For our Eighth Monthly Learning, we focus the spotlight on the Most Worshipful Institution that is the Grand Lodge of the Philippines; and rightfully so as December 19 marks the 112th year of its self-creation. Together with the succeeding lecture in January 2025 about subordinate Lodges, the two topics gear our EDUCATION from ENLIGHTENMENT towards EQUILIBRIUM - the third Speculative Thrust for Masonic Year 2024 - 2025.

• Preservation of History
• Preservation of Landmarks
• Preservation of Ritual   
• Protection of Masonry
• Public Relations and Advocacy
• Regularity and Uniformity
• Research and Scholarship
• Society and Philanthropy
• Support of Masonic Orders
• Administration and Governance of the Fraternity
• Bestowing Honors, Titles, and Awards
• Creation and Management of Lodges
• Developing jurisdictional Plans and Programs
• Discipline and Grievances
• Diplomacy and Foreign Relations
• Maintaining Legitimacy
• Masonic Education
• Organizing Assemblies, Meetings, & Gatherings

A Grand Lodge is the highest governing body of Freemasonry in a specific geographic area, often a country, state, or region. It oversees local Masonic lodges; sets rules and regulations, and coordinates activities within its jurisdiction; and promotes the principles of the craft.

Each Grand Lodge is responsible for its own governance, administration, and representation. It governs by establishing and enforcing Masonic laws and regulations according to Masonic Landmarks; creating, supervising, and monitoring its subordinate lodges; and electing or appointing Grand Officers. It administers by managing Masonic properties and finances; providing educational resources and training for its constituents; and resolving disputes and disciplinary issues. It represents Freemasonry within their jurisdiction through (1) fostering relationships with other Grand Lodges and (2) promoting Masonic values and community services.

Since the formation of the Premier Grand Lodge of England which gave birth to the modern form of Freemasonry, Grand Lodges have performed the following functions:

Each Grand Lodge operates independently, but often maintains relationships with other Grand Lodges globally. Grand Lodges are created among members of lodges in a specific territory that is legally constituted by other Grand Lodges. When such lodges aspire to be independent, they form a higher institution that will govern and administer itself as well as future subordinate lodges in the said area and represent Freemasonry in its jurisdiction. By this independent nature, most Grand Lodges posses self-issued and government-issued documents that establish their creation.

In the GLP archives, there are three documents related to the creation and establishment of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of the Philippines:

1 - The Proceedings of the MW Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of the Philippine Islands together with the Proceedings of the Convention Assembled for its Formation (1912)

2 - The GLP Constitution (1912)

3 - The Corporate Papers of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines (1915)

Technically, they are GLP’ source documents. The first, being the initial documents which record the formation of our Grand Lodge by the three lodges duly constituted under the Grand Lodge of California, can be considered as our Constitutional Charter. The second is the aggregate of fundamental principles or established precedents under which, our organization is acknowledged to be governed and has since been updated as approved during Annual Communications. The third, registers our Grand Lodge as a legal entity and thus serves as our Charter of Incorporation. 

The official name of our organization as stated in PART I, ARTICLE I, Sec. 1. of our present Constitution is

THE MOST WORSHIPFUL GRAND LODGE OF FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF THE PHILIPPINES

Its seal is officially described next in Sec. 2. The importance of our Grand Lodge is fundamentally defined in the PREAMBLE - We, the Members of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines, invoking the aid of the Great Architect of the Universe, in order to form a Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons in the Philippines, set forth and exemplify the tenets and teachings of Freemasonry, promote love, foster brotherhood, and achieve harmony among Masons and men, enhance the welfare of our Order, and preserve liberty, equality and fraternity, do ordain and promulgate this Constitution. 

For Enlightenment, let us reiterate GLP’s four main goals and objectives as stated in the said PREAMBLE:

A.To set forth and exemplify the tenets and teachings of Freemasonry

B. To promote love, foster brotherhood, and achieve harmony among Masons and men

C. To enhance the welfare of our Order; and

To preserve liberty, equality, and fraternity

Prior to the inception of the GLP in 1912, a Convention Assembled in December 11 examined the credentials of the participating lodges:  Manila No. 342, Cavite No. 350, and Corregidor No. 386. The accreditation establishes the fact that Masonry is operating successfully in the Philippine Islands. The requisite number of duly chartered and constituted Lodges to authorize the formation of a Grand Lodge in the said territory is based on precedents already established and recognized as a Masonic right, and especially in accordance with Decision No. 367** of the Grand Lodge of California, the alma mater of the Lodges here represented.

* In the United States, it is universally recognized as the law of Masonry, that, whenever there are three chartered Lodges in any State or Territory in which no Grand Lodge has been established, those Lodges have the absolute right to meet in convention and organize a Grand Lodge for such State or Territory; that when a Grand Lodge is once regularly established in any State or Territory, it has exclusive jurisdiction over all Masonic Lodges and Masons within such State or Territory; and that no other Grand Lodge or Grand Body can establish a new Lodge within the territorial jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge so organized, or can maintain jurisdiction over the organization of the new Grand Lodge its jurisdiction becomes absolute over the entire territory, and all Lodges and all Masons there must acknowledge it and yield obedience to it, and their allegiance elsewhere ceases. - Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of California, Vol. XII, p 112.””

Seeing themselves empowered by what can be called the Rule of Three, the delegates from the above lodges believing themselves clothed with sufficient authority to organize and constitute a Grand Lodge, resolved to proceed to the organization of a Convention for the formation of a Grand Lodge for the Philippine Islands as well as drafting a Masonic Constitution for the same, adjourning themselves until 8 pm of December 18.

The Convention dedicated to the self-formation of the Grand Lodge of the Philippine Islands including the election and appointment as well as the installation of its Officers covered two dates. Starting on Wednesday - December 18 at 8:00 in the evening, it lasted way pass midnight with the Lodge of Master Masons closed in ancient Masonic form at 12:45 am - December 19 completing the Convention.

Fifteen minutes later at 1:00 am, the Grand Lodge of the Philippine Islands opened for the first time, marking its first Communication on December 19. The first order of business is the petition of the three founding lodges named Manila, Cavite, and Corregidor to work under the jurisdiction of the newly organized institution. With their individual GLC-issued charters submitted to the GLPI, each was recognized as a legally constituted Lodge under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge aforesaid. Last to be tackled is the request for the Grand Master to send a cable to the MW Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of California notifying the formation of the Grand Lodge of the Philippine Islands. The Grand Lodge was then called off until 8 PM on December 23 (Monday).

With the independent nature inherent on individual Grand Lodges, what “masonic mechanism” can help ensure that each organization remains true to the principles and practices of Freemasonry?

The answer lies in their recognition and affinity by other Grand Lodges. As Grand Lodges are mostly self-created, it is their relationship with their foreign or domestic counterparts that adds essence to its existence and relevance. Each Grand Lodge values every recognition and affinity given by another. The more among its sister Grand Lodges recognize its existence, the wider becomes the relationship for such Grand Lodge throughout the Masonic World which is cascaded to its membership. For it is in official recognition among Grand Lodges that allows the member of one to visit and gain admission among the lodges of the other. 

Such recognition and affinity are based on the regularity of the principles and practices of each Grand Lodge. When a Grand Lodge deviates from the Ancient Landmarks of Freemasonry, he risks losing the recognition of other Grand Lodges. When that happens, the fraternal circle that its members enjoy outside its jurisdiction becomes smaller. The members of such a Grand Lodge loses the privilege to visit and be admitted inside the lodges of another jurisdiction. 

The Grand Lodge of the Philippines currently enjoys the recognition and affinity of 121 other Grand Lodges around the globe. Such wide circle gives its membership the privilege to be admitted in any of the lodges of 121 jurisdictions, establishing the credence to one of the reasons why men are induced to become masons.

Going back to the rule of three in American Freemasonry, any group of three duly constituted lodges can easily organize themselves into a Grand Lodge – the harder part of the labor is gaining recognition with other jurisdictions.

Here lies the importance of Masonic Equilibrium - Educated Masons elect Enlightened Masonic Leaders. Enlightened Masonic Leaders nurture more Masons through Education. Together, Educated Masons and Enlightened Masonic Leaders bring about a well-balanced or Equilibrated form of Masonry. Such Masonic Ecosystem can only happen inside the jurisdiction of a Grand Lodge that remains true to its goals and objectives.

GUIDE QUESTIONS FOR LECTURERS

Note: DGL’s answers to these questions shall be among their contributions to the Lecture:

List of Foreign Grand Lodges with Amity Relations with the Grand Lodge of the Philippines