Frank Reed Horton Memorial Lodge No. 379

History of Frank Reed Horton Memorial Lodge No 379, F. & A.M.
Under the jurisdiction of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines

• Its Roots: The Lafayette Square and Compass Club
• The Birth of Frank Reed Horton Memorial Lodge
• The Institution of Frank Reed Horton Memorial Lodge (U.D.)
• The Constitution of Frank Reed Horton Memorial Lodge No. 379
• Frank Reed Horton, The Gentleman Mason
• The Meaning of our Lodge Seal

Its Roots: The Lafayette Square and Compass Club

A substantial number of Alpha Phi Omegans have joined the Craft. Most have been elected and served as Worshipful Masters in their Lodges while some have worn the purple of the fraternity in the Districts and Grand Line. Most if not all Aphios were the "cream of their crop" and continuing in a Masonic journey is a ‘natural extension’ of the living out the Cardinal Principles of Leadership, Friendship and Service with the Masonic Principal Tenets of Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth.

It was announced that the time was ripe for the organization of Frank Reed Horton Memorial Lodge U.D. and salient issues were agreed upon concerning its relationship with the Lafayette Square & Compass Club, the composition of its Chartered Members, target institution date, Lodge Seal development and heraldic bearing.

A historic consultative luncheon meeting among Apo-Masons was held on October 16, 2002, Wednesday, at the Quezon City Sports Club along E. Rodriguez Avenue, Quezon City hosted by Brother Oscar V. Lazo, Jr. and participated in by:

The Brethren decided to initially adopt Lafayette Square and Compass Club for its name and those present as members of the Board of Directors. The following were chosen to serve as interim officers of the Club:

The new President created and appointed various Committees for the benefit of the Club. VW Edgardo Z. Paredes together with VW Alexander B Madamba and WB Antonio C. Zeta were tasked to draft the Club’s Constitution and to write its Preamble.

Several meetings followed at the LogCom Driving Range at Camp Aguinaldo, Max’s Restaurant at the Elliptical Circle, Treehouse Restaurant along Matalino Street, all in Quezon City; and finally on April 21, 2003, the Lafayette Square and Compass Club was registered at the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Board of directors composed the following as reflected in the SEC Certificate of Incorporation:

And its Chartered Members were:

The Birth of Frank Reed Horton Memorial Lodge

An eventful meeting was held on June 19, 2007 at the Tong Xin Restaurant at Banawe Street, Quezon City and called to order by VW Samuel A. Laus DDGM, President of Lafayette Square and Compass Club with the following Brethren present:

• Isaac F. Arribas, Jr. – Island Luz Minerva Lodge No. 5, F&AM
• Tomas Estanislao T. Balisi – High Twelve Lodge No. 82, F&AM
• Wilfredo E. Baltazar – Saigon Lodge No. 188, F&AM
• Jimmy U. de Castro – St. John’s-Corregidor Lodge No. 3, F&AM
• Romeo B. Chan – San Mariano Lodge No. 307, F&AM
• Alan T. dela Cruz – Norberto S. Amoranto Lodge No. 358, F&AM
• Rady dela Cruz – Integrity Lodge No. 997, F&AM – Grand Lodge of Illinois
• Edgardo S. Delmo – Saigon Lodge No. 188, F&AM
• Eric S. Delmo – Jacques deMolay Lodge No. F&AM
• Arif L. Diragun – Saigon Lodge No. 188, F&AM
• Danilo L. Dizon – Island Luz Minerva Lodge No. 5, F&AM
• Victor Antonio T. Espejo -Norberto S. Amoranto Lodge No. 358, F&AM
• Eliseo B. Fajardo – St. John’s-Corregidor Lodge No. 3, F&AM
• Elmer D. Garcia – St. John’s-Corregidor Lodge No. 3, F&AM
• Samuel A. Laus – Taga-Ilog Lodge No. 79, F&AM
• Fahad Al-Rashid S. Lucman – Saigon Lodge No. 188, F&AM
• Olo-Odin S. Lucman – Mabini-Kalaw Lodge No. 195, F&AM
• Castor L. Macaspac – St. John’s-Corregidor Lodge No. 3, F&AM
• Alexander B. Madamba – Cosmos Lodge No. 8, F&AM
• Domingo M. Mora – Molino Lodge No. 352, F&AM
• Leo Solomon – Integrity Lodge No. 997, F&AM – Grand Lodge of Illinois
• Sherwin D. Tuquero – Taga-Ilog Lodge No. 79, F&AM
• Antonio A. Tuason – Island Luz Minerva Lodge No. 5, F&AM
• Antonio C. Zeta St. John’s-Corregidor Lodge No. 3, F&AM

It was announced that the time was ripe for the organization of Frank Reed Horton Memorial Lodge U.D. and salient issues were agreed upon concerning its relationship with the Lafayette Square & Compass Club, the composition of its Chartered Members, target institution date, Lodge Seal development and its heraldic description.

In another meeting held at the Tong Xin Restaurant at Banawe Street, Quezon City on June 26, 2007 MW Jaime Y. Gonzales, Grand Master of Masons, endorsed and appointed VW Antonio A. Tuason, PDDGM, to become the Master of Frank Reed Horton Memorial Lodge U.D. The other Officers appointed were for the Lodge under Dispensation were VW Alexander B. Madamba, PDDGM as Senior Warden and WB Jimmy U. de Castro as Junior Warden.

More organizational meetings were held to resolve matters like Lodge officers, Lodge Seal and deadline for submission of supporting documents of each member. The concerted effort of the brethren produced a list of Charter Members from different Philippine Lodges and other Grand Jurisdictions together with documentation to complete the requirements in forming a New Lodge. The final Roster of Charter Members submitted with the petition to form the new Lodge includes the following Brethren from different Lodges:

A Petition letter was submitted to MW Jaime Yutuc Gonzales requesting a date for the Institution of Frank Reed Horton Memorial Lodge U.D. at the most convenient time. Attached to the letter were documents to comply with the requirements in organizing a new lodge in Quezon City, NCR.

The Institution of Frank Reed Horton Memorial Lodge (U.D.)

After complying with all the requirements to form a new lodge, its petition was approved and the lodge was formally instituted as Frank Reed Horton Memorial Lodge (U.D.) on December 9, 2007 by MW Jaime Y. Gonzalez, Grand Master of Masons at the Jose Abad Santos Hall of the Plaridel Masonic Temple

Lodge Officers of the Lodge under Dispensation were:

The following were conferred the three Degrees of Masonry during its term as a Lodge under Dispensation:

The following petitioners remained on the Trestle Board until the Dispensation was returned to the Grand Master on March 31, 2008:

The Constitution of Frank Reed Horton Memorial Lodge No. 379

The Lodge was granted its official name and number at the Annual Communication of 2008 at Balcolod City. It was constituted as Frank Reed Horton Memorial Lodge No. 379, F. & A. M by MW Pacifico B. Aniag, Jr., Grand Master of Masons on May 14, 2008 at the Jose Abad Santos Hall of the Plaridel Masonic Temple in Malate, Manila.

On the same day, the Lodge constituted its membership and the Chartered Members then present as appearing on the Tyler’s Book signified to continue their membership as Plural Members of the newly-constituted Lodge.

Election and appointment of the following Officers of the newly-constituted Lodge immediately commenced:

Installation Ceremonies of these Officers followed with VW Isaac F. Arribas, Jr. as Installing Officer, Bro. David M. De Rama as Master of Ceremonies and Victor Antonio T. Espejo as Assistant Master of Ceremonies.

The following composed the first Lodge Membership when it was constituted: Regular Members

Affiliate Member

Plural Members

Honorary Members

The Lodge By-laws was ratified and adopted by the Lodge in its First Stated Meeting of June 3, 2008 and submitted to Grand Lodge on June 4, 2008 for approval.

Frank Reed Horton

The Gentleman Mason

Quoted from Alpha Phi Omega, USA – Torch and Trefoil

Early Years Frank Reed Horton was born in Sewickley, Pennsylvania, (near Pittsburgh), on July 17, 1896. By the time Frank was 13 years old his family had moved to Easton, Pennsylvania. The year was 1910 and he was enrolled in preparatory school studies at Lerchs Academy, situated in downtown Easton, just a few blocks from Lafayette College. When the family moved to Norwalk, Connecticut, Frank continued his prep school studies at Worcester Academy in Worcester, Massachusetts. In the two years he attended Worcester Academy he played football, basketball and baseball. He also excelled in other school activities. He served as the Business Manager of the academy’s weekly paper, THE VIGORNIA, and excelled in debate. He became a member of Sigma Zeta Kappa Debating Society. On June 7, 1913, presenting his topic "The Man Without a Country" by Edward Everett Hale, Frank won the annual Dexter Award and a $25 prize. In May 1914, Frank was elected to serve as president of the debating society. In 1915 after leaving Worcester Academy Frank worked the next two years during the day as a law clerk for Robert A. Fosdick, Esquire, in Stamford, Connecticut; and at night he studied law extension courses from La Salle College in Chicago. In the fall of 1916, at the age of 20, he enrolled at Boston University Law School, where his freshman courses were criminal law, agency, torts, sales, contract and property.

One of the more significant events in his life at this time was his joining in Sigma Alpha Epsilon social fraternity on November 4, 1916. It would be a few years later when, as a war veteran returning to school, he would find himself on the Lafayette College campus and residing at the SAE house. That would be the place where he would begin Alpha Phi Omega.

As with many young people, Frank’s parents were major influences in his life. Frank was close to his mother mainly because his father traveled a lot in his professional life. But even so, his father continued to wield heavy influence on Frank’s law studies. Just as it would appear that Frank would continue his pursuit of law, the world war in Europe was felt in America. On April 6, 1917, the United States declared war against Germany. The War Army Act, a selective draft of 1,000,000 men ages 21 to 30, was passed by congress on May 18, 1917. Frank was 21. World War I would change Frank’s focus forever. Masonry and the War Years Although Horton’s Masonry and war related experiences are not really interrelated they were both significant events occurring at the same time period. On June 18, 1918, Frank entered the Blue Lodge, Scottish Rite Masonic order Western Star #37 A.F.&A.M. in Norfolk, Connecticut. Several years later he would expand his Masonic life while on naval duty in Kirkwall, Scotland.

On June 21, 1918, Frank R. Horton enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve Force at New London, Connecticut. He reported for training on July 22, 1918, in Newport, Rhode Island, as a Radio Electrician. He transferred October 5, 1918, to the naval unit at Boston University for additional studies. While there he achieved Chief Boatswain’s Mate rating on December 19, 1918. It should be noted that Germany signed the Armistice effectively ending the war on November 11, 1918, yet many tasks for the military, especially for the Navy, needed to be completed. With a commitment to the Navy for almost two more years Frank continued to improve himself, taking and passing competitive exams to become an officer. In 1919 he entered Naval Officers-Material Training School, at Harvard University, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Frank Reed Horton was commissioned an Ensign on April 17, 1919. He immediately reported to the First Naval District in Boston for active service on the USS Whippoorwill, a newly commissioned minesweeper. The first duty assignment for the ship was to the North Sea to participate in the detonation of 57,000 magnetic mines strung from Orkney Islands, just north of Scotland, and due east to Stavanger, Norway. Frank would serve as a Watch Officer, Navigation Officer, Signal Officer and Inspection Officer while on sea duty.

But it was Frank’s previous legal training that drew him away from his regular assignments and into special duties with the navy court martial system involving young seamen. More than a few, who, facing dangers and being away from home and lacking personal guidance, found themselves in trouble with navy rules and regulations. The matter of strengthening principles in young men would influence Frank forever. Here we see another significant event that would allow him to readily accept the principles of Scouting in his life as well as those of Rotary, Masonry and other organizations.

On August 8, 1919, at Kirkwall, Scotland, in the Orkney Islands, he entered the Royal Arch Chapter #209 of the York Rite. He would later receive Life Member Militia Templi Preceptory St. Magnus recognition on April 23, 1922, upon returning to the United States.

The USS Whippoorwill returned March 1920 to Charleston, South Carolina, with Frank obtaining his naval discharge June 23, 1920, in Philadelphia. He would earn the World War I Victory Medal and the Mine sweeper Clasp. From 1920 to 1922 after leaving the Navy Frank managed his father’s 11-acre hog and chicken stock farm, known as Stone acre, in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. While in Carlisle he joined Kiwanis and the Knights of Pythias. In the summer of 1922 Frank moved to Columbus, Ohio. This information was gleaned from Masonic records showing his change from Norwalk, Connecticut to affiliation in the East Gate Lodge #603 in Galena, a suburb of Columbus, Ohio. In the ensuing years he received the 32nd degree Prince of the Royal Secret (Scottish Rite) Masonic Order from the Ordo ab Chao Supreme Council 33rd Jurisdiction at Grand East, in Boston, Massachusetts. Masonic Orders were a continuing vital part of Frank Reed Horton’s life. Later Frank would resign from Valley of Scranton Masonic Lodge, March 8, 1926, to enter the Valley of Allentown Masonic Lodge on June 3, 1927, while still maintaining his ties to the Blue Lodge at East Gate #603 in Ohio. Lafayette College –
Scouting –
Alpha Phi Omega – In the fall of 1923 Frank enrolled at Lafayette College as a sophomore. That year his course of studies included History, English, Psychology, Ethics and Religion. He was 27 years old. In November of 1923 Frank attended the American Legion Armistice Ball held at the Easton armory, where he met another naval veteran, 10 years his senior, Herbert George Horton, who had, served as a lieutenant on a destroyer. In sharing military stories and discussing the events of the day Herb, then Easton Area Council Scout Executive, told Frank about Scouting and launched Frank on his first Scouting assignment as Deputy Scout Commissioner for South Side District and as interim Scoutmaster for a Scout Troop. Later Frank would state, "In the Scout Oath and Law, I found the standard I had been seeking, a standard of manhood that would stand the test of time, and it was worldwide for friendship, understanding and world peace."

The events of Frank Reed Horton’s life throughout this time period, his family life, religious faith, study of law, military experience, membership in Masonry and newly found ideals of Scouting allowed him to have the energy, conviction, dedication and vision to provide the leadership necessary for the next stage. Frank Reed Horton had the conviction, dedication and vision to lead a group of 14 fellow students who worked creatively and diligently to lay the foundation and structure the Fraternity — Alpha Phi Omega. Masonry in the Philippines – From the archives and records of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the Philippines, several communications were discovered and the following facts were unearthed:

• During his residency in the country, he Affiliated with Zapote Lodge No. 29, F. & A.M. but requested for a Demit in the early part of 1951;
• His request for a Demit was given due course in the early part of 1952 and finally formalized when MW Antonio Gonzalez, PGM, then Grand Secretary, communicated with Silvergate Lodge No. 296, F.&A.M.;
• He was eventually elected to membership by Affiliation at the Silver Gate Lodge No. 296, F. & A. M., San Diego, California, USA on April 4, 1952.

The Meaning of our Lodge Seal

The heraldic description of our Lodge Seal as provided for in our By-laws

ARTICLE II OF LODGE SEAL Section 1. It shall have a Seal – bearing such devices and inscriptions as by it may hereafter be determined – which shall be affixed to all instruments issued by or under its authority. Section 2. The seal of this Lodge shall be circular in outline and shall consist of a shield quartered: the first quarter (dexter chief) or, at the point of honor is the symbolic eight-rayed golden sun with each ray flanked on both sides by lesser and minor rays proper for the Sun depicted in our Philippine Flag; the second quarter (sinister chief) azure quartered with a cross or and—in the first quarter a circle of twelve jewels or for the twelve Scout Laws, in the second three lit torches proper for the Great Pillars of Masonry, in the third three fleur-de-lis or for the three Principal Tenets of Masonry, and in the fourth four five-pointed stars proper for the four Cardinal Virtues; the third quarter (dexter base) azure with an outline of Frank Reed Horton argent in whose memory the Lodge is named; and, the fourth quarter (sinister base) or with two of the Great Lights of Masonry or which indicate the universality of Freemasonry. Supporters: Dexter and Sinister, knights in armor proper for Silence and Circumspection guarding our demeanor as Freemasons. Crest: An All-seeing Eye sable with twelve effulgent rays or. Motto: On a ribbon azure, below the shield, the words ‘AUDI, VIDE, TACE’ or. The whole device surrounded by the words ‘Frank Reed Horton Memorial Lodge No. 379, F. & A. M.’ azure above, the number ‘2008’ azure below representing the year of the Lodge Constitution; two fleur-de-lis or dividing the name and the year; outside of which a border consisting of an endless cabletow or."