To the inevitable question that one often encounters as to what Freemasonry is, I have been emboldened to say on many occasions, that it is a Satsang.

Sri Shankara in his Bhajagovindam while extolling the Supreme power and the merits of righteous living says:

Satsangaste Nissangaste
Nissangaste Nirvohatvam
Nirmohatve Nischalachitam
Nischalachitte Jeevanmukti

According to him, association with good and enlightened men removes unwanted desires and attachments. Good company is more effective than mere precepts. Good company ensures calmness and equanimity as it reduces desires and attachment. Thus delusion diminishes and the person is liberated. He attains "Jeevan Mukti".

What Sri Sankara is saying is that Satsang, a gathering -an organised gathering of the like minded and the right minded people is a condition precedent for the journey through the path of righteousness towards liberation and enlightenment. If one observes carefully, Freemasonry is also but a Satsang.

The fraternity, its objectives and the working of our Lodges closely resemble a Satsang.

Satsang consists of two distinct parts - Sat and Sang. Sat ordinarily means pure and Sang means association or company. In other words, Satsang means pure company together in the pursuit of God.

We speak of Freemasonry as the manifestation of the concept of Fatherhood of God and Brotherhood of man into which the entire fraternity is involved the very essential concept of a Satsang.

A Member not only gains by what Freemasonry has to offer but in addition, his own presence, his own experience adds up to the totality and benefits other members. It is a mutual gain.

Now, in a Satsang, the person who has associated with it most and who has not only imbibed the lessons from the group but has also contributed to the enlightenment of others is held in high esteem. He is not an elected or appointed member. His status is on account of his association. His presence itself is awe inspiring. It adds to the atmosphere. He is the Guru.

If Freemasonry is a Satsang, who is the Guru who leads this Sang towards Sat? It is the Lodge itself.

The lodge is a Guru. The Guru is all important. Guru Sakshyat Parabrahma. The Guru is Brahma Himself. The creator. Because he creates, not material things but a spiritual insight in us. And for a Guru and Sishya to benefit, there must be mutual interaction and inter experience. As the old paradox goes "while the teacher is indispensable to the pupil, so the teacher himself cannot progress without the pupil."

Such interaction must be spontaneous. No Satsang can be forced. It is for this that a candidate must come of his "own free will and accord."

That is also why Freemasonry has not made attendance compulsory. If one attended meetings because it was compulsory, the whole concept of a Satsang is demolished.

Here attendance is out of choice. Out of a desire to be useful, to gain.

If the relation of a Guru and Sishya being indispensable mutually is true then the converse is also true.

It is upto us to understand this concept. To realise that this is the true nature of Freemasonry and to benefit from it.

It is therefore necessary that we involve ourselves in our Lodges. Not to feel that after all the Worshipful Master and his officers are there to do the work and run the Lodge. That is not all. A Lodge has a greater role and if we need to benefit, we need to contribute as well. As the saying goes, "a Lodge is like an empty box. It remains empty until you put in more than you take out."

A story is told of an old French doctor who devoted his life to his patients giving much of himself and requiring little in return. If they could not afford to pay, he made no charge. When the day approached that the old doctor could no longer continue in his profession, his patients wanted to give something to the old man in return for the devotion and unselfish contributions he made to their lives. However, they were too poor to give the old doctor the type of recognition which they felt he deserved. Each, however, produced wine for his own use. They decided that each would make a contribution of one pitcher of wine and they would present the doctor with a barrel of wine from which he could draw as he relaxed following retirement.

When the inevitable day came and the speeches of recognition and gratitude were completed, the old doctor accepted the wine from those he served so long and so well, and he returned to his home. He draw a glass from the vat of wines and sat down in a chair to relax. When he tasted the wine, however, it tasted like water. Thinking that something must be wrong, he took a second glass, but it also tasted like water, and sadly the truth was revealed.

Each man had thought that after all the others are pouring wine into the barrel and so he could put in water and it would go unnoticed.

This analogy can also be applied and found true to our Fraternity today. Many of us feel that our little contribution will not be missed. We make a token appearance -on an Installation night perhaps or on the day we receive a long term service jewel ! Our contribution is also more often than not limited to finding fault in others.

It is time we realise that each one of us is a palpable and vibrant component of this living Institution and only with each individual and constructive effort can the Institution grow.

As Hellen Keller says:

"I am only one; but still I am one. I Cannot do everything, but still I can do something. I will not refuse to do the something I can do."

So let us all work together and build this Satsang that it may build us. And in this let us walk hand in hand not one after the other.

Arun Chintopanth
Grand Master

This is the first issue of the year 2006 and although a wee bit late in the year the S&C wishes all its readers a very happy, healthy, prosperous and purposeful year ahead.

The Masonic calendar envisages the Annual Investiture meetings of the four Regional Grand Lodges in the first quarter of the year and more precisely end of January and early February. Like most of us know the office of RW the RGM is for a period of three years, this year we had the RGM of WI, RW Bro. G L Shahu OSM, a very popular RGM laying down office and RW Bro. Vasu Masurekar taking over as the new RGM of Western India. We wish him the very best during his tenure. We are carrying a note entitled "Know the RGM of Western India" along with his photograph in this issue. We are also carrying excerpts from R. W. Bro. Masurekar's speech which happens to be loaded with masonry and is a "must hear" or for the less fortunate, at least a "must read".

R.W.Bro. Hon'ble Justice Devinder Gupta has been elected as the Grand Master Elect of the Grand Lodge of India as reported in the last issue, we are carrying "Know your Grand Master Elect" along with his photograph in this issue. He takes over as the new Grand Master in the last quarter of this year.

At the Annual Investiture meeting of the RGL of SI, we happened to meet many brethren from various parts of the country and have received many compliments on how S&C is shaping up. To share some of the observations, brethren have said the content, quality of paper and print and also the general feel of the Journal is good and have asked us to keep up the good work. We humbly accept the compliments and dedicate ourselves to keep up our best endeavours on behalf of the S&C team.

This issue carries the following articles and speeches besides orations at various Masonic functions. However one must at the outset mention the speech given by Mrs. Brinda Nanavati at the dedication of the lab for the hearing impaired at Ahmedabad which is being carried in this issue. This being an excellent project in the Western Region. Orations delivered by V.W.Bro. Abraham Markos Grand Chaplain at dedication of Masonic Temple at Kumbakonam and by V.W. Bro. K. K. Gautam at the consecration of RAM Lodge Tech City No.111 are carried in this issue.

On March 25, 2006, H.H. the Maharaja of Mysore Bro. Srikantdatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar was installed as Worshipful Master of Lodge Jayachamaraja No. 308 by M.W. the Grand Master M.W.Bro. Arun Chintopanth, and was also presented with the 25 Years Long Term Service Jewel by R.W. the Regional Grand Master of SI, R.W.Bro. G.K. Selvarajan. Pictures of the event are being carried in the front inner cover page. The back inner cover page has a pictorial story of the excellent work done by the Brethren at Gorakhpur, by way of legal assistance to small, marginal and women farmers.

W.Bro. Prithviraman of Lodge Jyothi No.253, Salem, has sent an article entitled "the first sentence in Freemasonry" which is in this issue. Fellowship a short note by Bro. S.A. Bhatt of Lodge Accountants, Chennai is carried too.

We are lucky to have W. Bro. Dr. R.N. Joshi an erudite brother who has shared with us an article entitled "Mark
degree and scriptures", this makes interesting reading, he has promised to send us more on the other degrees too.

Speeches of MW the Grand Master at Daman have been carried in this issue, both of them are as usual, extremely good pieces of Masonic literature and a "must read" for brethren. While on the Grand Master, S&C notes with a deep sense of sorrow the demise of R.W. Bro. S. Chintopanth, a senior and respected mason of Bangalore and the father of our Grand Master M. W. Bro. Arun Chintopanth. The bereavement caused the Grand Master to skip the Annual Installation meeting of the RGL of SI. R.W.Bro. S. Chintopanth had been an icon in Lodge Bangalore No.15 and a widely respected mason. He amiable disposition had endeared him to any brother he got in contact with. His genuine concern for the younger brethren made him spend valuable time with them in ensuring they have a proper grounding in freemasonry. He was active till the very end and had a peaceful passage to the Grand Lodge Above. S&C expresses gratitude to the GATOU for having preserved him well in this life and prays that his soul may "rest in peace".

Brethren charity is a dear cause to freemasons, this issue we have compelling reason to carry one such project entitled "a novel charity project" which is an excerpt from the newsletter of Kamrup Lodge Guwahati.

Besides we are continuing to carry W.Bro. A.V. Rangarao's book and hope brethren will continue to like it. We are mentioning elsewhere in the Journal at the end of the article on where and how to procure copies of the book, as we have been receiving a lot of inquiries for copies.

The Counterpoint question has generated one reply which is published. We are also repeating the questions this time for the benefit of generating more responses from the brethren, please do feel free to write in to us, and share your thoughts with your brethren.

W.Bro. Bora of Lodge Kumaon Nainital, is publishing a newsletter called the Cosmos, it makes interesting reading and we are carrying a part of the material for the benefit of the brethren. S&C wishes him and the Lodge good luck.

Brethren the advertisements in the Journal have enabled this journal get published over the years, we thank all our advertisers for the continued patronage. We also request all the brethren to spread the message of reading in
freemasonry by asking brethren to enrol themselves as life subscribers to S&C which costs only Rs.750, the DDs may be made payable favouring the Grand Lodge of India and sent to the Grand Secretary at New Delhi. Brethren could we resolve that "each one gets one" that would in itself double the subscribers within the year. We thank you in advance for the support. We are eager to have feedback, please do respond to us at:

W.Bro. Vishwanathan Ganesan
B-106 Shantishikara Apts, Raj Bhavan Road
Somajiguda, Hyderabad - 500 082.
Phones : 040 23398267 / 23398270
Fax : 040 23390980
Mobile : 0-94408-97470
Email : vishy@primetrust.in; vishyganesan@gmail.com

And finally, brethren, the views expressed by the Brethren in the various articles they've written are their own, and not necessarily endorsed by the Grand Lodge of India. Warm regards and fraternal greetings!

Vishwanathan Ganesan
Sub Editor

"The Tavern"-an ode to the old Masonic spirit of meeting at Taverns. The Tavern is expected to serve as a discussion forum for serious Masonic speculation, where various issues are raised by writing into The Tavern and other brethren indulge in speculation of their own on the subject and share thoughts with the others, by writing into The Tavern. The brother raising the issue, need not necessarily provide the answer, the discussion could be thrown open and the other brethren participate in this exercise and bring The Tavern to life. The spirit of freemasonry could soar in The Tavern!!

Brethren are requested to participate in the proceedings. Kindly send all mails (including emails) with Coffee Table superscribed for easier work at our end. These were questions raised by the Goshamahal Baradari Masonic Study Circle, Hyderabad.

1. When a Masonic dignitary enters the craft lodge, in a deputation, it is the normal practice for him and the members of his deputation to salute the WM in the chair. Further when offering greetings n behalf of the Grand / Regional Grand Lodge the officers salute the WM in the Chair. However why is it that when the deputation is being formed for exit from the Lodge, that neither the members of the deputation nor the dignitary salute the WM in the Chair, this is seemingly incongruent given the fact that the WM is the supreme ruler of his craft Lodge. Could we discuss the pro's and con's of this matter.
a. Currently the dignitary and members of the deputation give the sign of reverence.
b. Is it not required that they salute in the first degree as generally they leave when the lodge is in first degree?
c. Members of the deputation may show the sign of reverence to the dignitary, but would need to salute the WM??

2. When does one give the sign of reverence and when that of fidelity. It has been noticed that some senior brethren too tend to give sign of reverence as opposed to sign of fidelity in the closing of the Lodge, when the IPM says nothing now remains ….. Could we have a clarification on this matter? Further when the National Anthem of the United States of America, is played it is noticed that the US president and others hold the sign of fidelity (as we know it) could someone tell us how and why this took its origin??

1. Bro. V.S. Varadarajan, Secretary of The Salem Lodge No.79, Salem writes that he is a regular reader of S&C and it has a lot of useful information which has enriched his knowledge of Freemasonry. He feels that the articles extracted from W.Bro. A.V. Rangarao's book would be most useful to Secretaries of Lodges and has asked for ten books for the brethren of his lodge. Thank you very much for the feedback. Copies of this book can be had on payment of Rs.50 each (Postage extra) payable to "Lodge Deccan No. 20" by Cash/DD payable at Hyderabad. Contact Secretary, Lodge Deccan No. 20, W.Bro. B. Nataraj, 6-45/113, Yadamma Nagar, M.D. Farm Road, Trimulgherry, Secunderabad -500 015. Ph: 040-27797873, Cell: 93910-00826. - Sub Ed.

2. W.Bro. G.G. Kammar, Secretary, Lodge Hubli No. 44, writes that he is very impressed with the speeches of M.W. the Grand Master and would like to see the same published as a book for the benefit of younger masons. The message has been passed on to M.W. the GM and let us hope that your wish sees the light of the day soon. - Sub Ed.)

R.W. the Regional Grand Master, we bring Fraternal Greetings and good wishes from the Grand Lodge of India to you and the members of your Region, and wish you and the Region, your members all the best. R.W. the Regional Grand Masters and my brethren, a good evening to all of you. At the outset, I would like to thank you, R.W. the Regional Grand Master and Regional Grand Lodge of Western India, for the very kind invitation to me and the Grand Lodge of India to participate at this Special Meeting of the Regional Grand Lodge of Western India. I am also thankful to you R.W. the Regional Grand Master and the officers of the Region for the courtesies and the hospitality shown to me and the officers of the Grand Lodge of India who are part of the deputation this evening. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the officers of the Grand Lodge of India, who have given me the honour of their presence in the deputation this evening. We have two Past Grand Masters, we have brethren who have travelled here from long distances and I thank each and every one of them for the honour they have given to Grand Lodge of India and to me this evening.

R.W. the Regional Grand Master, let me congratulate you on this innovative idea of having a Special Meeting at a place where no Lodge exists, where no Masonic body exists, as you mentioned and it shows the ability, the capacity of not only the Regional Grand Lodge, but the members of your Region to be able to organize such a meeting. And after seeing this I have no doubt that the Grand Festival at Mumbai, to be held soon will be a great success as well. I would also like to compliment and congratulate the brethren of Surat, who it appears have gone out of the way and put in so much of effort, commendable effort, in organizing this meeting in such a wonderful fashion. I am sure, like R.W. the Regional Grand Master mentioned, it is going to be an inspiration to all others to follow. I would also like to congratulate the recipients of the Long Term Service Jewels particularly my brother, Dinesh Shroff, who has completed 50 years of Freemasonry and I am sure, their receiving these jewels, this recognition in our presence this evening, is also a source of inspiration to all of us, that we must follow them and complete 25, 40, 50, 60 years of service; not just membership but service to this great organization to which we belong.

Brethren, I must tell you of an incident that happened to me some time back. I thought that I would share this incident with you.

I met a person who got speaking to me and we were just exchanging some thoughts and I spoke to him about Freemasonry about how it stood for values and what its teachings were, and as we were speaking to each other, he suddenly asked me a question. He said, "Who are you?" I was taken aback a little at this question I told him my name is Arun Chintopanth. He said, "I didn't ask you for your name. I said who are you?" I was little confused. So I said, you know, I am the son of --- He said, "I didn't ask you for your parentage. I said, who are you?" I was at a loss for an answer, so I told him that I am the Grand Master of an organization called Freemasonry and by profession, I am a Chartered Accountant. He said, "I didn't ask you for your profession or your social standing. I said who are you?" You can imagine my plight my brethren. I was little confused, embarrassed as well, and I thought this man is a lunatic. So I slowly excused myself and slipped away.

A little later I was thinking about this incident, my brethren. I was reflecting on this incident. And I thought may be this man was not a lunatic after all. Perhaps, I was the ignorant person, not being able to answer a simple question as to who are you? I could not give him a satisfying answer. Then a thought came to me, really who am I, and the thoughts became very absorbing, very interesting and very powerful and at that moment I realized the significance of the statement made in the 3rddegree of Freemasonry. In the ceremony of Raising, when we are told that the most interesting of all human studies, is the knowledge of yourself. My brethren, this beautiful study, believe me, after this incident, I have realized, that yes it is the most interesting of all human studies. Generation after generation, man after man, has been in the quest of an answer to this question. Who am I? Where do I come from? Where do I go? Ko hum is a universal question which has prompted quest from all parts of the universe, from all parts of the country, from all human beings, from all generations and as I mentioned, it is the most interesting of all human studies.

Alexander Pope writes beautifully: "Know then thyself; presume not God to span, the proper study of mankind is man."

.....cont'd