Suan Edicts 2019-2020

EDICT NO. 332

RESETTING THE HOLDING OF THE
104TH ANNUAL COMMUNICATION (ANCOM 2020)

TO APRIL 2021

WHEREAS, in view of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) and
variations thereof imposed in Luzon and in other areas of the country effective
2nd half of March 2020, the Grand Lodge of the Philippines has been unable to
hold its regular Annual Communication (ANCOM) as originally scheduled on
April 23 – 25, 2020 in Olongapo City;

WHEREAS, the option to conduct an ANCOM via remote communication
as allowed by law on regular corporations, has to be shelved because, aside from
some inherent technical problems on on-line conferences which could
considerably disrupt the proceedings, said method could not fulfill the specific
mandates of the Ancient Land Marks of Masonry on the general assembly of the
craft, as well as accommodate the observance of ancient rituals and other
ceremonial workings of Freemasonry;

WHEREAS, the incumbent and incoming leadership of the fraternity
composed of the Grand Master, the Deputy Grand Master, the Senior Grand
Warden, the Junior Grand Warden, the Grand Treasurer and the Grand
Secretary have manifested their unanimous agreement to entirely postpone the
holding of ANCOM 2020 and to re-schedule the regular physical ANCOM in
the succeeding year or specifically on April 21-24, 2021;

WHEREAS, the electronic polling recently conducted among the
incumbent Grand Lodge Officers including DDGMs, JGLs, DGLs, and on all the
voting lights of subordinate lodges, which represent almost the entire voting
delegates to the ANCOM, returned overwhelming votes in favor of the
postponement of the ANCOM to April 21-24, 2021;

WHEREAS, acting as the consultative body to the Grand Master, it is
likewise the unanimous advise of the members of the Board for General Purposes
to defer the holding of the ANCOM in view of the above considerations, and for
the Grand Master to issue an edict to this effect, including the legal
consequences of said action under the Constitution.

2 | Page
Edict No. 332 – 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:

1. The holding of 104th ANCOM originally scheduled on April 23 – 25, 2020
in Olongapo City is hereby postponed to April 21-24, 2021;

2. Pursuant to Section 1, Article V, Part I of the Constitution, all elected
Grand Lodge Officers composed of the Grand Master, Deputy Grand
Master, Senior Grand Warden, Junior Grand Warden, Grand Treasurer
and Grand Secretary “shall hold office until their successors have been
elected and installed”. In view of the postponement of ANCOM 2020,
the said incumbent elected officers shall therefore remain in office until
the next regular ANCOM is convened.

3. Pursuant to Section 2, Article V, Part I of the Constitution, all
incumbent appointive Grand Line Officers including the DDGMs, JGLs,
DGLs, and GLIs, and all members of standing and special committees,
including the Board for General Purposes, shall continue to hold office
and discharge their respective functions until the next regular ANCOM
but subject at all times to the will and pleasure of the Grand Master.

4. The above elected and appointed Grand Lodge officers shall continue to
exercise all the regular powers, duties and functions of their respective
offices as prescribed under the Constitution.

5. The Grand Lodge Officers Reports, the Reports of the various Standing
and Special Committees, and all other mandated reports submitted for
Masonic Year 2019-2020 and approved by the Grand Master shall be
valid and effective until otherwise acted upon during the next regular
ANCOM.

6. A special budget for the operations of the Grand Lodge until the next
regular ANCOM shall be prepared and recommended by the Deputy
Grand Master for the approval of the Grand Master.

7. Separate Grand Lodge Circulars shall be issued on matters affecting
subordinate Lodges and other crucial issues.

3 | Page
Edict No. 332 – MW Suan

This Edict shall take effect immediately upon publication in the official
Grand Lodge Website.

Given under my hand and seal of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines at
the City of Manila, Philippines, this 21st day of May 2020.

AGAPITO S. SUAN, JR.
Grand Master

Attest:

DANILO D. ANGELES, PGM
Grand Secretary

ASS/DDA/OVY/vangie