As we continue our shifting focus on Masonic EDUCATION from ENLIGHTENMENT to EQUILIBRIUM, this month’s topic is about the Masonic District and its officers. The third sub-series lecture started with the Importance of the Grand Lodge last December followed by the Importance of the Blue Lodge in January.
Masonic Districts are geographical areas overseen by a Grand Lodge. As the Most Worshipful Institution is the governing body that supervises individual lodges within its jurisdiction, Masonic Districts cover a particular cluster of certain specified areas to make it easier for the Grand Lodge to oversee its subordinate lodges.
Lodges work under Charters issued by a Grand Lodge, while Masonic Districts exist as an extension of the Grand Lodge upon specific territories within the said jurisdiction. Compared to Lodges and the Grand Lodge which are among the subjects in our Landmarks, Rituals, Charges, and other ancient Masonic Traditions; Masonic Districts are created for administrative purposes. They have existed since the inception of the Grand Lodge of the Philippine Islands in 1912.
In the first seventy years of the Grand Lodge, Lodges are grouped and re-grouped according to their geographical area each Masonic Year. The current naming and grouping of Lodges in their respective Masonic Districts is based on Edict No. 228 of MW Yu, which was later updated by Edict No. 287 issued in April 21, 2016.
As of December last year, 447 Masonic Lodges are working under the jurisdiction of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of the Philippines with Danilo D. Lim Masonic Lodge currently holding the last number at 503. All these Masonic Lodges are grouped into 68 Masonic Districts. These districts gather annually into nine (9) Multi-District Conventions, namely the National Capital Region (8 districts), North Luzon (12), Central Luzon (11), South Luzon (11), Visayas (5), Northern Mindanao (9), Southern Mindanao (4), Western Mindanao (3), and the Overseas (5). All Lodges and Districts gather together for the Annual Communication in April.
In the 2019 Edition of GLP’s Constitution, Masonic Districts function through the three Masonic Officers appointed by the Grand Master – the District Deputy Grand Master, the District Grand Lecturer, and the Grand Lodge Inspector. Each has its specific mandate.
In our jurisdiction, the youngest of the three is that of the District Deputy Grand Master, having been applied only in 1958 by MW Howard R. Hick who in his inaugural message as Grand Master said: “In the Grand Lodge of New York they have 64 districts, each having a district deputy. They are the eyes, ears, mouths, and hands of the Grand Master for the effectuation of the Grand Master’s policies. I look forward with much pleasure in having my work lightened by the faithful performance of duties of the district deputies.” Thus it was thus in Masonic Year 1958 – 1959 that the Office of the District Deputy Grand Master was first introduced by the Grand Lodge of the Philippines and the first batch of DDGMs appointed.
On the other hand, the offices of the Grand Lecturer and the Grand Lodge Inspector were both part of the Grand Lodge from the beginning. ARTICLE V, Section 1 of the First Edition of the Constitution stated that Sec. 2. The Grand Master shall divide the jurisdiction into Districts, and shall appoint for each district an officer to be called Inspector, who shall be a resident of the district for which he is appointed and a Past Master of this jurisdiction, and who shall, before entering upon his duties, produce a certificate from the Grand Lecturer that he is proficient in the work and lectures adopted by the Grand Lodge and is qualified to act as Inspector.
Prior to the creation of the Office of the DDGM, the GLI is trained by and reports to the Grand Lecturer. Among the first amendments in the constitution is the creation of the officers of the Senior and Junior Grand Lecturers. The former was an elective position while the latter was appointed. It is also the job of the JGL to travel around the jurisdiction and conduct Lodges of Instruction. It is the precursor of the modern-day Institute of Masonic Education and Studies (IMES). In succeeding years, the office of the Senior Grand Lecturer became an appointed position while the number of Junior Grand Lecturers increased. By 1969 – District Grand Lecturers were being trained among Past Masters in good standing to augment the Corps of Grand Lecturers as the number of Lodges and Districts grew.
Going back to the present – provisions as to the Qualifications, Nominations, and Appointment, as well as Powers and duties of the DDGM, DGL, and GLI are stated in Articles XXXII, XXXIII, and XXXIV of the 2019 Masonic Law Book, respectively.
Of the District Deputy Grand Master
While the DDGM has the power to require the lodge to be opened for Inspection or by dispensation to confer degrees – he has no authority to open a lodge (unless he himself is a Master of the Lodge). Notice that for tyled District Turn-Overs, or District and Multi-District Conventions, a Masonic District needs the courtesy of a host lodge to open a lodge of Master Masons for the purpose. Among the ironies in Masonry is that a District Deputy Grand Master although has the power to close a lodge in short form (Edict No. 85 -MW Puno), is powerless to open one. He has direct supervision over Grand Lodge Inspectors and shared supervision with the Senior and Junior Grand Lecturers over the District Grand Lecturers.
Of the Grand Lodge Inspector
Since the beginning of GLP, the GLI have performed their duties single-handedly despite being the solitary Grand Lodge Officer attending to their Lodge assignments. Starting 1958, the Grand Master has more frequently attended Lodge Meetings with him through his alter-ego, the District Deputy.
Of the District Grand Lecturer
DGLs form the bulk of the Corps of Grand Lecturers led by the Senior Grand Lecturer. They provide the Monthly Education Lectures discussed during Stated Meetings as cascaded from the top. Topics are usually interrelated with the Grand Master’s theme viz a vis our Ancient Masonic teachings and traditions. They are not lectors who simply read from the scriptures. Grand Lecturers share their insights on the topics based on their knowledge, experience, and wisdom in the Craft.
CONCLUSION
Although the three district officers have different tasks, they have the following in common:
1. All are Past Masters residing within the Masonic District to which they have been appointed.
2. Their appointments are based on the confidence of the appointing Grand Master and last only until his term in Office.
3. Their appointments are limited only to their particular Masonic District.
It is but fitting that Past Masters are entrusted with the responsibility, they being members of the Grand Lodge itself.
In reviewing the Masonic Law Book, certain provisions for Masonic Districts are needed, especially a UNIFORM CODE OF BY LAWS FOR MASONIC DISTRICTS from which the Brethren should base the By-Laws of their District. Aside from the current MLB, all approved Edicts issued by the Grand Master since 2019 and approved by the Annual Communications since 2021 are essential references for both District and Lodges.
As mentioned in last month’s lecture, a Grand Lodge is the highest governing body of Freemasonry in a specific geographic area, often a country, state, or region while the Lodge is the basic organizational unit within a jurisdiction. Lodges within a specified location or territory exist side by side and live harmoniously as Brethren, but it is only with the guidance of the Grand Lodge, through District Officers that they can truly function as a Masonic District.
However, Masonic Districts are NOT super lodges and are not a separate entity between the Grand Lodge and Subordinate lodges. They are designated areas defining the jurisdiction of each DDGM as personal representative of our Grand Master to each subordinate lodge in the Philippine Jurisdiction.
GUIDE QUESTIONS FOR LECTURERS
Note: DGL’s answers to these questions shall be among their contributions to the Lecture:
1. In your observation, what more can be developed in the relationship between the Masonic District’s relationship with its subordinate Lodges? with the Grand Lodge?
2. What are the mechanisms for continuity to ensure that district policies are continuously implemented by the lodges and Brethren in a Masonic District?