Dear Brethren,

This issue will be with you on the eve of my laying down office as your Grand Master. I must express my sincere thanks to one and all for the wonderful opportunity that you gave me to be serviceable to you all, and also for the love and affection that you showered on my wife Heena and me during our visitations to various Masonic Centres.

As a last piece of my message, I thought I will dwell upon the Masonic Properties, its management and its upkeep.

Our Masoinc Symbolism is based around the construction of King Solomon’s Temple. The Rituals in all the three Degrees are built around the construction of the Temple of King Solomon, and the skill, effort and money required for such construction. Are not all the Masonic Buildings only replica of King Solomon’s Temple? Big or small, grandeur or simple, in a large city or in a small village, these are all Temples of King Solomon. These Masonic Buildings may have been acquired by a grant from the Collector, or by way of gift from a large hearted Freemason, or by collecting funds from members or in any other manner, these Masonic buildings finally belong to Freemasons and in the ultimate analysis to Freemasonry. Who has a claim over these properties? Only Freemasons. There are instances where more than one Lodge meet in the same Masonic Building in the same town, but the Masonic property stands in the name of only Lodge. Can such Lodge claim any right over the Property larger than the other Lodges in the town. Can any person claim a right over the temple of worship, larger than the others visiting the temple? Birla Foundation has built temples of worship all round the country, can any member of the Birla clan claim more proximity to God Almighty, than a poor man, who visits the temple every day? My Brethren, all these Masonic Temples are open for any Freemason to visit, and every Freemason has as much right over them as the others.

Why then, this bickering over the ownership, management, maintenance and use of these King Solomon’s Temples? Why should any Freemason feel that he has higher right over it than the others? Is it merely because, fortuitously it stands in the name of one Lodge, or in the name of Freemasons of one Constitution presently operating in India, or that one set of Freemasons have spent monies to purchase it, or that one set of Freemasons have spent a large amount to renovate it? What right - what authority does any one have over any Masonic Property. Let those in management of Masonic Property remember that they are only Trustees of the Property for the benefit of Freemasons, and nothing more nothing less. If one has spent something to buy it, that is his contribution to Freemasonry, if one has spent huge amounts for renovation of the Property, that is only a gesture of goodwill for themselves as also for Freemasonry generally, Freemasonry teaches us never to expect anything in return for what you give. Then why this struggle for recognition, power, management and authority? If that is the approach, these seekers of power are unfit to call themselves Freemasons.

Let us all keep one thing in mind, we all have joined this noble Institution to seek wisdom and give our heart nay, give everything that we have to unite in the grand design of being happy and communicate happiness. Spread the message of love when the other hates you. Get away from petty squabbles over ‘mine’ and ‘yours’. Let all Masonic Properties be for Freemasons, be it managed by A or B. leave it to A and B to find out how best to manage, and let A and B realise that the management is service to Freemasons and to Freemasonry not the exercise of right as authority over Freemasons or Freemasonry.

I would like to see the day when all Masonic Properties in India are vested in a truly Masonic Body as Trustees for Freemasons of India

Grand Manster

Frankly, I myself had never heard of Bro. Albert Pike until I arrived at the House of Temple, Washington, D.C. I had hoped to visit the Temple, which unarguably stands as one of the most beautiful edifices erected to serve Freemasonry, for a long while. It was this last July when I did finally made it. It is an imposing building housing the headquarters of the Scottish Rite Freemasonry, Southern Jurisdiction, U.S.A. Completed in 1915, in just four years, it was the first public building designed by, now famous architecture, John Russell Pope. Later, he would design such landmarks as the Thomas Jefferson’s memorial, and many more. Its architectural design is reminiscent of the famous Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, which was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

To visit the Temple, I made arrangement with Bro. Brent Morris to show me around. Bro. Morris is a man of great erudition regarding the Masonic affairs. In fact he has authored no less than five well-researched books on related Masonic subjects. This is one area in the American Freemasonry, which I found most admirable and laudable. The great amount of serious study and research work that goes on all the while. The libraries in the Temple were not only well stocked but were abuzz with inquisitive scholars pursuing their studies. You may like to take a virtual tour to this classical structure at your convenience; they are available on www.srmason-sj.org.

Brother Morris showed me the Albert Pike Room (read ‘hall’, for it was a very large room). Who was Albert Pike? I asked. He then introduced me to this illustrious personality, and I am anxious to share all that with you. Please take notice that I did not say ‘illustrious Freemason’ on purpose. For Albert Pike was one of the most multi faceted gem that ever adorned the Masonic Brotherhood. I suppose, I shall not be accused of exaggeration, when I record that unalloyed fact. Let me eleborate on that.
Brother Albert Pike 33° (1809-1891) was a gifted person. He was an amazing person : a prolific writer, a gifted orator, news paper editor, philosopher, Masonic scholar and historian, general, a renowned jurist, advocate for the rights of Native Americans. explorer of the American West, a linguist, a student of comparative religion, school teacher, an explorer, and a poet, all in one.

He was Grand Commander of the Supreme Council of Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Freemason from 1859 onwards till he was called to Celestial Lodge in 1891. His booming laughter was famous, so was his indulgence to smoking pipes! Indeed he was a man of social graces. His company was anxiously sought by hostesses in Washington, D.C. to make a success of their parties!

He was a man of vision and somewhat ahead of contemporary thinking. He supported women’s rights, children’s education and minorities’ rights social and economic reforms, well before these issues were tackled.

In that 32 years’ span of service to the Order he familiarized himself with several languages, including some ancient languages like Sanskrit, Latin and Greek. All along he was simultaneously involved in the serious pursuit of knowledge. The books and the commentaries, which he wrote, are referred even today. Albert Pike Papers penned from 1838 to 1891 include a variety of subjects, ranging from Freemasonry, Scottish Rite (he re-wrote the Rituals of Scottish Rites Freemasonry) to legal jurisprudence (the treatise, entitled “Maxims of the Roman Law and Some Ancient French Law, as Expounded and Applied in Doctrine and Jurisprudence”) derived in part from Pike’s study of the Pandects, which he translated from original Latin and French texts into English.

His commentaries and books on religious matters are also noteworthy. These are ‘Irano Aryan Theosophy and Doctrine, as Contained in Zenda Avista’ (1874), ‘Ancient Faith and Worship of the Aryans, as Embodied in Vedic-Hymns’ (1872-1886), ‘Commentaries on Mabbala’ (1878), and the ‘Translation of the Rig Veda’ (1872-1886).

Albert Pike Room is dedicated to preserve and display his personal memorabilia, letters, and other precious artifacts related to his life, including a part of his pipe collection! However, it is the books that draw one’s attention. There are, on display, together with his personal collection of books, many first editions and holograph copies of many of his works. There too are several pieces of furniture and other paraphernalia that once accommodated and served him well in pursuit of enlightenment during his lifetime.

One can also see the model of the monument erected in his memory in Washington, D.C. The original is on the crossing of the Third Street and Indiana Avenue, the only statue honoruing a Confederate General in D.C.

He was indeed a great Freemason, perpaps the Greatest!

— Bro. Avadhesh Prasad is a retired Naval Officer, and an old sailor. Now a free bird, he is engaged in a variety of pursuits. Some are altruistic in nature while the others are purely to enjoy his newfound freedom. A Freemason, with almost forty years behind him, he has never been away from the Order, thanks to ‘The Sqaures and Compasses’, In the long years when he was sailing he maintained contact with the Craft assiduously. He is currently serving as Junior Warden of Lodge Swarnjayanti, No. 312, in NOIDA.

Brethern are invited to know more about his visit to the USA, where he attended two Masonic seminars viz., Warden’s Retreat and Masonic Revival. The former was addressed to prepare Wardens and Masters in proper and effective administration of Lodge as Masters, while the latter was for the Masters and Grand Lodge Officers in mending the fence to avert the deteriorating standards of the Craft. He was specially invited to attend the latter because his deep interest in Freemasonry was recognized by the concerned. He is loaded with new ideas to strengthen the Administration and Management of running of Lodge. He is available on <avadheshprasad@hotmail.com?)

I consider it a great privelege and honour to have been called upon by M.W. Bro. Dilip D. Udeshi, M.W. The Grand Master to deliver an oration on the nature and purpose of our institution on this auspicious occasion of consecration of a new Mark Lodge to function at Chennai and I am greatly beholden and thankful to you sir, for giving me this opportunity.

One is not a complete mason unless he is also not advanced in this important degree. The lessons of the degree, I feel, are freemasonry for practical living man. I am sure you must have felt that it is applicable in a direct and intimate way to the everyday life of each one of us.

At present Mark degree is given only after a brother becomes M.M. Generally Mark degree is deemed to be an extension of FC degree, and I request it may be considered to be given after a brother has his second degree and later on the MM degree and Holy Royal Arch.

While the craft teaches us the relative duties we owe to each other along with the practice of virtues etc., and the Holy Royal Arch, the relation we bear to the most High as adopted children of his mercy, the Mark degree brings us more close to God and face to face with relatities of life, its joys and sorrows and how to face them. Though it appears simple, Mark degree brings out the same principles and tenets of FM in a dramatic and effective or impressive manner without in any way belittling its importance.

Going back to the lessons of the degree, it teaches us the concept of Karma Yoga. It drives home the point that we cannot harvest paddy by sowing Barley. As you sow so you reap. The result of the Karma or action is directly related to what Karma or Action one has done. Also Karmayoga is total selfless action and there is no residue or leftover. The mind becomes crystal clear and pure. It is only such a mind that totally annihilates ignorance.

In this world every individual has to do some Karma or action and it is this action that binds him or releases him from further, Karmas. All actions done without any selfish intentions and for pleasing God, helps man to get rid of doing further Karmas and he realises the existence of soul of Atma and knowledge of universe which will again help him to get out of further Karmas or that state of mind which helps to realise Parmamta or Brahmagnan.

The declaration by God Yogakshmam Vahamyaham ensures that our existing privileges, rights and prerogatives He will protect and the one to which we are entitled, He will provide at the appropriate time.

All that we have to have is faith in Him. The lessons of Mark degree helps to reconfirm our faith in Him. If we do and continue to keep, leave the rest to Him.

Kavi says ...

xq# djkslh ok;kya] iaxq lRdeZ u ehjhA
;r Ñik uxM+ oUns ijekuUnu ek/kokAA

If we don’t, Lord Krishna in Bhagwad Gita says :

vga fg loZeKkuka HkksDrk p izeq[ks pkA
u rq xkrkfHKtkufUr rRos ukr'P;ofUr rsAA

Unfortunately we do not really put in enough effort and time to realise this or understand the great and practical lessons of life that this degree has to offer. Many join into Mark and without pursuing it seriously, feel that the organisation is a disappointment and drop out. Important point here is that we do not realise that ultimately what we get is what we are capable of absorbing and understanding to deserve. Unless we prepare ourselves mentally to absorb its teachins, the degree will naturally dis-appoint us. It is like the story of a disciple full of expectations who went to a particular Guru to seek his teachings. However, he felt totally unimpressed and disappointed by the commonplace words with which the learned Guru addressed him. “I came here in search of a Master” he told the other disciple “All I find is a human being not different from the others”.

Replied the disciple “The Guru is a shoe maker with an infinite supply of leather. But he does the cutting and stitching in accordance with the dimensions of your foot”.

Freemasonry in general and Mark degree in particular is like this Guru with infinite supply. But it will give result only in accordance with and proportionate to what we are capable of inhailing or absorbing or digesting. In other words it depends upon how we are geared to receive its teachings. If we feel commonplace with us, the teachings will also look common. If we feel and look upon us as special, and as potentially divine with a great mission to be accomplished, then the teachings of the institution will bear rich fruits to us. We must become active contributor to the order.

There are other features peculiar to this degree which I would like briefly to touch upon. This degree teaches us how to bear pain, how to take temporary set backs, or mistaken insults, how to deal with unreasonable attitudes of people etc., because all these cause pain. The answer is not to be disillusioned or burdened with pain but bear it with stoic dignityand patience, in the hope that all these will and have to pass away and eventaully will have to pave the way for higher and more precious re-wards. Pain comes gradually drop by drop in life or abruptly but we must keep faith in God until in our despair wisdom comes through His Grace, and enables us to pass through that phase of life also. The Oyster is a good example. When irritation gets into the shell, he does not like it, but then he cannot get rid of it and so uses it to produce the loveliest thing an oyster can produce a pearl.

In the charge to brethern at installation Meetings, this degree is referred to as a beautiful degree. The teachings of this degree is closely applicable to the day to day life of each one of us. The story of the key stone should be a guide to our conduct through life of which Palmer says “The most consumately beautiful thing in the universe is the rightly fashioned life of a good man”. The craftsman demonstrates this rightly fashioned life by not creating a scene, by not protesting but by accepting the wrong done to him with humility and silence, worthy of emulation. How beautiful is that life which knows not the ugliness of abrupt and rough behaviour or rudeness or arrogance.

The Mark degree also stresses the importance of individuality of man. Tastes, likes and ability may differ from man to man but we, like the key stone, must be efficient, imaginative and proficient-something extra ordinary or special. It has its own value and place.

Encouraging nature is one of the important feature of Mark degree. It teaches, us not to be disheartened by temporary setbacks. There are many examples of this in real life. To quote one : B.C. Forbes says “History has demonstrated that the most notable winners usually encountered heart breaking obstacles before they triumphed”. They won simply because they refused to become disheartened or discouraged by their defeats or failures.

When Thomas Addison invented the light bulb after about 2000 experiments a young reporter asked him how do you feel to fail so many times. He said “I never failed once. I invented the light bulb. It just happened to be a 2000 step process. In 1952 Edmond Hillary attempted to climb Mount Everet the highest mountain then known 29002 feet straight up. A few weeks after his failed attempt he was asked to address a group in England. Hillary just got up and walked to the edge of the stage made a fist and pointed at a picture of the mountain and said in a loud voice Mount Everest you beat me first time but I will beat you the next time because you have grown all you are going to grow but I am still growing. On May 29th the very next year Hillary succeeded in becoming the first man to climb Mount Everest.

What we have to do is to proceed and keep faith in God and leave the reward to Him. This is Karma or action without aspiring for results. I quote from Bhagwat Gita.....

deZ.;sokf/kdkjLrs ek Qys"kq dnkpukA
ek deZQygsrqHkwZekj~ ek rs l³~xlpdekZf.kAA

I wish this new Mark Lodge, consecrated by our beloved M.W. Bro. Dilip D. Udeshi M.W. The Grand Master, all the success and good luck in the years to come that it may grow in the hands of its worthy founders in strength and become a model for other Mark lodges to follow.

Thank you.

Today, I we stand at the beginning of a new millennium. What is the land that we leave behind for our children to inherit? Surely we will be judged.! and judged severely I in both moral and metaphysical terms. Today, we would leave behind a world of unimaginable terror and violence. Of aggression and inhumanity. Of tragedy and suffering. And most imporiantly, a world of indifference.

What is indffference? The dictionary meaning is “no difference”. A strange and unnatural state in which the lines blur between light and darkness, dusk and dawn, crime and punishment, cruelty and compassion, good and evil.

Of course, indifference can be tempting - more than that, it can be seductive. It is so much easier to look away from victims. It is so much easier to avoid such rude interruptions to our work, our dreams, our hopes. It is, after all, awkward troublesome, to be invoived in another person’s pain and despair. Yet, for the person who is indifferent, his or her neighbours are of no consequence. And, therefore, their lives are meaningless. Their hidden or even visible anguish is of no interest. Indifference reduces the other to an abstraction.

Rooted in our tradition, some of us feel that to be abandoned by humanity is not the ultimate. We feel that to be abandoned by God is worse than to be punished by Him. Better an unjust God than an indifferent one. For us to be ignored by God is a harsher punishment than to be a victim of His anger. Man can live far from God - not outside God. God is wherever we are .... Even in suffering.

In a way, to be indifferent to suffering is what makes the human being inhuman. Indifference, after all, is more dangerous than anger and hatred. Anger can at times be creative. One writes a great poem, a great symphony, one does something special for the sake of humanity because one is angry at the injustice that one witnesses. But indifference is never creative. Even hatred at times may elicit a response. You fight it. You denounce it. You disarm it. Indifference elicits no response. Indifference is not a response.

Indifference is not a beginning, it is an end. And, therefore, indifference is always the friend of the enemy, for it benefits the aggressor - never his victim, whose pain is magnified when he or she feels forgotten. The political prisoner in his cell the hungry children, the homeless refugees - not to respond to their plight, not to relieve their solitude by offering them a spark of hope is to exile them from human memory. And in denying their humanity we betray our own.

My brethren, we talk of relief for the sufferings of those affilicted, but when someone is in distress, we are indifferent. Our Masonic teachings lead us to one goal, express Brotherly Love and give Relief. In short don’t be indifferent.

Contributed by : M.W.Bro. D.D. Udeshi, OSM