Grand Master's Accomplishment Report Masonic Year 2009-2010

Dan Brown's "The Lost Symbol" And Freemasonry

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   1.What is "The Lost Symbol?"

The Lost Symbol is a novel written by Dan Brown and published by Doubleday. It is the sequel to his 2003 novel, The Da Vinci Code. The novel again features the fictional, mystery-solving Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon. It is set in Washington D.C., and the story takes place over a 12-hour period. The Langdon character also appeared in Brown’s 2000 novel, Angels & Demons. 

LAST NIGHT I KNELT WHERE HIRAM KNELT

Last night I knelt where Hiram knelt

And took an obligation.

Today I’m closer to my God
And I’m a Master Mason!
Tho’ heretofore my fellow men
Seemed each one like the other.
Today I search each one apart;
I’m looking for “My Brother”.
And, as I feel this friendly grip,
It fills my heart with pride;

Republic of the Phil.Stamps & Postal History

Philippine Masonic Philately

During the early stage of Masonic history, it was almost impossible for Filipinos to join any of the Spanish lodges in the Philippines.  The lodges that worked in the Philippines were all foreign founded and established for social purposes. 

Marcelo H. Del Pilar and Dr. Jose P. Rizal conceived the idea of organizing Freemasonry in the Philippines.  As a result, Nilad Lodge No. 144 was established in 1891 with the consent of the Grand Oriente Espanol.  Marcelo H. Del Pilar, also known in the Philippines revolutionary world as “Plaridel” earned the recognition as Father of Philippine Masonry. 

Following the Spanish-American war of 1898, Manila Lodge No. 342 was established in 1901 constituted by the Grand Lodge of California.  This was the first lodge in the Philippines with proper recognition by a regular Grand Lodge. 

In a couple of years, two more lodges were formed, also under California, and these were Cavite Lodge No. 350 and Corregidor Lodge No. 386.  In 1912, these three lodges formed the Grand Lodge of the Philippines as we now know it, with 150 lodges