Suan Edicts 2019-2020

GM Suan Edicts
2019 - 2020

A Cable Tow Digital Compilation

Grand Master’s Message

TCT Editorial Page

Table of Contents

Edict No.325

Exempting Master Masons who are Permanently Disabled and in a State of Distress Due to Injury or Illness from
Payment of their Annual Dues and for Other Matters

Edict No.326

Clarifying when Attendance of Grand Lodge Inspectors is Compulsory During Lodge Meetings and Providing
Remedies to Address Absence

Edict No.327

Creation of New Masonic Districts through the Division of Masonic NCR-G in the National Capital Region, and the
Division of existing Masonic Districts in the provinces of Cavite, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija and Aurora and Appointment
of their Respective Constituent Lodges

Edict No.327 – A

Re-apportionment of Constituent Lodges in the Province of Cavite

Edict No.328

Consolidated rules and instructions in the admission and treatment of petitioners and in the conferral of the Three
Degrees of Masonry, providing disciplinary sanctions and penalties, and for related matters.

Edict No.329

Dispensation Fees

Edict No.330

Requiring All Elected Lodge Secretary to be a Past Master

Edict No.331

Rationalizing Masonic Educational Requirements for Lodge and Grand Lodge Leadership and Facilitating Doctrinal
and Instructional Consistency during each Masonic Term

Edict No.332

Resetting the holding of the 104th Annual Communication (ANCOM 2020) to April 2021

Edict No.333

Resumption of all Masonic Activities under certain conditions and imposing Health & Safety Guidelines in every
Stated Meeting

Edict No.334

Cancellation of the Annual Election of Lodge Officers Scheduled in December 2020 and extending the term of
Office of All incumbent Lodge Officers until Masonic Year 2021-2022

Edict No.335

Instituting the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) standards in the Grand Lodge of the Philippines
and Creation of the GLP-ICT Committee as a permanent Standing Committee

Edict No.336

Creating the position of Grand Scribe (GSc) for the Editor-In-Chief of the Cable Tow

Edict No.079 – D

25-Year Apron

Edict No.276 – C

Further Amending the Six Stated Meeting Rule to Provide Credits for Attendance outside the Lodge
and for Other Matters

Edict No.233 – T

Restoring Certain Brethren to Membership in the Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of the Philippines

Edict No.233 – U

Restoring Certain Brethren to Membership in the Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of the Philippines

Other TCT Digital Compilations

The Cable Tow Covers v.96

The Cable Tow Covers v.97

















































































EDICT NO. 331

RATIONALIZING MASONIC EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR
LODGE AND GRAND LODGE LEADERSHIP AND FACILITATING

DOCTRINAL AND INSTRUCTIONAL CONSISTENCY DURING EACH
MASONIC TERM

WHEREAS, experience has shown that the requirements provided in Part
II, Article XX, Section 6 of the Constitution relating to completing the diploma
course of the Institute for Masonic Education and Studies (“IMES”) as a
qualification for election for officers of subordinate Lodges may unduly and
inequitably limit the pool of prospective lodge officers during each election,
particularly in subordinate lodges with limited membership or which are
substantially composed of relatively new Brethren.

WHEREAS, there is therefore an urgent need to rationalize the masonic
educational requirements for lodge and grand lodge leadership so as to make
these fit for purpose and ensure the sustainability of the Craft in this sovereign
Masonic jurisdiction.

WHEREAS, to facilitate doctrinal and instructional consistency during
each Masonic Term between the Corps of Grand Lecturers and IMES, it is best
to expressly specify the visitorial and inspection duties and powers of the
Senior Grand Lecturer over IMES Faculty, pursuant to the Senior Grand
Lecturer’s own duties and powers to have immediate and direct supervision
and teach the ritual and esoteric work in this Masonic jurisdiction, as well as
visit lodges to provide both guidance on appropriate governance and
administration of subordinate lodges and exemplify the esoteric work or require
conformity therewith, as required by Part I, Chapter 1, Article XXVII, Section 1
of the Constitution.

WHEREAS, such doctrinal and instructional consistency would be
further facilitated by requiring the attendance of the Senior Grand Lecturer
during meetings of the Board of Regents of IMES.

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Edict No. 331 – MW Suan

NOW THEREFORE I, AGAPITO S. SUAN JR., Grand Master of Masons
of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons in the

Philippines, by virtue of the powers in me vested by the Constitution, do hereby
promulgate and decree, as follows:

Sec.1. Rationalizing Masonic Educational Requirements for Lodge and
Grand Lodge Leadership - Part II, Article XX, Section 6 of the Constitution in
the Masonic Law Book is hereby amended to read as follows:

Section 6 IMES Diploma Course as an Educational Requirement for

Election or Appointment to Certain Lodge and Grand
Lodge Offices

a. Brethren elected as wardens of subordinate lodges must
complete the IMES Diploma Course within their first or

second year in office in order to be eligible for election as
Worshipful Master of their subordinate lodge. No
Worshipful Master may be installed in office without

completing the IMES Diploma Course.

b. Each Treasurer, Secretary, or Auditor of a subordinate
lodge must either have already completed the subject of
Lodge Administration in the IMES Diploma Course at the

time of his election or commit to complete the same before
he may be installed in his office. Failure to fulfill such
commitment in case of the latter shall effectively deem his

election void and his office vacant, in addition to
constituting a Masonic offense making the offender liable

for suspension from the Craft for one (1) year.

c. Appointees to the positions of Senior Grand Lecturer,

Junior Grand Lecturer, District Grand Lecturer, and
District Deputy Grand Master must have already
completed the IMES Diploma Course at the time of their

appointment.

Sec.2. Specifying the Visitorial and Inspection Duties and Powers of the
Senior Grand Lecturer over IMES Faculty - Part II, Article XX, Section 5 of the

Constitution in the Masonic Law Book is hereby amended through the addition
of the following final paragraph, as follows:

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Edict No. 331 – MW Suan

H. Pursuant to his duties and powers to have immediate and
direct supervision and teach the ritual and esoteric work in this
Masonic jurisdiction, as well as visit lodges to provide both
guidance on appropriate governance and administration of
subordinate lodges and exemplify the esoteric work or require
conformity therewith, the Senior Grand Lecturer shall visit
and/or inspect the provision and conduct of instruction by
IMES Faculty when he deems appropriate, and may require
conformity by IMES Faculty with his policies and guidance
related to his duties and powers whenever necessary.

Sec.3. Requiring the attendance of the Senior Grand Lecturer during
meetings of the Board of Regents of the IMES - Part II, Article XX, Section 3(d) of
the Constitution in the Masonic Law Book is hereby amended through the
addition of the following second paragraph, as follows:

The Senior Grand Lecturer shall be required to attend meetings of
the Board of Regents to provide advice and guidance in accordance
with his duties and powers.

This Edict shall take effect immediately upon promulgation and shall be
read in open lodge at the stated meeting next following its receipt and that
action taken thereon recorded in the Minutes of the meeting of the Lodge.

Given under my hand and seal of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines at
the City of Manila, Philippines, this 8th day of May, Anno Lucis 6020.

AGAPITO S. SUAN, JR.
Grand Master

Attest:

DANILO D. ANGELES, PGM
Grand Secretary

ASS/DDA/TAYK/vangie