THE BADGE OF A MASON

by Judge C. Clyde Myers 32 degree

Each and every Mason treasures a white lambskin as a badge to remind him of that purity of life and conduct in which it is necessary for him to live a good and upright life. We wear our emblems and say our Masonic rituals with great éclat, but we too often say them without thought. We do not try to understand what is meant by this or that emblem or pronouncement. We do not worry too much about our privileges and duties as Masons.

It takes a lifetime of thought and study for anyone to know and understand our privileges and duties as Masons and what Masonry means, but I am sure Masonic rights and privileges are not to be interpreted as they were the other day by a litigant in my court.

I was hearing a lawsuit that was quite important to the parties involved. Of course, all lawsuits are important to the parties involved. I finally indicated that my decision would be and actually was against the accused. His attorney later told me what then happened. He said the accused poked his attorney in the back and whispered angrily, “What’s the matter with that damned Judge. I’m a Mason the same as he is, and I’ve been giving him the grand hailing sign of distress for half an hour and he pays no attention to me.”

The fear of number 13 and Friday the 13th - A Masonic explanation by Tore Akesson

The following, historical events, 700 years back in time, are related to peoples fear for the number 13 and Friday the 13th. It arrived to America and was spread all over the world by French emigrants, who heard of the tragedy in France and especially in Paris, below shortly described: prophecy, (compare the First Epistle of the Corinthian, 14:1): one year from today at the Court of God in order to receive your legitimatedpenalty! - curse, curse, be all of you cursed until your 13th generation" The tragedy concerns the banishment, arresting and outlawing of all Knights Templar, Friday the 13th of October, the year 1307 against their declaration of innocence. The last known Grand Master of the spiritual Order of the Knights Templar, Jacques de Molay, was burned to death on a slow fire on the stake outside the Notre Dame Church in Paris together with his successor, on Friday the 13th of March , the year 1314 after long time in prison and of unsuccessful trials to get an admittance of guilt, where even hard torture was involved. When the flames from the stake, where he was tied up, reached him and it started burning in his dress, he proclaimed in front of the assembled Parisians:

"Here you see innocent people die!"

Then he turned toward his three present executioners with the following cry of

"I am calling you, King Philip IV of France!"

"I am calling you, Pope Clemence V"

"I am calling you, Prime Minister Guillaume de Nogaret, to appear within"

COURTESY CALL TO GRAND MASTER GABIONZA BY THE BRETHREN OF MACARIO R. RAMOS MEMORIAL LODGE NO. 355

Centennial Masonic Memorial Clock

Many of the leaders of the Philippine Revolution of 1896 were members of one of the oldest fraternity in the world: Freemasonry. This Centennial Memorial Clock stands across the shrine of the most renowned Filipino mason and our National Hero, Jose Rizal was a project of various lodges and individual members of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines during the hundredth anniversary of the country's independence from Spain. Several plaques attached to the base recount various aspects of the history of the Masonic Order and its role in the history of the Philippines, including its fight for independence.  

The successful Revolution of 1896 was Masonically inspired, Masonically led, and Masonicallyexecuted, and I venture to say that the First Philippine republic of which I was its humble president, was and achievement we owe, largely, to Masonry and the Masons.

-Emilio Aguinaldo Y Famy

"Father of Philippine Masonry"

MARCELO H. DEL PILAR

 (August 30, 1850 – July 4, 1896)

Born on August 30, 1850 in Cupang, Bulacan. His parents were Don Julián H. del Pilar, an excellent Tagalog grammarian, speaker, and poet, and Doña Blasa Gatmaitán, familiarly known as Blasica. Don Julian was three times gobernadorcillo of the pueblo of Bulacan and afterwards oficial de mesa of the alcalde mayor of the province. The name of the family was Hilario; but pursuant to a decree of Claveria's, in 1849, the surname of the grandmother, Del Pilar, had to be added. His oldest brother, Toribio, was a priest. Del Pilar married his cousin Marciana (Tsanay). The couple had seven children (of which five died in infancy).