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Introduction
Freemasonry is one of the world's oldest
secular fraternal societies. It is a world-wide organisation
based on the principle of the Fatherhood of God and
the Brotherhood of man. It is a society of men concerned
with moral and spiritual values. Its members are taught
its precepts by series of ritual which follow ancient
forms and use stone masons' customs and tools and allegorical
guides. It seeks to make good men better and there by
make the world a better place in which to live. Information
in this write-up is intended to explain Freemasonry
as it has been practised under the United Grand Lodge
of England, which administered Lodges of Freemasons
in England and Wales and in many places overseas including
India and a quick overview of its history.
The origin of Freemasonry
The origins of Freemasonry are the
subject of great debate. No one knows just how old it
is because the actual origins have been lost in time.
One belief is generally accepted by Masonic historians
that there is a connection with the operative stonemasons
who built the great medieval cathedrals and castles
- but whether that connection was direct or indirect
is still the subject of speculation. According to that
belief the origin of Freemasonry is the ancient guilds
or associations of operative stonemasons in Europe who
were the builders of the great cathedrals in the middle
ages. Possibly, they were influenced by the Knights
Templar, a group of Christian warrior monks formed in
1118 to help protect pilgrims making trips to the Holy
Land.
As time passed other men of good moral
character and high standing were accepted as members
of these stone masons guilds or Lodges. This still applies
today and Freemasons continue to reserve the right to
elect to membership only men with proven high moral
standards.
Freemasonry To-day
Organised Freemasonry became established
when four of the "old" Lodges met in London
on St. John the Baptist's Day, June 24, 1717, and formed
the first Grand Lodge of England, thereafter known as
the Premier Grand Lodge of the world. In 1723 the first
rulebook - the Constitutions of Masonry - was published.
By 1730 the Grand Lodge had over 100 lodges in England
and Wales under its control and had begun to spread
Freemasonry abroad. For historical reasons separate
Grand Lodges were formed in Ireland (1725) and Scotland
(1736). Between them they took Freemasonry around the
globe.
With effect from 1727-28, when travel
was by horseback and sailing ship, Masonry spread with
amazing speed in Europe, the West Indies, North America
and India where lodges were set up.
In the later 18th and the 19th centuries
British Freemasonry was taken to the Middle and Far
East, Australia, Africa and South America, mirroring
the development of the British Empire. When those areas
eventually achieved nation status many of the lodges
formed independent local Grand Lodges, but other lodges
decided to remain with their parent Grand Lodge - resulting
in the United Grand Lodge of England still having some
750 lodges overseas, principally in Commonwealth countries.
Freemasonry has been in existence in the present form
for nearly 280 years in the world and for over 266 years
in India. There are more than 150 Grand Lodges throughout
the world today with a membership in excess of 6,000,000.
In U.S. alone there are more than 13,200 Lodges.
It is of interest to note that within
12 years of the constitution of the Grand Lodge of England,
constituted for the purpose of exercising supervision
over the lodges in London, and its neighbouring areas,
a petition was sent by a few Brethren in India to constitute
a Provincial Grand Lodge in Calcutta. The Lodge at Fort
William -- that is, Calcutta -- appears in the Engraved
List of 1730 A.D., to meet at Fort William in Calcutta.
LODGE "STAR IN THE EAST", No. 67 E. C., was
the FIRST LODGE constituted in CALCUTTA and is still
in existence, having completed 256 years. The Provincial
Grand Lodge of Madras was formed in 1752 and The Provincial
Grand Lodge of Bombay was created in 1758.
On the advent of freemasonry to Indian
soil its membership was restricted 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.
But Hindus were not considered for admission because
it was believed that they did not believe in one Supreme
Being, rather worship many deities. The doors to Hindu
Masonry were flung wide-open by the unstoppable determination
of one Mr. P.C. Dutt of Calcutta to become a member
of the craft after much opposition from the Provincial
Grand Master (Hugh Sanderman) and black balling by members,
In the 1830's the Duke of Sussex proclaimed that the
Hindu gods were the personification of a single Supreme
Being and that the religion of the Single Mason was
his own concern. This allowed the native Indians to
join the Craft. Thus Mr. Dutt became Bro. Dutt in Anchor
and Hope, No. 234, only in 1872, nine years after he
was proposed for initiation.
Indian Order of Freemasons
After independence it was in 1956 that
the first real consideration was given to the establishment
of a sovereign Grand Lodge of India and indeed, following
a joint Conference in Dublin of The Grand Lodges of
England, Ireland and Scotland in October of that year,
it was agreed that the views of the Brethren in India
should be sought. Ultimately the Grand Lodge of India
was officially consecrated as a Sovereign Grand Lodge
with full Masonic jurisdiction over the territories
of the Republic of India on Friday, the 24th of November
1961 A.D. in the Ashoka Hotel, New Delhi, India. The
Indian Order of Freemasons has, as its head, its Grand
Master, who is elected for a term of three years. The
First Grand Master was M.W. Bro. Major General Dr. Sir
Syed Raza Ali Khan, G.C.l.E.,D.Litt., LL.D, the Nawab
of Rampur. M.W.Bro. Arun Chintopanth O.S.M. is the 12th
Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of India. On 28th October,
2006 M.W.Justice Devinder Gupta O.S.M., Former Chief
Justice of Andhra Pradesh will be installed as the 13th
Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of India.
On 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. There are
now about 350 Lodges and about equal number of other
Masonic bodies located in different parts of the country
with a total membership of about 18,000 Freemasons under
the Grand Lodge of India. There are number of Lodges
and other Masonic bodies functioning in India under
their respective parent Grand Lodges.
There are number of prominent Indians
who have been Freemasons. To name a few ; Swami Vivekananda,
Shri C. Rajagopalachari, Shri Moti Lal Nehru, President
Dr. Rajendra Prasad, President Dr. S. Radhakrishnan,
President Shri Fakhrudin Ali Ahmed, as also several
serving and retired judges of Supreme Court and High
Courts, serving and retired Defence Personnel and Civilian
Officers besides many Industrialists, Business men,
Business Executives and other Professionals.
A Freemason's Lodge
The primary unit organisation of Freemasonry
is a Lodge. The word "lodge" means both a
group of Masons meeting in some place and the room or
building in which they meet. It's a Middle English word.
When the great cathedrals of the Middle Ages were being
built, the masons had special, temporary buildings built
against the side of the cathedral in which they met,
received their pay, planned the work on the cathedral
and socialized after work. This building was called
a lodge. The term has simply remained down through the
ages. Masonic buildings are also sometimes called "temples"
because much of the symbolism Masonry uses to teach
its lessons comes from the building of King Solomon's
Temple in the Holy Land. While there is some variation
in detail from state to state and country to country,
lodge rooms today are set up in similar style.
Master of a Lodge is selected annually
by the members. Progression through the various Offices
of a Lodge enables members to develop self-confidence
and improve speaking skills and promotes qualities of
leadership.
Lodge meetings include Social functions
which include wives and families are also held and in
many instances these activities raise funds for charitable
causes.
Freemasons enjoy personal recognition
and friendship when they visit Lodges in any part of
the Country and when travelling interstate and overseas.
A wide circle of friends and acquaintances is easily
established.
There are two types of meeting agenda.
The first is like the business meeting of any other
organisation. It takes just a bit longer to call the
meeting to order, because a longer opening ceremony
or ritual is used than most of the civic clubs do. But,
it reminds the members of the Lodge of some of the most
important lessons in Masonry. After the lodge is "opened",
there is reading of the minutes of last meeting, vote
to pay bills, take care of old and new business, and
plan projects etc., The other type of meeting is one
in which new members are received in solemn ritual ceremonies
and stimulating lectures which relate to the ancient
traditions and principles on which Freemasonry is founded
and conclude with enjoyable fellowship over supper/dinner.
Freemasonry and its principles
Freemasonry is fundamentally based
on Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth which are ethical
principles acceptable to all good men. It supports the
"Golden Rule" - To do unto others as you would
wish them to do unto you. It teaches each member to
act and live in such a way that he will always strive
to become a better man, not better than someone else,
but better tomorrow than he is today.
The stonemasons' tools and principles of architecture
are used in a symbolic way by Freemasons to teach the
basic moral truths and impress on members the virtues
of Faith, Hope, Charity, Prudence, Fortitude, Temperance
and Justice.
Masonic ceremonials form the basis for teaching the
Masonic philosophy which leads to a better understanding
of the purpose of life and the need for care and concern
for others.
Masonic teachings promote personal
growth of character, and encourage Freemasons to lead
an active life in the community. Masons practice charity
and benevolence and strive to promote human welfare.
All over the world Masons care for their indigent Brethren,
widows and orphans; maintain homes; support their mother
countries; contribute scholarships and practice character
building.
Masons are dedicated to freedom and
are champions of liberty. This is as much a cardinal
characteristic today as it was when American colonial
Masons were in the forefront of our fight for freedom
and independence. Even then, however, Masonic Lodges
remained Sanctuaries where war passions were conciliated
with brotherhood. The background thus displayed makes
clear that neither tyrant nor dictator can exist in
a country where Freemasonry prevails.
People helping people
Freemasonry teaches concern for others,
care for the less fortunate and help for those in trouble,
sorrow, need, sickness or any other adversity. Masonic
teachings inculcates in its members obedience to God
& observance of the Laws of the country. It is committed
to extend the hand of fellowship & provide Relief
to those in distress.
Freemasonry reinforces kindness in
the home, honesty in business, courtesy in society and
fairness in all things. It flourishes in every free
country and is a way of life for men of all nations.
Freemasonry and the family
Freemasonry instructs its members to
hold the family in the highest regard. Lodges involve
families and friends of members in a number of their
activities and the welfare of widows and families of
deceased members is of particular concern.
Freemasonry is also not a social club.
It however provides the means of socialising among its
members, which consists of a cross section of society
drawn from all walks of life who meet on an equal ·
footing. It also involves the families of members on
such social occasions.
Freemasonry and politics
Freemasonry is not a political organisation.
It has no political agenda. Discussion of any topic
of a political nature is not permitted in Lodges. Freemasons
are urged to perform their civic duties according to
the laws of the country in which they work or live.
It reminds them of the filial affection one should always
have for the Land of their birth, to remain loyal to
the laws of the land which, for the time being, may
be the place of their residence, or afford them protection.
The use of membership of the Craft for material benefit
is discouraged. Freemasonry naturally tends to attract
those with a concern for people and a sense of social
responsibility and purpose.
Freemasonry is not a secret society.
There is nothing secret or secretive
about Freemasonry. It is not a secret society, but lodge
meetings, like meetings of many other social and professional
associations, are private occasions open only to members.
Freemasonry does not conceal the time and place of its
meeting, nor does a member hide the fact of his membership.
Like many other Societies it regards some of its internal
affairs as private matters of concern only for its members.
There is no secret about its aims & principles.
Copies of its Constitutions and Rules and aims of Freemasonry
can be obtained by interested members of the public
from its offices. The meeting places and halls used
by Freemasons are readily identifiable. Freemasons are
encouraged to speak openly about their membership, while
remembering that they undertake not to use it for their
own or anyone else's advancement.
The rituals and ceremonies used by
Freemasons to pass on the principles of Freemasonry
to new members were first revealed publicly in 1723.
They include the traditional forms of recognition used
by Freemasons essentially to prove their identity and
qualifications when entering a Masonic meeting. These
include handshakes which have been much written about
and can scarcely be regarded as truly secret today;
for medieval Freemasons, they were the equivalent of
a 'pin number' restricting access only to qualified
members.
Many thousands of books have been written on the subject
of Freemasonry and are readily available to the general
public. Freemasonry offers spokesmen and briefings for
the media and provides talks to interested groups on
request. Freemasons are proud of their heritage and
happy to share it.
Freemasonry and religion
Some people confuse Masonry with a
religion, but it is not. Although every meeting is opened
and closed with prayer, Freemasonry is not a religion,
nor is it a substitute for religion. An essential qualification
for a person who wants to become a Mason is that he
must have a belief in God. No atheist can ever become
a Mason. A Mason is taught, as one of the first lessons
of Masonry that one should pray for divine counsel and
guidance before starting an important undertaking. But
that does not make Masonry a "religion." Men
of many different faiths are members of the Craft and
while each one is encouraged to continue to follow his
own religion, discussions of a religious nature are
not at all encouraged in a Lodge. However, it emphasises
secularism by teaching respect for and tolerance towards
all religions. In every Lodge meeting Volume of Sacred
Law is kept open on the altar or table. In the Lodges
under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of India Volumes
of Sacred Laws of five major religions in India viz.
Bhagwat Gita, Holy Quran, The Bible, The Holy Granth
Sahib and The Zend Avestha are opened an altar or table
if a lodge is meeting,
Sometimes people confuse Masonry with
a religion because we call Masonic buildings as "temples."
But we use the word in the same sense that the Court
is called a "Temple of Justice". Masons believe
in the importance of religion. Masonry encourages every
Mason to be active in the religion and church of his
own choice. Masonry teaches that without religion a
man is alone and lost, and that without religion, he
can never reach his full potential. But Freemasonry
does not tell a person which religion he should practice
or how he should practice it. That is between the individual
and God. That is the function of his house of worship,
not his fraternity.
Masonic Charity
Freemasonry encourages its members
to be community minded. From its earliest days, Freemasonry
has been involved in charitable activities, and since
its inception it has provided support for many widows
and orphans of Freemasons as well as for others within
the community.
All monies raised for charity are drawn
from amongst Freemasons, their families and friends,
while grants and donations are made to Masonic and non-Masonic
charities alike. Widows and others in distressed circumstances
are assisted by the provision of financial grants. In
India too the Masonic Fraternity is involved in several
charitable projects, all over the country. The General
Williams Masonic Polyclinic at Janpath, New Delhi, Masonic
Public School in Vasant Kunj, New Delhi, Amrit Masonic
Charitable Society, Noida, Masonic Medical care centre
for children in Coimbatore, as also the adoption of
an entire village located in backward area in Bheemlipatnam
in Visakhapatnam Distt and another village in Srikakulam
District, for all round development in Health, Sanitation,
Education & Housing. & Construction of Sheds
for cyclone victims in Andhra Pradesh, awarding many
Scholarships and Bursaries to deserving students, helping
institutions for the handicapped and the aged, holding
of periodical Blood donation camps, Eye camps and other
Health Camps etc., are examples of some of the socially
relevant activities of Masonic organisations all over
the country.
What does Masonry teach?
Masonry teaches some important principles.
There's nothing very surprising in the list. Masonry
teaches that:
Since God is the Creator, all men and women are the
children of God. Because of that, all men and women
are brothers and sisters, entitled to dignity, respect
for their opinions, and consideration of their feelings.
Each person must take responsibility
for his/her own life and actions. Neither wealth, nor
poverty, education, nor ignorance, health, nor sickness
excuses any person from doing the best he or she can
do or being the best person possible under the circumstances.
No one has the right to tell another person what he
or she must think or believe. Each man and woman has
an absolute right to intellectual, spiritual, economic,
and political freedom. This is a right given by God,
not by man. All tyranny, in every form, is illegitimate.
Each person must learn and practice self-control. Each
person must make sure his spiritual nature triumphs
over his animal nature. Another way to say the same
thing is that even when we are tempted to anger, we
must not be violent. Even when we are tempted to selfishness,
we must be charitable. Even when we want to "write
someone off," we must remember that he or she is
a human and entitled to our respect. Even when we want
to give up, we must go on. Even when we are hated, we
must return love, or, at a minimum, we must not hate
back. It isn't easy!
Faith must be in the centre of our
lives. We find that faith in our houses of worship,
not in Freemasonry, but Masonry constantly teaches that
a person's faith, whatever it may be, is central to
a good life.
Each person has a responsibly to be a good citizen,
obeying the law. That doesn't mean we can't try to change
things, but change must take place in legal ways.
It is important to work to make this
world better for all who live in it. Masonry teaches
the importance of doing good, not because it assures
a person's entrance into heaven -- that's a question
for a religion, not a fraternity -- but because we have
a duty to all other men and women to make their lives
as fulfilling as they can be.
Honor and integrity are essential to
life. Life without honour and integrity is without meaning.
Qualification for membership
To be eligible to become a Freemason
the absolute qualification are that a man must be over
the age of 21 years; be of good character; be law abiding
and profess belief in a Supreme Being. No atheist can
become a Mason. Anyone who is of good moral character
and believes in the existence of Almighty God and a
belief in the Supreme Being, no matter by what name
He is called, or what faith the person professes, is
eligible.
The process of becoming a Mason is
not complicated. It involves three evenings to undergo
three degrees, or three stages of membership called
Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft, and Master Mason. These
are learning experiences. There is some homework that
goes with each degree that is worked out with another
member of the Lodge. The degrees of Masonry teach progressive
lessons in morals, ethics, and philosophy the importance
of honour and integrity, of being a person on whom others
can rely, of being both trusting and trustworthy, of
realizing that you have a spiritual nature as well as
a physical or animal nature, of the importance of self-control,
of knowing how to love and be loved, of knowing how
to keep confidential what others tell you so that they
can "open up" without fear. To understand
these lessons and use them in our daily life requires
that we invest some individual time and thought. But
that's what makes being a Mason so special. But, after
a man becomes a Mason, the time he gives to the fraternity
is entirely up to him. There is no requirement that
a man participate in the meetings and projects of his
Lodge. Each man determines for himself the time he wants
to give to the fraternity.
Membership
There is a rule in Masonry that a person
must seek admission himself. Some men are surprised
that no one has ever asked them to become a Mason. They
may even feel that the Masons in their town don't think
they are "good enough" to join. But it doesn't
work that way. For hundreds of years, Masons have been
forbidden to ask others to join the fraternity. We can
talk to friends about Masonry. We can tell them about
what Masonry does. We can tell them why we enjoy it.
But we can't ask, much less pressure, anyone to join.
There's a good reason for that. It isn't that we're
trying to be exclusive. But becoming a Mason is a very
serious thing. Joining Masonry is making a permanent
life commitment to live in certain ways. Most of them
listed above -- to live with honour and integrity, to
be willing to share with and care about others, to trust
each other, and to place ultimate trust in God. No one
should be "talked into" making such a decision.
Men enter of their own volition after a discussion with
a Mason about joining. He should come to Masonry "of
his own free will and accord", to learn to improve
himself and to enjoy the company of other good people,
not because someone keeps pestering him to join or because
he think it will help him "get ahead" in business.
. A person has to be ready to grow, has to suspect that
there is something more to life, and wants to know what
that is, before he is really ready to become a Mason.
How to join the fraternity
So, when a man decides he wants to
be a Mason, he asks a Mason for a petition or application.
He fills it out and gives it to the Mason, and that
Mason takes it to the local lodge. The Master of the
lodge will appoint a committee to visit with the man
and his family, find out a little about him and why
he wants to be a Mason, tell him and his family about
Masonry, and answer their questions. The committee reports
to the lodge, and the lodge votes on the petition. If
the vote is affirmative -- and it usually is -- the
lodge will contact the man to set the date for the Entered
Apprentice Degree. There is some study and a bit of
memory work required with which a Lodge Brothers will
always help.. After the Third Degree the man will be
a full-fledged Master Mason and will have joined the
oldest global brotherhood in the world!
For more information a person can call the Grand Lodge/Regional
Grand Lodge office and get information.
What can Free-masonry offer?
On the basis of the foregoing information,
it is relatively easy to see what Freemasonry can give
to someone, on an individual basis as well as towards
humanity in general. In short, it is essentially an
educational guide for showing how to live one's life
and an apprenticeship for learning what liberty is,
whilst taking into account the dimensions of one's personality
on emotional planes, passing through "Fraternity";
on intellectual grounds through the exercise of "Tolerance";
and on the spiritual plane through "Traditions",
and by reference to the Superior Being. It would allow
anyone who prefers taking the difficult way to attain
his own improvement to find essential material inside
the fraternal alliance where he may share efforts and
questions. Freemasonry, therefore, provides a place
where constructive discussion is possible through the
mutual respect of others' opinions and in the listening
of them. What unites Freemasons is faith in one's perfectibility
and one's radiating influence on others. Through Mason's
works, and through an active and a responsibly guided
self conduct, Freemasonry endeavours to shine out towards
the exterior world with more Justice, more Tolerance,
more Charity and Love.
Source: Internet
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