TRAVEL LIGHT

Remembering

A year ago today, I visited my Dad in his house.

After the usual talks about developments in Philippine Masonry, which was his favorite topic whenever I visited him, I proudly showed him my newly bought Masonic Ring. He was delighted to see it. He tried it on his frail fingers and said he once had one like it, but more beautiful than what I have.

Afterwards our conversation drifted into his usual nostalgia of places his been to and friends that he missed for a long time. I gave him some updates about the places, but I stopped when it comes to those friends he was longing to see. Most of them were already dead.

I bade goodbye to my Dad that day in our usual parting fashion, by exchanging Masonic handshakes and signs, and then we laugh like two little kids sharing our little secrets.

Two days after my visit, my Dad died, in his sleep.

The Case of the Missing Decal

There are stories we read in fiction novels written in the Da Vinci Code mystery genre, about icons that were lost or stolen and later on found or rediscovered. The common plot of these stories is the theme, that whoever discovers the lost icon and is worthy of its care is granted immense powers. But for those unworthy hands who stole it, if not killed, they succumb to an unbearable torment inflicted by a supernatural source.

It is common knowledge that those who posses the Square and Compasses symbol are Masons or Freemasons, members of a worldwide fraternity known as Freemasonry. These symbols had become ubiquitous as car decals. Some erring Masons and many pretenders have this wrong notion that these decals can bail them out from being charged with traffic violations. Admittedly this ancient Masonic symbol has been abused for selfish interests and mercenary motives both by Masons and pretenders alike. However, we Masons have our own methods in determining a pretender from a real Brother Mason. The general principle of displaying Masonic symbols is to remind the bearer that he should conduct himself in accordance with Masonic principles and his Masonic obligations. It is not to boast one’s membership or to be used as a ticket for privilege and badge for special favors.

I have Masonic symbols displayed in our house. Most of it can be found inside the house while I have two on our gates. The symbols glued on our rusty iron gate are the Seal of the Order of DeMolay Alumni Association and on its top is a smaller blue and gold Square and Compasses decal. These icons or symbols remained glued on our gate and left untouched for many months.

Until one night, two weeks ago, when I arrived home I noticed the Square and Compasses decal was gone. It was deliberately unfastened from where it was glued. The DeMolay Alumni seal was left untouched. I was disgusted and angry. I cannot do anything about it, but curse. And curse I did, that whoever stole it and use it for whatever purpose will eventually find himself in a situation that he cannot comprehend.

This morning, as Bambit and I stepped out of our gate, we were surprised to see the stolen Square and Compasses decal, glued back to its original position on our rusty gate. We were both wondering, what made the one who stole it to return the decal? And why would he take extra effort in pasting it back to its original position, when he can just throw the decal inside our house?

One can only posses the Square and Compasses symbol, if you are brought from darkness to light.

Masonic Reflections on Easter

Despite unfounded claims that Masons, especially Christian Masons are not observing religious obligatory days, the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, do commemorate Holy Week by what it calls the “Celebration of Remembrance and Renewal.”

The Scottish Rite’s Rose Croix Chapters traditionally observed Maundy Thursday on the middle day of Holy Week. It has been called, variously, “Holy Thursday”, “The Day of the Supper of the Lord” and “The Day of Mysteries”. Also, traditionally, the Christian world fixes it using the date of Easter Sunday, which is the first Sunday after the full moon which happens on the vernal equinox.

Freemasonry has remembered this special day and Brethren of the Scottish Rite have gathered throughout the world to reaffirm their faith in the universal fraternity of mankind. The first written record of such observance is a ritual of the Eighteenth Degree, which Charles de Ladebat prepared and published in 1856 in New Orleans. The Code of Statutes adopted in 1866 lists Maundy Thursday as a feast day.

Through the ages men have observed sacred rites during four periods of the year, the solstice and equinoxes. The Last Supper was in observance of the Passover (Spring Equinox) Just prior to the Lord’s betrayal and crucifixion The observance of Maundy Thursday in the Eighteenth Degree of the Scottish Rite is appropriate since this Degree originally was one of orthodox Christianity.

The word “Maundy” stems from the old French Mande’, or the Latin Mandatum, a command: On the Thursday of the Last Supper Christ said, “A new Commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another.”

Maundy Thursday is also known as Shere or Chare Thursday, from the Middle English Shere or Sheere, meaning pure. It alludes to the physical purity acquired by the ablutions of the day and to the shearing of the hair and beard, so that nothing should remain between God and man.

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The Order of DeMolay is now 89 Years Old

Almost, but not quite. So before it slips off its time line (March 18-24), and before I completely forget about blogging it, I’d like to greet my Brethren in the Order of DeMolay a Happy 89th Founding Anniversary. This DeMolay year also marks my 27th year as a loyal member of the Order of DeMolay which was founded by Dad Frank Sherman Land at Kansas City, Missouri on March 18, 1919.

A brother DeMolay and Freemason aptly described why we DeMolays should celebrate every DeMolay anniversary that comes, in this simple thought: “With the Seven Cardinal Virtues and the Fourteen Code of Ethics in our hearts, let us pay tribute to what has been the biggest part of our youthful years. Molding us to what we have become, guiding us today and defining our future.”

Indeed, if not the biggest part of my youthful years, becoming a DeMolay was the greatest milestone and achievement I earned during my youth. To become part of the greatest youth organization in the world and have that distinct privilege of being called a fraternity brother to some great men (and a mouse) - is an opportunity that comes only once in your lifetime. One can only be a DeMolay within the age bracket of 13-21 years old. Yes, a Brother Mouse too. Did you know that the Order of DeMolay is the only organization the Mickey Mouse belonged to. His creator Walt Disney, was a DeMolay, and Mickey Mouse was made Honorary DeMolay Member of the Mother Chapter of the World in Kansas City Missouri.

Coming from a Masonic family, four out of five of us male siblings became DeMolays. I was initiated to the Order of DeMolay when I was still in High School in 1981. And like my elder brother before me, I had served as Master Councilor of my mother Chapter, the University Chapter, in Mindanao state University, Islamic City of Marawi. During my youth and from where I come from, the Order of DeMolay stands beyond comparison to other fraternities. Many proud members of Greek-lettered fraternities look at the Order of DeMolay with awe and envy. I suppose this still holds true until now. Because one thing that ensures this Grandeur and prestige is that the Order of DeMolay is perpetually under the guidance and stewardship of Freemasonry - the Grand Daddy of all Fraternities known to mankind.

Being DeMolay is priceless, you cannot measure the benefits that you get from being a member in material form. Being DeMolay assures one of the everlasting fellowship of men all over the world who had pledged themselves before our altar, “to be ever loyal to a Brother of this Order; never to cheat or wrong him, and will seek to aid him in time of trouble and need; and will remain silent if they cannot speak a good word for a brother DeMolay in the presence of the uninitiated… and never willingly or knowingly will I do anything which would unfit me for the commendation of all GOOD MEN.”

On the 89th Year of the Order of DeMolay, I reaffirm my vows and re-obligate myself, as a DeMolay, humbly and sincerely, I DO SO PROMISE AND VOW.

Brethren, let us prove to all men that we are dedicated to purposes that are worthy of the martyred hero whose name we have taken on our lips.

HAPPY 89th ANNIVERSARY MY BROTHER DeMOLAYS!!

Some Masonic News

(CBS) When students at our famous English Universities expose their knees and bare their chests it usually means exuberant party time and it is almost certain to end in tears. For centuries, our young scholars - many of whom go on to run the country - have been overindulging themselves, semi-clothed, in the name of classical education.

Undergraduates at Oxford and Cambridge still dive half naked and fully drunk into their local rivers. It is regarded as the vital rite of passage - closely followed by the Mother of All Hangovers. But times are changing. Soon the sight of a bare leg and an exposed male left breast may mean something completely different. And chances are these students will be stone cold sober.

It’s all because they are being recruited, in large numbers, by that traditionally secretive and totally male-dominated society, the Freemasons. Masonic lodges in the famous cities of Oxford, Cambridge, Bristol, Durham, Exeter, Manchester, Bath and Birmingham have been told to get fervent with the local student community and sign them up.

The UK’s Brotherhood of Masons is acutely conscious of its somewhat elderly image. There are a quarter of a million members but fewer than one in a hundred is less than 25 years old - the other 99 are much nearer to 100! The most senior and influential Masonic organization in England is the United Grand Lodge. Today they even employ a Media Relations Manager - which is quite a neat touch for a secret society - and he is already extremely busy giving Masonic membership the hard sell.

If you join today you get all the benefits at half price. And they’re even cutting the minimum entry age from 21 down to 18 to attract the young ‘uns. They’ll teach you the funny handshake, how to roll up your trouser leg, and you’ll get a nice little apron too. Don’t ask me what it’s for, I wouldn’t be allowed to tell you even if I knew.

by Ed Boyle ©MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Interesting. While the naked breasts and exposed knees might have some basis…i don’t know about the rest. After all the ancient rule is that we don’t recruit or invite men to become Freemasons, one should Ask1 2b1.