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'This page has been approved by the United Grand Lodge of England’
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January * February * March * April * May * June * July * August * September * October * November * December Our Information Officer Wor. Bro. H.L. Ratan who ably manages our Website, inter-alia, suggests that I should convey to our Brethren a monthly message, starting with this New Year. I can do no better than reproduce below a great piece which I spotted in one of our national newspapers some time ago, drawn obviously from the Internet. " The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings, but shorter tempers; wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints; we spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy less ... We have multiplied possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love seldom, and hate too often. We've learned how to make a living, but not a life; we've added years to life, not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbour. We've conquered outer space, but not inner space, we've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul; we've split the atom, but not our prejudice. We have higher incomes, but lower morals; we've become long on quantity, but short on quality. These are times of tall men, and short character; steep profits, and shallow relationships ... " Nothing more needs be said ! Wishing you all a Happy and Charitable New Year and hoping that you will unravel the meanings behind our Rituals, during the year and indeed act upon them. Fraternally, R.W. Bro. K.R.N.Menon MENU In the last few weeks I have visited the two ends of my jurisdiction to attend Installation Meetings in Hyderabad and Cochin, besides others. In these two cities, I found our Brethren active in the practise of relief, in the visits I made with some of the Brethren to the recipients of their aid. In Hyderabad the Brethren of St. John’s Lodge is assisting the Krushi a Charity founded by Alumini of the Sainik School at Begumpet who are in turn aiding charities for the rehabilitation of street children, as well as helping educate young girls of a minority community in the slums. We visited a home where the street children were housed who were either found as rag pickers or as beggars at public places, and rehabilitated. They are housed in a rented accommodation, taught sufficiently to be able to gain entry to regular schools, and a couple of them are even training to be Hospital Technicians at a Vocational Training Institute. They are in no way restrained and are free to leave, if they so wish. In the case of the girls in a Hyderabad ghetto, they are of the Muslim community which does not look kindly upon girls going out of their homes to study or to learn a trade. Therefore this charity has set up a classroom within the slum to prepare girls to attempt the Grade VI exam, in URDU. Attached to this is a small training center where they are teaching other girls to sew, and to do embroidery work. Both are small beginnings but well worth our support. In the case of Cochin some Brethren of Lodge Cochin took me to the VIMALA Home for Mentally and Physically Challenged children, run by the Missionaries of Charity. It is heart-rendering to see some of the extremely retarded and physically deformed children, most of them between the ages of 3 and 10 years. It was wonderful on the other hand to see the dedication of the Sister and domestic help running the establishment seeing to the inmates’ every need in such clean and well-kept surroundings. The Lodge had voted to defray the cost of an Electric Kitchen Grinder and I was pleased to hand over their cheque for the unit to the Sister-in-charge. These are very commendable efforts at demonstrating the distinguishing characteristic of a Freemasons’ Heart. I have advised the Brethren concerned to continue the good work but to make attempts also to have a sustained program of charitable action aimed at supporting such institutions over a period of years so that they can see the growing benefits of our initiatives of benevolence. Naturally I commend similar initiatives to other Lodges and Brethren. At many Lodge meetings I have cited the distinctions between Law and Ethics - between Legality and Morality in order that we as Masons understand that most important distinction, as we are basically custodians and practitioners, hopefully, of a system of Morality, illustrated by symbols. The other day while rummaging through a scrap book I came across this item under the heading "Business & Society" credited to three writers (James E. Post, Anne T. Lawrence & James Weber) and I quote from this source, as it draws the distinction between Law and Ethics rather better than I am able to do :- "Law and Ethics are not quite the same. Laws are similar to ethics because both define proper and improper behaviour. In general, laws are a society's attempt to formalise - that is, to reduce to written rules - the general public's ideas about what constitutes right and wrong conduct in various spheres of life. However, it is rarely possible for written laws to capture all of the subtle shadings that people give to Ethics. Ethical concepts - like the people who believe in them - are more complex than written rules of law. Ethics deals with human dilemmas that frequently go beyond the formal language of law and the meanings given to legal rules. The following situation demonstrates that there is not always a perfect match between the law and important ethical principles. In 1994, educators and parents voiced their concern over the significant increase in sexually explicit language and violence depicted in video games and computer software. (The U.S.) Congress joined in the criticism and called for a system of warnings for consumers. The inter-active Digital Software Association, which represents video-game makers established a five-category system that was voluntarily adopted by the industry … This example suggests that that legality cannot always define when something is believed to be ethical or unethical. Although laws attempt to codify a society's notions of right and wrong, they are not always able to do so completely. Obeying the law is usually one way of acting ethically, and the public generally expects business to be law-abiding. But at times, the public expects business to recognise that ethical principles are broader than law. . So do Masons ! SOCIAL CAPITAL - MASONRY'S ROLE Recently the term 'Social Capital' has entered the Lexicon of the language of Economists, spilling over from the domain of sociologists. Traditionally Economists have believed that human beings are simply interested in their selfish goals and that the market is guided by self-serving human decisions which serve the common good. Economists are now trying to analyse social capital, roughly defined as the accretion of social contacts, social skills, and generally an investment in personal relationships. The orthodox assumption of economists therefore that human beings are essentially selfish is being challenged by the idea that trust, personal relationship and community can make a difference between wealth and poverty. People's accretion or stock of social capital is counted by the number of organisations, charities and religious groups and so on, to which they are affiliated. Social capital can therefore, it is argued, be built up just as we save and build financial assets or human capital by investing in education and the acquisition of skills. This line of thinking has great significance to a country such as India where apart from the disadvantages of poverty, the absence of any kind of social security net leaves its citizens without the required protection, particularly at the two ends of the social spectrum, the very young and the ageing. Masons therefore can and must subscribe to the stock of social capital, by doing which they become ornaments to the society to which we belong and contribute to making a difference between wealth and poverty. They need not be reminded that Masonry took root almost three hundred years ago in this sub-continent, precisely because it satisfied such a need - to act as a Welfare support system for its members. We now, of course serve the general public, as well, within our respective capacities from the collections we make strictly from within our own membership. THE BUSINESS OF CHARITY The distinguishing characteristic of a Mason's heart is also never too far away from his consciousness. Charity has to be consistently enriched both in spirit and in substance, so as to maintain a constant flow of benevolence to the causes to which we have committed ourselves. One cannot deny oneself the opportunity to practise that virtue we profess to admire, for the reason that, at any point of time, we have not organised the resources to practise it. Apart from our Masonic Charities which are naturally my prime concern, by virtue of my association as Trustee with at least two other Charitable Trusts, I have experienced some common problems. The most ubiquitous of these is the fall in revenue from charitable investments, consequent upon the parallel drop in statutory rates of interest. A Charity cannot invest in any avenues other than those which the Trust Acts approve, and which investments now barely provide a return of 6% (Six percent), when in the past, we could have had almost twice that percentage in income. Unfortunately overhead expenses do not fall nor do the needs of the beneficiaries of our Grants. This therefore brings us to the consideration of additional sources of charitable revenue, other than the usual flow of collections from our charitable brethren, to sustain not only existing benevolent activity but to add to the alleviation of focused suffering, by new initiatives. I am convinced that every charity must have a gainful activity which assures a steady income which can be applied to the continuation of its declared charitable objectives and activities. In addition it is necessary to draw up plans for the future in our charitable activities, which would need to be given practical shape by the application of the appropriate resources, for which an inward revenue stream needs to be identified in advance, and realised. A charitable 'business' therefore needs to be conceived which not only provides a revenue stream but an employment potential, if possible, for the socially, economically or physically challenged sections of our society. For example, can we not organize, through our own spouses, employment opportunities for women from our urban slums in a chosen business activity which has a ready demand from even within our own fraternity? Recently I have noticed an advertisement from the well known charity in Chennai "UDAVUM KARANGAL" informing us that they have a Gardening and Garden Management Service on offer. Can we not involve a charity such as this in growing vegetables and such marketable produce in some of our Masonic properties, where land is available? I quote these merely as examples, to give a practical connotation to what might otherwise be dismissed as mere fancy, or an idea which might not be feasible. We have to be business-like about our Charities otherwise we cannot have a sustained effort in benevolence, particularly as we are a small community which might suffer fatigue, if put upon too often, for donations from our Brethren, to maintain all of our charitable initiatives, ongoing and proposed. Nevertheless, let's keep trying! VALUE AND CAPITAL Many years ago, at University, I had a Textbook on Economics, written by Prof: J.R. Hicks with the same title as I have given to this message. However we shall not propound the theories of that respected publication but borrow just its title for my immediate purpose. Our value systems enriched and endowed by millennia of moral thought, exposition, and religious indoctrination seems to have got separated from our Daily life and its practise. Masonry constantly reminds us of our systems of morality, but the allegorical veil appears to keep it from private or public demonstration. Whether it be individual pride, by which I mean self-respect, or national pride, something seems to deter us from the normal practice of delivering what we promise, whether it be in the delivery of goods or services. Just at the time of writing I read a report in a National Newspaper of our Natural Honey fetching three times the export price of Chinese Honey, as the latter was found by International testing, to contain induced anti-biotics. A matter for national pride, celebration, and perhaps long-term commercial benefit, one would have thought. Not for a moment! Some of our exporters have imported Chinese Honey which is so much cheaper than ours, because of the doubts of its quality, and have mixed the import with our higher cost Natural product, to achieve a short-term cost and profit advantage which will ultimately spoil our brand. There goes another possible winner, because of our adulterated value system, leading to an adulterated product an example of national pride belittled and to everyone's long-term material disadvantage. If we as Masons, can provide, in whatever public or private avocation, an undiluted value system - merely by delivering on our promises, maintaining certain standards of public and private conduct - all given in our much memorized rituals, we shall have done a great service to our community, our nation, and of course to our own fraternity. Such a value system if it can deliver, can form a source of (social) capital, for it builds goodwill, trust and confidence, all necessary components for transactions of any kind - personal or commercial. Ultimately, just as Honesty is the Best Policy, so is the delivering of value - real value - which finally is transformed into CAPITAL. Even materially speaking, a worthwhile goal to achieve! While our modes of recognition, and their relative secrecy have drawn more than their share of attention from the popular world, the more vital raison d'etre of our fraternity - the practice of every moral and social virtue has alas! been rather less recognized and acknowledged. So let us concentrate a bit more on the practical manifestation of our obligations! ORGANISATIONAL CHANGE It is being increasingly realized the world over, that organizations even those like us that serve society or even religious bodies need to re-examine their organizational structures and operating functions, in order to achieve their respective goals, rather like corporations do for themselves. Goals need to be set, specifically defined, so as to convey clarity to the membership, and officials, strategies delineated, structures designed to carry out these strategies and reach goals, and of course Resources calculated to be able to achieve them. For instance, if we were to assess the management compulsions of our Fraternity, we need to clarify that our Goal is to serve society through charitable initiatives taken by our Brethren, while also most importantly, seeing to the welfare of our own Brethren, and their families. Our strategies should be such as to focus on certain areas of social welfare which are currently not offered by our State programs or other N.G.O. initiatives. An example would be our initiatives in the care of Senior Citizens (the Cornwallis Home Project), and the investigation we are currently making with Insurance Brokers on a Health / Sickness cover for all our Brethren. Our organizational structure needs, therefore, also to be re-examined in terms of its current relevance, without in any way diluting the traditional elements and nature thereof. For example, we have in our structure largely ceremonial offices such as of Wardens, Chaplain etc., which become active only during our meetings and attendant ceremonies, while there are more organizationally active offices, such as that of the D.G. Treasurer, D.G. Secretary, Superintendent of Works, Steward of Charities, President of Board or Council, to name but a few, who have to be on the job throughout the year. These Officers need to have clear directions of their roles, the goals and strategies, and their performance constantly reviewed. Finally we need to calculate, command and harness the resources needed to carry out all our tasks to reach the goals we have set for ourselves. Resources will always be available for worthwhile goals, and if we are able to prove to our own membership that we are capable of achieving them, by the success record of our preceding initiatives. Nothing succeeds like success ! As Masons we are enjoined to abstain from every reference to Politics or Religion, very obviously to keep contentious subjects or the least possibility of any such disagreements from vitiating our fraternal harmony and the good order of our Society. However every organisation is in danger of being exposed to politics of an indigenous origin, that is by such actions that emanate from within the organisation itself and the exercise of its own power. Therefore it is necessary for even organisations such as Freemasons or any other social service entity to reflect upon this facet, and for their hierarchy to ensure that such political emanations are avoided altogether or at any rate minimised to an extent to make them ineffectual. Generally speaking, Politics is the exercise of power through an authority structure to enforce the will of the hierarchy of the organization in the pursuit of its goals. However in an organisation such as Freemasonry, built on the purest principles of piety and virtue, the exercise of such power rests on moral authority, and not on any other grounds. The discipline called for within the Order is a moral and ethical rigour and not commanded or directed by a power source other than that which derives its authority from a moral law. Therefore, the relationships in our fraternity between its members should be based on trust, goodwill and a spirit of Charity. Anyone who transgresses this understanding and code of conduct is guilty of being untrue to his obligations, solemnly entered into at his initiation. May the GAOTU keep us all steadfast in these solemn obligations, and long preserve the harmony for which we are justly renowned. "IN FRIENDLY COMMUNICATION" On Saturday, the 23rd of August 2003, at Vijayawada, for the first time in more than a decade, I had the pleasure as your District Grand Master to participate in a Meeting of the Regional Grand Lodge of Southern India, at the invitation of my confrere R.W. Bro. Dr. B. Biswakumar, the Regional Grand Master. My deputation included Wor. Bro. Gopal Madhavan, D.G.J.W., Wor. Bro. D.G. Nayar, D.G. Treasurer, Wor. Bro. K.V. Srinivasan, D.G.Secretary, and of course Wor. Bro. B. Balaji Singh, D.G.D. of C. We were warmly received, accommodated and made comfortable in every way by the indefatigable R.W.R.G.M. and his able team of organizers who were incredibly at the railway station from 4 a.m. onwards. More than 700 Brethren of the G.L.I. attended this Convocation, and were also very well looked after - quite a considerable achievement, particularly in the light of the numbers involved. On behalf of our District, and the resumption of our inter-invitation, I presented a Silver Salver suitably inscribed to the RWRGM and his Region, on behalf of all our Brethren and our District. The inscription inter-alia said : "Happy have We Met, I took the opportunity of stressing the fact that we believed in the practical necessities and manifestations of being in 'friendly communication', not only in gestures of this kind, but in active co-operation between our two Constitutions in many spheres. A particular reference was made by me to the excellent co-operation the RGM and I as the Trustees of the Freemasons' Hall Trust have so far achieved, and that indeed we could make the judicious joint management of that Property a powerful symbol of our co-operation, and one that would benefit the Brethren of all the Constitutions that use those premises. The RGM in his address, referred the distinct possibility of our co-operating in a charitable venture there which could also provide an income for the maintenance of that property. Therefore I would like to commend 'friendly communication' as being the message for the month and indeed for all our future contacts with our G.L.I. Brethren, and of all the other Sister Constitutions. “THE PRACTICAL GLOBALISATION OF FREEMASONRY”It has always been known that Freemasonry was spread across the Globe, and with minor variations conveyed the same message of Brotherhood round the World. Ignorant busy-bodies have sometimes denigrated our fraternal movement from envy perhaps, but nevertheless it has flourished in most liberal societies, and taken under its wing men with inclinations towards spiritual and intellectual betterment, ranging under its banners men of different faiths, nationalities and social status. So it has been for more than three centuries. In more recent times, with the convenience of modern travel, communications and reach, the World itself has become a smaller place, allowing for more accessible connections to be made between the peoples of the world in general, and those of our fraternity in particular. We are therefore now seeing invitations being received from other recognized Constitutions and jurisdictions, for get-togethers, which not only promote fraternal relations but help in the exchange of Masonic information, and in learning from each others experience in managing our fraternal administrations. We can envisage a growth in such exchanges, in a sort of Masonic Tourism developing where groups of Masons from one country could visit another, in a kind of exchange program, and indeed even in our own country, we could move around our Masonic jurisdictions, and gain valuable and enriching experiences, of people, places and the practice of Masonry. Could this perhaps then lead to more permanent vacation linkages being organized, particularly involving Mason’s families, and especially children? And Senior Citizens as well. I do not know how many of you know that residents of our Masonic Senior Citizen’s Homes in the U.K. are taken on holidays funded by Grand Charity. Something for us to ponder over on Elders’ Day (October 2nd) for our own Senior Citizen’s Project, when it is up and running. It has been found by studies that Information Technology has most assisted the Service Sector in its global growth, as the Internet and tele-communications has facilitated global access to various services. Can Masonry be an exception? As a small example even our own D.G.L. Website has certainly improved the communications, and dispersal of information between our Brethren and between them and our administration – and even if many of our Brethren have not regularly accessed it, I am sure they are comforted by the thought of such access being available, when required. In my travels and contacts round the World, I emphasise the need to give effect to such practical manifestations of our Global reach, so that the bonds of Masonry enable us to reach across socially to our confreres round the World, and exchange with them, our knowledge, experience and culture. So mote it be! MASONRY UNIVERSALI have just returned from the U.K. after having received visible evidence, if such were necessary, of our Masonic fraternity being an Universal Brotherhood. In a matter of under ten days there, I attended three Chapter and two Craft Meetings, making an average of almost one meeting every two days. At the Chapter meetings I was honoured by the presence of either the Provincial Grand Superintendent or his Deputy or both.
All this was possible because of affectionate Brethren, such as W.Bros. Atkinson, Wild and Pinney of the Provinces of Warwickshire and South Wales Western Division respectively making all the necessary arrangements for me to be able to do so. These arrangements included accommodation, transport (being driven everywhere) and the various details relating to being received at the several meetings, the after-meeting refreshments etc. etc. In addition a round of golf was arranged at the Leamington Club, although the temperature on the course, with a wind-chill, was literally at 0°C. However the warmth of the company more than made up for the frigid weather. The universality of the fraternity was obviously also under-scored by the similarities of the ritual, although in some cases, especially in Chapter working there are discernible differences. To cite but a couple, after a Chapter is opened, the Provincial Grand Principals enter in procession, take over the Chapter until the Minutes are read, and then hand the Chapter back to its own Principals. The Warwickshire Provinces’ working is distinctly different. Another nice gesture is that the visiting dignitary if of sufficient rank, is requested to sign the Minutes, not only as a courtesy but perhaps to confirm the dignitary’s attendance at the meeting. While on the subject of the visit of an officer of my rank, it is to be made clear that the head of another District or Province is received only with the courtesies relating to his Grand Rank, and not as a D.G.M. or G.S. as such, in procession, for instance. Mostly one was placed immediately in front (Craft) or behind (Chapter) the Provincial representative/s. Incidentally a Province is the equivalent in the U.K. of a District which latter nomenclature is relevant only to Territories Overseas. Your District Grand Master was cordially received by the M.W. the Marquess of Northampton Pro-Grand Master as well as by the Assistant Grand Master, R.W.Bro. Williamson, and the Grand Secretary, V.W.Bro. R.A.H. Morrow, in separate meetings over two days, in London. Useful discussions were held on these occasions. Everywhere I visited, I have conveyed the greetings of all my Brethren of the District of Madras, and emphasized the importance of inter-visitation by our Brethren from the two countries, so as to further highlight the practical manifestations of Masonry Universal. In fact, I called it Masonic Tourism, as there are not only friendly and fraternal relationships to be built thereby, but also opportunities to enhance the sense of belonging by the occasions to visit Heritage Masonic Buildings in the U.K. as well as here, in a more general sense. Obviously those visiting must make prior enquiries and appropriate arrangements. May the GAOTU bless all such efforts and exchanges as He obviously did mine! GOLDEN YEARS OF MASONRYDuring these last few weeks of November – December, I have had to attend, with great pleasure, not less than three Golden Jubilee Celebrations of Masonic Membership, with one still to come, in February, although the last of them is one that has been over-due as Wor. Bro. A.I. Abraham whom we shall be honouring then, passed this land mark a few years ago. There are others who have not yet been honoured, as there appears not to have been a systematic identification of the landmarks of this nature, which I am trying to correct, with of course apologies for the delay in the recognition thereof. Such delays will not happen in the future, and any Lodge which has missed out on any Brother is encouraged to have a celebration, if it so wishes, to honour the Golden Jubilee celebrant. Although United Grand Lodge does not have a jewel struck, or permitted for the purpose of celebrating the 50th year, it has permitted us to recognize the event, by presenting a certificate, so that the milestone does not pass by, without any notice whatsoever. To all those who have during this period reached, or surpassed this milestone whose names appear elsewhere on our Website, I convey my deep sense of gratitude, and that of all their Brethren of the U.G.L.E. for their commitment and service to Masonry in their own ways, and hope they will continue to be actively in our midst, in good health and cheer for many many more years. English Masonry has been in this neighbourhood, as a Province, and later as a District for almost three centuries, and it is indeed creditable that these Brethren of 50 years standing have paid their dues for almost a good percentage of that time. May the GAOTU bless and keep them in good heart! We have now arrived at the holiday season, having negotiated Deepavali and Ramzan, we arrive at Christmas and the New Year. We wish all our Brethren and their families a jolly festive season when we hope the traditional spirit of peace and goodwill will prevail. A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all! 50 YEARS 1 W.Bro. C.Rajaraman, PSGD 2 W.Bro. V.V.Venkatasubramanian, PDGSW 3 W.Bro. A.I.Abraham, PDGJW 4 W.Bro.Dr.P.A.Johnson, PDGJW 5 W.Bro. G.J.C. Hambling, PJGD 6 W.Bro. P.R.Narayanaswamy, PDGJW 7 W.Bro. M.S.Pilkington
8 W.Bro. D.J. Carpenter
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Maintained by
J.M.I. Sait for
the DGL - Madras |
