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Article FREEMASONRY IN INDIA. ← Page 2 of 2 Article FREEMASONRY IN INDIA. Page 2 of 2 Article THE QUARTERLY COMMUNICATION OF GRAND LODGE. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasonry In India.
points out , Masonry " has since made snch rapid progress , that within these few years , upwards of fifty Lodges have been constituted there , eleven of which are now held in Bengal . " Lawrie states briefly : — " In tho year 1729 , Free Masonry was introduced into the East Indies , and in a short
time after a Provincial Grand Master was appointed to superintend the Lodges in that quarter . " Captain Smith , however , puts the date later . He writes " The first modern lodge of free-masons was established by a patent from Enriland , in Bengal , A . D . 1740 . There are " ( i . e . in the
yt at-1783 ) "besides , several lodges m Bengal , Madras , Bombay , Bencoolen , Fort George , Fort Marlborough , in the Fast Indies , Batavia , Ceylon , Calcutta , Chandanagore , Patna , Burdwan , Dacca , Maxadavid , fyc . From the first constitution granted to form a lodge at Bengal in Asia , Anno 1740 ,
Masonry has flourished in that extensive grand division of the globe in a very extraordinary manner , principally under the authority of the Grand Lodge of England , some few under that of France , and several subject to Holland . " He then adds , " The great harmony , good behaviour , and
rectitude of life amongst the brethren , has induced some of the mighty princes of the East to become free-masons ; for at a quarterly communication , held at Free-Masons ' Hall on the Sth day of Feb . 1777 , brother Graham , from the lodge of Trichinopoly , near Madrass , reported that his
highness Omdit-al-0 ninth Bahaudre , eldest son of the Nabob of the Carnatic , had been initiated into Masonry at Trichinopoly , and possessed a great veneration for the society . " Accordingly a congratulatory letter was sent to his Highness by the hands of Sir John Day ,
Advocate-General , together with a blue apron , elegantly decorated , and a copy of the "Book of Constitutions . " Early in 1780 an answer was received from his Highness , written in the Persian language , and inclosed in a cover of cloth of gold . The translation of this letter is as follows : —
" To the Right Worshipful His Grace the Duke of Manchester , Grand Master of the Illustrious and Benevolent Society of Free and Accepted Masons under the Constitution of England , and tho Great Lodge thereof . . " Much honoured Sir and Brethren .
" An early knowledge and participation of tho benefits arising to onr house from its intimate union oi ' Jcouncils and interests with the British nation ; and a deep veneration for the laws , constitution , and manners of tho latter , havo , for many years of my life , led mo to seize any opportunity of drawing the tics between us still closer and closer .
" By tho accounts which havo reached mo of tho principles and practices of your Fraternity , nothing can be more pleasing to tho Sovereign Ruler of tho Universe , and whom we all , though in different ways , adore , or more honourable to his creatures ; for they stand upon tho broad basis of indiscriminate and universal
benevolence . " Under this conviction , I had long wished to bo admitted of your Fraternity ; aud now that I am initiated , I consider tbe title of an English Mason as one of the most honourable that I possess ; for it is at once a cement of tho friendship between your nation and mo ,
the friend of mankind . " I have received from the Advocate-General of Bengal , Sir John Day , the very acceptable mark of affection and esteem with which you have favoured me ; it has been presented with every circumstance of deference and respect that the situation of things hero aud
the temper of the times would admit of ; and I do assure your Grace , and tho Brethren at large , that he has done ample justice to the commission you have confided to him , and has executed it in such a maimer as to do honour to himself and me .
" I shall avail myself of a proper opportunity to convince your Grace and the rest of the Brethren , that Omdit-al-Omiah is not an unfeeling Brother , or heedless of the precepts he has imbibed j aud that , while he testifies his love and esteem for his Brethren , by strengthening the bonds of humanity , ho means to minister to the wants of the distressed .
" May the common Father of All , the one Omnipotent and merciful God , take yon into His Holy Keeping ; and give you health , peace , and length of years , prays your highly honoured and affectionate Brother , " OMDIT-AI-OMKAH BAHAUDRE . "
About this time the divisions which had arisen in England and extended to India were allayed , Lodge lYo . 152 styling themselves Ancient York Masons , voluntarily surrendering their warrant . Thus a union was happily accomplished , of which Brigadier General Home , hy whose
intcTvcution the Union had been mainly brought about , was elected Prov . Grand Master . On 7 th October 1787 , in accordance Avith a proposal regularly submitted to this G . L ., a new Lodge , " Perfect Unanimity , No . 1 , "—No . 150 on roll of Lodges under the G . L . of England—was
consecrated at Madras , in honour of this auspicious event ; Bro . Colly Lyons Lucas being subsequently installed W . M . The career of the brotherhood has been throughout a most prosperous one , and there now exist in India the following District Grand Lodges : Bengal , Bombay , British Burmah ,
Freemasonry In India.
Madras , and Punjab , of the proceedings of two of which , tho Punjab and Burmah District Grand Lodges , we recently gave some account . The former of these comprises 17 Lodges , with 463 subscribing members , the latter seven , with 187 members .
The Quarterly Communication Of Grand Lodge.
THE QUARTERLY COMMUNICATION OF GRAND LODGE .
THE Quarterly Communication was held on Wednesday , the 2 nd instant , at Freemasons' Hall , Great Queen Street . The Temple was crowded in every part , many brethren being under the impression H . R . H . the Most Worship ful Grand Master would be present . The magnificent carpet used at the Albert Hall was laid down , and
produced a charming effect . The place of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales was supplied by Lord Skelmersdale the Deputy Grand Master ; the Marquis of Hamilton being in his position of Grand Senior Warden , and Colonel Whitwell being in the place of the Lord Mayor of London as Junior
Grand Warden . Amongst the Grand Officers on the dais , we noticed Bros . Dr . Hamilton , Grand Master of Jamaica ; Hugh Sandeman , District Grand Master for Bengal ; J . Smith , W . Ough , T . Cubitt , A . E . J . M'Intyre , Grand Registrar ; C . A . Cottebrune , T . Bull , L . Rawson , District
Grand Master for China ; R . J . Spiers , Provincial Deputy Grand Master for Oxfordshire ; W . C . Parsons , J . Willing jun ., W . Smith , the Rev . Sir J . W . Hayes , H . Massey , Thompson , Sir Albert Woods , Garter ; Thomas Fenn , E . H . Hunt , J . C . Parkinson , Brackstone Baker , 0 .
Nash , H . Garrod , Sir Michael Costa , J . Constable , the Rev . C . J . Martyn , J . Ross , J . B . Monckton , A . L . Leins , Dr . Jahez Hogg , J . Abrahams , Barnett , John Symonds , J . Belleby , Dr . Woodman , W . Mann , the Rev . Spencer Robert Wigram , J . L . Thomas , H . M . Levy , & c .
Grand Lodge was duly opened , and Bro . J . Hervey G . S . read the minutes of the Quarterly Communication of the 3 rd March ; also the minutes of the Grand Festival of the 28 th April , which were confirmed . Lord Skelmersdale proposed a vote of thanks to the committee
appointed by the Board of General Purposes to carry out the arrangements for the installation of the Prince of Wales on the 28 th of April , to Bros . Sir Albert Woods ( Garter ) , and Thos . Fenn . In doing so he said : Brethren , it is now my pleasing duty to propose to you three
resolutions-, but before doing so I must express to you the regret his Royal Highness the Grand Master wished me to convey to you at not being able to be present on this occasion . He hopes to be able to attend more regularly in the future . I have to regret that the Pro-Grand Master is not here
tonight ; but we all know how great a task it was for him to perform that he undertook on the 28 th of April , and how little we ought to expect from him at present . The Grand Master wished me also to express to you his cordial assent to the resolutions which I am about to propose to you .
I need hardly dilate on them , for I think all who were present on the 28 th of April must have expressed astonishment at the admirable way in which all the arrangements
were carried out . ( Hear , hear . ) I will not detain you b y saying more on the subject , for I am sure you will endorse everything that has been said in . public and in private . I will read the resolutions which I shall propose to you .
That the cordial thanks of tho Grand Lodge are due , and arc hereby given to Bro . John B . Monckton , tho President , and the members of tho Committee appointed by tho Board of General Purposes , to assist tho Grand Director of Ceremonies , for their successful
exertions in carrying out the arrangements for the Installation of H . R . H . tho Prince of Wales , the Most Worshipful Grand Master , at the Royal Albert Hall , on tho 28 th of April last , aud to the Grand Secretary and the Executive generally , for their willing and able assistance on the occasion .
That the best and most cordial thanks of this Grand Lodge are eminently due , and are hereby given , to Brother Sir Albert Woods ( Garter ) P . G . W ., Grand Director of Ceremonies , for tho most able manner in which he conceived and earned ont the details of the ceremony of Installation of H . R . H . tho Most Worshipful Grand Master , at the Royal Albert Hall , on the 28 th April 1875 .
That the cordial thanks of this Grand Lodge aro due , and are hereby given , to Brother Thomas Fenn , Past Grand Deacon , for the very able manner in which he carried out tho duties of superintending
the arrangements relating to the admission and seating of the brethren on the occasion of the Installation of H . R . H . the Most Worshipful Grand Master , at tho Royal Albert Hall , on the 28 th of April 1875 , and for his indefatigable exertions in the discharge of that duty . The election of members of the Colonial Board then took
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasonry In India.
points out , Masonry " has since made snch rapid progress , that within these few years , upwards of fifty Lodges have been constituted there , eleven of which are now held in Bengal . " Lawrie states briefly : — " In tho year 1729 , Free Masonry was introduced into the East Indies , and in a short
time after a Provincial Grand Master was appointed to superintend the Lodges in that quarter . " Captain Smith , however , puts the date later . He writes " The first modern lodge of free-masons was established by a patent from Enriland , in Bengal , A . D . 1740 . There are " ( i . e . in the
yt at-1783 ) "besides , several lodges m Bengal , Madras , Bombay , Bencoolen , Fort George , Fort Marlborough , in the Fast Indies , Batavia , Ceylon , Calcutta , Chandanagore , Patna , Burdwan , Dacca , Maxadavid , fyc . From the first constitution granted to form a lodge at Bengal in Asia , Anno 1740 ,
Masonry has flourished in that extensive grand division of the globe in a very extraordinary manner , principally under the authority of the Grand Lodge of England , some few under that of France , and several subject to Holland . " He then adds , " The great harmony , good behaviour , and
rectitude of life amongst the brethren , has induced some of the mighty princes of the East to become free-masons ; for at a quarterly communication , held at Free-Masons ' Hall on the Sth day of Feb . 1777 , brother Graham , from the lodge of Trichinopoly , near Madrass , reported that his
highness Omdit-al-0 ninth Bahaudre , eldest son of the Nabob of the Carnatic , had been initiated into Masonry at Trichinopoly , and possessed a great veneration for the society . " Accordingly a congratulatory letter was sent to his Highness by the hands of Sir John Day ,
Advocate-General , together with a blue apron , elegantly decorated , and a copy of the "Book of Constitutions . " Early in 1780 an answer was received from his Highness , written in the Persian language , and inclosed in a cover of cloth of gold . The translation of this letter is as follows : —
" To the Right Worshipful His Grace the Duke of Manchester , Grand Master of the Illustrious and Benevolent Society of Free and Accepted Masons under the Constitution of England , and tho Great Lodge thereof . . " Much honoured Sir and Brethren .
" An early knowledge and participation of tho benefits arising to onr house from its intimate union oi ' Jcouncils and interests with the British nation ; and a deep veneration for the laws , constitution , and manners of tho latter , havo , for many years of my life , led mo to seize any opportunity of drawing the tics between us still closer and closer .
" By tho accounts which havo reached mo of tho principles and practices of your Fraternity , nothing can be more pleasing to tho Sovereign Ruler of tho Universe , and whom we all , though in different ways , adore , or more honourable to his creatures ; for they stand upon tho broad basis of indiscriminate and universal
benevolence . " Under this conviction , I had long wished to bo admitted of your Fraternity ; aud now that I am initiated , I consider tbe title of an English Mason as one of the most honourable that I possess ; for it is at once a cement of tho friendship between your nation and mo ,
the friend of mankind . " I have received from the Advocate-General of Bengal , Sir John Day , the very acceptable mark of affection and esteem with which you have favoured me ; it has been presented with every circumstance of deference and respect that the situation of things hero aud
the temper of the times would admit of ; and I do assure your Grace , and tho Brethren at large , that he has done ample justice to the commission you have confided to him , and has executed it in such a maimer as to do honour to himself and me .
" I shall avail myself of a proper opportunity to convince your Grace and the rest of the Brethren , that Omdit-al-Omiah is not an unfeeling Brother , or heedless of the precepts he has imbibed j aud that , while he testifies his love and esteem for his Brethren , by strengthening the bonds of humanity , ho means to minister to the wants of the distressed .
" May the common Father of All , the one Omnipotent and merciful God , take yon into His Holy Keeping ; and give you health , peace , and length of years , prays your highly honoured and affectionate Brother , " OMDIT-AI-OMKAH BAHAUDRE . "
About this time the divisions which had arisen in England and extended to India were allayed , Lodge lYo . 152 styling themselves Ancient York Masons , voluntarily surrendering their warrant . Thus a union was happily accomplished , of which Brigadier General Home , hy whose
intcTvcution the Union had been mainly brought about , was elected Prov . Grand Master . On 7 th October 1787 , in accordance Avith a proposal regularly submitted to this G . L ., a new Lodge , " Perfect Unanimity , No . 1 , "—No . 150 on roll of Lodges under the G . L . of England—was
consecrated at Madras , in honour of this auspicious event ; Bro . Colly Lyons Lucas being subsequently installed W . M . The career of the brotherhood has been throughout a most prosperous one , and there now exist in India the following District Grand Lodges : Bengal , Bombay , British Burmah ,
Freemasonry In India.
Madras , and Punjab , of the proceedings of two of which , tho Punjab and Burmah District Grand Lodges , we recently gave some account . The former of these comprises 17 Lodges , with 463 subscribing members , the latter seven , with 187 members .
The Quarterly Communication Of Grand Lodge.
THE QUARTERLY COMMUNICATION OF GRAND LODGE .
THE Quarterly Communication was held on Wednesday , the 2 nd instant , at Freemasons' Hall , Great Queen Street . The Temple was crowded in every part , many brethren being under the impression H . R . H . the Most Worship ful Grand Master would be present . The magnificent carpet used at the Albert Hall was laid down , and
produced a charming effect . The place of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales was supplied by Lord Skelmersdale the Deputy Grand Master ; the Marquis of Hamilton being in his position of Grand Senior Warden , and Colonel Whitwell being in the place of the Lord Mayor of London as Junior
Grand Warden . Amongst the Grand Officers on the dais , we noticed Bros . Dr . Hamilton , Grand Master of Jamaica ; Hugh Sandeman , District Grand Master for Bengal ; J . Smith , W . Ough , T . Cubitt , A . E . J . M'Intyre , Grand Registrar ; C . A . Cottebrune , T . Bull , L . Rawson , District
Grand Master for China ; R . J . Spiers , Provincial Deputy Grand Master for Oxfordshire ; W . C . Parsons , J . Willing jun ., W . Smith , the Rev . Sir J . W . Hayes , H . Massey , Thompson , Sir Albert Woods , Garter ; Thomas Fenn , E . H . Hunt , J . C . Parkinson , Brackstone Baker , 0 .
Nash , H . Garrod , Sir Michael Costa , J . Constable , the Rev . C . J . Martyn , J . Ross , J . B . Monckton , A . L . Leins , Dr . Jahez Hogg , J . Abrahams , Barnett , John Symonds , J . Belleby , Dr . Woodman , W . Mann , the Rev . Spencer Robert Wigram , J . L . Thomas , H . M . Levy , & c .
Grand Lodge was duly opened , and Bro . J . Hervey G . S . read the minutes of the Quarterly Communication of the 3 rd March ; also the minutes of the Grand Festival of the 28 th April , which were confirmed . Lord Skelmersdale proposed a vote of thanks to the committee
appointed by the Board of General Purposes to carry out the arrangements for the installation of the Prince of Wales on the 28 th of April , to Bros . Sir Albert Woods ( Garter ) , and Thos . Fenn . In doing so he said : Brethren , it is now my pleasing duty to propose to you three
resolutions-, but before doing so I must express to you the regret his Royal Highness the Grand Master wished me to convey to you at not being able to be present on this occasion . He hopes to be able to attend more regularly in the future . I have to regret that the Pro-Grand Master is not here
tonight ; but we all know how great a task it was for him to perform that he undertook on the 28 th of April , and how little we ought to expect from him at present . The Grand Master wished me also to express to you his cordial assent to the resolutions which I am about to propose to you .
I need hardly dilate on them , for I think all who were present on the 28 th of April must have expressed astonishment at the admirable way in which all the arrangements
were carried out . ( Hear , hear . ) I will not detain you b y saying more on the subject , for I am sure you will endorse everything that has been said in . public and in private . I will read the resolutions which I shall propose to you .
That the cordial thanks of tho Grand Lodge are due , and arc hereby given to Bro . John B . Monckton , tho President , and the members of tho Committee appointed by tho Board of General Purposes , to assist tho Grand Director of Ceremonies , for their successful
exertions in carrying out the arrangements for the Installation of H . R . H . tho Prince of Wales , the Most Worshipful Grand Master , at the Royal Albert Hall , on tho 28 th of April last , aud to the Grand Secretary and the Executive generally , for their willing and able assistance on the occasion .
That the best and most cordial thanks of this Grand Lodge are eminently due , and are hereby given , to Brother Sir Albert Woods ( Garter ) P . G . W ., Grand Director of Ceremonies , for tho most able manner in which he conceived and earned ont the details of the ceremony of Installation of H . R . H . tho Most Worshipful Grand Master , at the Royal Albert Hall , on the 28 th April 1875 .
That the cordial thanks of this Grand Lodge aro due , and are hereby given , to Brother Thomas Fenn , Past Grand Deacon , for the very able manner in which he carried out tho duties of superintending
the arrangements relating to the admission and seating of the brethren on the occasion of the Installation of H . R . H . the Most Worshipful Grand Master , at tho Royal Albert Hall , on the 28 th of April 1875 , and for his indefatigable exertions in the discharge of that duty . The election of members of the Colonial Board then took