Aug 2004

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Speech at the District Grand Chapter Meeting at Thanjavur - Aug 2004

My dear Companions,

Thanjavur is the symbol of the cultural heritage of the South and reminds us of many things. Art, Carnatic Music, Paintings, the Big Temple, the Saraswathi Mahal Library, the Maratha rulers and so on. For freemasons, however, it has a special significance as the birth place of Lodge Cauvery warranted in 1918 about 86 years back. And the hospitality that has been the hallmark of the brethren from this place, true to the traditions of this District itself. I am sure all of us gathered here for two days of our half yearly sojourn, for business accompanied by healthy fraternal fellowship, will have a taste of it and truly enjoy our stay here. I welcome you all to this Half Yearly Meeting and wish that you will have nothing but pleasant memories of it.

The revival of the practice, after the resumption of official visitation privileges, of having with us a delegation from the Regional Grand Chapter of Southern India has personally given me great pleasure and today, we have in our midst M E Companion, M Prabhat Kumar, Past III Grand Principal and II Regional Grad Principal representing Most Excellent the Grand Superintendent of the Regional Grand Chapter of Southern India, M.E Companion, Dr Balaram Biswakumar. M E Comp Dr Biswakumar had personally conveyed to me his inability to attend our meetings here because of the unavoidable change in dates of our meeting, and while we will miss his presence, we have to acknowledge that M E Comp Prabhat Kumar is no stranger to us here. On behalf of the District Grand Chapter of Madras and on my own behalf, I extend a warm welcome to him and the members of his delegation.

As I will have the pleasure of addressing you again this evening at the District Grand Lodge meeting, I will keep this one brief and restrict myself to the affairs affecting us as Companions.

SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER

At the Regular Convocation held on 12^th November 2003, M E Pro First Grand Principal M E Comp Most Hon the Marquess of Northampton has, in his address, once again touched upon the proposed changes in the traditional ceremony of exaltation and other aspects of R A Masonry. The need for a re-look at these arises, in his words, which I quote:

“Perhaps the first point to cover is why it has seemed necessary to examine the Royal Arch in such detail. It undoubtedly appears to be successful as it stands, with approximately 100,000 members, which is about one-third of the Craft. When one looks below the surface a little, however, it becomes clear that all is not quite what is seems. Many consider that the Royal Arch is the “completion of the Third Degree, but even if this was correct, it is not very satisfactory that two-thirds of our Craft membership do not go on to “complete their Third Degree”. Worse still, active participation is far less than the membership figure, and many Chapters are struggling to remain viable in the face of poor attendance. This is not universal, of course, and there are areas around the country where the Royal Arch is very successful – but the overall pattern is not encouraging. At a time when other Orders of Masonry are flourishing as never before, including those which require membership of the Royal Arch as a prerequisite for admission, this suggests that the Order is no longer meeting the needs of the membership as it used to, and as it should”

The rest of his address gives a bird’s eye view of the changes that are being considered but the most important part is that he believes that “we should then have a period of several months during which all members of the Royal Arch will have an opportunity to consider these changes and submit comments, preferably through Metropolitan, Provincial and District Grand Scribes Ezras, to help eliminate too much duplication; a Notice of Motion incorporating any amendments will then be brought forward at the next meeting of Supreme Grand Chapter in April and the substantive motion will then be proposed and debated as necessary, a year from now.

Already the District has circulated the proposals of the Strategic Working Party, but till date we do not seem to have received any suggestions or points for discussion on these. Care has been taken to circulate these to the Chapters themselves and to some senior members of the Chapter. I will only hasten to add that if any Companion, irrespective of rank or seniority, wishes to go through them, the District Grand Scribe E will only be too happy to provide a copy on request. I would encourage Companions to take serious note of this and come out with their points of view.

Interestingly, in his speech at the Annual Investiture Meeting of the United Grand Lodge, on 28^th April 2004, M W Pro Grand Master brings up this subject and refers to a flyer from the Provincial Grand Chapter of Nottinghamshire which says:

“In Craft Masonry, a Brother acknowledges a belief in a Supreme Being, yet this relationship is never explored.

In the Royal Arch, the Mason continues and completes his education and knowledge of Craft Masonry and is invited to consider his relationship and dependence on God. Therefore it may justly be claimed to be the climax of Freemasonry and no Brother can consider his Masonic life complete until he has joined the Royal Arch”

M W Pro Grand Master goes on to state:

“Many Companions have pointed out that the proposed changes will not help to recruit candidates but that was never the primary object of these proposals.

The Strategic Working Party was originally tasked with looking at ways of promoting the Royal Arch and defining its relationship with the Craft.

Subsequently, a ritual sub committee was formed to consider whether more could be made of the most important and dramatic parts of the ceremony. It went on to look at the lectures and, as a result of its deliberations, has tried to make them shorter and more understandable without losing their essential message.

The recruitment of new candidates is a matte for individual members and whether they are successful or not will depend on their own enthusiasm for the Order.

However, the importance of the Royal Arch is a message we should all stress to Master Masons, because until they take that final step their Masonry will always remain incomplete.”

As indicated in the speech, we may expect the final proposals in the form of a Notice of Motion in due course.

GRAND RANKS:

E Comp Dr K K Varma and E Comp B Balaji Singh were conferred the past ranks of Past Asst Grand Director of Ceremonies and Past Grand Standard Bearer respectively. E Comp B Balaji Singh attended the Investiture Convocation at London at which he was invested.

DISTRICT GRAND CHAPTER:

The working of most of the Chapters in the District has been characterised by the usual harmony and good fraternal relationship. The attendance at some of the Chapters, however, is a cause for worry. As I have stressed on more than one occasion, Past Principals, irrespective of whether they hold any office in the Chapter or not, should take it upon themselves to motivate Companions to be regular in attendance and also take part in exaltation ceremonies. As one of the most beautiful rituals in Masonry, it is rich with meaning combined with a bit of drama, which when performed well can make a positive impact on the minds of Brethren and enforce their commitments to the Order. With meetings held once in a quarter, missing one meeting results in the Companion attending a Chapter after a gap of six months. This can very often cause loss of interest in the Order itself in course of time. The answer is for senior companions to call up the younger ones and remind them of forthcoming meetings and also to see that they are given a role in the ceremony itself.

The Annual Reports of Chapters reveal that most of them are in good financial shape and inspection reports by those who represented me at various Installation Convocations also show that records are maintained well. There are of course a few instances where the Installation Ceremonies have not been upto the mark. It would not be a bad idea for Chapters to have inter-visitation among themselves for Installation Meetings as well as for exaltation ceremonies. In this exercise, all Chapters in the District should be involved so that there can be healthy interaction in the demonstration of ritual workings. I am thinking of asking the District Grand Scribe E to work out a possible schedule for such combined meetings that can be agreed upon by the concerned Chapters. I would exhort Principals of Chapters to respond positively to this exercise so that we can generate more interest in this excellent Degree.

The Statement of Accounts of the District Grand Chapter, duly audited has been with you for some time and you will agree with me that the finances are in good shape. The Report of the District Committee also shows that the affairs of the Chapters are in a healthy state.

INSTALLATION CONVOCATIONS:

At the Installation Convocations of the undermentioned Chapters, I was represented by Companions as noted against each, who also inspected the records. I place on record my sincere thanks to each one of the Companions.

E.Comp. Dr.K.K.Varma Chapter Quilon No.5839 28-02-2004

E.Comp. K.V. Srinivasan Golconda Chapter No.3249 01-03-2004

Chapter Cauvery No.3848 13-03-2004

E.Comp. V.J. Bharath Chapter Excelsior No.1285 27-03-2004

Chapter Rock No.260 03-07-2004

OBITUARY:

I now have the painful duty of announcing the passing away of Companion P.Ramankutty Menon, Kerala Chapter No.2188 who was called to the Grand Chapter above on 27-6-2004. We convey our heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the Chapter and the family of the late Companion.

May I now request you to kindly stand in silence for a few moments as a mark of respect to the departed Companion.

CONCLUSION:

Companions, before I conclude my address, let me once again thank M E Grand Superintendent M E Comp Dr B Biswakumar for nominating one of his senior most Companions, M E Comp M Prabhatkumar to represent him with a deputation at this meeting. The brethren of Lodge Cauvery are to be thanked for the arrangements they have made for this meeting and I do expect that all of us will have a memorable stay and more of their traditional hospitality in evidence throughout the duration of our sojourn here.

The staff of the District Grand Chapter office deserve our thanks for their services and for their efforts in the smooth conduct of this Half Yearly Convocation.

Thank you, my dear Companions, and adieu till we meet again this evening.