EDICT 175-B

HARMONIZING ALL EXISTING EDICTS PERTAINING TO GRAND HONORS AND RECEPTION OF DIGNITARIES

WHEREAS, Edict Nos. 47 (Quasha), 77 (Mandac), (Adiong) and -A (Locsin) were issued pertaining to Grand Honors (batteries of 3 x 3) and Reception of Dignitaries and there is a great need to harmonize all such edicts and provide clarity on matters relating to Grand honors and Reception of Dignitaries in Lodges, Conventions (District and Multi-District) and Communications (Annual and Special);

NOW, THEREFORE, I, EUGENIO S. LABITORIA, Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines, by the virtue of the powers in me vested by the Constitution, do hereby promulgate and decree that the following rules on the Grand Honors and Reception of Dignitaries shall be henceforth be strictly observed:

General

1. Official Reception with Grand Honors (Batteries of 3 x 3) shall be accorded only to:

a) Grand Master;

b) Grand Master's duly authorized representative; (Grand Master's Deputy)

c) Past Grand Masters (PGM);

d) All Elective Officers of the Grand Lodge;

e) District Deputy Grand Master (DDGM);

f) Grand Lecturers; and

g) Grand Lodge Inspectors.

2. It is to be understood that the dignitaries in the preceding paragraph who are entitled to Official Reception and Grand Honors are entitled to waive this right but no one should be asked to waive the right.

Lodges

3. When the Grand Master's duly authorized representative (Grand Master's Deputy) is received in a Lodge, all incumbent Officers of the Grand Lodge who are in his party shall be received with him including those incumbent Officers of the Grand Lodge not mentioned in paragraph 1.

4. In the absence of the Grand Master or Grand Master's duly authorized representative (Grand Master's Deputy), the DDGM shall be the official representative of the Grand Master. All Officers of the Grand Lodge who are to be accorded Grand Honors (Paragraph 1 above) and other incumbent Officers of the Grand Lodge shall be members of the party of the DDGM and shall be received with him.

District Conventions

5. During district conventions, where the Grand Master or Grand Master's duly authorized representative is present, the DDGM who will be presiding officer shall wear the hat and be received with the District Grand Lecturers and Grand Lodge Inspectors of the District. Immediately after such reception, the Grand Master or Grand Master's duly authorized representative (Grand Master's Deputy) and their party shall be received. All incumbent Officers of the Grand Lodge who are in his party shall be received with the Grand Master including those incumbent Officers of the Grand Lodge not mentioned in paragraph 1. The Grand Master or Grand Master's duly authorized representative (Grand Master's Deputy) shall wear the hat when he is being received by the presiding DDGM.

Multi-District Conventions

6. During multi-district conventions, where the Grand Master or Grand Master's duly authorized representative (Grand Master's Deputy) is present, the DDGM who will be the presiding officer shall wear the hat and be received after the Lodge is opened. After his reception and turnover of the Lodge to such presiding DDGM, the other DDGMs shall be received with the District Grand Lecturers and Grand Lodge Inspectors for the participating districts as the accompanying party. None of them shall wear the hat. After such reception, the Grand Master or Grand Master's duly authorized representative (Grand Master's Deputy) and their party shall be received. All incumbent Officers of the Grand Lodge who are in his party shall be received with the Grand Master including those incumbent Officers of the Grand Lodge not mentioned in paragraph 1. The Grand Master or Grand Master's duly authorized representative shall wear the hat when he is received by the presiding DDGM.

Absence of the Grand Master, Grand Master's Authorized Representative (Grand Master's Deputy) and District Deputy Grand Master in Lodges and Conventions (District and Multi-District)

7. In Lodges and Conventions (District and Multi-District) where the Grand Master, Grand Master's Authorized Representative and District Deputy Grand Master are not present, the Elected Officers of the Grand Lodge, Grand Lecturers and/or Grand Lodge Inspectors shall be accorded Grand Honors and be received as a single party. None of them should wear the hat. Their order of procession shall be according to their rank in office.

Incumbent Officers of the Grand Lodge Not Mentioned in Paragraph 1

8. In Lodges and Convention (District and Multi-District), incumbent officers of the Grand Lodge who are not specifically mentioned in paragraph 1 above shall be accorded Grand Honors only when accompanying the Grand Master, his duly authorized representative (Grand Master's Deputy) or the DDGM in their party.

9. In the absence of the Grand Master, Grand Master's duly authorized representative (Grand Master's Deputy) and the DDGM, other incumbent officers of the Grand Lodge and other distinguished brethren not mentioned in paragraph 1 shall not be accorded Grand Honors. But they may be invited to sit in the East by the Master of the Lodge or presiding DDGM of the convention in accordance with our Miscellaneous Regulations provided in our Masonic Law Book.

High Dignitaries from Sister Grand Lodges

10. Grand Honors may also be accorded to high dignitaries from Sister Grand Lodges who are visiting the Philippines and are present in Lodges, Convention (District and Multi-District) and Communications (Annual and Special). They are to be received after the Past Grand Masters are received.

Proper Salutation

11. The proper Salutation for the Grand Master and his party is: "Most Worshipful (full name), Grand Master of Masons in the jurisdiction of the Philippines and (if any) the officers and members of the Grand Lodge accompanying him." The names of the other Grand Lodge Officers are no longer mentioned.

12. For the Grand Master’s duly authorized representative, the proper salutation shall be: "MW/RW/VW/WB/BRO (Full Name), Deputy of the Grand Master and (if any) the officers and members of the Grand Lodge accompanying him." The names of the other Grand Lodge Officers are no longer mentioned.

13. For the DDGM, the proper salutation shall be: "VW (Full Name), District Deputy Grand Master of Masonic District No. (number) and (if any) the officers and members of the Grand Lodge accompanying him." For district and multi-district conventions, the proper salutation for the presiding DDGM shall be VW (Full Name) District Deputy Grand Master of Masonic District No. (number) and presiding officer of the district (or multi-district) convention.

14. In the absence of the Grand Master, his duly authorized representative and the DDGM, the proper salutation shall be RW/VW/WB (Full Name) (Position) depending on their respective titles. This is the only time each Grand Lodge Officer entitled to reception is each individually introduced.

Past Grand Master in Lodges, Conventions and Communications

15. If there are PGMs present in a Lodge, Convention (District and Multi-District) or Communication (Annual and Special), they shall be received separately and following the Grand Master or Grand Master’s duly authorized representative or DDGM. Any PGM present shall be the last Masonic dignitary to be received. But he shall not wear the hat. The order of procession shall be according to their seniority. The proper salutation shall be "MW (Full Name) Past Grand Master." PGMs shall be individually introduced according to their seniority.

Guest Speaker (Mason)

16. If a PGM has been invited to be the guest speaker, he shall be the last to be received. A Mason (not PGM) who is the Guest Speaker shall also be the last to be received. However, if he is not entitled to Grand Honors under paragraph 1, he shall be received only as described in paragraph 22 below.

Grand Master’s Duly Authorized Representative or Grand Master’s Deputy

17. The Grand Master may appoint a duly authorized representative or Deputy (not Deputy Grand Master) to represent him at certain occasions when he is unable to honor the invitation. The authorization shall be made in writing. Any member of the Grand Lodge is entitled to represent the Grand Master as his Deputy. However, in the appointment of a Grand Master’s Deputy the Grand Master shall give preference to the elective officers of the Grand Lodge in the following order of priority: Deputy Grand Master, Senior Grand Warden, Junior Grand Warden, Grand Treasurer and Grand Secretary. Only when the elected officers are unavailable shall the Grand Master appoint a member of the Grand Lodge who is not an elected officer of the Grand Lodge. Once appointed with written authority, Grand Master’s Deputy shall still be the duly authorized representative of the Grand Master. Such Grand Master’s Deputy shall be entitled to wear the hat and be presented with the gavel even in the presence of other higher ranking officers of the Grand Lodge.

18. After the Junior Deacon reports the Tyler’s report, the Master of the Lodge or presiding officer (DDGM) of the convention shall call up the Lodge or convention (3 raps) then reads the letter of introduction from the Grand Master. After reading such letter, the Master or presiding officer (DDGM) shall then instruct the Marshal.

19. All courtesies accorded to the Grand Master shall be extended to this Deputy. He shall wear a hat and the gavel shall be presented to him.

Prescribed Procedure for Official Reception and Grand Honors

20. The procedure for official reception of Masonic dignitaries in private and public forms prescribed in our Monitor and clarified in the Basic Instruction for the Floor Work in the Ritual shall be strictly followed. The provisions of this Edict shall complement such prescribed procedure.

21. Only dignitaries wearing the hat shall be presented with the gavel.

22. A distinguished visitor (i.e. Guest Speaker, Public Official, etc.) who is a non-Mason is not entitled to Grand Honors. However, such visitor may be entitled to the following:

After the Junior Deacon reports the Tyler's Report, the Master or presiding officer (DDGM) shall instruct the Marshal to retire and conduct the non-Mason visitor inside the Lodge. During the time that the Marshal is conducting the non-Mason visitor from the door to the Altar, all present in the Lodge shall applaud. No applause is made at the altar. When such visitor is conducted from the Altar to the East, all present shall again applaud. When such visitor is in the East, the Master or presiding officer shakes the hand of such visitor and then sits the Lodge.

[Note: No Grand Honors (batteries of 3 x 3) is given.]

23. Grand Honors (3 x 3 batteries) shall not be given to non-Masons including a member of appendant masons. All non-masons shall be entitled only to the reception described in paragraph 22.

Annual and Special Communications

24. During Annual and Special Communications, the Grand Master without any party shall initially be received by the Deputy Grand Master. During such reception, the other officers of the Grand Lodge shall be in their respective stations. Thereafter, the Grand Master shall receive the Past Grand Masters, High Dignitaries from Sister Grand Lodges and Guest Speaker, if any are present, in the manner described in the preceding paragraphs.

This Edict shall be read in open Lodge at the stated meeting next following its receipt and shall be recorded in the minutes.

GIVEN under my hand and the seal of the Grand Lodge at the City of Manila, this 22nd day of January 2003.

(Sgd.) EUGENIO S. LABITORIA Grand Master

ATTEST:

(Sgd.) REYNOLD S. FAJARDO, PGM, GMH Grand Secretary