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Celebrating universal brotherhood

Drop in to learn more about the Free Masons

Free Masons, Trivandrum, will celebrate Universal Brotherhood Day today, which is observed by Free Masons all over the world. A public meeting will be held at the Free Masons' Hall at Vazhuthacaud at 5.30 p.m. The meeting is open to all.

Shanti Kumar, assistant regional grandmaster of the Regional Grand Lodge of Southern India, explains that the meeting is to remove some of the speculation about the Free Masons, an organisation that is believed to be more than 1,000 years. It was formally established in 1717 when the United Grand Lodge was established in England.

He says that the Masons are a philanthropic organisation that does not believe in publicising the charitable work undertaken by the organisation. For instance, `Dhanyodhan' requires that every Mason to keep aside a fistful of grains for the needy. This is collected and distributed to organisations that work in different fields.

According to him, the Masons donate more than 30 tonnes of rice every year in India alone. Similarly the Masons have donated generously to rebuild the lives of victims of the tsunami and the earthquake in Gujarat. A village was built near Pondicherry and a school at Bhuj in Gujarat.

Instead of asking for donations, the Masons try to raise the funds from their members who fund the charitable activities of the organisation.

Today, the Masons in the city will donate 1,500 kg of rice to a social organisation that distributes free lunch to patients at the Regional Cancer Centre.

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