The Grand Lodge Museum recently received a package from Brother Tim Baird, the son of Worshipful Brother James Baird, who was already a Freemason when he served in the Pacific Theater during WWII. The package contained a number of items pertaining to Square & Compass (Masonic) clubs that were started in the Pacific Theater at Guadalcanal, Batangas, Philippines, and Tulagi, British Solomon Islands.
The artifacts include a brief history of each club, complete membership rosters and assorted photographs.
Several of the photographs document the members of Batangas Square and Compass club working with Philippine Freemasons to rebuild the lodge hall of Batangas Lodge No. 35, which had been put to the torch by the Japanese army during their occupation.
As the World War II generation slowly disappears and families begin the process of going through their belongings, more such Masonic artifacts may be uncovered. The Grand Lodge Museum is the perfect repository for these artifacts.
