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For the record - as our American Brethren
might say - the Grand Lodge of India was officially
constituted at ten minutes of six o'clock (Delhi time)
on Friday, the 24th of November in the Ashoka Hotel,
New Delhi, India.
It is not possible to say with any
accuracy when, or to whom, the idea of the formation
of a Grand Lodge of India first occurred. In the early
1950's the Indian Masonic Journal carried some correspondence,
and at least one editorial leader, on the formation
of a Grand Lodge of India. As might be expected, a wide
variety of views were expressed in that correspondence
and no action appears to have been taken by any of the
responsible authorities.
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.
As far as Scotland is concerned, a poll which was taken
in the Spring of 1957 showed that a considerable number
of Lodges were in favour of a Grand Lodge of India.
Two year later - in 1959 - the then Immediate Past Grand
Master of Scotland - Lord Macdonald of Macdonald - accompanied
by Grand Secretary, Dr. Alexandar F. Buchan, paid an
official visit to India and took the opportunity of
discussing with a number of Brethren, the question of
a formation of a Grand Lodge of India. Lord Macdonald
was much impressed by the views put before him and on
his return to Scotland he consulted the Grand Masters
of England and Ireland as to what steps might be taken
to permit of the Brethren in India having their own
Grand Lodge. In 1959. At a Conference held in London,
the Grand Masters of the three British Grand Lodges
expressed their unanimous opinion that an Independent
Grand Lodge of India was desirable and that its establishment
should be gradually but actively pursued.
In January 1960, the District Grand
Lodges in India under the three Constitutions were directed
to nominate members of a Steering Committee under an
appointed chairman. The terms of reference to the Committee
were, To consider the steps to be taken to establish
a Grand Lodge of India and the advice to be given to
our Grand Lodges thereon'. Lieutenant-General Sir Harold
Williams, a Brother of the Irish Constitution, was appointed
Chairman and the Steering Committee met frequently and
discharged its duties with great assiduity.
In due course the Steering Committee
submitted its report, which was accepted by the three
Grand Masters in all but most minor details. The report
recommended, among other things, that all the Lodges
under the three constitutions in India should be invited
to consider and decide whether or not they wished to
opt to form the new Grand Lodge. The Steering Committee's
repot also dealt with such important matters as a Declaration
of Principles; a draft Book of Constitutions; the appointment
of its first Grand Master; the Regional Organisation;
the rights of individuals and Lodges; provisions relating
to Finance, Buildings, Regalia and the future of local
and district Funds; the consequences of setting up of
an independent grand Lodge; and the procedure to be
followed by individual Lodges. This Report was embodied
in a Memorandum sent to all Lodges in India under cover
of a Foreword, dated December 1960, signed by the three
Grand Masters.
The Foreword stated, among other things,
that the attitude of the three Grand Lodges with regard
to an independent Grand Lodge of India was indicated
in the terms of reference for the Steering Committee,
but that it was for the Brethren in Lodges in India
to decide for themselves whether to opt for or against
joining such a body. Much preparatory work had been
done by the Committee set up to advice the Grand Masters,
but the all-important question had to be decided at
Lodge level. If the Brethren in India decided in favour
of an independent Grand Lodge, then the three Grand
Lodges would accept the decision and would wish to establish
the closest fraternal relations with the new Grand Lodge
of India.
All Lodges which opted to form the
new Grand Lodge of India would immediately after the
date of the Inaugural Meeting, return their existing
Charters and would come under the jurisdiction of the
Grand Lodge of India from the date of the Inaugural
Meeting. Lodges which opted before the 30th of September
1961. would be numbered serially according to the date
of their original formation. Masonic funds, effects
and properties of Lodges which opted to form The Grand
Lodge of India, would continue to vest in those Lodges.
After the Inaugural Meeting, the three United Kingdom
Grand Lodges would not issue Charters for any new Lodges
within India.
All the Lodges in India were directed
in the Memorandum to meet and discuss and resolve on
the question of joining a Grand Lodge of India. To ensure
uniformity, the proposition to be placed before each
Lodge woul dbe, 'That this Lodge do opt to join the
proposed Grand Lodge of India on its inauguration'.
It was emphasised that before the vote was taken, every
effort should be made by Masters to ensure that members
were fully aware of their responsibility and appreciate
what was involved. Adequate notice had to be given of
the meeting at which the voting would take place. Voting
was to be by secret battot, and the proposition was
to be determined by a majority of votes of members present,
the Master having an additional casting vote in the
event of voting being equal.
The memorandum stated in conclusion
in the Grand Masters expressed the firm hope that minorities,
in Lodges where the votin was not unanimous. would abide
by decision of the majority and unite with it furthering
the activities of the Lodge under whichever Grand Lodge,
old or new it threby decided to place itself.
When all the Lodges, English, Irish
a Scottish, had voted, it was found that approxmately
50 per cent, of the Lodges in each Consitution had opted
to join the new Grand Lodge of India. In point of fact,
the new Grand Lodge of India began life with one hundred
and forty-five Lodges upon its Roll.
The consecration meeting took place
the Ashoka Hotel, New Delhi. An Occasion Lodge was opened
with Right Worshipful Brother Kenneth Large, District
Grand master for Bengal as Master. The Wardens' Chain
were filled by Brothers C.M. Shahani and W.G. Miller,
form the Irish and Scottish Constitutions respectively.
After the Lodge had been opened in
all three degrees, deputations fromt he Grand Lodges
of Scoltand, Ireland and England - in that order - were
received. The deputations consisted of (from Scotland)
- The Earl of Eglinton and Winton, Most Worshipful Grand
master Mason; Dr. Alexander F. Buchand Right Worshipful
Grand Secretary; Geroge S. Draffen, Very Wroshipful
Junior Grand Deacon; and S. W. Love, Past Provincial
Grand Master of Renfrewshire East. (from the Grand Lodge
of Ireland) - Right Worshipful Brother George S. Gamble
Deputy Grand Master; Worshipful Brother Sir Basil A.T.
McFarland, Bart, Provincial Grand Master of Donegal;
and Worshipful Brother Canon R. R. Hartford, past Grand
Chaplain. (from the United Grand Lodge of England -
Right Worshipful Brother. The Earl Cadogan, Deputy Grand
Master; Ver Worshipful Brother J. W. Stubbs, Grand Secretary;
Very Wroshipsul Brothers Canon J. R. Robson and Canon
Mortlock, Past Grand Chaplains; Very Worshipful Brother
Frank W. R. Douglas Grand Director of Ceremonies and
Worshipful Brothers H. G. Potts and Lt. Col. M. G. Edwards,
Past Deputy Grand Directors of Ceremonies.
After the three deputations had been
received and seated, the Grand Master Mason of Scotland
proceeded to the consecration. Thereafter the Deputy
Grand Master of Ireland officially constituted the new
Grand Lodge saying: "In the name of the Grand Lodges
of England, Ireland and Scotland, and by command of
their Grand Masers. I constitute and form you, my good
Brethren, into the Sovereign Grand Lodge of India, and
you are empowered henceforth to exercise all the rights
and privileges of a Grand Lodge according to the aneient
usages and landmarks of the Craft. May the Grand Architect
of the Universe prosper, direct and counsel you in al
your proceedings.
After the consecration and constitution,
the Deputy Grand Master of England assumed the throne
and installed Major General Dr. Sir Syed Raza Ali Khan,
G.C.I.E., K C. S.I., D. Lit., LI.D. His Highness the
Nawab of Rampur as the first Grand Master of the Grand
Lodge of India.
Thereafter the new Grand Master announced
his appointments as Deputy Grand Master and Assistant
Grand Masters who were invested and installed. This
was followed by the appointment of the Regional Grand
Masters and the appointment and installation of the
Grand Officers of the Grand Lodge of India.
Among the Officers of the new Grand
Lodge of India it is of interest to observe that, following
the custom of the Grand Lodge of Scotland there is an
office or 'Bearer of the Volume of the Sacred Law.'
There were in fact five Brethren installed into this
office, each Brother bearing a separate Volume of the
Sacred Law - The Gita, The Koran, The Granth, The Zend
Avesta and The Bible.
At the conclusion of the ceremony a
banquet was held in the main Dining Hall of the Ashoka
Hotel -- and there were no speeches.
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