
25 Years Anniversary of Jose Abad Santos Chapter
Twenty-five years ago, the Jose Abad Santos Chapter, Order of DeMolay, was conceived on the foundation of love, with the goal of molding the minds and character of young men in the proper direction throughout the turbulent years of their teens, and with the desire end of universal fellowship. These were the words that have gave the initiative to Dad Andrew D. Gruber, the father and moving spirit that brought about the birth of the DeMolay movement in the Philippines. He endorses the idea of instituting a DeMolay chapter in the Philippines to Dad Michael Goldenberg, then the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines, who in turn made representations with the local sponsoring body and the international Supreme Council of the Order of DeMolay in Kansas City. Dad Goldenberg also assigned Dad Gruber, the Senior Grand Warden and Master of Mt. Lebanon Lodge to make the necessary preparation for the institution of the chapter. On March 11, 1946, a reply was received granting the Rizal Consistory, Master of the Royal Secret to organize, supervise, and support the Jose Abad Santos Chapter, Order of DeMolay under Letters Temporary.
On March 23, 1946, the chapter was finally instituted with twenty-five chartered members named “Capt. Andrew D. Gruber Class.’ They were conferred the initiatory and DeMolay degrees by the select-group of Dad masons. Director of the degree works was Dad Gruber, a Senior member and Past Master Councilor of Fidelity Chapter, Order of DeMolay in Lima Ohio in 1928.
The installation of the first set of officers was held on the same day at the temporary Grand Lodge building owned by Floro’s located at corner Gonao and Arlegui Sts. In Quiapo, Manila. Installed as first Master Councilor was Brother Jesus S. Vergara now the Asia Ind. Inc. Machineries’ President. The first set of Chairman of the Advisory council was installed with Dad. Hermogenes F. Oliveros as Chairman with Dad Pedro R. Francisco, Mariano Gonzales, Eugenio Padua, Samuel C. Plagata, Macario M. Ofilada, Sesenio Rivera, Vicente Co Chien, Charles Rose Brook, and Florencio Ilagan as members.
On March 7, 1947, the letter of Patent of Perpetual Constitution was finally granted by the International Supreme Council to the Jose Abas Santos Chapter, and this made the rest of the year fruitful, colorful, and more challenging to the members.
The Grand Officers was transferred from its temporary building in Ganao St. in January 1947 to its present site at Plaridel Masonic Temple, so with the chapter. It was here where the activities of the chapter were intensified. Membership rose to an encouraging number that soon the members saw themselves instituting other chapters. They also engage themselves in laudable civic projects, sports activities, social, and fund-raising drives. These activities attracted the attention of the other Masonic Bodies to put their own DeMolay Chapters. Degree teams were formed to meet the demand of the increasing number of chapters being and proficiency in the ritualistic works was more emphasized. Chapters instituted during the next five years were: Jose Rizal Chapter in Paranaque, Rizal; Loyalty Chapter (1949) in Manila; Isauro Gabaldon Chapter (1949) in Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija; Ernie Pyle Chapter (1950) in Okinawa; a chapter in Malolos, Bulacan, and another in Japan. With these chapters, the Jurisdiction of the Philippines, Guam, and Okinawa which then included Japan was formed by the International Supreme Council and elected Dad Michael Goldenberg as the first Executive Officer of the Jurisdiction of the Philippines, Guam, and Okinawa in Japan, and at the same time appointed him as the Deputy of the International Supreme Council where in the later years he was elected Active Member of the International Supreme Council.
The Chapters in early and mid-fifty’s was not as active as in the later forties. No chapters were instituted. Membership depleted due to the large turn over of the Senior Members. Few members were initiated into the fold and made it sometimes impossible to constitute a quorum during stated meetings of the Chapter. Although the chapter was in such a sad predicament the remaining members were full of hope and even more united to survive the crisis. As usual, there were full various activities the chapters engaged in that made the chapters inset for the rest of the years. It was also during these dark years that the sponsoring bodies involvement in the affairs of the chapters simmered down that sponsorship was transferred to the Philippines Bodies, Ancient and Accepted, Scottish Rite of Freemasonry.
Dad Goldenberg also assigned Dad Gruber, the Senior Grand Warden and Master of Mt. Lebanon Lodge to make the necessary preparation for the institution of the chapter. On March 11, 1946, a reply was received granting the Rizal Consistory, Master of the Royal Secret to organize, supervise, and support the Jose Abad Santos Chapter, Order of DeMolay under Letters Temporary.
They were conferred the Initiatory and DeMolay degrees by the select-group of Dad masons. Director of the degree works was Dad Gruber, a Senior member and Past Master Councilor of Fidelity Chapter, Order of DeMolay in Lima Ohio in 1928.
On March 7, 1947, the Letter of Patent of Perpetual Constitution was finally granted by the International Supreme Council to the Jose Abas Santos Chapter, and this made the rest of the year fruitful, colorful, and more challenging to the members.