The first General to become Grand Master … Jose de los Reyes was born in scenic Bulacan on August 19, 1874. After finishing his elementary education at public schools in Malolos, Bulacan and Trozo, Manila, he enrolled at San Juan de Letran College, working his way through college. Before completing his fifth year at said school, he was employed in the lighthouse service under the Spanish government. In 1896-97, he served as case officer in the Court of First Instance at San Fernando, La Union. He even acted as clerk of court on many occasion. In 1898, he returned to his native town, where he took active part in reinforcing and reorganizing the revolutionary forces contra Spain. This reorganization was called for, because General Emilio Aguinaldo had returned from Hong-Kong. He served under the young hero of Tirad Pass, Gen. Gregorio del Pilar, with whom he fought against the Spanish army. When, in February of 1901, the civil government was once more established in his native province, de los Reyes became a First Lieutenant in the newly organized Philippine Scouts. On September 15, 1901, however, he enlisted as second-class private in the Philippine Constabulary. Then he gradually rose from sub-inspector to Third Lieutenant to Adjutant of the Manila Garrison. On August 24, 1918, he came to be a Lieutenant Colonel and Assistant Chief of the Constabulary. Finally, on March 10, 1924, he became a colonel. Poor health, however, forced him into retirement on October 16,1930. But six years later, he returned to active service, this time as Chief of the Bureau of Customs Service. On January 11, 1937, the Philippine Army was organized, and he was appointed the first Chief of Staff, with the rank of Brigadier General. In the same year – on May 4th, to be exact – he became Major General and Provost Marshall in command of the Constabulary Division. Then, on the 13th of September of 1938, once more he retired. It is quite interesting to note, at this juncture, that he studied law at the Escuela de Derecho while he was serving as Adjutant of the Manila Garrison in 1905. In addition, he became a Director of the Hagonoy Institute, of which he was a principal stockholder. His life as a Mason, likewise, was interestingly colorful. At first, he was a member of Perla del Oriente Lodge No.1034. But he later demitted to become a charter member of Mount Lebanon Lodge No.80 on March 23, 1922. In 1934, he became Master of this Lodge. When Grand Master Clark James passed away, he became Acting Grand Master and, in 1940, he was elected the 27th Grand Master of the Grand Lodge at the Annual Communications. Here is one of the remarks of this unassuming, humble Mason: When I knocked for admission at the portals of Masonry in 1912, I never imagined that some day in the distant future I would be occupying the highest position within the gift of the Fraternity. My limited vocabulary may fail me to properly express my sincere appreciation, but you can rest assured that to me “Gratitude is the memory of the heart.” He also served different chairs of in the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. On October 17,1939, he was coroneted 33° Inspector General Honorary. During his incumbency as Grand Master, he had a premonition, inasmuch as the world was, at that time, preparing for war. With great concern, he said to the Brethren: In the light of the present conditions obtaining here and elsewhere in this confused world, it is not enough that our Fraternity should stand as a body and present to our implacable detractors a fearless, united front, if for no other motive than our God-given right of self-preservation and the preservation of our venerable order. We need good, true men to fill the blank files in our ranks. We need men of intelligence, of high character, and of brave hearts to take the leadership of our Craft throughout the ever candent arena of this earthly existence. It is true that Masonry is a spiritual force. But even a spiritual force in a human, organized body like Masonry, to be strong and vigorous, must have for its abode a healthy strong body. Time and again, this brave General articulated the same fear and premonition. When he welcomed the Grand Representatives during the Grand Lodge Communication, he again told the Brethren that Freemasonry was facing, as it never had, “perhaps the darkest period in the history of civilization.” He pointed out: …Several Grand Lodges or Grand Orients in certain countries in Europe have ceased to exist. Their altars were desecrated, all their property confiscated, and their officers and members, all God-fearing men and honorable citizens, were, to say the least, mercilessly persecuted, thrown into prison, or forced to flee to foreign countries there to live as exiles or refugees. True enough, the year after, war was declared, and the Grand Lodge of the Philippines went into darkness. But even in the dark, Grand Master de los Reyes’ statements re-echoed in the minds and hearts of those who heard him.