A Reflection

By: VW Bro Evaristo A. del Mundo
Pintong Bato Lodge No.9
IGLPI


Good evening, my dear brethren, sisters, and friends. Tonight is the eve of the one-year anniversary of the Independent Grand Lodge of the Philippine Islands (IGLPI).

Some three weeks ago, I learned of this evening’s celebration. The wives of IGLPI masons were having their rehearsal of their dance number for this affair. I therefore asked myself, “What can I contribute tonight being one of the oldest member of IGLPI having completed more than 52 years in masonry?”

For this affair, it is my sincerest desire to give a reflection. A candidate for freemasonry can only be accepted provided he believes in the existence of the Supreme Being. The Holy Bible, the great light in masonry, is to us masons the rule and guide of our faith. Based on this premise, I qualify myself to reflect on the Holy Scriptures.

(1) Around 607 B.C. the woes of the prophet Habakkuk against Babylon, was to serve as a warning to Judah of God’s displeasure. The Lord’s answer to Habakkuk; “ Those who are evil will not survive but those who are righteous will live because they are faithful to God”. Thus the famous passage, “Man shall live by faith”.
(2) Between the period of 55 A.D. and 66 A.D. the same passage,
“The just shall live by Faith”, is repeated by St. Paul in his epistle to the Galatians, Romans and Hebrews.

(3) Around 1544 A.D. a German priest named Martin Luther, while on his way to the Vatican office of the Pope, as he repeated his prayers on the Lateran staircase, the words of the prophet Habakkuk suddenly came to his mind: “ The just shall live by faith”. As he meditated on these words, he saw the whole face of the Scripture in a new light. And the Christian world was never again the same,

With the turmoil around May 2006, Cavite Masons illustrated their commendable virtue of heroic endurance to the wrongs of persecution.

United and firm in their conviction that TRUTH shall prevail, on September 10, 2006, the IGLPI was proclaimed to the Masonic world. The fruit and reward are now at hand as we celebrate this evening the first year anniversary of IGLPI existence.

Moreover I wish to relate this TRUTH to the Gospel of Matthew specifically on The Parable of the Talents. In it, the Master has said to his servants who were given five and two talents each, the following: “ Well done thou good and faithful servants, enter thou into the joy of the Lord”.

To the servant who did not use the single talent given to him, this was taken from him, and the Master said: “ Wicked and worthless servant, you shall always be in the DARK where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

About 66 A.D. St Paul wrote his last epistle to Timothy, a fellow worker in the Lord: “ I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race and I have kept my faith.”

My brethren, who among you can also claim the above? No doubt, it will always be a challenge for all of us to keep our faith in freemasonry.

Lastly, before 90 A.D. St John the Apostle has admonished his fellow workers with his kind words: “My children, love one another.”

To you my brethren, my sisters and friends, LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

On this very memorable evening, I say to everybody: “Well done, thou good and faithful servants”.


( This was delivered by VWB EVARISTO A. DEL MUNDO, PGSB of GLP and PM Pintong Bato Lodge No 51 GLP and presently a member of Pintong Bato Lodge Nr 9, IGLPI and Vice Chairman, IGLPI Council of Elders, during the First Founding Anniversary Celebration of IGLPI last September 9, 2007. VWB Del Mundo was a recipient of the 50-Year GOLD BUTTON with DIPLOMA from GLP Grand Master Hermogenes Ebdane Jr last 2005.for 50 years of faithful and honourable service to Masonry. Inspite of these Masonic credentials, VWB del Mundo was UNJUSTLY declared “clandestine mason” by virtue of GLP PGM YU Edict No 232-D for being installed as a Lodge appointed Officer of Pintong Bato Lodge No 9 last January 5, 2007. VWB del Mundo prepared this article to manifest the similar journey of IGLPI and the other Biblical figures and of Martin Luther in the search for TRUTH and their strong FAITH in their RIGHTEOUS endeavors. --- Bro. Jim Bartolo)