Cornwallis Tour

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CORNWALLIS TOUR

(1^st to 9^th December 2006)

On the 1^st of December, in mid-afternoon, M.W.Bro. Fiennes Lord Cornwallis accompanied by Lady Stephanie landed at Hyderabad on the first leg of their three city tour, or four if you count Secunderabad. They were met by the Deputy DGM Wor. Bro. K.K. Varma and Brethren of the St. John’s and Golconda Lodges.

During their sojourn in the City, they took in the Nizam’s Falaknuma Palace, the Salar Jung Museum, the Charminar and other important tourist spots in the twin cities.

On the evening of the 2^nd December there was a dinner to celebrate the 170^th year of St. John’s Lodge No.434, at the Sailing Club, an annexe of the Secunderabad Club. The Brethren and their Ladies numbering about one hundred inter-acted with the Distinguished Visitors. This was the first occasion that a Most Worshipful Brother of our Constitution had visited Hyderabad since Independence. Suitable presentations were made to the Visitors. The highlight of the evening was a performance by a Blind Children’s Orchestra, a charity supported by St. John’s Lodge.

On the next day the Cornwallises visited the Secunderabad Club and met the President and members of the Managing Committee. Lord Cornwallis was offered and accepted Honorary Membership of the Club.

On the 4^th morning they left for Chennai (Madras) and were received at the Airport by the Assistant District Grand Master, Wor. Bro. G.Rangachari, the District Grand Secretary Wor.Bro.S.Sampath and other Senior Brethren.

The R.W.D.G.M. and Mrs. Menon received the dignitaries at the Madras Club where they were accommodated for the one night they were spending in Chennai.

In the evening, a Banquet was held at the Freemasons’ Hall, attended by Brethren, Visitors and Ladies, numbering about 85. It was a White Table Dinner, with sit-down service, and most elegantly set out and catered.

Toasts were raised and Lord Cornwallis responded. Presentations were made to the Cornwallises as in other centres and were well received and appreciated by the Guests.

By auctioning autographed place cards etc., a sum exceeding Rs.20,000/- was raised for the Cornwallis Home. This was the first time the distinguished visitors had experienced an American Auction as conducted in this District, for Charity, on such occasions.

On the 5^th morning the visitors made the rounds of the Fort St. George, St. Mary’s Church and the Cathedral, and were quite taken with their short tour. Lady Stephanie on her first visit to India enjoyed her outings.

On the same day, they took the evening flight to Bangalore, and were received there again by the Deputy D.G.M. Wor.Bro. Dr.K.K. Varma and Senior Brethren of Lodge Southern Brotherhood led by the Worshipful Master Col. Mistry and Wor. Bro. Kirit Morzaria. A press conference was held at the Hotel Atria on the evening of the 5^th, taken by RWDGM, and later, attended by M.W.Bro. Lord Cornwallis who arrived there directly from the Airport. It was well attended, and the press reports were seen in many newspapers the next day.

The 6^th of December – the day of the Inauguration of the Cornwallis Home, a much-awaited event, had arrived. Transport arrangements had been made from the Cricket Stadium, as a pick-up point to ferry our Brethren, Ladies and Guests to the Home at Devanahalli, about an hour’s drive from the City. The RWDGM his lady, along with the R.W. District Grand Master of Bengal (R.W. Bro. Iqbal Ahmed) and of Bombay and N.India (R.W.Bro. Dorab C. Bajan) were in a lead car to arrive at the Home site before the Cornwallises did. At 10 a.m. the distinguished visitors, arrived and were piped in, after being introduced to the Grand Officers of the District, and the visiting District Grand Masters by our RWDGM. It may be specially noted that Mrs. A.P. Tampi, widow of our Past District Grand Master R.W. Bro. A.P. Tampi, O.S.M., was present at the inauguration. We were also pleased to have the company of W.Bro. M.S. Chintamani, Past Deputy District Grand Master, at both the Inauguration and the Banquet in the evening.

After robing in Regalia, the RWDGM escorted M.W.Bro. Lord Cornwallis and Lady Stephanie attended by Buglers to the foyer of the Home. There a ribbon was cut, and the RWDGM presented the Silver Scissors to M.W. Bro. Lord Cornwallis, after which RWDGM un-veiled a portrait of the M.W.Bro. at the entrance.

Then the ceremonial lamp was lit by M.W. Bro. and Lady Cornwallis, by the RWDGM and Mrs. Jaya Menon, as well as by the visiting District Grand Masters. After a quick tour of the Home, the distinguished visitors were escorted to the dais in the specially erected shamiana, at the rear of the building.

The Inauguration Meeting commenced with a prayer rendered by Wor. Bro. T.A. Devagnanam in the unavoidable absence of the District Grand Chaplain.

This was followed by a Welcome by the President of the Executive Council of the District Grand Charity, Wor. Bro. A.K. Nair, and a review of the project by the District Grand Secretary, Wor. Bro.S.Sampath. Thereafter M.W. Bro. Lord Cornwallis addressed the gathering and gave an overview of the activities of the U.K. Masonic Charities and their respective spheres of operation in benevolence. This was followed by our RWDGM’s address which is reproduced along with this Report as it was meant also to be a vote of thanks from our highest functionary to the entire team of the District which delivered this Project to our community.

The invitees to the inauguration were served breakfast on arrival at the Home before the opening and the meeting. On the completion of the inauguration program at 11.45 a.m. the invitees were taken to the DODDI Resort at Yelahanka for a lunch, courtesy of the District Grand Lodge, with accompanying refreshments. By all accounts it was an excellent spread laid on by the Resort Management, which was enjoyed by all attending. At about 2.30 p.m. they were all ferried back to the Cricket Stadium to collect their private vehicles parked there.

With the Banquet that followed in the evening for Brethren and special invitees it can be said that the Inauguration catered for all three meals on that day – breakfast, lunch and dinner – good recompense for those that took the time and trouble to attend the function.

That evening (of the 6^th December) at the gracious Banquet laid on at The Chancery – the Pavilion, Toasts were raised as applicable and both M.W. Bro. Lord Cornwallis and R.W.Bro. K.R.N. Menon responded with appropriate words.

Presentations were made to the Visitors, and a Book on the Cornwallis Family History was auctioned by American auction fetching over Rs.25,000/- for (the Home) Charity.

On the 7^th and 8^th December, the Cornwallises visited Nandi Hills and Srirangapatna (Seringapatam) accompanied by a professional guide to explain the significance of the places visited.

On the 9^th December in the early hours of the morning (around 4 a .m.) Wor. Bro. Kirit Morzaria escorted them to the Bangalore airport for their flight home. All in all, it was a very successful visit, and enjoyable as expressed to us by the visitors who have promised to be back with us soon, God willing.

Once again the lessons learnt from the organization of this visit, and the achievement of this visit, and the achievement of the Home, are that it’s always Teamwork that delivers the results. The District Brethren can take comfort in a job well done particularly the Task Forces and their Chairman who attended to the various detailed duties to reach this happy conclusion.