Cabletow 4th issue - GM Ebdane - Grand Lodge of the Philippines

The Cabletow
Editorial
REFLECTING FURTHER ON OUR VISION
Our vision is to develop ourselves into a dynamic Fraternity committed to enhancing
brotherly love, relief and truth, as well as to improving men towards the attainment
of an enlightened and a progressive humanity. Actually, it entails recapturing the
old glory of the Craft in this grand jurisdiction.
Time was when Philippine Masonry was acknowledged as the cradle of heroes
and statesmen, who built the Filipino nation on the pillars of brotherly love, relief
and truth; the producer of Presidents of the Republic, Presidents of the Senate,
Speakers of the House of Representatives, Chief Justices and Associate Justices of
the Supreme Court, and even framers of the Philippine Constitution; and the
organization to which were affiliated many of the drivers of the engine of growth
and development in the private sector.
Today, however, the demoralizing perception is that Masonry has been on a
steep decline as a defining influence in our country. So, how can we recapture the
dynamism of those brethren who came this way before us? How can we regain our
old glory? How can we achieve our vision?
Let us “revisit” the answer offered by MW Reynato S. Puno, PGM, GMH, during
his installation as our Grand Master in 1984 or approximately 21 years ago, which is
as follows:
“The requirement of the time is for every Mason to imbibe every syllable and all
the intricate polysyllables of our Masonic faith. I maintain that only those with fingertip
familiarity of our touchstone tenets can save the fraternity from the wayward route.
Only Masons who immensely immerse themselves in the imperishable principles of
Masonry can lead and be a light to other men. And only among Masons whose
hearts have been soaked in our tenets can we hope to find the resurgence of that
blood that flowed in the veins of our heroes.”
Decidedly, unless we ourselves, especially our leaders, dedicate ourselves to
studying Masonry’s history, philosophy, rituals, symbology, traditions and practices,
and jurisprudence; unless we consistently live Masonry’s simple lessons of practical
morality and sublime teachings of religious philosophy; unless, as the late Bro.
Manuel V. Moran, who once served as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the
Philippines, put it, we become what Masonry wants us to be: “a band of men to
whom others may look for example and inspiration – men who others will say are
men of honor, virtue and charitable feelings,” we will not be able to bring the best
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