One Grand Lodge Only

One Grand Lodge per one country was true only for a moment. Thereafter the social man proceeds to disorganization process followed by a reorganization path. A lodge per city theory was invoked but once again, lodges were constituted.


When I chaired the GM EBDANE Special Plans Committee to develop a 5-year Plan for the GLP, we discussed lengthily, the evolvement of a lodge per city and per 3 adjoining towns concept. Studying the growth trends of these lodges, we found problems of territorial jurisdiction, same source and competition for membership, stagnation, declining quality of members, etc. We suggested that the Committee on Administration of Lodges should have a stricter and objective organizational criteria in determining where a lodge should be constituted or located. Even the feasibility study of creating Grand Lodges was recommended. Alas, the 5-year Plan is GONE.


History showed that many Grand Lodges constituted Lodges all over the world regardless of the existence of a Grand Lodge in that country. Each country becomes a fair game to be exploited. When the Americans came, they pushed aside the Spanish Grand Oriente Espanol established Lodges and won them over as affiliated lodges , otherwise declared them as clandestine lodges.
Many countries like Mexico, Brazil and even USA had as many Grand Lodges as there are States or provinces. The Philippines is no exeption. The Grand Lodge of Scotland has still 1 Lodge when it used to have 2 in the Philippines. The Prince Hall had a Mabuhay Lodge in Angeles City recognized by the GLP in 1997. There were 3 other Grand Lodges with Lodges in Japan when the GLP used to have a dominion; now the GLP has only 1 in Japan and 1 in Okinawa inspite of its proclaimed territorial jurisdiction.


When a member no longer feels happy in a Lodge; he can DEMIT, AFFILIATE, and/or be a PLURAL member of several other Lodges. IGLPI allows only DUAL membership. Now when you are NO longer happy or is to expunged from a Grand Lodge, where else could you go and practice the tenets of Masonry? Once a Mason, always a Mason !


When one dominates, it becomes complacent in the absence of a competitor, and suffered quality and poor service. When a competitor comes it became alert, progressive, and service conscious.See what happened to PLDT with Globe and Sun. See what happened to McDonalds with Jollibee around. Even the Grand Lodge of California is not happy of the administrative lapses of the GLP in its failure to respond to its request of CGS of members.
With IGLPI offerring a Democratic Constitution and Governance, many MM are attracted. This is a healthy sign for progressive Masonry to evolve. By being small, we served the members with passion.We are accessible.We respond.


The best thing to happen is for several Grand Lodges to exist in the Philippines- a Mindanao Grand Lodge; the UGLP in Visayas, the IGLPI in Southern Tagalog, a Grand Lodge in Luzon, a Grand Lodge in Metro Manila, a Grand Lodge in Bicol Region, etc..Lets think Masonry and include the remnants of the Grand Oriente Espanol among us.Even Guam, Northern Marianas and Micronesia should form a Grand Lodge.

Bro Jim Bantolo

Apr 25, 2007