On the Eleventh Hour of the Masonic Year, our Educational Topic for March deals on Masonic Temples and their relationship among the Institutions discussed in the last three months – the Grand Lodge, the Blue Lodge, and the Masonic District.

A LODGE as taught to 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. On the other hand, a Masonic Temple or Masonic Hall refers to the room or edifice where a Masonic Lodge meets. It may also refer to an abstract spiritual goal and the conceptual ritualistic space of a meeting. For brevity, this lecture shall focus more on the physical structure rather than the spiritual.

Before the building of a Masonic Temple, a Lodge must first be formed. The dynamics behind the creation of Lodges involve a party making a petition and a superior organization granting it. In this case, the petitioners are sundry Brethren residing or working in a specific area where the Lodge is supposed to operate.

The MW Grand Lodge of F. & A.M. of the Philippines is the Supreme Masonic Power and Authority within its Grand Jurisdiction, possessing all the attributes of sovereignty and government - Legislative, Executive, and Judicial - limited only by a strict adherence to the Landmarks of the Order and to its own Constitution, Uniform Code of By-Laws for Subordinate Lodges, Edicts, and General Regulations. The granting of Dispensations and Charters to establish and perpetuate Lodges as well as its arrest, withdrawal or revocation of charters and reactivation of Lodges, are among the Executive Powers of the Grand Lodge.

Special Communication by the Grand Lodge for the performance of some Masonic Ceremonies, among them are the Ceremony of Constituting a Masonic Lodge; Ceremony of Laying Foundation Stones; and the Dedication of Masonic Halls.

In performing its duties, the Grand Lodge has Public Liturgy in establishing Lodges:

1. The Ritual for Formally Opening a New Lodge Under Dispensation or the INSTITUTION of a New Lodge Under Dispensation, is the initial Masonic Ceremony in forming a Lodge. It symbolizes the opening of a Lodge for the first time but without a warrant or charter. Unlike the succeeding ceremonies, it is the only one that does not require a Special Communication of the Grand Lodge. It relies solely on the powers of the Grand Master under  Landmark 7: The prerogative of the Grand Master to grant dispensations for opening and holding Lodges otherwise not established.

   Prior to the establishment of a Grand Lodge, any number of Brethren could assemble at any time, and at any place, for the performance of Work; and when so assembled were authorized to receive Brothers and Fellows and to practice the rites of Masonry. By the regulation of 1717 the privilege of convening as Masons, previously possessed by all the Brethren, to be exercised at their pleasure, was vested in certain Lodges assembled without a Warrant from the Grand Master with the consent of the Grand Lodge. Such consent is in the form of a document issued by the Grand Master called a Dispensation authorizing and empowering the Brethren therein named "to form and open a Lodge after the manner of Free & Accepted Masons according to the Ancient Custom, and not otherwise”.

The Lodges thus established are called "Lodges under Dispensation". They are strictly creatures of the Grand Master, created by his authority, existing only during his will and pleasure, and liable at any moment to be dissolved at his command. They are indebted for that existence solely to the grace of the GM. They are generally formed under a Dispensation as a test of the ability of the officers and Brethren to properly perform the duties incumbent upon them; and in this jurisdiction, by a specific provision of the Constitution, no charter can be granted to a new Lodge until it shall have worked at a time under Dispensation and shall have exhibit to the Grand Lodge satisfactory evidence of its Masonic capability. The Authority conferred by the Dispensation continues only until the first day of the month in which the next succeeding Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge is held. At that time, the Dispensation is returned to the Grand Lodge, together with the Book of Records and a report of the proceedings and a Petition for a Charter. If their performance is found wanting, they can be allowed an extension until the next AnCom only.

While, strictly speaking, a Lodge may not be legally constituted until it has received its Charter, the phrase we make use of, “in a just and legally constituted Lodge” refers not only to a Lodge working under a Charter, but likewise to one working under a Dispensation and Chartered Lodges duly constituted have the same standing. There are, however, certain restrictions imposed upon UD Lodges and they do not possess all the powers of regularly constituted Lodges. A Lodge under Dispensation, for instance, while entitled to representation in the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge, through its Master and Wardens who may be admitted to seats, may be permitted to speak and vote on all matters, except in the elections of officers.

2. The Ceremony of Constituting a Masonic Lodge or the CONSTITUTION of a New Lodge
    A Warrant of Constitution, or as we know it, a Charter emanates from a Grand Lodge; and no Lodge may be constituted as such until after it has received its Charter or Warrant. The granting of charters is done during the Annual Communication. If, after an examination of the work and proceedings of a Lodge Under Dispensation appears to the satisfaction of the Grand Lodge, its petition should be granted, a Charter is issued and a number assigned to the U.D. Lodge. It shall then be duly constituted within sixty days after approval. As expressly stated in the initial Ceremony - Warrants of the Constitution date the existence of Lodges.

Unlike the Ritual of INSTITUTION of a UD Lodge, the Ceremony of Constituting a Masonic Lodge requires a Special Communication or for the Grand Lodge to convene. Aside from the Opening of the Grand Lodge and Procession of the Grand Lodge Officers, included in the proceedings are the Constitution proper, and Consecration.

Among the Highlights of the Constitution proper is the reading of the petition for a Charter by the Master, the Grand Master’s announcement of approval, the reading of the Lodge Charter by the Grand Secretary, and the presentation of the Lodge Officers before the Brethren.

Following the Constitution Ceremony is the Installation of its Charter Officers, which shall mark its First Installation of Lodge Officers. At this point – the entire Corps of Grand Lecturers would like to emphasize to all that the Installation count of a Lodge IS NOT EQUAL to the Age of the Lodge Charter but against the number of its Past Masters. Old Lodges, especially those who existed before the 2nd World War, should take a cue from the GLP whose number of Annual Communications (107th) does not equal its age as an Institution (112th).

For the continuing performance of the duties of the Grand Lodge, it has a Public Liturgy for Masonic Temples, in both Ceremonies, a Special Communication is required of its Grand Officers:

In the history of most Lodges in our jurisdiction, the next milestone following its formation is the acquisition of a Lodge Property that will be the site of its future Masonic Temple. A ritual thus exists to establish the foundation of such a Masonic Edifice.

3. The Ceremony of Laying Foundation Stones or Cornerstone-Laying

Conducted either by the Grand Master or Deputy Grand Master, the purpose of the ceremony is to lay the foundation stones in the Northeast corner of the proposed building. Before that, it has been the custom of the Craft to deposit within a cavity in the stone placed at the northeast corner of the edifice, certain memorials of the period at which it was erected; so that, if in the lapse of ages, the fury of the elements, the violence of man, or the slow but certain ravages of time, should lay bare its foundations, an enduring record may be found by succeeding generations, to bear testimony to the untiring, unending industry of Free and Accepted Masons.

Among the Working Tools distributed in the ceremony are the Trowel to the Grand Master, Square for the Deputy Grand Master, the Level and Plumb to the Senior and Junior Grand Wardens respectively. The GM later instructs the Grand Marshal to collect the several working tools and entrusting them to the Chief Architect of the Building with the injunction that the undertaking be speedily accomplished without envy, discord or confusion among the workmen; performing the important duties he has been charged with satisfactorily, conscientiously, and to the honor of our Ancient Craft.

The substances used in the Consecration are the Corn of Nourishment, poured by the DGM; Wine of Refreshment, c/o the SGW; and the Oil of Joy, from the JGW.

4. The Dedication of Masonic Halls

Once an edifice has been completed, Lodges would request the Grand Lodge to dedicate their Masonic Temples. Among the ancients, every temple, altar, and statue was dedicated to some divinity. The Hebrews extended this ceremony even to their private houses, and it was a custom in Israel to dedicate a new house to God with prayer, praise and thanksgiving: this was done to secure the Divine Presence and blessing; for it was believed that no pious or sensible man could expect to dwell safely in a house which was not under the immediate protection of God.

They made a distinction between consecration and dedication; for sacred things were both consecrated and dedicated; while profane things, such as private dwelling houses, were only dedicated. This distinction has already been observed among nations, many of whom (and in the early ages all), consecrated their churches to the worship of God, but dedicated them, or placed them, under the special patronage of some particular saint.

A similar practice prevails in our institution; and that while we consecrate our Lodges to the honor and glory of God, we dedicate them to the memory of the Holy Saints John; and the building itself is dedicated to the purposes for which it is set apart. OUR TEMPLES ARE DEDICATED TO FREEMASONRY, VIRTUE, AND UNIVERSAL BENEVOLENCE.

As mentioned in the last two ceremonies discussed, the Masonic elements of consecration are corn, wine, and oil. In devoting anything to religious purposes, the anointing of oil was considered as a necessary part of the ceremony. The tabernacle in the wilderness, and all its holy vessels, were by God’s express command anointed with oil; and hence “Freemasons’ Lodges, which are but temples to the Most High, are consecrated to the sacred purposes for which they were built by strewing corn, wine, and oil upon the Emblem.

Temple sizes vary from small structures to multiple-story buildings, which can be called Masonic Centers. In the execution of such a project, some lodges work in partnership with other Lodges and/or other Masonic Organizations. An example of a Masonic Center is the New GLP Temple - that edifice erected inside the Grand Lodge compound and was reportedly finished and dedicated by the late MW John Choa in 1991, more than a decade after it was started (Proceedings of the 75th AnCom – 1991). The five-story building has three modest-sized rooms (Stafford, Palma, and Bonifacio Halls) that can simultaneously hold three Lodge Meetings; a main assembly hall famously named after MW Jose Abad Santos; and a fellowship area – the Emilio Aguinaldo Hall for holding large festivities. The edifice also has several meeting rooms and chambers for its offices and other operations.

On the other hand, the Plaridel Masonic Temple – refers to the structure that bears the official address of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines at 1440 San Marcelino St. in Ermita, Manila.

C O N C L U S I O N

This month’s subject aims to enlighten the Brethren by differentiating a Lodge from its Temple. The Lodge is the organization perpetuated by the Grand Lodge to work for the Craft by virtue of a Charter which encapsulates its mission for Freemasonry, while a Masonic Temple is the edifice which houses the Lodge and its members. Unlike Lodges whose non-tangible nature is meant to exist for centuries, Masonic Temples are subject to the lapse of time, the ruthless hands of ignorance, and the ravages of war, which have laid waste and destroyed many valuable monuments of antiquity on which the utmost exertions of human genius were employed.

As most of the old Lodges outside Metro Manila can attest – it is rare for Masonic Temples to last several decades. They are easily outdated by archival documents such as Charters and By-Laws. As Lodges travel upon the level of time, it will find itself changing temples as often as circumstances throw the Brethren a curved ball. These structures of operative masonry can be applied as historic milestones for their Lodges, marking one era from the next. It is advisable to have Masonic Temples to be named apart from their Lodges.

Thus of the four ceremonies discussed today – the most used by the Grand Lodge for individual lodges is that of the Corner-Stone Laying and Dedication of Lodge Halls, with the latter being applied the most. For a Lodge shall pass the door of Institution only once. The Ceremony of Constitution during the rare or almost nil possibility of changing obedience. A Lodge as it marches forward the level of time shall change Masonic Temples every few decades for as taught us in one of the many lectures in the Second Degree – even the Temple of Solomon, so spacious and magnificent and constructed by so many celebrated artists, escaped not the unsparing ravages of barbarous force.

But Freemasonry, notwithstanding, has still survived. Same with Lodges who apply those jewels as well as the tools and implements of architecture, most expressive, which are selected by the Fraternity to imprint on the memory, wise and serious truths; and thus, through a succession of ages, are transmitted unimpaired the most excellent tenets of our Institution.

GUIDE QUESTIONS FOR LECTURERS

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

1. Where do lodges in your respective Masonic Districts hold their Meetings?

2. Which among the lodges in your district have their own Masonic Temples? Gather relevant and factual data on these Temples and cite them as examples.

3. Enumerate and expound on the role of your Masonic District and Officers - past and present, against the conduct of the four Ceremonies mentioned in this lecture.

For further reading, kindly refer to the rituals found on pages 196 to 233 of the Masonic Law Book (2019)