Mr. Lucky Only one word is necessary to describe Joseph Alley, and that word is “Lucky.” During his term as the 24th Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines, several momentous Masonic events, none of which he initiated, came to a successful and happy conclusion. Within one month after his installation as Grand Master in 1937, he signed a covenant with the Grand Lodges of England, Ireland, Scotland, Massachusetts, and Vienna paving the way for the reestablishment of previously severed Masonic relations with these Grand Lodges. The agreement was actually forged during the term of his predecessor, but the papers for the signature of the Grand Master of the Philippines were received only after Alley was already Grand Master. The difficulties with the Grand Lodges of England, Ireland, etc. begun when Grand Master Vicente Carmona issued a dispensation in 1930 for the establishment of a lodge in Shanghai, China. The lodge was constituted on May 25, 1931 as Amity Lodge No. 106. It was followed by Nanking Lodge No.108, Pearl River Lodge No.109, Szechuan Lodge No.112, Westlake Lodge No. 113, and Sun Lodge No.114, all in China and under the jurisdiction of the Philippine Grand Lodge. In those days China was considered Masonically free territory and many Grand jurisdictions had lodges in that country. The other Grand jurisdictions felt an Advisory Council should be created to promote harmony and better understanding between the several Grand Lodges with lodge in the country. A proposed agreement was drafted, but Grand Master Gonzalez found some of its terms unacceptable and rejected it, triggering the rupture of fraternal relations between the Philippine Grand Lodge and several Grand jurisdictions. Over the years quiet negotiations were held to patch up differences, and Alley had the good fortune to be Grand Master when harmony was finally attained. The second important Masonic event to occur during Alley’s tenure was the construction of the Masonic monument at Kawit, Cavite commemorating the establishment in 1856 of the first regular Masonic lodge in the Philippines. On February 22, 1937 Alley laid the cornerstone for this monument and on June 19, 1937 it was unveiled. The story of this monument goes back to the term of MW Gonzalez in 1932. He created a committee to ascertain the exact site where Malcampo established Lodge Primera Luz Filipina and after the committee submitted its report, the Grand Lodge decided to erect a commemorative monument on the site that was pinpointed. For one reason or another, however, construction was delayed. It was only during the term of Conrado Benitez that plans were firmed up, and it was the happy office of MW Alley to announce in his inaugural speech that the monument would rise during his term. Another notable Masonic event to take place while Alley was Grand Master was the acquisition by the Grand Lodge of absolute ownership over the Plaridel property. This property, now known as the Plaridel Masonic Temple, was owned by the Plaridel Temple, Inc., which was indebted to the Grand Lodge. Unable to pay, it decided after long negotiations to cede the property “absolutely, unconditionally and in perpetuity” to the Grand Lodge in payment of its obligations. As luck would have it, the transfer took place during Alley’s term. A forth memorable Masonic event was the inauguration of the district Grand Lodge for China under the Grand Lodge of the Philippine Island on May 4, 1937 with Right Worshipful Hua-Chuen Mei as District Grand Master. A previous Annual Communication had approved its creation, but as usual, on “Lucky” Alley’s lap fell the good fortune of presiding during the actual inauguration of the very first District Grand Lodge under our Philippine jurisdiction. Alley was born in New York in 1886. Shortly after his arrival in the Philippines, he joined Manila Lodge No. 1, being initiated on Oct. 8, 1918, passed on October 19, 1918 and raised on November 12, 1918. In 1923 his business interests – he was connected with the Philippine Refining Co. – required his transfer of residence to Cebu so he demitted on Oct. 2, 1923 and affiliated with Tupas Lodge No.62 where he served as Master in 1925. On January 3, 1939, he rejoined Manila Lodge, but maintained his membership in Tupas Lodge. He was elected from the floor as Deputy Grand Master in 1936 and Grand Master in 1937. As Grand Master, Alley initiated the practice of having oil portraits of our Grand Masters painted and gave them an honored niche in the halls of the Grand Lodge. He was also a firm believer in the wisdom of promoting inter-lodge visitations and set the tone by making 100 official visitations. Alley’s interests in Masonry extended to the appendant organizations. He was a KCCH in the Scottish Rite and one of the leaders of York Rite Masonry in the Philippines. In 1939-1940 he served as Generalissimo of Far East Commandery No.1, Knights Templar; King of Luzon Chapter No.1, RAM; and Deputy Master of Oriental Council No.1, R & S M. In 1941 he was High Priest, a position he occupied until his death of a heart attack on February 1, 1946.