*NOTE TO DDGMS: You are supposed to READ the speech of the Grand Master

below as your CLOSING REMARKS during all installation ceremonies of Lodges

under your jurisdiction. In cases where you cannot attend the installation, ensure
that you send anyone of your DGLs.
CLOSING REMARKS OF THE GRAND MASTER
(to be delivered by DDGMs)

(Salutation)
The following is the message of the Grand Master to the Officers and members
of ______________ Lodge No. _____

Let me congratulate the newly-installed officers of ____________________ on

its ___th Public Installation of Officers. I would also like to acknowledge the
accomplishments of the outgoing officers of your lodge, as well as its Past Masters and
senior Master Masons.
Going over the history of your Lodge and your share of challenges, it would have
succumbed and died a natural death. But your lodge withstood the hard times and has
come a long way since it was granted a Charter. Your Lodge has thrived, bloomed and
grown magnificently and is considered as one of the most active and productive lodges
in our jurisdiction, mainly because of its tradition of excellence and persistence; and its
ability to shed its bright Masonic light even on the darkest corners of the hearts and
minds of its members.
With your storied past, I cannot help but bring up our theme for this Masonic
Year: A Revitalized, Relevant, and Revered Philippine Freemasonry: Our
Commitment, Our Covenant.

Page 1 of 6

To achieve this vision, which has been encapsulated in our theme, I have laid
down my reform agenda at the start of my term during the ANCOM 2015 Grand
Installation Ceremonies in Legazpi City last 25 April 2015:
(1)

Guard the West Gate (both from without and from within) by

upgrading, preserving and maintaining the quality of our petitioners and

candidates; and by weeding-out unworthy members of the Craft.
(2)

Guard the Lamp by and through Continuing Masonic Education;

(3)

Guard the Ballot by implementing genuine Electoral Reforms.

and

This reform agenda has, since then, become OUR reform agenda because its
objectives could not be accomplished by just one person or a handful of persons,
without the indispensable and valuable cooperation and commitment of all the brethren
in our entire Grand Jurisdiction.
Thus, to implement our reform agenda, I have issued edicts and circulars after
they were drafted and re-drafted, reviewed and re-studied during the last three years of
my Masonic journey towards the Grand Oriental Chair. You will recognize and discern
that these edicts and circulars are all designed to implement our reform agenda and to
realize my vision of a revitalized, relevant and revered Philippine Masonry!
In order to achieve all these, however, we must demonstrate to all and sundry a
strong political will and unbending resolve to succeed, against all odds.
Thus, only two (2) months into my term, I was confronted with a case involving a
Past Master and officers of Baliwag Lodge No. 301. I was, thus, afforded the opportunity
to demonstrate this political will and resolve to cleanse our own ranks.
The argument of the respondent in that case reveals a deep-seated malady and
a distorted picture of our beloved Craft. It underscores the need for drastic and forceful
reforms - exactly the kind of reforms we would like to see during my term.
Page 2 of 6

According to the principal respondent in that case: I and my brethren xxx are for
the elimination of hazing and ritual malpractices of our Craft. But 25 years of
malpractice, which has deeply and strongly taken root, cannot be eliminated in just 25
days. Worse, I am a product of this generation. The effect is subliminal than emotional,
rising up in the most unexpected moment. A clear case of using past wrongdoings to
justify a present wrongdoing.
The consequent decision to expel and suspend the responsible brethren was a
clear statement of my unwavering position on these matters: In order for us to carry out
and follow through on the much-needed reforms, we must always be ready, able and
willing to slay the dragon of immoral teachings and malpractices as soon as it rears its
ugly head, no matter how old or formidable that dragon is!
Since then, other similar incidents have been reported to me and have been
treated with increasing severity.
However, lest you misunderstand my intentions and motives, let me tell you that
having to expel or suspend a brother is the lowest point in my Masonic journey. I
regard it as my darkest hour in my Masonic life. But, if we are to become a Revitalized,
Relevant, and Revered organization, these things have to be done and endured. For,
without surgically excising the cancerous tissues that are festering within our beloved
Craft, we would never be able to reform it.
Brethren, how can we make our petitioners and candidates better men if, from
the very start, we show them how to violate and circumvent our Masonic Law Book and
existing edicts? How can we teach them to be better men when, at the first instance,
we are showing them how to be bad?
Now, going back to the auspicious occasion at hand, I exhort you to find
inspiration and guidance in the origin of your lodge name and in your glorious past; and
Page 3 of 6

make good use of the valuable lessons that could only be truly and fully appreciated
through valuable, genuine Masonic experience handed down from Masonic generation
to Masonic generation.
Thus, in the 2nd degree, we were taught that through the symbolisms of the
implements of architecture, wise and serious truths are imprinted on our memory; and
through a succession of ages are transmitted unimpaired the most excellent tenets of
our Institution!
Ever mindful of your history and tradition, I now seek to take advantage of the
same by asking you my beloved brethren of _________________ - to assume the
role of a guiding MASONIC LIGHT! To cast away the darkness in our hearts and minds;
to push away the erroneous and immoral teachings of misguided elements; to continue
being a beacon of Masonic Light, enabling the brethren to see Masonic Truths, not only
with their eyes but with their hearts and minds, thus laying the groundwork for genuine
Masonic reforms, not only within your lodge or within your district, but within the entire
Grand Jurisdiction, especially during these times of on-going reforms, adjustments and
the unlearning of the wrong experiences of the past and the learning or re-learning of
the true and genuine Masonic teachings, principles and tenets!
I humbly call upon you to be my active partners in the on-going endeavor of
implementing the Three Guards to Reform: Guard the West Gate, Guard the Lamp and
Guard the Ballot.
Let each and every one of us be an enlightened REFORMIST that would ensure
a secure and stable transition from this period of on-going reforms to that period of
enlightened and reformed Freemasonry in the not so distant future.
Today, brethren, we are now approaching the final process of the Third Guard to
Reform, as the different Multi-Districts have already elected their respective candidates
for the position of Junior Grand Warden.
Page 4 of 6

Please take note that from the date of the Multi-District Election, all the
prohibitions and restrictions enumerated under our Constitution, as well as those
enumerated in Section 26 of Edict No. 268-B (MW Rentoy), regarding electioneering,
shall now strictly apply to all Multi-District nominees.
Brethren, you will notice that the reforms you have been clamoring for in the past
are now coming to fruition. You asked for the empowerment of the blue lodges. That has
been granted by requiring the nomination process to originate from the lodges and not
elsewhere. You demanded for a solution to the perennial problem of electioneering.
That has been granted through the drawing of lots starting at the Multi-District level and
up to the ANCOM level.
You demanded for transparency in the short listing of candidates for the position
of JGW. That has also been granted by requiring the PGMs to exercise their power to
shortlist during the Election Day itself and by limiting to only three (3) the number of
candidates that they can disqualify or eliminate.
You clamored for fairness in the process of short listing candidates. That has also
been granted by requiring the PGMs to publicly draw by lots the final three candidates
for the position of JGW. You demanded for genuine Masonic electoral reforms. Here
they are! They are now being implemented.
You demanded for a weeding-out of unworthy brethren. We have provided for a
system and process to achieve the same, through Edict Nos. 275, 276, 279 and 280.
You have demanded for the acceptance of qualified candidates only. We have
provided for a procedure to ensure the same, through Edict Nos. 275, 276 and 277.
Likewise, with great pride, I would like to inform you that our very own Grand
Lodge is now ISO certified.
We have shown our full support to the Public School System, as mandated by
our Masonic Law Book through our Library-in-a-box projects distributed in several
barangays throughout our Grand Jurisdiction.

Page 5 of 6

And we have solved the festering crisis of confidence between the Grand Lodge
of California and the Grand Lodge of the Philippines through the signing of the Joint
Statement and the issuance of Edict No. 259-A, regulating Masonic Associations and
Clubs in our Grand Jurisdiction.
All the needed reforms are in place. It is now up to us to make the system work.
We are not alone in this endeavor. All these are being made possible by and through
the blessings and inspiration of the Great Architect of the Universe; the wisdom and
unceasing support of empowered brethren like you, guided constantly by the principal
tenets of Freemasonry: brotherly love, relief and truth; and our deepest resolve and firm
commitment to improve ourselves in Masonry. With all these, I see no reason why we
could not realize our vision, as encapsulated in our chosen theme:
A Revitalized, Relevant, and Revered Philippine Freemasonry: Our
Commitment, Our Covenant.
Brethren, thank you very much for your time; a pleasant, memorable evening to
all of you!

And may the Great Architect of the Universe bless and inspire us

always in all our undertakings!!!

- end -

Page 6 of 6