The consummate Mason… On March 15, 1991, the Supreme Council, A.&A.S.R., of the Republic of the Philippines, by unanimous vote, approved a resolution conferring upon Raymond E. Wilmarth the highest individual decoration within the gift of the Supreme Council. It was an honor rarely conferred; in the 45 years of existence of the Supreme Council, the Grand Cross Court of Honor Award has been conferred only four times. But it was an accolade truly deserved. For more than three decades, Wilmarth was one of the most influential figures in Philippine Masonry and is acknowledged as the fountainhead of Masonic knowledge and wisdom. During the many years of his uncompromising commitment to the tenets and teachings of Freemasonry, he has been tapped by the Brethren to occupy the highest positions in the Fraternity. In 1966, he was Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines; from 1976 to 1987 he was the Intendant General of the United Grand Imperial Council, Red Cross of Constantine; from 1977 to 1987 he was the Provincial Grand Master of the Royal Order of Scotland; and from 1977 to 1988 he was the Sovereign Grand Commander of the Supreme Council, A.&A.S.R. of the Republic of the Philippines. Wilmarth has held for the longest time the prestigious editorship of the Cabletow, the official organ of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines, and the chairmanship of the Board for General Purposes, in which positions he has demonstrated his outstanding Masonic scholarship and stewardship of the Brethren. The Masonic life of Wilmarth started when he knocked at the door of Biak-na-Bato ‘Lodge No. 7, on February 7, 1951. Curiously, after his initiation, he became inactive for nine years, but after he was passed to the Fellowcraft degree on April 4, 1960, he put his heart and soul into the affairs of the Craft. Two weeks after his passing, he was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason. In the same year, he joined Luzon Bodies where he was proclaimed a master of the royal secret. In 1962, he was elevated to the Oriental Chair in his Mother Lodge. The following year, 1963, he was elected the Venerable Master of the Harmony Lodge of Perfection in Luzon Bodies and the Junior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge. In 1964, he was the Senior Grand Warden and at the same time the Commander of the Council of Kadosh. In 1965, he was elected Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge and was honored with the rank and decoration of KCCH by the Supreme Council. In February 1966, the Supreme Council made him a 33° Mason and the following April, the Brethren elected him the Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines. The rise of Wilmarth from Master Mason in 1960 to Grand Master in 1966 was so fast it broke all records. Previous to him the mark was held jointly by William H. Taylor and Wenceslao Trinidad who traversed the distance in 7 years. Quintin Paredes and William Councell did it in 9, while Manuel L. Quezon and Francisco Delgado in 10. The other Grand Masters, on the average, had to wait more than 20 years from their raising to their election to the Grand East. In the York Rite Masonry, Wilmarth joined Luzon Chapter No.1, R.A.M.; Oriental Council No.1, R.&S.M.; and Far East Commandery No.1, K. T. He was Sovereign in the Asoka Conclave, Red Cross of Constantine in 1971; Grand High Priest, Grand Chapter, R.A.M. in 1973; Grand Commander in 1974; Grand Master of the Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters in 1965; York Rite Grand Cross of Honor with Fourth Quadrant in 1975; and, as mentioned earlier, Intendant General, United Grand Imperial Council, Red Cross of Constantine from 1976 to 1987. Wilmarth is also a member of the Afifi Temple, Tacoma, Washington, USA, as well as the National Sojourners, Far East Chapter No. 15. He was President of this Body from 1964 to 1973. In 1972-73, he was Far Eastern Representative of the National President. An affiliate of Lodge Perla del Oriente No.1034, S.C., he was a member of the Villaruel Chapter No.2, O.E.S., and Far East Court No.1, Order of Amaranth. Wilmarth may be described as an American with a Filipino heart. Even his education and early professional career manifest a meeting of the West and East in him. Born in Warren, Rhode lsland, USA, on May 23, 1910, he got his degrees A.B. (Mathematics), BSE (Economics), M.S.B.A. (Economics)] from Bryant College, Boston University, Quezon College, and the University of Santo Tomas, respectively. And he taught in two of his alma matres: Boston University and UST Graduate School. He became the dean of the graduate school of another alma mater, Quezon College. Wilmarth had a colorful military career. He first served in the National Guard, where he was connected from May 13, 1929 to September 15, 1940 in various ranks up to that of Major. On September 16, 1940, he entered the US Army and two years later was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. In 1942-43, he was Commanding Officer of the A.A. Group H.D.N.B., and in 1943, of A.A. Defense Boston (605th A.A. Group). In 1943-44, he became Chief of Gunnery, A.A. Command, Ft. Bliss, Texas. Later, he was detailed to the General Staff Corps as Chief of Organization Branch, G-3, GHQ, AFPAC. He was assigned to all of these responsible positions, partly because of his special studies. He enrolled in these schools: Battery Officers School, A.A. Ft. Monroe, Va. (1932); Field Officers School, A,A. Ft. Monroe, Va., (1941); Command & General Staff School, Fort Leavenworth’, Kansas (1943). Equally impressive is the industrial background of Wilmarth. In 1939, he became the head of Industrial Engineering and Wage Incentive Department and of Time Study Department at Brown and Sharpe Manufacturing Company. In 1940, while with the US Army, he worked as Assistant General Manager of Muller and Phipps (Manila) Ltd. As such, he was responsible for the statistical analysis and preparation of management control reports, the preparation of new products for manufacturing, analysis of sale forecasts. In 1954, he accepted the position of Manager of Industrial Relations, Caltex (Philippines) Inc. In this capacity, he was responsible for the establishment and implementation of all labor relations policies, including negotiation of collective bargaining agreements, investigation and settlement of grievances, government-labor relations, and other related functions. Finally, after a long faithful service, he retired from the corporation on May 31,1970. But it was only to enable him to set up his own industrial relations counseling practice. On June 1, 1970, Raymond E. Wilmarth and Associates, an industrial relations counseling outfit was born. Two years later, Wilmarth became an incorporator and the president of IPAMS (Industrial, Personnel and Management Services, Inc.), which served as management consultant to multinational firms such as Caltex Philippines, Arabian American Oil, Saudi Consolidated Electric Co., Arabian Fiberglass and many others. Wilmarth was also active in management and arbitration associations, the Rotary and St. Lukes Hospital where he served as Director. Today Wilmarth is in the twilight of his life. He has scaled down his activities, but his shadow still looms benevolently over many affairs and activities of Masons. The Brethren still run to him for his sound advice.