Masonic Education 5- "Clandestine"

by: desertknightfm Rhojel

Definition

Sometimes we often hear the word Clandestine, but what is the meaning of this word? Clandestine is derived from the Latin word clandestinus that clande or clamde means-secret and stinus-within or "Secret Within."

In our definition of Clandestine, technically it is a lodge or a mason created without warrant from the Grand Master.

[“The (Anderson) Constitutions declare, Section 8, that where a number of Freemasons shall take upon themselves to form a Lodge without a Grand Master’s Warrant (Charter), the regular Lodges are not to countenance them nor own them are fair brethren, and duly formed.  In other words, Lodge formed without a Warrant from the Grand Master is “clandestine,” and so a “clandestine Masons” is one made in a Lodge without a Warrant.”]

The Lodge and the Chart

"A lodge is a certain number of Free and Accepted Mason, duly assembled, furnished with the Holy Bible, the Square and the Compasses, together with a Charter, or Dispensation, from some Grand Body of competent jurisdiction empowiring it to work."

" A chart empowers us to confer the three degrees of Masonry.... It is signed by the Grand Officers, with the seal of the Grand Lodge attached, and contains all the necessary instruction for retaining the same"

On Septermber 2006 the Independent Grand Lodge of the Philippine Island or IGLPI was founded by several masons from different lodges of the Grand Lodge of the Philippine or GLP in Cavite.

The Grand Lodge of the Philippine reacted to this matter and Grand Master Romeo A. Yu issued circular Edict 232, 232-A, 232-B...informing all its Lodges that all IGLPI members are considered Clandestine Masons. We are also instructed to disengaged to any discussion, meetings and fellowship prepared by the IGLPI lodges.

Members of the IGLPI were came from different GLP lodges.

Cavite Lodge No. 2

Bagong Buhay Lodge No. 17

Aguinald Lodge No. 31

Pintong Bato Lodge No. 51

Bagong Ilaw Lodge No. 97

Magdiwang Lodge No. 238

La Naval Lodge No. 269

St. Agustine Lodge No. 300

Mendez Nunez Lodge No. 316

and formed new lodges under the jurisdiction of the IGLPI

Cavite Lodge No. 2
Pilar Lodge No. 3
Bagong Buhay Lodge No. 4
Pres. Emilio Aguinaldo Mem. Lodge No. 5
Bagong Ilaw Lodge No. 6
La Naval Lodge No. 7
Mendez Nunez Lodge No. 8
Pintong Bato Lodge No. 9
Freedom Lodge No. 10
Amity Lodge No. 11
Barasoin Lodge No. 12 et al...

A lodge can be considered as "Clandestine" if there is no warrant from the Grand Master or Grand Body of competent jurisdiction empowiring it to work. Did all lodges under the jurisdiction of the IGLPI conformed to all the ancient usages and established customs of the Fraternity?

Official Stand of the Philippine Supreme Council of the Order Of DeMolay on this issues

 The official stand of the Supreme Council of the Order of DeMolay in the Philippines is that, regardless of the affiliation of the sponsoring body, DeMolay shall be independent of such issues of legitimacy and clandestine relations for as long as the DeMolay chapters and its Advisory Councils shall yield allegiance to the Supreme Council, which is prevalent up to this date.  Whatever the issue is in the GLP and the IGLPI, DeMolay Philippines shall be off-limits to it.

As stated by Past GM Sonny Leviste about this conflict, "All Chapter affected by this conflict are said to be in status quo."

Can IGLP apply for DeMolay Chapter?

In Brazil, Two Supreme Councils were accusing each other as clandestine but this two are recognized by the International Supreme Council stationed in Kansas USA.

Clandestine vs Brotherhood

" By the exercise of Brotherly Love we are taught to regard the whole human race as one family the high, the low, the rich, the poor- who being created by one Almighty Parent, and inhabitants of the same planet, ought to aid, support and protect each other. On this principle Masonry unites men of every country, sect and opinion, and consiliates true friendship among those who might otherwise have remained at a perpetual distance."


Technically, clandestine masons are not recognized by conventional masons.  I would like to use the word 'technically' because there are certain rules that conventional masons have to follow and these are all made clear during the conferral of the degrees of Masonry. 

But if you are to ask outside of this 'technicality', there are conventional or regular Masons who rub shoulders or hobnob with the 'clandestines' for examples in social media like tweeter and facebook.  These defiant believe that in practicing the true tenets of Freemasonry, there is really no such thing as 'clandestine' Masons.

With regard to the clandestines being independent, they are only independent of the mainstream grand body, but they definitely are governed by a grand body of their own.