WORSHIPFUL MASTER’S MESSAGE

Delivered March 18, 2006

by WB Alden D. Sarmiento

Good Afternoon and warmest fraternal greetings to everyone. I would like to welcome all of you to the historic ceremony of Luzviminda Lodge Under Dispensation.

First and foremost, we would like to extend our fraternal and sincere gratitude to the following:

1. To MW Ken Robinson for playing a very important role in this afternoon’s ceremony; to MW Grand Master Alvin Jorgensen, for granting Luzviminda Lodge the Dispensation and to the Past Grand Masters who have approached individual Filipino-American Masons of this jurisdiction to start an “ethnic” lodge;

2. To the officers and members of Alki Lodge #152 and Everett Lodge #137, who have willingly sponsored the formation of this lodge placing no doubt in the commitment and capacity of its members;

3. To the members of Southgate Lodge #100 and Silverdale Lodge #311 for providing this lodge the Altar, the gavels, the Warden columns, the Officers’ aprons, and other important lodge paraphernalia; and

4. To the members of Yancey C. Blalock Lodge #265 for the use of their facility for the labors of this lodge.

5. We would also like to acknowledge the Filipino Masons of Greater Seattle and the Travelers of Bremerton. Members of these two major Filipino-American Masonic social groups have contributed to the ideas that provided impetus to the formation of this lodge.

We would like to thank you for your unconditional and full fraternal support and we will forever be fraternally indebted. Please join me in according the aforementioned brethren a warm round of applause.

Brethren, it takes only a handful of dedicated souls to be catalysts of a meaningful start - a mere twenty-one brethren having the red badge of courage to sign the petition for dispensation that would form the embryo of Luzviminda Lodge. Henceforth, the 20 founding members and I affirm our commitment that we have the honor and the prosperity of the fraternity at heart and are willing to exert our best endeavors to promote and diffuse the principles of Freemasonry, to adhere to the ancient landmarks, and strictly to obey the constitutions, rules and regulations of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Washington.

Right now an aura of enthusiasm is within all of us – and who can blame us by being so. Someone said that “nothing is so contagious than enthusiasm. It moves stones, it creates probabilities.” The truth is that I stand before you tonight as one of the proudest member of the first Filipino American Lodge in this grand jurisdiction – a lodge formed and founded by Filipino-Americans, by Filipinos, and by an American. But let us not forget that this is just the initial step – we still have a long ways to go. To start with, I submit that:

· We need to have our own personality, style and customs;

· We need to slow down, not speed up our degree process. It is imperative that we provide better coaching and better mentorship to new members. New Masons want to learn and understand about the philosophy and teachings of Masonry. They are searching for meaning, depth, and focus to their lives. They are searching for a philosophy and ethic that will help them to live a better life. They are searching for growth and self-improvement. In short, they are searching for what Masonry, in its purest form, offers them and we need to address these concerns.

· We need to raise the standards of our conduct and our work, not lower them. That means proficiency and attendance requirements, dress codes, and real investigations of new members. That does NOT mean that we should exclude men because of their social standing, profession or religion. It DOES mean that once a man becomes a Mason, he is to strive to be the best;

· We should all bear in mind that the stability of Luzviminda Lodge depends upon the quality of its members and not upon the numbers upon whom its favors are bestowed. As the strength of a chain is that of its weakest link, so the standing of Luzviminda Lodge will be measured by its weakest member. We need to inquire carefully, therefore, into the character and standing of those who will seek admission into our Fraternity and we should know beyond question that the recipients are worthy of what we have to impart.

Brethren, we have looked at the past and looked to the future for many ways to change our fraternity into one of growth and prosperity. We look forward to the challenges we have before us hoping we will lead the way to the future of our beloved fraternity. Numbers, my brethren, should not be the only answer to membership. As Masons, we should be looking to the future and to our involvement in our communities. Involvement will produce numbers if we are visible – maybe not today, but tomorrow. We will succeed if we keep our standards high. We will succeed if we continue to stress family involvement. And we will succeed if we maintain our concerns for others. This is the moment we have been looking for, the birth of a new Lodge, learning from the past but looking to the future with inspiration, optimism and trust to our fellowman. And if each of us resolves to live according to the principles we embraced when we became members of this ancient and honorable institution, then we should be pleased to reflect that there is no higher honor to come to us when our lives are complete. The bond of faith and confidence among us is largely the result of the common knowledge that all, having experienced the memorable rituals, accept the high ethical standards as guides to our conduct.

“The ritual of the Craft is important. Without it there would be no Freemasonry as we know it. The ritual alone, however, is of little value if it remains a monument of stagnation. Armed with plans, goals, and all the other principles of good leadership, it can be a potent force for good throughout the world.” Brethren, the choice is yours. Thank you.