WHY SHOULD YOU BUILD A LODGE BUILDING WHEN YOU SHOULD NOT
By VW Avelino M. Sumagui, DDGM R4A1

It is generally easy to form a lodge. A company of brothers may just suddenly come to an agreement and secure a charter. But the hidden problem in forming a lodge is the fact that a building has to be erected to dispense the charter.

In our masonic district, the problem created by the formation of the IGLPI has rendered most of our lodges without a building. Forcing them to congregate in makeshift lodges, thus adding to the number of lodges who were newly formed and are still struggling to build their own temples.

Honor and prestige they say are the goals attained in building a lodge. Behind that it is pure ego when the purpose of its erection is not well thought of. Attaining the building means hundreds, if not thousands of solicitation letters to float and beg for money. Some lodges even lost money due to improper and dishonest accounting.

Acquiring a decent lot of 500 square meters means years of begging. Erecting the building on the lot is another gargantuan issue to tackle. That means inventing golf tournaments, raffles, shootfests, bingo socials and even poker games.

Some Suggestions:

Those who are trying to build their lodges may take this into consideration by answering some basic questions:
1. Where do we want to finally build our building?
2. Is there a building of another lodge within the near (variable) radius where we want to build it?
a. If there is, what is the quality of that building?
b. What is the cost of its construction?
c. What other lodges are using that building?
3. Are we stubborn not to take this suggestion into consideration?

As an example, there are 36 lodges having their stated meeting at Plaridel masonic Temple and there are 19 lodges at Capitol Masonic Temple. Ask yourself, why are they not building their own lodges? Why is it that some of those lodges have a general fund of more than P18M and yet they are not building their own temples? It is because they are using their head over their heart.

The main thing here is to let go of one’s EGO and try to find out the best application of resources.

Tagaytay Lodge 165’s building which was finished in 2011 was attained after 47 years. Imagine how many brothers have died before the lodge was finally built. This lodge is the venue of stated meetings of Lodge 316 of R4A2, Lodge 165 of course and now, Lodge 346 of Dasma. However, Lodge 316 is currently building their own lodge temple and Lodge 346, has no intention of finally using Lodge 165 temple.

Lodges conduct their stated meetings once a month. That means that Lodge 165 has free 29 days to spare to be used by other lodges PER MONTH! Considering the location, the quality of the building, the ample parking space, this is one of the lodges that can be tapped by a lodge to hold their stated meetings. It is just a matter of scheduling dates and time for degree work and other masonic events.

Financing side, try to compute the rentals for the year, if you should be renting. You will find out that it is feasible to rent rather than to build a temple that will cost not less than P6M not including the cost of the land.

Taking it even further, how much money has the lodge? You can then enter into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the host lodge temple to take your money and make your lodge part owner of the land and building! If your money does not suffice, then the MOA can state your installment period and terms of payment of the balance.

Pilar Lodge 15 is currently fixated in erecting their own temple. Maybe some lodges near it, ie., PB51, Molino 352 etc, can inquire if it is possible for Pilar 15 to apply this proposal so that , the proposing lodge can then tender their saved money to start the erection of the temple whereby they can also hold their meetings.

More data to follow. In the meantime, just some ideas to ponder.