Greetings Brethren!

I would like to convey in advance my appreciation to all the brothers who willingly accept investigation duties upon applicants for degrees.   I ask the brethren not to forget their precious labor by honoring and respecting the results of their investigations. Our traditions strictly prohibit the solicitation for membership.  A dilemma for our fraternity, as the survival of any organization also depends on the influx of new members.   Last year alone, our lodge lost 7 members due to deaths.  If these losses are not replenished and we continue to lose members, it will be less unforeseeable that Crocker Lodge will suffer the same fate of other lodges, that of being merged with others.   We do not want to see this happen.  For this reason, we should initiate, pass and raise all good men and true, who may apply for the purpose and who the investigation committee finds worthy to become one of  us.

Congratulations to Bro. Guevarra and Bro. Picache, who were duly raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason last month.

Our “Widows and Sweethearts Night” will be on February 11, 2012.  Suggested donation is $15.00 per person, $25.00 for couples.  Bro.  Adriano, PM, will once again captivate our palate with his signature prime rib dinner. Please come and join us in this celebration of love for our special someone. Make your reservations early with our Jr. Warden.

Lastly, I would also like to announce that our  new District Inspector, Bro. Antonio G. Cimarra, Jr., PM, has formally  appointed Bro. Francis Glenn J. Alvarado, PM, as Assistant Officers’ Coach of our Lodge.

Thank you for your support and see you at the Stated Meeting.

Fraternally,

Romulo P. Alog

Master

Happy New Year!

First and foremost, my sincerest appreciation to all the brothers, their families and friends, who rendered a hand in the preparation and attended the installation of officers.  I lead the corps of officers in thanking you for making the start of Crocker Lodge’s new Masonic year a success.  I look  forward to your continuing support in all our endeavors in the coming months.

Our Lodge budget for Masonic Year 2012 will be presented on our January stated meeting.  I encourage the brethren to take the time to review and study the proposed budget. It is important that each and every member has a basic understanding of what is contained in the proposed budget.  Copies may be requested from our Secretary.  The proposed budget will be put to a vote during the stated meeting.

Please mark your calendar for our listed upcoming events. Not one of these events will be a success without your attendance and participation.  I also welcome any suggestions for other activities that may not be listed here.

Bro. Picache and Bro. Guevarra will be raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason on the dates listed for the month of January.   Please come and show your support for our brothers and take part in this momentous chapter in their individual Masonic journey.

Fraternally,

Romulo P. Alog

Master

Greetings Brethren!

The year is almost over and my term as Master will come to an end. It has been a great and wonderful journey. Together with my wife, Enee, and our two daughters, Elin and Nile, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the support you have given me.

As Master, I had many objectives, and I will mention the 3 which occupied most of my time in the East. One, to make sure that our Lodge funds registered a gain, or at the very least, broke even for the year. I didn’t want to leave office with less money for the Lodge, and for the first time in a long while, we were able to transfer a significant amount for investment to our Trustees, further improving the financial stability of our Lodge. Two, that the line officers deservingly move up in succession according to our traditions. Our recent elections demonstrate this has come to pass. Third, to eliminate the hindrance for our lodge to fulfill its charter “to initiate, pass and raise all good men and true” who seek to participate in our fraternal goals. The absence of a cube for the last few months proves that “time, patience and perseverance will accomplish all things”. It is my humble hope that these accomplishments have strengthened the foundations upon which our lodge was built upon, and may it help guarantee a brighter and better future for Crocker Lodge.

I now ask you to stand with me behind our newly-elected officers and appointees, especially our Master-Elect. The full burden of the Mastership is on his shoulders alone, but, now speaking from experience, Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth will definitely smoothen the rough and rugged road ahead of him.

Once again, thank you, and I wish you all Happy Holidays and a Prosperous New Year!

Francis Glenn J. Alvarado
Worshipful Master

Greetings Brethren!As Masonic Year 2011 draws nearer to a close,  I cannot help but to reflect on the previous 10 months of my term as Master of our lodge.  It has been quite a journey. There is one realization on my part that I want to share with all of you.

Many of you have patted me on the back for doing a good job since I started my journey to the East.  I drew strength and conviction from your congratulatory remarks, and while the gracious thing for me to do at the time was to humbly accept your accolades,  I now beg to disagree with you that I deserve it.  Allow me to explain.  It was Freemasonry that has freely driven and continues to push me to willingly do what I can do for our lodge.  Each and every member of Crocker Lodge is my source of inspiration, and your collective trust and expectations are the foundations upon which my actions as an officer of our lodge are derived.  My Masonic discourse with you and each good counsel in my ear given in the last four years already laid the pathway for me to the East.  All I had to do was travel on it with the Plumb and Square in my heart.  Tempered by the rules of our ancient fraternity and guided by our unique traditions, I simply had to try to meet your expectations, eliminate hypocrisy in all my dealings and respect your wishes and everything else have, most of the time, fallen squarely in its right place. Without your support, without your cooperation and without your compassion, I would have accomplished nothing worthwhile for our lodge.  So my brethren, it is not I but you, the Lodge, who truly deserve to be congratulated.

I am a product of Crocker Lodge, and my only wish is that for all the good that you see in it, may it induce others to hold our Masonic duties in the highest regard and inspire an endless line of future temporary tenants of the Eastern chair to do the same. Then, and only then, my brethren, will I be comfortable to graciously and humbly accept your congratulations.

For those who I have failed to please, and for those whose expectations I was not able to meet, let my sincere appreciation for your tolerance be known unto you my brothers. As Freemasonry does teach tolerance for others, we suppressed the rise of any discord and confusion that could have emerged out of our differences thereby preserving the precious harmony of our lodge. Together, therefore, with Relief and Brotherly Love, we should fraternally celebrate the Truth that Freemasonry works.

Bro. Renato N. Santos will be raised to the sublime Degree of Master Mason on October 20, 2011.   Please join us in congratulating Bro. Santos by attending his third degree conferral.

Thank you for your support and see you at the Stated Meeting.

Fraternally,
Francis Glenn J. Alvarado
Master

Greetings Brethren!

“Are you a jewel?” was the question brought about by the objective and challenge I presented to you on our last installation ceremony, which was to offer a 7th jewel to our lodge. It was a call to re-examine ourselves and the reasons why we chose to become Masons. The Charge of the Entered Apprentice Degree clearly lays out what is expected of us. In simple terms, have we been one to return shopping carts to its designated area in the parking lot of a grocery store, or are we one of those who just leave it wherever it is convenient for us? Upon hearing of a brother’s fault, are we one to offer comfort, compassion and support, or are we one quick to condemn him? Are we practicing what Freemasonry teaches us? In other words, are you a jewel? My answer to the last question is I am not, and I am constantly exerting the talents God has blest me, so that one day I may honestly say that I am. I hope that all of us will always remember that our labors as Masons do not cease after we are raised and that what we do afterwards is of more significance to our travels as Masons.

The 162nd Grand Lodge Annual Communication will be on September 23-25, 2011. This is our chance to observe how the Grand Lodge conducts its business. Information about other social events during the annual communication can be found at www.freemason.org.

The Grand Master of Masons of the Philippines, Most Worshipful Juanito P. Abergas, is visiting our lodge on September 22, 2011.

This will be a very special and unique occasion since his visit will coincide with our Past Masters’ Night. Mark your calendars, you wouldn’t want to miss this event.

Thank you for your support and see you at the Stated Meeting.

Fraternally,
Francis Glenn J. Alvarado
Master