EDICT NO. 223-A

MANDATORY MEMBERSHIP IN THE

GRAND LODGE FINANCIAL RELIEF ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

WHEREAS, the Acacia Mutual Aid Society, Inc. (AMASI) was organized by the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the Philippines, to administer the Grand Lodge Mutual Aid Program (GLMAP) to provide death benefits to the members of the Craft and their families,

WHEREAS, AMASI suffered financial reverses in the years 1994 - 2001 and was undertaking a restructuring and rehabilitation program from 2002,

WHEREAS, in the 2006 ANCOM, it was decided that AMASI be dissolved virtue of a compromise agreement with the Office of the Insurance Commission, and the Grand Lodge of the Philippines shall take over the GLMAP under a new program of the Grand Lodge, known as Financial Relief Assistance Program,

WHEREAS, on May 31, 2006, the Board of Trustees of the Financial Relief Assistance Program was duly appointed;

NOW THEREFORE, I ROMEO A. YU, 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 decree that:

1. The Financial Relief Assistance Program (FRAP) of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of F&A.M. of the Philippines shall take over the functions of the former Grand Lodge Mutual Aid Program under AMASI;

2. Effective May 1, 2006, membership in the GLP Financial Relief Assistance Program shall be compulsory for all Regular Master Masons residing in the Philippines,

3. The annual FRAP assessment of Two Hundred Pesos (P200.00) shall be part of a Master Mason's annual dues which the individual subordinate lodges will collect from their members and remit to the Grand Lodge of the Philippines, provided that Life Members by Longevity (LML) to be entitled to benefits, may opt to join the FRAP by paying their FRAP assessment

4. A Petitioner for Degrees shall be required, as one of the requisites for his admission, to pay the amount or Five Hundred Pesos (P500.00), representing his One Time Contribution to the FRAP which the subordinate lodges shall collect and remit to the Grand Lodge, as part of the Grand Lodge degree fees. The petitioner shall be covered by the Financial Relief Assistance Program effective from the date of payment of his degrees fees until April 30, next following the payment, when all coverage expires.

5. To ensure compliance with this Edict, each subordinate lodge shall maintain a record of its members' payment of dues and contributions to the FRAP, a copy of which shall be furnished the Grand Lodge simultaneously with the submission of the annual report of the lodge;

6. Edict No. 223-Pagotan is hereby accordingly amended and all other Edicts, resolutions and Circulars inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed.

This Edict shall be read in open Lodge at the Stated Meeting next following its receipt and action thereon duly recorded in the Minutes of said Stated Meeting.

Given under my hand and the Seal of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines, in the City of Manila, this 21 day of September, 2006.

(Sgd.) ROMEO A. YU Grand Master

ATTEST:

(Sgd.) DANILO D. ANGELES, PGM Grand Secretary

b. To visit any Lodge in his District at any time;

c. To require each or any of the Masters in his District to convene the Lodge for inspection;

d. To require the Inspector to visit the Lodge to which he has been appointed, and thereafter to render to him and the Senior Grand Lecturer and Junior Grand Lecturer concerned, a report of his findings;

e. To examine the records, books and transaction of any Lodge in his District and to inspect and correct the work of each Lodge in his District;

f. To exercise authority over the functions of each Inspector in his District and to admonish him to exercise, at the proper time, diligent supervision over the annual election of the officers of the Lodge and the accomplishment of the report thereon, as well as over the preparation, accomplishment, and transmittal of the annual report including the payment thereon to the Grand Lodge;

g. To convene the Lodges in his District to an annual District Convention and preside thereat;

h. To grant a dispensation and to collect the fee therefor transmitting it to the Grand Lodge, in the following cases:

1. To hold election of an officer or officers other than the regular period herein provided;
2. To receive and act upon the petitions of rejected applicants for the degrees of Masonry if filed within a period of less than twelve months as herein prescribed;
3. To defer the lecture of the first and third degrees as herein required;
4. For a Lodge, in an emergency, to transact business with less than seven (7) members present;
5. For a Lodge to meet for the transaction of business and/or to confer degrees in a place and at a time other than those fixed by its By-Laws, Charter, or Dispensation; and

i. To conduct the proficiency examination of Master-elect, and Wardens-elect when delegated to do so by the Senior Grand Lecturer in accordance with Art. XXVII, Section 1, Sub-section (e); and

j. To close a Lodge within his District in short or ample form, even with the presence of the Grand Master, during a private or public installation of officers, or a Host Lodge or Lodge which opens for a District Convention, Multi-District or Regional Convention, provided that the Closing Prayer is rendered and the Altar attended to (Edict No. 85 MW Puno).