Fraternal Greetings
Welcome to the Grand Lodge of Japan Website!
Soon after our ANCOM 2023 in March, I have embarked along with the Grand Pillars and the Appointed Officers of the Grand Lodge into what appears to be a year of challenges and purpose. Part of that challenge is the transition of this Grand Lodge to a temporary location where we can continue our Masonic functions. Our dialogues and partnership with the Masonic Foundation of Japan has produced positive and tangible results as the acquisition for our temporary building for operation was affirmed. This first step of the transition brings promise to undisrupted operations for our Grand Lodge, a few lodges, and the Appendant Bodies who will be displaced by the proposed reconstruction of our Grand Temple. As this process continue to develop, the Grand Lodge is adamantly poised to persevere to work alongside our partners in the Craft towards our Masonic pursuit.
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This Grand Lodge Temple has been home to a few of our constituent Lodges. Our relocation to the temporary building poses hurdles that only we can overcome. There is considerable amount work ahead of us. We therefore need to be steadfast in our resolve, as we look for solutions and to set our eyes to the future of this Grand Lodge. Complacency has no room in this process. I continue to urge everyone to plan ahead and work with each other in the resolution of the hurdles foreseen. Our MFJ counterparts have executed a plan of action. We will follow this plan, we will execute. No one is to become dormant during and after the relocation. It becomes the responsibility and duty of those involved, to take part in the planned execution. The future product of a work of this magnitude will greatly enhance the Masonic activities in the years to come. Our efforts of today resembles those of our Brethren of the past on what they gave up and the sacrifices they made to build this Temple. In the same token, your actions become part of history and will be remembered. As expected, there will be some adjustments, some considerably major and some trivially minor. Whatever these adjustments are, we will continue to persevere. Allow not for these changes affect or ruin the long-established camaraderie and cohesiveness amongst us. The standing and respected tradition of your respective lodges attest to the great accomplishments each of you are bound to achieve when working together. During the Fall this year, we enter into that transition period which will affect everyone in this Jurisdiction. This period will last for a full three years! It is for us to accept and be ready for! For, as we all know, “Time, Patience and Perseverance will accomplish all things!”
The technological advancements of the last three decades allow us to freely and easily communicate with each other without bounds. To simplify things and to make tasks easier and faster to accomplish. I urge everyone to look forward to the changes this will bring into our Grand lodge. To embrace the comfort and the challenges it brings. But let us not forget, however, that the comfort of technology can also make us grow apart from each other. Let us cling to the changes that will happen this year and the years to come, but cohesive, we must remain. Let our rituals, masonic activities and fellowships bring us all closer together! Let us continue to participate and be part of the Lodge where we can commune as Brothers. The unit of our organization is the Lodge! Collaboration between lodges to facilitate conferrals and proficiencies enhances that commune of us Masons.
“With great powers, comes great responsibility!” I hereby reiterate that in our Grand Lodge, our goal is to always get better. The improvement you bring within yourself, in each one of you, will be a testament to the very core as you bring that to your respective lodges. The power that is within is driven by the responsibility each of you have towards each other, towards the Lodges and towards the Grand Lodge. As Masons, we are empowered by our obligation and our moral virtues. The responsibilities that come forth with the obligation and the virtues will continue to become greater. The great power and the great responsibilities that comes along are known only by those who practice these virtues and true to their Masonic obligation. Become that beacon that diffuses light in your lodge. Let that light shine bright inside and outside of the lodges. Combine that beacon with the beacon of others and bring a brighter light that continue to shine for all of us!
As Masons, we put ourselves on the level with those who are both above and below us. Our teachings inside the Lodge room allow us to contemplate and reflect the good virtues. This instills peace within each one of us and calmness and harmony in the Lodge. Each one should persevere not to create a ripple of conflict that disrupts the calmness and harmony we always work to achieve. If unabated, this ripple slowly become waves of animosity that disrupts the core of our being and destroys us. I urge every Mason in this Jurisdiction to avoid conflicts, but rather communicate and establish rapport and camaraderie with other Masons in this Jurisdiction. Visit other lodges and participate in their activities. Let us continue to be a family of Masons with our interaction and “rejoice in each other’s welfare and prosperity”. Be on the level and square with each and every one. Our Constitution and By-Laws dictate openness and fairness. Our Masonic obligation enjoins the virtues we should all abide, thus making us empowered and become stronger as one cohesive organization, a community of Masons.
This is the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Japan. In this Grand Lodge, “WE” are primarily Masons and not the Japanese, not the American, not the Filipino, not the Hispanic nor other nationality we were born under. We MUST be Masons First and then our other selves, Second. Our own individual cultural traditions, practices and beliefs, however solid their foundations might be, should be the fortifying ornament to enhance the beauty that is Freemasonry. This Grand Jurisdiction is composed of a very diverse group of individuals brought together by a common belief. Our Masonic values are aligned to those of our family and our community values, regardless of our national origin. It becomes an utmost importance, that we behave and live as the Masons we declared to be (while kneeling at the altar and reciting our obligation). When we do, it enables us to overlook our cultural differences and become one, in mind and spirit.
To practice our core Masonic values, our Obligations, apply the Working Tools, practice the Tenets, and keep the Charges closer to our daily lives, we will not only fulfill our duty to ourselves, our Lodge, our family, our country but will be in consonance with Trestle Board of The Great Architect of the Universe.
Your First Servant,
Joel A. Encarnacion,
Grand Master 2023
Grand Lodge of Japan
RELIEF
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ADDRESS/住所
1F Shiba Park Building B
2-4-1 Shibakoen, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0011
