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The Rediff Special/ Aparajita Saha

'We seek to make good men better'

It's human nature, really. There is always an unnatural curiosity to unravel the unknown. Demystify the arcane. And an avid thirst for revelation.

After fiercely protecting its privacy for over its 250 years in India, Freemasonry, one of the world's oldest secular fraternal societies, opened its doors to a press conference held in Bombay for the first time ever.

For the uninitiated, Freemasonry is a worldwide organisation that has been in existence, in the present form, for nearly 280 years in the world and for 250 years in India. Its primary unit of organisation is a 'Lodge.' A number of independent Lodges of a region are under the governance of a 'Grand Lodge.' There are over 150 Grand Lodges the world over and 326 Lodges within India.

The Grand Lodge of India (New Delhi) was sanctified as a Sovereign Grand Lodge with full Masonic jurisdiction over the territories of the Republic of India in 1961.

It is always believed that Freemasons have a secret that they carefully conceal. But from every thing that can be collected from their own accounts of Masonry, their real secret is no other than their ceremonial methods of instruction and the mode of determining who are its members, which but few of them understand' and those who do, envelope it in mystery.

Commenting on this enigmatic approach, H P Mathur, the Grand Master, Grand Lodge of India, says, "We want to lose this mysterious persona we have and reach out to as many people as possible. To dispel this very notion of secrecy we are organising an Open Session to explain the purpose and significance of the Institution of Freemasonry."

Further emphasising the transparency of the organisation, he continues, "Our constitution, teachings, rituals and activities are available for all to read. Books can be found in our offices and public libraries."

The Society of Masons is distinguished into three classes or degrees: The Entered Apprentice, the Fellow Craft and the Master Mason.

The Entered Apprentice knows but little more of Masonry than the use of signs and tokens, and certain steps and words by which Masons can recognize each other without being discovered by a non-Mason. Defending the need for these signs and gestures that further compound the alleged mystery of Freemasonry, Mathur says, "These are universal ways to identify a fellow Freemason and to prevent an unqualified person from abusing the organisation and its members."

The Fellow Craft is not much better instructed in Masonry, than the Entered Apprentice. It is only in the Master Mason's Lodge, that whatever knowledge remains of the ways of Masonry is preserved and concealed.

Promotion of a brother Freemason (as the members are referred to) to the next level is on the basis of how much of the teachings and principles the individual has assimilated and practised.

Dispelling the exclusivity that surrounds the organisation, Mathur explains, "We hope to initiate more people into the organisation. We do not canvass for membership. Candidates are expected to approach us on their own free will. Rules for membership are similar to that of any organisation. The candidate has to be proposed by a brother member and seconded by another, after filling out a mandatory form."

All particulars of the form are read aloud in the monthly Lodge meeting and membership is granted if the candidate receives two-thirds majority from the members. "In this manner, everyone gets an opportunity to have their say," explains Mathur. Admission fees range from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500, depending on the region while the annual subscription ranges from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,800. Non-adherence to morality codes and principles may lead to expulsion in extreme cases.

Describing Freemasonry's principles of brotherly love, relief and truth, Mathur says, "Brotherly love deals with tolerance and compassion for fellowmen. We seek to make good men better. Relief is the amelioration of the people through various ways and means. We believe the ultimate truth is the existence of God. In fact, we start all our meetings with readings from the Bhagwad Gita, Quran, Guru Granth Sahib and the Zend Avesta." Elaborating on the prerequisite for membership, Mathur stresses, "Belief in God and His existence is all that is essential to become a Freemason."

Explaining why women are not allowed membership into the organisation, Mathur says, "The principles were laid down several years ago and they haven't undergone much change. Moreover, the absence of an international apex body makes it very difficult to bring about any sort of fundamental change. Some Lodges do have an attached woman's body -- the Order of Eastern Stars -- but we are yet to muster sufficient membership in India for the same."

Freemasonry has been keeping busy in India -- the organisation is responsible for the General Williams Masonic Polyclinic and a Masonic Public School in Delhi. It runs a Masonic Medical Care centre for children in Coimbatore and has adopted a village in Visakhapatnam district (Andhra Pradesh) where it tends to sanitation, electricity, health and housing.

Apart from these permanent programs, it is actively involved in blood donation, eyes and health camps, scholarships for the needy, work for the handicapped, Kargil, etc.

S H Doctor, Regional Grand Master (Western India), talks about opening a recreation centre and old age home in Panvel near Bombay. "We are organising a music show with Ustad Zakir Hussain to raise funds so we can buy land for our purpose. We feel the need for such institutions in big cities like Mumbai where the aged are crowded out by the youth."

The funds for these charitable activities come from membership fees, annual subscriptions, specially organised programs, and of course the goodwill of its members and patrons.

November 10, 2000 is a big day for the organisation. This is the day where those interested may witness the initiation rituals of the new members in the Freemasonry temple located in Freemasons' Hall in Bombay. Clarifying the necessity for the rituals, Mathur explains, "Rituals, however simple they may be, leave a solemn impact on the participants and, at the same time, reinforce the beliefs of the existing members."

The Freemasonry will undergo a change in leadership as H P Mathur will appoint his successor Dilip Dwarkadas Udeshi as the Grandmaster of India on November 11.

EXTERNAL LINKS:
The history of Freemasonry
Freemasonry in India

The Rediff Specials

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