Auto Added by WPeMatico

Dr. José Protasio Rizal, Masonic Hero

JOSÉ PROTASIO RIZAL MERCADO Y ALONSO REALONDA

 

June 19, 1861, Calamra, Laguna, Captaincy General of the Philippines, Spanish Empire –

December 30, 1896, Bagumbayan, Manila, Captaincy General of the Philippines, Spanish Empire

Executed by a Spanish firing squad

 

National Hero (the “George Washington of the Philippines”),

Masonic Hero, Patriot, Martyr, Ophthalmologist, Writer and Polymath

 

José Rizal was the son of Francisco Rizal Mercado y Alejandro and Teodora Alonso Realonda y Quintos, comfortable, middle-class, educated parents, and the seventh of their eleven children. Like many Filipinos he was of mestizo origin (Chinese, Japanese, Spanish and Tagalog ancestry). When he entered the university, he shortened his name to José Protasio Rizal.

At a very young age Rizal proved himself to be very bright, reading and writing at age 5. He graduated from the University Ateno of Manila with distinction, then continued to obtain a surveyor and assessor’s degree and finished a degree of Philosophy in Pre-Law. Learning his mother was going blind, he enrolled in the Medial School of Santo Thomas, specializing in ophthalmology, graduating with distinction in medical and surgical pathology and obstretics. He continued his studies in Madrid earning a Licentiate in Medicine, studied ophthalmology at the University of Paris (1885) and earned a second doctorate at the University of Heidelberg. He was 25 when he finished his eye specialization in Heidelberg where he used the newly invented ophthalmoscope (1886). Concurrently, he finished his first novel, Noli Me Tángere (“Touch Me Not,” [ John 20:17], 1887).

In 1891 he published his second novel, El Filibusterismo (“The Subversives,” 1891). Both of his novels influenced two groups of Filipinos during the Spanish colonial period – peaceful reformists and armed revolutionaries. The novels criticized and condemned Spanish friars and the power of the Church, characters that were drawn from everyday life in the Philippines. These novels, published in Spain, soon made their way to Manila since Rizal sent copies to the Governor-General of the Philippines and the Archbishop. The authorities there quickly labeled him a subversive. The Governor-General, Emilio Terrero y Perinat, a 33o Mason protected Rizal, but the Archbishop became his unrelenting enemy. Rizal felt he could be more persuasive in the Philippines, and against the advice of friends, he returned to Manila on August 5, 1887. Almost immediately, the Archbishop put pressure on the Governor-General to ban Rizal’s books which circulated wildly in the capital. The church authorities quickly published a condemnation of his works, and in doing so, sales of his books skyrocketed. The Archbishop put more pressure on Governor-General Terrero to arrest Rizal, and fearing Terrero could not longer protect him, Terrero advised Rizal to leave the Philippines. He placed himself in self-exile in Hong Kong where he had a lucrative and extensive practice as an ophthalmologist. One of his patients was Leonor Rivera, a distant cousin, with whom he had an eight year, chaste relationship via correspondence. It is thought she was his inspiration for the character of Maria Clara in Noli Me Tángere and El Filibusterismo. (She was 14 and he 16 when they first met, and the attraction was almost instantaneous.)

While in Hong Kong, a lodge for Filipinos was established in Manila, Nilad No. 44. The lodge made Rizal Honorable Venerable Master in absentia, and soon many Filipinos quickly became Masons. When Rizal returned to the Philippines a second time in 1892, Filipino Masonry was well established. The Masons honored Rizal upon his return which only angered the friars. He was arrested, deported to Dapitan (July 6, 1892), lodges were closed and many active Masons were deported. During this time, the religious authorities made reprisals against the Rizal family, including the arrest of his mother.

When Rizal returned to the Philippines in 1887, his father told him not to see Rivera since it would endanger her family. Nevertheless, he asked his father permission to marry her, and he said no; Rizal and Rivera never met again. He left for his second trip to Europe and he continued to write to her, but she never responded. Rivera eventually married Henry Kippling, an English railway engineer, whom her mother preferred. Rizal was devastated.

Rizal’s German friend, Dr. Adolf Bernhard Meyer, described Rizal’s abilities as “stupendous.” Rizal was a true polymath, excelling in painting, sketching, sculpture, poetry, essays, novels, conversant in 22 languages and dabbled with some expertise in architecture, cartography, economics ethnology, anthropology, sociology, martial arts, fencing and pistol shooting.

Rizal is one of the few Filipinos of the 19th century who is well documented because of his prolific writings. Many Rizal scholars often face challenges since he would often switch from one language to another. His diaries also give light to his thoughts and travels in Europe, Japan, the United States, and his self-imposed exile in Hong Kong.

While in Europe during his second stay, Rizal was arrested by the German police because they suspected him of being a French spy after publishing Dimanche des Rameaux (Palm Sunday), which discussed Palm Sunday in socio-political terms. (“… all those flowers, those olive branches, were not for Jesus alone; they were the songs of victory of the new law, they were the canticles celebrating the dignification of man, the liberty of man, the first mortal blow directed against despotism and slavery.”) Rizal’s good friend, Ferdinand Blumentritt, an Austro-Hungarian professor, warned Rizal that his writings, especially his two novels, would cause him to be prosecuted as an inciter of revolution. And as predicted, Rizal was tried by the Spanish military of the Philippines for rebellion, sedition and conspiracy, was convicted on all three charges, and executed because they believed his writings contributed to the Philippine Revolution of 1896, writings that centered on individual rights and freedom. Rizal noted the Philippines were battling “a double-faced Goliath” – corrupt friars and bad government. Rizal’s last words were those of Jesus Christ, consummatum est, “it is finished.” He was 35 years old when he was executed. (Rizal married his common-law wife, Marie Josephine Leopoldine Bracken, just before his execution. Her father was an Irish corporal in the British Army, stationed in Hong Kong, where she was born, and she and Rizal met.)

Rizal is thought to be the first Filipino revolutionary whose death was caused entirely by his writings. Through dissent and civil disobedience, he was successfully able to destroy Spain’s ethical entitlement to govern.

Rizal was secretly buried in the Pacò Cemetery of Manila in an unmarked grave. His sister, Narcisa, visited gravesites looking for fresh earth and found one with guards at the gate. She gave the caretaker a gift to mark the grave with RPJ, Rizal’s initials in reverse. During American rule in 1898 his body was exhumed and is now buried in the Rizal Monument in Manila. In his last letter to his family, Rizal wrote, “Treat your aged parents as you would wish to be treated… Love them greatly in memory of me… December 30, 1896.”

On his way to Madrid in 1882, Rizal’s ship docked in Naples where he saw many posters put up by Masons announcing the death of General Giuseppe Garibaldi (1807-1882, Italy’s hero of Italian unification and the creation of the Kingdom of Italy. He was raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason in Palermo, Italy, 1869, and he was a 33o Scottish Rite Mason.) According to the Filipino historian, Reynold Fajardo, “Rizal must have been impressed because he later wrote about what he saw in a letter to his parents and brothers. The letter marked the first time Rizal made a written mention of Masonry, but it would not be his last.” It is also possible his uncle, José Alonzo, a Mason, may have been a Masonic influence since Rizal lived with his uncle for part of his studies while living in Madrid. Alonzo was a Knight of the Order of Carlos III, and later King Amadeo, also a Mason, made him a Knight Commander of the Order of Isabel the Catholic. José Rizal became a Master Mason in 1884 at Acacia Lodge No. 9 in Madrid under the Gran Oriente de España while he was studying medicine. Historians believe he was 23 when he was raised. Fajardo continues to note, “In accordance with Masonic Practices then observed in Spain, Rizal selected a symbolic name by which he was to be known, “Dimasalang.” In 1889 he became a member of the all-Filipino Solidaridad Lodge No. 53 in Madrid. Before leaving Spain, the Gran Oriente de España made Rizal its Grand Representative with the authority to be its representative in France and Germany. (He never served, however, as a Worshipful Master in any lodge.) In 1891 he applied for admission to the Temple de L’Honneur et de L’Union in Paris, France. He truly deserves to be called an international Mason because he was a member of Masonic Lodges in Spain, Germany, France, and possibly England.

Several Masonic lodges are named after José Rizal: José Rizal Lodge No. 22 in Manila, Philippines; Dr. José Rizal (Calamba) Lodge, No. 270, Laguna, Philippines; Isagani Masonic Lodge No. 96, Luzon, Philippines, named after a character in Rizal’s novel, El Filibusterismo; José Rizal Lodge No. 1172, New York City, composed of natural-born Filipinos; and Gat José Rizal Lodge, Murietta, Southern California.

A special thank-you to Rose Friedman, wife of Jephtha Br. Bill Friedman, for recommending José Rizal as a Mason worthy of further study.

Fraternally yours,

Br. Richard Gentile

Jephtha Lodge No. 494

An Evening with Psychic Medium Jeffrey Wands

On Saturday, November 5th, Riverhead Lodge #645 Free & Accepted Masons will host “An Evening with Psychic Medium Jeffrey Wands” in the Lodge collation room.  General Admission tickets are only $40.00 per person and open to All.  Each attendee will receive a complimentary glass of wine or beer with admission.

Doors open at 6:00 pm with Mr. Wands taking center stage at approximately 7:00 pm.

This is a great event and Mr. Wands is always quite engaging with the audience.

Tickets may be purchased online here at SuffolkMasons.com

Tickets can also be purchased via mail by contacting Terry Maccarrone at (631)-334-3698.

The venue is handicapped accessible.

Riverhead Lodge is located at 1246 Roanoke Avenue in Riverhead, immediately south of the Rte. 58 traffic circle. The entrance is at the rear of the building.

Call with questions.

Welcome to the 2022-2023 Masonic season

Well September is here and it’s time to ramp up Masonic activities. WMs are busy setting up last minute trestle board items, events being schedule and Lodges will be meeting for stated communications.

There were a lot of changes over the last year or so, so please have a look at the events page here -> Events

We have also added a listing up upcoming events on the homepage that are ticketed events so if you want to attend any, click the link and get your tickets.

Want to sell online tickets for your event? Login to suffolkmasons.com and go to your events and create the event, add a PayPal email address and add tickets for sale, voila you are selling tickets online.

Also don’t forget to login to the Suffolk District BAND and all the dates and info is also there and matches the Suffolk District website calendar. If you add and event to the Suffolk District BAND, it will be transferred to the suffolkmasons.com website events calendar automatically.

Not a member of the BAND? Well, you can join by going here and requesting to join by creating and account -> Suffolk Masonic District BAND

There will also be a new page appearing soon on the site for the District Staff Officers and education events. There will be a registration page with details here soon and you can sign up for those courses right here too.

We hope all had a great summer and looking forward to getting back into the quarries!

Happy Independence Day 2022!

American Independence Day is an important event for all Americans; however, it is especially important to Freemasons. It’s of no real surprise that many of the founders of this great nation were in fact members of the Craft. We all hear the listing of famous Masons and more often than not the founding fathers top the list.

So, what would make this day so special to Freemasons in particular? Well for those that know their history and history of the Craft, a deeper look into this nation’s founding documents should look almost as familiar as the ritual we use, and the structure and practices Freemasons employ still today.

Five of the men on the committee to draft the Declaration of Independence were believed to be Freemasons and of those who signed the Declaration, the majority were Freemasons.

This shows that one of the most influential voices shaping the new United States nation was a Masonic voice. (Masonicfind.com)

All of these Freemasons who were a part of the founding would have been intimately acquainted with Anderson’s Constitutions. M:.W:. Bro. Benjamin Franklin published an edition of the Constitution even before he joined the Fraternity ~1738. If you read through Anderson’s Constitutions (The Constitutions of the Free-Masons, containing the history, charges, regulations, etc. of that Most Ancient and Right Worshipful Fraternity). The full title was of course a mouth full. 

Still to this day most of what was contained in Anderson’s 1723 and 1738 editions of the Constitutions is relevant and in use today. But enough of the history lesson, why is it so special today as it was in 1776?

Well, we all discuss the sacrifices of those that came before us and their fortitude and bravery. Unlike any other time in US history these men and Brothers, literally put their lives and fortunes on the line to create something beautiful and not seen before on this earth. Had they been captured by the British, well MWBro Frankin said it best; “We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately”.

The fact that the nation’s capital city, most notably, the capital building itself, had its cornerstone laid in Masonic Tradition and by WBro Washinton himself is a testament to the amount of influence that Freemasonry had at that time. 

Fast forward to current times and many would say our numbers are dwindling, etc. with much hand wringing. I would suggest that the contraction is normal and possibly beneficial. Not so beneficial to those who have to maintain multi-million-dollar properties I’d venture. But here we are in this time of division and polarization in almost all aspects of public life. I’d also suggest that now is the time that Freemasonry is needed in this country. We need to know how to agree to disagree with civility. Understand each other and become one nation under God, which was our promise.  Of course, there will always be some disagreement, but a compromise was always our strong suit as a people.

So this 4th of July attend your local parades or gatherings and wear your Masonic emblems, shirts, rings hats, or whatever. Have your elevator speech about Fremasnry ready and talk to people. Not necessarily with the goal of prospective members, but that they may know we are here and that we espouse those virtues we talk about a lot. Who can best work and best agree?

 

New feature added! Promoter!

Some may have noticed emails send to you from the Suffolk Masonic District Website in recent weeks. In addition, or as a companion to the new ticketing system, we have added a new software suite called Promoter. Promoter has a hook into the suffolkmasons.com events calendar and will setup and deploy event announcements, reminders, ticket sales and almost any kind of email about ongoing or upcoming events.

This service is provided by LIPMA. When creating an event, especially a ticketed event, you can request that a Promoter email campaign be setup for your event. The campaign consists of 4-6 emails sent on a schedule. the 1st will be either an event announcement or a ticket sales announcement. As ticket sales progress additional emails will be sent as event reminders and updates to your event. This feature help promote as the names suggests as well as drive ticket sales for your Lodge or group event. All you need to do is send an email to the [email protected] with the details of your event and that you are requesting a campaign be mounted for the event.

Some advice when it comes to promoting an event. Please post your event as soon as you can. the more time on the site to promote the better. Also make sure you add a flyer or some graphics to the event to make it eye catching to anyone looking. price your tickets, accordingly, always keeping the ticket fees and CC/Debit card fees that will be attached in mind.

We hope you will take advantage of this service and increase your event attendance and fundraising for your Lodge or concordant body.

If you would like to know what Promoter can do can click here -> Promoter | The Events Calendar

 

Brothers submit your posts

The Suffolk Masonic District Website has been updated so now Brothers can submit their own posts. We want user supplied content for the site and there is always something happening at Lodges and concordant bodies in an around the district that all should know about. Share your Masonic related stories and pictures.

  • Login or register for an account
  • Mouse over the Account menu
  • select User Submitted Posts

You will be taken to a page to submit your post.

  • Create a title for your post
  • select a category (right now there is only one)
  • Add tags (if you want)
  • type out your post
  • add media (images, etc.) to your post if you like
  • Add a featured image
  • Click submit

All post will be moderated by the webmasters before publication.

Posts will be included in the monthly newsletter if submitted by the 25th of the month for the next month’s newsletter.

The page is still in testing and not completed as we’re working on the look and feel, however it is operational so feel free.

Amityville Lodge No. 977 turns 100

Brothers,

It is always a special day when a Lodge hits a milestone like 100 years or more. Amityville Lodge No. 977 has made that milestone.

LIPMA Annual Meeting and District Investiture

Brothers,

The Annual LIPMA meeting and Suffolk District Investiture are right around the corner. The last 3 years have certainly been challenging and sometimes a bit frustrating. But we, through the hard work and dedication of many, persevered and in some ways even flourished.

As we wind up another Masonic season and the newly elected Masters of the Suffolk Masonic District gather to be invested with the secrets of the Chair, we look forward to what new leadership will bring to the table and build up the foundations of what has come before.

The investiture schedule and details can be found on the events page here -> LIPMA Annual Meeting/District Investiture – Suffolk Masonic District (suffolkmasons.com)

Dinner tickets are on sale now.

The Masters-elect attending will be guests of the LIPMA but should RSVP your attendance to the President of the LIPMA – V:.W:. William Arnold  – [email protected]

Please see the event page for further detail. All those not on the investing team arrival time is 3 PM Sharp (LIPMA opens their business meeting)

Members of the Investing team should arrive before 2 PM for the rehearsal.

Dinner will be 6:30 PM for all those with paid ticket.

All Masters -elect should also (either through their Lodge or individually) submit their application to join the LIPMA and their dues, this can be done here -> https://lipma.org/join-lipma/

You can pay online or print the app and mail or bring with you with a check for the dues.

Your application will be read and if accepted a lifetime membership.

2022 Suffolk District Golf Outing scheduled!

This is a very popular event and will fill up fast. Don’t wait get your ticket to golf now.

Click here to get your ticket (golfers and if you would like to just attend the dinner after the golf)

 Suffolk District Golf Outing 2022 – Suffolk Masonic District (suffolkmasons.com)

Don’t forget to ask your friends, family and local business to take out sponsorships and tee signs for the event!

 

2022 Master’s Chair Course

The GLSO has invited any Master Mason to attend this once-a-year course, normally only given to the Masters-elect of the Suffolk District. Please note no walk-ins will be allowed, you MUST RSVP with the GLSO to attend.

You can RSVP on the event page here -> The Masters Chair Course – Suffolk Masonic District (suffolkmasons.com)

Or by emailing the GLSO at [email protected]