The Ritualist … On January 24, 1928, Grand Master Joseph Henry Schmidt delivered to the assembled members of the Grand Lodge of the Philippine Islands his annual message – one which was not a mere report of his stewardship, but rather the story of a year’s splendid adventure in practical kindness and friendship and in the enkindled spirit of strong brotherhood among Masons in the Philippines. That story was summarised by the Grand Master in this statement: “Masonry is Friendship and Service, and it has been my constant endeavor, during the year just past, to give you, my Brethren, a full measure of both.” His splendid record of having visited almost all of the one hundred and one Blue Lodges proved that he constantly tried to give both friendship and service to the Brethren. During those visits he manifested his sterling friendship to the Brethren as well as his dedicated service to the Masonic cause. He succeeded, as a result, in uniting the Fraternity into a stronger body than ever before. It is to be noted, however, that Schmidt made an understatement when he said that he had served the Fraternity for one year only. Those who had known and honored him could testify that both before his term as Grand Master and after it – even up to the day of his death – he was ever active in his friendship and in service. Both in deed and in character, Schmidt was, truly, a “just and upright Mason.” Joseph Henry Schmidt was born in Chicago, Illinois on October 7, 1880. He died in Manila on December 26,1935 the first among the Past Grand Masters to pass on to the Celestial Lodge above. Joe, as he was affectionately called, was only a boy when, impelled by patriotic motives, he enlisted in the United States Army for the Philippine Campaign. He arrived with the 16th U.S. Infantry at Manila in 1899. After his discharge from the Army, he went to Japan on business. It was there that he began his Masonic work. Joe received the degrees of Masonry in 1907 and 1908 in O’Tentosama Lodge No.1263, English Constitution, at Yokohama. He also became a member of the Yokohama Bodies of the Scottish Rite. On his return to the Philippines, he immediately took an active part in Masonry. In 1915, he was one of the chief organizers and a Charter Member of Cosmos Lodge No.8, F & A.M. In 1923, he was elected Master of this Lodge. To increase attendance at the meetings, he invariably had something of interest to offer, in addition to the purely ritualistic work or business. One of his best efforts in this connection was a series of lectures, illustrated lantern slides, on “United States Presidents Who Were Masons,” “Illustrious Filipino Masons,” etc. These lectures were so highly regarded and so successful in attracting attendance at the meetings that he was compelled to repeat them several times in other Lodges for the benefit of the Brethren. His personal qualities and abilities soon won him recognition in the Grand Lodge. Thus, after working through the several chairs, he was elected Grand Master in 1927. Joe affiliated with ‘the Manila Bodies in 1925. He must have been so active in the Scottish Rite that he was elected to the Mastership of Manu Chapter, Rose Croix, in 1929-30; of Gautama Consistory in 1930-31; of Confucius Council, Knights Kadosh, in 1932-33; and of Mt. Arayat Lodge of Perfection in 1934-35. In 1929, he received the coveted rank of Knight Commander of the Court of Honor. On December 16, 1933, he attained the highest rank a Scottish Rite Mason can aspire for, because, on that day, he was coroneted a 33° Mason.’ Joe was also active in other fraternal organisations. He was Past Department Commander of the United Spanish War Veterans; a member and Past Exalted Ruler of Manila Lodge No.761, B.P.O.E.; and President of the Philippine Council, Boy Scouts. In fact, he was an awardee of this last organisation’s “Silver Carabao” for his distinguished service to the boy-scout movement. Joe was a great organizer and one of the best ritualists in Masonry. He had a personality to attract attendance and interest in Lodge work, and a cordial, affectionate soul with a cheery smile, hearty handclasp and sympathising manner. As an organiser, it was he and “Bill” Larkin, together with “Bill” Chapman and “Fred” Hedrick, who conceived and brought into existence the splendid Masonic Hospital for Crippled Children, which has continued in its charitable work for these many years even after the passing away – of the organisers. In ritualistic work, Joe was one of the firsts to memorise the fine ceremony for installation of officers in the Blue Lodge. Besides, frequently called upon to deliver the funeral service in the Blue Lodge, he gave this from memory. In the Scottish Rite, he organized a team from among the Scottish Rite Brethren of Cosmos Lodge No.8. This team, with Joe as Master, conferred the beautiful ceremony of the 18th Degree, Knight Rose Croix, entirely from memory. They continued, for many years, to confer this Degree at all Scottish Rite reunions. Again, he did the long part of Master of Ceremonies in the 30th Degree entirely from memory. This man with many-sided abilities was, as Seldon W. O’Brien put it in a eulogy, “generous to a fault, charitable and helpful, and the soul of unselfishness.”