I couldn’t go to San Juan La Union this “Undas” (All-Souls/Saints day) to visit the grave of my Dad. Instead, my wife Vikki and I went to the Masonic Cemetery at Manila North Cemetery to join the Masonic District NCR-A’s Outdoor Lodge of Remembrance last Saturday, October 25, 2008.
A Masonic Lodge of Remembrance is an annual ceremony conducted by Freemasons to pay tribute to its departed Brethren. This rite’s other name is the Lodge of Sorrow and is usually conducted indoor and tyled, meaning only Master Masons can participate and witness. But in this Grand Jurisdiction, the Lodge of Remembrance has become one of the Masonic ceremonies being opened to the public.
Officers, members and some family members from Lodges belonging to MD NCR-A came. A delegation from my Lodge, Jacques DeMolay Memorial Lodge No. 305, also came and attended the ceremony. It was a grand and solemn ceremony performed with excellent execution by the Manila Mt.-Lebanon Lodge No.1, who hosted the affair being owner of the Masonic Cemetery where the Lodge of Remembrance was held.
The Roll of the Temple Builders, Brethren of the Craft who have dropped their working tools and are now gathered in the Celestial Lodge above, were called one by one. Among those called included Brother Crisostomo P. Gaerlan, my Dad who passed away April 17 of last year.
What fitting tribute can I give my Dad this All Souls day, than that of having his name called and remembered among his mortal Brethren. His name cast into the four winds of heaven that he may be remembered among Men and Masons forever.
Until then Dad, I rejoice in the thought of knowing that we shall meet again and our spirits shall live forever when time shall be no more. Until then my Brother, until then.
(Photo Credits: Bro. Manny Gudito and VW Joji Bulawin)
My elder brother Ferdie (left, on the photo) was just raised to the Sublime Degree of Masonry last September 12, 2008. Now he is a Master Mason and the third Gaerlan member of our lodge, Jacques DeMolay Memorial Lodge No. 305 Free and Accepted Masons. The first one is our cousin Samuel H. Gaerlan, who like us is also a DeMolay, is charter member of our lodge. I followed next, and now Ferdie.
I’m sure our Dad, who is now in the Celestial Lodge above, is very happy. He now had two of his sons as his Brother Masons. After his raising, my Brother Ferdie gave a speech before the Lodge thanking the Brethren for accepting him as member of the Lodge, and also, he dedicated that momentous event of his life to our late Dad.
There are still three of our younger siblings, who hopefully will follow suit and knock at the doors of Freemasonry in due time.
Here’s a YOUTUBE photo-video of the 15th Anniversary Celebration of my Masonic Lodge, Jacques DeMolay Memorial Lodge No.305, Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines.
I must admit that I am not much of a Jose Rizal fan. Ka Andres Bonifacio gets more points from me, just a bit higher than Rizal. But like any Filipino, I admire Rizal for his dedication to our country’s cause. The life he lived as hero and martyr should be a source of inspiration, if not an emulation for the youth which he proclaimed as the hope of the mother/fatherland. Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio are both heroes and examplars of Filipino Patriotism and they’re both my brother Masons.
Rizal was made a Master Mason on November 15, 1890 at Logia Solidaridad 53 in Madrid, Spain. He affiliated with a lodge under the jurisdiction of Grand Orient of France on October 14, 1891, and was made honorary Worshipful Master of Nilad Lodge No. 144 in 1892. There he delivered a lecture entitled “La Masoneria”.
What do the Duke of Windsor (left), Clark Gable (center) and these other guys have in common?
They wear aprons for they are all Freemasons. They’re not into the business of world domination.
While conspiracy theorists are busy cooking new stories about how the Freemasons will control the world, a lot of Freemasons would rather indulge themselves in sartorial elegance or concern themselves with the latest Masonic bling blings. Like any ordinary Gentlemen, most Freemasons, especially the new generation of millenial Masons are outrightly stylish.
Most uninformed people would picture a Freemason in the most unfair manner or in some fearsome image, like those we see in horror movies: a cultist who wears a hooded cape worshiping an unknown God, a modern day warlock, or a shadowy figure conspiring for world domination.
But hey, take a look at these stylish masons through history, and meet the millenial Masons, then judge for yourselves. Do they look like they’re out to control the world? Perhaps, controlling the world through charity and in style.
My elder brother Ferdie (left, on the photo) was just raised to the Sublime Degree of Masonry last September 12, 2008. Now he is a Master Mason and the third Gaerlan member of our lodge, 
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