He had the longest term … War clouds were hovering over Philippine shores when John Robert McFie, Jr. was elected Grand Master at the Annual Communication of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines in January 1941. Little did the members realize that the World War, which was to break out that year, would extend McFie’s term to four years, the longest ever in the history of the Grand Lodge. McFie was born in Las Cruces, New Mexico on April 25, 1889, and was educated in the public schools of that State and of Michigan. In 1914, he received his Bachelor ofLaws degree from the University of Michigan. After practicing his profession briefly in Michigan and in New Mexico, he came to the Philippines. Here, from 1917 up to the time of his death, he was a member of the American Bar Association. Actually, he served as President of the Association in 1934. Besides, he held a number of important Governmental appointive positions relating; to law, such as the following: Member, Advisory Judicial Council; Member, Board of Bar Examiners of the Philippines; etc. . After having been associated with such law firms as Fisher , Dewit, Perkins and Brady and Ohnick and McFie, he opened his own offices in 1929. He was extremely successful in these offices. Besides, he branched out into various private enterprises, including mining, real estate, and agri-business, During the First World War, McFie served as a 2nd Lieut.in the 140th Train Hq. & M.P. Co., and later as 1st Lieut., 159th Inf. 40th Division, A.E.F. He became a Lieut. Comdr., U.S.N.R., L.V.(S) in 1938-41, as well as 1st Vice Commander, Manila Post No. 1 of the American Legion. McFie was a member of a number of social clubs in Manila, including the Elks Club, Army and Navy Club, Manila Polo Club, Manila Golf Club, and Wack Wack Golf and Country Club. He was a member, too, of the Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity. McFie was initiated, passed, and raised in Montezuma Lodge No.1 in Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1915 at the age of 26. He became a Scottish Rite Mason, 32°, in the New Mexico Bodies, A & A.S.R., in 1915. He affiliated with the Manila Bodies in 1926 and was elected Knight Commander of the Court of Honor only in October 1941. He rejoined Islam Temple, A.A.O.N.M.S. in 1923. Desiring to participate actively in Masonry in the Philippine, he affiliated with Southern Cross Lodge No.6. He served as Master in this Lodge in 1929-30. He was elected Junior Grand Warden in 1938, Senior Grand Warden in 1939, Deputy Grand Master in 1940, and, as stated earlier, Grand Master in 1941. McFie shared his Grand Mastership with Deputy Grand Master Jose P. Guido. A serious illness in the family required McFie’s presence in the United States; hence, he designated Guido as Acting Grand Master during his absence. This arrangement turned out to the benefit of the Masonic Fraternity. Upon his return, McFie was able to say, “Deputy Grand Master Guido had guided the destinies of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge as well as, if not better than, your Grand Master could have done.” McFie, on the other hand, took advantage of his visit to the United States to foster Masonic ties of the Philippines with American Brethren. On August 14,1941, for example, he was entertained at dinner by the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of California; seven PGMs and several other Masonic dignitaries were present at the dinner. Among them was PGM Earl Wilson, later Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and Grand Orator Henry C. Clausen, later Sovereign Grand Commander, Supreme Council, 33°, Southern Jurisdiction. Toward the end of McFie’s regular term, the Second World War broke out. McFie, together with hundreds of prominent American Masons, was interned at the Santo Tomas Internment Camp. The Japanese banned Masonry, making it difficult for the Masons to carry out any Masonic activity. But as revealed by the records in the archives of the Grand Lodge, behind the backs of the Japanese guards, the Masons were able to hold some Masonic meetings and to carry out other undertakings at the Santo Tomas Internment Camp. , McFie was not destined to leave the Santo Tomas Internment Camp alive. After the American forces had liberated the Camp and while he was awaiting repatriation to the United States the Japanese stragglers in Intramuros shelled the Camp, which resulted in his death.