The National tribune., 1901-04-25
MILITARY MASONIC LODGE.
Col. Truemann's Report of ConferrIng q De.
gree Under Fire.

| gree unuer rue.
Col. VIM. O. Truemann, Master of the
North Dakota Military Lodge, working un
der dispensation in the Philippine Islands
! during the war, has presented a very in
teresting report to the Grand Lodge OF
North Dakota. On Aug. 81, 1898, Col
| Truemann called to order the first meet
ing at regimental headquarters. A com
mittee on constitution and bylaws was
appointed, also one to secure suitable
| lOdge-rOom. The latter was difficult
problem, as suitable hall was not to be
had in Manila. A residence, however, was
found within a few blocks of headquar-
\ ters, which, after removing several parti-
tons, answered the purpose. The neccs-
sary furniture was bought or ordered
| made by Filipinos, and No. 90, Gallo
Nueva Malate, became the cradle of Amer
lean Masonry in the Philippines. Meet
| ings were held every Wednesday and Sun
| day evenings, and were always largely at
| tended. Col. Truemann says in his report:
Il never have had, nor can J. ever again
expect to have, the pleasure of presiding
over such enthusiastic Masonic meetings
| as those held in Manila. Nearly every or
ganization in the Eighth Corps was rep
resented, aud men from the navy were in
frequent attendance.
Our visitors register is a Masonic
relic, and contains the names of brethren
from all parts of our own country, from
Australia, Hongkong. Yokohama and other
Oriental Lodges. Englishmen, Germans,
Swiss and Spaniards. all found fraternal
welcome at our lodge-room.
Chaplain Pierce, of the 14th L. s. Inf,
was a regular attendant. He urged the
establishment of Protestant cemetery at
Manila, most worthy object, and the
lodge contributed 500 in gold toward a
fund to purchase the necessary tract of
land.
we obtained much valuable and au-
thentic information regarding Spanish Ma
sonry and the Eatapunan Society in the
Philippines from Spanish brother who
addressed the lod e on this subject at one
Of its meetings. Brother Juan Utro Fer
nandez is an enthusiastic Mason, and ex-
hibited his credentials, from which it APP
pears that at the meeting of the Grand
Council of Scottish Rite Masons held in
Cleveland, o., in 1894, he was made the
representative of that body for Spain, a
distinction of which he is very proud.
From him we learned that Masonic
Lodge fiOurished in Manila for number
of years, but the antagonism of the Church
was too great, men known to be members
met with all manner Of persecution. Ban
ishment to other islands WIS II common
penalty, families were scattered to all
parts of the Spanish possessions, the
father isolated in the interior or to some
far-of island.
"A brother in Manila handed me Span
ish document, being a decree from the
Archbishop of Manila. addressed to the
Governors of several of the provinces. con-
tanning the names of men suspected of be-
4
pretended. AppendCl to the document are
the reports of the several Governors and
other officials. / was requested to sub
NIT the document to the Grand Lodge Of
our State, that it might be translated. The
lodge in Manila continued to meet in Sc
cret for some time after the persecution
began, but its adyersaries were powerful
and numerous and it was finally obliged
to succumb.
MANY prominent F'iiipinos of the ed
ucated class had become members of the
Order, and after the turbulent times be-
gan in the islands revolutionary societies
were organized, and many of them became
leaders of the people in their revolt against
Spanish rule. 1t is said that hguinaldO
and number Of his prominent officers and
advisers were members of the Spanish
lodge in Manila. Katapunan societies were
organized among the natives, making use
of many of our emblems and other means
of recognition. The object of the society
was to limit the aut )cratic power of the
Church, and as Church and state were
practically one, they We're looked upon as
revolutionary in character, and its men,
bers the vilest of criminals. Many of the
natives. learning of the organization OF
our lodge in Manila. approached our breth-
ren with grips and signs, claiming to be Of
the craft. l cautioned the brethren to
avoid indiscIetion; for it was found on
careful inquiry that these natives were
members of the Katapunan societies.
"On one occasion a brother from the
California regiment came to headquarters
with man whom he introduced as a
brother and who was very anxious to visit
the lodge. | took the man inside and eX-
amined him, finding him in possession of
many of our secrets. He was a well-in-
formed member of. the Katapunan society
and cherished what little Masonic light
he had obtained.
''There is a great field open for Masonry
in the Philippines. and | hope that u per-
manent lodge may soon be established in
Manila. Our lodge was overwhelmed with
petitions for degrees, and after having re-
ceiged 100 applications it became neces-
sary to refuse others, not knowing how
long we would remain in the islands. We
had work at nearly every meeting. but |
regret exceedingly that we were prevented
from comforting the NJ. NJ. degree. We
were preparing to confer our third degree
when the insurrection broke out. on the
evening of Feb 4, 1899, after which the
was constantly in the field, tax
ing part in three famous expeditions of |
Gen. Lawton into the interior of Luzon. |
Zone meeting, held in February, will |
long remain in the memory of those who |
were present A request had been re- |
ceiyed from Crescent Lodge, No. IL, at |
Grafton, \. d., to confer the degrees on |
w. A. Mickle, then Q. NJ. Sergeant of the
regiment. We were stationed on the south |
line. in Gen. Overshne's Brigade, with !
regimental headquarters at Gull Gull |
Church. The meeting was called for the |
evening of Feb. % at regimental head |
quarters. |
Late that afternoon orders came from |
Gen Overshne to take extra precautions, |
as an attack by the insurgents was eX- |
pected along our front that night in an |
attempt made to break through our lines. |
The lodge was opened at p. m, the Of |
ficers wearing their Nside-arms. prepared |
for any emergency, as suspicious move
ments along the insurgent lines in our |
front were reported by the outpOsts about /
sundOwn. The work was under way, and |
was in the midst Of the obligation, when /
n crashing vOlley came from the |
lines, several of the bullets went |
through the roof of the church, which
stood n short distance back of our trenches
stopped short, and we could plainly hear
the bullets as they whistled past. The |
firing was brisk for n few minutes, when
it became more scattering, and soon died
)ut altogether. We finished up the work
IN short order, expecting general attack
at almost any moment. The incident will