DGL Aug 2002

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ADDRESS OF R.W.D.G.M. AT THE HALF-YEARLY MEETING OF THE D.G.L. ON 10TH AUGUST 2002 AT COONOOR

ADDRESS OF RWDGM AT THE HALF YEARLY MEETING OF THE DGL AT COONOOR 10TH AUGUST 2002 Brethren, It is once again that time of the year when I have the pleasure of welcoming you to a half-yearly meeting of the District Grand Lodge of Madras. The salubrious environs of this verdant town of Coonoor nestling in the Nilgiri Hills and the traditional hospitality of its residents are not new to Freemasonry itself, much less so to us, their Brethren. To the W.M. Wardens & Brethren of our Host Lodge, Anchor of Hope and to Wor. Bro. George Jayaprakash as the Chairman of their Hospitality Committee our grateful thanks for the excellent arrangements made for this meeting and for the hard work they have all put in to make our stay here comfortable. The Lodge has been an Anchor of Hope justified, and indeed of Hospitality. GRAND LODGE : Traditionally, the DGM's address, dwells, in the first instance, on affairs of the Grand Lodge of England that is of specific interest to us here, in the District. Since our last meeting in Chennai in February 2002, two meetings of Grand Lodge have been held, the Quarterly Communication on 13 March 2002 and the Annual Investiture Meeting on 24 April 2002. At the Quarterly Communication on 13 March 2002, M.W. Bro. His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent was re-elected as MW Grand Master for the ensuing year. W.Bro. Peter Taylor in proposing the re-election has stated that "MW Bro HRH The Duke of Kent has served as MW Grand Master for almost 35 years and we owe him a debt of gratitude for his inspired leadership and unfailing dependability". In equally glowing terms, W. Bro. Peter Cheney, in seconding the proposal, has said that MW Grand Master "has continually sought to raise the profile of Freemasonry in the public eye". The minutes record that the Motion was accepted with loud acclaim and we, for our part, are greatly encouraged by the fact that he continues to provide us with inspiring leadership. At the same meeting, Wor. Bro. R.A.H. Morrow, who had taken over from R.W. Bro. J.W. Daniel as Grand Secretary in March 2002, was invested as Grand Secretary, as by custom, the investiture of the Grand Secretary has always taken place as an item of business at the meeting of the Grand Lodge immediately following his appointment. Wor. Bro. Morrow was invested as Grand Secretary by M.W. the Pro Grand Master, M.W. Bro the Most Hon. The Marquess of Northampton amidst loud applause.

The Board of General Purposes, in its report presented to Grand Lodge at this Quarterly Communication, has recommended, that the annual dues (exclusive of VAT) payable to Grand Lodge in respect of each member of every Lodge for the year 2003 shall be £2.77 Sterling 'in a District' and fees (exclusive of VAT) payable for registration in respect of a Mason shall be £23.75 Sterling inclusive of the Grand Lodge Certificate.

The report of the Board has this to state on 'India', which would be of interest to our members: - 3 - - Quote "The Board has received applications for recognition from four Grand Lodges which have been established in the Republic of India, namely the Grand Lodges of Upper India (formed 21 January 1995), South India (formed 27 May 1995), Western India (formed 8 April 2001) and Eastern India (formed 4 August 2001). The Board does not recommend that any of these Grand Lodges should be recognized. The Grand Lodge of India, which was formed by our Grand Lodge and the Grand Lodges of Ireland and Scotland on 24 November 1961, has, not surprisingly, asked us not to countenance any request for recognition from these new Grand Lodges. But it is surprising that its Grand Master has stated in an address delivered to one of its Regional Grand Lodges that Lodges outside India have instigated the formation of these new Grand Lodges. The Board wishes to make it clear that our Grand Lodge has never encouraged, let alone instigated, the formation of any new Grand Lodge in India since 1961". - Unquote The Annual Investiture Meeting of Grand Lodge was held on 24 April 2002 at which M.W. Bro. The Most Hon the Marquess of Northampton was re-appointed by M.W.Bro. H.R.H. The Duke of Kent. The re-appointments of R.W. Bro. Ian Bryce as Deputy Grand Master and of R.W. Bro. David Williamson as Assistant Grand Master were also announced. Brethren will be happy to know that two distinguished brethren from our District, namely W. Bro. Kesava Krishna Pillai, our Assistant District Grand Master (Lodge Quilon) and W. Bro. Tanjore Amirthalingam Kanaga Rathnam (Lodge Cauvery). were conferred the rank of Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies by MW Grand Master at this Annual Investiture Meeting. My hearty congratulations and sincere good wishes to them and I am sure you will join me in this felicitation by a loud acclamation. VISIT OF GRAND LODGE OFFICERS: On May 8 and 9, we had the pleasure of receiving two senior Grand Officers from the Grand Lodge of England, R.W.Bro. J.W.Daniel and W.Bro. T.J. Lewis at Chennai. Their visit to our City was one of a circuit of visits, including the other two Districts, namely Bengal and Bombay. The purpose of their visit, as conveyed to us, was to ascertain on a personal level the views of brethren in the matter of relations with the Grand Lodge of India and to make a report thereon to the Grand Board of General Purposes. To facilitate their inquiry, a meeting of the members of the DGL was organized on the morning of 8 May 2002 at the Freemasons' Hall, Chennai, followed by a subscription lunch. Though the attendance by our members was limited by virtue of the short notice, and the annual summer exodus, the interaction at the meeting was quite robust. The same evening, the DGL hosted a dinner for the visiting dignitaries with the available DGL Officers at which also they had the opportunity of discussing matters on a more personal basis. I also had my own discussions with them on these and other matters concerning the District and was able to put across our point of view on some outstanding issues, particularly in respect of adding more Lodges in our jurisdiction, by transfer of less active Lodges from elsewhere in India, if available.

The Deputation re-iterated our Grand Lodge's position that it will not countenance any other Masonic body in India, other than the Grand Lodge of India, despite the current lack of friendly communication with G.L.I.

CHARITY INITIATIVES: Time and again, I have been trying to enthuse Lodges to take up a Charity project of their own preferably in their neighbourhood such as the Charity efforts made by Lodge Rock, Lodge Cochin and St. John's Lodge and to take up projects of their own at the earliest. The size of the initiative is not important to begin with, but the impetus to get brethren and their families involved, is far more important. I particularly exhort Lodge Southern Brotherhood to take up the Cornwallis Home as a local project although it already has the support of the entire District. In this connection I had a meeting recently with the Brethren of this Lodge in which I set out in detail some of my ideas in this behalf.. I firmly believe that such initiatives will spur the brethren, particularly the younger ones, and enthuse them to be more active Freemasons and will also bring into the net of our activities outside our ritual activity, the families of our members and engender in them a greater sense of participation. The future development of lodges and of membership will, to a great extent, depend on spreading the message that we are here to do our bit not only within our fraternity but for the community at large, as well.

In this context, I have asked the District Grand Secretary to circulate the more important extracts from the minutes of meetings of the Grand Charity in regard to its activities and the scope of assistance available to lodges and members of the DGL. In addition our Website will carry details of all these Charity initiatives, both in the U.K. and here in our District. This will not only give them an idea of the wide variety of social causes served by Masonic Charity but also inculcate in our Brethren a sense of purpose in the Relief that is being rendered by our fraternity. I also nurture the hope that in due time, we will consider these objectives worthy of emulation in our own District and cause us to re-vitalise ourselves in benevolence, and rise to grander acts of Charity, without extravagant publicity. Some of my Charity objectives and ideas have been communicated in writing to the President of the Charity Council for detailing and consequent implementation, and I am confident he will apply his business-like zeal to this end. Further to what I had stated in my last address on the subject of the Cornwallis Home for Senior Citizens, the study of the independent Consultants has been completed, and their report has gone through the Executive Council of the District Grand Charity who have set in motion a final review of the Cost of the Project in current terms and of the building plans to accommodate special facilities for the inmates. I myself have visited one other comparable facility in Bangalore to obtain a first hand knowledge of operating conditions for such a home. All inputs are being considered from various angles and a find shape to the project should come about by November, 2002.

At this stage we must also think of increase in the flow of funds for further progress in Cornwallis' Home Project as well as to others, and certain fresh initiatives such as Festivals are also being planned.

CHENNAI PROPERTY : I sincerely believe that the time has come, to put the events of the recent past behind us and look to managing the property of Freemasons' Hall with a view to providing lodges of all the Masonic Constitutions, infrastructure and facilities of a high standard for their meetings and festive boards. I am glad to place on record that RW Regional Grand Master, R.W. Bro. Dr. B. Biswakumar and I have had a few meetings as Trustees of the property on a one-to-one basis and also for the first time in many years, have attended together, a meeting of the Premises Committee. The meetings have led to the common conclusion that the past events be forgotten and that all issues be resolved amicably and that we co-operate in establishing an excellent centre for the fraternity in the City and provide, on an on-going basis, facilities for all of them, both for Masonic and social purposes. Brethren, I had at the last meeting, expressed that part of the burden of maintenance of the renovated Chennai property and of the new infrastructure being created there, will also have to be borne by us, as members of this Order. The renovation effort taken up by the DGL also needs substantial funds to aid which a Masonic Heritage and Buildings Trust has been registered. This Trust will enjoy the normal exemptions under Section 80-G of the Income-tax Act and I trust that each and every one of you present here will carry back the message to your lodges and to other brethren, of the need to rise to the occasion and contribute liberally. It will be a splendid facility for the use of lodges for meetings and dinners and of brethren for social purposes with their families, in course of time. The required funds inflow so far has been pitifully low, but then I have to concede that the formal Trust with its attendant benefits of tax exemption for donations was put in place only recently for brethren to more actively lend their support to this cause. We ought, therefore, to wait a while for adequate response from Brethren and I am sure that we shall not be disappointed in our expectations of such support. Brethren, I hope you will all co-operate in this effort and help to contribute our share to this laudable enterprise.

To aid our efforts of renovation of the Chennai Premises, the D.G. Supdt. of Works, W.Bro. V.J. Bharath has taken great pains to make drawings, obtain quotations, suggest ways and means of reducing costs, supervise efforts in relation to the various activities etc. and I must place on record our sincere appreciation of his work and that of the Chairman Wor. Bro. S. Chellappa and his colleagues on the Premises Committee. Wor. Bro. S. Chellappa, my Deputy, has not been in good health recently and we hope he will recover rapidly and return early to active participation in our affairs. On his request, I have appointed Wor. Bro. S.L. Chitale as Chairman of the Premises Committee.

DGL WEBSITE : Brethren will recall that at the Investiture Meeting at Chennai in February 2002, a website for the DGL was inaugurated. I am happy to note that the website has been set up with substantial information on Freemasonry, the United Grand Lodge of England's role, detailed information on the DGL and its daughter lodges. The site is being regularly updated with news on installation meetings, my official visits and those of my Representatives to lodges, charity initiatives undertaken, information on special functions that lodges pass on to the DGL etc. From various independent sources as well as from the Visitors' Diary on the site itself, it appears that ours is one of the best sites on Freemasonry even in comparison with some of the sites of other Masonic jurisdictions. Having said this, I must say that the site can only be as interesting and informative as the inputs received from lodges and brethren in the District. I trust brethren will visit the site on a regular basis and acquaint themselves with the information provided and also assist with suggestions and comments for further improvement. For all this, that is, the setting up of the website with a format that has ease of surfing for the right kind of information and of navigation, we have Bro. H.L. Ratan, Junior Warden of the Archibald Campbell Lodge to thank for the active interest he has taken in creating and maintaining the site at negligible cost to the DGL. His interest will, however, be sustained only if all of us at the lodge level, and individually, feed him with useful information on a regular basis. The information could comprise lodge activities, ladies night/other masonic celebrations, charity projects undertaken, discussions of topics of Masonic interest, notable achievements by Brethren in lodges as well as in other areas of professional, social and / or cultural interest. Let us resolve to make this one of the most unique websites in Freemasonry. As I have said earlier, all suggestions to further improve our site are welcome. Incidentally, a few years back some Brethren were of the view that the Brethren of the District were not sufficiently well informed on matters relating to various aspects of our administration etc., and it is to address that grievance that we have disseminated far more information recently, but we do not find that there is adequate response and feedback from the Lodges for us to make further improvements in our lines of communication.

COMPUTERISATION We are pleased to advise our Brethren and particularly Lodge Secretaries that our records have now been satisfactorily computerized, and those who need to and are so authorised, can get information relevant to them directly through computer access. We hope in due course, with co-operation from the Grand Secretary's office, to dovetail our systems with theirs, so as to make returns to UGLE as well as information-sharing that much easier to achieve. The D.G. Treasurer and Bro. Subramanian Natarajan of Archibald Campbell Lodge are to be thanked for their efforts in this regard. If all Lodges can move into the digital era likewise, life in the masonic administrative lane, will be that much more relaxed and far less time-consuming not to mention making our information potentially more timely and accurate.

INSTALLATION MEETINGS : During this half-year, I myself attended the Installation Meetings of the following Lodges: Lodge Anchor of Hope No.1093 on 16-2-2002 Lodge Cauvery No.3848 on 13.7.2002. I thank the Assistant District Grand Master Wor. Bro. K. Krishna Pillai for having represented me at the Installation Meeting of Lodge Minchin No.2710 on 2.3.2002, and Wor. Bro. P. Mukundan who represented me at the Installation of Lodge Faith Hope and Charity No.1285 on 11.5.2002.

FELICITATIONS : Recently I attended the following felicitation meetings involving the named Brethren on their achieving certain milestones in their Masonic journey. Wor. Bro. T.A.K. Rathnam on his achieving Grand Rank, was felicitated on 13.7.2002 by his Brethren at Thanjavur and Wor. Bro. P. Mukundan on 22nd July by the Brethren of his mother Lodge, Southern Brotherhood on his completing 50 years in our fraternity. I had the pleasure of attending both these functions, and personally congratulating them on their achievements.

OBITUARY : Brethren, since we last met the following Brethren of our District have been called to the Grand Lodge above : W.Bro.Dr.M.G. Sahadevan, PDJGW, Kerala Lodge No.2188 13-2-2002 Bro.B.T.Lee, MM, Lodge Faith Hope & Charity No.1285 08-03-2002 Bro. Dr. R. Kannan, MM, Lodge of Rock No.260 21-03-2002 Bro. Ashok Virmani, PDG Std. Br. Lodge St.George No.2532 07-05-2002 Bro. G.A.Shive Gowda, MM, Lodge Southern Brotherhood No.3311 04-06-2002 W.Bro. T.S. Ramaswamy, PDGJW, Lodge Quion No.5839 24-06-2002

We convey our heartfelt condolences to the Lodges and the members of the families of the departed Brethren. As a mark of respect, may I ask you to rise and stand in silence for a few moments.

GOOD WISHES FOR RECOVERY Two brethren of Nilgiri Lodges, Wor. Bro. K. Badrinarayanan and Bro. Victor Dey have undergone cardiac surgery in Chennai recently and are well on the way to complete recovery, in which recuperation they have our best wishes and prayers.

Before I close I would like on your behalf and my own, to thank the staff of the District Grand Lodge for the devoted discharge of their duties. Thanks are also due to Wor. Bro. S. Chellappa, Dy. D.G.M., Wor. Bro. D.G. Nayar, District Grand Treasurer and Wor. Bro. K.V. Srinivasan, District Grand Secretary for their contributions from time to time to the affairs of the District.

Till we meet again, at the Annual Investiture Meeting in February 2003 at Chennai, coinciding with the Platinum Jubilee of the host Lodge Archibald Campbell, adieu!

ADDRESS OF M.E.G.S. AT THE HALF-YEARLY CONVOCATION ON 10TH AUGUST 2002 AT COONOOR

COMPANIONS,

It is with much pleasure that I welcome you to this lovely town of Coonoor for the Half yearly meetings of the District. Coonoor is eminently suitable for our meetings given its cool weather and paradoxically, the warmth that the brethren exihibit in their hospitality to visiting companions. I am personally aware that the brethren of Lodge Anchor of Hope have gone that extra mile to make the entire proceedings over the next two days memorable.

As you know, we are to foregather again this evening, for the meeting of the Craft and I shall therefore not keep you very long and confine myself to observations relating to the D.G.Chapter.

We do not quite realise the importance of the rotation of the venue of our District meetings which gives Brethren in different parts of our District, the opportunity of understanding the procedural aspects of holding such a Masonic convocation, and in addition, gives many the opportunity to inter-act more closely with their Brethren from other parts of our jurisdiction. We have reason to believe that this sort of moving feast of masonry is fairly unique to this sub-continent, and has a long and chequered history which should, I feel, be the subject of a research paper.

SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent, by virtue of having been elected as the MW Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England, assumes Office as ME First Grand Principal of the Grand Chapter. Likewise, The Most Hon the Marquess of Northampton, and E Comp Iain Ross Bryce become the Pro First Grand Principal and the Second Grand Principal respectively. E Comp The Rev Peter Hemingway has been appointed the Third Grand Principal. Our warm congratulations to these Companions on their assumption of their Offices to guide the Royal Arch in the current year.

I must also inform members that E Comp R A H Morrow has been officially invested as the Grand Scribe E at the last meeting of the Supreme Grand Chapter. You will recall that E Comp J W Daniel retired from the office of Grand Scribe E after some years of service and E Comp Morrow took over from him in March 2002 whom we once again congratulate and welcome to this high office while wishing him success.

CHAPTER MEMBERSHIP Despite being consciously repetitive, I have to once again draw the attention of the companions present here, of the urgent need to make Chapters in the District more active. For this, each of one us has to become proactive in chalking out ways and means to attract more brethren to this Degree. As I pointed out in my last address, the ceremony of exaltation is one of the more wonderful pieces in Freemasonry and it is only by rendering such a ritual with some amount of perfection and seriousness that we can spread the word that this is yet another branch of Freemasonry with which a Master Mason would enjoy associating himself. The rather regrettable current state of affairs of pitifully low attendance has therefore to be overcome with more of you participating in Chapter meetings with greater regularity and by conducting exaltation ceremonies with perfection and a sense of pride.

I must therefore once again exhort our Senior Brethren to ensure that initiates in the Craft at the appropriate time, should be inducted into this order, so that they reap the full benefits of masonry completed. We should also, as in the Craft, support Chapters of Instruction so that this fine ritual is practiced in its fullest splendour. When a Chapter ceremony is delivered by a practiced exponent it is worth going miles to see. Unfortunately the moment a Companion is known to be an expert ritualist, the burden of all the ceremonies in his Chapter unfailingly fall on him, which apart from being unfair to him in a way, also precludes other Companions from attempting to tackle the ritual. Perhaps our District administration should select two or three specialists in Chapter ritual to tour the district and prepare Chapter Officers in various aspects of ritual working. -3-

I may also share with you that the Committee of General Purposes itself is concerned about the drop in membership in this Supreme Degree and have observed that this "does highlight the continuing importance of encouraging a suitable Master Mason to take the next logical step in his Masonic career by seeking exaltation into the Royal Arch". The ME First Grand Principal has made a mention that a Committee had been set up by him to consider the Royal Arch and its future and that progress is being made on this score. We shall eagerly await the outcome of these deliberations which I am sure will throw some light on the aspect of retention of and growth in membership

A state of harmony continued to prevail amongst the members of the Chapters in the District and all of them are functioning well though as I have had occasion to say earlier, steps taken to improve the quality of rituals will in the natural course better the attendance of members and also pave the way for new exaltations.

I have to once again stress upon the First Principals and Scribe Es of Chapters the need to send in the various returns with payments more promptly as the District Office is otherwise handicapped in filing its own returns to Grand Chapter and also in responding to queries from London. Assistance on these matters as well as in procedures for joining from other Constitutions will be available from the District Asst Grand Scribe E who may be contacted at the DGL office.

The finances of the Chapter are sound and well taken care of by the District, in particular by the District Grand Treasurer who has spared no pains to update the accounts in computerised form during the year. The report of the District Committee and the audited Statements of Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2002 are with you already. The services of the President and members of the District Committee are to be appreciated and placed on record and I have pleasure in so doing.

GRAND RANKS I have now pleasure in placing on record that two of our distinguished Companions, E Comp T A K Rathnam, PDGScN and E Comp K Krishna Pillai. PDGScN of this District have been conferred Grand rank of Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies by M E First Grand Principal. On your behalf and on my own, I congratulate them on this well deserved honour and trust that this will encourage them to still better service to the order in general and to this District in particular.

INSTALLATION MEETINGS I personally had the pleasure of visiting the following Chapters at their installation convocations since we last met:

Chapter Southern Brotherhood 31-01-2002 q Chapter Universal Charity 28-02-2002 q Chapter School of Plato 04-03-2002

E Comp S Chellappa, the Deputy Grand Superindent was kind enough to represent me at Chapter Cauvery on 9- 3- 2002 and I sincerely thank him for the same.

I must here make special mention of E Comp B Balaji Singh DG DofC who accompanied me to all the above Convocations and took care of the ceremonials.

The installation convocations of the following Chapters were attended by representatives nominated by me and I sincerely thank them for the trouble taken to do so.

Ø Chapter Quilon on 23-2-2002 by E Comp A I Kurian Ø Chapter Golconda on 4-3-2002 by E Comp R D Aiman Ø Chapter Excelsior on 7-3-2002 by E Comp M A Chacko Ø Chapter Rock on 6-7-2002 by E Comp T A K Rathnam

OBITUARY The following Companions were called to the Grand Chapter above since we last met:

E Comp Dr M G Sahadevan, PDGScN Kerala Chapter No 2188 13-2-2002 Comp Ashok Virmani, Chapter School of Plato, No 150 07-5-2002 E Comp T S Ramaswamy, PDGScN, Chapater Quilon, No 5839 24-6-2002

To the Chapters of which they were members and to the bereaved members of their families, we have sent our heartfelt condolences.

I now ask that we stand and observe a few moments of silence in their memory.

CONCLUSION Companions, as already mentioned, I shall take the opportunity of my address this evening to touch on certain important aspects covering the District and conclude for the present by sincerely thanking the W M and the brethren of Anchor of Hope Lodge for the pains they have taken in hosting this meeting in pleasant environment and in taking care of the visiting brethren. I must now thank E Comp B Balaji Singh DGDC, E Comp D G Nayar, D G Treasurer and E Comp K V Srinivasan D G Scribe E for the organisational efforts that has gone into the smooth conduct of this meeting. Our thanks are also due in good measure to the members of the staff of the DGL office for their continued sincere services.

Thank you and till we meet in February 2003, adieu.