FROM THE EAST
Welcome Brethren to the second month of the Masonic Year 2024!
Last January saw another, rather a couple of successful degree conferrals. In the words of a visiting brethren were described as remarkable and solemn. A splendid job to the conferral team! Congratulations to Brothers Renato Macam and Jerry Mangawa. May you have a pleasant Masonic journey. Thank you to the officers and Brethren who attended the most recent ISI and OSI meetings.
In the process, useful knowledge and understanding learned from the degree works exhibited and discussed during those sessions gained positive results.
At Chino Valley Lodge 427, we pride ourselves with our conferrals. We endeavor to deliver and perform in spite of some being new to the role, a testimony to hard work, practice and dedication, and commitment to the pursuit of Masonic knowledge. As you have noticed, this early, our Brother Senior Warden have rotated and advanced some brethren to take on parts other than their usual roles. In addition, at CVML#427 we pride ourselves for being an open and welcoming lodge with a friendly atmosphere, TOLERANCE being an added virtue to the many valuable virtues learned as we progress in Masonry, transcending boundary lines of race, religion and social status with sincerity and plain dealings sans hypocrisy and deceit for those traits are not known among Masons.
We are constantly improving our communication with members through our website, so everybody can stay informed about everything that is happening at our lodge. Thank you again to our diligent and hard working Brother Junior Warden Voltaire Taguiba who, through his resources, created it and maintains it pro bono and to our PM John Ehrlich Kiley who have spear headed it’s creation. Brethren, let us endeavor to take time and read it’s contents and not let these efforts go to waste. Suggestions on how to improve CVML# 427’s website are always welcome.
Finally, we are delighted to see the continued success of our fundraising activities, which outcomes provide possibilities for better charitable programs for our community. Our committee chair have events lined up for the year and for a start we are having a post Valentines fundraising event on Feb 24, 2024. Everyone’s support is highly enjoined.
Fraternally,
Wesley Anthony Baguiwet, WM
FROM THE WEST
Greetings Brethren,
As we transition from winter to spring, I congratulate our newly initiated Bro. Jerry Mangawa and Bro. Renato Macam on their first degree conferral. It’s been a busy month spending time in community at various celebrations across lodges – from installations to conferrals. In the midst of this season of celebration, I’d like to share an executive message from Grand Master Arthur Weiss titled “Cheers to That: A Toast to Fraternity and Fellowship.”
Weiss writes about our Masonic tradition of enjoying refreshments at social gatherings, particularly wine among our ancient brethren. He emphasizes that while partaking in refreshments fosters “good will” and “camaraderie” and contributes to happiness and well-being, moderation is key. Weiss underscores the importance of prudence in consumption. He reflects on Masonic teachings that emphasize the significance of refreshment and repose in leading a fulfilling life, noting that judiciously enjoyed drinks can enhance these benefits. However, he also emphasizes the need to adhere to Masonic principles of maintaining balance while enjoying the blessings provided by the Great Architect.
Prudence, a cornerstone virtue, derives from our principles. While it’s easy to articulate these principles, the real challenge lies in consistently living by them, a process that takes time and effort.
Transitioning from military to civilian life, I’ve found my ingrained principles tested and sometimes compromised. Yet, I strive to uphold my identity and monitor my actions, mindful that as I represent our lodge, I carry its honor with pride. Above all, I take pride in being a Mason.
Very Respectfully,
Paul Henry L. Kiley CVML #427, SW
FROM THE SOUTH
BROTHERLY LOVE
We welcome February with anticipation to celebrate love.
Love comes in all shapes, sizes and forms.
But there’s one kind of love which I would like to share—the kind that I learned from my patient.
The John Wayne D. encounter: John was one of my patients last month. He broke his hip from an accidental fall at home. He had surgery and was recovering in the Trauma Unit where I work. He was a very considerate patient, uncomplaining, and wanted me to take care of my other patients before attending to his needs.
I took care of John for three days and I would say that I had given him the best nursing care he could possibly get. At the end of my third day shift, I said goodbye to John for I would be off from work for the next few days. I said to him, “Have FAITH John, and HOPE that you will be fully recovered soon.”
John looked me straight in the eye and said, “Where is the word CHARITY in your phrases?”
For a moment, I was stunned.
Then it dawned on me, so I offered him my right hand for a handshake but he gripped me with the True Grip of a Mason instead. He hugged me and thanked me with tears for all the work and care I’ve given him. At that moment, there was a roar of the LION in John’s face.
John is 82 years old, 42 years as a Mason and a member of Imperial Valley Lodge #390, a Hiram Awardee and still very active in his Lodge.
The old man whom I cared for turned out to be my Brother.
That experience with John gave me a deeper understanding of Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth which are important principles in Freemasonry. Brotherly Love sums up the organization’s core values. It underscores the importance of treating others with RESPECT, KINDNESS and COMPASSION regardless of their background and belief.
Brotherly Love does not discriminate. It respects differences of race, color, religion, age, status and all other ‘dividers’.
I joined Chino Valley Lodge #427 with the hope of seeking the good company of brothers whose majority of the members happen to hail from my region of origin, tracing back to the Northern mountainous part of the Philippines. But while we make up the majority, it does not give us the right to feel superior over the others. We are the same as everyone else — majority and minority alike. We work hard to better ourselves especially in the rituals that we do. We seek help and ask the brothers who are more experienced. In the same vein, we teach other members and share our knowledge, skills and expertise — with no air of superiority.
Brotherly love does not mean agreeing with everyone on everything all the time. It means agreeing to disagree on certain aspects where legitimate differences prevail and common ground is not met. But we do it with respect, with dignity. We do not think less of a brother who has a different opinion. In the same token, a brother who thinks differently will not judge others who think alike.
Building lasting relationship with brothers is one way of cultivating Brotherly Love in our lodge. Let us make an effort to know our brothers more deeply. Our lodge should be a haven of trust, of respect, of service — where Brotherly love prevails at all times. Where we find more reasons to unite. Where we recognize that when we bleed, the color is the same. Where we seek to become better men. Where we enrich our hearts with goodness and grace. Where we find that common ground to grow and learn — together as brothers, as one family.
Freemasons are good men. We at CVML#427 are good men and we strive to live up to that—bound by Brotherly Love.
The just concluded double 1st Degree Conferral of Bro. Jerry Mangawa and Bro. Renato Macam was a success. Congratulations to our newly obligated Brothers. Thank you to all the officers. We learn more as we do it frequently, we learn from our mistakes. I encouraged all Master Masons to participate and be more active to learn our rituals and to finish their Third Degree proficiencies.Thank you to all first time performers Bro. Brent Quines and Bro. Horace Daway for an exemplary Senior Deacon move, Bro.Ferdinand Sicam as Marshall, Bro. Matthew Bangsoy as a new Steward and to Bro. Perry Ross Yodong for doing the very meaningful delivered Charge.
Thank you to all our Prospects who volunteered and helped especially in the food preparation that day.
1. Mr. Erwin Ras
2. Mr.XyborgLaita
3. Mr.JamesPatlan
4. EARenatoMacam
5. EAJerryMangawa
6. EAWarrenLeeAbad
7. FC RJ Peñaverde
We will be having a Post Valentine FundRaising event on February 24, 2024. Committee in charge will be discussed at our upcoming stated meeting. We need a lot of working hands on this day. Flyers are out, please post and invite your friends and relatives, the more the better. Donations are welcome if they can not come. Proceeds will go to our future Charity events and to the Junior Warden Fund.
Bro. Voltaire Laurence C. Taguiba
Junior Warden CVML#427 – 202
ADVANCEMENT OF PETITIONERS
One part of Masonic journey which is more necessary strictly to observe is that which relates to the advancement of Petitioner/Candidate through his Degrees. Once a candidate is initiated, he receives instructions as he progresses and practices what he has have been taught in the preceding degree, and these will materially affect the estimation of his advancement, added to the suitable proficiency that he has to display in open Lodge and in our jurisdiction must be made in Long Form. This preparation of the candidate necessitates his enlightenment, acquisition of practice, knowledge and the necessity of skills and proficiency. The candidate who long remains at the social hall of the temple serving Brethren, and lingers in the middle chamber, noting everything worthy of his observation, while he better understands the nature of the profession upon which he has entered, will have a more exalted opinion of the beauties and excellencies of Masonry than he who has rapidly advanced to a degree for which he is not prepared. Masonry is Progressive Moral Science that is not attained in any degree of perfection, but by time, patience, perseverance and a considerable degree of application and industry. These not being observed, we often see Masons indifferent to the claims of the institution, and totally unable to discern its true character. Masonic education also plays a vital role in molding the petitioner/candidate which should be more rigidly observed rather than rapidly advancing the neophyte in the desire to increase numeric strength.
In olden times in operative Masonry, an Apprentice shall take no less than seven years before he could be advanced to fellowcraft in order that he perform the work so the Craft will have no slander. In our time as speculative Masons, great emphasizes is given to the degree of application and industry to our Masonic teachings thus resulting thereto to a skillful and knowledgeable member.
Bro Eric Calixto PM
