EDICT NO. 85

TO: ALL DDGMs, Masters & Members of Lodges under this Jurisdiction:

WHEREAS, after the program of a public or private installation or a District Convention is concluded, the brethren and guests look forward to a fraternal or fellowship banquet prepared by the Lodge or District;

WHEREAS, customarily the guests are requested to go to the fraternal banquet hall and wait for the closing of the Lodge or they are accompanied by officers of the Lodge who are the ones to close it and thus render at times a quick and hurried closing so as not to delay the waiting at the banquet;

WHEREAS, this has caused a sense of distraction, nay at times confusion, to the non-member guests of the Fraternity attending a public Installation or having been invited at the closing of a District Convention, which otherwise should be impressed with solemnity and unmarked with disconcerting movements and uneasiness;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, REYNATO S. PUNO, Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of F. & A. M. of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers in me vested by the Constitution, do hereby promulgate and decree that the District Deputy Grand Master shall heretofore have the power to close in short or ample form, provided that the closing Prayer is rendered and the Altar attended to, a Lodge during a private or public Installation or a Host Lodge or Lodge which opines for a District Convention, Multi-District or Regional Convention, even with the presence of the Grand Master.

Given under my hand and the seal of the Grand Lodge at the City of Manila, this 19th day of September 1984.

(Sgd.) REYNATO S. PUNO Grand Master

ATTEST: (Sgd.) MANUEL M. CRUDO, PGM Grand Secretary