Influenced by Miguel Morayta, a history professor at the Universidad de Madrid, Rizal joined Masonry, under the Gran Oriente de Español, adopting the Masonic name, Dimasalang. He was automatically excommunicated, expelled from the Catholic Church, a fate decreed for all Catholics becoming Masons since 1738 and reaffirmed by the CBCP in 1990. Rizal had plenty of illustrious company including Andres Bonifacio, Apolinario Mabini, Ladislao Diwa, Marcelo H. del Pilar, Juan Luna, Deodato Arellano, Graciano Lopez-Jaena, Trinidad Pardo de Tavera, and so many others in the Propaganda Movement and La Liga Filipina. (source: http://glphils. org/famous- masons/frizal. htm)

Only a few days after his arrival, Governor General Terrero receives him at the Malacañang Palace and tells him of the charges saying that the Noli was full of subversive ideas. After a discussion, the liberal Governor General appears to be appeased; but he is unable to offer resistance against the pressure of the church to take action against the book. The persecution can be discerned from Rizal's letter to Blumentritt: "My book made a lot of noise; everywhere, I am asked about it. They wanted to anthemize me (to excommunicate me) because of it . . . I am considered a German spy, an agent of Bismarck, they say I am a Protestant, a free mason, a sorcerer, a damned soul. It is whispered that I want to draw plans, that I have a foreign passport and that I wander through the streets by night …" Soon the friars' hunt is in full swing. They have ample ammunition against Rizal because he is not only persecuted on account of the Noli, but he is also accused by the Dominicans of being a heretic and an agitator for his intercession in favor of the tenant farmers in his hometown, Calamba. Rizal succeeds in putting up a fight for half a year, then the Governor General gives him the friendly advice of leaving the country because he can no longer keep his protective hand over Rizal or his family. (source: www.univie.ac. at)