working with them in such a way that now they can do 3rd degree working also comfortably whereas I appreciate each and every one of them for their commendable jobs. I would like to recognize VW Bro. Sanjeev Suri as Best A.R.G.M and VW Bro. J.J.S.Bhalla Best Lodge Incharge. I also appreciate the efforts of our senior most ARGM RW Bro. P.K. Sharma for doing exemplary good job.

Lodge Ligonier No.51 at Mathura was active on record but not active in real sense as a Masonic Lodge. A small motivation of our officers lead by our Dy.R.G.M, while on way to Agra, has charged the brethren of that Lodge to the extent that they had one meeting of Agra Roving Lodge of Instructions in their temple and participated in it and now the brethren of this Lodge are very active, participating Regional Grand Lodge of Northern India Meetings in large number and after 25 years invited RW The Regional Grand Master for presentation of Long Term Service Jewel. I appreciate the contribution of W Bro. Dr.Kuldeep Bhargava and Worshipful Master, W.Bro. D.P.Sharma for taking the initiative. I will request these brethren to please rise to be recognized.

MW Sir and my Brethren the net effect of all these efforts are as against only 35 inspection of Lodges last year out of 130 Lodges. This year about 60% of Lodges have already been inspected and rest will be completed in next 4 months and our endeavor would be to have 100% inspection of Lodges this year. In most of the Lodges it is ensured that signatures in Bank are changed.

Brethren, we are extremely happy and appreciate the thought of our visionary, MW The Grand Master MW Bro. Rajeev Ramakrishna Khandelwal, OSM for having taken a revolutionary step for the first time in Grand Lodge of India of Training all the Dy.R.G.M’s, A.R.G.M’s and Presidents of the Boards and 3rd Principal for their well informed and organized, efficient and effective working and development of our organization. Brethren, this step will not only motivate our senior officers but also will lay a solid foundation for strengthening and development of freemasonry in India.

I am very happy to announce that after overcoming of initial problems our E-Portal is being used by many lodges and about 40% of our returns are being filed online and we are trying to take it to 100%.

Brethren, encouraged by the generous response from all of you we had already setup our fully equipped Masonic Eye Centre at a total cost of Rs.1.60 Crore in our Prestigious Project of General William Masonic Polyclinic which was inaugurated by our beloved MW Bro. Rajeev Ramakrishna Khandelwal, MW The Grand Master, on the eve of our Half Yearly Meeting on 22nd September, 2019. Brethren, since then a Mobile Eye Dental and Health checkup clinic is added to this centre. This mobile clinic was inaugurated by MW The Grand Master on 2nd February, 2020, same day an Eye and Dental checkup camp was organized by Lodge Dronacharya No. 285 at Earth Saviors Foundation at Gurugram. Where about 500 destitutes are being looked after and taken care of. During camp spects were distributed and 18 cases of cataract were detected where surgeries will be carried out in due course of time. State of the art. Operation Theater of our Masonic Eye Centre after having all the clearances and employing Technicians has started Cataract Operations. In the next week we will have Eye and Dental Checkup of the students of our Masonic Public school by using our Mobile Clinic. Our other two charitable projects e.g., Amrit Masonic Special School is taking care of about 40 special children. Most of them are free and some are paying a nominal fee. The total fee and other collections are about Rs.70,000/- pm and the total monthly expenditure is about Rs.3.50 Lakh p.m., which is being mainly funded by the donations of our generous Brethren and Lodges.

Our Masonic Public School with 2400 students is maintaining excellent result. We are proud of this Masonic Institution which with a nominal fee providing best education to its students. I place on record our sincere appreciation to RW Bro. M.K.Mahajan for his selfless contribution in Development of school and The Principle Mrs. Neelam Kumar.

Sir our brethren are quite generous in supporting our charitable institution, some of them are very generous. We have decided to recognize W Bro. Jetinder Pal Singh Johar of Lodge Takhat-I-Suliman No.65, who for the last 6-7 years regularly organizing donation for our Charitable Projects and so far contributed about more than 40 lakhs.

Brethren, the Regional Grand Lodge Fund of Benevolence is now a Registered Charitable Trust and very soon you will be entitled to Income Tax benefits of Section 80G for your donations to this fund.

Brethren, after successful launching of Masonic Eye Centre, we now plan to launch at least 2 more Masonic Eye Centres and Polyclinics at 2 other active Masonic Centres one at Dehradun and other at Gurgaon for which funds shall be required. Therefore, I call upon you to announce generously your donations to the Regional Grand Lodge Fund of Benevolence.

At the end I would like to express my Gratitude to RW Bro.M.K. Mahajan our outgoing President of his continuous advice and active participation. I also thankful for our outgoing ARGMs for their actively discharging their duties.

Above all I thank RW Bro. Sanjeev Gandhi, Chairman, Steering Committee for excellent organization of this Annual Investiture Meeting 2020.

Northmason Cares – In pictures

Northmason Cares – In pictures

Masonic Centers of Northern India

Dear Brethren, Northern India has many gems in terms of Masonic Centers some dating back to the 19th Century. In each issue of the Northmasons’ Digest, we endeavour to highlight a couple of these Temples/Centers.

Qudsia Garden, Delhi

Lodge Jamuna No.18 is situated in Qudsia Garden. This lodge was consecrated on 15th March,1872 and warrant was on 15th January,1872. The regular meeting of this lodge takes place on 1st Saturday of every month and installation takes place in the month of January.

Masonic Information and Trivia

Some Trivia from the history of Lodge Charity #8 :

‘JUMAN’ OF LODGE ‘CHARITY’ NO:8
Probably the person, who knew more about Lodge “Charity” No.563E.C. (now 8 GLI at Ambala) than records can show, passed away in the latter part of the year 1891. He was the Lodge peon, “old Juman,” and had been engaged when the Lodge was in its earliest infancy, and for upwards of forty-three years retained his post. There is a story about him, generally accepted as true, that on the outbreak of the Mutiny, in 1857, he buried the jewels, clothing &c., and so preserved them until the lodge was re-opened. His wife was awarded a small pension in recognition of his long and faithful service, after his death….

And some more….

These lines were recorded in the minutes of a meeting of Lodge Charity # 8:

“Until Late November, 1866, candles were used in the Lodge. It was proposed to give a trial to the new substance called “KEROSENE” as an illuminant. As nothing was known about it, one of the Brethren wrote to a friend in Calcutta to try and obtain details. As the report was favourable, “KEROSINE LAMPS” were brought into use in November 1866, for the first time.”

FREE AND OF GOOD REPORT

“Free and of good report” was formerly as “Freeborn, and of good report.” It is traditionally said that the Masons who built King Solomon’s Temple were not free by birth, but declared free, and exempted from payment of all taxes, by them and their descendants. That the Masons who built the Second Temple were declared by King Darius to be free, and exempted from taxation, is historically true. After the extinction of Negro slavery, it was resolved by Grand Lodge, on the 1st of September, 1847, that the phrase should, in future, be ‘free-man,’ and the words ‘free-born’ or ‘free by birth,’ should be cancelled.

……..R.W. Bro. Kulwant Singh

Last Night I Knelt Where Hiram Knelt

Last night I knelt where Hiram knelt And took an obligation.
Today, I’m closer to my God And I’m a Master Mason.

Though heretofore my fellow men Seemed each one like the other;
Today, I search each one apart I’m looking for “MY BROTHER.”

And as I feel his friendly grip It fills my heart with pride;
I know that while I’m on the square That he is on my side.

His footsteps on my errand go, If I should such require;
His prayers will plead in my behalf; If I should so desire.

My words are safe within his breast, As though within my own;
His hand forever at my back, To help me safely home.

Good counsel whisper in my ear, And warns of any danger.
My square and compass, Brother now, Who once would call me
stranger.

I might have lived a normal life And risen to distinctions;
Without my brothers helping hand, And fellowship of Masons.

But God, who knows how hard it is To resist life’s temptations,
Knows why I knelt where Hiram knelt; And took an obligation.

Author unknown

List of New Initiates from January

1. Bro.Praveen Bhargawa, Lodge Irish Friendship No. 128
2. Bro.Ramesh Sharma, Lodge Irish Friendship No. 128
3. Bro.Pranav Gupta, Lodge Rising Star No. 366
4. Bro.Dev Raj Sharma, Lodge Irish Friendship No. 128
5. Bro.Kinshuk Kumar, Lodge Rising Star No. 366
6. Bro.Raman Sethi, Lodge Star Delhi No. 328
7. Bro.Harish Chawla, Lodge Raisina No. 97