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;
I know that while I’m on the square
That he is on my side.
His footsteps on my errand go
If I should such require;
His prayers will plead in my behalf
If I should so desire.
My words are safe within his breast
As though within my own;
His hand forever at my back
To help me safely Home…
Good counsel whispers in my ear
And warns of any danger
By Square and Compass, Brother now!
Who once called me a stranger.
I might have lived a moral life
And risen to distinction
Without my Brother’s helping hand
And fellowship of Masons.
But God, who knows how hard it is
To resist life’s temptations
Knows why I knelt where Hiram knelt

And took that obligation!!!

--- Bro. RUDYARD KIPLING

FOOTNOTE: Rudyard Kipling was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1907. He was in 1886 initiated as an Entered Apprentice Mason (April 5), passed as a Fellow Craft Mason (May 3), and raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason (December 6) at the Lodge Hope and Perseverance No. 782 in Lahore, India. Although he resigned from the craft in 1895, the influence of Freemasonry would be evident in his literary work.

COMMITTEES ORGANIZED, COMMITTEE HEADS APPOINTED

The following committee chairs were appointed by the Lodge's Worshipful Master, Bro. Manolo Mercado, during Model Lodge’s March 2010 stated meeting, and authorized to select their respective committee members:

Bro. Marionito Guerrero
LAPSATION AND VIGIL COMMITTEE

Bro. Sergio Francisco
SUNSHINE COMMITTEE

Bro. Jose Matutino, Jr.
MASONIC EDUCATION COMMITTEE

Bro. Eduardo Sayco
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION COMMITTEE

Bro. Prudencio Elegado
WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE

Bro. Erwin Macalinao
CIVIC ACTION COMMITTEE

Bro. Errol Santiago
SPORTS COMMITTEE

Bro. Arnel Landingin
JURISPRUDENCE COMMITTEE

Bro. Monico Delgado
GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE

Bro. Anacleto Fenandez
GENERAL SERVICES COMMITTEE

2010 ACTION POINTS AND BUDGET

For 2010, Model Lodge’s labors will be guided by the following action points that Bro. Manolo Mercado, Model Lodge's incumbent Worshipful Master, presented during the Lodge’s February 2010 stated meeting. The action points were first discussed with the Lodge’s Council of Advisers and later consulted with the brethren in an informal meeting held at Bro. Froilan Valino’s place.

• Housekeeping. [1] Complete the turn-over of responsibilities from the outgoing to the incoming Lodge officers; [2] separation of accounts for the Almoner’s Fund, Temple Fund, and General Fund and subsequent change of bank account signatories; [3] designation of the Lodge Treasurer as the Lodge Property Custodian;[4] initiation of a dimittance process for inactive Charter members; [5] reiteration of a long standing policy that only P2,000.00 for every degree work will be disbursed for meals and fellowships from the candidate’s P6,000.00 application, and that any additional expense will be shouldered by the brethren; [6] creation of an individual account record for each member; [7] proper archiving of Lodge documents (i.e. minutes of the meeting, Treasurer and Secretary’s reports, etc.); and [8] creation of a Masonic profile for each member of the Lodge.

• Temple Building. [1] Creation of a Temple Construction Committee headed by the Worshipful Master with Bros. Reynaldo Villaflor, Eduardo Sayco, Prudencio Elegado, Anacleto Fernandez, Lamberto Miranda, and Jose Matutino, Jr. as members; and [2] holding of a raffle draw to raise funds for the construction of Model Lodge’s Masonic temple.

• Enterprise Development. Issuance of certificates of share for members who have paid their capital shares in the Moringa Technology Development and Resource Center, Incorporated or MTDRCI project.

At the same meeting, Brother Manolo presented the year’s budget of P51,550.00 which will cover the payment of each members’ per capita to the Grand Lodge of the Philippines (P29,300.00), communication expenses (P1,200.00), Lodge secretary’s honorarium (P12,000.00), registration fee for the Multi-District Convention (P1,700.00), registration for the Annual Communications (P4,000.00), procurement of a past master’s jewel and apron (P1,350.00), and purchase of office supplies (P2,000.00). With this budget, a total net surplus of P44,700.00 is expected to be realized which will plowed back to the MTDRCI project.

CHARTER MEMBER INSTALLED AS MASTER OF THE MOISES J. DE GUZMAN MEMORIAL LODGE NO. 161

Bro. Val Santos was recently installed as the 50th Master of the Moises J. De Guzman Memorial Lodge No. 161 in Lingayen, Pangasinan. In ascending the oriental chair, Brother Val became the 24th Master among Model Lodge’s 33 charter members. Brother Val is also a charter member of the San Leonardo Lodge No. 386, a member of the Munoz Bodies of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rites and the Pantabangan-Bonari Court No. 46 of the Order of Amaranth, and an honorary member of the Pantabangan-Bonari Lodge No. 203, Kapatiran Lodge No. 228, Palayan Lodge No. 331, and General Llanera Memorial Lodge No. 168.

FOOTNOTE: This article was also published in the February-March 2010 issue of "The Craftsman".

BROTHER VICE-GOVERNOR IN MODEL LODGE

Bro. Vice-Governor Edward Thomas Joson (highlighted) of Nueva Ecija Lodge No. 73 paid a visit to the brethren of Model Lodge No. 373 during their regular stated meeting. Brother Edward Thomas is contesting the governorship of the province of Nueva Ecija against an equally worthy brother --- incumbent governor and Model Lodge charter member Bro. Aurelio Umali who is also the immediate past master of Kapitan Pepe Lodge No. 293. His visit to Model Lodge, according to the vice-governor, is his first outside his mother Lodge this year.