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M.W, the G.M, R.W. the R.G.M.,R.W,
V.W, & W.Brthrn and Brthrn all, I am grateful to
M.W., the G.M for calling upon me to give an oration
on the nature and purpose of our Institution. Though,
such an oration is part of the ritual of the Consecration
of a Lodge, in my view it is somewhat of a departure
from the general procedure followed in Freemasonry.
This is because, unlike other officers and occasions,
where every one taking part in any ceremony, has necessarily
to follow a set official ritual as prescribed, the Grand
Chaplain is allowed some freedom to express his views,
in a somewhat free and informal manner and at some length,
in his oration. Such a departure, however appears deliberate
and is also perhaps intended to give an oppurtunity
to the brethren present on such occasion, to depart
from a ritualistic approach to Freemasonry and lead
them to contemplate on some other aspects, such as the
intellectual, philosophical or practical contents of
Freemasonry.
Sometime back, I looked up McKay’s
Revised Encyclopaedia of Freemasonry to find out the
Masonic meaning of the word ‘Consecration’
and the precise meaning of the word ‘Oration’.
According to the former, Hobbes a Masonic scholar has
defined that ‘To Consecrate’ in scriptures,
‘is to offer’, give or dedicate in pious terms
and decent language and gesture, a man, or any other
thing to God, by separating it from common use. The
encyclopaedia further goes on to say that Masonic Lodges
like ancient temples and modern churches, have always
been consecrated. It also adds that when the ritual
of Consecration is performed by the G.M, the Lodge is
said to be consecrated ‘in ample form’, when
by the Dy.G.M. ‘in due form’ and if by proxy
of the G.M, it is said to be ‘in form’. As
for the word ‘oration’, the Concise Oxford
Dictionary gives it a somewhat prosaic meaning of ‘a
speech of a formal character,’ an eloquent speech’
as also a somewhat pedantic and frightening meaning
of ‘a harangue’. Obviously, which I cannot
dare impose a harangue on this captive audience, I am
not sure whether what I am going to say can at all be
called eloquent.
Brethren, it is usual to pick up some
central theme for such orations. So far as I am concerned,
I propose to address myself to three basic questions,
which I feel are of crucial importance for us and which
should in my opinion be of great concern to all of us
at this stage. They are :-
First - What does Freemasonry stand
for?
Second - What has it done in the past?
and
Third - What can it do in the future?
It has become somewhat fashionable
to repeat a well known cliche and say that Freemasonry
today is at the Cross Roads. Well it may or may not
be so, but it is quite clear that those who are at the
helm of the affairs, have an onerous task - that of
sustaining an abiding interest in this great Institution
and to give it a push in the right direction. I would
at this stage like to make what would appear to be a
totally startling and irrelevant digression, by quoting
Newton’s Second Law of Motion,. It states - “Every
body continues in its state of rest, or of uniform motion,
unless acted upon by an external force”
Perhaps, there is no other Universal
Law which can exist as a scientific truth and can equally
well govern human affairs and human institutions and
organisations. A little thought would reveal its relevance
to us if we relate the words “Every body”
to ‘Everybody’ that is to every one of us
as individual Masons, or as a collective body i.e. to
Freemasonry as an organisation, the word “rest”
as “total inactivity” or “stagnation”
or “laz y indolence” and the words “uniform
motion” - “of having fallen into a rut of
dull routine” without any set objectives or direction.
Thus, the application of Netwon’s
second Law to freemasonry would mean that as individual
Masons, or as a collective body representing Freemasonry
in India, we will continue in a state of stagnation,
or fall into a dull routine, without any set purpose
or direction, unless acted upon by an external force.
In such a situation any organisation would be like a
rudderless ship, not knowing which way to go. In other
words, what I am trying to imply is that a “force”
in the form of a conscious push is required to keep
our Institution, not only alive and kicking, but also
to make it a meaningful and socially and morally relevant
Institution, capable of making an impact on society,
with this difference that in this case the “Force”,
has to be an internal force from within the Organisation.
Naturally, therefore, this responsibility rests squarely
on all of us, whether it be a Mason of a few years’
standing, or be it a senior Mason of several years experience.
I, therefore, come back to the three
questions mentioned by me earlier which I think, important
as they are, will bear repetition and some careful and
heart searching analysis.
The first question as you may recall
was “What does Freemasonry stand for?” Among
the various things we all know that Freemasonry stands
for, the basic underlying feature and perhaps the most
important of then all is that it stands for Universal
Brotherhood. Brethren, all of us are aware that we are
passing through a crtical phase of time where religions
fanatacism and fundamentalism has reached alarming proportions.
Tolerance is vanishing if it has not already vanished.
We as masons, I feel cannot remain silent spectators
- we have to do all we can to spread the basic message
of What Freemasonry stands for i.e. Tolerance through
Brotherhood and mutual respect and love through Brotherhood.
According to our scriptures ‘Sambawami yuge-yuge’
is an indication of the incarnation of God on this earth
when required. Whether that happens or not, more than
ever, there is a need for us as Freemasons to spread
the message of Free masonry. Apart from this, Freemasonry,
as we know, believes in the worth of the individual.
It endeavours to bring out the best in him. It teaches
us that each person is worth something which has nothing
to do with his wealth, position or power. It recognises
that each persons should be treated as a human being
of value. Freemasonry exhorts every Freemason, by a
prudent and well regulated course of discipline, to
the preservation of his corporeal and mental faculties,
in their fullest energy, thereby enabling him to exert
those talents wherewith God has endowed him, as well
to His glory as the welfare of his fellow creatures.
A special feature of masonic brotherhood
is that it has a bond - “a mystic tie” which
holds masons together. It can only be experienced and
cannot be explained or described. What we mean by that
tie, is really the hope for the Country - in fact really
the hope for the World. By a correct understanding of
this brotherhood, it is expected that anyone, whether
a mason or not, will always work for human unity, by
opposing any dividing or distracting force and by constant
efforts everywhere, to break down racial antipathy,
religious differences and class hatred. In the school
of our Masonic Fraternity, men who learn this brotherhood
by practising it towards fellow-masons, come sooner
or later to practice it everywhere. For, are we not
taught quite early in our masonic career, to practice
outside the Lodge what we learn within it?
After dwelling briefly on one out of
several aspects of what Freemasonry stands for we may
now turn our attention to the second question namely
“What has it done in the past?” The true origin
of Freemasonry is said to be lost in antiquity. So in
answering this general question adequately, one may
have to go far into the past. However, for our limited
purpose, we can perhaps confine ourself to the recent
past, or even just to the present. Before that, however,
the very fact that Masons all over the World and more
particularly Masons in India, have kept the spirit and
force of Freemasonry alive for more than a century,
in itself a great achievement. It is not always easy
to uphold the fundamental principles of Brotherly Love,
Relief and Truth, or to practice such time - honoured
and time tested virtues as Faith, Hope, Charity, Temperance,
Fortitude, Prudence and Justice. Yet for a Freemason,
these are not mere high - sounding words, devoid of
real meaning. As the final charge at the time of our
initiation tells us, they must be carried into active
practice. In keeping them strong and pure, we must be
determined and persistant and the fact that Freemasonry
has surviced all these years and we are where we are
shows that we have if anything, at least been persistant
! If only we pause for a minute to think about this,
it is no mean achievement by itself.
To-day, man is bombarded, from all
sides by mass media of communication. His thoughts and
reactions are often conditioned and manipulated by saturation.
Advertisers know this, and fill the television screen
with Commercials. Politicians know this, and let the
facile slogan serve the role of thought. Manufacturers
know this and guide the whim of fashion, to produce
planned obsolescence and create an artificial demand
for their goods. We even hear of history books being
re-written, to bring the past into conformity with the
present!
Such is the Society in which we live.
Many problems of our age arise from man’s inability
to handle his prosperity, within the framework of society.
The confusion which assails the mind of man has weakened
his convictions; it has led society to desire, and sometimes
to demand, the alteration of long established standards
of behaviour. It would be all too easy to acquiesce,
if only to avoid being scorned, laughed at, or ostracized.
Masonry exists in the midst of such society. The questions
that have consistantly been asked time after time in
this context are can Masonry survive in a technological
society, where so many of the ancient beliefs hav been
uprooted, shifted and in some cases all but destroyed?
Is there a place for Masonry’s fundamental principles,
in a society as transient and changeable as ours? Should
it adjust its standards to conform to those of changing
society, in which it exists? Therefore, that Freemasonry
has survived all these years in praticals the original
form what was concern is itself enough of an achievement.
This is because the answers to the questions are unequivocal.
The Landmarks of Masonry include a belief in God. A
Mason is obliged to obey the moral law, for he knows
that the Most High has defined for his instruction,
the limits of good and evil. He knows that there are
such things as Right and Wrong, in an absolute sense.
The fundamental principles of Freemasonry are the foundations
of a healthy society. If we believe that Masonry will
continue, and that our society is to maintain some form
of stability, in the midst of such great changes, then
each one of us is being challenged. It is here that
my third and last question is relevant namely What can
it do in the future? It raises in its turn other basic
questions. How seriously are we taking our obligations?
Are we establishing our lives upon the cardinal and
theological virtues? Are we promoting the fundamental
principles of Freemasorny? How enthusiastically are
we serving as Masons in our homes, our communities,
and our country? Brethren, are the ancient Landmarks
worth the struggle so far as we are concerned? Each
of us is now challanged to make his decision. Each msut
decide for what or for whom he will live and die. Once
we have taken the decision, we will find that we have
a tremendous contribution to make, to Freemasonry first,
and through Freemasorny to the community at large. What
do we have to offer? Masonry we are told, strives to
make good men into better men. The G.A.O.T.U. has granted
to us all, to a greater or lesser degree, three great
gifts. He gives us a span of time to live out our lives.
During his lifetime, a man makes many decisions. He
may decide to live for himself, grasping for wordly
possessions and forgetting that “no man is an island
unto himself.’ Or he may resolve to have a genuine
concern for his neighbours, being involved in their
welfare and relieving their needs as opportunity arises.
This requires sharing of time. No man can keep every
moment of life for himself. If we are to get the most
out of life, we must share our time, at least to some
extent with others and as has been well said - part
to be spent in prayer to Almighty God, and part in labour
and refreshment, and part in serving a friend or a brother
in time of need.
The second gift is our innate talents.
Not all of us are endowed equally with talents, nor
all are capable of doing all things equally well. We
differ in abilities. Our gift may be simply listening
to the troubled soul, or to the out pourings of a bereaved
and broken heart. Or it may be providing guidence for
one who knows not where to turn. Or it may be using
the skills of our daily vocation to help a fellow worker
- Or we may be called upon to provide leadership to
the young or to the elderly.
The other gift is the wordly possession
that we may have in varying degrees. Often we think
of these in terms of money, because that is the medium
of exchange of our economic system. To relieve the needs
of others we can use our money and our other material
possessions. In fact not to use them when a chance presents
itself is an abuse. If we employ our abilities, possessions
and time to help others, we need not proclaim what we
have done; for we would have done in the Lodge, or outside
it, what we can call without any pretensins-that which
is good, not for ourselves, but for the sake of all
that is acknowledged to be good.
Each of us has undertaken to answer
and obey all lawful signs and summons. We should attend
our Lodge whenever we can, pleading no excuse save sickness
or the pressing emergencies of our public or private
avocations. Each of us has the responsibility of sharing
our time, not only in the Lodge but beyond it. Each
of us, is responsible for the use of our abilities and
possessions for the benefit of the Lodge, the craft
and the world at large, as far as fairly may be done
without detriment to ourself or our connections. If
the fundemental principles of Masonry are observed,
our abilities, time and possessions will be expended
for the benefit of all mankiknd and our Masonry will
be meaningful. Herein lies the challange for Freemasonry,
in the midst of changing society, both in the present
and the future. Let us accept the challenge and let
our Masonic principles live forever. Brethren, at the
time the W.M. is installed, he is advised to “forcibly
impress on the brethren the dignity and high importance
of Freemasonry” and to “charge them to practice
outside the Lodge, those duties they have been taught
in it” etc.-all to what purpose?- “to show
to the world the happy and benefical effects of our
ancient institution”, so that the world may know
a Freemason is one of whom the burdenned heart may pour
forth its sorrow and may prefer their suit and so on.
Further brethren, I have always felt that the very essence
of Freemasonry is contained in the words of advice given
to the Master of a Lodge on his installation immediately
after his obligation, viz. he may so conduct himself
that “you may live respected and die regretted”.
If each one of us consciously strives to achieves this,
then the purpose of Freemasonry would have been truly
achieved. In this connection, I am reminded of a quotation
which I came across long ago, which might as well serve
as our guideline. It says ; “I shall pass through
this world, but once; any good thing therefore I can
do, or any kindness I can show, to any human being,
let me do it now, let me not defer it, or neglect it,
for I shall not pass this way again”
Brethren this Lodge Karni bears the
No. 332. I notice a peculiar coincidence in this number,
for today is 30.03.02, and if we delete all the zeroes
we get the No. 332! Apart from this is the 100th Lodge
in the Northern Region. Brethren, a heavy responsibility
lies on those whose names are forever enshrined in the
Warrant of this Lodge, as they have to set the tradition
and standards for this Lodge. I cannot therefore conclude
better than by observing - As this institution has been
formed and perfected with so much unanimity and concord,
long way it continue. May brotherly love prevail and
may the principles and tenets of our order be carried
by this newly formed Lodge form generation to generation.
Brethren, I am sorry I have perpaps taken a some what
longer time than I should have. I thank you for your
patient hearing.
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I had the pleasure of visiting Coimbatore
during the month of March this year in connection with
my grand daughter’s school admission. The moment
I reached Coimbatore I was happy to meet W.Bro. S. Marimuthu
of Lodge Meridian at the Hotel lobby. He had come personally
to invite me to attend the 10th Anniversary celebrations
of his Lodge that evening. He also informed me that
wives and children of the members of the Lodge would
be participating in the celebrations. It was indeed
a pleasant coincidence that I arrived in Coimbatore
on the 10th anniversary of Lodge Meridian. Another coincidence
was that ten years ago, on 21st March 1992, as the DyGM,
I had the honour of consecrating Lodge Meridian.
That evening there was a large gathering
of brethren from all the Lodges in Coimbatore. The celebrations
started with the presentation of the history of the
Lodge by W.Bro. S. Marimuthu. I have always been interested
in the history of daughter Lodges. When W.Bro. S. Marimuthu
presented the history of the Lodge I was amazed at the
events various instances that had happened to this young
Lodge during these ten years.
At the time of the consecration of
the Lodge there were 16 founder members. The Lodge was
functioning in a healthy manner till 1995 when nine
of the founder members conspired to destory the Lodge
and join a newly formed spurious Grand Lodge in Coimbatore.
These conspirators, by creating a series of false records,
had pirated all the belongings of the Lodge including
the warrant and the money. In spite of their effort
to secretly destory Lodge Meridian, the following (remaining)
six founder members headed by W. Bro. S. Marrimuthu
stood firm and refused to co-operate with the conspirators
: è 1. W. Bro. S. Marimuthu, 2. W.Bro. S. Vasanthan,
3. W.Bro. Dr. R. Palaniswamy, 4. W.Bro. R. Shivakumaran,
5. W.Bro. S. Ponnuswamy, and 6. W.Bro. B. Mohanraj.
With nearly 50% of the Lodge members
defecting, with no Lodge records, and the entire money
belonging to the Lodge pirated, to run this Lodge with
the remaining membership was a Herculean task. W. Bro.
Marimuthu, with the support of the then ARGM, R.W.Bro.
V. Lakshmikanthan, took immediate steps to co-ordinate
with the RGL and obtained copies of all the membership
records and the warrant. Within a short period they
revived the Lodge with the co- operation of the senior
Masons belonging to the other Lodges of Coimbatore.
With the addition of fourteen joining
members the Lodge progressed from strength to strength
and this was demonstrated on the day of the 10th Anniversary
of the Lodge. During the trying period, the Lodge had
initiated excellent candidates, thereby creating a sound
backbone of budding Masons. The Lodge is now proud to
have 47 members of good quality.
After the presentation of the History
of the Lodge, the WM welcomed the visitors and distributed
mementos to all the founder members that had saved this
Lodge. On conclusion of the celebrations within the
Temple, the brethren adjourned to the well decorated
terrace of the Lodge, where the Ladies and children
had assembled. Hospitality at the Festive Board of the
Lodges in Coimbatore is unique and enjoyable. In sum,
my visit to Lodge Meridian and participating in their
10th Anniversary celebrations was indeed very memorable.
I am confident that the devotion and
perseverance of the six worthy brethren headed by W.Bro.
S. Marimuthu along with the then ARGM, R.W.Bro. V. Lakshmikanthan,
will be long remembered by the brethren of GLI in general
and Lodge Meridian in particular.
During the entire episode, the then
RGM, R.W.Bro. K. Rajashekaran Nayar took prompt action
and had instructed the RGL office to provide all possible
help. If not for his co-operation, copies of membership
record and other relevant papers could not have been
gathered on time. Past RGM, R.W.Bro. D. Dorairaj was
always with the brethren of Lodge Meridian during the
crisis and his co-operation and valuable suggestions
helped the Lodge in all respects.”
I end with Ruskin’s famous poem
:
When we build, let us think that we
build for ever,
Let it not be for present delight to satisfy the ego
of a few.
Let it be such work as our descendants will thank us
for;
And let us think, as we lay stone upon stone, that time
is to come when those stones, will be held sacred, because
our hands have touched them and that men will say as
they look up the labour and wrought substance of them;
“See what our forefathers did for us.”
May Lodge Meridian grow to greater
heights in all its Masonic activities.
V. Rajendran
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Many students regard the symbol of
the point within a circle as belonging exclusively to
the Third Degree; but if we go back to the ‘Old
Lectures’ - current in the 1980’s and even
more recently - we find that this symbol enters into
the explanation of the First Tracing Board, and further,
is referred to in the 6th section of the Ist lecture.
It figures on many of the old First Degree Tracing Boards,
and the lectures tell us that “in all regular,
well-informed constituted lodges, there is a point within
a circle from which a Mason cannot err; this circle
is bounded North and South by two grand parallel lines,
the one representing Moses, the other King Solomon;
on the upper part of the circle rests the V.S.L. which
supports Jacob’s ladder - the top of which reached
to heaven.”
The point within a circle is a remarkable
emblem; but let us look first at the circle itself.
The circle having neither beginning nor end, is a symbol
of the Deity and of eternity and it follows that the
compasses have been valued as being a means by which
that perfect figure may be drawn. Everywhere in every
age, the circle has been credited with magical properties
and in particular has been thought to protect from external
evil everything enclosed within it. Folklore contains
countless instances of people, houses, places, threshed
corn, etc., being protected by the simple means of describing
a circle around them. The innocent child could be placed
within a circle, in which it was thought to be safe
from any outside malevolent influence. The virtues of
the circle were also attributed to the ring, the bracelet,
the ankle and the necklace, which have been worn from
earlier times, not only as ornaments but also a means
of protecting the wearer from evil influences.
The completed emblem - the point within
the circle - has been borrowed, consciously or otherwise
from some of the earliest of the pagan rites, in which
it represented the male and female principles and came
in time to be the symbol of the sun and the universe.
Phallic worship was common throughout the ancient world,
simple people being naturally inclined to adopt as the
foundation of their religion so great a mystery as the
generative principle. The symbol came to be regarded
as the sign of the Divine creative energy. Freemasonry
adopted the symbol and easily gave it a geometrical
explanation:
Q. What is a centre?
A. That point within a circle from which every part
of the circumference is equally distant.
Q. Why with the centre?
A. That being a point from which a M.M. cannot err.
The ancient peoples in giving great
religious prominence to phallic emblems apprehended
no wrong in so doing. L.M. Child has said: “Reverence
for the mystery of organised life led to the recognition
of a masculine and feminine principle in all things
spiritual or material... the active wind was masculine,
the passive or inert atmosphere was feminine ... the
sexual emblems conspicuous in the sculptures of ancient
temples would seem impure in description, but no clean
and thoughtful mind could so regard them ...... the
ancient worshipped the Supreme Being as the Father of
men and saw no impurity in denoting with phallic emblems
the kinship of mankind to the Creator.”
Some students hold that the point within
the circle represented to the ancients the whole scheme
of the universe, one point being the individual, or
contemplator, and the circle the horizon.
“What is this world coming to,
and when will it all end?” How often we hear that
nowadays frequently followed by, “Well, we can’t
do much about it.” in a tone of resignation. Certainly
there is sufficient restlessness, and trouble about
to cause a feeling of despair. But history does record
many examples of men and women, who buoyed up by a clear
and definite goal in life, have overcome difficulties
and changed conditions of the time and place.
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