The Guild of Lodge Secretaries

The Guild of Lodge Secretaries (GLS) was created to enable and assist its members to be better in the performance of their duties and responsibilities through the efficient dissemination of information.

On the 15th of September in the Year of our Lord 2018 @9:00 in the morning, the following brethren met agreeably at the Plaridel Masonic Temple, Grand Lodge of the Philippines to formalize the organization of the Guild of Lodge Secretaries:

Interim President VW Gil Bangquirig Mendoza, PDGL (29) Interim Vice-President VW Samson Go Ching, PDGL (152) Interim Secretary VW Anthony Tan, PDGL (96) Interim Treasurer WB Johnson Ho Yu, PM (93) Interim Auditor Bro. Jose Jekeri P. Taningco (418)

The Interim Officers made a courtesy call of to the Grand Secretary, MW Danilo Angeles, PGM on February 14, 2019. The 1st GLS Annual General Membership Meeting was held on April 26, 2019 at Cagayan De Oro City, hosted by GLS 2DBUT1 Chapter c/o VW Eli A. Olifernes of Maguindanao Lodge No. 40. The next GLS Annual General Membership (AGM) Meeting set in Olongapo City in 2020 did not push through due to the cancellation of the 104th Annual Communication resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to prevailing health concerns, this year’s GLS AGM has also been cancelled. online through its Facebook Group of the same name and is 550 members strong. Its Facebook Messenger has around 600 members from its 3 messenger chat groups combined. It also has a Viber group with 260 members as well as Telegram App with 170 members. These online social media platforms created for the benefit of Lodge Secretaries across our Jurisdiction has proven to be essential in disseminating Grand Lodge Communications and in addressing inquiries among its members.

Although not a mandatory group for Lodge Officers, the GLS has steadily grown as more Lodge Secretaries became more aware of the existence of the Guild. It continues to “tyled,” screened, and exclusively for those coming well recommended.

It is registered in the Securities & Exchange Commission as a non-stock, non-profit organization. and recently accredited by MW Agapito S. Suan Jr. as a recognized Masonic Organization.

In the three years of its existence, the Guild witnessed the many challenges and difficulties that a Lodge Secretary faces, especially those newly elected to the office. Without proper guidance, rookie Secretaries might not be able to perform their duties and responsibilities well enough to the best of their abilities.

To help the Lodge Secretaries further, a special Masonic App was developed by Brother Secretary John Paul Narisma of Shangri-la Masonic

Lodge No. 196 called Lodge Secretary_E-Tools. The Electronic-Tools App is the Guild’s first technical project. It is a compendium of Lodge Tools, Templates, Books, References, and other useful guidelines for the perusal of our Lodge Secretaries. It was launched by our Grand Master during the final “Third Wednesday in the West” Webinar Series of our Senior Grand Lecturer, VW Teodoro Kalaw IV last April 14, 2021.

Excerpt from the Speech of MW Agapito S. Suan, Jr.

“Tonight, I am proud to announce another addition to our technological advancements. If you would remember, for the past several months, we have introduced the Cable Tow Reader mobile app, also called TCT Reader, enabling us to view past and present editions of our publication. The current Cable Tow issue itself – now available for viewing – is itself a testament of the Grand Lodge’s commitment to advance our organization into adapting to today’s technologies. This current webinar series is in fact one of those technological adoptions. If you would remember also, we have installed our own ATM machine in the Grand Lodge building, and many of its halls are now refurbished and improved, including the Jose Abad Santos Hall itself, which is now more grand and more high-tech than it ever was. We have utilized GCash system for many of our transactions, making life easier for lodges. We have assigned all lodges their own respective and standard email addresses for better and more efficient communication.

Now, our most recent addition to our technological advancement is the release of what we call the Lodge Secretary E-Tools – an all-inone mobile app to help lodge secretaries in their work. It will be equipped with a database for Masonic Roll Book; a repository of current and past Grand Lodge communications; templates for lodge meetings, such as agenda, minutes, forms, letters, dispensations, resolutions, etc. This E-tools is set to be sent via the GLP Assigned Email Address before ANCOM 2021 and was made possible by the Guild of Lodge Secretaries. It is the brainchild of VW Anthony Tan of Isagani Masonic Lodge No. 96, assisted by

Bro. John Paul Narisma of Shangri-La Lodge No. 196 – the same developer of other Grand Lodge apps like the TCT Reader, the GLProceedings, and the Ancom Digital Kit (GladKit). Thank you, Bro. Narisma, VW Tan, and the Guild of Lodge Secretaries for your contribution to Masonry. It is hoped that this new addition to our growing list of technological advancements will benefit our Grand jurisdiction for many years to come.

That having said, I am thankful to have been given the opportunity to serve you as Grand Master for two consecutive years, making all these advancements possible. But let us not forget that technology is here to help us make life easier for all of us – especially during this time of the pandemic. It is not meant to replace our age-old customs that have stood the tests of time in allowing us to make good men better. Despite these advancements, Freemasonry still retains much of what is good about the past – those on ethics, those on morality, on those on charity. These are the unchanging pillars by which our institution has survived this much, this long.” It is projected that this App, considered the latest addition to the technological advancement of the Grand Lodge, would act as an all-in-one mobile application to help Lodge Secretaries in their work. It is also hoped that it will greatly benefit our Grand jurisdiction for many years to come.

I’m fraternally inviting all Incumbent and Past Lodge Secretaries to join the Guild of Lodge Secretaries. Please message me through my Facebook Messenger or Viber/Telegram at 09177712966.

This Article Concludes our Tour of Duty for Vol. 97. My Utmost Gratitude to our Grand Scribe for the 97th tome of the Official Publication of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted masons of the Philippines - VW Joseph Harold W. Santiago for giving me the opportunity to write Lodge Secretarial 101 Series. I am humbled to be included in your Editorial Team as Circulation Manager. It is truly an honor and pleasure on my part to be of service to the Grand Lodge and to the Brethren.