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Dear Brethren,

A warm welcome to you all, my Brethren, to this City to our Annual Investiture Meeting. We hope the hosts, the John Miller Lodge has seen to your hospitality and comforts. This Lodge currently celebrates its 125^th year and I am sure you will all join me in congratulating them and wishing them a successful journey towards other Masonic milestones.

I must most particularly welcome the Representative of the R W the Regional Grand Master of Southern India, R.W.Bro.M.Himatlal, PAGM, Dy Regional Grand Master and his deputation to this meeting. R.W. Bro. G.K. Selvarajan has just donned this mantle and is unavoidably absent attending a Northern Region meeting in Chandigarh and I look forward to working with him in as harmonious a relationship as I enjoyed with his predecessor R.W.Bro. Dr. B. Biswakumar. I request R.W.Bro Himatlal to convey our greetings and good wishes to R.W.Bro.G.K. Selvarajan. I hope Bro. Himatlal and his deputation will enjoy their visit to us and give us the pleasure of their company at the Festive Board to follow this Meeting.

I am also very happy to note that we have with us Bro P A I Cherian, Hon Depute District Grand Master representing Bro Bomi Mehta, R W District Grand Master of India for the Scottish Constitution.

We seem sadly in the recent past, to meet under the shadow of tragedies – the Kumbakonam fire in July cast a pall of gloom over our Half-Yearly Meeting in August 2004 at Thanjavur, and now the more widespread and unimaginable TSUNAMI, which has taken more than 10,000 lives in our District with countless others made homeless and traumatised.

We have responded to this tragedy by involving ourselves in a modest way mostly with the welfare of affected children by channelling our donations through our Lodge Cauvery to the SOS Children’s Homes which has established camps and homes in the Nagapattinam area. We are more specifically assisting the SOS with rehabilitation in one Village (Puduguppam in Sirkazhi Taluk) in that area. For Quilon and Cochin, we sent donations to the eponymous Lodges who have been addressing relief in their affected neighbourhood in the first instance and with some more lasting rehabilitation initiative. In
these two areas, we picked on Drinking Water and Sanitation as worthwhile rehabilitation initiatives – and we are grateful to EUREKA FORBES for the donation of Drinking Water stations which the Lodges helped erect. This is Charity in action, of which I have spoken of on many an occasion.

We have had support from our global fraternity and I have personally received donations and messages from individual Brethren and from various English Masonic Lodges / Chapters of Warwickshire and Wales SW Division and from our own District of Bombay and Northern India. RWDGM of District Grand Lodge of Hong Kong and Far East has been kind enough to send in a contribution of US$ 10,000 through their District Board of Benevolence. Our thanks go out to them all.

We have kept the Grand Lodge and the Grand Charity informed of the various initiatives taken by us to provide relief and assistance in rehabilitation with our resources and have asked for a grant to fund one of the major Projects of the SOS. Brethren would be gratified to know that an immediate adhoc grant of GBP 10,000 was sanctioned to our District and the President of the Grand Charity has extended relief of GBP1,00,000 to the British Red Cross under his discretionary powers.

The pledged donations have been received into our special Tsunami Relief Bank accounts as follows:

Rs.

Grand Charity - GBP 10,000 8,12,800

DGL of Hong Kong & Far East – US$ 10,000 4,31,535

DGL of Bombay & N.I. 50,000

Individual Overseas Brethren - GBP 400 30,052

Our Lodges and Brethren 3,48,708

The Dist Grand Charity Fund Trust has also further

Contributed towards Tsunami Relief 3,25,000

Total 19,98,095

Disbursements :

SOS Children’s Villages of India 10,25,000

Lodge Quilon 1,50,000

Lodge Cochin 1,50,000

Total 13,25,000

CORNWALLIS MASONIC SENIOR CITIZENS’ HOME:

The year that has gone by has in addition seen a lot of activity in the Charity arena. The Cornwallis Senior Citizens’ Home Project is under way and a sample dwelling unit is nearing completion and can be viewed by anyone interested from about the end of this month. Bookings for the Home are open, in the first instance for our own and other Masonic brethren. The bookings will be kept open for a few months till say the end of June ’05, and thereafter vacancies will be offered, if any, to the general public. So please do visit the site in the neighbourhood of the new International Airport in Devanahalli area just about 15 kms from the centre of Bangalore City., see the facilities being offered, and make your bookings. Patrons of the Project need to tell us of their requirements also by this date, as they have the right of nominating a beneficiary / resident to the Home. Forms to be filled in by those interested in bookings are available at the Registration Counter here as well as at the DGL Office at any time. We will also put the forms on our website, www.freemasonsdglmadras.com to be downloaded.

PROPOSED MASONIC WELFARE FUND:

We have also initiated a move to set up a Masonic Welfare Fund to take care of any Mason and any member of his immediate family who needs to be ministered to, cover any critical and incurable terminal ailment, for which normal insurance cover is not available. I have appointed a Sub-Committee of competent senior Brethren to examine this idea thoroughly and perhaps bring it to you for approval at our August Half Yearly Meeting. The basic concept is to have an annual contribution of say Rs.1,500/- (One Thousand Five Hundred only) by each Mason in the District to be placed in a Fund to be safely invested from which The Executive Council of the District Grand Charity can afford relief to any Brother affected in this way, which no insurance company will presently cover. In fact we have launched this idea after two years of discussions with Insurance Companies, both in the private and public sector. Apparently, their risk analysis does not allow them to cover such ailments. Masons have always, over the centuries, provided for relief and support of their own distressed Brethren and we need to activate this tradition in a more substantial fashion.

DISTRICT GRAND LODGE RANKS:

My congratulations and best wishes go out to the Brethren whom I have invested today. I hope those who have been so honoured will reflect on their responsibilities and vigorously commit themselves to the dutiful discharge thereof, particularly those who have been appointed to current and active offices.

While on this subject, I would like to point out to the brethren that in the award of ranks, there are certain definite limitations and stipulations prescribed in the Book of Constitutions. Recent amendments to the rules that have come into effect from 1 Jan 2005, have extended these to promotions also and therefore there have been constraints in the award of ranks. I am sure that you are all aware that Grand Lodge has continually emphasised on the need of such prescriptions so as the value of ranks within the District is not diluted. The award of ranks and promotions are primarily guided by these regulations coupled with the record of attendance and contribution of members to their own lodges.

ADMINISTRATION AND COMPUTERISATION:

Your Masonic administration has greatly occupied itself with improving the methods of record-keeping by installing web-based electronic systems of reporting. We also have been working on an almost real-time Website which keeps all visitors to it updated on Masonic events in the District that is, if you care to visit it of course! I must exhort brethren to visit the site regularly so that they are kept updated on the happenings in the District and also that the efforts that go into maintaining it on regular basis are appreciated.

MADRAS FREEMASONS’ HALL TRUST:

Our representatives on the Premises Committee of the Freemasons’ Hall, under the guidance of its Chairman, W.Bro. S.L. Chitale, PAGDC. work in harmony and close co-ordination with the representatives of the Regional Grand Lodge. of Southern India which co-operative endeavours can be seen reflected in a handsome and well-maintained joint head-quarters serving brethren and lodges of all the Constitutions working here. Before long, we expect that the rear portion will be put to better use so as to ensure that more revenue is generated to defray the costs of maintenance without further burdening the lodges and brethren by avoidable increases in their contributory share.

A special word of thanks to the recently retired Regional Grand Master R.W.Bro. Balram Biswakumar who as Co-Trustee with me on the Madras Freemasons’ Hall Trust in the last three years, attended about 15 meetings of the Trust and contributed greatly to the overall guidance given to the Premises Committee in the management of the F.Ms’. Hall. We hope to continue this cordial and beneficial relationship with his successor-Trustee, R.W. Bro. G.K. Selvarajan with whom I have myself served many years ago on the Premises Committee.

GRAND LODGE NEWS:

At the Quarterly Communication of the Grand Lodge on 9^th June 2004, M W Pro Grand Master in his address made special mention of the visit of Grand Officers to our District and others in this part of the world. He said

“Last November, the Assistant Grand Master accompanied by the Grand Secretary, visited our Districts of Sri Lanka, Madras, Bengal and Bombay and Northern India. They also attended the Annual Assembly of the Grand Lodge of India in Bangalore which marked the first time we have been able to visit our daughter Grand Lodge for some 10 years and helped cement the friendship which has been re-established since our re-recognition of the Grand Lodge of India.”

At the Quarterly Communication on 8th September2004, he has touched upon the aspect of active Charity work when he stated:

“Some of us join for philanthropic reasons and do excellent work helping to run our many charities. Many Lodges give large sums of money to worthy causes in the form of a cheque and that is highly commendable. However, I do not believe it is nearly as rewarding or for that matter newsworthy as doing practical charity work in the local community and I would encourage Brethren to do the latter as much as possible. It is worth remembering that the Almoner’s work for Brethren who are sick or in need, as well as their widows and children is as much about charity as the Charity Steward’s work in raising money.”

Brethren, from the minutes of these meetings of Grand Lodge, a lot of important and interesting information can be gleaned and I would like to briefly touch upon two such. One is from a lecture given by Mrs Diane Clements, Director of the Library and Museum Charitable Trust. She states

“Grand Lodge had an outstanding collection of objects, books and archives which deserved to be better known and their significance better appreciated.

…The size of the collection – 100,000 objects, 45,000 books and archives which occupy more than a mile of shelving – is one aspect of this but equally important is the extent of the collection….We have aprons worn by Kings, Prime ministers and paper aprons worn in conditions of great hardship. We have books in many languages, some inscribed by dukes, others handwritten in prisoner of war camps.”

Brethren, this is just to give you an idea of the Masonic heritage we have inherited and possess and to exhort you to make it a point to visit the Library whenever you happen to be in London. A website of the catalogue of books is also available in www.freemasonry.london.museum

The other is of a lecture by Professor Andrew Prescott on “The Centre for Research into Freemasonry at the University of Sheffield”. It seems a lot of research is being conducted by him and his team on this subject and it is interesting to note what his ambition is:

“It would be marvelous if we could envisage a tercentenary history of Grand Lodge which would provide what Professor Roberts called for all those years ago, a history which provides a social anthropology of English Freemasonry. My dream would be that the Sheffield Centre might play the leading role in producing such a history.”

DISTRICT AFFAIRS:

Customary friendly fraternal relations existed between brethren of the District. Lodges in the District have been active in ritual working as well as in charity work.

At this state, I may make particular mention of the very commendable work done by W Bro. A.I.Kurian, our Steward for Masonic Charities in turning in a record collection of Rs.15,54,425/-. For your information, I may disclose that Rs.11,00,000/- has come in from just two individual brethren.

As I have been reiterating time and again, the younger members of Lodges should take upon themselves the task of bringing an element of active family participation in the form of ladies nights, reciprocal visits to other such functions, visits to charity projects of lodges etc.

WHITE TABLE DINNER:

The first of the anticipated “White Table Dinners” was held on 25^th January 2005 under the auspices of the Archibald Campbell Lodge No. 4998 at which R W Bro. David Williamson, Assistant Grand Master of the Grand Lodge was present with his wife. An invitation was extended by the Lodge to R.W. the AGM and Mrs. Williamson who were making a private visit to these parts which they graciously accepted. These Dinners, to be held more frequently, will serve as a window on masonry to our own ladies, to non-masonic visitors and hopefully to those aspiring to become masons. Incidentally, this could also provide an occasion to raise funds for charity. I do wish and trust that more lodges or a group of lodges in the City will come together and organize such Dinners and make it popular among freemasons in our District, thereby also using the excellent Dining facilities created by the Premises Committee at Freemasons’ Hall, Chennai.

MASONIC VISIT:

I had the pleasure of attending the Centenary celebrations of Lodge Kitchener No.2998 E.C. at Delhi on 29^th October, 04 followed by the Annual Investiture Meeting of the District Grand Lodge of Bombay and Northern India on the next day. The meetings were attended by the present Lord Kitchener, the Great grand-nephew of the eponymous Founder who addressed the assembled brethren on the heritage of the lodge and his own connections with it. I was accompanied by a deputation consisting of W Bro S L Chitale, Chairman of the Premises Committee, W Bro D G Nayar, D G Treasurer, W Bro B Balaji Singh, the then D G Director of Ceremonies, W Bro V J Bharath, D G Superintendent of Works and W Bro K V Srinivasan, D G Secretary.

INSTALLATION MEETINGS:

I have had the pleasure of attending the Installation Meetings of the following lodges since I last addressed you:

Lodge St. George No 2532 - 29-09-2004

Archibald Campbell Lodge No 4998 - 27-10-2004

Lodge of Perfect Unanimity No 150 - 06-01-2005

Pitt Macdonald Lodge No 1198 - 11-01-2005

The records of these lodges were inspected by brethren as under:

W Bro V.J.Bharath Lodge St. George No 2532

Pitt Macdonald Lodge No 1198

W Bro G Rangachari Archibald Campbell Lodge No 4998

W Bro D Rajasekaran Lodge of Perfect Unanimity No 150

I thank them for the trouble taken to carry out the inspection and present their reports to me which have been a valuable guidance in the assessment of the working of the lodges.

At Installation Meetings of the following lodges, I was represented by brethren as stated below and I sincerely thank them for the long distances they have traveled and also for their work in the inspection of the records etc.:

W Bro G.Rangachari John Miller Lodge No 1906 - 17-11-2004

W Bro Dr. K.K.Varma Lodge Southern Brotherhood No.3311- 22-11-2004

St.John’s Lodge No 434 - 27-12-2004 Lodge Ampthill No 3682 - 22-01-2005

W.Bro.B.Balaji Singh Lodge of Universal Charity No.273 - 02-12-2004

Lodge of Rock No 260 - 01-01-2005

Golconda Lodge No 3249 - 29-01-2005

W Bro A I Kurian Lodge Quilon No 5839 - 08-01-2005

W Bro K Krishna Pillai Kerala Lodge No 2188 - 01-01-2005

Lodge Cochin No 4359 - 22-01-2005

OBITUARY:

Passing away of Past Deputy District Grand Master:

It is a matter of great regret and of personal anguish to me that W Bro.S.Chellappa, PJGD., a very senior member of the District and of the Lodge of Universal Charity No 273, was called to the Grand Lodge Above on 17^th August 2004 after a prolonged illness. He held the office of Deputy District Grand Master with distinction from 2001 to 2002 He was also Chairman of the Premises Committee of the Madras Freemasons’ Hall Trust for over a decade. He had previously held the office of Asst District Grand Master during the years 1990 to 1995 and various other District offices including that of District Grand Treasurer and District Grand Secretary earlier. His Masonic memory provided an inexhaustible mine of information which was a source of strength to the District. His passing away is a great loss to masonry in general and to the DGL and myself in particular.

I also place on record the passing away of the following brethren of our District:

Bro R.Gangadharan, MM, Lodge Anchor of Hope No 1093 on 09-08-2004

W Bro P K Abdulla Kutty, PAGDC, Kerala Lodge No 2188 on 25-08-2004

W Bro M.Raveendran, PDG Org, Kerala Lodge No 2188 on 26-11-2004

W Bro Ajit Sokhi, PM. Lodge St. George No 2532 on 25-01-2005

We have conveyed to the families and lodges of these brethren our deepest sympathies and sense of grief.

May I now ask you all to rise and observe a few moments’ silence in memory of the departed souls.

Before I close my address, I once again warmly welcome the representative of the RW. RGM of SI R W Bro. Himatlal and his deputation and Bro P.A.I.Cherian, Hon. Depute District Grand Master, representing RWDGM of India, Scottish Constitution and extend to all of them an invitation to join us at the banquet which is to follow immediately after the conclusion of this meeting.

I must, on my own behalf and on your behalf, thank the WM and the brethren of John Miller Lodge No.1906 for the excellent arrangements made for the conduct of this and other Masonic functions during the last two days and place on record our sincere appreciation of their efforts. I must here acknowledge the sincere and painstaking efforts of W Bro A P Chandrasekharan, P DG Std Br. and W Bro A R Krishnan, WM of the Lodge.

A special word of thanks to W Bro Kumarappa Venkatachalam, PSGD who readily acceded to my request, almost at the last minute, to act as the Deputy District Grand Master for this meeting in place of our Deputy W Bro P.Mukundan who has sustained a minor fracture and is unable to attend.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

I must here record my appreciation of the sincere devotion and hard work put in by our immediate Past District Grand Director of Ceremonies, W Bro. Bhagwan Balaji Singh who held this office from 1997 till 2004. His supervision and execution of the Ceremonials of the District and his role as the Acting Grand Director of Ceremonies at the Ceremony at which the DGM of Bombay and Northern India was installed by me, were universally acknowledged as having brought credit to the District in his assignment and we thank him for all his efforts. In recognition thereof he has been elevated to Grand rank .He is succeeded in that office by W Bro Col. Dr. G.B.Sethi who will, I am sure, keep up the traditions of our District in the disciplined conduct of our meetings and ceremonies. We wish him well.

I place on record my thanks to W.Bros. D.G.Nayar, D G Treasurer, Col. G.B. Sethi, D G Director of Ceremonies and K.V.Srinivasan, D G Secretary, the Officers of the District Grand Lodge, for their dedication to the tasks entrusted and continued support to me.

The staff of the District Grand Lodge headed by the Dist Asst Grand Secretary, W Bro,.Jacob Mathew have carried out their duties with care and devotion and I sincerely thank them for the same.

Brethren, let me now bid adieu until we meet again in the salubrious environs of Udhagamandalam at the next Half Yearly Meeting under the banner of Lodge of Faith Hope and Charity No.1285 in August 2005. I am sure we will enjoy yet another memorable opportunity for fraternal fellowship.