabelo de los Reyes formed Iglesia Filipina Independiente and cajoled Gregorio Aglipay to be its first Obispo Maximo. Felix Manalo organized his Iglesia ni Cristo and lately even Eli Soriano joined the fray by establishing his “Dating Daan Movement”, such that nowadays, religious analysts remark that Christianity, with about a third of the world’s total population, is the most fragmented religion on the face of the earth

Other religions experience the same fate. Buddhists have Shinto, Zen and other similar variants that undoubtedly were influenced by their respective philosophies, customs and traditions. The same holds true to Islam, what with the Sunnis, the Shiites and even the Zufis, it would be irrational to say these religions strictly adhere to exactly the same beliefs.

And what have these divergent religions of the world have in common with Freemasonry?! (Now, the lion got you there!!!)

Well, all religions (almost all, anyway because the lion’s readings say that there are variants of religions in India that do not believe in a particular God, like the Jains who do not have the concept of a creator, or the Hindus who believe in the multiplicity of deities the most prominent of whom are Brahma, Visnu and Ziva), believe in the Almighty, in the immortality of the soul, and in the brotherhood of man. These three are among the principal tenets of Freemasonry that are shared commonly by almost all religions. But how these are practiced, is an entirely different story. Freemasonry, it should be remembered, offers no definite name nor form of God and offers no avenue for salvation. Conversely then, how do these three tenets agree or disagree, with both religion and Freemasonry? Let’s take the three one by one.

I.. BELIEF IN GOD

The respective names of God, even in a particular religion, vary. In Christianity for example, the names Adonai, El Shaddai, Yahweh, Jehovah, Lord, and what have you are recorded. They have Allah in Islam, Brahma and his cohorts in Hindu and Buddha in Buddhism, although strictly speaking, Buddha is not literally considered a God, but one who has achieved that status. It goes to show therefore that if there are modifications in calling the Almighty as God, how much more variable is attuning ones’ belief to Him?! And Freemasonry also would not want to meddle into the details of a brother’s particular manner of belief in his own God!

II. THE IMMORTALITY OF THE SOUL

The basic deviation of an atheist over a religious devotee is not only non-belief in the Almighty but also in the non-belief in a soul and that when one dies, only his memory remains.. Agnostics wonder if there is a God and a soul, while atheists believe there is none. But let’s leave the atheists and agnostics to their respective thinking.

Sometimes called “kruwah” by the religious, it is also alternately called spirit or soul of man. Belief in the soul is also divergent- Christians, Catholics especially believe that a soul either goes to heaven or hell after death. Buddhists and Hindus think of reincarnation, that is, getting back to another body after a series of deaths and rebirths until it is fully cleansed of imperfections. Somewhere in the 18th degree conferral, it talks of the soul as a unit and that like all matter, it experience breaking up into components only to regroup again with another matter at a later time but is never extinguished on the face of the universe unless willed by the Almighty.

Despite the variants however, it is evident the soul as created by his Maker, is immortal and will remain so to the ends of the earth.. The 18th degree also mentioned the acronym INRI which stands not for the acronym that was placed atop the cross where Jesus was crucified which meant IESUS NAZARENUS, REX IUDAREUM but as INFINITY (of God), NATURE, REASON and IMMORTALITY (of the soul). But you have to attend the Scottish Rite conferral of degrees as the explanation of that acronym will not be made in this short, albeit perplexing article.

III. THE BROTHERHOOD OF MEN

The 30· conferral of the Scottish Rite degree eloquently expounded the doctrine on “love of neighbor” when it said: “Love God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind and with all thy strength; and thy Neighbor as thyself. This do and thou shalt live.” And added: “Humanity is our Neighbor. We are all one kindred, as God breathed unto man the breath of life”.

The question now is: “From where did this creed came from?”

The answer, fortunately, is not hard to find for in Matthew 22: 37-40 it says:

“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”

Not only that; in Mark 12: 28-31, it also said the same message although with a slight variation in phraseology.

The question now that is at hand is: “Is this creed peculiar to, or the teaching attributable solely to the world’s Greatest Teacher? If not, who are the other sages who did?, Fortunately, Albert Pike in his “Morals and Dogma” narrated the following complementary verses and sentences on the subject:

CONFUCIOUS- the Chinese

“The doctrine consist solely in being upright of heart and loving our neighbor as we love ourselves”

SOCRATES- the Grecian

“Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”

ZOROASTER- the Persian

“Hold it not meet to do unto others what thou wouldst not desire unto thyself; do that unto the people, which, when done to thyself, is not disagreeable unto thee.

HILEL- the Pharisee

“That which thou liketh not done to thyself, do it not unto thy neighbor.

Which all but sums up that believers of the faiths where these immortal sages belong, and not knowing that the others have said it may be constrained to think that the doctrine is peculiarly theirs. But Masonry, a patient recorder of dogmas and doctrines enunciated by these ancient philosophers simply adapted the lesson as its own and propagated the unwritten thoughts of God through several mediums.

SYNOPSIS

With but a single example on “love of neighbor” this short article can now be ended with the following closing words:

“Religion can be compared to a tree whose seed germinated and grew into a trunk, and thereafter creating branches as it rises upwards, and then twigs and leaves, becoming different both in appearance and substance as it soars above. Freemasonry, on the other hand, is like a brook, initially solitary, and in fine attracting the waters of other brooks along the way, until it becomes a mighty river and its waters finally merging with the crystal-clear pristine sea.

LAMBSKIN APRON POTPOURRI

2005-11-05T15:44:00.000+08:00

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One of the most enduring lessons taught in Freemasonry is the elocution on the lambskin apron where it says and the lion quotes “it is an emblem of innocence and the peculiar badge of a mason, more ancient than the Golden Fleece, or the Roman Eagle, more honorable than the Star and Garter, etc., etc.” But what does this phrase really mean?

Golden Fleece, as most literary buffs will readily say, is easily identified with Greek mythology, specifically with Jason and the Argonauts. The Roman Eagle, on the other hand, can be rewound to the glorious days of the Roman Empire where its centurions proudly emblazon their soldier’s armors with the eagle, the symbol of power. Which but confirm their roots to antiquity as these emblems were already in use even before the time of Jesus Christ..

But what about the Star and Garter? How did these originate? On this question, here is what Michael Baigent and Richard Leigh on their book “The Temple and the Lodge” on page 92 had to say which is being copied verbatim:

“Within a quarter of a century of the Temple’s (meaning, the Knights Templar:) , a spate of neo-Templar orders began to appear- and would continue to do so for centuries afterwards. Thus, for example, in 1348 Edward III of England created the Order of the Garter, consisting of twenty six knights divided into two groups of thirteen each. The Garter, of course continue to the present day, and is the world’s premier order of chivalry. In France in 1352, Jean II created an almost identical institution, the Order of the Star. It was rather more short-lived than the Garter, however, its entire membership being annihilated in 1356 at the Battle of Pointers. In 1430, Philip, Duke of Burgundy, created the Order of the Golden Fleece (but this has no relation to the Golden Fleece of Jason and his Argonauts that was explained earlier- GVG).

So there you are! Next time you hear the lecturer delivers the lambskin apron lecture, you know the definitive relevance of this peculiar Masonic badge. And thanks to the authors of “The Temple and the Lodge!”

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AUTHORS OF HIRAM KEY ROCONSIDER STAND ON HIRAM ABIF

2005-10-28T17:31:00.000+08:00

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 Huram, and was probably ‘Abi-ram’. Josephus says that letters between Solomon and this king were preserved in the Tyrian archives. He also quotes the historians Dius abd Menander of Ephesus, who says that Hiram was the son of King Abi-baal.

There was also another Hiram involved in the creation of the Temple. This Hiram was a worker in metals who set up a foundry in the Jordan valley between Succoth and Zeredatha, where he cast the two great pillars of Boaz and Jachim as well as other great ornaments of the Temple, including the huge vessel known as the ‘molten sea’. This character is referred to in 2Chr.2:11-14, where Hiram, King of Tyre, writes to Solomon to tell him that this Hiram is a son of the daughters of the tribe of Dan, but in 1Kgs7:14 we are told that he was a widow’s son of a different tribe, that of Napthali.

Could this artisan in metals be considered the architect of the Temple? An architect is the designer of the overall building, not the manufactrer of an ornamentation, but in the Revised Standard Version of the Bible this builder is referred to as Huram-abi, which is indeed close to the name Hiram Abif.”

And followed their explanation on page 18 with the following:

“On the balance of probabilities we now accept that the character referred to in Masonic ritual as Hiram Abif could be the worker in metals supplied to work in King Solomon’s Temple by Hiram King of Tyre. However, this potential identification does nothing to explain his relationship with King Solomon or to illuminate why this legend is so important to Freemasonic lore.

THE LION’S COMMENTS

The admission, however lame, may be considered good enough. But the issue can still be expounded as follows:

1. The names of the architects in ancient times were hardly mentioned as the name of the edifice is generally reserved for the ruler or king who is responsible for its construction. Thus the name Solomon was appended to the Temple because it was by his wisdom that the mighty edifice was erected. So were the magnificent pyramids of Egypt that were named after the kings who ordered their creation.

2. It is a wonder why despite the authors’ apparent extensive research, they failed to mention the exhaustive work of Albert Pike who wrote and compiled “Morals and Dogma”. Had they done so, then the two authors may have learned that the name “Hiram” was a mis-rendering of the Hebrew word “Khairum” or Khairom.” Was it because Albert Pike is an American and Britons generally don’t have much respect for American authors.

Well, as they all say, “all is well that ends well”. Hiram Abif did exist after all,.

And “The Book of Hiram?”. Well, as readable as “The Hiram Key”, but one still has to segregate the gold from the dross. Remember Albert Pike? Read, digest, discriminate, of you indeed want to learn Masonic lore.

And by the way, here’s the lion’s heartfelt thanks to his good friend Tante Pacis for gifting him with four wonderful Masonic books that are now prized additions to his mini-library.

And the lion roars!

DAGOHOY LODGE NO. 84 REBUILDS ITS LODGE ON TWO FRONTS

2005-10-11T04:48:00.000+08:00

Here is a bit of interesting news; the lodge that presently shelters the now-aging lion in this scenic island of Bohol is getting a distinct facelift on two distinctive fronts. Consider these.

Through the very bold initiative of WM Eugene “Jack” Galbreath, incumbent master of the lodge, it decided to sell the lot where the old temple that was built in 1928 using the proceeds on the sale and the hard lumber that were retrieved from the demolished building. The hard lumber were recovered came from the timbers that were felled from the forests of Anda and Sierra Bullones some eighty years ago; and as the town of Anda is situated about a hundred kilometers away from Tagbilaran City and is at the opposite end of the island, one can well guess that these may have been towed via the open sea and should easily remind the reading brethren how the timbers were felled in Lebanon and brought on floats to Mount Moriah in Jerusalem where King Solomon’s Temple was erected. This new lodge was erected adjacent to the Masonic cemetery that was located about half a kilometer away from the original site. As a side comment, the acquisition of the cemetery is also considered epic because in 1931 the Roman Catholic Church refused the burial of Bro. Arnold Bartlett who died, although a Roman Catholic, because of his Masonic affiliation. This prompted the brethren to establish their own Masonic cemetery and is thus credited as one of the very few lodges in the entire country that has a cemetery of its own.

The administrative and technical expertise for building the two-story lodge was never found wanting. Administrative acumen is ably provided by the organizational skills of the Worshipful Master who during his heyday was a battle-scarred American soldier who honed his military and administrative skills in Vietnam, while the technical skills were made available by the other brethren like Bros. Francisco Pamaran, Jr., Ulysses Tirol, Mark Noel Mende and Moises Millanar- able professional engineers and architects of the lodge. Why, even Bro. Jerry Servas pinches in as night watchman to protect the materials lying around the site while the building is undergoing construction.

While the funding of the main building structure is expected to be fully covered by the proceeds of the sale, the supplemental needs are reasonably expected and will therefore require additional funding; like replacing the old wooden chairs, the podium and many other ornaments and amenities that must complement the needs of the lodge to keep it fully operational. As supplemental support in the construction of the building, WB Ulysses Tirol encouraged the brethren to share in the construction of the lodge in whatever way they can. In addition to professional service, he pledged several hundreds of hollow blocks as construction materials while WB Moises Millanar has promised P5,000 as financial aid. The aging lion , restricted by his meager pension that is already sorely drained by the lion tamer’s existing charity projects, can only appeal to one of the lodges in Quezon City where he sports honorary membership. Will the members be generous enough to contribute the sets of gavels, columns and the working tools that is displayed at the foot of the Worshipful Master’s station so that these symbolic adornments may also bring additional prestige to the lodge?! He also cannot help but wonder, would other generous brother out there be kind enough to send in a few dollars to help us build our cherished Masonic lodge down here after reading this narration?!

The Worshipful Master projects the building will be completed before the year ends in time for the “changing of the guards” that will be held the next year. Whether this will materialize, only time will tell, but the entire brethren of the lodge are keeping their fingers crossed eagerly awaiting the said historic event.

On another front, the lodge, now as defined as “a certain number of brethren with a Holy Bible, square and compasses” is also being rebuilt. Long without additional members, it added in its roster four able-blooded young recruits last year and with the aging lion affiliating now have five new members in its list. A new candidate is also scheduled to be passed as this article is being written and as another petitioner is subject to be balloted later the brethren foresees more robust membership . And pretty soon, the rituals, which for quite a time have been relegated to the sidelines will receive the attention that is required of the members, thus restoring the lost glory that once was the pride of the lodge’ elder brethren.

To all of you out there, especially the brethren who once have graced our old lodge, we trust you will join us that our noble aspirations are achieved for the greater glory of the Supreme Architect of our Universe!

VOLUME OF THE SACRED LAW

2005-10-11T04:44:00.000+08:00

(Lecture delivered at the Dagohoy Lodge No. 84 brethren during the October 8, 2005 stated meeting.)

$: Worshipful Master and brethren.

All of us are familiar with the name of the book that is atop our sacred altar. It is called the King James Version of the Holy Bible. Masonically, it is also called the Volume of the Sacred Law and so the question therefore is why it is identified by that peculiar phrase.

Let me now tell you this short story.

Bro. Milind G. Dravid, a fraternal brother from the Lodge of Golden Orange No. 304 at Nagpur in India and to whom this writer regularly corresponds with Masonically via e-mail, told this writer that out there in their lodge, five (repeat five) different books of the Holy Writings are laid upon their altar and explained why this is so.

According to Bro. Milind, his mother lodge is one of the oldest lodges in India and was founded by a select group of British brethren who were members of the British Expeditionary forces, and some employees of the East India Company when England occupied India sometime in the middle of the 18th century. As recorded history would tell him, it was normal for the military at that time to have field lodges in their regiments and thus whenever these forces settle in any part of the globe, it would not be unusual that the craving for establishing a Masonic lodge would ensue. It was in this concept that the Golden Lodge of Orange No. 304 was established under the Constitution of the United Grand Lodge of England at that time. At its founding, the King James Version of the Holy Bible naturally was the

Holy Book that adorned its altar.

He said that the additions to its membership during the initial years were modest, the new members of which came mostly from the British that periodically were added to both the military roster and the support staff of East India Company. In fine, however, several Indian nationals, especially those who managed to interact with the lodge members because they were able to join the civilian administration and those who got their education from England, became interested in the affairs of the Craft and ultimately joined its roster. Unsurprisingly, these new recruits were obligated to the book of their respective faiths and thus, after the lapse of more than two centuries of lodge existence, other Holy Books were enshrined at the sacred altar. In addition therefore to the Holy Bible that the founders first placed at that hallowed top, the following Books of Nature and Revelation were also added:

1. The BHAGVAD GITA for the Hindu, Jains and Buddhist Brethren,

2. the ZEND AVESTA for the Parsi brothers,

3. the GURU GRANTH SAHIB for the Sikh brethren, and

4. the QURAN SHARIF for the Muslim initiates.

Bro. Dravid wrote that at the time of his initiation, he could not help but feel awed to note how members of this select organization of diverging religious faiths could sit together in harmony inside a lodge, a situation that he expects could never happen outside its confines in the entire world.

Let this lecturer now tackle the issue of the King James Version of the Holy Bible that is atop our sacred altar by explaining how it got its name

The King James Version of the Holy Bible came into existence when James VI was acclaimed King of Scotland in 1567 at age one when his mother abdicated the throne. Additionally, he was also crowned James I of England in 1603 thus unifying the two kingdoms. A year later, he commissioned the learned clerics of his time to translate the Old and New Testaments that were originally written in the Hebrew and Greek languages for use by the subjects of his realms. Previous to this time, the existing versions that were used by the Catholic hierarchy that was based in Rome were in Latin (otherwise called Vulgate) and while there already exist other English translations like the Douay and the Catholic Bibles, these contained leading explanatory comments and footnotes that showed bias in the interpretation of the sacred writings, thus serving their own selfish religious motives. To confound matters these versions were generally not made available to the public for their use. It was therefore made imperative that the King who was made a Freemason in 1601 at the Lodge of Scoon and Perth in Scotland, he goaded the religious intellectuals to cause the translation of the Holy Bible into the English language during his time and thus immortalized his name for everyone to behold.

The translated version was finally completed in 1611 and since that time and up the nineteenth century, it weathered almost a thousand revisions.. Until finally in 1948, the New Testament underwent a substantial modification and was followed by a similar revision of the Old Testament in 1952..But the changes that were made were only to conform to the standard English Usage thus attuning the translation to the language of prevailing times. A special section called “Concordance” which defined the words that may have changed because of the possible deviation of meanings was also appended so that the reader may be able to get back, as close as possible, to the original scriptures.

It is claimed that this revised version sold more than twelve million copies within ten years from the date of its printing in the middle of the 20th century.

And why is the King James Version especially important to Freemasons? Can’t the Catholic Edition or the other English versions like the Jerusalem Bible be substituted as the book of the Holy Writing at the Masonic altar?

Well, it can be! The only difficulty that may be encountered is the possibility of getting a different meaning from what was originally perceived especially because our rituals require memorization of the applicable quotations. Take the case of the parambulation of the second degree, for example, and compare the words with the translation in the Catholic Edition, that says:

King James Version

“Though I speak the tongue of men and of angels and have not charity, I am become a sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal”.

The New American Bible (Catholic Edition) 1969, on the other hand, says:

“If I speak in human and angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal.”

As the reader can well observe, the King James used the word “charity” while the Catholic Edition translated it as “love”. While the two words may be considered synonyms, the meanings are not exactly the same and that is where arguments and irreconcilable differences will begin.

Thank you for your attention.

THE FIVE PILLARS (OR ORDERS) OF ARCHITECTURE

2005-07-30T08:56:00.000+08:00

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

Here is what the Webster dictionary has to say on these orders:

Tuscan - one of the five orders or architecture, devoid of ornaments and having columns that are never fluted.

Doric - the oldest and simplest order of the three orders of Greek architecture characterized by the columns having no base, and the flutings few, large, and not deep, the capital of simple character.

Ionic - one of the five orders of architecture the distinguishing characteristic of which consists in the volutes of its capital.

Corinthian - an architectural order distinguished by fluted columns and capitals adorned with acanthus leaves.

Composite - a term applied to one of the orders (of architecture) because the capital belonging to it is composed out of those of the other orders, exhibiting leaves, volutes, etc.; applied to plants forming a vast order, and having flowers forming dense heads composed of many florets, in the daisy, dandelion, etc.

And so we now have a glimpse of these archaic architectural terms. Here now are additional information.

The orders of architecture which were invented by the Greeks are not really that ancient. Invented at around 800 BC, these are easily predated by the architectural orders that were designed by the ancient Egyptian and Mesopotamian engineers. The Egyptians as we know erected their imposing pyramids prior to 2000 BC that till today are still the favorite vacation spots of awestruck tourists; and the Sumerians, progenitors of the Chaldeans, the Phoenicians and the Tyrians, they from whom the two Hirams trace their genealogies and built the magnificent temple of Solomon in 1000 BC, which unfortunately, was erased from the face of the earth by the Babylonians in 586 BC.

But let’s get back to the wordings of the five orders of architecture as mentioned earlier.
The words Tuscan, Doric, Ionic and Corinthian were derived from places of their countries of origin; thus Tuscan was coined from Tuscany in Italy, now famous for its castles and monuments; while the three Greek orders were so named after places in ancient Greece, notably Dorian for Doric, Ionia for Ionic and Corinthian, the order that was inspired by a Grecian city called Corinth. As Composite, the order that the Romans invented, is but a combination of the two architectural orders called Corinthian and Ionic, one may wonder whether this word is but an imitation of the Chinese food called “Chopseuy”, a concoction or a mixture of vegetables taken from here and there!

Now, while monuments to the Tuscan and Composite orders still abound in Italy, the structures dedicated to the three classical orders of architecture have practically vanished as vapor would in the air. The Roman church saw to it that these masterpieces of antiquity were destroyed during their frenzy of eradicating pagan relics during the Dark Ages, these being memorials to pagan traditions and beliefs. And those that managed to remain for posterity to behold were largely because those artifacts were earlier buried and only found recently during archeological excavations and salvaging from the bottom of the seas.

THE EARLY ROOTS OF ARCHITECTURE

From our monitor, we learn that our ancient forefathers already learned to protect themselves from inclement weather by connecting trees thereby keeping themselves dry during the rainy days. This they did by creating bands from top to bottom, a procedure done by imitating or copying the plants that attach themselves to the main tree-trunks that consequently create a dry space within its periphery. We learn that “the bands that connected the trees from top to bottom were said to have given rise to the base and capital of pillars and that from this simple hint proceeded the more advanced art of architecture.” Thus were the ancient columns derived and named, among them the Egyptian papyrus, the Egyptian date-palm and the Persian animal of Iran, columns that predate the three classical Greek columns that were mentioned earlier. These Greek classical columns were also later followed by the Indian foliage and the Indian plain capital, architectural pillars that flourished in that country in 150 BC and 400 AD, respectively.

ADDITIONAL NOTES ON THE FIVE ORDERS OF ARCHITECUTRE

L. Sprague de Camp in his book “The Ancient Engineers” had this to say on the Doric and Ionic columns, applicable paragraphs of which are herein reprinted for the brethren’s information.
“The earlier Greek architects who invented the Greek classical architecture (in 800 BC) developed two styles of temple, distinguished mainly by the shape of the capitals at the tops of the columns. The Doric capital, much used on the Greek mainland, had a simple, bulging, cushion-shaped surface. The supreme example of the Doric Temple was the Parthenon. The Ionic column, first used in (the island of) Ionia, had a more ornate capital, with a pair of spiral ornaments on each side. These spirals, called volutes, are probably derived from some of the leafy forms that the Egyptians gave the tops of their columns. Each style of the temple had elaborate rules of proportion and detail. Doric columns, for instance, were supposed to be about eight diameters tall, while Ionic columns were nine times as tall as their diameter.” In so far as the Corinthian column is concerned, de Camp had this myth to narrate:

“A girl, a native of Corinth, already of age to be married, was attacked by disease and died. After he funeral, the goblets which delighted her when still living, were put together in a basket by her nurse, carried to the monument, and placed on the top. That they might remain longer, exposed to the weather, she covered the basket with a tile. As it happened, the basket was placed upon the root of an acanthus, being pressed down in the middle by the weight, put forth leaves and shoots. The shoots grew up the sides of the basket, and, being pressed down at the angles by the force of the weight of the tile, were compelled to form the curves of the volutes at the extreme parts. Then Calimachus, (famed Greek architect in 500 BC) who for the elegance and refinement of his marble carving was nicknamed “Cathacemus” (meaning artificial) by the Athenians, was passing the monument, perceived the basket and the young leaves growing up. Pleased with the novelty and style of the grouping, he made columns for the Corinthian on this model and fixed the proportions.

In actual fact, the Ionic capital evolved into the Corinthian by gradual stages, by the additions of more and more plant elements. In time, the ornate leafy splendor of the Corinthian diffused about the Greek world. Later, the Romans took it up and spread it from Spain to Lebanon; and men of the Renaissance, loving its showy intricacy, brought it down to the world today.”

In so far as the Roman columns are concerned, de Camp simply said that Rome’s contribution to civilization were its remarkable soldiers, statesmen, administrators, jurists and that the Romans expertise were on civil engineering, that of building roads, aqueducts and bridges, engineering feats that are more useful during conquests. It was no wonder that their architectural skills were of the Etruscan form (Rome’s northern neighbors) or were borrowed from conquered Greek architects who later assimilated their thoughts and ideas and who were later labeled as Hellenistic engineers, and after much intermingling of architectural engineering between its various citizens, consequently produced the plainer Tuscan and the complex and redesigned Composite Orders.
So now the brethren has a bird’s eye view of the five Orders of Architecture. This writer therefore now ends this article but not before acknowledging its source from where this article is greatly indebted, namely:

Mirriam Webster Dictionary, and
The Ancient Engineers by L. Sprague de Camp.

Thank you for taking your time reading this Masonic Education Lecture You’ve reach the bottom page anyway, haven’t you?!

THE THREE PILLARS OF THE LODGE

2005-07-29T01:23:00.000+08:00

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 symbolic or allegorical perspective.

THE THREE PILLARS INTERPRETED ON THE OPERATIVE STANDPOINT

We all know that Wisdom, Strength and Beauty are mandatory requirements in the erection of a building. On this, engineers will tell us that a structure should be well-designed, adequately planned and provided with all the required materials and labor to insure that the structure to be built has been well-conceived; that it should stand the tests and ravages of time; and that it should also be the admiration of every age. The Temple of King Solomon built in 1000 BC, fit these requirements, and constructed not in the classical form of the Greeks because Greek architecture flourished only starting at about 800 BC, but with the ingenuity and skills of the Chaldeans, the progenitors of the Phoenicians of ancient times Sadly, King Solomon’s Temple, so magnificent and constructed by celebrated Tyrian artists, was razed to the ground by King Nebuchadnezzar and his cohorts in 586 BC and whatever usable remnants they salvaged were carted away to Babylon and there utilized for their own glory and artistry.

THE THREE PILLARS VIEWED ON A SYMBOLIC PERSPECTIVE

Symbolically, the three pillars represent the three principal officers of a lodge in the same manner it is also called the three lights; and are represented by the Worshipful Master, the Senior and Junior Wardens whose combined tasks is to insure that the Lodge functions effectively.

While it is often said that the Master’s authority and prerogatives are almost absolute and dictatorial, in reality ancient traditions show that he does not govern alone. The services of his two Wardens are required in the effective governance of the lodge. It can be said therefore that it is only in a Masonic Lodge where teamwork and cooperation of all three officers are mandatory in its efficient administration as the symbolism of the pillars, otherwise called as columns, that are made to stand or lie down on the respective tables of the three lights show.

THE THREE MINIATURE COLUMNS (OR PILLARS) ON THE TABLES OF THE LIGHTS

In the Philippine Masonic jurisdiction, one of the set of furniture or emblems of the lodge whose symbolism is hardly given any attention are the pillars that adorn the tables of the three lights of the lodge. Quite often, it is noticed that the Wardens overlook raising or putting down their columns during recess or resumption of meetings. There are also instances when the Senior Warden raises his column even before the lodge is formally opened ignorant that he is not to raise his column until the lodge is formally opened. It is therefore necessary to pose the following questions.

Have the brethren ever noticed the following?

1. That only one pillar is in upright position when the Worshipful Master starts opening his lodge, and

2. That two pillars are in standing position after formal opening and until the lodge is formally closed; with the pillars of the Senior and Junior Wardens alternating during the time the lodge is in labor or in recess?

The hypothetical questions that now need to be answered are as follows:

1. At what precise time should the Master put his pillar in upright position? Note that nowhere in the monitor does it indicate when the Master’s pillar is to be put uprightly. What is its symbolism?

2. What is the symbolism of the Senior Warden’s putting his column in upright position immediately after the Master declares the lodge to be formally opened? Consequently. what is the meaning of the Junior Warden’s putting his column in upright position (and the Senior Warden simultaneously lowering his) when the lodge is in recess? and,
3. Why is the Junior Warden’s column raised during the second section of the third degree conferral?

And here’s another interesting side issue.
At Dagohoy Lodge No. 84 (and also at Mount Moriah Lodge No. 252 when the lion made a fraternal visit to that lodge) he noticed that the Worshipful Master does not have a column at his table. The apparent reason for this (although he did not ask) was that the monitor did not mention that the master has a column at his table! The aging lion could but wonder if this practice is also true in the other lodges outside of the metropolitan jurisdiction.

POSSIBLE ANSWERS TO THE ABOVE-MENTIONED QUESTIONS

This writer admits he has not seen any written document that will support his theories on the answers that he will profound below. At best his answers are solely his interpretations on the possible reasons why these are so. Other jurisdictions may have different rituals whose practices may not conform with what has been said and therefore their indulgence is earnestly requested. They are therefore encouraged to send in their own inputs if they have interpretations other that what are advanced by his writer as shown hereunder.

On Question No. 1

It would be interesting to know how other jurisdictions tackle this piece of ornament in the lodge but in the Philippine monitor, no mention whatever is made as to when the column of the Worshipful Master is raised or lowered. Could the reason be that the Master is bound by his oath always to be “on his toes” until the Master’s gavel is turned over to his successor? This could be an interesting food for thought and probably is an apt reply to the first question.

On a verifiable observation, Temples where several lodges hold meetings naturally gather together all the lodge paraphernalia after each meeting to allow others to assemble theirs when it is their turn to hold their meetings. On lodge rooms that are exclusively used by only one lodge, it would be interesting to know whether the column of the Worshipful Master is ever put in lying position after each meeting!!

On Question No. 2

One of the major fallacies that the incumbent lights fall into is to assume that when committees are formed, the Chairmen of the said committees are the ones directly responsible for the success or failure of the said committees. Take the Sunshine and Refreshment Committees, two committees that are ordinarily chaired by either the Senior Warden or Junior Warden, for example. Some contend that the respective chairmen of these committees are to be held directly accountable when things go awry and consequently deserves the credit when the affair is successful. Those who so believe forgot the simple dictum that while authority can be delegated by the Worshipful Master, responsibility can never be! Remember, the past master’s jewel is awarded to none but the Worshipful Master even if all the activities of the lodge were ably delegated to and performed by his subalterns. Stated bluntly, when the boat sinks, it is always the Captain who is drenched and sinks with the ship and let all the rats swim where they may!

Another clear example is the responsibility on conferrals. Many assume that the first degree conferral is the primary responsibility of the Junior Warden in the same manner the second degree conferral is the main burden of the Senior Warden.
This obviously is not the case. It is the belief of this writer that the Worshipful Master still has that distinct responsibility in seeing to it that the conferral is performed without hitches and that the role of either the Senior or Junior Warden during conferrals are merely procedural, and at best but a training grounds for higher responsibilities which ancient customs and practices dictate.

On Question No. 3

The answer to the final question then is “how come the pillar of the Junior Warden is in upright position during the second section of the third degree ritual when the lodge is not at refreshment?”

And the answer simply is:

But of course it should be so! The candidate, after all, was imitating the Grand Master Hiram Abif,
“whs dt i ws t cl # crf fm lb t rfs at hi twl, wch I # bt # glr % # da.

End of this article!

IN SEARCH OF THE GRAND MASTER HIRAM ABIFF

2005-06-26T13:13:00.000+08:00

One book that has recently attracted the interest of Freemasons and non-Masons alike who are curious about the Fraternity is a book titled "Hiram Key". The brief biographical sketches of the two co-authors say they are Freemasons, the first was allegedly raised in 1976 and the second ten years later, but they did not say where. They even named in the acknowledgement of their book a certain Reverend pastor (?), allegedly a past master of the Craft who, they claim, had been very supportive of their efforts in making their opus translated to reality.

On the whole, the book can be considered worthwhile reading, this despite the several questionable assertions, which, if not commented upon, can waylay the gullible and the unsuspecting who only read, but does not bother to "digest and discriminate." For the record, let this writer cite a few inconsistencies that the book has expounded- among them:

1. That the pillars Boaz and Jachin are explained in the first degree. In the Philippine Monitor those pillars were not mentioned in the first but in the second degree lecture.

2. On page 10 of the book, the authors explained that the left leg and the right breast were laid bare in the second-degree ritual. In the Philippine ritual the right breast being laid bare is correct but baring the left leg is wrong. The procedure is left leg to left breast in the first degree , or conversely right to right in the second degree. Unless of course, it is done differently in their jurisdiction.

3. On page 11, it says that "careful study of the Bible has found no mention of a middle chamber in King Solomon's Temple."

The copy of the Holy Bible that bears the imprimatur of the Catholic Church use the phrase "middle story" while the Berkeley Version that was placed by the Gideons used the phrase "middle side chambers." The Authorized King James Version, on the other hand, used by the Craft use the precise words "middle chamber". (These three versions will also be used as the biblical references on subsequent referrals of quotations.)

Which just about rebuts the authors' allegation that the middle chamber cannot be found in King Solomon's Temple.

4. The implements that the authors said were used by the ruffians were not as mentioned in the Philippine ritual. The book Hiram Key says that Jubela used a plumb rule, Jubelo a level, while Jubelum used a setting maul. Jubelum's use of the setting maul is correct, but then again, the other two implements were wrong.

5. On page 80 it mentioned Simeon and Levi killing someone but stated that the slain man was not identified. Because of this, the authors theorized that the slain man was Seqenenre Tao, the Egyptian monarch who ruled Egypt during the time of Joseph. Had the authors bothered to read the Holy Bible thoroughly, however, they would have found out that the slain man was duly identified; he was Schechem son of Hamor, the Hivite, who raped Dinah, the only daughter of Jacob.

6. The substitute for the ancient master's word that the authors revealed is a sentence which says:

Ma'at-neb-men-aa, Maat-ba-aa.

Which they translated to mean...

"Great is the established Master of Freemasonry, Great is the Spirit of Freemasonry".

Again, either the Craft in their jurisdiction applied different meanings to this delicate portion of the Craft's ritual or the authors joined a clandestine branch of the Fraternity!

The inconsistencies mentioned above may well be labeled as differences in rituals of various jurisdictions especially when it cannot be cross-referenced with the provisions of the Holy Bible, and not having copies of the rituals of the other jurisdictions, and therefore, cannot cross-check these with the monitors which they may have used, then these statements should be allowed to pass as questionable truths.

But the most controversial statement that deserves critical comment is the allegation that Hiram Abif is not mentioned in the Holy Bible!

And how would you, as a Freemason who had imitated the death of the Grand Master Hiram Abif, feel if you knew that the Grand Master did not exist? That he should be labeled in the Holy Bible as merely a man skilled in bronze work, etc., is perfectly understandable because the honor of being the builder during the ancient times is reserved solely for the kings although they did not actually planned and oversee their constructions, but to say that he did not exist at all is preposterous!

And so, this search for the Master Builder!

The first clue this writer found out, can be found in our third degree monitor where King Solomon said to Hiram of Tyre the following:

"My worthy brother of Tyre, your suggestion is both good and timely. When human strength and wisdom fails, there is yet strength in the lion of the tribe of Judah. Though the skin slips from the flesh and the flesh cleaves from the bones, there is yet strength in the lion of the tribe of Judah. With your assistance, I will raise the body by the strong grip of the lion's paw and the five points of fellowship, etc. etc.."

It turned out the lead was false. A dead man whose skin slips from the flesh and whose flesh cleaves from the bones can no longer possess the strength of a even a cub, much more a lion. The lion cannot therefore refer to Hiram Abif; nor can it refer to Hiram of Tyre because the latter is of Phoenician origin. Ergo, the title must refer to King Solomon. But how does one check this out?

The key is the phrase "lion of the tribe of Judah" (for a more detailed analysis on the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the reader is encouraged to open the Masonic Education page for a related article); but how does one analyze this?

The word Judah has two meanings. It can connote a place, or the name of a person. Judah, as a place, refers to the southern kingdom of the Jewish nation, the northern being Israel. The word was in turn derived from the name of the person who originally used it. Who then is Judah?

Judah is the son of Jacob who is in turn the son of Isaac, who, by like manner, is the son of Abraham. Which effectively makes Judah the great grandson of Abraham. But wait; the mention of four names in just one sentence can get complicated. Let's take them up one by one, the last-named explained first.

Abraham and Isaac can be found in the third degree lecture which says:

"It (meaning the temple of King Solomon) was located near Mount Moriah, near the place where Abraham was about to offer up his son, Isaac, and on the place where David met and appeased the destroying angel."

There you are! Abraham and Isaac were the first visitors of the place where the Temple is to be built. Jacob, on the other hand, is found in the first-degree monitor where the covering of a lodge is explained thus:

"The covering of a lodge is no less the clouded canopy or star-decked heaven where all good men hope at last to arrive, where Jacob in his vision saw, reaching from earth to heaven, the three principal rounds of which are denominated by Faith, Hope, etcetera."

So let's now get back to Judah.

Judah is the fourth of the thirteen children of Jacob, twelve boys and one girl, by four women, two of whom are sisters. This effectively explains why King Solomon is also fond of women, even his great, great, great (how many great, this writer could no longer figure out) grandfather was also fond of women, but let us not digress on the main topic.

The Book of Genesis says that Jacob sired the following from the following women.

A. From Leah
1. Reuben
2. Simeon
3. Levi
4. Judah
5. Isaachar
6. Zebulum

B. From Bilhah
7. Dan
8. Napthali

C. From Zilpah
9. Gad
10. Asher

D. From Rachel
11. Joseph
12. Benjamin

In addition, Leah also produced a girl named Dinah who was later raped by Schechem, a Hitite, but that's getting ahead of the story. Now, producing thirteen (13) children may not be considered an accomplishment in itself, but the number thirteen is intriguing.

The Holy Bible says that as a bachelor Jacob left Isaac and went to the tribe of his uncle, Laban. There he was enamored with Rachel, the younger daughter of Laban and forthwith served his uncle for seven years to enable him marry her. But at bedtime, Laban switched Leah for Rachel and as Jacob was already drunk, went into her. The next morning, Jacob was of course angry but could not do anything as marrying the elder is the custom of the place. Ruefully, he served Laban for another seven years just so he could marry Rachel.

But Rachel could not bear children while Leah was propagating her fair share. In succession, she bore Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah, rested for a while, and later again bore Isaachar and Zebulum.

Incensed at the anomalous situation, Rachel willingly allowed her maid, Bilhah to be impregnated by Jacob so that she could treat the offspring that would ensue as if it were her child. As a faithful servant and also because of sexual needs, Bilhah was cooperative and bore Dan and Napthali.

Leah would not be denied. She also allowed her maid Zilpah to be impregnated by Jacob who likewise bore two sons, Gad and Asher. And to further complicate the already complicated merry-go-round, Rachel also later bore two children, Joseph and Benjamin. Which just about tells us not to lose hope, because if Rachel did lose hope in bearing a child, then Joseph would not have been born, and if his birth did not materialize, who would become the Vizer of all Egypt who would later rescue the clan from famine in the ancient land of Ur?

And why is the narration of the children of Judah necessary in the search of the Grand Master Hiram Abif?

Well, because the tribes of Dan and Napthali were specifically mentioned in the building of King Solomon's Temple. Specifically, the workman who is skilled in brass came from one of these two tribes, depending on what book you are referring to. And to insure that there is no confusion, three versions of the Holy Bible (namely, the Catholic edition, the

King James Version and the Berkeley edition) are mentioned hereunder: Let's now refer to the Holy Book.

1 Kings, 7, 13-14

Berkeley Edition - Then King Solomon had Hiram brought out from Tyre. He was the son of a widow of the tribe of Napthali, his father had been a Tyrian bronze worker. His father was intelligent, talented, and talented in skilled in all types of bronze work.
King James Version - And King Solomon sent and fetched Hiram out of Tyre. He was a widow's son of the tribe of Napthali and his father was a man from Tyre, a worker in bronze and he was filled with wisdom and understanding and cunning to work all works in brass. And he came to King Solomon and wrought all his work.

Catholic Edition - King Solomon had Hiram brought from Tyre. He was a bronze worker, the son of a widow from the tribe of Napthali; his father had been from Tyre. He was endowed with skill, understanding and knowledge of how to produce any work in bronze.

2 Chronicles 2, 13

Berkeley Edition - So now I will send a master craftsman, my famed Huram, skilled in understanding- the son of a woman from the people of Dan, whose father was a man from Tyre- expert at working in gold, silver, copper, iron and stone; . . .

King James Version - And now I have sent a cunning man, endued with understanding, of Huram my father's, the son of a woman from the daughters of Dan, and his father was a man of Tyre, skillful to work in gold, in silver, in brass, in iron, in stone, . . . .

Catholic Edition - I am now sending you a craftsman of great skill, Huram-Abi, son of a Danite woman and of a father from Tyre; he knows how to work with gold, silver, bronze and iron. . .

From the two books above-mentioned, the architect who is skilled in the work of brass either has the name Hiram . . . from the tribe of Napthali, or Huram . . . from the tribe of Dan. But the Catholic Edition has added a suffix on the name Huram, and that is Abi!!

And what does this amount to? Simply this!

In one of the Scottish Rite degrees (this writer will not say which so that the reader may be encouraged to get back at the Scottish Rite teachings if he has already received them, or join the Scottish Rite if he hasn't done so yet), part of the topic of which states:

"The name of the Master who is known to you as Hiram Abif is connected with the same symbol. Abif is not a part of his name, not a correct rendering of the Hebrew word which is "Abiu", his father. Ab and Abi means father, master, instructor. Nor is the word Hiram. For in the Book of Kings, Khairom or Khairum, and in the Book of Chronicles, Khurum; and Khurum in the Phoenician language means "the sun.".

How again was the word Hiram changed to Khairom and Huram to Khurum is beyond this writer's imagination. Phonetics and ancient pronunciations, after all, are now beyond the scope of this short article.

End of the search. The GMHA, did exist after all!!

THE TWIN PILLARS NAMED BOAZ AND JACHIN

2005-06-25T10:06:00.000+08:00

Of the lectures of the three different degrees of Blue Masonry, the most beautiful and the most succinct can be found in the 2nd degree monitor. It tells us of the winding stairs consisting of three, five and seven steps, and also gives us a glimpse of how both the Operative and Speculative masons form the core of the membership of Fraternity.
This article will not touch on the coded portions of the second-degree lecture of the Craft but will only delve on the teachings that are decoded and which can readily be understood even by the cowans and eavesdroppers and the new members of the Fraternity. And while the coded portions will be copied verbatim to preserve its mystic, the explanations will, in so far as practicable, be laid out in pure and simple form. Take for instance, “Shiboleth”, that word that was subjected to a previous article.
This article will still probe the second-degree lecture but will also touch topics that hardly ever merited serious attention- the various pillars that were mentioned as follows:
1. The two pillars named Boaz and Jachin that greets the candidate when he re-enters the lodge room during the second section of his passing;
2. The three pillars of the Lodge that the three lights represent in the discourse of the first three steps of the Winding Stairs; and
3. The pillars, also known as columns, that are explained in the lecture of the five steps of the Winding Stairs lecture which comprise the five orders of architecture.
Let’s take Item 1 first.
THE TWO PILLARS MENTIONED IN THE HOLY BIBLE
The two pillars named Boaz and Jachin that greeted the candidate upon his return to the lodge on the second section of the fellowcraft degree conferral have biblical basis and were mentioned at length in 2 Chronicles 3:15-17 and, depending on the reader’s preference on what version of the Holy Bible to use, said the following:
King James Version
“Also he made before the house two pillars of thirty and five cubits high, and the chapiters that was on top of each of them was five cubits. And he made chains as in the oracle, and put them on the heads of the pillars; and made a hundred pomegranates, and put them on the chains. And he reared up the pillars before the temple, one on the right hand, and the other on the left; and called the name of the one on the right hand Jachin, and the name of that on the left Boaz.
Catholic Edition
“In front of the building he set two columns thirty five cubits high, the capital topping each was five cubits. He worked out chains in the form of a collar with which he encircled the capitals of the columns, and he made a hundred pomegranates which he set on the chains. He set up the columns to correspond with the nave, one for the right side and the other for the left and he called the one to the right Jachin and the one to the left Boaz.”
Berkeley Edition
Finally, in front of the house he set up two pillars, 52 feet high, each crowned with a 7 ½ foot capital. He made chains in the inner room to put on top of the pillars, fashioning also 100 pomegranates, which he attached to the chains. Thus he erected the pillars in front of the temple one at the right and one at the left, naming the former Jachin and the latter Boaz.”
Note that save for the interchange of the words chapiters with capitals, the use of chains instead of networks, and Berkeley’s Edition use of feet instead of cubits, all three versions are in harmony and are basically in agreement with the wordings and phrases that were used in the second-degree coded monitor.
These two pillars, incidentally, were also mentioned in 1 Kings 7:15-22 and except for slight deviations as to measurements (it mentioned 18 cubits and 27 feet for the Berkley Edition or roughly half the measurements mentioned in 2 Chronicles) it also narrated practically the same thing, and that is, it was made of brass, had chains (or network), had chapiters (or capitals) and also had pomegranates that adorned those pillars.
THE PUZZLE
But what caught this undivided writer’s attention hence subjected to critical review is the coded portion of the monitor which states thus:
Ths chapiters wr srmntd b pommls a bls rprsntg glbs.”
and was followed by a lengthy explanation which says:
“Their principal use, besides serving as maps to distinguish the outward parts of the earth and the situation of the fixed stars, is to illustrate and explain the phenomena arising from the annual revolution of the earth around the sun, and its diurnal rotation upon its own axis. They are valuable instruments for improving the mind and giving it the most distinct idea of any given problem of proposition, as well as for enabling it to solve the same. Contemplating these bodies, we are inspired with due reverence for the Deity and His works, and are induced to encourage the study of astronomy, geography, navigation and the arts dependent upon them, by which society has been so much benefited.” (italics supplied).
The above-mentioned explanations were deemed intriguing because while the word pommels were indeed mentioned in 2 Chronicles 4: 12, as “on top of the two pillars”, no mention whatsoever as to their uses was ever made, and following the dictum of not adding or subtracting anything from the Holy Scriptures, then the purpose of the pillars in front of the temple would appear to serve mainly as decoration. Could it be then, that our ancient brethren “cooked up” the astronomical relevance of the lecture?!
And so the search for clues to validate our ancient brethren’ assertions in the second degree monitor.
THE TWIN PILLARS AS INTERPRETED BY THE AUTHORS OF HIRAM KEY
Christopher Knight and Robert Lomas, authors of “Hiram Key” and the “Second Messiah”, postulated that the twin pillars which King Solomon ordered Hiram Abiff to construct in front of the temple represents Misphat which roughly translates to Judgment for Boaz, and Tsedeq or Teacher of Righteousness for Jachin. They alleged that these two pillars when joined together by the word Shalom, represents the rule of Yahweh in establishing the moral order of government on earth. Incidentally, this theory basically conforms to the pronouncement made in the second degree monitor that the two pillars when joined together meant what God promised to David when the lecturer said: “in strength will I establish this mansion house and kingdom forever.”
But this writer, not being familiar with the exact meanings or translations of the words Misphat, Tsedeq, Boaz and Jachin, would rather just leave these assertions to the said authors. Suffice it to say that the Bible said that Boaz is the great grandfather of David while Jachin is a name of one of the sons of Simeon, the eldest son of Jacob. What correlation these names have to the pillars of King Solomon, if any, this writer really does not know.
THE TWIN PILLARS IN THE EYES OF SECHARIA ZITCHIN
Zecharia Zitchin, author of “The Earth’s Chronicles“ whose sources were based on ancient Sumerian tablets that allegedly predates the Holy Bible, theorized that the twin pillars had astronomical relevance. These two pillars, he said, were similar to the devices called “obelisks” in ancient Egypt designed by the builders of the pyramids to determine the equinoctial or solstitial positions of the sun and had for its forerunner the tools and implements of Sumerian astronomy, the basis for the determination of the world’s calendar. Zitchin also claimed in his other book “The Lost Realms” that even at the other side of the globe in Ecuador, two similar pillars also adorn its temples which he claims was also erected for stargazing studies.
Verily therefore, Zitchin’s theories conform to our ancient brethren’s pronouncements that the pillars built by King Solomon on the porch fronting the Temple were indispensable tools for astronomical, geographical and navigational functions.
THE FATE OF THE TWIN PILLARS AS NARRATED IN THE HOLY BIBLE
The question that should now concern the reader before this article ends is: “whatever happened to these twin pillars that were erected by King Solomon” as the second-degree monitor suddenly dropped this issue as if it were a hot potato!!
Well, the answer can be found in the Book of Jeremiah that narrated the destruction of the kingdom of Judah when it was over run by King Nebuchadnezar in 586 BC. In this book (Jm 53: 17-18), it said:.
“The bronze pillars that belonged to the House of the Lord, and the wheeled carts and the bronze sea in the House of the Lord, the Chaldeans broke into pieces; they carried away all the bronze to Babylon.”
The twin pillars therefore, had been cast to oblivion but not before similar representations of which may be viewed in most modern-day Masonic Temples, (readers can easily see these either in front of the doorway of the old but now destroyed Masonic Temple at San Marcelino St., and another at the doorway of the new Grand Lodge of the Philippines temple at General Luna St.), and made available for the present and future generations of Masons to remember and behold.

SHIBBOLETH

2005-06-24T17:12:00.000+08:00

Talk about the lecture of the fellowcraft degree and you are instantly reminded of the winding stairs consisting of three, five and seven steps. Those who have had the opportunity of performing the role of the Senior Deacon in the second section of the conferral of this degree will readily say it is one of the most beautiful teachings of the Craft. In it the three pillars consisting of Wisdom, Strength and Beauty are succinctly explained as are the five orders of Architecture comprising the Tuscan, the Doric, the Ionic, the Corinthian and the Composite. So are the seven liberal arts and sciences which, although no longer explained in detail, are actually grouped into the trivium which is composed of Grammar, Rhetoric and Logic; and the quadrivium- that comprise the analytical fields of Arithmetic, Geometry, Music and Astronomy.
Browsing back at the opening paragraphs before the winding stairs were recited, the candidate is told that our ancient brethren already knew that the world is round, that it revolves around the sun and that it also rotates in diurnal rotation upon its own axis. How amusing that the Roman Church only lifted the excommunication of Galileo in the middle of the 20th century for declaring that the world is round some four hundred years before!
But this article is not about the winding stairs nor of the sphericity of planet earth as this was already known to the ancient Egyptians from whom Julius Caesar borrowed and had decreed the use of the Julian Calendar which is now indelibly enshrined in our everyday life. He, after all, officially promulgated the world’s calendar as consisting of 365 days for three successive years and adding another day on the fourth by calling it a leap year.
Of course, the Julian Calendar was not precisely accurate! Exact calculations reveal that the earth takes a complete turn around the sun in exactly 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds and is therefore 11 minutes and 14 seconds short of the Julian calendar. For the time being however, this discrepancy will be shelved temporarily and the commentary set for a later date in favor of the topic that will be discussed below.
For the purpose of this article, there is another lesson in the lecture of the fellowcraft degree, the impact of the lecture on the winding stairs of which has apparently been relegated to mediocrity and oblivion. It is the unique role played by Jephthah, judge of Israel, and how the word “Shibboleth” was adopted as a password in gaining admission to every regular lodge of fellowcraft masons.
The Book of Judges of the Holy Bible tells us that Jephthah is the great, great grandson of Joseph (genealogy starts with Joseph, brother of Judah, and is followed by Mannaseh, Machir, Gilead and Jephthah) and the son of Gilead by a harlot. At the death of Gilead, Jephthah was driven away by his elder brothers to disinherit him from the estate that his deceased father left behind. Taking residence in the land of Tob, he was joined by other brigands and there prospered. After some time, the Ammonites (the descendants of Lot of Sodom and Gommorah) warred upon the sub-tribe of Mannaseh of the tribe of Joseph that include the Gileadites. The elders of Gilead therefore, convinced Jephthah to return and lead them in battle with the promise that he will be made chieftain should they win, which Jephthah accepted and did.
The other sub-tribe of Joseph named the Ephraimites (descendants of Ephraim, the younger brother of Mannaseh), however, incensed at not being called to fight and share in the rich spoils of the Ammonitish war, assembled its army and crossed the river Jordan to give Jephthah battle but were soundly defeated by the Gileadites under Jephthah’s able leadership.
But this is not the end of the story. Jephthah, aware that the Ephraimites will still attempt to cross the river Jordan by sending their own spies, stationed guards at the fords of the river with the specific instructions that should any stranger pass by that way, he should demand of him to pronounce the word “Shibboleth" which resulted in the death of so many Ephraimites, and here now lies the perplexing situation.
Our second-degree monitor said that the Ephraimites are of a different tribe and consequently could not pronounce the word aright, but biblical narration does not support this allegation. Mannaseh and Ephraim are the two sons of Joseph who became the vizier of Egypt and therefore belonged to the same tribe. Likewise, the lapse of only five generations (from Joseph to Jephthah- see Numbers, Chapter 36) could not possibly drastically change intonation of dialects and/or languages as development of phonetics usually takes aeons and therefore could not support this conclusion. Also, it is doubtful if four generations of Ephraimites can produce a sub-tribe consisting of forty thousand five hundred able-bodied men of twenty years and above as Chapter 1 of the Book of Numbers also show.
Which now favors the theory that the twelve tribes of Israel did not actually come from only the genealogy of the twelve children of Jacob but are in reality tribes that already existed when the children of Israel left Egypt. If it ever did, the genealogy must have involved more than five generations and that they were joined by other leaderless Israelites that automatically created a peculiar phonetic accent and intonation among the different tribes. Under this hypothesis, the descendants coming from the children of Jacob became the automatic leaders of these tribes because they were the Israelites who were able to gain positions of leadership during Joseph’s incumbency as vizier in Egypt and had retained this influence when they left Egypt for the promised land.
Let this writer now offer a hypothesis based on a local setting (with due apologies to our brother Kapampangans, of course!) .
Imagine the Israelites as Malays who migrated from Borneo to the Philippines in the early tenth century. The tribe of Joseph from which both the Ephraimites and the Mannasites (which include the Gileadites) belong were allotted to occupy Central Luzon and with the tribe of Ephraim settling in the Pampanga area while the Gileadites settled in the Bulacan area. The boundary that separated the two sub-tribes was the Apalit-Calumpit river. After the passage of time, the Kapampangans (nee Ephraimites), while still retaining most of the words in the vernacular, have lost the “h” in their pronunciation, thus the English word “house” is pronounced “ba’ay”, while the Gileadites (nee Bulakeños) have still retained theirs and thus pronounce it as “bahay.”
This was already the case when the Ammonitish war erupted and later, when the Ephraimites were soundly defeated by the Gileadites as narrated earlier, Jephthah ordered his guards that were stationed at the fords of the Calumpit-Apalit river, that should any stranger pass by that way, then he should demand of him to pronounce the word “bahay”. Which, of course, could not be pronounced correctly by the Kapampangans as reasonably the word will be pronounced with the letter “h” lost in the pronunciation. .
With due cognizance also to our Filipino and other brethren who have already settled in the land of the brave and the home of the free and therefore may no longer be familiar with local regional dialects and intonations, perhaps they can also coin a parallel analogy, a situation similar to what has already been described and which it is hoped can roughly be found somewhere at the opposite banks of the imaginary Dixie lines of the American river.
And so ends this short article for the day!!

THE LION’S SENTRA TAKES ON A NEW OWNER

2005-06-20T19:50:00.000+08:00

The first object that greeted the lion’s view upon reaching their residence on the evening of April 22, Friday, was his dirty-white 1989 Nissan Sentra that was parked outside of their garage. While still at his den in Guindulman, his youngest cub informed him that last December, he decided to push it outside of the garage since his best friend entrusted to him the latter’s late-modeled car prior to vacationing at the States, and fearful that it might be car-napped if parked outside the gate, decided to have his friend’s car parked inside and the immobilized Sentra parked outside instead.

The lion’s heart sunk. His now-dilapidated car, bought for P200,000 in 1992, the biggest single cash purchase he and his tamer bought in their entire lifetime, was now a sorry sight. Left to the elements, it is now rusty and the once regal car that the lion meticulously maintained in tip-top condition for ten whole years prior to their transfer to Bohol was now headed for the junkyard, He earlier learned also that a neighbor wanted to buy it for a measly P5,000 since anyway, she said, it is now no more than a scrap..

The next day when his youngest cub returned home from his Call Center office , the lion was told that another neighbor also wanted to buy the car but did not name the price, making the lion just shake his head in despair.

Two days later, he went to a repair shop owned by Bro. James Macarilay, a brother from Juan Sumulong Lodge No. 169 whom he had guided through the conferral of degrees before he transferred residence to Bohol and told him about the car. The lion’s request was to the point; he wanted the said brother to tow the car to his garage, have it fixed and put it back in tip-top condition, sell it and from whatever proceeds, deduct his expenses and a reasonable amount of profit, and if there is still something left, would be glad if the lion can still get something out of it. But the most important thing is to have it towed as it might be inadvertently hauled by the MMDA where VW Philmore Balmaceda reigns and it would indeed be a source of shame to the aging lion if this awkward possibility happens.

Bro. James had a better suggestion. He said he will arrange that the car be towed to his repair shop, have it body-lifted for the needed repair estimate and once done, would give the lion his best offer for the car. The lion, much like the refrain in the third-degree conferral could only say “Agreed.”

The next day, Bro James was at the house accompanied by his wife and offered to buy the car “as is” for P25,000, which made the lion remark, are you sure you will not lose from the deal? Both James and his wife were categorical in saying “No!” The profit may not be as big as in other transactions, but who would not help a brother who has had a very good influence in his joining the Craft?! Some three years back, the lion guided him and Bro. Jun de la Vega in the conferral of the three degrees where the two would often be at the lion’s residence at Project 8 patiently being taught to memorize the coded monitor while munching the Dunkin donuts that they brought along with them.

But the car’s Certificate of Cover (COC) and the Official Receipt were nowhere to be found and so the attendant dilemma. How does the lion proceed?

Bro James asked where the lion usually pays the annual registration fees and on learning that the latter does it at LTO Caloocan said that it would not be a problem; the LTO Registrar is a brother. Posthaste, the lion copied the number printed in the LTO sticker and promptly went to LTO Caloocan and there found out the registrar is named Rodolfo Panganiban, past master of Hiram Lodge No. 88. There also, he met Bro.Diosdado Meligrito of Labong Lodge No. 59 and another brother surnamed Gualberto from Cavite Lodge No. 2; and while sipping coffee together, a secretary attended to the papers and in about an hour’s time, WB Panganiban handed it over to the lion and forthwith scribbled a short to the LTO Registrar (a lady whose name the lion forgot) at Sta. Mesa where the new Certificate of Cover needs to be issued, but not after giving the lion a calling card saying he does not expect a problem on the issuance of the COC but that the lion should not fail to call just in case.

As expected the lady was very accommodating and the COC was promptly re-issued without the lion getting himself entangled into the messy red-tape, whereupon the lion handed it later to Bro. James and the check for P25,000 collected, after signing the required papers.

The transaction on the Nissan Sentra would have ended right there, except that during the May 28 stated meeting of Juan Sumulong Lodge No. 169,the lion again met Bro. James who said: “Kuya, I’m no longer selling your car. I already had it repaired and brought to serviceable condition and I intend to use it in going to and from my work at Bicutan, in lieu of my late-modeled CRV” where he daily reports as a member of the PNP.

And what can the brethren learn from this short article? But can’t you see? The unseen hands of the mystic Craft enabled the aging lion to consummate the transaction through the help of two fraternal brothers with nary a sweat at all!

ZARSUELA, PHILIPPINE STYLE

2005-06-20T19:48:00.000+08:00

The circus has now begun. What started as an earth-shaking bombshell has just converted itself either into a soap opera or a comic strip, depending on whether the reader is a romanticist or a philosopher. Consider these.

1. Imagine news in the Philippines are being emailed by brothers based in Haiti (WB Bong Fajardo), Hawaii (Bro. Angel Abellada) and at the American Samoa (WB Dave Dacanay) chronicling the news as shown in Item 2 below.

2. The national paper “Philippine Star” dated June 16 and written by Jaime Laude and Non Alquitran has an article titled “Ong kicked out of Seminary for being a Mason?”. It added that Bishop Bacani (yeah, the bishop accused of sexual harassment earlier) was quoted he was not ready to give up Ong and asked Gen. Art Lomibao of Ong’s safety should the Church decide to hand him over to the police. Lomibao allegedly assured Bacani of Ong’s safety and that the latter will be accorded due process.

The apparent twist here is that the Church apparently lost interest in Ong’s crusade not because he violated certain house rules at the seminary but because he is a Mason, and would therefore hand him over to his would-be captors that is headed by General Lomibao, another Mason.

3. The complaint against Sammy Ong, widely-circulated as a serious case of wire-tapping no different from the Watergate scandal that caused the downfall of Richard Nixon has simmered down into plain “inciting to sedition and rebellion”. Apparently, the planned wire-tapping complaint had to be discarded as the bright lawyers of Samuel Ong may succeed in compelling the alleged wire-tapped victims to appear before the courts and there expose their dastardly acts wide into the open.

4. Ong’s alleged crime is wire-tapping because he admitted that he has in his possession the mother of all tapes and that he has distributed three others (probably having different contents) to three other persons, one of whom is a “worthy brother”. Since Ong is not the wire-tapper but a certain Sgt. Noble and since Noble is but a pawn in the military hierarchy, is it not logical that he must have received orders from a military officer of the ISAF who is of higher rank, probably its chief?! Then who is he and why is he not being brought to the limelight?!

5. Where did Secretary Bunyi got his copy of the tapes? Not from Ong, most reasonably. Then from whom? And why is he also not being brought to the public’s view?

6. The alleged wire-tapped victim’s refusal to dignify answering a question answerable with a simple yes or no can be likened to a wife whose husband caught her naked in bed and with a male jumping out of the window. The husband, later demanding from her what the hell is happening, simply replied “I don’t want to answer that absurd and irresponsible question. I’d rather be busy cooking your food and you better forget whatever you saw!

7. The church has apparently lost interest in Ong’s crusade; all because he is a Mason. That old yarn about Masons existing with the sole purpose of destroying the Roman Church holds magic. Now, you who are deprived of the holy communion out there in the fringes of Mindanao, please take note.

8. Either the PNP is completely inutile or that it purposely allowed Sammy Ong to disappear, are logical possibilities. Imagine cordoning the seminary with throngs of PNP personnel in full battle gear out to catch one man, and closely watching the gates only to lose him completely.

9. But it would be safer for Ong’s health that he submits himself to Gen. Lumibao. His life would be in lesser danger if compared to the present situation that he has allegedly disappeared because under the present circumstances, he can easily be shot and be pronounced as dead..

The reason Andres Bonifacio was assassinated at Mount Buntis was because General Paua disobeyed General Aguinaldo’s orders while the Spanish Governor General, a Mason , who in command in the Philippines was recalled to Spain, thus compelling Jose Rizal to apply as a doctor bound for Cuba. But it was too late, Jose Rizal, on board the ship, was ordered to disembark by the new Governor General and in Manila tried for treason. On December 30, shot at the Bagumbayan.

Would Gen. Lomibao then allow that Sammy Ong’s death tarnish his uniform and his ties with the Craft? The lion thinks not.

Ho, ho, hum!!

Leon

DID THE GM USE THE DPWH TROWEL?

2005-06-20T19:46:00.000+08:00

Brethren:
The aging lion cherish a unique philosophy that for every bad that goes his way, there is also a corresponding good side that accompanies it. Let him now tell you of this unique story.
Although limping uncomfortably when he returned to his den on Wednesday, June 8, he was pleasantly surprised to personally see for himself the newly-paved road fronting their gate. Five days back, or last June 3, Friday, the lion tamer received a text message from her cousin who informed her that the road that traversed the poblacion of Guindulman town was already being cemented to the surprise of the residents. Not that they were not expecting it to happen, for the road construction had already been delayed unduly, but sudden realization of things that had already started to cool down during the ordinary course of events always trigger surprises.
Let the lion now give you a brief flashback of what he did relative to this cementing project of the DPWH.
Last March 5, the lion sent an email to MW Reynold S. Fajardo, PGM, GMH, the contents of which is shown below which the readers will find self-explanatory.
-----
MW Reynold S. Fajardo, PGM
Grand Secretary
Grand Lodge of the Philippines
Subject: REQUEST TO RELAY SPECIAL MESSAGE TO R. W. H. EBDANE, JR.
MW Sir:
The island of Bohol is undergoing a massive road construction project that involves about 90 kilometers of cementing the previously asphalted road from Tagbilaran City to Candijay town and when completed will encircle this famous island into a well-paved road ideal for tourists.
Of the ninety kilometers, approximately one half is being constructed by Hanjin Corporation, a Korean firm, and the other half is being done by C. M. Pancho Construction Corp. , a local construction company.
The project started last March 2004 and if the billboard is to be relied upon, will last a full two years to complete. The first year therefore has just expired.
While Hanjin has already completed about 25 kilometers of cementing and has also undergone the process of preparing the rest of their job to be done for the needed cementing work, which, from the public’s viewpoint appears that this company is on track, this is not so in the case of C. M. Pancho Corp. for to-date, not a single kilometer has been paved with cement. Many reasons have been advanced, but the most visible culprit is that there is no equipment available that will consummate the actual cementing of the road.
From a supposed scheduled cementing that would have started last July yet, the residents have been periodically advised of monthly postponements and now it is rumored that the actual start is again being postponed to this May.
It is also said that the local Engineering office and even Governor Erico Aumentado have already poked their fingers on this project but, but hopelessly, the residents still have to see when the actual cementing will take place.
The undersigned has earlier thought of sending an email to VW Juanito P. Abergas, Regional Director of DPWH but at this juncture, it would appear he would also have no clout to have this dilemma pushed to its realization.
With your easy access to RW Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr. therefore, this humble representation trusts your good self may be able to bring this problem to his attention hopefully to do something about this hapless predicament. He has been on the job almost a month now and probably he can assign one of his trusted staff to look into this matter.
This request to relay this problem to our brother who is now the incumbent Secretary of Public Works is being sent because for more than six months already, the populace are reeling from the dust that daily engulfs the community because of the undue delay of the cementing of the road that should have been done much earlier. This predicament has already resulted in the serious coughing of the residents and if not contained, will surely result in the deterioration of their health. A likely result that will happen here which can further complicate the problem is that the construction company may withdraw from the project later without being able to do the job thus further confounding the problem.
The undersigned is emboldened to course this request through your good self as he has no way of conveying this problem to RW Jun Ebdane.
With my kindest fraternal regards!
Bro. GEMINIANO V. GALAROSA, JR.
Dagohoy Lodge No. 84

The hands of time merrily ticked away but no feedback relative to the said email was received. Then the ANCOM at Tagaytay, but the lion could not grab the opportunity to have an audience with the newly-installed Grandmaster. Then, May 19, Thursday, came and learning that the GM was scheduled to go to the Grand Lodge prior to attending a courtesy call to the officers of the Manila Bulletin, the lion also rushed to the Grand Lodge to present a copy of his previous email to the Grandmaster. But the GM, as busy as he was, had to proceed direct to the Bulletin’s office and skipped passing by the GL’s office to the consternation of the aging lion.
Still undaunted, he asked Elo Murillo and was informed that the schedule of the GM to visit the office is every Wednesday of the week. So on May 25, he again went to the Grand Lodge to personally hand over the printed email to the GM only to be told that the GM was already headed for Olongapo and will pass by the office later, what time, she does not know. Faced with the dilemma of not being able to personally meet the GM, he handed over the printed mail to Elo with the specific request that she personally hand it over to the former should he return to the office. Elo assured the lion that she will, and nine days later, the text message of the lion tamer’s cousin that was mentioned earlier was received to the mild surprise of both the lion and his tamer.
The question that the lion tamer posed to her pet was what possible order (or command) did the GM made to his subalterns to effect a sudden and decisive action, or if he did act on the lion’s text message, especially because the townsfolk were told that the actual cementing will start at Duero and not at Guindulman. Or did the wheels of time just solved itself without prodding from human minds?
As of this writing, which is a full seven days since the cementing started that completed the cementing work of one half of the town’s road (the other half will be done about one month after the first half has hardened) thus alleviating the misery of the residents having to inhale the obnoxious dust that hovers the horizon every time motor vehicles pass by. The cementing equipment that was used by CM Pancho has already been transferred to Duero town for the needed work to be done there, which the lion was made to understand was the staring point of the road construction in the first place. How come the start was made at Guindulman instead of at the former, the gossip-vine of the town’s idle residents could not figure out how the heck it ever happened.
But why should the lion care. What is important is that the road, finally, is being cemented and that is all that mattered.

2005-01-19T08:59:00.000+08:00

PRUNING THE LION’S MAILING LIST

Over the last five years since the Grand Lodge Website was introduced in the pages of the Internet, the lion periodically wrote articles for general readership. This opportunity can well be considered similar to the message contained in a juvenile poetic verse that says:

“I shot an arrow into the air,
It fell to earth I knew not where.”

But what started it all was an entry that he made in the Guestbook of then fledgling Website that elicited from the organizers an offer that he join the core group of the Computer Resource Committee (or CRC)..

That group comprised VW Gene V. Sicat as Grand Webmaster who is based in Toronto, Canada; RW Rosauro “Boy” Rosales as GLP List Administrator who resides in New Jersey; Bro. Aquilino “Pong” Javier as US/Canada Web Editor based in Chicago; Bro. Rommel Cardinoza, GLP Asst. List Administrator based in Pangasinan; VW Benny Ty- Coordinator, Liason Officer based in Manila; and the lion as Contributing Editor for the Philippines at nearby Quezon City. Still much later, Bro. Nic Valmoria was added as Asst. Grand Webmaster whose residence was not, however, mentioned. Except for VW Benny, the lion has not had the opportunity of personally meeting the other members of this body.

In fine, the lion started submitting articles, among them, the Brief History of Freemasonry in the Philippines; A Filipino’s Commentary of the Known Origins of Freemasonry and its Impact in the Philippines; Charity, the Loftiest Virtue of All; Famous Filipino Masons and several others. At the suggestion of VW Gene, it also led to the creation of the “Inside the Lodge” and “Special Features” pages. And to add prestige to the Website, the assistance of MW Reynold S. Fajardo, PGM, was solicited, the lion’s mentor and the country’s foremost Masonic historian who gladly lent the lion the draft of an unpublished book that served as a veritable cache of articles that ultimately found its pages in this wonderful world we all call Internet.

Meanwhile the Glphils@yahoogroups.com was also established by RW “Boy” Rosales offering wider circulation and exposure of the materials that were being posted. The target subscribers involved those who do not have time to regularly surf the Net and so communications are achieved through direct mails. It also served as venue for dissemination of articles, queries of brethren and exchange of ideas and thus assured faster communications and wider coverage. The only trouble is, its impact can not effectively be gauged because reactions to articles are hardly, if ever, received.

The readers of the lion’s articles can be grouped in two- those who receive theirs through his personal address book that he has managed to keep through the years, and those that are listed at the Glphils@yahoogroups.com the number of which keep on increasing but whether what were received are being read is pretty hard to tell.

Lately, the management of the Internet Committee was transferred from the core group to the Grand Lodge under care and watchful eye of Bro. Edward See of Dalisay Lodge No. 14 While the Computer Resource Committee was not officially disbanded, it became apparent that for all intents and purposes, it has become inactive.

Unsure of his status in the Committee and not wanting to stir a hornet’s nest, the lion resolved to continue writing but this time, with the end view of having limited but more or less determinable readership. For what good is sending articles to brethren if it only serves as SPAM mails only to be deleted?! This, he reckoned should ideally be done during the ensuing year.

And so the obvious move was to request confirmation from brethren who periodically receive articles from the Internet. Clearly stated, non-receipt of confirmation will be interpreted as lack of interest and therefore will no longer be included in the revised mailing list after the previous year has ended.

The resultant confirmations of the request are revealing: Of those listed in his personal address book, 27 have signified interest and from the Glphils@yahoogroups.com 18 said they would want to periodically receive these mails. From this number, three more were added to accommodate the three lights of a lodge where the lion holds honorary membership totaling the interested readers to 48. A few are still trickling in.

But what the lion considers of special interest are the places of abodes of those who signified. Of the total number, six are based in the United States while eight were scattered over various places in the entire globe reaching as far as Canada, Diego Garcia, Guam and the American Samoa. Six are Senior DeMolays and those that can be traced to local sources are scattered all over the archipelago, making the recipients of these mails as truly scattered all over the country. One is a Grand Light, two are members of the Grand Lodge of Hawaii, and another is a non-Mason whose late father and still-living father-in-law are both members of the Craft. He has also already signified to attend the one-day-conferral in the States but was dissuaded to do so by the lion as the latter felt it would not be for his best interests that he join the Craft that way.

The resultant trimming of the list has chopped off several important names. Some of the brethren whom the lion thought (translate in local parlance to “akala”) were close to him, were erased. Ever heard of that local word to mean “you’re right?!” Lahat ng akala, mali’. (In England, it means “all thoughts are wrong!”) Well, except for one, and that is when you say: “Ay, akala ko, mali”. But that is only because the phrase now involves a double negative, because as mathematicians would tell us, negative multiplied by another negative, will definitely result in a positive.

To all of you out there who are recipients of the articles that the lion periodically sends therefore, the lion has but one request. Your valuable comments, adverse or otherwise, are being encouraged as it will prod the lion to write meaty articles for your special reading interest.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU OUT THERE!

2005-01-19T08:52:00.001+08:00

MNEMOSYNE, THE FORGOTTEN GODDESS OF ANCIENT LORE

The above-mentioned title is definitely eye-catching, but only because on a thousand to one ratio (probably even higher), the reader has not gone across this mythical Greek goddess of memory from where the phrase “mnemonic art” was derived. For those not in the know, Mnemosyne (and don’t ask this writer how this name is pronounced) is the daughter of Uranus (Heaven) and Gaia (Earth) who, in turn, was mother of the nine muses that include Epic poetry, History, Flute playing, Tragedy, etc., etc.

Greek history has it that the poet Simonides of Ceos, circa 556-468 BC, was commissioned by a rich man named Scopas in Thessaly to chant a lyric at a banquet prepared in the latter’s honor. But the former devoted only a half of his time in praise of Scopas and allotted the other half to the divine twins Castor and Pollux, which naturally infuriated the host, and who, after the delivery of the poem, paid the bard only half of what was agreed upon. This in turn, made Simonides leave the banquet hall before the merry making ended. But soonest after the poet left, the roof caved in burying all the guests. When the relatives came to take away the corpses, they could not identify the mangled bodies and so asked the legendary Simonides to help them in the identification, and with his remarkable memory, accurately recalled where each of the guests were seated and thus identified all the bodies.

And what has the above-mentioned historical note got to do with this article? Well, because Cicero, that brilliant Roman, made memory one of the five principal parts of Rhetoric, which is nothing but the art of speaking (or writing) effectively. And Rhetoric, as we all know, is the second of the seven liberal arts and sciences that was eloquently mentioned (but not explained) in the lecture of the fellowcraft degree.

Nice connection with the Craft, eh?! But how did the ancients (Simonides, preferably), practiced this art? Well, here is how Cicero explained it:

“He (meaning Simonides) inferred that persons desiring to train this faculty must select places and form mental images of the things they wish to remember and store these images in the places so that the order of the places will preserve the order of things, and the images of the things will denote the things themselves, and we shall employ the places and images respectively as a wax-writing tablet and the letters written on it.”

The above-mentioned paragraph, incidentally, basically conforms with the treatise of another Roman teacher named Quintillian who lived in AD 35-92, and who, according to history, was a great Roman authority on Rhetoric. He said:

“Think of a large building and walk through its numerous rooms remembering all the ornaments and furnishings in your imagination. Then give each idea to be remembered an image, and as you go through the building again, deposit each image in this order in your imagination. For example, if you mentally deposit a spear in the living room, an anchor in the dining room, you will later recall that you are first to speak of war, then of the navy, etc. The system still works!”

Which now gives us a backgrounder that before the art of printing came into existence, our ancient brethren must have grappled with this art memorizing our rituals the same way as Simonides and company, but it should be reasonable to assume that that procedure must have been a bane as it is now, despite the coded monitors that are now readily available at our disposal.

And so let us now tackle the present tense.

From this writer’s personal experience, it does help if the one memorizing gets into his mind the entire substance on what he is to deliver, like in the lecture of the entered apprentice degree where it is best that he recalls the steps or sequences of the things he has to memorize. And the letters that is printed in the coded monitor which signifies the starting letter of the word about to be recited is indeed a very great help to the entire lecture that had to be delivered word for word.

Let this writer now apply the art to practice..

Our statutes require proficiency by a candidate before he can be advanced to a higher degree. Thus, an entered apprentice had to memorize the catechism for the EAM degree before he can be passed, an FCM to memorize his own catechism and so on and so forth as he progress up the Masonic ladder. With the help of the coded monitor, the first letters of the word of which, were printed to serve as guide and under the watchful eye of the Worshipful Master, of course.

Advancing on the topic a little further, proficiency certificates are likewise required by either the District Deputy Grand Master, the District Grand Lecturer or the Grand Lodge Inspector from the three lights, not only on the opening and closing ceremonies but more important, on the lecture of the three degrees as applicable before every installation. And still more important, even the Grand Master at his installation, is also subjected to reiterate the master’s oath, and this no longer needs further elaboration.

Which reminds this writer of a recent installation ceremony of a Grand Lodge Inspector that was done by the District Deputy Grand Master who was assisted by the District Grand Lecturer as Master of Ceremonies. Realizing at closing time that the lights were not that proficient, the DDGM announced during the dignitaries’ hour that he will be coming back in two months’ time to reexamine the lights. Sounds fine, only, he and his Master of Ceremonies also read verbatim the monitor during the GLI installation!!

This writer can only look amused at the comic situation by paraphrasing that old country song which says: “When will we ever learn?”

Aray ko po!!
===

Note: Historical data were largely taken from a book titled “The Discovers” by Daniel J. Boorstin

2005-01-19T08:52:00.000+08:00

VISITING THE CAPITOL MASONIC TEMPLE BRETHEN

The scenario was, for all intents and purposes, the same as the last visit that I and the missus conducted last September. Together, the primary purpose was to pay a call to our three children, their respective spouses and our four grandchildren and thus enjoy with them the Christmas season. But that is where the similarity of purpose ends, for individually, we have different itineraries during our almost four weeks’ stay in the metropolis; she to visit her former officemates that she left behind when I compelled her to resign and join me in our migration to the South, her many friends at the prayer meeting that she usually attends to during Thursdays, and her favorite beauty parlor that has already been part of her life ever since she became and adolescent. I, on the other hand, have a very simple schedule, just be with my brethren at the Capitol Masonic Temple. Thus it was that my first itinerary after we arrived in metropolitan Manila was to attend the stated meeting of Quezon City Lodge No. 122, my mother lodge.

I arrived at the Capitol Masonic Temple before two in the afternoon and there hobnobbed with the brethren who arrived earlier. WM Jerome Gabionza was on time. So were his two lights- SW Nestor Malana and Francis Pagulayan. MWs Reynold Fajardo and Agustin Mateo, VWs Ager Amagna, Ev Salvo, Dennis Gabionza, and BJ Torres, WB’s Alex Fabian, James Donadilla, Jonathan Florendo, Mario Ignacio and several others were also there. It was a time for “kumustahan”.

In fine the main fare of the stated meeting, that of electing its officers was held. The two lights, SW Nestor and JW Francis were routinely elevated to the position of Worshipful Master and Senior Warden, respectively, while Bro. Joe Gabionza, younger brother of the outgoing Worshipful Master was elected Junior Warden. Elder brother VW Dennis was also elected Secretary. It was a case of one brother out and two brothers coming in as imposing lodge officers!!

The traditional Christmas party of the lodge was held the next day. But unlike in previous years where it was done at the PRRM building near Mother Ignacia Avenue, it was this time held at the imposing residence of MW Reynold S. Fajardo, PGM. Even VWs Saul Exmundo, Louie Reyes and Santiago “Boy” Gabionza, Jr. three lodge stalwarts who failed to attend the previous day’s stated meeting were present. In addition, most of their respective families composed of spouses, children and grandchildren were there to enjoy the spirit of the Christmas season.

The next Saturday I attended a similar election of the officers of two other lodges, Rafael Palma Lodge No 147 and Mandaluyong Lodge No. 277. The former also promptly elevated its two Wardens to the next higher ranks and also elected Bro. Jun Farcon as Junior Warden. In addition, it elected VW “Mawi” Lazaro lodge Secretary as WB Zito Ochoa begged off from being reelected.

Meanwhile at the other lodge hall, Mandaluyong Lodge No. 277 had a spirited election. The two incumbent Wardens were curiously absent and so WB Mike Benjamin, its Worshipful Master, was reelected and in fine also saw the election of Bros. Jun de Ocampo and Jojo Eleazar to the positions of Senior and Junior Wardens, respectively. The lodge at this point experienced infusion of young bloods as the three lights are basically young, in matters of biological ages, that is. The other officers, from the Treasurer to Auditor in the persons of WB Danilo Flores and VWs Kim Alvin Villanueva and Roger Flores, were also promptly reelected. It also gave me the opportunity to rub elbows with VW Juanito Abergas, Region VII’s Director of Public Works. After which, the stated meeting was concluded and the brethren of the two lodges enjoyed their fellowship at the two rooms at the ground floor of the Capitol Masonic Temple.

During the Christmas lull, I sidestepped to the Grand Lodge and procured the Certificate of Good Standing form that was required for my petition for dual membership. Posthaste, I had the form signed by the Worshipful Master of my mother lodge and endeavored to get the signature of our elected lodge Secretary to no avail. It turned out he was evasive in affixing his signature as he was no longer functioning as lodge secretary for reasons he alone can tell. Realizing the predicament, I consulted MW Fajardo, the incumbent Grand Secretary who forthwith gave the assurance that his signature and that of the Worshipful Master will suffice. The revered elder also briefed me on the status of the Masonic book that I helped him write, which he said was now awaiting printing and is expected to be off the press before the term of MW Eugenio Labitoria is over.

Then came the first Saturday of Year 2003. Even before leaving our residence, I already expected with bathed breath attending the stated meeting of Laong Laan Lodge No. 185, a lodge where along with two others, I hold honorary membership. I was fully aware that in a matter of only six years this lodge has progressively achieved becoming the strongest lodge at the Capitol Masonic Temple. Not only does it hold its meetings clad in the mandated white barong tagalog, dark pants and black shoes , but its attendance is also often spiced by visiting brethren from other lodges, a distinctive mark of distinction signaling that it has already arrived.

But as the meeting starts at three, I thought it wise to attend the stated meeting of Marikina Lodge No. 119 first. Its incumbent Worshipful Master is, after all, WM Alfredo Andres, a fraternal brother I’ve met at Mount Moriah Lodge No. 252 some months back when I sojourned in Cebu City and who saw to it that I didn’t get lost in that burgeoning queen city of the South. This lodge also promptly elevated its two Wardens, and in addition, also elected Bro. Nestor Estaris, a well-liked PNP officer, for its Junior Warden sitting in the South.

Back at Laong Laan Lodge No. 185, I was greeted by WM Roberto “Bong” Fajardo who just recuperated from an acute case of meningitis and had himself downed at St. Luke’s Hospital. The attendance was robust and true enough, save for one visiting brother, all were wearing white barongs. Glad I came clad in the same outfit otherwise, I would have looked like a solitary black sheep in a flock of whites.

The meeting proceeded with vigor. In addition to the regular stated meeting format, it was also spiced by two Masonic Education lectures, with the first being conducted by the Worshipful Master who narrated his experience during his confinement at St. Luke Hospital, while the second lecture was conducted by this writer who forthwith delved on the symbolism of the three pillars.

The attendance during the stated meeting was robust. Three of the four district officers, namely, VW’s Celso S. Viray, DDGM, Raynor Taroy and Allan Bontuyan were likewise present. So was visiting brother from Saigon Lodge No. 185, a Senior DeMolay named Bro. Ephraim de Mesa of the Abad Santos Chapter, Order of DeMolay.

The election was likewise done as predicted. Bros. John Teng and Billy del Rosario were elevated to the posts of Worshipful Master an Senior Warden, respectively, while Bro. John Sy, its Senior Deacon became its Junior Warden. WB Johnny Flaviano, who assumed the awesome task of Secretary some six years back, also begged off from being reelected due to pressure of work and therefore paved the way for the election of Bro. Albert Encarnacion, a comparatively new but very energetic Mason ever to don the lambskin apron. WB Gene Cortez and VW Noe de la Cerna were also routinely reelected Treasurer and Auditor, respectively.

The meeting ended and the traditional fellowship at a nearby restaurant ensued. And what better enjoyment can be had except enjoying the usual food and drinks?!

Two days later I and the missus boarded the Superferry for our return trip to our haven in Guindulman town, and in the stillness of the night recalled the events that transpired. The replacement of secretaries in the three lodges that I visited was sure a welcome respite that will redound to the benefit of the concerned lodges, for as they say “a secretary’s job is never ended”. As an afterthought, I also cannot help but wonder out aloud: “When will my next visit to the brethren of the Capitol Masonic Temple be?!!.”

2005-01-19T08:49:00.000+08:00

THE SALIENT TEACHINGS OF THE CHARGE OF THE ENTERED APPRENTICE DEGREE APPLIED

Last month, WB John Teng sent the lion an e-mail the text of which is quoted in full below:

VW Sir,

How's the Lion doing? Reckon the Lion and the Lion Tamer are in the best of health.

Just to give you an update, Laong-Laan Lodge will have its next stated meeting on April 03, 2004. We will be passing possible two candidates, Bros. Sweke Palacios and Ric Sy.

You may be physically far from us but we all know that your heart is still very much with us as a Laong-Laaner. We all missed the times when you enlightened us no ends with your Masonic Education. May we therefore, trouble you by giving you an assignment. Can you write again a 10 to 15 minutes Masonic Education, any subject of your choice and e-mail it to me. We will gladly assign someone to read your article.

John Teng, PM

Forthwith, the lion sent WB John his reply as follows:

WB John:

I’m sure glad to hear from you again. For a while I thought you have decided to join the forgotten masters.

It seems I have suddenly lost my skills at writing Masonic Education articles and it might take me time to regain my literary pen. But don’t worry, I plan to visit my kids this end-April and expects to attend our stated meeting this coming May.

Bro. Jun

On second thought, the lion decided he could not defer WB John’s request and so here is a Masonic Education Lecture that hopefully the brethren of Laong Laan Lodge No 185, a lodge where the aging lion proudly holds honorary membership, may enjoy hearing. And what appropriate topic can the lion compose other than his insight on the salient teachings of the “Charge of the Entered Apprentice degree?” And so, let his discourse begin.

The Craft’s uncoded portion of the monitor says:

“As a Mason, you are taught to regard the Volume of the Sacred Law as the great light in your profession, to consider it as the unerring standard of truth and justice, and to regulate your actions by the divine precepts it contains. In it you will find the important duties you owe to God, your neighbor and yourself. To God, by never mentioning His name but with that awe and reverence that is due from the creature to his Creator, by imploring his aid in all your lawful undertakings, and by looking up to Him in every emergency for comfort and support. To your neighbor, by acting with him upon the square, by rendering him every office which justice and mercy may require, by relieving him his distresses and soothing his affliction, and by doing to him as you would that he should do unto you. And to yourself, by such a prudent and well-regulated course of discipline that shall best conduce into the preservation of your corporeal and mental faculties in their fullest energy, thereby enabling you to exert the talents wherewith God has blest you, as well to His glory as to that of your fellow creatures.”

But if one will note, the said Charge focused on learning the “Volume of the Sacred Law” which admittedly is not easy to dissect. The lion, for one, has a collection of five versions of the Holy Bible which will be itemized later. Truthfully however, owning these copies and understanding their divine precepts are two entirely different things.

As a first step of this lecture, the lion condensed the lengthy paragraph that is quoted earlier and substituted the answer that the Greatest Teacher of all time made when asked as to what is God’s greatest commandment to mankind. Jesus said:

“Love God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind; and love your neighbor as yourself!

So we now have three short topics, namely, (a) God (b) your neighbor and (c) yourself. Having identified these, let the lion now dissect them in reverse order, in a layman’s point of view, and in the third person’s perspective.

1. TO HIMSELF

It is not unknown to the brethren that one of the main reasons the lion retired was because of failing health, he being a diabetic. Not only that, he was also suffering from acute back pain when he and his tamer transferred residence to this bucolic place. So, once settled, he e-mailed our Worshipful Master who was then the Junior Warden, for medical advice via the aegis of the Internet. The Warden dutifully prescribed two kinds of medicines that he said the lion should take for three whole months without fail. The lion did get free consultation but the cost of those medicines was quite expensive the lion wondered whether the savings he mooched on free consultation did not offset the significant cost. But the back pain indeed disappeared and sincere thanks to our Worshipful Master is therefore well deserved.

Having regained his health somehow, his next effort at further improving it was to savor the seabreeze that freely blew from the pristine beach at their backyard that was being blocked by the cemented fence. To solve the problem, the lion had the fence torn down and replaced it with a steel fence made of angle bars and consequently allowed the fresh air to freely enter the backyard and the house. Needless to say, his health improved further, even allowing him to dry their share of the palay harvest, a task that previously had to be assigned to their neighbor for a fee.

2. TO HIS NEIGHBORS

The new fence did not only allow the seabreeze to enter their premises, it also made them notice their neighbors who live in abject poverty. Right beside their backyard are families of four fishermen whose huts are without water and electric connections, and only one of the four huts has a luxury of a simply-made toilet, which automatically made theirs a common relieving facility. Which reminded the lion during his early years at the boarding house while still studying in the metropolis when he had to wait for his turn to relieve himself when another boarder was ahead of him on the much-coveted seat! (There are of course other neighbors, but their condition are not as miserable.)
.
On all those, the lion and his tamer decided to help in whatever way they can. Among these are:

1. Installing two electric lights to lighten up their backyard thus also lighting these huts. These lights also served as beacons for the returning fishermen from the sea.
2. Facilitated the installation of a link-bridge that connected the cut-portion of the seawall enabling the residents to cross it in going to and from the market. This project was made possible by VW Juanito P. Abergas, DPWH Regional Director for the Visayas.
3. Assisted the neighbors whenever emergency occurs, like accompanying the son of a neighbor who was suffering from dehydration to a town hospital that he may be attended to by a competent physician, or buying, at her expense, the medicines needed whenever a neighbor gets sick..
4. Gave succor to a neighbor whose one-year old son died, thereby enabling the parents to bury the boy’s mortal remains immediately..
5. Sponsored the tuition, transportation cost and school expenses of a neighbor’s daughter who graduated first honor from the elementary grades. The only condition for the scholarship is that she should not get a grade below 80% in any of her school subject.
6. Installed a mini-basketball court for the benefit of the kids. WB John, please take note.
7. Allotted about a hundred square meters space at the back of the back yard that serves as combined mini-park and playground that the children are able to utilize during week-ends and even during the early nights.
8. When the water pump that was being used by these neighbors conked out and thus compelled the female teenagers to take their respective baths at the other side of the road thereby exposing their scantily covered breasts, the lion tamer immediately had the pump repaired. She also had the lighted electric post that was felled by the typhoon last December restored, thus also allowing the women to wash their dirty clothes during the early evenings.
9. Initiated the Harelip Repair project in coordination with the Christian Service International as funding sponsor and the Ramiro Community Hospital that helped a total of 21 harelip patients in a year’s time. This project also encouraged two fraternal brothers to donate P2,000 each as their contribution to this worthy endeavor and to which, their generosity is hereby gratefully acknowledged.
10. Whenever an important event occurs, (like Christmas, New Year or Valentine,) the lion tamer organizes a get-together party at the backyard for the benefit of the residents to their enjoyment. As of this writing, an Easter get together is again on the trestleboard.

3. To God

The lion earlier said that he has five different versions of the Holy Bible which he reads sparingly to help him understand God’s divine precepts. These are: (1) The Revised Berkeley Version that was distributed by Gideon’s International, and being his first book, is naturally his favorite as it was the book he is accustomed to use; (2) the King James Version, where most of the quotations in the Masonic rituals can be found, and the other two English, namely, (3) the Catholic Version, a spare gift given to his son during his marriage in 1999 and (4) the Good News Bible that he found lying around in their newly established residence, are used as reference materials whenever questions on interpretations differ, while the last, or (5) the Visayan translation of the New Testament, is read only whenever the lion wanted to acquaint himself with the intricacies of God’s word in the local dialect.

And it is here where the lion and his tamer differ in their approach at communing with the Great Creator. While the lion contents himself with just reading the Holy Writ and practicing its messages to the best of his ability, she goes to church and prays the rosary daily, involves herself in weekly prayer meetings, and even organized a group called “Lakas Loob Para Sa Diyos” so that the leaking roof of the church could be repaired at a cost of about three quarters of a million pesos.

Admittedly, the perception of some of the town’s residents are not wholesome. The town’s church elders, learning that the lion is a practicing Mason, read a “precana” (a prepared homily that denounced Masons as worshipping the devil, spitting on the cross and denouncing Christ) when the lion tamer attended a religious gathering causing her to be visibly upset. When informed, the lion, instead of commenting, just shrugged his shoulders; Jose Rizal, our country’s foremost hero, after all, stoically said in his Mi Ultimo Adios.

“I go where faith can never kill and where God reigns ere on high!”

Thank you for your attention.

Bro. Jun

2005-01-19T04:02:00.000+08:00

THIS PESKY MASON

Despite the wealth of topics that are convertible into articles, the aging lion has decided to rest his pen during the current year. For example, much like the New Year revelry that the lion tamer organized for the benefit of our neighbors to usher the advent of the stork, (See New Year at the Lion’s Den) they again celebrated a unique Valentine party at their backyard with practically the same participants but with an additional dog meat served as “pulutan”. Or marking the first anniversary of their harelip project that tallied for them a total of 21 harelip repair patients which in the gambler’s lingo resulted in an unbeatable “Black Jack!” Or his tussle with BOHECO II to have the date of reading clearly indicated in the meter card that involved no less the Energy Regulatory Commission as referee where the lion used to the hilt the Internet facility! But in fine the lion mused, “ ang pagbubuhat ng sariling bangko’ or lifting one’s own bench can be boring!” and so, the attendant silence.

But the other night, the lion tamer returned home from an invitation of the wife of her elderly cousin to attend the “cenaculo” visibly upset. She reported that during the homily that is normally held during such gatherings, her cousin-in-law read a “blue book” the subject of which involved “Masons who worshipped the devil and who allegedly are out to conquer the world.” As “sharing” was not part of the affair, she could not give her insights on the issue. She was, however, certain the readings was directed at her because except for the nonagenarian who is now in his dotage years and who is now almost always snugly resting in bed all day, the aging lion is the only other Mason in town that can be counted by the finger.

The lion casually told her that “worshipping the devil”, like spitting on the cross and denying Christ were charges that can be traced back to the middle ages, when Pope Clement V and King Philip le Bel accused Jacques DeMolay and the Knights Templar of worshipping the demon called Baphomet. He also explained that the theory that the Freemasons are out to “conquer the world” is likewise old but that the more recent gab can be traced to a paperbacked book written by an author with unknown credentials who claimed that both the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank are creations of the Masonic Fraternity whose concealed aims are to control the world economy through the banking system. The only trouble is, the names mentioned, especially those in the Philippines, are alien to the rolls of the Craft. Now, whether these international bankers are member Masons, there is no way to know, but they surely have not made contacts to the lion for whatever reason these may be!!

Understandably, she was put on the defensive. Her efforts at deepening her faith in this definitely provincial setting by involving herself on as many apostolate, like initiating a mass at our backyard last December, superintending a regular weekly prayer meeting and even organizing another group to raise funds for the town’s dilapidated church roof had made her quite busy. And would you believe they are now about halfway their goal at raising about a million pesos for that last effort, which, in the midst of all these religious tasks, she has counted on her aging lion as her ever-reliable consultant as well as confidant!

And the juicy gossip silently crept through the neighbors’ wagging tongues. Other church habitues commented that for almost two years now, they had observed the lion almost like a hermit who hardly attended the town’s socials. Not even the fiestas that proliferate in almost all barangays. And while it is true that he treks to Tagbilaran City almost every month to attend stated meetings, his demeanor can never be rated as noticeable nor arrogant. Almost everybody knew that he is a member of the Masonic Fraternity whose affiliation and activities they know nothing nor dared care about. What matters, the elders say are the various charitable projects that the couple have initiated which no doubt benefited a number of the needy folks in town.

Past of their riddle of course is the fact that the lion is able to make contact with persons of known probity in the islands. He hobnobs with the ba

2005-01-19T03:58:00.000+08:00

CHANCE MEETING WITH AN AMERICAN FRATERNAL BROTHER

Tante, the lion’s email friend who just arrived from the States a week ago was excited over the phone. He asked if this writer was not busy and not fully grasping what he meant answered that other than attending the stated meeting at Tagbilaran on the second Saturday of the coming month, the latter was entirely free for the rest of his time.

It turned out Tante was expecting an American friend that noon and since he knew that his visitor is a Freemason, then perhaps the lion might want to rub elbows with a fraternal brother. The lion’s reply was understandably in the affirmative. Lunch, after all, will also be served..

And so the lion and his tamer went to Bro. Eduardo Palac’s residence where Tante was residing being one of the owner’s six son-in-laws, and at the dining table was introduced to an American who was already having lunch together with about six other people. Tante immediately motioned this writer to take his seat which the former promptly vacated saying: “there surely will be much that you can talk about.”

Bro. Peter Lovell, (hope his surname is spelled right) is an American Mason under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Philadelphia who is married to a lady surnamed Suganob from Tagbilaran City. In between bites the lion learned that the couple are on a two-week vacation that also served as homecoming for the wife in this rustic and bucolic island called Bohol.

Having arrived last September 16, the couple, together with their one year old son, are already scheduled to return to the States in two days’ time and will make a side trip to Hongkong as part of their vacation but not after enjoying the island’s beautiful scenery, which also included having dinner with some of the brethren of Dagohoy Lodge No. 84, where he fraternized with some of the members of the lodge that included his namesake WM Peter Emman Mende, his father VW Maning, WB Momoy Millanar and several others who just appeared at the dinner table at one of the city’s famed eateries while food and drinks were being served. During that dinner, WM Peter invited his American namesake to return to the country next year and attend the forthcoming installation ceremony where Bro. Jack Galbreath, the incumbent Senior Warden who like the guest is an American citizen, is expected to be installed in solemn ceremonies when the opportune time comes.

Getting back to Tante, Bro. Peter and his wife (who already planned to visit the Philippines) were Tante’s guests at a social gathering at their residence in the States some three months back, a regular occurrence of townmates and relatives who plan to make a visit to the country. .At that meeting, Tante saw that Bro. Peter was wearing a ring that his late father once wore during his heyday, and thought that perhaps, the lion might want to meet a fraternal brother on the latter’s visit to their place sometime.

The conversation which was understandably common to Masons also delighted Tante. It turned out another fraternal brother in the States was egging Tante to petition for membership in the Fraternity by attending a one-day conferral on October 4 back at the States. Tante said that Jack, yeah, that’s the other guy’s name of that brother at the other side of the hemisphere, is already facilitating the papers for his petition, only, he could not postpone his trip to the Philippines To the mild reluctance of Peter who thought that Tante’s joining the Craft via the traditional 1-2-3 conferral punches is still the prudent course to follow. During the exchanges of words, Bro. Peter also intimated that in their jurisdiction, one can become a 32º Scottish Mason and later join the Shriners after the customary 3º conferral without any hitch at all. To the mild amusement of this writer recalling the “express” 4th to 32nd degree Scottish Rite conferral that he helped conduct at Tacloban City sometime in 1999 over a period of only two days!!

After lunch, Tante suggested that they at least say “hello” to Bro. Eduardo Palac, the nonagenarian host who was resting in his room. Bro. Peter was however at a loss for words especially because the host was already senile and could no longer talk coherently. Whereupon the lion suggested to Bro. Peter that making his presence felt would be enough, and he could do it by simply extending his hand and giving the s g o t l’s p but instead of uttering the s f t a m’s w he should replace these saying his name, his lodge and lodge number. Whereupon the American guest asked: “You mean, these things that we do on the five points of fellowship??

The lion nodded and added: “What I mentioned will suffice.” The old man, after all, is snugly seated in his wheelchair and therefore could no longer execute the other points. And besides, the lion added, Tante and his wife are around and will therefore surely keep a watchful eye!

And so after the lion made his secret mode of identification, the American brother followed suit, doing what he was instructed to do. To pleasant the surprise of Tante and his wife Sol because the serious mien of the old man’s face suddenly disappeared and was immediately replaced by a facial cast that was in high spirits prompting Tante to ask: “Just what did Peter do to erase that serious mien with a widened old man’s smile and create sparkle in his eyes?”

To which the lion could only smile. But had he done so, his epic reply would have been:

“It will be hard to explain for now, but it is possible you may still understand later, but only if you become a member of the Craft.”:

2005-01-19T03:55:00.000+08:00

THE CROSS WE ALL BEAR

Two emails were received by the lion from two brothers last November 5. One was an article titled “The Three Trees” that was sent by WB Rommel S. J. Corral of Rafael Palma Lodge No. 147 while the other was sent by a brother as a reply to a previous mail, the identity of whom the lion chose to withheld by replacing some words with xxxxx’s

. The contents appears unrelated but on closer look, is. The better advise therefore, is just to read the contents yourself.

Bro. Jun

THE THREE TREES

Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said, "Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. I could be decorated with intricate carvings and everyone would see the beauty."

Then the second tree said, "Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull."

Finally the third tree said , "I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will always remember me."

After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woods men came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree he said, "This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter," and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him in to a treasure chest.

At the second tree the woodsman said, "This looks like a strong tree, should be able to sell it to the shipyard." The second tree was happy because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.

When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true. One of the Woodsmen said, "I don't need anything special from my tree, I'll take this one,” and he cut it down.

When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he had prayed for. The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end. The third tree was cut into large pieces and left alone in the dark.

The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams. Then one day, a man and woman came to the barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time.

Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm arose and the tree didn't think it was strong enough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and He stood and said "Peace" and the storm stopped . At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings in its boat.

Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it.

The moral of this story is that when things don't seem to be going your way, always know that God has a plan for you. If you place your trust in Him, He will give you great gifts. Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had imagined. We don't always know what God's plans are for us. We just know that His ways are not our ways, but His ways are always best.

Please keep this moving...,so He may inspire more people on the way. May your day be blessed.

WB Rommel S.J. Corral, P.M.
Rafael Palma Lodge No. 147

VW Sir:

Thank you for the response. I still owe you a dinner that I have promised a decade ago and I assure you that I do not forget my promises. Maybe I can fulfill that promise during the Ancom in Tagaytay.

I was a late bloomer and started a family when my knees can no longer play singles in tennis. So now that even I am already in my golden years, I am still struggling to send my young kids to school. That is why I envy you because you have all the time writing.

Short story-writing is one of my favorite past times but I just do not have enough time to do it nowadays.

I have suppliers from Xxxx and Xxxxxxxxxx bugging me every week that I have not submitted my articles for the past 9 months already since I opened this xxxx xxxxx distribution center here in Xxxxxx. I am going back to Xxxx on the 25th of this month and hopefully, I will be able to do it again on a regular basis. MW Locsin made me Free Press distributor for Xxxxxxxxxx in addition to being his Foreign Correspondent.

I hope to see you soon, Very Worshipful Sir, Idol!!!

Warmest fraternal regards,

bro xxxxxxx xxxxs

VW Xxxxxxxx:

Your story reminds me of Tommy Romulo (real name is Romulo Tomada), the pugilist who gallantly fought Flash Elorde several times at the ring in the middle part of the last century. Tommy is the father of my good friend, Jun, who was my accounting supervisor when I was still working at a multinational.

In his own words, Tommy said that when he was active in the ring, he tried to convince his wife to go with him to Manila but being a teacher and with two kids, she wouldn’t. Consequently, he had an affair with their accountant and in fine forgot about his family at Butuan.

Time passed and Tommy and his new bedmate migrated to Guam where they established frozen food business and also raised their family that consisted of three children. But he also managed to maintain contacts with the family that he left behind, especially Jun, his eldest son.

In 1988, he went home, attempted to establish a local office and at the same time, renew kinship with his two adult children. By this time, he was already in his late fifties.

But his virility was still strong and while in the country, met a beautiful eighteen year old girl. The obvious happened and in no time sired two other sons. It was at this time that he and the lion met. In fine, Tommy also decided to permanently stay in the country and raised his third set of family leaving the second set in Guam.

The next time he and the lion met was during the 2002 Christmas and there talked about life, and learning of the lion’s easy-going movement commented: “Jun, how I envy you! Your three children are now on their own, and consequently your worry now is only your spouse, or is the other way around,. while I, already aged seventy and with two sons still in their teens, cannot help but wonder what will happen should I die. The fact that I have a house at Ayala-Alabang (beside Fidel. Ramos’ residence) does not make me any comfortable. Your friend Jun said that I should not worry as he will take care of his two brothers just in case but one can never tell.”

The lion was amazed and could not reply. What he said was true. Had he opened his mouth the words that would have come out would in essence be: “Each of us picks the size, dimension and weight of the cross we carry, mine was smaller because I chose it to be so. But come to think of it, you enjoyed the company of three bedmates, while I only had my lion tamer for a partner and she effectively shackled me to a leash!”

Your promise of a dinner may have to wait a few more years; ANCOM at Tagaytay is not in the lion’s trestleboard.

And please don’t use the word “idol” in your mail as adjective, it is the root of the word “idolatry” which the ancients forbid!

With my kindest fraternal regards!

Bro. Jun

2005-01-19T01:01:00.002+08:00

SURPRISE MASONIC VISITORS.

This article is too good to escape the literary pen.

Last Saturday September 20, at about five minutes before four in the afternoon while I was leisurely resting at our backyard waiting for the four o’clock news over the DZRH radio band, a man in civilian clothes approached the back gate and in the local dialect hollered: “Ikaw si Mr. Galarosa?” and received a nod as a reply. He next said: “Gipangita ka ni Col. Arugay!! (Col. Arugay is looking for you) and to which I said: “Asa man siya?” (Where is he?) Sa atbang sa imo ba’ay! (At the front gate of your house) he said.

And so I immediately motioned him to enter the back gate, made him follow me and together we entered the house via the kitchen door, went out of it via the front door and outside the front gate saw two vans with about a dozen people, mostly in fatigue uniforms, already alighted. I immediately opened the gate and noticed a young gentleman in military uniform approaching me and saw the name Ushida on his breast. I immediately extended my hand as a welcome gesture (his name was already previously mentioned to me by Bro. Arugay during Dagohoy Lodge No. 84 stated meeting) and in the national language asked: “Where is Bro. Arugay?” and to which he replied: “He was looking for you via your backyard gate!” Whereupon I suggested to him that the drivers of the vans park the vehicles inside the driveway as parking these outside might create an unusual commotion in the community considering their uniforms to which the drivers dutifully obliged. I next motioned to Col. Ushida to follow me and together we returned to our backyard and saw Bro. Arsenio Arugay already entering the backyard gate smiling. After the usual introductions I then lead them outside the back gate and there showed them the twin electric lights that serve as beacons to the returning fishermen, the village nipa shack, the basketball court and also the cemented walkway that connected the seawall to the market courtesy of VW Juanito P. Abergas, projects that I have embarked upon and topics that were subjected to articles and later posted in the Internet. I also showed them the still-unfinished catwalk that will link the fishing village to the seawall and finally to the market and in an oral wish hoped that the project will someday be completed with the help of some concerned brethren. I also added the information that we have already successfully helped seven harelips operated upon and that more are still expected to come.

Returning to our place, I offered them a seat at our garden set and there exchanged pleasantries on a subject common to all brethren. Eric, that’s Ushida’s first name, was raised at General Artemio Ricarte Lodge No. 322 in Year 2000 and has been assigned in the island of Bohol barely two months as the battalion commander of a military camp that is situated in nearby Candijay town. He is a fairly new mason but is a whiz at the Internet world who later introduced to this writer a new website called “Ecu Online”. Bro. Arugay on the other hand, was raised in Isagani Lodge No. 96 many years ago. His masonic experiences already included interacting with the brethren of Rising Sun Lodge No. 151 when he was stationed in Japan and with the brethren of East Gate Lodge No. 232 in Borongan, Eastern Samar and in both instances helped reeve up their anemic attendance . He has now lodged eight months service as Deputy Brigade Commander and is stationed at the military camp at the interior town of Carmen. He also fondly narrated the time he acted as Master of Ceremonies during the installation ceremony of East Gate Lodge in support of MW Napoleon Soriano despite the fact that he has not yet served as Master of a Lodge, a bane common to most military personnel because of the nature of their profession.

Meanwhile, the missus ordered Andoy, one of our fishermen neighbors to gather “buko” (young coconuts) and together we enjoyed our refreshment in the company of my Kabir friends that freely roam our backyard.

The wonderful world of the Internet was a topic common to all three. Bro. Arugay wanted one installed at the Carmen office so that he can communicate with his daughter in the States but his main problem is how to make the link as the telephone facility is installed inside the office of the Brigade Commander because of uncontrolled long distance bills by subordinate personnel, Bro. Eric wanted one installed at his office at the camp in Candijay but at present does not yet have a Modem to link the telephone with the outside world. I, of course, had mine already installed and never mind if my beat-up computer conks out periodically making it technically inoperable.

We also talked about the efforts being waged by Bro. Deo Macalma of DZRH at bringing to the fore the brethren of the Craft. All are agreed it gives a positive boost.

With dusk fast approaching the horizon, our visitors bade goodbye but not before offering that we visit them at their respective temporary abodes at the camps where they are separately stationed. I and the missus of course, profusely thanked both for making the call; they after all, are our first Masonic visitors to ever visit the lion’s den!

2005-01-19T01:01:00.001+08:00

WALKWAYS OF THE TWO SAINTS JOHN

This article should have found its place in the infinite pages of this wonderful world called the Internet much earlier but bureaucratic red tape prevented this writer from doing it. Let me tell you a story.

Sometime in September of last year, the newly-elected barangay council of my adopted place passed a resolution installing an electric light bulb at the right side of our backyard and through its barangay captain asked me and the missus if we would be kind enough to likewise install a similar light bulb at the left end to complement what they just did for the benefit of the fishermen who dock in the night. He promised the council will provide the electrical materials but since their funds are low, would we be generous enough to shoulder the continuing cost of electricity? Realizing that our backyard can also serve as a mini-park for the residents of the place especially in the early evening when humidity is hot, we answered we will be glad to do so as requested.

But the promised materials were slow in coming and impatient at their usual turtle-paced behavior, we decided to buy the needed materials ourselves and had the town’s electrician do the job. The barangay captain was of course profuse in his thanks and forthwith mentioned that it is also his dream as newly-inducted barangay leader to have the cut portion of the seawall joined by a steel bridge and thus allow his constituents, including the schoolchildren, to walk by the seawall up to the public market, the church and the school and thus save on tricycle fare. I did not comment but silently mused that what he said would indeed be a worthwhile and laudable project to adopt and support.

So it was that when me and the missus enjoyed our Christmas holidays in the metropolis, one of my more important goals was to contact VW Juanito P. Abergas, PDDGM and Regional Director of Region VII of the DPWH, and a revered elder of Mandaluyong Lodge No. 277 The specific task was to ask him if he would be kind enough to facilitate the installation of a walkway at the eastern end of the district that is nestled right on the seashore and also construct a six-meter steel bridge that will connect the cut portion of the seawall and thus enable the residents to go straight to the market like what the three little pigs did in the children’s immortal rhyme of the ages?! Surprisingly, the kind brother said he will!! He of course admonished it should just be between us, no political color nor interference should mess up with the project.

We returned to our haven early in January and my first task was to take pictures that will serve as guide on what the proposed project was all about and posthaste sent these together with the covering letter to VW Abergas. He in turn immediately referred these to his District Engineer whose office was based in Guindulman town. The District Engineer then ordered his subordinates to draw the design for the project and prepared the cost estimate which turned out to be a whooping P180,000!! The project caught itself in a quagmire; from where will the funds emanate??

April came and we went to the metropolis for a four-week visit with me also attending the 2003 ANCOM. I also hoped to chance upon VW Abergas again, but this time was unsuccessful.

Upon our return to our den in May, we noticed that the project was at a standstill. We attempted to call VW Abergas twice at his office in Cebu City but on both instances, were told that he was out of town. The missus also called the District Engineering Office in Guindulman but their reply was unclear; the Assistant District Engineer said a bidding was already made but upon close scrutiny it turned out that the it was for another undertaking. The missus was agitated; the residents of the place were already expecting its realization, more especially because we transferred the electric bulb to a place nearest the sea thereby serving as beacon lights for the fishermen that return home in the darkened night. The sixty four dollar question therefore was: "Will the project ever be realized; and not just a fleeting vision on an imaginary trestleboard?"

And then came the month of June. Until finally the missus was able to contact District Engineer Aramis Torrefranca who assured her that the project ain’t dead yet. As a matter of fact, VW Abergas has just called instructing him to see to it the project be pushed through. And the needed funds will be coming, the DE said, but did not say whether it will come directly from his superior’s personal pocket. In addition, her nephew who is the Engineering Draftsman, was tasked to re-evaluate the plans and specifications to tone down the estimated cost.

As of this writing, this chronicler has already cooked up the appropriate names for the two walkways; the first will aptly be called "Walkway of Saint John the Evangelist" while the second will be known as "Saint John the Baptist’s Steel-bridge." The first will honor a Gospel Teacher and thus inspire the school children who will trek through it on their way to school to enable them to study more seriously, while the second will commemorate the memory of the Baptist who allegorically washed away mankind’s original sin. And never mind if at the length of only six meters, it is just a little longer than a nose-bridge.

But will the beneficiaries ever know that that these two patron saints are being venerated by brethren who, many of their ignorant folks suppose, are Godless?!

2005-01-18T01:47:00.000+08:00

UNTO THE LION’S LAST HUNTING GROUND

The lion and his tamer were on board the Superferry when it docked at the Tagbilaran pier at six on the morning of March 6, Wednesday. Instead of immediately boarding a bus bound for the town of Guindulman which is a full eighty five kilometers away from the pier, they decided to make Tagbilaran City their first stopover. They reckon they will save more time if they will first attend to their needs of getting the zonal valuation document at the appropriate office in the government bureaucracy at Tagbilaran City instead of proceeding posthaste to her hometown. Getting off the ship, they went straight to a local eatery for breakfast and there whiled the time away until his wristwatch signaled the hour of eight and later took a tricycle bound for the city proper.

On the way, they passed by the compound of the University of Bohol and surmised one or more of the Tirol brothers who, the lion is aware, are members of the Craft, must be holding office there and so asked the blue guard at the gate and were told that indeed, most of them, including their wives, were holding office in the said building. The lion and his tamer therefore got off the pedicab and waited.

Not noticing any of their intended party arriving by eight thirty, the guard suggested that they proceed to the other gate as it is possible some may have passed by that entrance instead. They did and at the other side, was told by the lady guard that Grace Tirol, an acquaintance of the lion tamer when they were still single, has not yet reported but Mrs. Nuevas Montes, her sister-in-law, was already in and directed them to the room where she is holding office.

The lion introduced himself to the lady and mentioned casually that he already met her husband, Fiscal Adriano Montes, some ten years back (in August 1992 to be exact) when he attended the stated meeting of Dagohoy Lodge No. 84, and that they wanted to see Mrs. Grace Tirol. Graciously, she called Grace over the phone as she was still at her residence and there the lion tamer narrated to Grace the purpose of their visit. After the usual phone courtesies Grace referred them back to the lady but only after saying that Nuevas, that's her name, is in the best position to help as she is the topnotch city councilor of Tagbilaran, having garnered the highest votes during the last election.

Sis. Nuevas dialed a number and after a while told them to proceed to the Provincial Assessors office where its head, Mr. Eddie Orig, is already waiting and will help attend to their needs. Before they parted she also said that the installation of officers of Kinampay Chapter No. 26 of the Order of the Eastern Star will be held on March 9, Saturday at the Dagohoy Masonic Temple and invited the two to attend the said affair.

They then proceeded to the Provincial Assessor's office and narrated to Mr. Orig the purpose of their visit. The gentleman was very accommodating but told said that the proper agency that can help was the regional office of the Bureau of Internal Revenue and forthwith also dialed a number and talked to a certain Ms. Wilma Elivera, its Regional Director. At the other end, the two were informed that a letter requesting for the needed data is necessary and so Mr. Orig suggested that we prepared the data required in the letter request to his clerk so that one of his clerks can encode and print the said letter in the computer. Instead, the lion requested that he be allowed to handle the job and immediately composed the letter to the mild surprise of the Provincial Assessor. He could not imagine that an old dog err. Lion, tinker with a computer as if it was only a typewriter!

The letter request duly prepared, the two proceeded to the office of the Bureau of Internal Revenue and filed the request. Ms. Elivera, the lady Regional Director, was very accommodating and even instructed one of her supervisors to insure that the request is attended to promptly so that by eleven in the morning it was fully complied with. They then heartily expressed thanks, took a hasty lunch at a nearby restaurant and immediately boarded a bus bound for the town of Guindulman. On board, they realized that they forgot to personally thank Sis Nueva for the help that she gladly extended, a job that would have unduly consumed too much time and attention had she not helped considering the slow pace of the bureaucratic red tape that they have to hurdle without her assistance.

The next two days of their stay were hectic. They minutely attended to the other needed tasks so that by Friday evening they concluded all the things that they ought to do and thus enable them to return to the metropolis by the coming Wednesday, March 13. They therefore decided to return to Tagbilaran on Saturday for two reasons; first, to purchase the cost of the ticket for the trip back home and second, to personally thank Mrs. Nuevas Montes for the invaluable assistance that she gave..

They reached the Dagohoy Masonic Temple a few minutes before the installation was about to begin and immediately approached Sis. Nueva and gratefully expressed thanks for her help who in turn introduced them to Bros. Victoriano B. Tirol, Jr and . Francisco M. Pamaran, Jr., the Worthy Patron and Associate Patron, respectively. In fine, another gentleman arrived and was introduced as Worshipful Brother David Tirol, incumbent Worshipful Master of Dagohoy Lodge No. 84.

The installation ceremony went in full swing with WB Tirol sitting beside them and in between the ceremony, exchanged pleasantries. The lion then realized that the brother they were talking to was the former governor of Bohol, a very amiable guy and no doubt, the leader of the Tirol clan. So this is the guy who is the president of the University of Bohol and the moving spirit of that educational institution. So humble! There he also learned that the Tirol clan is composed of five brothers and six sisters, and with five of their six brother-in-laws also members of the Craft where he belongs.

At quarter to five when the installation ceremony was about to end, they excused themselves to leave the place so that they can go to the bus station for their return trip to Guindulman. WB Tirol offered to take them to the station through his driver but almost instantaneously changed his mind and invited the lion to attend the stated meeting of Dagohoy Lodge No. 84 that was to be held at six in the evening. He assured the lion that they can still go home to Guindulman should he accept the invitation as he will then instruct his driver to take them home later in the evening. Not only would the lion be able to attend their stated meeting, both the lion and his tamer can also join them and the ladies in the fellowship of the Kinampay Chapter No. 26 of the Order of the Eastern Star that will follow shortly.

The lion was hesitant so WB Tirol look for the nodding approval of the missus; and she failed him not. And so not only did we attend the fellowship at a nearby swanky restaurant, he also had the opportunity to later rub elbows with the other brethren of the lodge.

On their way home on board the car of WB Tirol, he could not help but recall a similar predicament that he experienced some ten years ago in this island province. He was then at the Tagbilaran airport on July, 1992, possessing a number-26-chance passenger ticket on a 52-seater Fokker plane on my way to Manila. Eager to ride the plane but realizing the seemingly impossible chance to ride the plane, he approached the guy at the ticket counter requesting that he be accommodated despite realizing the near impossibility of realizing what he desired. But the lion was then wearing a blue T-shirt that has that familiar square-and-compass logo and to his surprise was accommodated without fully knowing how!

On hisreturn trip to the island two months later, he was fortunate to attend the stated meeting of Dagohoy Lodge No. 84, joined their fellowship and there rubbed elbows with the brethren of the lodge, among them, VW Adriano Montes and Francisco Pamaran, Jr. Again owning a plane ticket with a chance-passenger status, he wondered aloud if somebody could help me arrange a confirmed seat reservation in the plane that is to leave the next day. VW Montes replied: "No problem there. Just approach Ayi' at the counter and tell him I sent you. I assure you he will attend to you. He is my nephew!

The lion did board the plane on his return to Manila the next day despite his next-to-impossible-chance passenger accommodation status. And all because of VW Montes' help and the blue T-shirt with that familiar logo that was embroidered on its front.

Which also but sums up the reason why Sis. Nueva willingly extended her helping hand; since he is a member of the Craft and a fraternal brother to her husband, like almost all of the members of her clan, the proper and sensible thing to do is lend a helping hand!

Classics

2005-01-15T22:53:00.000+08:00

Classics

Faith, Hope and Charity

2005-01-15T22:52:00.000+08:00

Faith, Hope and Charity

WANTING TO BELONG

2005-01-13T06:08:00.000+08:00

By: Bro. Geminiano V. Galarosa, Jr.
Dagohoy Lodge No 84
(HM- LL 185, JS 169 and RP 147)

Yesterday, the lion sent an e-mail to VW Jimmy Gonzales, AGS, the contents of which is reprinted in full below:

VW Jimmy:

Last Saturday January 10, I was elected and consequently was obligated member of Dagohoy Lodge No. 84. That would not have been made possible without your kind assistance.

Thanks a lot!

Sincerely,

Jun

The decision to seek membership at Dagohoy Lodge No. 84 was not easy and took no less than 23 months to complete. Let me tell this story.

Last March 2002 when the lion and his tamer mulled on the idea of transferring residence to the island of Bohol, one of his first acts upon arrival was to attend the stated meeting of Dagohoy Lodge No. 84, thus inwardly placing himself under the canopy of the island’s only lodge.

Never mind if the said lodge was situated 85 kilometers away from their residence in Guindulman. And never mind if he is already able to interact with some of the brethren of the Fraternity through the Internet. The need to physically fraternize with the brethren was one of the things that kept him alive during his retirement years in the metropolis and must be faithfully continued comes rain or sunshine weather even in this bucolic island.

The first month of his attendance after that March meeting was in June 2002 which was uneventful. Feeling himself uneasily around, he had to sleep after the stated meeting at Charisma Lodge, a lodge with neither number nor belonging to the Craft and with a few “low-flying doves” hovering inside. By the next month, the lion sat in the lodge accompanying Bro. Bruno Raffi, a French brother whom he rubbed elbows through the facilities of the Internet. And during these past two meetings, he had to leave his tamer uneasily alone, although physically accompanied by an elderly cousin, at the house.

At the next meeting, Bro. Tyrone Villanueva of Bulusan Lodge No. 38 sojourned As he was based in the town of Jagna, he offered to take the lion to his den which is some twenty three kilometers farther away from his hideout. Which required Bro. Tyrone to drive an additional 46 kilometers before he can sleep during the night but he obviously did not mind. They enjoyed each other’s company while driving home after each stated meeting at Dagohoy Lodge No. 84 each night.

By December of that year, the lion visited his folks at the busy metropolis and got himself the needed “Certificate of Good Standing” from his mother lodge so that he can apply for plural membership. He was successful in this regard but the bane of old age, that is, forgetting where the heck he placed that “cute little paper” on his return trip to his den prevented him to submit his petition for membership immediately. Until finally, in August, while ransacking his stack of masonic documents during his idle time, he found it tacked inside one of his books. Excitedly, he submitted it to the secretary of Dagohoy Lodge No.84 thus formally starting the process of his petition for membership.

Somehow, Bro. Tyrone ceased attending the stated meetings starting in August 2003. Which compelled the lion to take his tamer along to Tagbilaran City during each stated meeting. While the lion was attending the meeting, his tamer was mulling at Tagbilaran’s malls. Since funds are low, that is what the tamer can only do to pass the time.

But his petition ran aground. Mailing snags somehow slowed the processing of application and when it was found by VW Jimmy Gonzales at the Grand Lodge, he said the that petition, being signed in 2002, has already expired. But never mind, under the circumstances, he will honor the document and had the petition published during the October circular

Until finally in the January 2004 stated meeting, the lion’s petition for membership was put to a vote and as tradition would have it, he excused himself from inside the lodge while the process was being subjected to the test; he thus replaced the Tyler from his task.

And what did he see in the lodge Tyler’s book?! Of the 25 pages that are filled-in which consisted of 23 stated and 2 special meetings, he saw his signature in 17 of them! Not an impressive percentage if we divide 17 by 25 as it will only amount to 68 percent, but if we deduct the five times the lion was in the metropolis, then it will shoot up 85 percent!!

Not bad, eh?! Especially because, starting next meeting, he will no longer sign as visitor but a regular member of the lodge!

Morsels & Tidbits

2005-01-11T02:00:00.000+08:00

Morsels & Tidbits

The Various Paths to the Mystic East

2005-01-10T03:56:00.000+08:00

THE VARIOUS PATHS TO THE MYSTIC EAST
By: Bro. Geminiano V. Galarosa, Jr.
Dagohoy Lodge No 84
(HM- LL 185, JS 169 and RP 147)

It’s now Year 2005 but the Craft reckons it four centuries earlier by calling it Masonic Year 6005. And to the Chinese who reckons their calendar by multiples of twelve, this is the year of the rooster and the start of its reign will still be on February 9. Now, how they reckon their calendar in terms of progression of a hundred years is beyond the mind of this writer but might as well, for it is not at all the subject of this article that he is about to tell.

January starts the month of installation although there were a few lodges who did it last December. Maguindanao Lodge No. 40, for example, installed WM Chito Olifernes in impressive ceremony last December 11, and surely there must have been another lodge at the GLP who must have concluded theirs before the year ended.

But this article is not about the newly-or-soon to be installed masters of the lodge. Their individual exploits must have been amply recorded in the hearts of the brethren hence no longer need to be retold. This article will instead give the reader a bird’s eye view of the newly elected light that is to occupy the station in the South, narrating unique examples on how they manage to reach the post that in three years will earn for them the chair we all call the mystic East.

If we are to rely on the premise that the ways of the Craft has already honed our traditions to perfection, then elections to the light or progressions to the chair will be as predictable and boring as the sun daily setting in the western horizon. But in Masonry, is this really the case? Do we elect officers in more or less the same fashion among lodges? Maybe so, but consider these situations.

Out there at Laong Laan Lodge No. 85, it is almost certain that the Senior Deacon is elected Junior Warden of the Lodge when election time comes. Bro. Sonny Regala, worthy son of an illustrious father and brother named WB Sergio V. Regala, Jr. of Quezon City Lodge No. 122 has recently elevated Junior Warden leaving his post as Senior Deacon of the lodge.

Does this mean therefore that all one needs is to have himself appointed Senior Deacon to earn the Junior Warden’s norm? Well, in a way yes; but you must fall in line a little farther to get this title. Bro. Albert Encarnacon, the Secretary, for example, had to relinquish the plume to fall in line and act the role of Marshal so that he hopefully can be at a striking distance later for the coveted JW norm.

Out there at another lodge where he hold honorary membership, the elected Junior Warden’s name is not familiar and so it can be inferred that that brother was initiated only when the lion has already transferred to his new den in Bohol.

The selection for Junior Warden of another lodge the lion knows may be considered exceptional. Lacking the depth of brethren who can ably fill the post, a newly-raised brother (May 2004), was elected to the Juior Warden’s chair. Chess experts call this zugswang or forced move, but when there is no other brother who can, what other option can the lodge avail of except elect someone rather than not to fill the post at all?!

At Perla del Oriente Lodge No. 1034, it is told that the progression to the master’s chair takes a full seven years starting from being appointed Junior Steward. Now, the lion does not have a way at having this checked, but it may just be so, for it is a lodge where every mason of note, including several PGM’s of our Grand Lodge, are members of this lodge that owe allegiance to the Scottish jurisdiction.

The lion’s elevation to the post of Junior Warden in 1993 may be considered unique in itself. Not the least aspiring to become master of his lodge, he honed himself in the ways of the Craft by memorizing the lectures of the three degrees, thinking that being a lodge lecturer is already an accomplishment one can already aspire for. Too late did he realize that when the 1992 year-end election transpired, he was the ultimate choice to become Junior Warden of the lodge!

And here’s a matchless trek to the Junior Warden’s chair.

WB Ellis Mills, currently installed Junior Warden of his mother lodge at Star Lodge No. 187 F. & A. M. in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio USA, was raised in that lodge on May 1963. His job at the United States Air Force took him to Okinawa and various places and while at Okinawa served as Worshipful Master of Coral Lodge No. 142 in 1970, which lodge later merged with Loo Choo Lodge No. 172 and still much later with Okinawa Lodge No. 118.

A true traveler in the literal sense of the word, he finally returned home like a homing pigeon and once again rekindled ties with the members of his mother whose listing contained hardly the same names that he had known before. But of course, for what can one expect after a lapse of forty years. But no doubt, wanting to become master of the lodge where he first saw Masonic light is a dream that one mason can no doubt aspire for in the mystic ways of this ethereal brotherhood

Many of you out there must have your own sterling experiences to tell but this writer is afraid not to solicit your experiences for surely it will set an avalanche of anecdotes worth telling; and while the almost infinite space of this wonderful world we call the Internet may have the capacity to accommodate narrating these events, it is the limited vocabulary of this writer that surely will not last and will be put to the test.

And on that he wouldn’t dare!

OF EMBLEMS AND SYMBOLS

2005-01-09T09:34:00.000+08:00

By: Bro. Geminiano V. Galarosa, Jr.
Dagohoy Lodge No 84
(HM- LL 185, JS 169 and RP 147)

One of the more distinct definitions of Freemasonry is that it is “a system of morality veiled in allegory”; or phrased differently, “a system of morality expressed in symbols” both of which mean the same. For allegory is simply defined as expression through symbolic figures and actions of truth.

Freemasons no longer need to be told of the symbolic meanings of the Square, the Level, and the Plumb as these are well explained in the second degree conferral. And just in case he feels he needs more elaboration, all he need is listen to the annual installation ceremonies of the Craft and there he will be reminded of their full significance.

The working tool which serves as emblem or symbol that is first presented to an initiate is neither the Square, the Level, nor the Plumb. Neither is it the Compasses that figure prominently in the logo of the Craft. It is the twenty-four inch gauge; and on this, here is an interesting historical morsel that was extracted verbatim from page 34 of a book authored by Daniel J. Boorstin titled “The Discoverers”.

“A famous candle clock was that reportedly designed to help the pious Alfred the Great (AD 849-899) king of the West Saxons, keep the vow he made when he was a fugitive from his native country. He swore that if his kingdom is restored, he would devote a full third of each day to the service of God.

According to the legend, when he was back in England, he ordered a candle-clock. From seventy-two pennyweight of wax, six twelve-inch candles were made, all uniform in thickness, each marked in one-inch division. The candles were lit in rotation, and the six candles were said to last a full twenty-four hours. These were protected by transparent horn panels set into wooden frames to prevent the light from being extinguished by a draft. If King Alfred devoted the time of two full candle lengths to his religious duties, he could be assured that he was fulfilling his vow.”

From the above-mentioned excerpts, it is interesting to note that the twenty-four inch gauge was replaced by candlesticks (remember the nursery rhyme Jack be nimble, Jack be quick, Jack jumped over the candlestick?) but the essence remains the same. And was Alfred the Great a Freemason? Who could tell!!

But to this writer, one confusing emblem that he found in the monitor is the hieroglyphic emblem that was explained at the end of the second section of the lecture of the Master Mason’s degree states:

Ths, m Br, ws # bd % # G M H A rsd f # gr, envd t # t # T @ br, wch md thr tms, fs, I # rbs % # T b # rfns;scdl, at # brw % # hl nr Mt Moriah b # sm, @ lstl, nr # S S, o H % H, whr Mc trdtn infs us, thr ws erc t hs m a mrbl mt, cnstg % a btfl clmn brkn; by it a vrgn wpg; an op bk bfr hr. . . etc. etc.

Let us now decode part of the subsequent paragraph of the said lecture to illustrate a point:

“The column broken denoted the untimely death of the Grand Master Hiram Abif; the virgin weeping, the unfinished station of the Temple.”.

But look, there seems something unusual about the above-mentioned explanation, as broken columns should properly denote the unfinished Temple while the virgin weeping which denotes the expression of sadness must have referred to the death of the Grand Master Hiram Abif. Weren’t the explanation jumbled or interchanged?

This writer noticed this apparent discrepancy in 1996 and so wrote the Grand Lodge accordingly. But the Committee on Works, “in defense of usage”, ruled that the passage should be taken in its context.
.
Not satisfied with the explanation, he later asked a brother through the Internet and asked if other Grand Jurisdictions have the same wording. One said that the California Cipher from where the Philippine Monitor was copied almost verbatim also said the same thing. Further that brother explained that the said paraphrasing is correct and that the explanation be not taken literally and out of context detailing thereon the said explanation to support it.

And so the lion made a little sleuthing and found that on page 378 of Albert Pike’s Morals and Dogma, it said that the virgin weeping is Isis, the applicable narration of which is being copied verbatim from the said book:

“To aid the in the search for the body of Osiris, and to nurse her infant child Horus, Isis sought out and took with her Anubis son of Osiris, and his sister Nepthe. He, as we said, was Sirius, the brightest star in the Heavens. After finding him, she went to Byblos, and seated herself near a fountain, where she had learned that the sacred chest had stopped which contained the body of Osiris. There she sat, sad and silent, shedding a torrent of tears. Thither came the women of the Court of Queen Astarte, and she spoke to them, and dressed their hair, pouring upon it deliciously perfumed ambrocia. This known to the Queen, Isis was engaged as nurse for her child, in the palace, one of the columns of which was made of erica or tamarisk, that had grown up over the chest containing Osiris, cut down by the King, and unknown to him, still enclosing the chest, which column Isis afterward demanded, and from it extracted the chest and the body, which the latter wrapped in thin drapery and perfumed, she carried with her.

Blue Masonry, ignorant of its import, still retains among its emblems one of a woman weeping over a broken column, holding in her hand a branch of acacia, myrtle or tamarisk, while Time, as we are told, stands behind her combing out the ringlets of her hair. “

So there we have in Blue Masonry a marble monument that was said to be erected “in honor of the GHMA. But it did not explain the apparent switching of the explanations for the “broken column and the virgin weeping” for as can be gleamed from hieroglyphic writing that was earlier invented by the Egyptians from where Osiris and Isis were considered as gods, and also from the Greeks were hieroglyphs were further refined via sculpting, what is pictured out is what is alluded to. Ever had a glimpse of the Book of the Dead?!

On second thought, could it be that since Freemasonry only gives hints on what it intends to convey and would even purposely waylay the gullible and the unsuspecting brethren, could it be that Blue Masonry intentionally switched the two explanations for reasons they alone can comprehend?!
Consider the following:
One symbol peculiar to Freemasons is the blackball, which means rejection of a candidate. This word is understood by the general public, even by cowans and eavesdroppers. But have we ever pondered that it is not a black ball that is used for rejection but a black cube?! Balls, and in the masonic sense, white, is used to elect, and black cubes (not balls) eject!!
Consider also the use of word “hail” which the English dictionary defines as “an expression of greeting.” But the meaning of this word to Freemasons is to conceal!
Talk about having double-edged meanings and these two examples will undoubtedly fill the grade.

Think about it, brethren!

2005-01-08T17:40:00.000+08:00

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!!

2005-01-08T17:30:00.000+08:00

THE MYSTIC CABLETOW

It was exactly five in the morning of October 24 when our phone rang and at the other end of the line was Alou, our daughter-in-law. Her voice crackling with bitterness, she asked if there is a way we could help her. Four days before, the lion tamer said that she saw the stepfather of our daughter-in-law being broadcast on TV as having been slain with a bullet hole on his head, apparently a subject of a summary execution by unknown assailants for reasons the lion neither knew nor cared about.

In her narration our daughter by affinity said that she and her mother had just arrived from the wake, where an hour before, they were unceremoniously shooed away by the relatives of her deceased stepfather out of Arlington Chapel apparently also dissuading them to attend the noontime burial. And the reason is simple- the relationship of her mother with the deceased has already turned sour a few years back and the husband was already having an affair with another girl. Furthermore, it appeared even the parents and his relatives have already accepted the change in relationship thus dumping our daughter-in-law’s mother to the sidelines. She also narrated that while she and her mother managed to keep their sorrows to themselves, she believed that not allowing them to attend the burial would be the last straw for after all, the deceased and her mother are, for all intents and purposes, still legally married. To top it all, it appeared the police authorities of Pasig City are partial to the relatives of the dead since the father is the barangay captain of the place and it was the police themselves who dragged them out of the Chapel.

Can the aging lion, therefore, help?!

With the lion tamer acting as combined telephone operator and private secretary, she dialed VW Philmore Balmaceda’s cellphone and not getting any answer tried his landline phone instead. As luck would have it, it was Philmore who answered whereupon the lion immediately grabbed the handset, uttered the equivalent words of the grand hailing sign and in cryptic message related the problem wondering out aloud if he could help. Getting a positive reply, the lion tossed back the phone to his tamer and instructed her to relay to VW Philmore the details of the needed help and the telephone number where our daughter-in-law may be contacted.

Wires burned between the phones of Philmore, our daughter-in-law and ourselves, and sometime later, another number was added, that of the Eastern Police District. VW Philmore was able to contact its head, Bro. (Gen) Valenzuela, who tasked SPO2 Matias to attend to our daughter-in-law’s predicament. In fine the lion also talked to SPO2 Matias who gave the assurance that he and a certain Capt. Arriola are already bound for the Arlington Chapel to insure that her solemn request that they be able to accompany the remains to the burial site in safety be granted.

Noontime passed in silence but by four that afternoon, a call was received from our daughter-in-law. Appreciative in her thanks, she narrated that Capt Arriola and SPO2 Matias saw to it that the car they were riding on immediately follow the limousine where the coffin is laid to the consternation of both the barangay captain and the deceased’s attaché (this may not be the appropriate word but it sure is better than the vulgar word “kabit”) And her dear mother felt satisfied, for although their marriage was already thrown to the rocks and is already labeled as estranged, she was still able to send her husband off to his final resting place.

And what has this short article got to do with the tenets of the Craft?

But haven’t you noticed, the paths of Bro. (Gen) Valenzuela and the lion have never crossed before?! How else can one brother ask help from another except by use of that unseen but unbreakable Cabletow that binds us Freemasons together!!

PS:

Immediately after the call from our daughter-in-law, Alou was received, the lion posted an email via the Internet saying:

Brethren:

Any brother who has contact with Bro. (Gen.) Valenzuela of Eastern Police District, please relay my sincerest appreciation for extending his assistance to my daughter-in-law, Alou Galarosa and her mother by sending Capt. Arriola and SPO2 Matias to Arlington Chapel, thence to Pasig Cemetery on the occasion of the burial of her stepfather, Gomer Concepcion on October 24, 2004.

The length of one’s cabletow can still reach Bohol.

Many thanks also to VW Philmore Balmaceda of Juan Sumulong Lodge No. 169 for making the help possible.

2005-01-08T17:25:00.000+08:00

THE AGING LION AND HIS BOYS

If you were asked, “could it happen that two fraternal brothers, the first being raised in 1982 and the second in 1989, would have an intimate relationship where the former would endearingly call the latter “Dad” and mean it?!

Of course it would be rare, but some critical analysts would say it is possible. Take the case of WB Sancho Niedo of Quezon City Lodge No. 122 for example. He was initiated in 1979 by his biological son who came all the way from Micronesia Lodge No, 173 F & A. M. in Saipan. Despite the fact that the son was the one primarily responsible for his father’s initiation into the mysteries of Masonry, it cannot be denied that out of the lodge, the former would still call his father “Dad”!

But suppose the earlier supposition restricts condition excepting biological relationship; how then could that be??

Bro. Ernie Rivera of the Diego Garcia Square and Compass Club claims he was raised as a master mason in 1982 while the aging lion was raised in 1989, yet the former endearingly calls the latter “Dad”. And not through biological lines nor the direct ties of the Craft but through the appendant organization called the DeMolay movement. Let now subject ties be brought to close scrutiny.

This writer has no idea how old Bro. Ernie is nor of the circumstances of his involvement in the DeMolay movement. Other than the fact that he proudly says he is a Senior DeMolay, and aside from this, the lion knew nothing of any other detail.

But let’s now look at the circumstances surrounding the lion’s links with the DeMolays.

Last 1991 (or 1992 the lion could no longer be certain), the Ambrocio Flores Chapter of the Order of DeMolay was resuscitated after several years of hibernation by Masonic District No. 9 but more specifically by Quezon City Lodge No. 122. An elder mason was designated Chapter Advisor and the lion, then a fledgling member of the lodge, was also tasked to be active in its affairs. The lodge elders promised to finance its revival but after a year, the funds needed for the uniforms and paraphernalia did not arrive to the consternation of the Chapter Dad who ultimately resigned leaving the lion to take care of the orphaned wards. Since the lion’s youngest son has already joined the movement, the lion was caught in a bind, and so he enlisted the lion tamer to also register as a chapter Mom.

This arrangement worked with the lion acting his role the best way he could while the Mom not only ironed the DeMolay’s uniforms but also played the role as surrogate mother whose shoulders usually absorb the tears of these young boys when heartburns and heartbreaks with their girlfriends occur.

This writer recalls that sometime in 1993, during one of the Craft’s multi-district conventions that was held at Camp Crame in Quezon City, a be-moustached brother approached the lion and introduced himself as “Dad Mac Ramos.” He said he learned of the things the lion and his tamer were doing for the Ambrocio Flores boys and urged him to keep it up. The various DeMolay manuals can help, he said, but in fine all that are needed is to understand these young tykes and keeping at the pantry an ample supply of noodles, cans of sardines and mackerels. “You will need these because they easily get hungry”, the founding Grand Master of the DeMolay said.

In fine the wheels of fortune changed. From Chapter Advisor of Ambrocio Flores, the lion saw himself Asst. Chapter Advisor of the A. Mabini Chapter. The responsibilities were replaced but in essence, it was still the same. Caring for these young boys and being an influence to their gradual transformation from young boys to burgeoning adults were the fare of the day. Until finally, the lion lost touch of the movement when he and his tamer retired to the place where they are now today.

But it has left an indelible imprint on his now aging mind. For example, while the Craft instills in the brotherhood equality as represented by the level but retains the pompous titles of Most Worshipful, Very Worshipful and Worshipful, the DeMolays have no such thing; a brother is simply that on the surface. But it cherishes seniority- a DeMolay who joined the ranks ahead of another is senior than the one who joined later. And that reality does not change.

And the endearing word “Dad” is not due every Freemason, but only to those who have influenced their young minds as advisors inside the Chapter doors. And they will call the latter “Dads” even after joining the Fraternity.

Here is an amusing anecdote to tell.

One time, one Senior DeMolay upstart had the occasion to interact with the lion who was then having a gleeful exchange of pleasantries with other Senior DeMolays who have already joined the Fraternity. Wanting to impress, he called the lion “Brod” feeling he was already entitled to do so; but instead received a severe tongue-lashing from his DeMolay elders. Too late did he realize that a severe admonition from his elders is forthcoming by omitting the use of the endearing word that he once revered..

At another time, our only daughter asked his father a question if he knew an instructor in UP and rattled his name. When she received the reply in the negative, she said that “But he knew you quite well. He even claims he often sleep at our basement in the company of our youngest son Ivan. And the lion could only murmur. “But how the heck could I memorize all their names. More than a hundred DeMolays slept in our basement!

And this rule of calling an advisor “Dad” applies even to those Senior DeMolays who have already gone inactive, like the branch Manager of the SSS Tagbilaran branch who would not fail to call the lion “Dad” in conversation whenever they met.

Right, Bro. Ernie?!

2005-01-08T17:20:00.000+08:00

REPAYING A SURPRISE FRATERNAL VISIT

Brethren who have read that article titled “Surprise Masonic Visitors” that was posted in the wonderful pages of this Internet last September may find this follow-up sequel entertaining.

Last November 5 at about nine in the morning, the aging lion was at the backyard leisurely listening to the radio on his favorite DZRH AM band with his ears glued at the entertaining voice of Bro. Deo Macalma, when the lion tamer shouted at him at the top of her voice saying a certain Col. Ushida was on the phone. Promptly, he entered the house via the backdoor and at the sala where the phone was located, answered the call. At the other end was Bro. Eric who said that the 15th Infantry battalion of the Philippine Army that he heads is celebrating its 30th Founding Anniversary on November 9 and would therefore be honored if the lion could grace the occasion. He said he expects Bro. Arsenio Arugay to likewise attend the gathering. and so hopes other brethren in the vicinity could also attend by adding that he is leaving it to me to extend the invitation.

My reply was guarded. Except for Bro. Eduardo Palac who is now in his nineties who could no longer attend socials, I do not know of any other brother within thirty kilometer radius whom I could invite. But since the coming Saturday was the stated meeting of Dagohoy Lodge No. 84, I told Bro. Eric that I will mention it to them.

And so last November 8 before the stated meeting commenced, I relayed his message to VW Emmanuel Mende and true enough, the hundred kilometer distance between Tagbilaran and the town of Candijay where the camp is located makes a fraternal visit difficult, especially because the affair will be held in the evening. At my request, he sent a text message to Bro. Arugay who, it turned out, was already assigned in Cebu City and therefore could not also attend the event. That leaves the lion the only brother who could honor Bro. Eric’s invitation.

On the day following (this sounds more like the starting phrase of a paragraph in the lecture of the third degree) the lion rode a jeepney bound for barangay La Union at Candijay town and hired a “habal-habal”(a local term for a tricycle for hire which is a standard mode of conveyance in the area) for twenty five pesos. Sensing that the driver was proceeding at the direction of the town of Mabini, I told him that he appears to be headed at the wrong route since Bro. Eric earlier said that the camp is at the right side of the national road. It turned out there are two military camps in the area and the driver, realizing that the camp at Mabini was not the one I sought, promptly executed a 360 degree turn and speed to the other way.

Before we arrived at the camp, I noticed many people at a roadside basketball court who were mostly in fatigue uniforms attending a spirited basketball contest. I promptly ordered the driver to stop to enable me to look for Bro. Eric and true enough, he was there. I approached him but was mildly surprised because a balding gentleman immediately stood in our way and extended his hands to me as a welcome gesture. It turned out he was the incumbent Governor of Bohol whose name is Erico Aumentado. Yeah, having the same name of Bro. Eric, but with an additional letter “o” appended.

The game having just ended, the good Governor bade leave and together with the Brigade Commander who was the guest of honor for the occasion, left for their respective destinations. Which made Bro. Eric later ask if I knew the Governor to which I promptly nodded. After all, it is true that me and the Governor did meet before, and to be specific, during the March 2003 installation at Dagohoy Lodge No. 84 where he was its guest speaker. I no longer added to Bro. Eric that politicians routinely extends their arms as welcome gesture especially it’s now the advent of elections, and never mind if they could not distinguish you from King Solomon!!

We then proceeded to the camp and at his office he immediately called up Bro. Arugay via his cellphone. The latter is in Cebu City hence could not attend. He then opened his own computer and showed me some of the things that he has already installed. He is truly a computer whiz at home in the Web!

Since it was still early, we talked about things Masonic. It’s been barely three months since he took over the battalion from Colonel Ernesto Guidaya who is himself a Mason and somehow he said he miss the brethren. But he managed to bring with him two things, the monitor and the pamphlet on the ritual on floorworks. The others, like the Constitution and by laws and similar other masonic materials were somehow left behind. He mentioned that his wife has just visited him for four days and there she felt how it is to be in the fields. On being asked, he said that his late grandfather was a Japanese and that his father was once connected with the US Navy, a rather curious situation as the Japanese were the enemies of the Americans during the Second World War.

By seven that evening dinner was served and at the table that accommodated a dozen persons, we and his junior officers partook of the food that was prepared for the evening. I there realized that military customs and traditions are different from that of the ordinary mortals. I noticed that the rest of the diners cannot bid leave from their chairs even if they have already finished eating, not until the leader of the pack has finished his. And these officers who are composed of a major, two captains and several lieutenants, are all younger than him, most of whom are barely in their thirties.

By eight, the battalion’s combo dished out its repertoire while the soldiers and their ladies danced to the live beat of their guitars and drums. Bro. Eric and myself just watched them while liquefying our respective throats with a bottle of red wine. In fine, the barangay officials arrived and joined us in our table, and were offered by Bro. Eric “bahalina”, that intoxicating beverage from Leyte which he calls the official drink of the 15th IB to their pleasurable delight.

But somehow, the unique visit has got to end. By nine thirty I excused myself and requested Bro. Eric to order one of his soldiers to take me home to our residence in Guindulman as the lion tamer must surely be lonely and alone that night!!

2005-01-08T17:18:00.000+08:00

A CHANCE MEETING WITH AN AGED INACTIVE BROTHER

Our meeting could not be labeled as accidental for he was, after all, an uncle by affinity of the light of my life, he being married to her aunt. But let me tell you this story as it unfolded from the very beginning.

Before we left for the metropolis last month, we were visited by her cousin at our residence who invited us for dinner as it was the sixty-second birthday of her husband; and in this bucolic and sleepy town where social activities rarely transpire, the missus eagerly accepted her invitation asking me if I will also tag along. I said I will.

Of course, drinking a shot or two would be a welcome respite as the celebrant, being an American citizen and a long-time US resident, would surely have Scotch or brandy served at the table. But that was not what I eagerly looked forward to, it was the thought of meeting his father-in-law that I expected with bathed breath. The latter was, after all, a fraternal brother whose name was already indelibly inscribed in the ancient rolls of the Craft, he being a member of the pioneer class of Quezon City Bodies of the Supreme Council Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite branch of the Fraternity. Records show that in December 1963, he and together with five others that include WB Jesus B. Venzon and Bro. Andres P. Orilla of Quezon City Lodge No. 122. joined the elite rank of the Scottish Rite brethren when Quezon City Bodies initiated its first batch of candidates to the mysteries of the Scottish Rite’s teachings.

As it was a late Sunday afternoon and a time for her Sunday mass, me and the missus decided to go to the place separately, she coming from the church while I would come directly from home. I thereafter reached the residence of the celebrant, offered the usual greetings and subsequently asked for his father-in-law who replied that the old man was at his room resting. Having asked permission from his wife who reluctantly acquiesced as her father was obviously resting disinterestedly on the party that was being held, I entered the room and seeing him serenely lying in bed, mumbled the customary “hello”, held his right hand and executed the SGOTLP. He was totally surprised and immediately opened his eyes wide. I then asked: “What is your mother lodge?” and on this question he mumbled something which I did not understand. I then said that I’ve come across an article saying that he was a member of the pioneer class of the Quezon City Bodies and to which he replied: “Ah, yes, but that was long ago!” Which made his daughter wonder what topic we just discussed in her presence; the two sentences that I uttered, his attendant replies, and even the SGOTLP that I somehow managed to execute that were totally alien to her ears and eyes. Surely, she must have wondered, how come his old man, who was already totally disinterested in the mundane concerns of the outside world, would so suddenly be interested in a topic she knew nothing about??

And so when I visited the Grand Lodge in time for the 2003 ANCOM I requested Ms. Elo Murillo for his Masonic data. It said:

Name: Eduardo D. Palac
Lodge: Bagumbayan No. 4
Birthday: 10/13/12
Initiated: 12/23/33
Passed: 02/24/34
Raised: 04/28/34

Which now puts him on his dotage years as a ninety-year-old who embraced the tenets of the Fraternity during the depression years of the nineteen thirties! And he joined Bagumbayan Lodge No. 4 when he was but a young lad who has just reached the age of twenty one!!

Satisfied that I finally determined that he was a Mason of the good old days, I then scanned other records and saw that in the book “Philippine Lodges” which I had the privilege of co-authoring, an entry on page 158 on the history of Dagohoy Lodge No. 84. said that among the brethren who periodically attended the stated meetings of this lodge at Tagbilaran include the name Eduardo D. Paloc (which we misspelled with an “o”) who would come all the way from his hometown in Calape which is some 42 kilometers away from this provincial lodge.

That he was in his lifetime an active member of the Craft, on this I felt certain judging from his membership in the Quezon City Bodies and his periodic attendance at Dagohoy Lodge No. 84 whenever he visits his hometown in Bohol. But whether he practiced Masonry’s tenets when he migrated sometime in the nineteen seventies to “the land of the brave and the home of the free” I could not guess, for even his daughter who stays with him in Guindulman (his other five children, all girls and now married and now all residing in the States) and his son-in-law do not know that he was a true-blue member of the Craft.

And might as well, for in this rustic community Masons are still regarded with guarded, if not scornful disdain for joining a brotherhood that is anathema to the Church!!

2005-01-08T17:15:00.000+08:00

OF MASONIC TITLES AND DESIGNATIONS

Do you know that the title of our Craft’s Grand Master during the early years after the first Grand Lodge was established 1917 was not “Most Worshipful” but “Right Worshipful” or “Right Honorable”, these two titles of which were used alternately depending on who was seated on the chair? How and when the title was changed to “Most Worshipful” this writer does not know and does not mind since that is not part nor topic of this article.

And do you know that all elected Grand Lodge officers in the Philippine jurisdiction are automatically called Right Worshipful except the elected Grand Master who is called “Most Worshipful” upon installation and carries this title to his grave?!

And do you know that it sometimes happen that the titles “Most Worshipful” and “Right Worshipful” stray beyond the elective line when the person already entitled to these titles are appointed to a position below the elective posts, like when MW Macario M. Ofilada (GM-59) was appointed Grand Tyler in 1962 and when the Deputy Grand Master and later the Junior Grand Warden were appointed District Deputy Grand Master of Masonic District No. 1 as was the practice during the early fifties and up to the mid-eighties apparently as warm-up for his ultimate elevation to the Grand Oriental Chair?!

And do you know that all appointed Grand Lodge officers except as noted in the above paragraph were simply called “Worshipful” until in 1958 when a resolution was passed to create the title “Very Worshipful” initially to elevate the positions of District Deputy Grand Master, Grand Orator and Grand Lecturer, respectively, so that their sterling roles in the Craft may be duly recognized; and when the resolution was finally drafted and approved, it led to the wholesale stamping of the title “Very Worshipful” to all Grand Lodge Officers, except the Grand Chaplain who was called "Very Reverend”.?!

And do you know that the evolution of the position of “Grand Lecturer” has led to an avalanche of so many :”Very Worshipfuls” that in effect overshadowed the traditional respect and reverence for the “Worshipfuls”, the genuine rulers of the blue lodges that is the bulwark and foundation of this ancient and august Fraternity?!

Let me now trace and narrate to you the phenomenal growth of the title Grand Lecturer in the Philippine jurisdiction as traced from the Annual Proceedings of the Grand Communication of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines..

The decade of the fifties saw only two Grand Lecturers; one Senior and the other called Junior, which until 1958, also sports the title “Worshipful”. Although the titles of the two were, like the others, subsequently changed to “Very Worshipful”, their numerical number, until in 1967, did not change.

By 1968, this number was increased to five, with one Senior at the helm and four juniors as his subaltern.

The decade of the seventies saw another curious change when the position of “Junior Grand Lecturer” was made parallel to the number of districts in the jurisdiction which in 1974 already numbered thirty. To make the number even, the Grand Lodge appointed 29 Junior Grand Lecturers and with the Senior Grand Lecturer complementing it, the number, much like the number of DDGMs, totaled thirty. This would soon be followed by the creation of another title in 1980, that of Assistant Senior Grand Lecturer. Which reminds this writer of his stint in the country’s most prestigious accounting firm where designations started from junior, semi-senior and senior. But that refers to the position of auditor!!

In 1983 another novel arrangement was made, and that is, the creation of the “District Grand Lecturer” to complement the District Deputy Grand Master and thus established the district realm with its own set of officers. In the meantime the title of “Junior Grand Lecturer” was restored above the district level but with the Asst. Senior Grand Lecturer fading from the scene.

Somehow, the desire for change was as itchy as a problematic allergy. Additions were subsequently made, first by increasing the JGL’s to three to represent the three basic group of islands in the country, then adding another JGL to represent the Overseas brethren, then by gerrymandering Luzon, etc. etc to accommodate more Junior Grand Lecturers.

The District Grand Lecturers or DGLs initially have a very modest increase from the time the designation was coined in the decade of the eighties. During that time, additions were made only when a district and consequently, a DDGM, is added.

But the decade of the nineties showed an unprecedented growth. Some districts were able to have as much as eight DGLs that practically entitled them to one DGL for every two lodges.

. MW Roberto Q. Pagotan’s Circular Nos. 1 and 12, Series 2004, that were issued currently show that we now have one SGL, 17 JGLs and 138 DGLs in our masonic jurisdiction. That totals to a hefty 156; which mean we have a good 52% of the 302 active lodges that we have today.

But pray, tell me, how many of them are qualified to deliver at least the lectures of our Craft’s three degrees?!

Just asking, eh?!!

QOHELETH AT THE EDGE OF THE EARTH!

2005-01-08T09:11:00.000+08:00

By: Bro. Geminiano V. Galarosa, Jr.
Dagohoy Lodge No 84
(HM- LL 185, JS 169 and RP 147)

Would it matter if this writer use the word Ecclesiastes instead of the name Qoheleth?! But the former is simply the Greek translation of the Hebrew word that made famous the 3rd degree parambulation which starts with the phrase “Remember now thy Creator, in the days of thy youth, etc. etc.,” that in fine sums up the biblical treatise on old age and more importantly, on man’s ultimate destiny which is death!

We, Freemasons learn in the third degree ritual that Ecclesiastes is a lesson on old age and of impending demise, and that on the latter there is no escape. And this short article is about three brethren of Dagohoy Lodge No. 84 that all reside in a sleepy town called Guindulman, and curiously, are all related to the lion tamer by affinity.

The first is their next door neighbor in their new habitat which her stubborn and aging husband chose as their adopted residence in the sunset of his years. This neighbor is the husband of her aunt who is the half-sister of her deceased mother and is now aged ninety two and an American citizen. He has six grown-up children, all professionals, and whenever life in town becomes dull to him, would simply purchase a one-way airline ticket bound for the States and there spend life unmindful of the possibility that he may no longer return alive. When he came home last June, he casually mentioned he has a prostate problem and that it’s now bothering him. When asked how serious it was, he just shrugged his shoulders and replied is not a bit worried if the Grim Reaper finally catches up on him because at ninety two, he felt he has already exceeded his life-span and that each day is, for all intents and purposes, already a bonus to his existence. Just the other day, he left town in a huff after four months stay and only time will tell if he will be back again. Of the four stated meetings that he was supposed to attend, he managed to be present in three, which is already a very good record considering the distance of Guindulman to Dagohoy Lodge No 84 at the city of Tagbilaran.

The second is another ninety-two year old retiree who has been subjected to a previous article and who also spent more than a quarter of his life in the States. Also an American citizen, he is an uncle-in-law of the lion tamer, also has six grown-up children, all girls, who likewise are all professionals. All of his children are married and except for one who decided to return to the country to care for their aging father, are now permanently residing in the States. Annually however, most of the children together with their respective husbands, would take a brief vacation to the country to join their beloved father celebrate his birthday.

And the third is the aging lion, aged sixty four, with three children, all married and are residing in the metropolis. The lion is the youngest of the three.

All three are migrants to the place who made Guindulman their residence because of their respective spouses. The first came from the neighboring Candijay town who during his fruitful years worked as a PACD employee and sometime after retirement went to the States and resided there.

The second is a resident of Valencia town, some fifty kilometers away from Guindulman who likewise decided to make the latter his residence during the sunset of his years but only after migrating to the big city and later to the States, where all his six children and together with their respective spouses have likewise migrated..

And the third, as we all knew, is a Bicolano who originally planted his roots at the metropolis but when he realized upon retirement that his meager pension could not sustain him, opted to make Guindulman his last stand confident that balancing his budget in this rustic place will not be as problematic as walking the tightrope in the asphalt jungle we all call the metropolis.

Let’s get a glimpse of their respective masonic data and their other personal circumstances in comparative form:

MASONIC DATA
MAPUTOL PALAC THE LION
Date of Birth 02/12/12 10/13/12 09/01/40
Age on last birthday 92 92 64
Date Initiated 10/15/62 12/23/33 04/15/89
Date Passed 02/09/63 02/24/34 05/13/89
Date Raised 12/28/63 04/28/34 06/10/89

KNOWN PERSONAL LIFE OF BRO. ANTONIO B. MAPUTOL

Edging Bro. Palac by a full eight months, Bro. Maputol’s physical frame betrays his actual age. He still stands erect and walks about five kilometers each day for his exercise, a habit he has acquired during his active years at PACD. This habit he took with him to the States when he migrated in the middle eighties, and out there when winter comes, he would substitute by walking at the edges of the imposing malls, or so he claims.

His vitality (he would only smile when asked of his virility) is traceable, no doubt, not only to his sustained daily exercise but also to his rigid food habits. His breakfast fare consist largely of root crops of cassava, camote and gabi while in town (he did not mention what he ate for breakfast in the States), his viands for noontime and evening meals are vegetable and fish that abound in the community, while meat which is luxury to many, is food that he distaste. For drinks, he prefers tuba from wines or beers.

He said his “sideline” in the States include making or repairing furniture which he can still do expertly, a task that provides him a good source of income. Just the other week, he again left the country after about four months’ stay, no doubt bored at doing almost nothing in town, save for the fact that he was able to attend three of the four stated meetings while in the country.

KNOWN PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES OF UNCLE DADO PALAC

Although the husband of their godmother when the leash was attached to the neck of the lion by his tamer during their wedding in 1970, the latter hardly knew Bro. Palac’s personal life. The reason is it was immediately after that time that the Palac brood (wife, six daughters and their respective husbands) migrated to the home of the brave and the land of the free and established permanent residence there. While the family sometimes return for a brief vacation, the socials did not allow close relationship and wider communication.

In 1990, however, Bro. Palac returned to the country and handed over to the lion’s father-in-law a xerox copy of a book titled “Ancient Secret of the Fountain of Youth” (originally issued in 1939 and reprinted in 1989), a book that contained an exercise program that allegedly originally originated from a monastery in the Himalayas, to which Bro. Palac became an adherent. But while the exercise program which consisted of six simple exercises is in itself not too strenuous, the food requirement intakes will discourage many, especially the food connoisseurs. Take a look at these apparently harmless eating instructions.

1. Never eat starch (or carbohydrate) and meat at the same meal, though if you are strong and healthy, it need not cause you too much concern now;
2. If coffee bothers you, drink it black, using no milk or cream. If it still bothers you, eliminate it from your diet;
3. Chew your food to a liquid, and cut down on the amount of food you eat;
4. Eat raw egg yolks once a day, every day. Take them either just before or after meals- not during the meal;
5. Reduce the variety of foods you eat in one meal to a minimum.

And how does one do all those, aber?! But apparently, Bro. Palac in the nineties did. Suffice it to say, however, that the crouching grasshopper finally caught up with his knees because when he came home two years ago, he was already more or less permanently glued to his wheelchair or in bed..

AND NOW FOR THE LION

If the lives of the three are compared to vehicles, then the two would be comparable to the vintage and sturdy Volkswagens while the lion would be the equivalent of the sleek Nissan Sentra of the modern world. Admittedly faster than the former, it was recklessly overused (or more appropriately, abused) by its owner it’s now sorely dilapidated thus unduly shortening its life-span.. He did try the exercise and food regimen that were required by the exercise program that was contained in the book titled “Ancient Secret of the Fountain of Youth” but finally decided against it because he felt it takes out much of the fun of living.

At sixty four therefore, his head turning silver and now almost toothless, each night before he slept he give the GAOTU thanks, never worrying if on the next day he won’t have the chance to rise again.

POSTSCRIPT

Some much now for RHETORIC (remember the second of the seven steps?!) as this article has now exceeded the usual two full pages.

But it would indeed be fun to know who would be first to buy his one-way ticket to the grave!!