The generally accepted reason why Master Masons of the blue lodges in the Philippines join the appendant bodies of Freemasonry is to gain more knowledge. However, there are those few who join them because of a feeling of discontent and yearning – a thirst for Masonry that is unquenched by the blue lodge. The Scottish Rite, for instance, does provide a venue for like-minded Master Masons to experience and discuss more about Masonry, but it will never be the same. Ancient Craft Masonry – the very core of Masonry itself – can be found only in the degrees of the blue lodge. The problem is that some blue lodges have become empty shells that merely go about night after night reading minutes, announcing edicts, and discussing other mundane businesses. The Masonic education portions have been yawned upon and considered cues for bathroom breaks. The monotony is broken only by an equally empty drinking session following each meeting, where everything from guns to golf is discussed – all except Masonry itself. Where has Masonry gone in these blue lodges? Perhaps the time has come for Philippine Masonry to embrace the concept of “Traditional Observance.”

Surprisingly, Traditional Observance is practically unheard of here in the Philippines, hence the need for the following as a sort of primer on what it is and how it could invigorate the practice of Ancient Craft Masonry in the Philippine jurisdiction.

WHAT IS TRADITIONAL OBSERVANCE?

Master Masons today need a practical reason to spend time away from family and loved-ones in order to be in a lodge room arguing over how many raffle tickets need to be sold to members or how much money needs to be spent on new aprons. With the absence of a good enough reason, their attendance in lodges becomes meaningless and they eventually stop coming. What’s worse, with more emphasis given to the after-meeting drinking sessions, lodges lose quality members and gain mediocre ones.

Traditional Observance was conceived in the US in response to this similar problem of losing membership interest. It began in the early 1990s as an attempt to restore Masonry’s strength and dignity by preserving and reviving its original traditions, improving the way they are practiced, and incorporating back long-lost initiatic elements.

Traditional Observance is not a Masonic Rite but a philosophical attitude to the way Masonry is practiced. It is an adherence and dedication to a more serious and quality manner of conducting stated meetings and degree conferrals, aimed at creating a more effective Lodge experience and atmosphere that impacts and inspires every Mason the way Masonry originally intended.

Traditional Observance (TO) lodges are chartered and constituted as regular lodges by the grand lodge, designated with ordinary lodge names and numbers, but are distinguished by certain characteristics not typical to ordinary lodges. These include, for instance, the frequency of stated meetings that are quarterly instead of monthly. This takes longer for candidates to proceed from one degree to the next, added to the fact that such candidates are required to present papers on the lessons of their degree to the lodge before advancement or affiliation. Other characteristics include higher annual dues, meticulous standards of rituals, and stricter dress codes. In the US, tuxedos or formal suits with white gloves are always used.

These high standards of TO lodges, although within the context of the regulations set by the grand lodges to which they belong, are maintained, for the sake of uniformity, by working within guidelines recommended by the MRF or Masonic Restoration Foundation of North America (see www.masonicrestorationfoundation.org for details). Traditional Observance is, after all, originally a North American initiative and approach to Masonry. It should be noted, however, that TO lodges are still entirely governed by the respective grand lodges that chartered them, subject to the latter’s rules, dues, and leaderships. TO lodges likewise use the same established Masonic rituals prescribed by their own grand lodges, with some ceremonial additions and adjustments as allowed.

Though still following the rituals and customs of the grand lodges to which they belong, TO lodges differ from ordinary lodges in that they enrich the said rituals by likewise adopting the traditional initiatic ceremonies of Continental European and Latin American Masonry. They incorporate such elements as the Chamber of Reflection prior to the candidate’s initiation and the Chain of Union ceremony after closing each meeting. The purpose of such efforts is not to deviate into irregular Masonic practices, but rather to experience the most meaningful initiatic experience Masonry can provide and permit.

Membership in TO lodges are usually maintained to less than 40 or 50 in order to effectively manage and engage them all in meaningful human fellowship, stimulating discourse, and enriching programs, eliminating the possible formation of cliques and sub-groups that tend to divide. TO lodges seek to create an aura where true fellowship and learning can occur by attracting members of like minds who share the same passions for Masonic education, Masonic tradition, and Masonic formation. 

HOW ARE MEETINGS CONDUCTED?

Every stated meeting of a TO lodge, though not as frequent, should be an experience of the highest quality standards and must be strictly approached with all solemnity and circumspection. All efforts should be made to create a deep and contemplative ambience.

To give you an idea of how such a meeting would be like, imagine a lodge room dimly lit by candlelight, with Baroque or Classical music softly playing in the background and contributing to the overall beauty and solemnity of the occasion. The members and visiting brethren, all properly dressed in uniform aprons, black suit, white shirt, and black tie, enter silently inside the lodge room to be properly seated. The officers, who were elected by merit and not by progression, then ceremoniously march in and proceed to open the lodge according to the prescribed rituals of the grand lodge. Once the TO lodge is open, the Worshipful Master then calls for a period of silence usually lasting a few minutes. These moments of silence play a vital role in setting a serene mood conducive for reflection. As such there are no talking and unnecessary gesturing of any kind that could cause distraction or possible mockery.

If a degree conferral is scheduled, such is executed flawlessly by the officers and conferral team. Dedication and rigorous practices beforehand is therefore essential to minimize errors. Note that the use of the Chamber of Reflection should occur prior to the start of the actual ritual to avoid interfering with regularity. Note also that candidate advancement is slow and demands exemplary proficiency, waiting a minimum of 5 months prior to advancement. Upon conclusion of the degree conferral, another period of silence is called by the Worshipful Master.

If no degree conferral is scheduled at all that meeting, the lodge then proceeds to the primary agenda which is the presentation of papers by the members and candidates. Even candidates for plural membership are likewise expected to present papers prior to affiliation. This is viewed as an essential aspect of the life of the TO lodge and promotes the continued study of Masonic lessons by the members. Paper topics must be relevant to the interests of the lodge, which include symbolism, philosophy, and personal reflection. Historical or biographic topics are highly discouraged.

Note that no administrative business of any kind is conducted. The “work” of a TO lodge is not to read minutes, review bills, or plan for philanthropic activities, but to create an atmosphere where members and visiting brethren can learn and appreciate Masonry.

Another period of silence is called by the Worshipful Master before proceeding to close the lodge. Once the lodge has been formally closed according to the prescribed rituals of its grand lodge, the members and visiting brethren then gather around the altar for a ceremony known as the Chain of Union, symbolizing the common commitment to Masonic ideals and connection with other Masons worldwide.

Although the lodge is duly closed, the meeting does not end there. Still part of the meeting is the TO lodge festive board called Agape (or what is locally coined by Philippine blue lodges as a Fellowship). It is normally a catered meal with Masonic toasts offered in a fun-filled yet dignified demeanor. It is also here where an informal discussion of the paper presented earlier usually takes place. Otherwise, whatever topic is discussed, it has to be about or related to Masonry. In fact, all lodge activities should be Masonic in nature, leaving no room for benefits or fund-raisers with themes that have no Masonic significance whatsoever.

This kind of experience, where members find the opportunity to partake in ritual tradition, intellectual engagement, and gentlemen-style sociability, is something they do not find anywhere else. TO lodges allow Master Masons to move their minds from the mundane to the philosophical, to experience traditional Masonic practices the way they were intended, and thereby satisfy their cravings for the Masonry of their dreams.

While Traditional Observance provides a special experience highlighted by inspirational ritual, enlightening Masonic education, and memorable festive board, TO lodges do not necessarily appeal to everyone. Its statistical success in many grand jurisdictions in the US, however, makes it certainly worth trying here in the Philippines. 

 

DOES IT APPEAR IRREGULAR TO YOU?

At first glance, the TO lodge meeting described above seems “irregular” because of its deviation from common lodge practices. However, TO lodges were designed specifically to be different in the same manner as “European Concept” (EC) lodges, “Affinity lodges”, and even “Lodges of Research” like Quatuor Coronati 2076. They were not meant to be different for the sake of being exceptions to ordinary local practices within a certain jurisdiction, but rather to provide optional variations that are both accessible and legally endorsed by the grand lodge. A grand lodge can constitute such lodges under its authority for as long as they and their members follow and conform to all of the established practices of the said grand lodge, such as the use of its prescribed rituals. Let it be clear, therefore, that TO lodges still operate solely under the grand lodge in whose jurisdiction they are chartered.

Certain additional elements like the use of the Chamber of Reflection, for instance, does invite suspicion on the “regularity” of TO lodges since the said use is a distinguishing part of many Continental European and Latin American lodges which are not recognized by mainstream Masonry. One should note, though, that TO lodges were meant to be “old school” without changing regularity of practice, at any least, and to likewise incorporate the best practices, regardless of origin, in order to offer the kind of Masonic experience that newer Master Masons only read about. At any rate, the use of the Chamber of Reflection is not at all peculiar to Continental European and Latin American Masonry. It is also part of the Craft degrees of the Scottish Rite symbolic lodge, with similar such rooms used in its Rose Croix degree and in the degrees of the other Masonic rites. As such, the use of the Chamber of Reflection can therefore be regularly integrated within TO lodges without fear of irregularity.

One issue that could arise from Traditional Observance is the perceived polarization it could make, where ordinary lodges may look upon TO lodges with arched eyebrows, wondering what these strange lodges do, and feeling insulted as well, as if the presence of such alternative lodges implies that ordinary lodges are not good enough or are doing something wrong. Truth is, Traditional Observance does offer something that is missing from ordinary lodges, or else it would not exist, much less appear to be gaining momentum because of better and more in-depth education. TO lodges offers further opportunity for fellowship and a return to the more traditional spirit and fundamental core ideologies of Masonry as it was in the past.

Despite the many possible controversies which may surface, let us not forget why Traditional Observance was conceived in the first place. It was not meant to change mainstream practices. In fact, it never has and never will. It was not meant to alienate the rest of Masonry by creating a more “superior” type. On the contrary, it was conceived precisely to inspire and complement the entire Masonic community – to fill the void experienced by many Master Masons in the blue lodge without necessarily making it mandatory to all lodges. It was also not meant to be an elitist group posing to be better than ordinary lodges, but meant to help improve their own membership, encouraging attendance and participation through the invigoration and recharging of their members’ interest in Masonry as a whole.

Though majority of Master Masons are satisfied with what they are currently getting out of Masonry, there are those who will always want more, and Traditional Observance may help them find whatever those may be.