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
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
Comments