Dear Brethren,

When a brother is installed as the Worshipful Master of a Lodge he is extolled in an eloquent “charge” that, he may wear a “crown of joy and rejoicing”.

What kind of a crown does a Grand Master wear? Would it be a crown of joy and rejoicing or a crown of thorns? I wonder. Perhaps only time will tell!

I must however confess that as a Grand Master there is indeed the ‘feel good’ factor within.

This may be particularly so since my Installation as the Grand Master was in an atmosphere charged with the vibrations of brotherly love and affection of almost 2000 Freemasons from across the Country and even overseas and in a grand ambience created for the occasion.

Those who participated at the Grand Festival at Bangalore will agree with me that the ‘ambience’ of a Masonic Temple created by the Organisers in an open ground has been par excellence. This ‘ambience’ brought to full effect the solemnity of the Masonic Ceremony.

In fact, it is this factor of an ‘ambience’ that is very important even at our Lodges when the rituals/ceremonies are carried out. That is why we do not meet in public halls or rooms. We meet at our own edifices appropriately called ‘Temples’. This is the case all over the World where Masonry is practiced.

To us as Freemasons, a Masonic Temple is not just a place of prayer or worship. It is an important component of a community which seeks to instil within itself moral, ethical, cultural and spiritual values.

A Masonic Temple forms the focal point where people of different beliefs and backgrounds can smile together through their love of God and sustain their search for greater peace and goodness by a collective brotherhood.

Sometime back I read about a Japanese concept called ‘Yugen’. This word refers to a quality that exists as a potentiality. This quality flowers only when brought into contact between the person and the object. For example between a viewer and a painting or a sculpture. It comes alive on interaction. Similarly, in my view, the potential quality of our Institution, of our members will bear greater fruit, will be more fruitful in an ambient atmosphere; in an environment of a traditional Masonic Temple where there will be contact and exchange of vibrations between a Mason and the Temple.

This is perhaps the reason why we need to work our rituals/ceremonies in our own Masonic Temples and not in a public hall or room. This also means that we must have good Temples with not only a Masonic atmosphere and ambience but also with comfortable facilities – we cannot work in dilapidated Temples - ‘about to collapse’ structures!

Unfortunately many of our old Temples and even some of the newer ones are not in a state of ‘good health’. Some of them are dilapidating fast and at many places brethren are hard pressed for funds to restore these Temples as is evident from the number of appeals for assistance that the Grand Lodge receives.

Why this sorry pass? It is not mainly because the fraternity has not maintained these structures as they ought to have been? Perhaps the Lodge or Trusts owning these buildings have not had the means to maintain them or they have been indifferent to these needs.

Many of these buildings may have been acquired out of grants or by way of gifts from large hearted Freemasons or by collecting funds from members or any other manner.

There may thus be no particular identifiable claimant and hence no responsibility over these properties. Unless there is ‘stake’ or a ‘responsibility’, indifference sets in. This is natural. Our outlook over things not acquired with effort or at a cost is different or should I say indifferent.

Akbar and Birbal were going for a walk one day when they saw a poor man wiping his dirty slippers with a beautiful silk cloth. Akbar was puzzled and amused. He sought Birbal’s explanation for this strange act of this man. Birbal replied that, apparently, the slippers were bought with the poor man’s own money, whereas the silk cloth must have been a free gift to him. That is why the man had valued his dirty slippers more than the beautiful silk cloth which had come to him free of cost.
Is this not the same with our ‘public sector’ undertakings? In theory these units belong to all the citizens; but in effect no one really cares. And the result is evident. Whereas a private sector unit thrives and thrives well. Not only are they well managed but the service and facilities offered to all is of a different class and quality altogether.

There is no denying that we need to maintain and preserve these invaluable Temples of ours – inherited or acquired. We may be taught never to expect anything in return for what we give. But the converse is not true. We must compensate for what we have got. This is Dharma. It is indeed our dharma to maintain and protect our Temples so that future generations of Freemasons may not blame their forefathers of having been indifferent and callous.

And if some of these Temples have not been maintained or those responsible for its maintenance are not competent to do so resulting in the deterioration of the structures, it would then be better that these structures be with those who are competent to do so. Those who have the capacity not only to maintain them but also raise funds to do so. And this must be done sooner than later and through any forum that may ensure this.

Let us therefore join together and undertake the task of taking possession of our invaluable Temples and ensuring their maintenance through competent hands. By ‘possession’ I do not mean a dogmatic attitude of ownership, not an attitude of ‘mine’ and yours’, but a pragmatic spirit of an ‘Yagna’ under the guiding and committed hands of yagna kartas.

Breaking away from this thought, let me inform you that my very fruitful meeting with the four Regional Grand Masters soon after being installed as the Grand Master has thrown up certain ideas for the further development and progress of the fraternity under the Grand Lodge of India. These include :-

• An inter Regional Ritual Working Competition.
  
  
• A ‘newsletter’ to reach every brother.
  
  
• An inter Region – Lodges exchange programme.
  
  
• Suitable charitable programme under the aegis of the Grand Lodge of India.
  
  
• A Directory of all Freemasons under the Grand Lodge of India.
  
  
• A Masonic scholar programme.
  
  
• Open house programme for Lodges.
  
  
• A ladies forum.

Of course, the canvas is still open.

I look forward to positive and constructive suggestions for making our fraternity more dynamic and progressive.

With Greetings of the Season.

Arun Chintopanth
Grand Master

Dear Brethren,

The Grand festival held on 15th and 16th November 2003 at Bangalore, in all splendour, brilliance and gaiety, was a unique and unforgettable event. The Bangalore Palace was tastefully decorated in great style and almost every stone radiated joy and ebullience, a reflection of the mood of every member of the gathering.

On 15th November M.W. The Grand Master M.W. Bro. D.D. Udeshi, OSM installed R.W. Bro. Arun Chintopanth, OSM as the Grand Master. On 16th November M.E. The First Grand Principal of Supreme Grand Chapter of India M.E. Comp. D.D. Udeshi installed M.E. Companion Arun Chintopanth, as the First Grand Principal of Supreme Grand Chapter of India, followed by his installation as the Grand Master of Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of India. The ceremonies were conducted most impressively and immaculately. Most Worshipful Grand Master, M.W. Bro. Arun Chintopanth, OSM looked like the morning sun irradiating (ARUN) soft, pleasant, soothing and all winning smile and thus charging the entire ambience with cheer and happiness.

Brethren having different ranks from our country as well as from abroad, elegantly attired in their impressive regalia lent grace and majesticity to the entire setting. Greetings were received from a large number of Grand Lodges from abroad, who could not attend the Grand Festival 2003 for some unavoidable reasons. However, the delegations from the Grand Lodges of England, Belgium, Germany and Russia lent grace and charm to the function with their presence. It may also be mentioned that our erstwhile parent Grand Lodge of England, with whom we have recently restored amity sent a delegation comprising their Assistant Grand Master R.W. Bro. D.K. Williamson and Grand Secretary R.W. Bro. R.A.H. Morrow – another concrete step in the direction of our coming still closer. We thank them as well as all the foreign Grand Lodges who graced the occasion with their presence or sent their good wishes.

At Bangalore festival we were around 2000 brethren accompanied by gracious ladies and we had the full measure of love, hospitality and affection of the Bangalorian brethren. Perhaps, Bangalore was more than a home away from the home. Minutest details concerning the hospitality were very carefully and extensively planned and executed with great precision and in fact if any thing was missing there, then it was “Inconvenience or Discomfort”. Right after alighting from the plane or the train to the minute we boarded our trains and planes for the return journey, we were in their complete charge, ensconced in comfort and this hospitality of Bangalore would ever remain etched in our mind and in fact the triumph or victory of our Masonic principle of ‘Brotherly Love’ was in full play. And one of the rarest of the rare sight was to witness three generations of brethren. M.W. Grand Master M.W. Bro. Arun Chintopanth, OSM, flanked by his illustrious father and mentor R.W. Bro. S. Chintopanth and his son Bro. Abhay Panth.

In short the entire atmosphere was nothing but magnificence, which is beyond words. Adapting from Goswami Tulidas, the great saint poet, I am tempted to say :

Bangalore Shobha Nahin Jai Bakhani

Gira Anayan Nayan Binu Bani

(It is not possible to describe the brilliance at Bangalore, because the tongue does not have eyes, and the eyes are not endowed with the tongue).

Brethren, our M.W. The Grand Master M.W. Bro. Arun Chintopanth, OSM is a multifaceted personality. He is profound scholar, a visionary, a philosopher, a deeply religious man, but fully dedicated to secularism with very simple habits but a strict disciplinarian and firm believer in punctuality, regularity and sincerity. It will be in the fitness of things to state that he is a distinguished Chartered Accountant expert in handling the intricacies of figures symbolizing profusion in terms of wealth or money and yet a true devotee of Goddess Saraswati – the fountain head of wisdom, learning, aesthetics and finer arts like music etc. (Our Grand Master is an Excellent Veena player).

This very rare and sublime combination of Laxmi and Saraswati speaks in volumes about his myriad interests and we the Grand Lodge of India and for that matter the entire masonry will be beneficiaries from his multi dimensional personality. Definitely the freemasonry in our country is bound to take further strides to move steadily and surely towards greater heights under his leadership. With his youthful zeal and enthusiasm and vision, we are sure to move ahead and cross one milestone after another, So let us stand behind and also stand with the Grand Master in his efforts giving him full support and cooperation. It should be in line with :

Do Pag Uthe JIS Mag Mein

Koti Pag UTH Pade Usee Aur.

(The direction in which you take two steps, thousands of steps (follow you) are taken in that direction)

Brethren it is now time to acknowledge the brilliant and commendable contribution of our Past Grand Master, M.W. Bro. D.D. Udeshi, OSM to freemasonry. With his head held high, with his sober, serene, calm and reassuring mien, his eyes sparkling with wisdom and, he himself an embodiment of intelligence and sagacity, was a tower of strength and inspiration to all of us. In the world of today, when man by and large is torn with strife, and is constantly obsessed with selfishness, false ego and conceit, when even two men hardly see eye to eye and fail to unite themselves for a cause, he acted as the cementing force, uniting us in the act of fidelity. We are sure that we shall continue to have the benefit of his seasoned guidance and advice.

Brethren, it would now be appropriate to cast a glance at the Masonic activities which kept our Grand Master on his toes during Dec. 2003. He attended the Area meeting of the Lodges in and around Gujarat at Vadodara on 17.12.03, a joint meeting of Lodges at Coimbatore on 12.12.03, and Silver Jubilee Celebrations of Lodge Cannanore on 21.12.03.

Needless to say that these programmes were attended by a large number of people and bore the stamp of Masonic serenity and sublimity. The presence of our Grand Master and his scholarly and erudite messages were a source of great inspiration to every one. Brethren, in the last let me exhort you to grit up your loin, and march step by step, with our Grand Master in our journey onward. In the end, permit me to wish you and your families a very Happy and Prosperous New Year.

With fraternal greetings.

Dr. Harish Gupta