EDICT NO. 245

CONSOLIDATING AND HARMONIZING ALL EDICTS PERTAINING TO THE PROPER HANDLING OF CANDIDATES DURING DEGREE CONFERRALS AND PROVIDING IMMEDIATE DISCIPLINARY SANCTIONS

WHEREAS the Master of a Lodge is the Supreme Authority of the Lodge or head of the organization who plans and confers the degrees, and is solely and primary responsible for compliance with all the laws of the land including those related to the regulation of hazing;

WHEREAS there is a need to consolidate the several edicts issued pertaining to the proper handling of candidates and harmonize them with the existing laws of the land and provide further disciplinary sanctions;

NOW THEREFORE, I PETER U. LIM LO SUY, Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers in me vested by the Constitution, do hereby promulgate and decree that:

1. Being the Supreme Authority in his Lodge or the head of his organization planning and having full control of the degree conferrals of his lodge, the Master is solely and primarily responsible in ensuring full compliance with all laws regulating hazing and other related laws and shall perform the following:

a. Select only Conferral Team Members who he believes will strictly abide by all laws of the land regulating hazing and other related laws; b. Secure all areas and entrances such as the Preparation Room, areas outside the Lodge Hall and the other places to prevent the approach of any potential violators and prohibit any such persons to be present during the conferral; c. Declare the following before commencing any degree conferral:

“Anyone who mishandles the candidate(s) by placing them in some embarrassing or humiliating situations or inflict physical or psychological suffering or injury to Candidate(s) during the degree conferral shall be guilty of Unmasonic Conduct and be subjected immediately to disciplinary sanctions and other Masonic penalties.”

d. Strictly supervise the performance of the conferral team during degree conferrals to ensure the absence of any and all acts prohibited by law;

2. During every degree conferral, the Master shall sanction any and all members of the Craft who mishandle candidate(s) by prohibiting them from any participation in any degree conferral of the Lodge during the remainder of his term of office. Such imposition of sanction shall be entered into the minutes of the Stated or Special Meeting where the violation occurred. The Master shall also inform the Grand Master of the imposition of the sanction within Ten (10) days after he undertook such action.

3. Within Ten (10) days after the imposition of such sanction, the Master shall send such violator a written notice of such sanction by registered mail to his last known address or his address in the latest Annual Report of the Lodge if he is a Lodge Member. If the violator is not a regular member of the Lodge, the Master shall send such notice to the violator through the latter's Mother/ Parent Lodge and all Plural Lodges which the violator may be a member. The Master shall furnish the Grand Secretary all such communications and the latter shall also inform the brethren of any sanction imposed throughout our jurisdiction through the issuance of Grand Lodge circulars;

4. If the sanction occurred during a Special Meeting, the Master shall again inform his Lodge of the sanction he imposed in the next Stated Meeting and have such information again entered into the Minutes of such meeting;

5. The imposition of such sanction upon violators shall be without prejudice to the filing of charges for Unmasonic Conduct;

6. Should the Master fail to discharge the above duties, a complaint may be filed to the District Deputy Grand Master (DDGM) over the signatures of an incumbent District Grand Lecturer, the Grand Lodge Inspector or any Grand Lodge Officer and; any two Lodge members in good standing who were present during the conferral; or any three Masons in good standing who are not members of the Lodge present during the same. The DDGM may also file with the Grand Master a complaint over his signature and the signatures of: any two Lodge Members in good standing who were present during the conferral; or any three Masons in good standing who are not regular members of the Lodge but present during the same. Refusal by District Grand Lecturers, Grand Lodge Inspectors or Grand Lodge Officers to support or endorse any valid complaints shall subject them to disciplinary actions including suspensions from office and recall of appointment by the Grand Master.

7. Upon Receipt of such complaint or filing of such complaint if DDGM is one filing it, the DDGM shall order the Master to sanction the violator(s) and discharge his other related duties. If the Master fails to do so within Thirty (30) days, the DDGM shall immediately submit a report to the Grand Master and recommend sanctions against the Master that may include suspensions of such Master for the rest of his term of office and other more serious sanctions and penalties. The DDGM shall also furnish a copy of such report to the Master within Ten (10) days after submitting the same to the Grand Master. This is without prejudice to the filing of Masonic charges against the Master of the Lodge.

8. Upon receipt of such report from the DDGM, the Grand Master shall direct the master to explain his side in writing within Ten (10) days from the receipt of such summons. Refusal to receive the same is a violation of the obligation we all took and shall subject the Master to the most serious sanctions as well as Masonic charges.

All previous edicts inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of these edicts are hereby amended or repealed accordingly.

This Edict shall be read in open Lodge at the stated meeting following its receipt and action thereon duly recorded in the minutes of said stated meetings.

Given under my hand and seal of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines in the City of Manila this 19th day of April, 2010.

PETER U. LIM LO SUY Grand Master

ATTEST:

DANILO D. ANGELES, PGM Grand Secretary