SECRET SOCIETIES.
Masonic Lodges--Execution or exile of Masons in 1872--The
"Associacion Hispano Filipina"--The "Liga Filipina"--The
Katipunan--Its programme.
Fray Eduardo Navarro, Procurator of the Augustinians, and Ysabelo de
los Reyes, an Ilocano, and author of some notable works, agree that
the first masonic lodge of the Philippines was founded in Cavite
about 1860. The latter states that Malcampo and Mendez-Nunez,
two distinguished naval officers, were the founders. Soon after
this, another lodge was founded in Zamboanga, also under naval
auspices. After 1868, a lodge was founded in Manila by foreigners,
a wealthy Filipino being secretary. Another lodge was founded in
Pandakan, another in Cebu, and still another in Cavite, to which
Crisanto Reyes and Maximo Inocencio belonged.
These lodges at first had only Peninsular Spaniards or other Europeans
as members, but gradually Creoles, Mestizos, and natives, joined the
brotherhood, and subscribed liberally to its funds.
The Catholic clergy have always looked upon Masons as most dangerous
enemies, and many pontiffs have launched their anathemas against the
brotherhood. But, so far as one can see, to quote from 'The Jackdaw
of Rheims,' "No one seemed a penny the worse."
Masonry grows and flourishes in spite of them all. To give an
example. Many years ago, in the very Catholic city of Lima, I attended
the civil funeral of a priest, the learned Doctor Don Francisco de
Paula Gonzales Vigil, who died excommunicate. Twelve thousand men,
including the Masons with their insignia, deputations from the Senate
and Chamber, from the Municipality, Army, Navy, and other bodies,
formed the funeral cortege. The Municipality presented a tomb in the
public cemetery, which is one of the finest in the world, and an orator
pronounced an impassioned eulogy upon the virtues and patriotism of the
deceased. It was a wonderful manifestation, and remains graven upon my
memory. On that day every priest and friar found something to occupy
himself with at home. Whatever may be the case in Great Britain or in
the United States, there can be no doubt that in Catholic countries
the lodges are antagonistic to the clergy and the Church.
The lodges in the Philippines were founded by anti-clerical Spaniards
of liberal views, and the Creoles, Mestizos and natives who joined
them found brethren disposed to sympathise with them and to work with
them against the friars. There was no idea of revolting against the
mother country, but rather to introduce a more liberal government,
with representation for the civilised provinces in the Spanish
Cortes. It must be remembered that this representation had already
existed, and only required to be revived. There had been deputies
to the Cortes-Generales from 1810 to 1814, and from 1820 to 1823,
and Procuradores from 1834 to 1837.
The Cortes of Cadiz, on 14th October, 1810, declared:--
"The kingdoms and provinces of America and Asia are, and ought to
have been always, reputed an integral part of the Spanish monarchy,
and for that same, their natives and free inhabitants are equal
in rights and privileges to those of the peninsula."
These are very noble words, and, delivered in the majestic language
of Castile by some enthusiastic orator, must have gone straight to
the hearts of those that heard them.
Spain is as celebrated for orators as Great Britain for the lack of
them. Our generation has never produced a speaker like Castelar. But,
unfortunately for the Philippines, these grand and sonorous phrases
dissolved in air, and led to nothing practical. The friars stoutly
opposed what to them seemed dangerous innovations; they were
successful, and darkness again prevailed.
The insurrection of Cavite, in 1872, resulted in the execution or
exile of many members of the masonic body, and the brotherhood was
for some years under a cloud.
The Peninsular Spaniards dissociated themselves from the revolutionary
party. To use a simile which has been employed in England to describe
the difference between Liberals and Radicals, they were "going by
the same train, but not going so far."
The Creoles and Mestizos gradually founded new societies, which were
alleged to aim at obtaining reforms by legal and constitutional means.
"The Asociacion Hispano-Filipina" had for its first president Doroteo
Cortes, and amongst its officers Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista, Pedro
Serrano, and Deodato Arellano.
The "Liga Filipina" was founded by Dr. Rizal and Domingo Franco;
its first president was shot. Nearly all the members were Masons;
they were well off, and of fair education, not inclined to put their
persons or property in danger. They did not want to fight. Their
programme may be summed up as follows:--
1. Expulsion of the friars, and confiscation of their estates.
2. The same political, administrative and economical concessions
as had been granted to Cuba. Freedom of the press, and freedom
of association.
3. Equalisation of the Philippine and Peninsular armies, and a
just division of Civil Service posts between natives and
Spaniards.
4. Return to owners of lands usurped by the friars, and sale of
such lands as really belonged to the Orders.
5. Prevention of insults to the Philippine natives, either in
sermons or in the press.
6. Economy in expenditure. Reduction of imposts. Construction of
railways and public works.
It was certainly not without risk to be a member of one of these
societies, for the Orders are vindictive in the extreme, and are not
troubled with scruples when it is a question of punishing an opponent.
Still, the Creole and Mestizo element were made cautious by
the possession of property, and its members cannot be called
fighting-men. They did not intend to run the risk of having holes
bored through them.
They founded newspapers in Spain; they wrote violent articles,
they made speeches, they obtained the support of some Liberals and
anti-clericals in the Peninsula, and numbered many adherents in the
islands. Still, they were comparatively harmless. Not so, however,
was a society which was formed of very different elements. Taking a
hint, perhaps, from the murderous brotherhood of the Ku-Klux-Klan,
some resolute and courageous Tagals imagined and formed that terrible
secret society, the Katipunan. There is no K in the Spanish alphabet,
but this letter is found in the Malay dialects, and consequently
in Tagal. Therefore, the symbol of the society, K.K.K., was as
distinctly anti-Spanish as was the full title, which was represented
by the initials--
N M A N B
The words corresponding to these initials were:--
Kataas-taasan Kagalang-galang Katipunan
or Sovereign Worshipful Association
Nang Manga Anac Nang Bayan
of the (plural) sons of the Country.
They used signs and passwords. There were three grades of members:--
1st grade Katipun word Anak nang bayan.
2nd grade Kanal word Gom-bur-za. [8]
3rd grade Bayani.
Andres Bonifacio, a warehouse-keeper in the service of Messrs. Fressel
& Co., of Manila, was the guiding spirit of this society, and at
the meeting of 1st January, 1896, the Supreme Council was elected
as follows:--
President Andres Bonifacio.
Fiscal and Doctor Emilio Jacinto o Dison, alias Ping Kian.
Treasurer Vicente Molina.
Councillors Pantaleon Torres.
Hermengildo Reyes.
Francisco Carreon.
Jose Trinidad.
Balbino Florentine
Aguedo del Rosario.
K
K K
Z LL B
The members of the Katipunan were poor people--writers, common
soldiers, washermen, mechanics, and tenants on the friars'
estates. They subscribed small sums monthly for the purchase of arms,
and for other expenses. Bearing in mind how many conspiracies had been
denounced to the priests by the women, the leaders of this movement
gave their meetings the outward appearance of benevolent associations,
and directed the members to represent the society to their wives in
that light.
Later on a woman's lodge, with twenty-five members was organised,
under the presidency of Marina Dison, but the women were not informed
of the true object of the society.
Fray Eduardo Navarro, Procurator of the Augustinians, in a
cleverly-written work, entitled 'The Philippines; a Study of Certain
Matters of Moment,' published in 1897, prints under No. 3 of the
Appendix the title granted by the Walana Lodge, No. 158, certifying
that "our dear sister, Purificacion Leyva, has been initiated in the
degree of Companion-Mason at the session of 8th April, 1894."
On reading this work, I infer that the friars considered the Katipunan
a Masonic body, but this is a mistake. The Katipunan adopted some
of the Masonic paraphernalia, and some of the initiatory ceremonies,
but were in no sense Masonic lodges.
The programme of the Katipunan was, in its own words, "to redeem the
Philippines from its tyrants, the friars, and to found a communistic
republic." This was simple and direct, and they meant it.
How many men were affiliated to this society cannot be known. Estimates
range from 10,000 to 50,000 members. I think there can be no doubt
that it was the most potent factor in the insurrection of 1896, and
that its members, unlike the Creoles and Mestizos, were ready to give
their lives for their cause.