Articles by the Fraternity
When, Where, And Under What Circumstances Masonic Institution Has Taken Shape
In the absence of any authentic record, it is very difficult to trace that actual origin of FREEMASONRY. As such, to find out the origin of FREEMASONRY and to trace its development and growth is beyond the scope of this paper. Hence, the origin of FREEMASONRY is shrouded in the mists of antiquity.
In the ritual we are told, "the usages and customs among Freemasons have ever borne a near affinity of those of the ancient Egyptians. Their philosophers, un-willing to expose their mysteries to the vulger eyes, couched their systems of learning and polity under signs and hieroglyphical figures, which they communicated to their Chief Priests or Magi alone, who were bound by an oath to conceal them." It is, therefore, udeduced that one of the greatest civilizations which we have on record is that of Egypt. The mysteries were not taught to ever body, but only to selected candidates, who passed through degrees very similar to the Three Degrees of Freemasonry. We, therefore, have a fair right to say that FREEMASONRY is descendent of those mysteries of the Egyptians. FREEMASONRY as we know it and world it in our present day times, has very few records. Those records go back to the time when GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND was founded at the early part of the 18th century, a matter of over 250 years ago. To say nothing of its antiquity it is by far the oldest secret organisation in existence.
Albeit, the origin of the Craft cannot be pinned down to a particular date, place or person, it is know that available records of the practice of FREEMASONRY, as said above, goes back to over eight hundred years ago. it is the world's most ancient and largest fraternal organisations professing a faith in the FATHERHOOD of GOD and BROTHERHOOD of MAN and the Immortality of the Soul. Founded on the three Grand Principles of BROTHERLY LOVE, RELIEF AND TRUTH, its benevolent activites are numerous and well known.
The year 1717 is of great importnce to Freemasonry, for it was then that the FIRST GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND was born. It was the FIRST in the world, followed by other Grand Lodges in other countries, and was the begining of that which became the GRAND LODGE SYSTEM. Minutes were not kept during the early years of the existence and we have to rely very largely on the 2nd (1738) edition of Dr. Jams Anderson' BOOK OF CONSTITUTION for an accurate record of the working of the Grand Lodge in those days. Even so, it was written some 21 years afterwards by a Brother who was probably not present at some of the Meetings he chronicled. His account of those early events is, however, probably comparatively accurate. As stated earlier, FREEMASONARY was revived, and the Grand Lodge of England established by four of the Lodges which then existed in London. This revival took place through the influence and by the exertions of non-operative or speculative masons, and the Institution has ever since mainly preserved that character. Lodges were speedily established all over the world, in Europe, America, and Asia. No important change has taken place in the Organisation since that period. With the exceptions of two countries in Europe, in every state of United States, in the Dominion of Handa and other British Provinces and each of the south American Republics, there is a GRAND LODGE exercising SOVEREIGN Masonic power; while in some Colonies which have not attained political independance Provincial Grand Lodges have been invested with slightly inferior prerogatives.
Therefore, credit must be given to England for having carried FREEMASONRY into every nook and cranny of the earth. To-day, FREEMASONRY is far flung over the entire globe, and is strictly speculative and benevolent. It holds firm and fast as its creed complete faith in THE GREAT ARCHITECT OF THE UNIVERSE. It is, therefore, needless to state that where freemasonry reigns, these is PEACE, HONOUR, AND GOOD WILL AMONG MEN.
FREEMASONRY IN INDIA: (A) UNDER FOREIGN CONSTITUTIONS:
FREEMASONRY, as organised in England, was brought into Indian by the British in the SEVENTEENTH CENTURY. Its Membership was restricted then to the British residents of India until 1775, when for the FIRST TIME AN INDIAN, NAWAB UMADAT-UL-UMARA, the eldest son of the Nawab of the Carnatic was INITIATED into Freemasonry at Trichinopoly. LODGE "STAR IN THE EAST", No. 67 E. C., was the FIRST LODGE constituted in 1740 in CALCUTTA and is still in existence, having completed 252 years. The Grand Lodes of England, Ireland Scotland are still having their Lodes in India and the Brethren had always worked to-gether in the utmost cordial relations and in PEACE, LOVE, AND HARMONY.
FREEMASONRY IN INDIA: (B) UNDER GRAND LODGE OF INDIA:
Albert there had been a demand for the establishment of GRAND LODGE OF INDIA from time to time, the idea did not materialise for very many reasons, until a little ever thirty years ago. Towards the end of 1959, the Grand Msters of England, Ireland and Scotland met and came to the conclusion that the time had come when the wishes of the INDIAN BRETHREN in the matter should be ascertained and if they wanted to have a GRAND LODGE, they should be helped to do so. After going through all the required formalities, 145 Lodes out of 277 individual, or about 55% of the Lodes, opted for the GRAND LODGE OF INDIA, having the streagth of 7,466 members; to-day we are having 295 Lodges on our rolls. We are one of the very few Lodges in the world to register a steady increase in the number of Lodges and in membership year after year.
Prior to 24th November, 1961. Masonic Lodges and "Side Degrees" had been functioning in India for nearly two centuries under the jurisdiction of the provincial and District Bodies, deriving authority from their respective Parent Grand Lodges and Grand Chapters or England, Ireland and Scotland. So, it was after our political independence, the desire and urge for establishing a sovereign Grand Lodge in our Motherland were rightly and timely kindled in the hearts of our Indian Brethren. Believe me Brehren, that the same had nothing to do with politics in any sense, nor, any political strings were associated and attached to it, They were only our reaction to the historical circumstances and were out of our patriotism.
On Friday the 24th November, 1961, the day dawned with great ecstasy, in the hearts of the Indian Brethren, ushering a GOLDEN ERA of founding the GRAND LODGE OF INDIA at the famous Ashoka Hote, New Delhi, before an unprecedented large gathering of luminaries and dignitaries of our Fraternity both from India and abroad. That inaugural meeting was a RED LETTER Day in the annals of Freemasonry in India, comparable only to august, 15, 1947 in our political history. On that day, we became a SOVEREIGN AND INDEPENDENT GRAND LODGE, possessing the supreme superintending authority and alone heaving the inherent power of enacting laws and regulation for the Government of the CRAFT and altering, repealing and abrogating them. It is one of the youngest Grand Lodges in the world of Freemasonry; long may it continue and do the good work inclucated by our ORDER. Our GRAND LODGE OF INDIA is now occupying its rightful place among the comity of GRAND LODGES OF THE WORLD with great potentialities prospects and with a promising and prosperous future. Thus seeing our rapid all round remarkable potentialities; progress and achievements, about 110 Grand Lodges spread over the four quarters of the globe, have extended fraternal recognition to and exchanged GRAND REPRESENTATIVES with us in a very short span of time.
After confronting the teething troubles in the earlier years, the countless difficulties we yad to surmount, we never had thought then that we would be able to achieve so much within this short span of life of THIRTY ONE memorable and remarkable years of our GRAND LODGE. But, now we have every reason to feel happy and proud of the excellent record of our work and achievements. With this inspiration and success in our efforts, we shall march on with greater hopes and strength, courage and confidence. But let us not be comlacent, for we still have to achieve more and promote its progress for which we will have to work hard.
On the advent of the founding of the GRAND LODGE OF INDIA, Four Regional Grand Lodges. viz, the Regional Grand Lodge of Northern India, Eastern India, Southern India and Western India were established immediately soon after it.
MASONIC INSTITUTION INTO HYDERABAD STATE:
The first record of FREEMASONRY in Hyderabad was in the year 1806, when 33rd Regiment stationed there worked under WARRANT VII as LODOE "UNITY AND FRIENDSHIP" granted in the year 1803. From 1819 to 1822 no record of Masonry is found in Secunderabad, and this ultimately brings us to the period of foundation of the present Lodge ST. JOHN, Secunderabad in 1936 Much prior to this year, St. John LODGE was assigned No. 13 on August 16th, 1822 A. D. The records of St. JOHN Lodge No. 13, are difficult to trace out, but one fact is certain that in the year 1836, Lodge St. John was numbered 628. This was changed afterwards in 1863 to 434 which number it now retains, since 19th May, 1868 A. D., A. L., 5868.
In may not be out of place to mention here with pride about the Craft Lodges in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad; out of which Lodges Mayo No. 1406, Deccan No. 1144, St. John's No. 434 and Golcondra, No. 3249 were under the ENGLISH CONSTITION. But, when the option came, except Lodge St. John, No. 434 E. C. and Lodge Golcondra, No. 3249 E. C. the rest of the Lodges mentioned above opted with the GRAND LODGE OF INDIA. There are now altogerher TEN LODGES, FOUR in Hyderabad, vi, Decan, No. 20, Morland No. 25, Hyderabad No. 50 and Perfect No. 264, holding their monthly meetings respectively in Gosha Mahal Baradari Masonic Hall, while the other SIX LODGES, viz., The Mayo, No. 19, the Senior most Lodge, Ekram, No. 45, Italia - Williams - Manian, No. 158, Raksha No. 162, Naoshir Chenoy No. 187 and Secunderabad No. 211, are respectively holding their monthly Meetings in St. John's Hall, Secunderabad. Interestingly to note that Lodge Mayo No. 19, Lodge Deccan No. 20, and Lodge Morland No. 25 have already celebrated their CENTENARY on 10th August, 1973, on 11th August, 1973 and on 10th October, 1975 respectively; while Lodge Hyderabad No. 50 is hearding to celebrate its CENTENARY very shortly.
