Classics

FREEMASONRY AND THE HOLY SCRIPTURES

2008-11-11T16:08:00.000-08:00

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.

BENEDICTION FOR THE NEW TEMPLE

2006-03-22T13:43:00.000-08:00

Our Father which art in heaven, whose wisdom and goodness manifest themselves in all the works of creation, with filial love and reverence we beseech thee to bless these children now here assembled as we inaugurate this new Masonic Temple for the glory of your Holy Name.

We commend to your benevolent care the souls of our trail-blazing fraternal brothers who, during the early years of our Lodge existence, saw fit to purchase a lot at J. S. Torrablba St. where they built the first Masonic Temple some seventy seven years ago in this beautiful and scenic island called Bohol.

But while the Temple has served the brethren fully well, the lapse of time has eroded the structure that it required a replacement else drastic renovation had to be made which can prove even more costly than building a new one using current engineering means.

To the credit of three fraternal brothers, namely, Worshipful Master Eugene T. Galbreath whose foresight initiated the sale of the lot so that a new Temple at the side of the Masonic Cemetery may be erected; to WB David B. Tirol, patriarch of the University of Bohol, whose generosity of spirit encouraged him to purchase the said lot so that the financial requirements for its construction may adequately be funded, and to VW Francisco M. Pamaran, Jr., whose engineering skills as Master Builder insured that the new structure is built making it the most beautiful Masonic Temple in the entire archipelago outside of the Grand Lodge itself; the Galbreath-Tirol-Pamaran triumvirate clearly demonstrated the three symbolic pillars called “Wisdom, Strength and Beauty” of our august Fraternity.

As we install to their respective stations the officers and members of this lodge later this afternoon, we also beseech thee to grant unto our incoming Worshipful Master Victoriano B. Tirol, Jr., and to the succeeding Worshipful Masters who will someday come after him the WISDOM to direct us, to all the other incoming officers and members of the lodge and those that would also later follow them the STRENGTH to support us; and to the rest of the Masonic family, namely, the Eastern Star, the Rainbows, the DeMolays, and also our own respective families, relatives and friends, the BEAUTY of holiness to adorn our labors that this New Temple may last as long, if not longer than the first that was built by our trail-blazing fraternal brothers who indelibly etched their footprints and planted firmly the seeds of Masonry on this rustic Visayan soil...

And when a similar lapse of time demands that this Temple be likewise demolished for one reason or another, we pray that when that fateful date arrives, a third temple be built by the brethren who will come after us, hopefully much stronger and more beautiful than this Temple that it intends to replace.

All these we ask for the glory of your Holy Name.

Amen!

REQUIEM FOR A MENTOR PAR EXCELLENCE

2006-01-29T13:11:00.000-08:00

REQUIEM FOR A MENTOR PAR EXCELLENCE

He was like a father to the aging lion, but let the cat narrate his story in chronological sequence.

At the lion’s mother lodge are three past Grand Masters; MW Jolly Bugarin who ascended to the Oriental Chair in 1979, the subject of this article who rose to fame in 1986, and MW Agustin V. Mateo, who rose to the same seat in 1992. Of the three however, only one is a true-blue product of the lodge, the first was raised at Tamaraw Lodge No. 69 while the third became a master mason at Kingston Lodge No. 100.

The aging lion could not remember if his idol was present during his raising in 1989 for surely, his memories during the early years as a Mason was not at all significant. His recollection of what would become his mentor in Masonry to his mind started sometime in 1994 when MW Reynold as he would fondly call the latter approached him saying he would want that the cat do the awesome task as Managing Editor of the Far Eastern Freemason of the Supreme Council of the 33rd and Last Degree Accepted Scottish Rite of the Philippines. And his assuring word was “don’t worry, you can’t fail. I will handle the responsibilities of the Editor-in-Chief anyway”.

The aging lion’s recollection of that event was unforgettable. No sooner was he cajoled to accept the job and he was treated to a luncheon at the nearby Dream Haus Restaurant with no less MW Reynato S. Puno, Ill. Alberto C. Reyes, the Grand Secretary General, Ill. Agerico V. Amagna, Jr., the Assistant Grand Secretary General, his mentor- MW. Reynold S. Fajardo, and two others whose names the lion could not now recall. The reply of the impish lion of course, had to be in the affirmative. After being wined and dined and in front of these revered Masonic elders, can he ever say no?!

Soonest the lion was saddled to his new and unforgettable task as Managing Editor and he was installed Master of his mother lodge in 1995 with his mentor performing the role as Installing Officer. Not noticed by many, that installation is probably the only installation ceremony where an additional item was added to the master’s charge: “that part of the master’s duty that also included the provision that his job as Managing Editor of the said publication should, to the best of his ability, be done.”

But their relationship was not limited to things Masonic. Sometime in 1995 or thereabouts, when the lion’s youngest son got entangled as witness in a frat war involving the Sigma Rho and another fraternity whose name escaped this writer’s recollection at the State University that resulted in the death of one, the aging lion’s mentor succored to the defense of his son by warding off the legal battle that was filed by a certain Atty. Bonifacio Alentajan at the metropolitan trial court.

His job as Managing Editor expired three years later as it was co-terminus to the tenure of his mentor as Editor-in-Chief of the said publication. But his apprenticeship was not to end there. His mentor also saw to it that his ward review an still-unpublished book titled “Famous Filipino Masons” which unfortunately did not go off the press due to the untimely death of Ill. Alberto Reyes. In addition, his mentor also assigned him to review the monumental book titled “The Golden Years” of the Scottish Rite and in addition was required to also write the brief biographical sketches of the four recent additions to the Sovereign Grand Inspector Generals of the Scottish Rite to complete the said book.

In late 2001, his mentor also asked him to co-author the book Philippine Lodges and while the lion was adamant as he was already mulling plans to transfer residence to Bohol, the former simply said, “don’t worry, we’ll finish the task, the powers of the Internet is awesome, all I’ll do is send you the materials by mail, you compose the write-ups and send these back to me for final review. And that’s how the book titled “Philippine Lodges” was done.

The lion’s transfer of residence had aborted their physical contact and save for intermittent mails at the Internet may be considered really irregular. Whenever in the big city, however, the aging lion would make a call at his mentor’s residence at Project 8, their respective places of abode being but a few blocks away, and there talk about things Masonic and also about old times.

So it was that on January 29, 2006 at about nine o’clock, Sis. Betty Exmundo relayed a rare and unusual message that MW Reynold S. Fajardo, PGM, GMH, incumbent Grand Secretary of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines, and Sovereign Grand Inspector General of the Scottish Rite has just pole-vaulted to the Great Beyond. Her husband, VW Saul knew the aging lion should be informed for reasons the couple surely knew!

Many eulogies will indeed be said about the man, not only for his credentials in Freemasonry and out of it, but more so because he is the only credible Masonic writer the Craft ever had. But to the aging lion his MW Reynold, who is both his mentor and foster father, the memory will surely linger for a long, long time to come.

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Note: The last email that the aging lion received from his mentor was dated not more than a week from his death, and was titled “Japanese Proverb” the message of which says: “You look silly” (or something).. Perhaps RW Jimmy Y. Gonzales, SGW, who was also furnished a copy, remembers.

Brief History of Freemasonry In the Philippines

2006-01-08T00:06:00.000-08:00

In the Beginning...

The history of Philippine Masonry may be likened to the history of the first Grand Lodge. On the Feast of St. John the Baptist in 1717, four of the pre-existing Masonic lodges in Great Britain organized what became the first Grand Lodge of the world. On December 19, 1912, three lodges that were chartered under the Constitution of the Grand Lodge of California finally succeeded in establishing the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippine Islands, the forerunner of what is now officially known as the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines.

Masonry existed in England long before the creation of the first Grand Lodge, so was Philippine Masonry already alive even before the formation of the Grand Lodge of the Philippine Islands. In 1856, for example, Primera Luz Filipina, the first Masonic lodge in the Philippines, was formed by Jose Malcampo y Monge, a naval captain who subsequently became Governor General of the Philippines. Primera Luz was chartered by Gran Oriente Luisitano and admitted only Spaniards in its fold. Subsequently, three other lodges were established one after the other: the first by the Germans, the second by the British consul in Nagtahan, and the third by the Spaniards in Pandacan.

Not only that, Dr, Serafin Quiazon, head of the National Historical Institute of the Republic of the Philippines, while researching in London on the British trade with the Philippines, stumbled upon a significant piece of historical data. Guissippe Garibaldi, that brilliant Italian revolutionary whom President Abraham Lincoln offered a command in the United States Army during the American Civil War, captained a vessel that anchored in Manila Bay sometime in the middle of the nineteenth century. There is little doubt that the tenets of the Craft landed with Garibaldi in the sandy beaches of the Philippine Islands during that period.

The Filipino Patriots Embrace the Tenets of Freemasonry Abroad...

It was the influx of the students who pursued higher studies in Europe, among them Marcelo H. del Pilar from Bulacan, Graciano Lopez Jaena from Iloilo, the Luna brothers from Ilocos, Galicano Apacible from Batangas, Domingo Panganiban from Camarines Norte, Jose Alejandrino from Pampanga, Tomas Arejola from Camarines Sur, Ariston Bautista from Manila, Julio Llorente from Cebu, and the country’s foremost hero, Jose Rizal from Laguna, that made a conglomeration of Masonic patriots from the entire archipelago. In 1886, some of them joined Lodge Solidaridad No. 53 in Barcelona, Spain, while others joined Lodge Revoluccion, and, exposed to the tenets of the fraternity, established local lodges upon their return to the islands. Nilad Lodge was formed first on January 6, 1891, and, in no time, several lodges mushroomed in Manila and its environs, even reaching as far as Zamboanga in the southern backdoor. By 1893, they had succeeded in establishing the Grand Regional Council under the leadership of Ambrocio Flores. Three years later, the Philippine Revolution conflagrated an armed rebellion that was initiated by the Katipunan led by Andres Bonifacio. Bonifacio’s organizational skills and the secret codes that he employed were said to have been copied from the Masonic secret rules and procedures. These ultimately led to the downfall of the nation’s conquistadors who for more than three centuries wielded the stick without dangling any carrot over the subjects of the entire archipelago.

It can be said, however, that Masonry during those tumultuous and rebellious years was in suspended animation. The "hawks," among them Andres Bonifacio and Emilio Aguinaldo, became Katipuneros; the "doves," which included among others, Jose Rizal, Numeriano Adriano and the thirteen martyrs of Cavite were herded in the dungeons and ultimately shot at Bagumbayan. A third group called the "chameleons" or balimbings, simply changed their coats and did what they thought best, be pliant as a bamboo and swing to the rhythm of nature, wherever the wind blows.

The Americans Enter the Political and the Masonic Scenes...

Then came the American conquerors that hounded the self-proclaimed Philippine President Emilio Aguinaldo and his ragtag band to the boondocks. Many of these Philippine Masons, already sporting their avowed roles as "Rebolucionarios," were at their wits’ end, eluding the pursuing Gringos. What the Filipinos did not realize was that these soldiers were led mostly by Masons: Generals Arthur MacArthur; John J. Pershing who was then but a captain, a Shriner and who answers to the monicker "Black Jack Pershing;" Harry Bandoltz; and James G. Harbord; the last two named generals later forming the forerunner of the Philippine Constabulary or the present-day Philippine National Police (PNP).

The Country As A Free-For-All Masonic Jurisdiction...

The surrender of General Aguinaldo effectively ended the armed insurrection against the Americans and also resulted in a field day for the different Grand Lodges and appendant bodies of the Masonic fraternity. Early to make their presence felt were the American Military Lodge led by the United States Volunteers from North Dakota, the Knights Templar, and the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Missouri, a lodge composed of Negro soldiers from the United States. These were immediately followed by the Grand Lodge of California through the creation of what is called "The Sojourners Club" and thereafter was followed by creation of Manila Lodge No. 342, Cavite Lodge No. 350 and Corregidor Lodge No. 386

On the local front, first to reorganize was Grand Master Ambrocio Flores who attempted to establish the Filipino Grand Orient in 1899. This was followed by the Gran Oriente Espanol through the reactivation of Modestia Lodge No. 199, the Grand Orient of France that was introduced by Dr. Trinidad Pardo H. de Tavera, the Philippine Grand Orient that was established by Jose Utor y Fernandez, and the Grand Lodge of Scotland that established Lodge Perla de Oriente 1034 in Manila and Cebu Lodge No. 1106 in the Visayas. Gran Oriente de Espana also came into existence and so did Gran Oriente Luisitano Unido, making the country a conglomeration of several Masonic disciplines and jurisdictions.

Furthermore, the Americans brought to the fore several appendant organizations, notably the Scottish Rite, the York Rite, the Mystic Shrine and the Order of the Eastern Star. Even the Chinese secret societies composed of Chinese Masons who claimed kinship with the worldwide fraternity entered the picture. All these complemented and co-existed with one another.

The Formation of the Grand Lodge of the Philippine Islands...

Invariably, confusion ensued. The Americans kept membership in their lodges to themselves; the Filipinos clamored for recognition, until, finally, the three American lodges that were chartered under the constitution of the Grand Lodge of California sought dispensation from their Mother Grand Lodge to form their own and thus established in 1912 what came to be the Grand Lodge of the Philippine Islands. Their respective Lodge numbers were also changed and became Manila Lodge No. 1, Cavite Lodge No. 2 and Corregidor Lodge No. 3, respectively.

Masonry Silently Works by the Sidelines...

It is interesting to note that Masonry worked in mystic ways. Unknown to many, Generals Harry H. Bandholtz and Gary G. Harbord took Manuel Luis Quezon into their protective wings and gave him his political start in Tayabas by helping him get elected an Assemblyman. It was most reasonably because of his close association with the two that encouraged Quezon to join the Masonic fraternity by petitioning for membership at Sinukuan Lodge No. 273 in 1907. His appointment as Resident Commissioner in Washington would later serve as guiding light in his future Masonic endeavors when he was refused admission in a lodge in the United States on the ground that his lodge in the Philippines was clandestine. At about the same time that Quezon was initiated into the mysteries of Masonry, Rafael Palma petitioned for membership at Bagong Buhay Lodge 291 while Juan Sumulong joined a lodge of Gran Oriente de España and later became member of Bagumbayan Lodge No. 4 under the jurisdiction of the newly-formed Grand Lodge of the Philippine Islands; three illustrious Freemasons who were all admitted to the Philippine bar and would make their respective presence felt in the corridors of power of the American-guided government.

The Polarization of the Brethren into Two Main Bodies...

The existence of lodges under several jurisdictions became as confusing as would two amateur players playing chess with so many boisterous kibitzers watching the game on a chessboard. The California Lodges recognized the Scottish Lodges but did not accept brethren from the Filipino Lodges. The Scottish Lodges maintained relationship with both the American and Filipino lodges but completely ignored the black-skinned Prince Hall lodges. Until finally the Masonic field polarized into only two main bodies, the Grand Lodge of the Philippine Islands composed of the white-skinned Americans, and the Regional Grand Lodge which consists of the brown-skinned Indios of the land.

Merging Into One Masonic Roof...

It is doubtful whether Masonry in the Philippines could have achieved easy unification and harmonious relationship without the combined talents of Governor Francis Burton Harrison and Manuel Luis Quezon. Harrison was appointed Governor General in the Philippines and had publicly acknowledged that he owed his appointment to Quezon. The Governor was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason on July 11, 1916 and brought with him his pro-Filipino inclination to the Masonic world. It was therefore inevitable that the fusion gained headway on both sides and when the election for Grand Master was held for the first time under the fused bodies in 1917, the Americans who were easily outnumbered, were surprised to see MW William H. Taylor reelected during the first year of fusion. It was also the start of what would later amount to a Rigodon de Honor of electing a Grand Master, much like the checkered floor of King Solomon’s Temple; if it is white this year, then it should be brown next time. Una sin otra were the Spanish words for it.

Growth, Expansion, and the Role of Filipino Masons...

The years that followed the unification registered impressive growth for the Craft. In four years time starting in 1918, thirty-eight lodges were established. The Filipinos that were elected Grand Masters, alternating with the Americans every two years, was led by Manuel L. Quezon. MW Quezon was followed by Rafael Palma, Quintin Paredes, Wenceslao Trinidad, Francisco Afan Delgado, Teodoro M. Kalaw and Vicente Carmona, in succession. These illustrious gentlemen were also quite active in the corridors of power. At this point and time, most of the notable political figures were Freemasons. It was therefore no wonder that Monsignor Michael O’Doherty wrote in his diary in 1917 shortly after his installation as Archbishop of Manila, "Masonry is a menace. Osmena, (the incumbent Speaker of the House) is the only government official of any standing who is not a Mason here in Manila."

The Nation Gains Independence...

The 1935 Constitution led to the granting of the country’s Commonwealth status and ultimately her independence. This Philippine independence was gained largely through the efforts of Masons. No wonder, the names Manuel L. Quezon, Rafael Palma, Quintin Paredes and Manuel L. Roxas alternated in shuttling to and from the United States to lobby for the untangling of the country’s umbilical cord with the United States. When the election of the Constitutional Convention delegates were tallied, 42 out of 202, or 21 percent of the total, were Masons.

The War Years...

Wars always inflict destruction not only to the country and its people but more so to the Masonic fraternity whose tenets would not allow them to stay idle by the sidelines. Masonic records were destroyed and countless of its sons were either incarcerated or suffered heroic deaths. Topping the list is MW Jose Abad Santos who was executed by the Japanese government for non-cooperation. Grand Master John Robert McFie, RW Jose P. Guido, Deputy Grand Master and RW Antonio Ramos, Junior Grand Warden, also became casualties. So did many more of its sons.

Rebuilding From the Ashes...

It is a truism that after the storm is peace. Lodges were rehabilitated, new ones were added and, progressively, the tenets of the Craft were indelibly imprinted in the country’s history unnoticed by many as it vaulted through the 21st Century.
Freemasonry...

The sheer lack of drum-beaters within the Craft does not allow that the sterling qualities of members go unnoticed. A major factor that influence this situation is the generally subdued attitude of the members themselves. Except for the brethren who are in the know, the public does not realize that Freemasonry and its adherents always play important roles in the nation’s history.

The two EDSA revolutions have produced Freemasons from both sides of the political fence whose names, because of the lapse of time, will no longer be mentioned.

The Recent Political Turmoil

In the recent political upheaval that been rocking the current administration since year 2005, several members of the Craft have been in the limelight from both sides of the hostilities and are doing their functions to their level best . Eight brothers whose sterling qualities are admirable may indirectly be mentioned.

At the other side

A brother from Salug Valley No. 216 and the whistle blower who produced the tapes that rocked the entire country, a former Deputy Director of the National Bureau of Investigation, whose dedication to the cause he believed in is beyond compare.

A brother from Luzon No. 57-the Philippine Army’s Brigadier General who sacrificed his expected pension six days before retirement by honoring the Senate investigation on the alleged election irregularities in Mindanao and even subjected him to court martial for his heroic deed.

From the Philippine National Police

From Bontoc No.140-the Director of the PNP who walks the tight rope doing police functions to the best of his abilities, cognizant of the constitutional rights of his fraternal brothers at the other side that these are duly protected.

From. Pampanga No. 48- the Deputy General of the PNP for the National Capital Region who is in charge of the peace and order in the entire metropolis and whose ending statement when interviewed over the radio is invariably “May God bless us all always”, debunking the myth that Freemasons are Godless.

From Congress

From Jacobo Zobel Memorial No. 202- The debonair Chairman of the Public Information Committee whose finesse and fair play at conducting the investigation is indeed admirable.

From. Kutang Bato No. 110- The Chairman of the Justice Committee, who formerly was both Justice, and Public Works and Highways secretary, adeptly steered the proceedings exonerating the lady president from impeachment charges and thus eluded being “thrown to the wolves” at the upper branch of the Legislature called the Senate.

At the Judiciary

From Hiram Lodge No. 88- a past Grand Master and revered elder in the Fraternity whose appointment as the most eminent jurist of the judicial branch, being the most senior member at the bench was thought certain, was bypassed by the appointing authority using the political maneuver called revolving-door-policy. Although publicly admitting he was hurt, he accepted calmly the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune and promptly continued his work at the bench doubly aware that the All Seeing Eye never sleeps and that he will ultimately be vindicated by God Almighty.

And finally, from the Executive Branch

The Fraternity’s reigning Grand Master, member of both Alfonso Lee Sin No. 158 and Dapitan No. 21 whose indispensable duty as Secretary of Public Works and Highways require that he performs without fanfare at the sidelines and also to do the tasks and biddings that his superior dictates.

This brief history can never end for as the earth rotates upon its own axis each day, worthy brothers also etch out daily their own accomplishments that bring honor and glory to this ancient and honorable Fraternity.

Updated January 1, 2006

2005-02-13T13:16:00.000-08:00

Dad, Da Vinci and Nicholas Cage
By: Ivan R. Galarosa

It was in year 1989 when Dad came home one day. He called a family meeting. Mom’s eyes were already red from tears. Mom, my sister and myself were the only other persons in the house then and so the family meeting started easily. Dad begun by saying: “Children, I just lost my job. But let us not lose hope. Let’s just help each other so that we can return to our normal lives.”

Dad having said that, I suddenly lost my uneasiness. When Dad tells us not to worry, I don’t worry. I knew Dad is good at facing life’s adversities. So when he says everything will be okay, I believe him. Dad was jobless for a month but he did not just sit in the house watching opportunity pass by.

He approached many of his friends and relatives from whom he can ask for help, neither to borrow nor beg for money, but to ask for a job.

I really believe in Dad! And it’s because it has never been his habit to borrow money. What he wants is earn it; just give him the opportunity.

At this time also, in addition to looking for a new job, he mentioned something that has occupied him. He said he will be joining an organization that may change his life, and probably ours as well. That was the time Dad became a Mason.
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Dad finally got a job, but that was not what caught my attention. Simultaneously with his new job was his acceptance as a member in a nearby Masonic lodge (chapter).

I thought, if Dad is already a Mason, would he still believe in God? Would we still go to church every Sunday? Well, it is because of what I’ve heard, that Masons don’t believe in God. I told myself “Dad is also a character, he lost his job and when he found another, he distanced himself from God. Until finally, I could no longer contain myself and so asked him why he joined Masonry at that particular time.

“Dad, will we still go to church each Sunday?” I asked. He replied as if wanting to hit me at the back of my shoulders. “Eh, what a smart aleck you are. It is you who is too lazy to join us in going to church whenever I ask you!” he replied. “Well, will you still take your communion now that you have become a Mason?” I barked back. “And when did you ever see me take communion? I never took one, even before I became a Mason” was his instantaneous reply almost laughing. And so I finally blurted out and asked him pointblank: “Is it really true you no longer believe in God?”

“Son,” he said, if a Mason does not believe in God, has it ever occurred to you I won’t waste my time joining them?!” was his quizzical reply.

But of course! If Dad’s objective was only to turn his back at God, why would he still waste his time joining an organization and pay its exorbitant fees. He’ll just turn his back and cease going to church, period!! I did not ask him anymore.

I reckon Dad is really queer. He immediately got a job and became a brother to Rizal, Bonifacio and Mabini, all in a period of only four months. Many years passed and he sort of made Masonry his career. He enthusiastically accepted various lodge positions and other tasks outside of it. And he even became a Masonic writer and historian. Terrific, huh!!

Just the other day, I watched a movie alone. I saw the movie titled “National Treasure” because they say it was about Masonry and the lost treasurers of the knights during the Middle Ages. I said to myself, what crazy ideas would the movie impart about Masonry? Would it impress upon the moviegoers (again) that Masons don’t believe in God? In fairness, the movie did nothing of that sort.

But I felt something different inside while I was watching the movie, the same feeling that I’ve felt when I read the books “The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons.” I again felt the hairs of my skin stand meanwhile my mind was reeling from the question: “Is Masonry this influential it is now often the subject of literary works, be it on books and in movies?” One thing more, if Masonry has a secret that involves riches ( like the Holy Grail of the Lost Treasures of the Knights Templars) are they teaching these to all their members? Is there something Dad knows about these treasures that he must have stumbled upon in his researches?

In my view, the hidden treasures of the Masons, whether in the Philippines or in other countries, are far more valuable than the those found by Ben Gates (Nicholas Cage) in the movie. In my opinion (well, I can but opinionate as I am not a Mason), having a broader mind, “religious tolerance”, love for peers (or neighbors), the never-ending search for truth and their strong faith in God, are the hidden treasures of Masonry. These riches, I believe, are what they forcibly try impress upon their people, only, "one has to display his worth to be able to show that he can handle the daunting task of keeping these 'treasures'". I think it is not material wealth but the spiritual and intellectual riches that they conceal. But again, this is but a personal assumption.

And why do I believe these are what they hide? Because these are the treasures that Dad has kept on passing to me as I grow up ever since he became a Mason in 1989. There was never a time when he has not inculcated upon me the value of these treasures, and I presume, and this presumption is solely mine, that Dad has already shown me the well-kept hidden cache of wealth that Masons are hiding from public view.

Someday, I will still find out whether my assumptions are true.

(If you want to read some of the articles that were written by Dad on Masonry, just follow the link http://www.glphils.org/index-page.htm)

(View also the link http://lionroar.blogspot.com for the lion’s personal website.- translator.)

2005-01-21T15:57:00.000-08:00

A BIRD’S EYE VIEW OF FREEMASONRY
VIA THE INTERNET

Sometime last November, this writer received an email from RW Oscar M. Jayme, Junior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of Hawaii that said:

“You might want to checkout this site:
www.ephesians5-11.org”

In reply, this writer wrote back:

RW OMJ

Ha, ha, hah!! So what else is new?? All one has to do is type “Freemasonry” in the Search Box of any major Internet facility and he will readily see so many anti-Masonic materials which he can browse upon in addition to what you just forwarded to the undersigned.

Lest some of our less-informed Christian brethren get waylaid in this anti-Masonic smut however, let it be reiterated that our gentle Craft does not have a particular Deity or God to adore. Each one of us takes with him the particular Deity of our own faith, be it Jesus, Yahweh, El Shaddai or Jehovah (for the Christians) and conversely, the respective names of the Deity (Allah, Buddha, Hare Krishna etc.) of the other faiths! It is also within his own sole province whether to consider Jesus Christ as God or simply as a Messiah!

And readers need not be reminded that the Christian religion (no offense meant is intended to all Christian brethren) is the most fragmented of all the major religions of the world!

In like manner, our gentle Fraternity does not provide any avenue for salvation, for that is the concern of the religion that each member professes.

It may therefore be necessary to reiterate that other than the belief in the existence of God, the immortality of the soul and the brotherhood of all men to which all religions also subscribe to, another of its most indelible tenets is striving to make its votaries turn out from good to better. If a brother is not taking any effort in doing this, then he is definitely wasting his time. Other than enjoying our fellowship, of course!

But what the authors have composed is still worth reading. As the Masonic scholar Albert Pike once wrote, “read, digest, discriminate”, assuming the reader can readily identify the gold from the dross.

And he should first learn the awesome powers of this wonderful world called the Internet.

With my kindest fraternal regards!

Bro. Jun

2005-01-19T02:43:00.000-08:00

CLUTCHING A DIAMOND IN HIS HAND

Four months ago, at the initiative of the Quezon City Lodge No. 122 Ladies Circle, we visited a fraternal brother. Such a visit was part of the Circle's program of reaching out to their husbands' brethren and loved ones who for some reasons have become inactive.

Brief, indeed, was my first meeting with WB Francisco B. Aquino. It was no more than a social call brought about by my curious desire to see a fraternal brother now in the "December of his years" but revered because his has demonstrated a fervent fidelity to the Craft.

At 96, that Masonic fervor was still deeply burning in his chest. He could still talk fondly of his more celebrated colleagues like MW Reynold S. Fajardo, MW Jolly R. Bugarin, MW Gus Mateo, WB Emil "Daddy" Ozaeta and the other lodge luminaries who rubbed fraternal elbows with him during his heyday.

If only his now wobbly legs would let him, he has intimated he would gladly deliver the lectures of the three Masonic degrees!

As an ultimate Masonic gesture, he willed that when his final date with time's Great Leveler would be at hand and take him to the Great Beyond, the brethren should give him the final rites at the Capitol Masonic Temple.

WB Kiko, records show, was born on December 3, 1894 at Baliwag, Bulacan. Twenty one years later, or on December 10, 1915 to be exact, he tied the marital knot to a pretty sixteen-year-old lass whom he fondly calls "Onyang".

Their union was blessed with three sons and an equal number of daughters. All of the sons and two of the daughters got married. One opted to remain single.

Two of the children have since migrated to the United States. But when WB Kiko and Sis. Onyang celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary, they flew home to witness their parents renew their wedding vows.

On that occasion, two sets of families joined WB Kiko and Sis. Onyang. One set consisted of six children, twenty seven grandchildren and twenty eight great grandchildren. The other set is composed of WB Kiko's fraternal brothers from Quezon City Lodge No. 122. MW Gus Mateo was there. WB Emil "Daddy" Ozaeta, WB Agusto Cabral, WB Conrad "Ado" Veneracion, the three lights led by WM Jose "Pong" Lustre, and followed by Bros. Saul R. Exmundo and James K. Donadilla, (and yours truly), were also there. Many of us were accompanied by our respective spouses. Another member of the Craft from another lodge (I cannot recall his name) was on hand, too.

What a gathering it was! WB Kiko and Sis. Onyang's children (some of whom are no younger than favorite WB "Daddy" Ozaeta) were deeply moved by our presence. They were aware that their Dad is a true-blue member of the Craft- from inside out, if you wish. Why, even his favorite mahogany cane, which has served him for many years as his third leg in moving around, had that familiar "square and compass" logo embedded on it, a reminder to all and sundry, and also to himself most probably, that a Mason should be proud of his fraternal affiliation. Proud of the Craft, WB Kiko definitely was!

How did he join the Fraternity and when?

A hydrographer by profession and an employee of the Bureau of Public Works, WB Kiko led a semi-nomadic life. As such, he came to meet members of the Craft from whom he got ideas about Freemasonry.

When he was assigned in the province of Pangasinan, he knocked at the doors of the Fraternity. He was initiated an entered apprentice on September 1, 1923 at Pangasinan Lodge No. 56 and a master mason on October 13, same year.

After the formation of Quezon City Lodge No. 122 in 1948, he likewise knocked at its doors as a dual member. Since then and up to the time old age finally crept into his kneebones, he shared his valuable insights on what our fraternal organization is all about.

WB Kiko was revered by his brethren because he was a veritable sturdy pillar in lodge affairs. Decidedly, he richly deserved the 50-year pin that was awarded to him by the Grand Lodge.

When he could no longer answer the cabletows sent by the lodge announcing stated meetings, much like the mountain going to Mohammed, the lodge members not infrequently, paid him unscheduled visits at his home in Cubao. They would take along with them newly-raised members of the Craft for the sight of a brother who had consistently lived his Masonry might spur them to emulate his example. In such visits, the brethren would recall the old times, the points of fellowship that had cemented them as brethren of this mystic, Masonic bond.

On that visit that we paid him four months ago, I saw him as a picture of complete satisfaction. He had nothing more to wish for- not even reaching that rare century mark. So it seemed.

But we were told he still has one more wish before his earthly existence finally expire; to see on of his great grandchildren beget his first great, great, grandchild.

WB Kiko, in fine, was a man clutching a diamond in his hand!

(Editor's note: The first Masonic article this writer ever wrote, it saw print in the January-February 1991 issue of the Cabletow and is herein reissued for its poignancy and timeless relevance.)

2005-01-18T08:39:00.000-08:00

E-MAIL EXCHANGES WITH PGM's G. R. HARVEY’S GRANDDAUGHTER

On April 24, as the brethren of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines were starting to converge at Subic for the 2002 ANCOM, a guestbook entry was posted at the Grand Lodge of the Philippines Website by a lady who claims she is a descendant of MW George R. Harvey, Grand Master of Masons of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines in 1912. The Contributing Editor, unable to attend the ANCOM for financial considerations, tasked himself at answering to the needs of the lady; and the series of exchanges shown below, all done while the 2002 ANCOM was in full swing, best show that ANCOM or no ANCOM, masonic labors can still be performed heartily.

These exchanges of e-mails are posted to convey that the lapse of time cannot erase indelible Masonic labors like the one done by MW George R. Harvey, and also to illustrate the wonderful and forceful powers of this technological communications tool we all call the Internet, for as can be gleamed, the exchange of communications was completed in a matter of only four days.

Happy reading!

Bro. Jun Galarosa

GUESTBOOK ENTRY MADE BY MRS. JULIA HARVEY ANDERSON

April 24

My grandfather, George Rogers Harvey, was a member of the Far Eastern Freemasons, and was honored by having achieved the rank of 33degree designation before his death on April 27, 1952. He had been a Mason for 56 years, in the United States and Manila for many years. In Manila, he was a member of the newly organized Corregidor Lodge No. 386, in Manila, Philippine Islands (1907). He was elected and served as Senior Warden in 1908. He served as Venerable Master of Mt. Arrayat Lodge of Prefection and Master of Xadosh Gautama Consistory and other offices of the Manila Bodies of the Scottish Rite. In 1923, he was reccomended by the Deputy for the Philippines Supreme Council of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite for investiture as Knight Commander of the court of Honor, and he was elected by the Supreme Council to recieve that honor. He recieved the 33rd degree of Freemasonry in 1923. For many years he had been the editor of the Far Eastern Freemason, the official organ of the Scottish Rite Bodies of the Valley of Manila. He was in the United states visiting, when the war broke out in Manila in December of 1941, He remained in the United States from that time, until his death in 1952. I have my Grandfather's 33rd Degree Mason pin, and a copy of the June 1952 issue of the Far Eastern Freemason Quarterly, Vol. 33, No.2, which following his death, honors his accomplishments. The front of this publication has Manila-Iloilo, San Pablo, Zambanga (on the top left) and Bacolod - Cebu, Cagayan-Davao, Cabanatuan (top right). My grandfather's picture is on the cover of this publication. I would like to know, if it would be possible to obtain my grandfather's Masonic records, and how would I go about it doing it. I am doing genealogy of my Harvey family, and would like to have it for my children and grandchildren.

Sign Time: April 24

-------------------------------------------

(Reply by Bro. Galarosa)

April 25

Dear Ms Anderson.

Your grandfather is indeed one Mason who has carved himself indelibly in the annals of Philippine Masonry. Among the second wave of Masons (the first being the Freemasons who introduced Freemasonry in the Philippines from Spain at the end of the nineteenth century) he has distinguished himself both in the Scottish Rite and in Blue Masonry, the latter being the mainstream of Masonry in the entire world. Here is what three books on Philippine Masonry say of him:

The History of the Supreme Council of the Philippines

Scottish Rite Lyceum

On December 29, 1907, within a few days of Lobingier’s return, a meeting of the Scottish Rite brethren was held in the Masonic Temple of Manila. A committee on organization was appointed and after a month devoted to preliminary work, they formally organized the Scottish Rite Lyceum of the Philippines on January 29, 1908. The Lyceum has 24 charter members. Only two were Knights Commander of the Court of Honor, 19 were 32 MRS, and one had the 30° , one of the 18° and one of the 14° .. Fifteen were under the Southern Jurisdiction, seven belonged to the Northern Jurisdiction, and two were with the Supreme Council of Scotland. It was, nonetheless a prestigious group. Included among them were Newton W. Gilbert, a member of the Philippine Commission and soon to be the Acting Governor General of the Philippines, General Harry H. Bandholtz, 32° Chief of the Philippine Constabulary, Charles M. Cotterman, 32° , founder and first Director of the Bureau of Posts, two future Grand Masters, George Harvey and H. Eugene Stafford, and one Filipino, Francisco Aguado y Reyes of the Supreme Council of Scotland.

The Constitution of the Lyceum provided for three principal officers- a Preceptor, a Prior and a Recorder. Elected to those positions were Charles S. Lobingier, 32° KCCH as Preceptor, George R. Harvey, 32° MRS, Prior, and Amos B. Bellis, 32° , Recorder.

Votaries of Honor

In the monumental book called Votaries of Honor, a book that chronicled the golden years of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the Philippines, he is listed as the third Grand Master to occupy the coveted Grand Oriental Chair. A very brief biographical sketch below his picture reads:

MW G. R. Harvey (1915)

A lawyer, served as Solicitor General (1908-1914); Judge of the Court of First Instance; then went into law partnership with MW Sheldon W. O’Brien (PGM 1929)

Kinship to Greatness

But it is in the book titled Kinship to Greatness where more than three pages are spent for his biography. This book is already posted in the Grand Lodge of the Philippines Website and therefore will no longer be reprinted in detail. All you need to do is open the said Website, click the Cable of Contents, click the page "Past Grand Masters" and look for the name of your grandfather as listed under the letter "H". It may, however, take you a little of your computer time doing this as the biography of your grandfather is somewhere at the middle of the postings.

I trust the foregoing information is helpful in your search for the footsteps of your illustrious forebear.

Very truly yours,

GEMINIANO V. GALAROSA, JR.
Contributing Editor, Philippines

-------------------------------------------------
(Mrs. Anderson’s follow-up e-mail)

April 25

DEAR GEMINIANO V. GALAROSA, JR.,

Thank you so much for responding to my inquiry about my Grandfather, George Rogers Harvey. Would it be possible to have photocopies of the pages of the books where my Grandfather was mentioned? If so, I would also like a copy of the Title Page, and Author/Publisher pages as well. I would be happy to pay for the expense, including postage, and for the time you spent to do this. What would be the best way to send payment? Credit card, or personal check in U.S. Dollars, or what?

My mailing address is as follows:

Julia Harvey Anderson
1338 Equestrian Ave,
Thousand Oaks, CA. 91360-5106
USA

Thank you so much for your help.

Julia Harvey Anderson

---------------------------------------------------

April 26

Dear Mrs. Anderson:

With reference to your request, herewith in three e-mails (one e-mail can only accommodate 3 attachments) are the data that you needed. The following explanations may be in order.

Votaries of Honor was written by MW Reynold S. Fajardo, PGM, the country’s foremost Masonic historian. This book was published in 1992. There are two applicable pages that were scanned; one involving the cover page and the other pertains to the brief biographical sketch of your grandfather. This book consists of about 230 pages with the data of the past Grand Masters no longer numbered. This explains why VH2 does not contain a number page. The publisher is not mentioned but it is safe to say that it was published by the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines. Size is 8" x 11" hardbound.
The Golden Years of the Supreme Council of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite was published in year 2000 and was written by several writers but largely by MW Reynold S. Fajardo. It consist of 246 pages. It is so called Golden Year because it counted only the official existence of the Supreme Council of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of the Republic of the Philippines. Its history, of course, traces further back to the time of your ancestor. The attachment likewise include the cover page and two pages that partly details the data that I earlier sent you. The publisher is likewise not mentioned but as I had a hand in having this project completed, I can say confidently that it was published by the Supreme Council of 33rd and Last Degree Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Freemasonry of the Republic of the Philippines. Size is 9" x 12" hardbound.,
Kinship to Greatness was published in 1984. The biographical sketches of the various Grand Masters were written by several writers of the Masonic Fraternity. This book contains 354 pages There are four pages involved that I am sending; the cover page, the pencil portrait of your grandfather and two pages (actually four book page) for the biographical sketch. Publisher is MW Rosendo C. Herrera, then Grand Master of Masons of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the Philippines. Size is 6" x 8" hard carton..
I trust the foregoing data will be of use to you.

Kindest fraternal regards!

Bro. Geminiano V. Galarosa, Jr.

(Note: The said attachments were no longer included as the data sent were the sources from where the previous e-mail were copied)
-----------------------------------------------------

April 26

Dear Bro. Geminiano V. Galarosa, Jr.,

What a nice surprise to find that you had e-mailed the information about my grandfather that I wanted. Thank you so much!

So you have a scanner to do neat things like that. I do not have one, nor do I know how to use one. I just do simple, basic things on my computer, and use plain, and simple E-mail. I really appreciate the effort you put forth to send the information. On a few pages, some of the printing was cut off when I printed them, as they were too big to fit on my screen (I had to scroll to the right to read it, but it only printed a portion of these. I would be so grateful if you could scan the single, printed pages of the following, and re-send them, single paged instead of double paged. You would not need to write any message, unless you wanted to say something.

E-mail #2: (Kinship To Greatness), Pages 62 and 63 ( the sides of these pages were cut off).

E-mail #3: ( Kinship To Greatness), Pages 64 & 65 (the sides & bottom was cut off of both pages).

Again, thank you so much for your kindness.............

Julia Harvey Anderson

----------------------------------------------------April 26

Mrs. Anderson:

Quite frankly, I don't have a scanner myself. I had it scanned at the University of the Philippines which is about ten kilometers away from home.

I do not know how to solve the problem on the pages contained in the Kinship to Greatness that you posed. My youngest son who usually helps me on this thing is still in his office and won't be back till this afternoon. Perhaps he may be able to help when he returns home.

Another way of knowing the details of your grandfather's biography is simply opening the Grand Lodge of the Philippines Website, open the Table of Contents and click the Past Grand Masters Page. I recall having told you this in my earlier e-mail. A more readable biography of your grandfather is contained in that site.

If you need further assistance, please let me know.

Regards!

Bro. Jun

(follow-up e-mail by Bro. Galarosa)

April 26

Dear Mrs. Anderson:

My son just arrived from his office and has made a PowerPoint presentation of the pages which you claimed you cannot read to enable you to read the contents which is attached. He is confident you can open the file and read your grandfather’s biography if you know how to operate Powerpoint, otherwise we may have a problem here.

He says that all you do is just slide show button once you have already opened the file to enlarge the characters..

I trust this can help

Regards!

Bro. Jun

(Again, the attachment is no longer affixed

-------------------------------------------

April 27

Dear Bro. Jun,

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!!

The powerpoint thing worked just fine. I guess my computer has it, as went right into the program when I clicked on the attachment link. When I read your message, I did not know if I had the program or not, so just tried it, and it worked.

Thank your son for me too. These younger adults seem to be able to work miracles with these computers, but it is too hard for me and many of us more "mature" adults to master all of this new technology! Our oldest son is the one who set up our computer, but he lives too far away to be of much help with the learning process, or to be of help with problems. He is only able to come to our house a couple of times a year, and that is always for a family function.

Again, many, many thanks.........

Julia Anderson

------------------------------------------------

April 27

Dear Julia:

A saying says that if one wants to be remembered, he must either: plant a tree, sire a son, write a book.

That is what our sons are for. And helping you get what you needed to remember your grandfather, MW George R. Harvey, PGM in the book was my pleasure.

My kindest regards!

Bro. Jun Galarosa

2005-01-17T14:43:00.000-08:00

VIEWING THE LION’S DEN

The old adage “old dogs no longer learn new tricks” may be true, but surely, it applies not to lions, only to dogs, for whoever heard of dogs learning the awesome powers of the Internet?!

In the following pages, eight impressions of people who were touched by the pictures that were sent through e-mail are herein reprinted to show that neither distance nor physical absence matter as far as friendship is concerned; they will tell you that they care. Their links with the lion are:

(1) The first sender is a brother whose links with the writer was his recollection that as a youth his father, who is a member of Quezon City Lodge No. 122, often took him to the socials of the lodge and have therefore rubbed elbows to such illustrious brothers as MW’s Reynold S. Fajardo and Agustin V. Mateo, Daddy Emil Ozaeta and the others.

He is currently an active medical practitioner based in the States and hopes to retire to the country in no more than five years from today.

(2) WB Simplicio Endaya is a past master of Laong Laan Lodge No. 185 who share the same passion as the writer in writing. He is a computer whiz and is responsible for the establishment of the website of the said lodge.

For a very beautiful pictorial of the installation ceremony of Laong Laan Lodge No 185, the reader is encouraged to visit that website through the Glphils Website’s links.

(3) Bro. Aquilino B. Javier, Jr. is a member of Quezon City Lodge No. 122 who has migrated to Chicago, USA way back in the nineteen sixties. He and the writer are members of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines website, and have met only once in their lifetimes.

(4) WB Philip “Bong” Leano is a past master of San Mateo Lodge No. 319, located in San Mateo, Isabela. He and the writer have already met twice, once during a stated meeting at Capitol City Lodge No. 174 and the other at Cauayan, Isabela during a DeMolay affair where the former acted as host.

He and the writer regularly communicate with each other with the former sending his e-mails sometimes in far away places as in Canada.

(5) Bro. Milind Dravid is an Indian fraternal brother raised under the Indian Constitution whom the writer has never met. They have been regularly communicating with each other and share the same passion and love for the Craft.

(6) Iris Ann is the writer’s daughter whom the lion left behind in the metropolis. She communicates with both the lion and the lion tamer almost on a daily basis either by phone or through the Internet.

(7) Jun Tomada is an office associate from way back in the eighties whose friendship has lasted through the years. He is the son of the pugilist Tommy Romulo whose boxing skills has tangled with the boxing immortal Gabriel Flash Elorde way back in the nineteen sixties; and

(8) VW Eugene Sicat, is of course, the Grand Webmaster of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines whom this writer always badger to have the articles posted in the Internet. His mother lodge is in Bukidnon and aches to visit the country with his lovely wife whenever his craving for home is stirred.

1. FROM BRO. DANIEL RAZON OF THE GOOD OLE’ USA (what state, the lion does not know)

February 11

Bro. Jun.

That was a very beautiful and idyllic place to retire. I envy you in the sense that I have 4 years, 10 months and 18 days to go, GOD WILLING. Don't forget your exercise, that kind of scenery will lull you to spend your waking hours in just being passive. A couple of mile's walk everyday is what your cardiovascular fitness would require.

About the liter of Tuba every night is just fine. It will keep the blood flowing in every direction especially to that sensitive organ where it is sorely needed (no pun intended). And don't forget the aspirin too. One tablet a day would markedly decrease the incidence of a heart attack and this is proven by CDC and strongly recommended by the AHA. I place all my patients on that regimen especially with diabetics. There, you got a sound medical advice and follow it.

It is official that the Grand Lodge of Illinois represented by the MW Grand Master Chuck Sullins will be attending the ANCOM. There will be a Third Degree Conferral on April 20 at the GLP. I hope you could time your visit to your children on that date.

Enjoy your retirement.

Fraternally Yours,
Dan Razon

The Lion’s rejoinder (February 11)

Bro. Dan:

Many thanks for that free medical advice. I want you to know that I have not completely relieved myself of physical activity. Aside from periodically weeding out the front lawn, I walk almost daily to and from the market for about fifteen minutes not so much to buy food as our dilapidated six-cubic-feet refrigerator is still in good working condition but more so to insure the efficient motor control of my knees thus enabling them to take my 165-pound frame wherever and whenever the still-stubborn mind desires to go. In addition, we did not allow ourselves the luxury of a maid thus insuring that we do not get into complete lethargy as we had to perform all the household chores ourselves.

I, of course, had to dissuade myself from buying a small banca that cost roughly one thousand pesos which would have enabled me to leisurely paddle on the bay in the afternoons for fear of being taken by the ocean’s current to the open sea. Had this been done, then it would have meant another complete source of joy for me; imagine freely floating on the pristine sea away from the troubles of modern drudgeries and useless toil!!

The Divine Architect willing, we may still meet in the metropolis during your visit to our country this coming May. Although I had already told our kids last Christmas that my next visit will still be on the next Yuletide season, the lion tamer has intimated that on her planned visit this April, she intends to re-install the collar on my neck and compel me to join her again. Imagine, a member of the cat family sporting a dog collar?! Ugh, how demeaning it could be!

But I guess it will make her feel more comfortable to know that I cannot stray around behind her back and thus avoid getting into serious mischief while she is away. I will thus just inform you later when that trip will be, but reasonably, it will be in mid-April .

With my kindest fraternal regards!

Bro. Jun

2. From WB Simplicio Endaya of Laong Laan Lodge No 185

Bro. KJ

Thanks for your e-mail. Kindly visit also our website for the installation of Laong Laan Lodge No. 185. We missed you there.

Ka Ecio

The Lion’s reply.

These are indeed very beautiful pictures of our installation ceremony. My only regret was I missed it completely.

Regards.

Bro. Jun

3. FROM BRO. AQUILINO B. JAVIER, JR of Chicago, USA

February 11

Brod Jun,

My wife and I were shown much of the island of Mactan and the memory
would not leave me. That part of the Philippines is just enchanting. The
pictures you sent just reinforced the thought. Thanks for sharing.

Pong

The Lion’s reply:

Bro. Pong:

Too bad I missed seeing you and our sister during your visit to Cebu City last November. But there was no other choice; the lion tamer had her physical check-up at Tagbilaran at the time you made your visit in the Queen City of the South. It would have meant a grand time talking about the Craft we love so much over a bottle or two of beer. But hope still springs eternal for another meeting.

I’m glad you like the pictures.

With my kindest fraternal regards.

Bro. Jun

4. FROM WB PHILIP LEANO of Isabela

February 11

Ay naku Kuya Jun! Buti ka pa napakasipag mo magsulat samantala ako napakadami ng ideas pero ubod naman ng tamad! Ingat ka lagi, sabi nga ng isang kuyang natin, "Keep on Roaring! hehehe mala-leon ka nga talaga hehehe

Ingat lagi sir!

BONG L. (One of your fans! hehehe)

The Lion’s rejoinder

WB Bong:

Ikaw ha, hindi na maalis yang katam sa katawan mo, isusumbong kita kay Sis., sino na nga ba iyon?! Ay si Sis. Rina pala.

Huwag na huwag mong kalilimutan ang mga DeMolay diyan sa lugar mo. Kailangan nila ang kalinga.

Hanggang sa huling e-mail.

Kuya Jun

5. FROM BRO. MILIND DRAVID of Nagpur, India

February 12

Hello Brother Jun,

Kumusta Ka?????

I received your mail after a very long gap, the pictures are great, I hope you and your family are well.

With Love,
Brother Milind

The Lion’s reply

Bro. Milind:

The long and deafening silence was unfortunate. My dilapidated computer completely conked out last October and my efforts to have it fixed in Cebu City did not prove fruitful. Last December when I and the lion tamer visited our children in the metropolis, I opted to replace it with another second-hand unit which I took with me on my return trip to my den. My son-in-law who assisted in purchasing this unit hopes it can last me a couple of years else I might get into the same trouble again.

The rather long lull incidentally made me forget my writing skills so that no matter how I tried to compose articles upon my return to my den last month, could not manage to write a decent one, and as an alternative, had to resort to pictorials to convey my thoughts. Pictorials, I found out, suit just fine, it does not strain one’s limited command of the King’s language. And with the new CPU, expect me again to be shooting e-mails faster than Billy the Kid or the Green Berets!

And how’s Nachiket’s studies in London??

With my kindest fraternal regards to Rohini, Nivedita and most especially to you!.

Bro. Jun

6. FROM DAUGHTER IRIS ANN of Quezon City

February 11

Dear Nanay,

Sorry I was not able to write you yesterday. My computer overflowed
with a lot of messages. Ito kasing sila Ruthie, ang hilig mag-forward ng message.

We are okay here. Thanks for the pictures. Ang ganda ng house. I
remembered the days when I took my vacation there.

Nag-gain ka nga ng weight Nay,
no, pero okay naman. Di naman masyadong mataba. Bakit nga pala wala si
Tatay? Di siguro marunong kumuha ng picture si Nanay.

We will plan for a vacation there. Hopefully soon.

O sige, will e-mail you again tomorrow.

Love,
Cater

The Lion’s Afterthought

Ito, bahala na ang lion tamer dito. Ka e-mail niya ang kumag. Pero dapat paalalahanan niya ang kaibigan niyang si Ruthie (siguro nasa Thailand) na bawasan naman ang “forwards”, matuto naman sanang mag-english paminsan minsan. (Yong mga forward ng forward lang diyan, please note!)

7. FROM ROMULO M. TOMADA, JR. of San Pedro, Laguna

February 11

Tatay Jun,

Got the 2 sets of mails with pictures of the "lion's den and the lion tamer". At least we have a view of your house before our planned invasion 1st week of March. Thanks for these.

We're doing just fine. Am waiting for the release of my retirement pay which should be this coming Friday, Feb. 14. First order of the day is our trip to Ormoc, Cebu, Ozamis, then Bohol. So we can only formally start our business by March na after the trip. For now, pa-banjing-banjing muna ako. Exercise in the morning and pasyal-pasyal in the afternoon. Taking time out habang 'di pa masyado busy.

We'll see you soon.

Regards, Jun T.

The Lion’s reply

Jun T.

Glad you liked the pictures. For a couple of days I surmised you were already here in the South hence could not post your e-mails.

I’m sure glad to know you will soon get your retirement pay. Manage your funds wisely; your kids, especially the two younger ones, who still have a long trek to hurdle. But I’m confident you and Susan can easily make it, what with your experience on Jopett and Jake.

I sure will be glad to see you in our den first week of March. We can enjoy drinking tuba together. Tam’is kaayo, Dong!

And do extend my regards to Susan and your Dad, Tommy Romulo

Tatay Jun

8. From VW Gene V. Sicat
Grand Webmaster, Grand Lodge of the Philippines

February 13

Kuya Jun
.
Ang ganda ng lugar mo. Puwede ba tayo diyan kung sakaling kami'y mag bakasyon?

Gene V. Sicat
654 Confederation Parkway
Vaughan, Ontario, Canada

The Lion’s Reply

Kuya Gene:

Sabi ng lion tamer, bakit daw ang lugar lang ang nabanggit mo samantalang pirmi naman siya nasa litrato. Nagtampo tuloy sa iyo. Ha, ha!!

Doon sa tanong mo kung pwede ka sakaling magbakasyon kayo, ang sagot ay pwedeng pwede. Pero baka mabaguhan ka. Wala kaming tsekot dito at walang stewardess (yan ang translation ng longkatuts o katulong.) Pero kailangan tulungan mo akong mamalengke at maghugas ng pinggan dahil doon sa brief explanatory text ng mga litrato ipinahiwatig kong hindi ako ander. Pero meron ba namang leon na hindi takot sa lion tamer??

Kindest fraternal regards!

KJ

2005-01-16T14:08:00.000-08:00

CHARITY, THE LOFTIEST VIRTUE OF ALL

Of Freemasonry’s innumerable teachings, none is more profound, more poignant and yet more often overlooked and ignored than the seven-letter-word called Charity. Often substituted with the word “Love,” it teaches its initiates to give until it hurts, not to let the left hand know what the right hand is doing, and not to expect anything in return.

The Craft’s admonition on the first three degrees teaches: “the three principal rounds are denominated by Faith, Hope and Charity; which admonishes us to have Faith in God, Hope for immortality, and Charity for all mankind.”

And adds; “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.”

The parambulation of the second degree is more complex, more thought provoking, and more philosophical; it is herein reprinted in full:

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

And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all Faith that I could remove mountains, and have not Charity, I am nothing.

And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor and give my body to be burned, and have not Charity, it profiteeth me nothing.

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, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in inequity, but rejoiceth in the ruth. Beareth all things, Believeth all things, Hopeth all things, Endureth all things.

And now abideth Faith, Hope, Charity, these three, but the greatest of these is Charity.”

The eighteenth degree of the Scottish Rite, on the other hand, is more precise and straightforward in its teachings when it said: “Charity relieves the distresses of the brethren with a liberal hand, feeds the hungry, clothes the naked, supports and educates the orphan, and gives decent sepulture to the dead.”

Yes, even giving a decent burial to those who could no longer feel the warmth of a loving hand.

All too poetic and poignant words!

Sadly, however, it appears what the Craft hears nowadays is the now-half forgotten refrain from an old country song that says”

“When will we ever learn, when will we ever learn?!”

But of course many of us learned the lyrics of that song. Like parroting the Lord’s Prayer but neither forgiving nor forgetting. And what did we do to our brother who suddenly got ill and was confined to the hospital with an unpaid bill of not less than half a million bucks? What do we do when the Almoner’s sack of cloth is passed around?

But this article is not about the many of us who do not or cannot understand. This article is about one, or more precisely, about a couple who does.

It may sound a rarity but from among us is a brother who now acts a surrogate father to not one, not two, but three female babies of a twenty-one year old mother who were born out of wedlock. Our brother was philosophical about in his narration; he said he not only acquired the three heifers, he also brought home the cow!

If you think the acquisition was a spur of the moment decision, then you’ve got it all wrong. Sometime in February, his wife was approached by a bosom friend who encouraged her to adopt, or more specifically, to act as foster parents to a soon-to-be delivered triplets. The pregnant girl is a high school graduate, and out of love trusted her boyfriend all the way to bed whose commitment and concept ended right there- in bed. When the ultrasound signaled she is to deliver triplets, her boyfriend vanished as would vapor on a steaming coffee pot.

Our brother and his spouse were first reluctant to the idea. Of course the true meaning of Charity is not alien to them, you don’t own a rural bank and be insensitive to Charity. But taking under your roof and be foster parents to not one, not two, but three newborn babies just like that is a stark reality that is simply out of the blue from whatever angle one may look at it.

In the meantime the couple were pondering over the dilemma, the babies were born in April, seven months premature. Their bosom friend frantically called pressing them for a decision. The lives of the babies were being threatened by a disease common to premature births and even the administrators of the orphanage were getting desperate. Some good Samaritans are needed and their qualifications fit.

Our brother was still hesitant. How do you feed the babies, clothe them and give them decent education until they come of age? Money for food, especially on short term basis, they can spare some. But all the other needs, like clothing, shelter, and education are definitely worth more than peanuts. More importantly, who will sing them lullabies, change their diapers, run to the supermarket for the needed milk and all the urgent errands that are attendant to caring for the newborn children? Of course our brother is conversant with the use of aprons, but changing diapers, ah, ha, hah!!

Comes the end of May and they still could not decide. Then came the first week of June. A crucial decision, as in chess with the clock ticking, had to be made. Financial considerations, while admittedly hurting, can be hurdled. But to physically care for the children and provide the mother’s warmth are things they could not provide and is therefore next to impossible. But then, who was it who said that if Mohamed cannot go to the mountain, then let the mountain go to Mohamed!

The couple decided the dilemma can be resolved if the mother would also accept being taken under their wings. If one can swallow hook, line and sinker, why not include and gobble the fisherman? Ever heard of the story of Jonah being swallowed by a whale?

So they took the babies and the mother out of the orphanage and brought them straight to the hospital where the babies were diagnosed to be suffering from acute dehydration. One more day delay and two of the three babies would easily have been goners.

Our brother, as I earlier said, was philosophic. With all the three children now out of the hospital, he says he intends to let the young mother pursue college education so that even if she decides to leave her children to them, she can still earn for herself a good chance of marrying somebody more decent and more responsible than the boyfriend she previously had. Or just lead a more stable life which her present status cannot provide. Or if she would opt to stay, they can also easily find her a job in their rural bank.

When the children come of schooling age, our brother plans to send them to school and stay with their foster parents for as long as they want. Well, at least after they graduate, and later, probably marry and lead their own respective lives. He says he even plans to get them education insurance that they may be assured of continuing studies even if he is no longer around.

Pray, tell me, doesn’t our brother at least deserve a healthy pat on his back??

-end-

Note:

This article was originally published in the Far Eastern Freemason, the quarterly publication of the Supreme Council of the 33rd and Last Degree Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Freemasonry of the Republic of the Philippines, and is herein being reprinted by the author because of its timeless relevance to the tenets of the Craft.

Despite the passing of time, however, our brother still frowns at having his name mentioned but at this writer’s insistence that it will aptly convey a priceless and cherished virtue, has graciously provided a recent picture of the angel-looking triplets, now aged three, for publication as shown above, for posterity to behold.

2005-01-16T14:02:00.001-08:00

THE LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH

Do you know that the Americans almost installed a modern-day possible claimant to the phrase "lion of the tribe of Judah?" You don’t know but want the answer? Then go on reading this article.

The recent political exercise of the Americans in their country shows Joseph Libermann being handpicked by Al Gore as his running mate for the Vice Presidency of the United States. Had he won, then he would have been the first politician of Jewish descent to occupy the second highest position in the United States. Assuming further that he became president, he then will deserve the title that this article has bannered on the upper page.

Of course, this is now water under the bridge. But the political fortunes of Libermann has not yet ended so, permit me then to continue on this hypothesis.

All of us Freemasons who were raised in regular lodges are familiar with the phrase that King Solomon uttered upon arriving at Hiram Abiff’s grave which states:

"My brother Hiram 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, etc. etc."

We know that there are three known personalities on the scene; King Solomon, Hiram of Tyre and Hiram Abiff. Hiram Abiff cannot be the lion of the tribe of Judah as he was already dead and therefore no longer possess strength. Neither could it be Hiram of Tyre as he is a king of a different country. Which therefore leaves us King Solomon as the likely candidate for the phrase "Lion of the tribe of Judah."

To continue on the hypothesis, it will then be necessary to answer the following questions.

I. BIBLICAL BASIS

Is there a Biblical basis for the phrase "Lion of the Tribe of Judah?"
Are there other references that can support the phrase?
What does "Lion of the Tribe of Judah" signify?
Let us now venture on the Book of the Holy Writings.

Revelation 5:5 states- And one of the elders saith to me: "Weep not; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and too loosen the seven seals thereof."

As explanatory note, the Book of Revelation is the last book of the New Testament written by a man named John. Some Church Fathers, notably Tertullian, Justinian and Ireneaus believe that he is the same John (the Evangelist) who wrote the Fourth Gospel. But other Church Fathers believe that they are different persons because of the contrasting writing styles and methodology. It is unmistakable however that the "Lion" being alluded to is Jesus Christ as the Book of Revelation largely foretells his second coming.

Hosea 5:14 on the other hand, states- For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, even I, will tear and go away; I will take away and none shall rescue him.

Who then is Hosea?

Hosea is a minor prophet of the northern kingdom of Israel who lived during the reign of Jareboam II at about the years 786- 746 BC. During Hosea’s time four kings ruled the southern kingdom of Judah in succession, namely Uzzhiah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah. Being of the northern kingdom, Hosea definitely is not from the tribe of Judah; and therefore his statement is merely a hyperbole, which is nothing but an exaggeration

In Genesis 49:8 it says- Judah, thou art whom the brethren shall praise; thine hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father’s children shall bow down to thee. Judah is a lion’s whelp, from the prey, my son, thou art gone up; he stooped down, he crouched like a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? The scepter shall not depart from Judah, etc. etc.

Authorship of the Book of Genesis is credited to Moses. Not that he personally wrote Genesis but that he is believed to be the person mainly responsible for the compilation of the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Holy Bible.

It is interesting to note that the person Moses anointed as his successor was Joshua, of the tribe of Joseph and not Caleb of the tribe of Judah. The unpronounced rivalry between the tribes of Judah and Joseph would drag on to the last days until the northern kingdom was erased from the map of the Middle East. But let us leave this topic alone lest we might digress on our main topic.

II. ALBERT PIKE’S MORALS AND DOGMA

Having gone through the Book of the Holy Writings, let us now venture into another source document- the immortal Morals and Dogma of Albert Pike

Page 641 says- That the lion of the house of Judah is the strong grip, never to be broken, with which Christ, of the royal line of that house, has clasped to himself the whole human race, and embraces them in his wide arms as closely and affectionately as brethren embrace each other on the five points of fellowship.

On Page 210, its says- The lion that guarded the Ark and held in his mouth the key wherewith to open it, figuratively represents Solomon, the lion of the tribe of Judah, who preserved and communicated the key to the true knowledge of God, of his laws, and of the profound mysteries of the moral and physical universe.

On Page 461 it also says- The lion is the device of Judah, and Jacob compares him to that animal whose constellation in the heavens is the domicile of the sun, the lion of the tribe of Judah by whose grip, when that of the apprentice and fellowcraft, of Aquarius of the winter solstice, and of Cancer at the Vernal equinox, has not succeeded in raising him, Khurum was lifted out of the grave.

III. WHAT THEN DOES THE PHRASE SIGNIFY?

Let’s now involve ourselves in a little analysis.

Judah- can mean the name of a person or a place. As a person, he is the fourth son of Jacob. As a place,it refers to the southern kingdom of Israel with Jerusalem as its capital and where King Solomon’s temple was erected. The northern kingdom retained its original name Israel with its capital in Samaria which is also called Ephraim.

It is likely that the word Judah refers to the person and not the place because the kingdom of Judah consists of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, while the northern kingdom is composed of the ten other tribes that is ruled by the Ephraimites. Had it been otherwise, then the phrase would have been "lion of the kingdom of Judah!"

Tribe- as taken in the biblical context, it means a group of people who share common ascendancy, specifically, the original twelve tribes of Israel so named after the twelve sons of Jacob, namely, Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah Isaachar, Zebulun, Dan, Napthali, Asher, Gad, Joseph and Benjamin.

Lion- literally speaking, the lion is the animal which in the Philippines is seen only in the zoo. In mainland Asia and Europe however where this animal abounds, the lion is called the king of the jungle and it is in this figurative sense that the word is used. It is also in this context that a person who possesses kingly or special leadership attributes is called a lion. Thus when Jacob said that Judah is a lion’s whelp, he meant that of the twelve brothers, it was his fourth son Jacob who possessed leadership skills.

Let me now offer a substitution of words:

Lion - King

Of the tribe of Tribe of Judah - of the Jews

"Lion of the tribe of Judah" therefore means

"King of the Jews"

Which now gets us back to Jesus Christ because these words appeared in both the Gospels of Matthew and Luke in describing Jesus. This phrase was inscribed by Pontius Pilate above the head of Jesus in Latin which says:

IESUS NAZARENUS, REX IUDAREUM

Which in the King’s language means:

Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.

Biologically speaking, however, Jesus is not a member of the tribe of Judah. Since he is not a son of Joseph, he therefore is not a descendant of Judah. It is in the legal context that Jesus is considered a member of the tribe of Judah because he is an adopted son of Joseph, adoption being a normal hereditary custom.

VI. BUT WHAT HAPPENED TO KING SOLOMON?

Having translated the "Lion of the tribe of Judah" as King of the Jews, it should now follow that King Solomon is also a lion of the same tribe, he being the son and successor of David, the first king of the tribe of Judah. They were later succeeded by Rehoboam, Abijah, etc. etc. Of course, the honor of being coroneted King was first conferred upon Saul, but he was a Benjamenite, not a Jew.

VII. AND FINALLY, ANOTHER LION

The word "lion" is not only used to describe Judah nor Ephraim,. It is also appended to another creature. Let us get back to the Holy Writings.

1 Peter-5:8 says: Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour, whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

And getting back to Joseph Libermann, he is still up there in the Senate showing his worth as a politician. He might just deserve the title later that no Jew of modern times previously earned.

But of course, if you are a Republican, you will see to it that he is not successful.

And before we close, there already is a previous claimant to the throne, the Priory de Sion!

2005-01-16T14:02:00.000-08:00

RETRACING THE KNOWN ORIGINS OF FREEMASONRY AND ITS IMPACT IN THE PHILIPPINES...
by Brother Geminiano V. Galarosa, Jr., Quezon City Lodge No. 122

Compared to organized religions, the originators and the date of Freemasonry’s inception cannot be determined with a reasonable degree of accuracy. Thus, we know that Judaism is said to have been established by Moses, the patriarch who was largely responsible for putting the Pentateuch or the Old Testament into print;

Zoroastrianism was created by Zoroaster or Zarathustra, an Iranian prophet who was born at about 610 BC and to whose name the principle of dualism is credited; Buddhism was established by Siddartha Gautama who was born in Nepal in 563 BC and who is now more popularly known as Buddha; Jesus Christ authored Christianity whose birth-date was made the basis for reckoning the world’s present day calendar; and that Mohammed established Islam in AD 570.

Some of us are wont to believe that Masonry’s roots can be traced back to the hands of time when King Solomon still ruled Israel, for after all, he is the principal figure in the conferral of the Craft’s three degrees. Masonic tradition has it that he was ably supported by the two Hirams, the King of Tyre and the widow’s son, who played second and third fiddles, respectively, to the multi-talented, divinely gifted and lucky monarch who appropriated for himself more than a thousand wives and concubines that, no doubt, would be the envy of every man. Or trace Freemasonry’s origin back to the ancient Egyptians who built the imposing pyramids and who till today, have maintained their imposing structures for posterity to behold. Or, for all one cares, trace it farther back even to the time of Adam when Cain and Abel jockeyed for position to earn Yahweh’s favor only to end in the untimely demise of one. This line of thought, of course, can never be given credence as it would be downright foolish and absurd to think that a brotherhood, adored by many, could have been inspired by a murderous idiot!

But here’s a scholarly data to start with.

In Chapter One of the monumental Masonic book titled "Votaries of Honor", MW Reynold S. Fajardo, Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the Philippines in 1986, and the much-revered Masonic historian the country ever had, said in the opening paragraph, to which this writer quotes in full:

"It is difficult to say when Masonry actually begun. According to the mythology of the ancient Lodges, its origins may be attributed to the time of Solomon, Noah, or even Adam. Some writers believe the Order arose from among the ancient Egyptians, Chaldees, Hindus, Greeks or Hebrews, or that its symbols may be traced back to primitive societies. Other writers adopt the more realistic view that its origins may be found in the Roman Collegia, the Comacine masters, the German Steinmetzen, the French compagnonage or some other similar secret Orders. But whether Masonry began with Adam, an ancient civilization, or a medieval secret Order, the fact is that at the start of the eighteenth century, there already existed in Great Britain and Ireland, numerous Masonic Lodges. In 1717, on the occasion of the feast of St. John the Baptist, four of these pre-existing lodges organized the first Grand Lodge of the world in England."

So now we have a starting point. Which gives the clue that the establishment of the Grand Lodge of England simply signified that Freemasonry has surfaced from its underground existence and does not necessarily mean its actual start for, indeed, Lodges were already known to have been organized ages before that time. A written transcript or "A Constitutional Roll" of the Ancient Charges and History of Freemasonry that is one of the most cherished properties of the Grand Lodge of England is said to have been written as far back as December 23, 1583, and spelled in a manner that is radically different from the Shakespearean or modern usage. Its opening paragraph, when translated to current English says:

"The mighty Father of Heaven, and the wisdom of the glorious Son, through the grace and goodness of the Holy Ghost, it being three persons in one God, be with us at our beginning and give us grace so to govern us here in our living that we may come to his bless that never shall have an ending. Amen."

This transcript or roll is a lengthy piece of Masonic document that narrates the basic teachings of the Craft, citing in detail the seven liberal arts and sciences, also retracing Masonic footsteps to the time of Lamech in the fourth Chapter of Genesis. It also went as far down to the time Abraham met Sarah when they went to Egypt and even mentioned the 47th problem of Euclid. But so much for this antiquated and archaic manuscript. Only the gullible and the unsuspecting will believe the recitation in its entirety anyway.

The earliest recorded existence of the more known branch of Freemasonry however, is no doubt, traceable to the Knights Templar, an organization of warrior-monks said to have been established in 1118 by Hughes the Payens, a nobleman from Champagne in France and vassal of the Count of Champagne. The overt objective of the Order was to guard the road between Jerusalem and Acre, an important port city in the Mediterranean Sea during that time to protect the pilgrims who troop to the Holy Land. So worthy was this objective that this Order would later participate in the Crusades against the Saracens and earned for itself a distinctive badge for valor and heroism. Its titular head was called Grand Master and for almost two centuries ruled from the sidelines, at times virtually reducing the powers of reigning monarchs to mediocrity as many of those kings became heavily indebted to them. Soon, the Templars were able to control the economies of mediaeval Europe and therefore earned the inimical hatred and contemptuous scorn of both the reigning monarchs and the vicars of the Roman Church who, as we all know, not only controlled the souls of our forefathers by the strings tied to their cassocks but also their mortal lives as well.

Thus it was that during the term of Jacques DeMolay as Grand Master of the Knights Templars at the turn of the 14th century, Pope Clement V and King Philip le Bel of France connived and persecuted the Knights Templars on false charges for one sole purpose --- to confiscate the enormous wealth that they were able to amass, and defang the venomous powers that were already being wielded by these Knights.

The combined strength of the Pope and Philip le Bel succeeded in herding Jacques DeMolay and his henchmen to the dungeons. The Templars residing in France were seized and placed under arrest by the King’s men at dawn of Friday, October 13, 1307, and their perceptories placed under sequestration. Among the false charges include the accusation that the Templars denied Christ, had trampled upon and spat on the cross and that they worshipped the devil called Baphomet. Jacques DeMolay was later burned at the stake together with Guy de Euvergne on March 1314 but only after the aging Grand Master, and this is according to Albert Pyke in his book Morals and Dogma, was able to successfully organize four metropolitan lodges that afterwards were to be called the forerunners of the Occult, Hermetic and Scottish Rite Masonry. Those four lodges were strategically located at, the first at Naples in Spain; the second at Edinburgh in England; the third at Stockholm, Norway, in the north; and the last at Paris in France at the southern backdoor. These secret but otherwise solidly organized and well-funded lodges served as combined safe-house and refugee centers for any Templar about to be incarcerated and persecuted by the King’s men and the Cardinal’s guards. These were said to have adopted the legend of Osiris and the resurrection of Khurum, or Khairom, which we otherwise call Hiram Abif. Rites were woven and became indispensable tools in communicating secret passwords in identifying a brother and have thus become the most cogent forerunner of the modern rituals of Freemasonry that was handed down orally from generation to generation. Brotherhood, fidelity to obligations and the primacy of truth and conscience, have prophesied the restoration to life of a buried association whose secret passwords and symbols became the guidelines in knowing a brother "whether in the light or in the dark."

To add more mystic to this secret organization, oral tradition claimed that Jacques DeMolay called his prosecutors at the stake to join him and account for their deeds before the court of the ever-living God within the year. Within a month, Pope Clement V was found dead supposedly from a sudden attack of dysentery while King Philip died of mysterious causes that remained obscure and was never resolved in any of the pages of the entire world’s history. That the Templars possessed intricate knowledge in the use of poison plus the fact that they had the utmost facility in traveling incognito, and with many sympathizers of the Order freely mingling both in the King’s court and the Church corridors, exacting appropriate vengeance woven under the dying oath of Jacques DeMolay was allowed to float without debunking the apparent hint of supernatural causes which the Templars were allegedly famous for.

The procedure for the flight of a Templar refugee who is compelled to elude arrest from the King’s men or the Cardinal’s guards is simple. A Templar fleeing the clutches of the pursuing accusers will seek shelter in the lodge using secret passwords and coded signs that they alone understand. Once his identity is ascertained, the Templar host would take the refugee under his roof until the apparent hazard subsides. When danger has already passed, the unnamed visitor would be aided to escape still farther away with the host providing him both monetary and food provisions, thus enabling his visitor to reach his intended destination safely or at least, up to the next haven where he can later confidently seek refuge. Thus was the oath of secrecy, helping one brother in times of need, distress, danger or persecution and the attendant oath which obligates one brother "provided there be greater probability of saving his life than of losing one’s own" translated into reality making it a mandatory obligation for all regularly raised Master Masons.

In fine, also the skulls and crossbones became the standard banner of the marauding buccaneers, which the controversial book titled "Holy Blood, Holy Grail" authored by Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh and Henry Lincoln claimed, were in reality, Templars who sailed the highs seas and dared opposed the might of the ruling kings and monarchs. These marauding brigands became dreaded nemesis of many a vastly superior naval might, and have earned for that branch of rebels its dreaded reputation and notoriety during their colorful, albeit adventurous years while sailing the rough and stormy seas.

The Templars, many of them astute businessmen whose skills as backroom strategists, the wheeler-dealers they have at their disposal, and with many of their sympathizers and lackeys still beholden to wielders of their vast financial empires that lay hidden from the clutches of the Church and the ruling monarchs, were able to recoup the losses that King Philip le Bel and Company were able to confiscate from them. Their lodges which they maintained underground grew and expanded throughout Europe, with some of the ruling monarchs, among them Frederick the Great of Prussia, the Duke of Wharton and many other notables in England, later joining its mysteries. It also gained adherents not only from the stonemasons and the cathedral builders who were privileged to travel through continental Europe without having to present a national identity and thus effectively camouflaged their existence when traveling. They were also able to attract the speculative masons whose fame and services the secretive Templars also exploited to the hilt.

It’s not all eluding their pursuers, though. By the middle of the 18th century, some of the Templars that were raised in the tradition of Edinburgh and Stockholm, sought shelter in what was then called the uncharted New World in search for that inalienable right to freedom of conscience and religion. In this new habitat, many of its adherents established their lodges and propagated the Craft. The rest is now engraved in the history of the most powerful country in the world, the United States of America.

Curiously, Masonry in the Americas was already alive when the first Grand Lodge of England was organized in 1717. John Skeene who was made a Mason in Aberdeen, Scotland in 1684, migrated to New Jersey thereafter and all through his life stayed there and is therefore recorded as the first Mason to have resided in the new colony. John Belcher, a famous lawyer of both New Jersey and Massachusetts who was made a Mason in 1704 is known to be the first man from America to join Masonry.

Back to Naples in the east and Paris in the south, their adherents also energetically planted the seeds of brotherhood, of equality and fraternity. Freemasonry resurfaced in France in 1718, in 1726 it appeared in the Austrian empire and, two years later, it bubbled in Spain. In like manner, lodges were established in the Northern Hemisphere by their English counterparts, which produced the likes of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, Paul Revere and Benjamin Franklin. The Masons from France also planted their Masonic seeds in neighboring Canada as the Spanish conquistadors planted theirs in the southern American backdoor almost at the same time. Revolts in the Southern Hemisphere led by Simon Bolivar who joined Masonry in Cadiz, Spain, and Miguel Hidalgo, the celebrated priest who led the Mexican rebellion in 1810 also untied the respective loyalties of the inhabitants of these Spanish colonies from their Mother countries. Guisseppi Garibaldi, that colorful Frenchman who was born on July 4, 1807 at Nice, France, leapfrogged to Uruguay, Sicily, London and Italy, planting the seeds of democracy during his time and was allegedly even offered by President Abraham Lincoln a command in the U. S. Civil War. In addition, he is also fondly remembered as the George Washington of Italy. Not only that, Dr, Serafin Quiazon, head of the National Historical Institute of the Republic of the Philippines, while researching in London on the British Trade with the Philippines stumbled upon a piece of historical data which revealed that Garibaldi captained a vessel that anchored in Manila Bay sometime in the middle of the nineteenth century. It’s no wonder then that the tenets of the Craft also ultimately landed in the sandy beaches of the Philippine Islands whose patriots and heroes would later enlist as members of this august fraternity.

The initial entry of Masonry in the Philippines could hardly be rated epochal. In 1856, Jose Malcampo y Monge established in the Philippines the first Masonic lodge and named it Primera Luz Filipina. According to MW Reynold S. Fajardo, PGM, this lodge was created primarily to soften the impact of the hostilities between the Spanish Navy that ply to Manila and the English Navy that was based in Hongkong. With the founding of the Primera Luz Filipina, the hostilities between the two naval forces subsided. Another naval officer by the name of Jose Casto Mendez Nunez arrived in 1859 and helped Malcampo propagate Masonry in the islands.

With the advent of Masonic growth in Europe gaining its momentum, Freemasonry likewise gained several adherents in the country in addition to the Lodge established by Malcampo. The first lodge in Manila was founded by the German Consul whose secretary was Jacobo Zobel y Zangronis, a person born in the island of German father and a Spanish mother. Zobel was a very famous Mason who, though born of foreign lineage, was nonetheless dubbed as the first Filipino Mason initiated in the islands. There was also the lodge in Nagtahan and another at Pandacan that were established in the country but with mostly foreigners enrolled in their respective rosters.

The unprecedented growth of Masonry in the islands is traceable largely to the influx of the students who pursued higher studies in Europe, among them, Marcelo H. del Pilar from Bulacan, Graceano Lopez Jaena from Iloilo, the Luna brothers from Ilocos, Galicano Apacible from Batangas, Domingo Panganiban from Camarines Norte, Jose Alejandrino from Pampanga, Tomas Arejola from Camarines Sur, Ariston Bautista from Manila, Julio Llorente from Cebu, and the country’s foremost hero, Jose Rizal from Laguna, making it a conglomeration of patriots from the entire archipelago. They joined Lodge Solidaridad 53 in Spain and, thus exposed to the tenets of the Fraternity, established local lodges upon their return to the islands. For the first time, the citizenry became aware that they are one people, no longer a pack of regional dreamers of independence whose labels as Tagalogs, Kapampangans, Ilokanos, Bulakenos, Bikolanos and other regionalistic affiliations gave way to the more generic word, "Filipinos."

Led by Nilad Lodge, these patriots fanned the already-to-explode discontent that the inhabitants of the islands had been suppressing for many centuries and was said to be largely responsible for the birth of the Katipunan, the organization that was to bear the burden of pursuing the armed struggle of the oppressed people. From Europe, they returned to the country and planted the seeds of Masonry with grim determination and soon, the country’s intellectuals, among them, Numeriano Adriano, Deodato Arellano, Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Aguinaldo and Apolinario Mabini, became its most adherent recruits.

Andres Bonifacio went a step further. Inspired by the book on French Revolution, he, together with Teodoro Plata and Deodato Arellano, formed a triumvirate and established the Katipunan using the signs and symbols of Masonry as models.

Thus it was the Masonry’s tenets sparked the conflagration of the Philippine Revolution that ultimately untied the umbilical cord and wrote finis to the rule of the Spanish Cortez on the long-enslaved Filipinos enabling it to establish their own nation!

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Votaries of Honor - MW Reynold S. Fajardo, PGM
Born in Blood -James J. Robinson
Masonic Facts & Fictions - Henry Sadler
Morals and Dogma - Albert Pike
Notable American Freemasons- David J. Roads
Far Eastern Freemason -
April- June 1993 Issue
July-September 1993 Issue
Holy Blood, Holy Grail -
Michael Baigent
Richard Leighand
Henry Lincoln

Faith, Hope and Charity

2005-01-15T06:54:00.000-08:00

Faith, Hope and Charity

Masonic Essays

2005-01-15T06:53:00.000-08:00

Masonic Essays