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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.
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