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IN HONOR OF HERMANO AMBROSIO FLORES
Father of Bathala Lodge | First Worshipful Master | 1892
We honor the memory and legacy of Hermano Ambrosio Flores, the founding father and first Worshipful Master of Bathala Lodge, established in 1892.
Beyond founding our Lodge, Hermano Flores played a vital role in organizing Filipino Freemasonry, serving as the first Grand Master of the Gran Consejo Regional de Filipinas in 1893. His dedication helped strengthen the bonds among Filipino hermanos during a defining period in our nation's history.
His legacy reminds us that a Lodge is built not only upon its foundations, but upon the principles, service, and brotherhood carried forward by every generation.
May we continue to preserve his memory, honor his contributions, and uphold the traditions entrusted to us.
We remember. We honor. We carry the legacy forward.
The History of Bathala Lodge No. 1
The History of Bathala Lodge No. 1
Bathala Lodge holds a place in the history of Philippine Freemasonry that deserves to be documented and preserved for future generations.
Historical accounts identify Bathala Lodge No. 157 as having been established in Manila in 1892, with Ambrosio Flores recognized as its founding figure. Over the years, the Lodge's history became connected with the wider development of Freemasonry in the Philippines and the evolution of the Sovereign Grand Lodge of the Philippine Archipelago.
This archive brings together documented milestones, historical records, photographs, and the stories of the brethren who helped shape Bathala. It is a continuing effort to distinguish established facts from unresolved questions and to preserve the sources on which our understanding of the Lodge's history depends.
The story presented here will continue to grow as additional documents are discovered, examined, and contributed by the brethren.
Date Historical milestone
1892 Bathala Lodge No. 157 is documented as having been founded in Manila, with Ambrosio Flores identified as its founding figure.
1893 Bathala participated in discussions among Philippine lodges concerning the organization of a regional Masonic governing body.
1919 Historical records describe the reorganization of Bathala Lodge No. 157 under the Grande Oriente Español.
June 1920 An archival photograph is catalogued as showing Bathala Lodge No. 157 in Manila.
June 30, 1927 A document identifies Bathala as Lodge No. 1. This is an important milestone to document with the original record.
The earliest document unearthed so far bearing the designation Bathala Lodge No. 1, dated June 30, 1927.
The earliest document unearthed so far bearing the designation Bathala Lodge No. 1, dated June 30, 1927.
These documents establish a useful sequence: Bathala Lodge No. 1 was using that designation by June 1927, and the designation continued to appear in records dated 1930 and 1931. The broader historical context of the Grand Lodge's development during the 1920s is also discussed by the Philippine Center for Masonic Studies.
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