TO BE OR NOT TO BE

Presented by WB Tom Magpoc on Jan. 20, 2007

“To be or not to be; that is the question.” Hold that thought for a moment. But first, let me greet each and everyone of you a very pleasant January’s 3^rd Saturday afternoon, our sixth stated meeting under dispensation. Thanksgiving Day and Christmas, once again, had come and gone. And as we embark in the year 2007, may our dreams and aspirations find their fulfillment.  

It’s a GREAT DAY TO BE A MASON! as our Grand Secretary always say. And of course we all know why he says that - holiday or not, everyday is a great day to be a Mason.

At this juncture, I would like to congratulate our 2 brand new Master Masons for the splendid display of their proficiency. We hope to see more of you in this Lodge. Like what our Worshipful Master always say – “At LuzViMinda Lodge, we involve, we perform, we participate.” Might not be the exact words, but you should get the idea – we work as a team. Keep also in mind, what you get out of Masonry is in direct proportion to what you put in it.

Okay, George Burns once said; “The secret to a good sermon is to have a good beginning and a good ending; and to have the two as close together as possible.”

Today, I am not giving a sermon. I am here before you to speak my mind, to think aloud, so to speak. But I’ll try to adhere to George Burns’ principle regarding sermons, hoping you won’t be bored. And before I proceed, allow me to express my deep appreciation for giving me the privilege to speak before you today. I thank you for your indulgence. Actually, you have no choice, you’re stuck with me. Since Public Speaking is not my cup of tea, I’m hoping this program by our Worshipful Master will hone my skill, if there’s any. It’s like having our own little Toastmasters’ Club.

Now, going back to that famous line from Hamlet by William Shakespeare, the great Renaissance English poet and playwright; “To be or not to be, that is the question.”  What did Shakespeare mean by that? Well, I cannot pretend and don’t want to pretend that I have read the play. What I am here for is to give you my own interpretation of that particular phrase and that’s where I am going to zero-in on my thoughts.

An element of choice or decision is very much obvious in the phrase, i.e., “to be” or “not to be”. After all, life is not about choice. It’s about decision. Don’t you think? You can be all that you can be – it’s not only in the Army.

To be or not to be, that is the question. But what is the answer? As my grandmother always say during my pre-teen years: “Madali ang maging tao, mahirap magpaka-tao.” Translated to English - “It is easy to become human, it is tough acting like one.” Here, our existence was not our choice. It’s our parents’. However, the choice or decision  to become a good person relies on us. While it’s true that there are several factors which affect our being a person, the decision to pick the good and throw away the bad ones is all ours.

Have you heard of the phrase - “Getting old is mandatory, growing up is optional.”? Whether we like it or not, as the years go by, we get old. But growing up, meaning being matured and responsible, doesn’t necessarily come with age. It is an option at some point in our life we need to decide, the earlier the better.

When we finally decided to become Masons, we chose to become better persons. Remember, we were taught that Masonry makes good men better. In our initiation, we were told by the Worshipful Master – “W rc nn knly int our rnks bt thos wh ar mrl an upr bfr G an o gd rpr bef t world.” Simply put, Freemasonry is not a reform institution where you turn a bad person into a good one, and consequently, better. It just doesn’t work like that.

While Operative Masons built temples and edifices, we build temples within ourselves. Have you heard of the phrase – “Our body is the temple of the Lord.”? If we build good temple out of ourselves, we are attracting others to do the same, i.e., we are attracting new members.  Hence the saying – “If you build it, they will come.”

Look at the people around you, do you think you’ll meet these brothers if you did not choose to become a Mason at some point in your life? Isn’t it a privilege sitting amid a roomful of “just and upright” men?  Let’s pat ourselves in the back in making such a wise decision.

Today we voted favorably for the petition of my son to receive the degrees of Freemasonry. Unlike the father in the story which I will read to you shortly, I do not have plans or hidden agenda for my son. He is his own man and the decision for the life he chooses is all his. The only plan that I had for him was when he was a child, i.e., for him to become a God-believing and God-fearing person; a good citizen of this country, if not the world, and of course, a better education.

The following story is an excerpt from “Reflections on Masonic Values” written by a certain VWB Mabini G. Hernandez, PDDGM in the MW Grand Lodge of F&AM – Philippines. While no explicit permission was granted for me to present this essay before you, may this acknowledgement serve as one.

This short story is in no way similar to the relationship between me and my son. And here it is:

THE FATHER & SON’s ENCOUNTER:

There was once an ambitious father. He had a son who was not as ambitious as he was. He failed in many ways, so he wanted his son to be what he would have wanted himself to be and to achieve what he had failed to achieve. He gave his son a good education by enrolling him in the best schools.

After his son's graduation from college, he urged him to join the Knights of Columbus as he believed that religion is a good start of everything. As a Knight, his son became too priestly which he really did not appreciate. He wanted his son to be a go-getter, to be articulate and a good debater so he advised his son to join the Rotary Club. As a Rotarian, the son was able to enlarge his circle of friends and became more eloquent during discussions. Still not contented, the father wanted his son to develop executive ability. He urged him to join the Jaycees who are mostly executives. For professional refinement, the father advised his son to be a Lion. Through Lionism the son became more matured and deliberative. Finally, the son joined the Kiwanis where he became deeply engrossed in charitable and community projects.

After becoming a Knight, a Rotarian, a Jaycee, a Lion, and a member of the Kiwanis, one after the other, he is now ready for the final scene set for him by his father. He was asked by his father to join a political party because the father was in reality preparing his son to be the Mayor of their town if not Congressman of their province. This was the father's unfulfilled ambition which became the hidden agenda for his son.

While mulling over what political party to join, the son made some researches and came across several articles in the weekly magazines narrating that Dr. Jose Rizal, Marcelo H. del Pilar, Apolinario Mabini, Andres Bonifacio, the Luna brothers, Emilio Aguinaldo, Manuel L. Quezon, Jose P. Laurel, Jose Abad Santos, Chief Justice Manuel Moran, Justice Calixto Zaldivar and many other Filipino heroes and national leaders all belong to the Masonic Fraternity. Making further researches, the son developed intense interest and ended up knocking at the door of Freemasonry.

After several years of membership with different organizations, the son realized that his membership fees alone caused a drain in his pocket. Besides, he missed the company of his wife and children. With the help of his wife, he had to make a decision which organization he had to give up and with which he has to remain.

One day the father and son met. The father asked, "What happened? I don't see your pictures in the papers any more. I have not heard about your church activities. Have you abandoned your plan to be Mayor or Congressman?" The son replied, "Father, I am now a Freemason. I have for the moment cast aside my ambition in the field of politics. With the kind of politics and the manner we handle our political exercises today, I feel that moral uprightness and our present political temper can not mix. To win in politics today one has to compromise with the devil which I cannot. I have decided to remain upright. Besides, I firmly believe that I can also serve God, our country, my fellowmen, my family and friends not through politics alone but through other equally challenging avenues."

"What about your training in oratory and debate?"

"I make use of them in our meetings, seminars, conferences, conventions and communications."

"How about your executive and managerial training?"

"Father, as Worshipful Master of my Lodge, I exercise managerial and executive authority."

"How about your charitable activities?"

"Do you know, Father, that the Freemasons support the Hospital for Crippled Children? We do a lot of charitable work. We finance the education of children of poor families but you never here us crow about it. In all disasters in the country, we do our part and give our share without propaganda. We contribute to laudable community projects and participate in civic activities without fanfares."

"How about your church activities?"

"Father, now I believe more in Godliness and less in religiosity which is more ceremonial and ritualistic. Godliness glimmers with the true and real characteristics of God's children. As a Mason I learned to love my fellowmen and deal with them squarely and on the level. I learned to walk in the dark with faith in my heart and trust in the Lord. I learned that the exercise of my rights end where the rights of my fellowmen begin. I learned to listen to and hear the cries of widows and orphans. My heart has become more sensitive to the tears of the needy."

"Does Freemasonry not demand much of your time?"

"On the contrary, I have more time for my wife and children now. In Freemasonry, we meet only once a month for our stated meeting. We also have special meetings on the call of the Worshipful Master. We have seminars, district meetings and conventions. We meet once a year in the month of April for our Annual Communication. Our activities are so programmed and properly spaced as we are taught to divide our time to the service of God and distressed worthy brothers, for our usual vocations and for refreshment and sleep. As a Fraternity and individual we perform our share in nation building and in repair of our 'damaged culture' by adopting and putting into practice the teachings and tenets of Freemasonry which has weathered and survived the test of time. Freemasonry being a progressive moral science, the members are taught and cautioned to be on guard, observe and keep close watch on our moral values."

While the father was intently listening, the son added, "In Freemasonry, there is no room for hypocrisy, cheating or short-changing a brother is not in our vocabulary. We respect the chastity of a brother Mason's wife, mother, sister, and daughter as they are under our protection and care. In the Masonic Fraternity, a brother's popularity, activity, service, promotion or election is measured not by the thickness of his billfold but by his merits. I do not feel only togetherness but also belongingness. With my brethren I feel safe. With them around, my family and I can sleep soundly without any fear at all."

The son concluded, "Being in the afternoon of my sickness, seeing the colorful and glimmering rays of the setting sun about to fade at twilight time and as I feel that I am about to enter the 'last mile', I would rather, more than anything else, be remembered as your son and the eldest child of mother, as a husband to my wife and a father to my children. And when the Great White Architect of the Universe shall call my number and I shall stand naked and alone before the Great White Throne, and He shall ask about my nation and organization, with my head held high, looking straight into HIS eyes, I would with humility be proud to respond, "FILIPINO, Sir, and a FREEMASON".

Listening seriously and with misty eyes, the father said to himself, “My dear God, with him as my son, I have not lived in vain. Praise the Lord".

After the short verbal encounter, the father and the son shook hands, bid each other goodbye, and parted both smiling. The father with satisfaction and contentment, the son into the waiting embraces of his wife and children. ~ End of story

So, “To be or not to be, that is the question.” What is the answer then? I leave you with these words – “The choice we make today, defines what we become tomorrow.” Thank you and goodnight!

T d I prfmd WM.