Today in the Past

Today, November 15, 1890, Dr. Jose Rizal becomes a member of the Lodge Solidaridad.

The Filipino exiles of 1872 and many patriotic students abroad met in Hong Kong, Singapore, Barcelona, Madrid, Paris, London, and other foreign cities.

Inspired by a common cause, they banded together and consecrated themselves to the work of promoting the welfare and happiness of their fatherland.

Aggressively but peacefully, by means of their writings and speeches, they crusaded for reforms to rectify the evils of the Spanish colonial system.

This peaceful campaign for reforms was known in Philippine history as the "Propaganda Movement."

It began in 1872, when Gomez, Burgos, and Zamora were executed at the Luneta and ended in 1892, when Rizal was exiled to Dapitan.

Masonry played a significant role in the Propaganda Movement.

Many Filipino patriots turned Masons, including Marcelo H. del Pilar, G. Lopez Jaena, Rizal, Ponce, and others, because they needed the help of the Masons in Spain and in other foreign countries in their fight for reforms.

The first Filipino Masonic lodge called Revolution was founded by Lopez Jaena in Barcelona and was recognized on April, 1889 by the Grande Oriental Espanol headed by Don Miguel Morayta.

Unfortunately, this first Filipino Masonic lodge did not last long. It died out after Lopez Jaena resigned as Worshipful Master on November 29, 1889.

The following months, M.H. del Pilar, with the help of Julio Leorente, organized Lodge Solidaridad in Madrid.

It was recognized in May 1890 by the Grande Oriental Espanol. Its first Worshipful Master was Llorente.

In due time Lodge Solidaridad prospered so that other Filipinos joined it, including Dr. Rizal, Pedro Serrano, Baldomero Roxas, Galicano Apacible, etc.