A prolific Masonic writer. He was born to a family of modest means in London, England, on July 26, 1891. After finishing his elementary education at a London public school, he went to Westminster to take his high-school course. In 1913, he got his Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree. Because he was a few months under-aged to take the board examinations, his father thought that one-year of foreign service would provide him some experience. He became Assistant Engineer in the parent company of his employer, the Findlay Millar Timber Company. Thus, in December of 1913, he sweated it out in Macedonia, making surveys, constructing roads, erecting buildings, and so forth. Three years later, he decided to enlist in the Army at Salonica, hoping that he would be able to go back to London. His plans, however, did not materialize. As a serviceman during World War I, he occupied various positions in different places of the Near East. He assisted, for instance, in the evacuation of refugees in Asia Minor. This experience probably prodded him to make this comment: The greatest need in the world today is more light, more brotherly love, more purity of mind, and more charity of heart, and that is what our benevolent Fraternity is striving to give us if we but heed the lessons we are taught. Syd was finally able to visit England in 1920. After four weeks of stay in his native city, he was sent to the United States for advance studies; then he proceeded to Macedonia, where he remained until 1924. That year, afflicted with typhoid fever, he had to return to England for a brief but much needed rest. After a one-month respite, he came to the Philippines via the United States. Never did he expect that that journey would result in a permanent separation from his loved ones. In the Philippines, he enlarged and improved the sawmills of his company. In his 26 years of stay here, he made only three trips to England and to the United States. Big hearted, his concern transcended company matters. He went out of his way to help needy Masons, as well as children so disadvantaged they could not afford to go to school. He would later say: We should make it our aim to be of service to the community in general and at all times exert every effort to create a favorable impression with the general public by our acts so that non-masons may realize that Freemasons are men who actually accomplish good deeds that tend to benefit mankind in general and generally exert a beneficial influence upon their respective localities. Syd was ushered into the Mystic circle in 1928 when he was initiated, passed, and raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason in Tupas Lodge No. 62, Cebu City. Six years later, he became one of the founders of Maranaw Lodge No. 111 at Dansalan, Lanao. In 1938, he was elected to the Oriental Chair of this Lodge. A year later, he was appointed Grand Lodge Inspector of Maguindanao Lodge No. 40. He joined Service Lodge No. 95 and in 1948 and 1949 became Worshipful Master of this Lodge. He was also an honorary member of various Subordinate Lodges, as well as an active member of the Scottish Rite and of Manila Chapter No.2, Royal Arch Freemasonry. In his writings, he expressed his firm belief in the Universal Tenets of Masonry. …Listen: All Masonic doctrines and principles are built up from our most important landmark, that is, of course, the firm belief in the FATHERHOOD OF GOD that is the great and outstanding tenet of our Craft and it forms a lasting and unbreakable tie that unites men of every country, sect and opinion into one common band who have faith in the power of good. During the Japanese occupation of the Philippines, Syd assisted the resistance movement. In his own quiet ways, he was of service to the Filipino people. The paradoxical situation many a Mason often finds himself in is described by the 35th Grand Master in this manner: A fundamental requirement of every Mason is a wholehearted respect for the law of the land and it therefore becomes a Mason’s duty to obey the law of the country in which he resides. And yet we are frequently referred to as “would be rebels against the state. “ While he was English by birth and a Filipino by heart, he was a Mason above all, and therefore a citizen of the world.