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Congregation of an esoteric society
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Over 2,000 freemasons from across the nation are expected to come to this city for the Annual Investiture Meet
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Freemasons (right) The Hamilton Masonic Lodge, the current RGM G.K. Selvarajan and RGM (elect) V. Narasimham (extreme right)
They use signs (gesticulations), grips or tokens (handshakes) and words to gain admission to meetings and identify legitimate visitors. They believe in the ‘Supreme Being’, but the interpretation of the term is subject to the conscience o
f the candidate. They are a group of people, spread across the globe, who transcend the boundaries of religion, caste and creed to indulge in the service of the humanity, and they do it secretively. The inference is about freemasons and the Masonic order. While Freemasonry has often been termed as a ‘secret society’, Freemasons themselves argue that it is more correct to say that it is an esoteric society, and in certain aspects they maintain a confidential code.
Over 2,000 freemasons from across the nation are expected to come to this city for the Annual Investiture Meet of the Regional Grand Lodge of Southern India. The two-day meet from March 1 would be held in the Andhra University Convocation Hall.
History of freemasonry
The antiquity of Masonry is obscure but many Masonic chroniclers in the past have noted that they had found striking similarities in the performance of certain Masonic ceremonies and rituals with ancient civilisations like that of Egypt, Rome and the Mithras, which dates back to over 4,000 years.
In modern times, organised Freemasonry started with the formation of the Premier Grand Lodge in London in 1717. Freemasonry was established in India by the colonial rulers in 1730 at Fort William in Calcutta. An attempt was made to set up a Masonic Lodge in Visakhapatnam by the British Coast Artillery around 1780s but it did not materialise, and finally Lodge Waltair was constituted on July 26, 1895.
After moving from one place to another the Lodge had its permanent building consecrated on August 9, 1912. The stone edifice is located on the Beach Road in the Old Town area and is named after one of its illustrious past masters of the Lodge N.A.W. Hamilton.
People who join the organisation are called Freemasons and they say that it is neither a religious nor a political body. Freemasonry is all about brotherhood and it is not a charitable organisation though charity is one of the virtues that is taught to every freemason. People who intend to join the Masonic Order have to undergo an interview and if selected, are sworn by a ritual.
Making Vizag proud
For the first time in the 250-year-old history of Freemasonry in India, a freemason from Andhra Pradesh will take over as Regional Grand Master (RGM) of Southern India. Varanasi Narasimham from Visakhapatnam will assume office as RGM at the investiture meet. An alumnus of IIT- Kharagpur, he will serve as RGM for the next three years.
The five craft lodges of Visakhapatnam have adopted the village of Kapuluppada in Bhimili mandal. They have constructed a community hall, provided drinking water and sanitation. Apart from that, they also conduct regular medical and veterinary camps. Organisation structure
The Grand Master heads the Indian order of Freemasonry. The Grand Lodge has four Regional Grand Lodges, divided as per geographical zones, under its control. Each Regional Grand Lodge is headed by a Regional Grand Master who is supported by a number of elected office-bearers. The present Grand Master of India is the former Chief Justice of AP High Court J. Devinder Gupta.
SUMIT BHATTACHARJEE
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Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Mangalore
Puducherry
Tiruchirapalli
Thiruvananthapuram
Vijayawada
Visakhapatnam
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