We welcome the New Year on a positive note as we shift our focus from last month’s topic about the GRAND LODGE to the current topic on subordinate LODGES. The two topics gear our Masonic EDUCATION from ENLIGHTENMENT towards EQUILIBRIUM - the third in our Thematic Triangle for Masonic Year 2024 –2025. For easy digestion, we divide this month’s lesson into four sections:
1. The LODGE and the GRAND LODGE;
2. The LODGE and the CHARTER;
3. The LODGE and the CONSTITUTION; and
4. The LODGE and the LANDMARKS
Masonic Scholars are divided as to why the Blue color is associated with regular Masonic Lodges. In American Masonry, it is observed that the colloquial explanation is based on the color of the aprons used in specific Masonic Degrees. The officers in the regular Lodge use White Aprons with Blue trimmings. In succeeding degrees, apron colors vary as well - the Royal Arch uses red, Cryptic Masonry has purple, and black in templarism. Allied Masonic Degrees employ aprons in green.
1. The LODGE and the GRAND LODGE
If the GRAND LODGE is the highest governing body of Freemasonry in a specific geographic area, often a country, state, or region; the LODGE is the basic organizational unit within a jurisdiction. By Masonic Ritual it is from within the body of just and legally constituted lodges of Free and Accepted Masons that Freemasons are made. On the higher plane, it is the Grand Lodge that provide the justification and legal constitution of Lodges. If it is the primary task of Lodges to make masons, it is the duty of the Grand Lodge to make Lodges. Both are equipped with the rituals necessary to accomplish their respective mandates.
Though the former is a subordinate of the latter, LODGES outdate GRAND LODGES by centuries. They have existed earlier and has been practicing Freemasonry long before 1717. Although it took four (4) lodges to create the first Grand Lodge that is the Premier Grand Lodge of England (UGLE today), the office of the Grand Master has existed long before as stated in our Landmarks (4) and observed in Masonic Rituals.
As of December 2024, there are 447 Masonic Lodges working under the jurisdiction of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of the Philippines, with Danilo D. Lim No. 503 currently the last in the registry. Do take note that even if the Lodge Number has breached the 500-mark by registry, there is a difference of 56 lodges in quantity. This is accounted by surrendered and arrested charters; lodge mergers; lodges that transferred to other jurisdictions like the Grand Lodge of China and the Grand Lodge of Japan; and even in some cases - spoiled numbers. Thus, the Brethren should NOT make the false assumption that there are currently 503 Masonic Lodges operating within the GLP.
2. The LODGE and the CHARTER
A LODGE as taught all Entered Apprentices is a certain number of Brethren duly assembled, with a Holy Bible, a Square and Compasses, and a Charter or Dispensation authorizing them to meet. A CHARTER as defined in the same degree is that instrument emanating from a Grand Lodge, and, in this Jurisdiction, signed by the Grand Master and Grand Secretary, authorizing certain brethren therein named, when duly
assembled, to Initiate, Pass, and Raise all good men and true who may apply for the purpose and whom they may find worthy. Another term associated with the Charter is Warrant which is largely used in Great Britain. As mentioned by our Grand Master in several of his speeches during Lodge Installations, it is recommended that from time to time, the Worshipful Master should have their lodge CHARTER read so the Brethren will not lose sight of the mandate of their lodge. A CHARTER or WARRANT does four (4) collective actions for a LODGE:
2.1 It AUTHORIZES, CONSTITUTES, and APPOINTS trusty and well-loved brethren – naming a Master, Senior Warden, and Junior Warden; together with other brethren as have already been or may hereafter be admitted to associate with them, to assemble and work as a regular lodge of Free & Accepted Masons at an aforesaid location with a designated name and number.
2.2 It GRANTS AND COMMITS unto the Master and Wardens aforesaid and their successors, and to its members – full power and authority to
2.2.1 Enter Apprentices, pass Fellow Crafts, raise Master Masons, and admit brethren to membership;
2.2.2 Choose a Master and Wardens and other officers, annually;
2.2.3 Exact from their initiates and members such fees and dues as may be necessary for the maintenance of their widows and orphans, and for the regular payment of such contributions to the Grand Lodge as shall by it be directed;
2.2.4 Perform and do all other acts and things which shall be in full accordance with the ancient usages and customs of the Craft, and in strict obedience to the Constitution, Regulations, and Edicts of the Grand Lodge:
2.3 It REQUIRES the said LODGE to
2.3.1 Attend the Grand Lodge at all its Communications, by its Master and Wardens, or by its Representatives, duly appointed;
2.3.2 Keep a fair and faithful record of all its acts and proceedings which are proper to be written;
2.3.3 and Lay the same before the Grand Lodge whenever it may be directed;
2.4 LASTLY, it ENJOINS upon the Master, Wardens, and Brethren of the Lodge that
2.4.1 They observe a strict conformity to all the ordinances of our Grand Lodge, which is the Supreme Masonic Power and Authority in the Philippines; and that
2.4.2 They constantly give due respect and obedience to the Grand Master and their other superiors in office, in all things appertaining to our Ancient Craft.
The first two are privileges while the next two are directions. All four should be accomplished by the lodge truthfully or they lose their charter thus ceasing a lodge’s existence. As mentioned in the first portion, there are lodges registered under the GLP that are no longer existing. Some due to the arrest or surrender of their charters. In fact, in the last 4 years alone, 4 charters have been arrested for a variety of serious reasons. In these four sad instances, the Master, Wardens, and the Brethren of these lodges had lapses in judgment SO SEVERE that our Most Worshipful Institution decided it best to put a stop to the entire activities of these body of men initially granted perpetuity.
3. The LODGE and the CONSTITUTION
The current edition (2019) of the CONSTITUTION of the GLP is the latest edition of our Masonic Law Book (MLB). It is divided into 5 Parts. Of these, Parts II and III are about subordinate LODGES.
PART II – are ORDINANCES Relating to Subordinate Lodges with 5 Articles and 36 sections:
ARTICLE I - covers the Organization of a Lodge and has 15 sections.
ARTICLE II - defines the Powers of a Lodge through 3 sections;
ARTICLE III - in 5 sections enumerates the Duties of a Lodge;
ARTICLE IV - states what a lodge should not do (Prohibitions on a Lodge) in 2 sections, and
ARTICLE V - discuss in 11 sections, the Funds and properties of Lodges.
PART III of the MLB is the UNIFORM CODE OF BY LAWS FOR SUBORDINATE LODGES from which the Brethren should base the By Laws of their Lodges.
Other PARTS of the MLB are also related to Lodges and should also be read by the Brethren and give equal attention.
PART I although RELATING TO THE GRAND LODGE is interwoven with the activities of LODGES especially regarding Communications (Article IV), Election, Qualifications and Nominations (Article V), and Voting, Representation and Electoral Committee (Article VI). Also to be given importance by lodges are Articles VII - Standing and Other Committees, and VIII - Revenues. It will also be beneficial for lodges to be familiar with Duties of different Grand Lodge Officers especially the DDGMs (Art. 22), DGLs (Art. 23), and GLIs (Art. 24).
PART IV defines Regulations appertaining to the work and life in the Craft while PART V provides references to MASONIC SOVEREIGNTY, TRADITIONS, & FORMS. Both are essential for Lodges.
On top of these provisions are the Edicts issued by the Grand Master since 2019 and approved by the Annual Communications since 2021 which Lodges are bound to uphold.
Lodge Officers and members especially the Worshipful Master and the Secretary (being a Past Master) are expected to familiarize themselves with the Masonic Lawbook as well as the Edicts issued by the Grand Master and approved during AnComs. It will also be an advantage for a lodge if many (if not all) of its members shall do the same.
4. The LODGE and the LANDMARKS
As discussed in the Masonic Education Lecture last September 2024 – our Masonic Rituals are codified within the Twenty-five (25) Landmarks defined by Albert Mackey (pronounced as ma-kee, not ma-kay) in 1858. Interestingly – all Twenty-Five Landmarks are directly related to the nature, existence, and functions of a Lodge. Here they are in summary:
01 - The fraternal modes of recognition.
02 - The division of Masonry into 3 symbolic degrees.
03 - The symbolic legend of Hiram Abiff.
04 - The government of the fraternity by a Grand Master.
05 - The prerogative of the Grand Master to preside over every assembly of the craft. 06 - The prerogative of the Grand Master to grant dispensations for conferring degrees at irregular times.
07 - The prerogative of the Grand Master to grant dispensations for opening and holding Lodges otherwise not established.
08 - The prerogative of the Grand Master to make Masons at Sight.
09 - The necessity for Masons to congregate in Lodges.
10 - The government of Lodges by a Master and two Wardens.
11 - The necessity that every Lodge when congregated be duly tiled.
12 - The right of every Mason to be represented in all general meetings of the Craft.
13 - The right of every Mason to appeal from his Lodge's decisions to the Grand Lodge.
14 - The right of every Mason to sit in every regular Lodge.
<15 - That no unknown visitor be allowed to sit in the Lodge without being examined and found to be a Freemason.
16 - That no Lodge can interfere in the business of another Lodge.
17 - That every Freemason be amenable to the laws and regulations of the Jurisdiction in which he resides.
18 - That candidates for Freemasonry satisfy certain qualifications such as: being a man, unmutilated, free-born, and of mature age.
19 - That a belief in the existence of God be a requirement for membership.
20 - That belief in a resurrection to a future life be a requirement for membership.
21 - That a "Book of the Law" (or religious code) shall constitute an indispensable part of the furniture of every Lodge.
22 - The equality of Masons.
23 - The secrecy of the Institution.
24 - The foundation of a speculative science upon an operative art, and the symbolic use and explanation of the terms of that art for purposes of moral teaching.
25 - That none of these landmarks can be changed.
CONCLUSION
This Education topic is specifically chosen by the Corps (pronounced as ‘kor’) of Grand Lecturers, as a path to Enlightenment. The Brethren should see their Lodges in these four masonic lenses.
As a call for Equilibrium – the Brethren are enjoined to study the dynamics between their LODGE and the GRAND LODGE, its CHARTER, the CONSTITUTION, and our LANDMARKS. Are the policies of the Grand Lodge, in sync with the contents of the CHARTER of ones LODGE as well as the CONSTITUTION? Finally, are they in full accord with the 25 Landmarks followed by our jurisdiction?
The creation of a LODGE depends not just on the labors of its Charter members but the evaluation and approval of its superior organization which is the GRAND LODGE. In its beginning, a Lodge is given a dispensation to prove that it can function as a regular masonic organization capable of making Masons. Passing evaluation, its approval to be perpetuated is manifested in the form of a CHARTER which contains its mandate as a regular LODGE. A Lodge when found worthy of its existence is “legally constituted” or established as a legal entity. Justifying its existence shall be based on its compliance with the CONSTITUTION or Masonic Law Book. To help itself navigate into the labyrinthine passages of masonic tradition as well as the rough and rugged pathways of human life, the Brethren need to refer to the LANDMARKS. Taken together, the GRAND LODGE, the CHARTER, the CONSTITUTION, and the LANDMARKS make up the code for the Blue LODGE to function as it is intended to be - from its initial operation under dispensation until constituted for perpetuity.
GUIDE QUESTIONS FOR LECTURERS
Note: DGL’s answers to these questions shall be among their contributions to the Lecture:
1. Cite an example (theoretical) or experience (actual) that contradictions may have existed between the Lodge and its Charter, or the Constitution, or the Landmarks, or the Grand Lodge itself.
2. How can such contradictions be corrected?
3. How could such contradictions be avoided?