No 1045, District 25, Under The United Grand Lodge of New South Wales & ACT Australia [Views herein does not necessarily reflect those of LJR 1045 & UGL NSW & ACT.]

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Farewell to 1883


One hundred thirty years ago, Rizal bade farewell to the year 1883. He spoke of his friends & compatriots and their contribution to the year that will soon become part of history. As usual Rizal spoke of his love of his country - his Motherland. Today, we hardly speak of love for our country in our Lodges, maybe to avoid 'piqué and quarrels' regarding politics. At LJR, what will our end of the year toast be? This 30th December is Rizal's 117th death anniversary, and to this end below is re-published from the Cavite State University to commemorate what this great man said a 130 years ago.



  
          "I will avail myself of your invitation to speak. Your rare and hard attention is not to be wasted and what I have to tell you is worth very little. Benevolence will favor goodwill.

          '83 deserves a fond farewell, a smile of gratitude, from us. It is a friend that is bidding us farewell; a peaceful and calm day that slips away at the nightfall; a beautiful and rich page of the variegated book of our existence. With it have gone many of our ideals, sweet affections and illusions of the soul. And in fact '83 has given us our mutual friend Ventura who has not only been our companion but a genuine compatriot. His name is in our hearts and I will not extol him. '83 has brought us the two Esquivels, animation and joy, one a mathematician, the other linguist to others; to us they are friends besides; Mr. Felipe Zamora, glory of our medical science, who has not only left pleasant memories in Madrid but also a void that no one has filled; Mr. Enrique Rogers, a worthy model for his character, talent, and sentiments; Mr. Evaristo Aguirre, orator, poet, with a delicate and ready pen, who has brought us the airs of the Andalucia beyond the seas; Mr. Jimenez whose brief sojourn concealed many of his good qualities; Mr. Tuason who is remembered for his generous deeds and who makes himself liked without being hated; and finally '83 has returned to Madrid, to letters, and to his comrades the indefatigable Mr. Pedro Paterno, the personification of longing and activity, a son of the mother country, and a favorite of the Muses.

          The students made a good showing; the future prepares splendors and magnificence. Love and Joy, those divinities of youth, have visited us and attended our dances, outings, strolls, pilgrimages, in the form of youthful beauties who have departed with the flowers of spring. Many hearts have lost their freedom but they bless their chains. Unanimous and spontaneous strokes of good fellowship, meetings where the voice of discussion did not extinguish that of friendship and nobility; good sense and application to studies everywhere; the deceitful diversions relegated to oblivion; here's 1883.
          It is true that we lost the Hispano-Filipino Circle after a long agony, but we felt it and we mourned it like we do a ship which is abandoned for the waves to swallow up, like a tomb that is closed and left alone. '83 is rich in memories; '84 I dare prophesy will be brilliant and glorious; '83 is a day of early youth, gay, festive, smiling; '84 is a day of virility, deeds, and greatness. Luna is now drawing from his luminous palette the secret of immorality and soon he will tell it to the artistic world; Resurreccion has launched himself in the City of Light, but more fortunate than the butterfly, he will emerge from it brilliant and immortal; Laserna will soon be on the rostrum a holy protest against the injustices of man; the geni of social gatherings roam in the museum of Mr. Pedro Paterno in order to enliven future soirees; the energetic burin of Figueroa will return to opinion what opinion has taken away from him; Graciano Lopez feels the impetus that at one time animated the bar and the rostrum and soon he will let loose torrents of arguments and enthusiasm; in short, our youth fulfills its duty, and the brush, and the burin, and the pen, and the bistoury, and the compass, and the spectacles are being wield and used to the utmost and each one fashions a laurel leaf in order to weave an unwithering crown.
          If until recently the remembrance of our motherland was for us remorse, a recrimination, henceforth at the sound of her name; we raise our head, because we are worthy to be her sons, and because in truth we deserve to be.
          If returning to my home, my country which they call savage, my country where hospitality is neither sold nor bought but indeed it is offered and is regarded as a duty, if this country which, in spite of her poverty, aids her sons in a far away lands, to whom a civilized government denies the meager stipend for their work; if this country, I say, rough and barbarous, because she has less criminals and less disturbances, because brothers respect one another, because mothers do not sell their children in those markets of women that are called public places, because children daily kiss their parent's hand, because they respect the foreigner and the helpless, if this country, if the Philippines, would ask me what I have done during my pilgrimage, I would give the same answer I give to a hidden thought of yours that I feel and deplore; I'll say "In my heart I have suppressed all loves except that of my motherland; in my mind I have erased all ideas which do not signify her progress and my lips have forgotten the names of the native races in the Philippines in order not to say more than Filipinos."
          I avoid the toast; our life is an eternal toast, an eternal aspiration, and an insatiable desire. Only that instead of verses perhaps cries, curses are proclaimed, and instead of wine, the cups are filled with tears or blood! At the banquet of liberty, Death and struggle serve the dishes; those present feed on sacrifices. The future and posterity are the ones, which are nourished to become our curse or our apotheosis.
                                                                   JOSE RIZAL`

Thursday, November 21, 2013

“Science, Virtue, Labor”, a Masonic Speech delivered by Dr. Jose Rizal in 1883 at Solidaridad Lodge No. 53, Madrid, Spain

Venerable Master and dear Brethren:

When we, the profane, knock at the portals of the Temple to be initiated into the mysteries of Masonry, with palpitating heart and our whole being trembling with emotion before the presence of the Unknown, three reassuring words are dinned into our ears: Science, Virtue, and Labour.

These magical words whose flattering promise at one time made Pythagoras and Herodotus sail over tempestuous seas in imperfect ships to search for their solutions in the penumbra of priestly Thebes, this powerful Trinity which, if it descended upon the earth would convert it into a paradise and worthy abode of the gods, these three words, Science, Virtue, and Labour or the deification of intelligence, the deification of the sentiment, and the deification of activity, should be the theme of the present conference which should study it within the bosom and concept of modern Masonry.

“Science?” You may ask what science is found in the Masonic Temple. Science might have taken refuge in it during barbarous epochs in order to erect the sublime architectural monuments of the past centuries, just as the fine arts did in the quiet and peaceful cloisters of the monasteries, but today science is free, open to all, and certainly it is not to be sought in the weekly meetings of the lodges but in the universities, scientific centers, and the studies of learned men.

Agreed, dear brethren! Science is free as the light which is its inspiration! Masonry has been its wet nurse, has guarded it like a sacred flame while the storm raged, and when calmness returned, it surrendered it to the world to illumine it with its rays! What would have become of science if the Egyptian priests and ancient magicians had not surrounded it with mystery? Like a seed, its endosperm hardly broken, exposed to the fury of the elements, it would have perished in the hands of ignorance and neglect. By subjecting the neophytes of science to hard tests – because the mysteries of Isis, Eleusis, of the great Mother, etc. were Masonic matters – Masonry was assured that by the means the earth in which the seed would be planted would make it grow, that the one who would receive the light would defend it against all sudden impetuous attacks.

Later, a Religion, pretending to be the sole possessor of the Truth, desired to control and tyrannizes science, which spoke of other truths, and proclaimed other doctrines. That religion was powerful and science suffered a long captivity. Who liberated it? Masonry - proclaiming the freedom of human reason and working for its recognition.

Yes! Science is already free but its spirit lives in the temple as amidst the ruins of Rome breathes the spirit of her heroic men even after the promulgation of her wise laws! And in this concept we invoke here the name of Science, and Masonry will again fight for her when she is in danger, as it struggles so that the Philippines would open to her its closed horizons.

With respect to the word Labour, do not smile when you think of what we do in our weekly meetings of three hours at most. True it is that in the secular world machines deafen with their moving arms of steel and their powerful flywheels and eccentrics stir the air about them; true it is that the immense factories, like active beehives, employ the child, the young man and woman, the wife, and the aged in the production of thousands of articles necessary to life; true it is that labour makes all the molecules and pores of the world vibrate with life, from the bowels of the earth where the miner digs coal, a thousand times more useful than the prized diamond, to the high peak of snow-clad mountains which the locomotives scales breathing fire and dragging along with human thought; true, very true that our activity is nothing beside that of the diver who descends to the abyss of the seas, of the explorer who penetrates mysterious continents, of the engineer who, not contented with the free lanes of the oceans, goes out to cut continents, open canals, plow through the air in search of new routes! All this is true, but let us not forget that if these wonders can now be seen, it is due to Masonic liberty and the good distribution of workers instituted since antiquity by the Egyptian masons.

When we see an active and robust youngster besides a decrepit and feeble mother, we recall how she has carried him in her bosom, taken care of him as a tender infant and given him the milk of her breasts.

In ancient times the Masonic workshop was a true workshop where they discussed the building plans of such temples as that of Bulak, the cathedrals of Strasburg and of Cologne, etc., still admired in the world today. Human liberty took refuge within the Masonic workshops of Saint Wehma and from there fought against the feudal lords of feudal Germany. In the Masonic workshops also laboured day and night the spirit of man to destroy the sinister Bastille, overthrow a throne, equalize men, and complete the great work of the Nazarene! What? The workman who cuts the stone from the quarry with which to build the walls of a palace, home of pride and pleasure or the walls of a prison, the cavern of despair and lamentations — will this mason of ancient times perchance work more than the modern mason whose intelligence is sharpened and fortified in order to destroy every degrading inequality and to build for redeemed man his resplendent abode, perhaps kneaded with the blood of tyrants?

No, dear brethren: The modern mason works and should still work. Let the masons of free countries attend to the expansion of commerce and of charitable enterprises, well and good! But they should not rest so long as the world nurtures a tyrant; so long as the night gathers in its echoes the moans of the oppressed, so long as there are slaves, so long as there are oppressors! And this work is perhaps the greatest that Masonry has imposed on itself and the only one worthy of its universal name.

Now let is proceed to the study of Virtue, which I have purposely left last, considering it the most important theme of Masonry.

“Virtue, Virtue! You are nothing but a name!”, said Cato nineteen centuries ago, and perhaps many among you repeat now the same phrase upon hearing the strange word! Schiller exclaimed: “When shall I cease to hear about you, oh Virtue? The day when you are praised less you will abide among man.”

What virtue do we practice within this hall? Perhaps in the bottom of our hearts your consciences smile sadly as if disillusioned at the sound of this word, seeing that even within these temples we cannot restrain our passions. Perhaps, you are right, but before going further, let us see what we understand by virtue, because it embodies an idea which is on the lips of everyone and on which not all peoples are agreed.

To the Chinese virtue is respect for elders, ancestor worship, and numerous rituals and ceremonies. To the Indian it is physical immobility and inaction, considering a saint one who can remain in a fixed posture for months and months. To the Hebrews it consists of fear of Jehovah, compliance with the material precepts of Deuteronomy, and awaiting the advent of the Messiah in order to possess the whole world. To the Greeks virtue consists of stoicism, in knowing how to endure all ills with perfect equanimity and for this reason the Spartan consecrated to it all his dearest sentiments and his natural impulses, believing it to be fierce and heartless. To the Buddhists it is kindness and love for one’s fellowmen. On the other hand, to Rome virtue is integrity, manliness, and for that reason calls virtue what we would call “virility.” To her a virtuous man is manly, who knows how to sacrifice himself in times of great peril; how to die for the laws, the name, and the glory of Rome. Christianity came and upset many beliefs, and at the beginning of what did Christian virtues consist? Hereditary Christianity, the essence of the sum total of all religions, reflected in her virtues all the merits of the others and sanctified humility, stoicism, purity, adding to these, like a true Oriental, charity – a virtue that later Mohammedanism elevated to a sublime height.

Later on the doctrines were adulterated, faith weakened, the religious spirit fermented into sects. Those who preached equality and poverty desired to become masters and wealthy. Then virtue was confused with intolerance and fanaticism, and harmless at best, assumed unnatural forms. Force celibacy became a virtue, though God had commanded man to grow and multiply. It became a virtue to abhor the beautiful, to hate love, although all nature is beautiful, and the entire creation from the moon to the flower preaches love. Fasting and abstinence became a virtue although man needed to unfold and multiply his strength to use it in the service of his fellowmen. It became a virtue to torture and humiliate one’s self, when pain is the protest of nature and the snake thrives in the mud and God in Heaven; in short, ignorance itself became a virtue, though wisdom is a divine attribute, intelligence is a gift, and man can redeem himself only through his profound studies.

Barbaric centuries, dear brethren, were those when the emanations from the cloistered confused human intelligence. But it could descend even lower, and greater and deeper still was the fall of reason. These were then called virtues: To hate men who do not profess the same faith, to destroy and burn them; to recite words after words, nonsense after nonsense and perhaps blasphemies after blasphemies before the image of sanctified and deified men. They called virtue the belief in the impossible and the rejection of the conclusions of science and of experience; virtue, faith in the absurd, to give to the Pope for the support of his pomp and the money denied to the young man for his education; virtue, the madness, the senseless, the ridiculous and even vices provided they are cloaked with religion.

Human reason having descended to this abyss and frightened by its fall, looks back to the past and sighs for the virtue of heroic ages.

What are you, oh Virtue? Are you a vain name, the will power that resists all natural sentiments? Are you perchance a word invented by some malevolent egoist in order to arouse the generous sentiments of candid men dazzled by the luster of your glory and afterwards exploit them for his benefit? Have the powerful invented you to accustom the oppressed to be humble, or do the unhappy invoke you to shame their oppressors? Are you a protest or are you a cheat? Are you the patriotism which groups nations into large families or are you the individualism which cause conflict among men?

If we are to accept the principle held by the common people that it is virtue to favor others even to one’s own detriment then in Spain it would be virtuous to be idle, not to be an orator, and to be a patient and long-suffering creditor; in China, as in the rest of the world, it is to allow one’s self to be deceived by all; in France to give but never to accept pourboires, etc.

In the face of so many contradictions in human appreciation, conscience needs a norm.

By Virtue we understand the constant fulfillment of duty, just as by vice the constant infraction of virtue. In this sense the word Virtue enters fully the Masonic workshop and it can be considered the object and the sole life of Masonry. We must clarify the meaning of the word “duty” in this definition. What is man’s duty in this modern age?

The principle of “Do good” is very vague. The saying “Do not do unto others what you do not want others to do unto you” is defective because how many things there are that we should do to others that we do not want others to do to us! Alms for example, is one. The command “Love your fellowmen as you love yourself” is beautiful but impracticable. It is divine but it is not human. There is no man who could feel affection for just anybody at sight.

The duty of modern man to my way of thinking is to work for the redemption of humanity, because once man is dignified there would be less unfortunate and more happy men that is possible in this life. Humanity cannot be redeemed so long as there are oppressed peoples, so long as there are some men who live on the tears of many, so long as there are emasculated minds and blinded eyes that enable others to live like sultans who alone man enjoy beauty. Humanity cannot be redeemed while reason is not free, while faith would want to impose itself on facts, while whims are laws, and while there are nations who subjugate others. For humanity to be able to attain the lofty destiny toward which God guides it, it is necessary that within its fold there should be no dissension nor tyranny, that plagues do not decimate it and no groans and curses be heard in its march. It is necessary that its triumphant career march to the tune of the hymns of glory and liberty with a bright face and serene forehead.

Thus Masonry preaches and practices the sacred principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity among all men and they compose the Masonic virtues, the only virtues whose practice would banish among men wars and abuses and bring about that state of which all great reformers dream. In this concept, for the present, virtue has no other temple but the Masonic temple from which emerge some gleams of light that illumine the minds of many lay thinkers. In this concept virtue is no longer a barren, bare, unnatural, fierce or devout quality. Virtue becomes beautiful than the liberty, equality, and fraternity of all men.

Myriad worlds roll in peace and freedom through the vast expanse of space without end and in their divine course they intone a hymn of love to their creator; the eagles cross the space in majestic flight and they watch and respect one another; the fiercest animals in their caves or in the loneliness of the desert each go to his hunt without destroying one another, without being tyrannical; the trees raise to the sun their majestic crowns and whisper and confide to the zephyr the song of thanksgiving for the light that vivify them and dress them with color; the flowers lean out their fresh heads, filling the air with perfume and smiles; life, joy, love, liberty are all born everywhere even from death and dirt itself.

Only man remains the enemy of man, tyrannizes his fellowmen, oppresses everyone, transmits his anger and his diseases to the animals that fall under his power and rejoice in the humiliation of his brothers. A cry announces his birth, misery and battles darken the tortuous path of his life with tears, blood, and gall; vices, diseases, and passion which cause his death are usually accompanied by terror and suffering, and like the tyrants, howling and crying tears of fire, envying the fate of the peasants, man, the lord of creation, envies the fate of the insects, the fate of the butterfly which, flying from flower to flower, feeds on nectar, is born at dawn and dies with the day without luckily seeing the sad shadows of the night!



Sunday, November 17, 2013

LJR's 2013 Installation Meeting by RWor Bro Bruce Quirk

Numbers well in excess of one hundred, including the Brethren, their wives, family, friends and "little ones”, were in attendance at the Castle Hill Masonic Centre on Saturday night the 9th of November, some to take part in, others to watch but all to thoroughly enjoy the Installation Ceremony and Installation Banquet, where Bro Manuel Placido became Worshipful Brother Manuel Placido, now numbered among "The Rulers of The Craft” and the Worshipful Master of the most harmonious, and (arguably) one of the most progressive Lodges in the Fraternity.

With W Bro Manuel Santos (Installing Master), in the chair, the lodge tyled at five o’clock and all visitors were admitted soon after, including two very impressive Fraternals, a twelve strong delegation from The Cedars Lodge, and a strong contingent from Lodge Star of Australia and Lodge Education.

Meanwhile a very strong delegation of some twenty plus Grand Lodge Officers, were forming under the guidance of the Grand Director on the night, VW Bro Dimantha Goonasekera, ably assisted by three Grand Stewards, VW Bro Louis Reyes, VW Bro Kris Albano and VW Bro Arnel Landicho, the delegation was honoured with the presence of a very special guest, RW Bro Larry Gordon from the Grand Lodge of New York. RW Bro Gordon, being the Grand Lodge of New York’s representative to New Zealand, stopped off in Sydney for a few days en route to the Grand Installation in New Zealand.

As time approached and a photo opportunity taken, the Grand Director entered the Lodge Room and announced RW Bro Antoine Georges PSGW accompanied by a large delegation of Grand Lodge Officers were in attendance and seeking admission. With consent by the Worshipful Master and the Brethren standing to order and electronically operated fan fare, the delegation entered the capacity filled Lodge Room and were made extremely welcome.

The officers of Lodge Jose Rizal then divested themselves of their insignia of office which were collected by the Deacons and presented to the Grand Director, VW Bro Arnel Landicho assisting. All below the rank of Installed Master then retired under the direction of VW Bro Goonasekera and after RW Bro Rey Porras had taken up the position of Senior Warden, VW Bro Rudy Romerosa as Junior Warden and W Bro Vince Flores as Inner Guard, the Board of Installed Masters' was opened and soon, under the very capable Installing Hand of W Bro Manuel Santos and in a most impressive ceremony, Bro Manuel Placido became W Bro Manuel Placido, The Worshipful Master of Lodge Jose Rizal No 1045.

The Board of Installed Masters was then closed and the Lodge resumed in the Third Degree and all Master Masons were re admitted, third degree proclamations were then given with electronic Fan Fare before the Third Degree Working Tools were presented by Bro Troy Quimpo. The Lodge was then closed in the Third Degree and resumed in the Second and all Fellow Crafts were re-admitted. The Second Degree Working Tools were then presented by Bro Oscar Eugenio. The Lodge was then closed in the Second Degree and resumed in the First and all masons were re –admitted, the First Degree proclamations were then given before the First Degree Working Tools were presented by the newly Installed Master’s son, Bro Daniel Placido.

The Installing Master then entrusted the Warrant or Charter of Lodge Jose Rizal to the newly Installed Master’s care and keeping, before instructing him to invest his officers. This being done, the three addresses were given, the Address to the Worshipful Master, much to his Credit, by the Installing Master himself, the address to the Wardens by W Bro Remigio Nieto and the address to the Brethren very well delivered by W Bro Russell Dobson.

Before concluding the Installation Ceremony, a musical number was played on the saxophone by Bro Micvi Fidel and a beautiful solo was sung by the newly Installed Master’s son Daniel entitled "This is The Moment” which, on completion, drew a thunderous standing ovation of acknowledgement and appreciation.

A somewhat relieved Installing Master then told the now W Bro Manuel Placido that the ceremony of his Installation was complete and in handing him the "Keys” told him Lodge Jose Rizal was now under his complete control.

RW Bro Antoine Georges immediately rose and asked MW Bro Raymond Brook to be the first to congratulate the newly Installed Master, then the distinguished visitor from The Grand Lodge of New York, before rising and presenting the new Master of Lodge Jose Rizal with his Installed Master’s Certificate. W Bro Manuel Placido then gave welcome to the Most Worshipful Master’s Representative and in acknowledging the welcome, RW Bro Antoine Georges asked the Grand Director to present the Installing Master and duly gave the District Grand Inspector of Workings for District Thirty Two, VW Bro Graham Andrews, the distinct privilege of presenting W Bro Manuel Santos with his Past Master’s Jewel.

This being done RW Bro Antoine Georges asked the Grand Director to present Bro Zaldy Pagala and gave the Foundation Installing Master [and Foundation IPM] of Lodge Jose Rizal, RW Bro Rey Porras, the privilege of presenting him with his Master Mason's Certificate.

RW Bro Antoine Georges then asked the Grand Director to assemble all the previous Masters of Lodge Jose Rizal and duly produced a "Perpetual Jewel” in the form of a "Square” attached to a collarette which is to be passed on to the incoming Worshipful Master on nights of Installation.

He then called on the Worshipful Master of The Cedars Lodge (Lodge Jose Rizal’s Sponsor Lodge) and asked him to invest the Foundation Installing Master, RW Bro Rey Porras, with the Perpetual Jewel, who, in turn, invested the Foundation Wor Master RW Bro Maniago, who, in turn invested RW Bro Fidel Pamplona, who, in turn, invested VW Bro Rudy Romerosa who, in turn, invested W Bro Manny Santos who then invested the newly Installed Master of Lodge Jose’ Rizal with this brilliant concept, the brain child of the Most Worshipful Master’s Representative RW Bro Antoine Georges PSGW.

The Grand Lodge Delegation then retired to the Installation Banquet and were soon joined by the Brethren from the Lodge Room and after Grace was recited by the Lodge Chaplain Bro Julio Roson, all sat down to a tasty meal courtesy of what is to become known as Lodge Jose Rizal’s "Secret Weapon” - The Ladies of Jose Rizal.

After all had eaten, the Worshipful Master proposed The Loyal Toast, followed by the Toast to The Most Worshipful Grand Master and in rising in response, RW Bro Antoine Georges said Lodge Jose Rizal had achieved more in the few short years it had been in existence than most Lodges do in their life time; and attributed this fact to the peace, love and harmony within the Lodge and the unswerving support and efforts of Lodge Jose Rizal’s secret weapon, their Ladies. Before concluding the response, RW Bro Antoine Georges gave acknowledgement to several high ranking Grand Lodge officers in attendance, with particular mention to the special guest from The Grand Lodge of New York, RW Bro Larry Gordon.

A solo rendition was then given by Bro Daniel Placido, which again drew loud acclamation before it was announced it was the newly Installed Master’s birthday and all the Ladies, accompanied by Bro Daniel Placido sang a hearty Happy Birthday.

W Bro Roberto Briones then proposed a lengthy toast to The Worshipful Master and his Officers which was responded to by the newly Installed Master before RW Bro Emmanuel Maniago proposed a toast to the Installing Master which was responded to by a happy & smiling W Bro Manuel Santos.

W Bro Khris Albano then proposed a Toast to Our Visitors and Our Ladies which was concluded with the special Lodge Jose Rizal honours of thanks and friendship.

"We hold you in our hearts. We embrace you as a family. We honour Your Friendship."

The toast responded to on behalf of the Brethren, by the distinguished visitor from the U.S.of A.- RW Bro Larry Gordon.

On behalf of the Ladies, Remy Maniago spoke in jest of all the work expected of them and the time it consumed, but concluded in saying Freemasonry was just as much a part of their lives as was their husbands, and they enjoyed it equally as much.

The hour getting late, Bro Micvi Fidel then proposed the Junior Warden's toast and whilst some partied on in celebration, most travelled to their respective homes, all ever so glad they had come to Lodge Jose Rizal and shared such an enjoyable evening and all looking forward to ---

"Our Next Happy Meeting at lodge Jose Rizal No 1045".

Which meets bi-monthly at the Castle Hill Masonic centre where a warm welcome and a great night of Friendship and Freemasonry is assured.

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Reproduced and edited as appeared on the http://www.masonicregions.org.au/page28305629.aspx

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Suggested Guidelines of Freemasons on Various Social Media


“The presence of Freemasons on various social networking sites is growing exponentially and it is drawing attention to the fraternity. By participating on sites, such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn (and others), we should strive to make that attention as positive as possible. When we represent ourselves as members of the fraternity, we become someone’s impression of Freemasonry. As such, it is important that we act accordingly and subscribe to the lessons we are all taught as Masons in terms of how we communicate and interact with Masons and non-Masons.

Social Media Code of Conduct for Freemasons

1 A Mason should conduct his Social Media activities in a way that reflects his membership in the Craft. He should act in a way that presents a positive image of his membership in Freemasonry to the world.

2 As a Mason, he must be aware that his postings are a permanent record; therefore, his conduct may influence the world with a positive or a negative opinion about him personally and also about any organizations to which he belongs.

3 His actions on the various Social Media outlets should reflect the highest standards of morality and integrity he would practice within the Lodge.

4 To ensure our fraternity represents itself to the high standards we believe in, we must regulate our actions through Brother-to-Brother intervention. As a Mason, you should advise a Brother if you feel that what he has posted is improper within the framework of our Grand Constitutions, rules, regulations, and edicts.

5 Do not identify any Freemason as a member of the Craft unless he has provided his consent, or has already identified himself as such.

6 Lodge notices, and information contained within Lodge notices beyond the time and place of meeting, should not be discussed.

7 There should never be discussion related to the application, background or investigation of an applicant.

8 There should never be discussion regarding the ballot of an applicant.

9 There should never be discussion related to the business of a Lodge and what is discussed within our tyled doors.

10 The posting of pictures or videos of Lodge events must comply with the Grand Constitutions, rules, regulations, and edicts.

11 Information about Lodge or District social activities must comply with the regulations already in place for Lodge Notices (for example, no reference to alcohol or games of chance). [Note: mostly for US Lodges…]

12 The posting of social activities of a Lodge or District should comply with the regulation standards already in place for the distribution of Lodge Notices and inserts.

13 No official communication with other Grand Lodges or their subordinate Lodges may take place online.”

Please refer to UGL NSW & ACT guidelines on disclosure & social media conduct. A case in point is the taking of photographs within the tyled Lodge - making sure an announcement be made to the effect that photos taken may be published [online or paper based publications]. Giving those who does not want his photo taken ample time to say so.

July 2013 Meeting & Raising

Approaching fifty, including the Brethren, their wives, family and friends, not forgetting the little ones and tiny tots, were in attendance at the Castle Hill Masonic Centre on Saturday night the thirteenth of July. Most to witness, others to take part in and all to enjoy, not only the Raising Ceremony of Bro Justin Baylifff but also to take part in the birthday celebrations of Bro Micvi Fidel [Age undisclosed].

With RW Bro Fidel Pamplona "In The Chair”, W Bro Romy Nieto as IPM, RW Bro Emmanuel Maniago as acting Senior Warden and VW Bro Rudy Romerosa as acting Secretary, the Lodge Tyled at six o’clock sharp.

Among the twenty eight in the Lodge Room, were no fewer than three Entered Apprentice Freemasons and two Fellow Crafts and after all visitors were admitted, an alarm was sounded and upon inquiry it was found the District Grand Inspector of Workings for District Thirty Two, VW Bro Graham Andrews, was in attendance and seeking admission. With the acting Director of Ceremonies, RW Bro Rey Porras and the Deacons taking up their respective positions, the distinguished visitor was admitted and made extremely welcome by the Worshipful Master in the Chair.

Before the work of the evening commenced, RW Bro Pamplona offered his sincere condolences to W Bro Romy Nieto and family in the passing of Sis Ellen’s dear mother - Monica Sanqui Nunez.

The Worshipful Master in the Chair then asked all Entered Apprentices to retire and opened the Lodge in the Second Degree. At RW Bro Pamplona’s request, the Senior Deacon, Bro Micvi Fidel presented Bro Justin Bayliff to the Obligation Table where he was subjected to the Preliminary Examination. Bro Bayliff, obviously well tutored by his mentor, RW Bro Emmanuel Maniago, had no problem with the examination and after all Fellow Crafts were retired, including W Bro Fred Sese, the now Worshipful Master of Lodge Baulkham Hill, the Lodge was raised to the Third Degree.

The Lodge Room being suitably prepared, an alarm was sounded and after the Director of Ceremonies, the Deacons and Lodge Chaplain had taken up their respective positions, Bro Bayliff was re admitted "On The Square” and in due course, raised to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason.

The work of the evening was of the particularly high standard, of which Lodge Jose Rizal is renowned but particular mention must be made of the Traditional History narrated by W Bro Romy Nieto and the extended signs so well explained by Bro Robert Urqueza.

Meanwhile, the ladies outside, were obviously enjoying the night and having a great time judging by the music, laughter and squeals of delight issuing forth.

The ceremony over and a photo opportunity taken, the Lodge was returned to the First Degree and all Masons were re admitted. RW Bro Pamplona then gave welcome to the visiting District Inspector who, in rising to the response, and apologising for his absence at the last meeting, asked for the assistance of the Director of Ceremonies and went down onto the floor and greeted the Entered Apprentices in turn, crossing the floor, he also congratulated the Newly Raised Brother Bro Bayliff, and greeted the Fellow Craft in attendance.

On returning to the dais, VW Bro Andrews, spoke of his recent contact and conversation with the Most Worshipful Grand Master, who is in Brisbane, at the moment, for the Queensland Grand Installation and will soon journey to New Zealand for their Grand Installation, thus continuing the very strong Australasian bond of Freemasonry.

Continuing on, VW Bro Andrews spoke of the recent Grand Lodge Communication and of VW Bro Robert Moore’s successful application for the role of RGC at the "soon to be” Region Two. He also spoke of the Grand Master’s desire to visit District Thirty Two and urged all Lodges in the District to give the Grand Master timely notice of any function they wished him to attend.

VW Bro Andrews then retired and before closing the Lodge RW Bro Pamplona asked for any announcements:

The Worshipful Master of Lodge Hornsby, W Bro Nes Bangcoror rose and invited all to Lodge Hornsby’s next meeting which will be the investiture of officers for the ensuing year.

RW Bro Bill Driver spoke of the huge financial success of the sausage sizzles held at the various Bunning’s outlets and called for volunteers for the forth coming Castle Hill roster; where it is guesstimated that over six hundred and fifty sausage sandwiches will be sold on the day, returning more than two thousand dollars. Well done RW Bro Driver.

There being no further business, the "Master in The Chair” closed the Lodge and after a photo opportunity was taken of all the Brethren who had taken part in the night’s ceremony, all retired to the Festive Board to join the ladies, family and friends and, after Grace was recited by the Lodge Chaplain, Bro Julio Roson, all enjoyed a beautiful meal and delicious sweets prepared and presented by the ladies of Lodge Jose Rizal.

After RW Bro Pamplona had proposed The Loyal Toast, he proposed a toast to The Most Worshipful Grand Master, which was responded to by the visiting District Inspector.

Bro Troy Quimpo then proposed a toast to the newly Raised Brother and in his response, Bro Bayliff, in thanking Lodge Jose Rizal, especially RW Bro Maniago, for all the support and encouragement in his Masonic journey thus far, said that he would soon be moving to Canada and would join a Lodge over there but would always have happy memories of Australia and be so proud to call Lodge Jose Rizal his Mother Lodge.

In the absence of Bro Manny Placido, RW Bro Rey Porras proposed a toast to our ladies and visitors, which was responded to by W Bro Ian Harrison, from Lodge Alpha. W Bro Harrison has applied for affiliation papers and soon to be an affiliate member of Lodge Jose Rizal.

The Director of Ceremonies then announced that it will be Bro Micvi Fidel’s birthday and all joined in singing a happy and hearty "Happy Birthday”. In response, Bro Micvi asked all to continue the evening and participate in his birthday celebrations and in doing so invited all to sample some special 'birthday food' [Filipino delicacies] he had placed on the tables.

The raffle was then drawn and Bro Mario Baylon Jnr proposed the Junior Warden's Toast and whilst some went home, others stayed and joined in the birthday festivities well into the night or should one say "Early Morning”.

Such was Lodge Jose Rizal’s July meeting, another night of both admiration and inspiration and totally enjoyed by all in attendance and all looking forward to ----

"Our Next Happy Meeting at Lodge Jose’ Rizal No 1045”

Which will be held at the Castle Hill Masonic Centre,on the fourteenth of September, where a warm welcome will be extended to all.

By RW Bro Bruce Quirk [via District website]







Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Installation of Bro Fred Sese 3 May 2013

Our Bro Alfredo "Fred' Belen Sese will be Installed as Wor Master of Lodge Baulkham Hills 956, this Friday - 3 May 2013 at Castle Hill Masonic Centre. Tyling at 6:30pm for members, visitors at 6:45pm & Grand Lodge at 7:30pm.

South is by tickets only [RSVP by 19 Apt]at 425 per person. Ladies invited.

Bro Fred said that "I would like to thank our Jose Rizal Brethren for their well wishes for my coming installation tomorrow (3rd of May) at Lodge Baulkham Hills, Castle Hill Masonic Centre.

"Also thanking, in advance, the LJR Brethren participating, Brother Ed Banting for dispensing a vocal rendition of "You Will Raise Me Up" and Brother Micvi Fidel on his trusty saxophone. This musical interlude will be in open Lodge. At the installation banquet, where it is free and easy, Brothers Manuel and Daniel Placido will entertain us with their music."





Monday, March 18, 2013

New Set of Officers 2012-2013

Worshipful Master - W Bro Manuel 'Manny' Santos

Immediate Past Master - VW Bro Rodolfo 'Rudy' Romerosa, PDGDC

Senior Warden - Bro Manuel 'Manny' Placido

Junior Warden - Bro Mario 'Mar' Baylon, Jnr

Chaplain - Bro Julio Roson

Treasurer - RW Bro Emmanuel 'Manny' Maniago, PSGW

Secretary - RW Bro Fidencio 'Fidel' Pamplona, PSGW

Director of Ceremonies - W Bro Khris Albano, GS

Senior Deacon - Bro Micvi 'Mick' Fidel

Junior Deacon - Bro Paolo Beringuel

Director of Music - W Bro Herminigildo 'Hermie' Mateo

Organist - Bro Edward 'Ed' Banting

Membership Officer[s] - W Bro Vicente 'Vince" Flores

masoniCare [Caring] Officer [s] - W Bro Remigio 'Romy' Nieto

Inner Guard - Bro Roderick 'Eric' Buenavista

Stewards - Bro Troy Quimpo, Bro Larry Pamplona, Bro Richard Eusebio & Bro Roberto Urqueza

Tyler - TBA

Lodge Mentor/Education Officer - RW Bro Rey Porras, PSGW



Regional Grand Counsellor - RW Bro William 'Bill' McBey [Jennie]


District Grand Inspector of Workings - VW Bro Graham Andrews [Elaine]

Followers