Grand Lodge Welcome of India to Freemasonry (A Brochure for the newly Initiated Candidate) STRICTLY FOR FREEMASONS Presented to Bro. On the Occasion of his Initiation into Freemasonry in Lodge On Junior Warden Senior Warden Worshipful Master Welcome to Freemasonry n behalf of Most Worshipful the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Free and OAccepted Masons of India, we welcome you to the Masonic Fraternity and congratulate you on joining our ancient and honourable institution. Ancient undoubtedly it is, having existed from times immemorial and as you were told during the ceremony of your initiation, honourable it must be acknowledged to be, since it makes all those so, who follow its precepts. We are all the more encouraged to welcome you in our midst because, you freely and voluntarily offered yourself as a candidate for the privileges of Freemasonry and also asserted that you did so, unbiased by improper solicitations from friends against your own inclinations and uninfluenced by mercenary, or other unworthy motives. You also assured us that you were prompted to seek those privileges, by a favourable opinion of the Institution, a desire for knowledge and a sincere wish to be more extensively serviceable to your fellowmen. 1 2 About Freemasonry v Involved in making good men better and thereby making the world a better place to live You must have gathered some information about Freemasonry, from your Proposer and Seconder. You will also no doubt learn more about Freemasonry, as you get more v Engaged in teaching its precepts through a series of rituals and symbolism, by using exposure to it. In the meanwhile, this brochure is intended to acquaint you with what stone masons’ tools and customs as allegorical guides Welcome to Freemasonry is and what Freemasons stand for. Freemasonry is Freemasonry By way of introduction the following general observations about Freemasonry will enable v you to further discover Freemasonry. This information is also available in the form of a Not a religion; it however, teaches respect and tolerance for all religions and a belief in handy folded card entitled “Discover Freemasonry” which you can collect from the a Supreme Being, without reference to any religion Secretary of your Lodge, for being passed on to any non – Freemason, who enquires from v Not a political party or organization you, details about Freemasonry. v Not a secret society; however, the mode of recognition amongst Freemasons, are kept A secret like the Passwords etc in wide use among internet and credit card users, to Brochure Freemasonry is for the prevent frauds and misuse v One of world’s largest and oldest secular fraternal organization newly v Not a social club; its membership consists of a cross section of society, who meet on an Initiated v A world–wide organization based on the principle of the Fatherhood of God and the Candidate equal footing; it also involves family members on social occasions Brotherhood of Man Freemasonry encourages v Committed to its universal motto of “Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth” v Charity as the predominant Characteristic of every Freemason’s heart v A unique society of men concerned with moral and spiritual values 3 2 About Freemasonry v Involved in making good men better and thereby making the world a better place to live You must have gathered some information about Freemasonry, from your Proposer and Seconder. You will also no doubt learn more about Freemasonry, as you get more v Engaged in teaching its precepts through a series of rituals and symbolism, by using exposure to it. In the meanwhile, this brochure is intended to acquaint you with what stone masons’ tools and customs as allegorical guides Welcome to Freemasonry is and what Freemasons stand for. Freemasonry is Freemasonry By way of introduction the following general observations about Freemasonry will enable v you to further discover Freemasonry. This information is also available in the form of a Not a religion; it however, teaches respect and tolerance for all religions and a belief in handy folded card entitled “Discover Freemasonry” which you can collect from the a Supreme Being, without reference to any religion Secretary of your Lodge, for being passed on to any non – Freemason, who enquires from v Not a political party or organization you, details about Freemasonry. v Not a secret society; however, the mode of recognition amongst Freemasons, are kept A secret like the Passwords etc in wide use among internet and credit card users, to Brochure Freemasonry is for the prevent frauds and misuse v One of world’s largest and oldest secular fraternal organization newly v Not a social club; its membership consists of a cross section of society, who meet on an Initiated v A world–wide organization based on the principle of the Fatherhood of God and the Candidate equal footing; it also involves family members on social occasions Brotherhood of Man Freemasonry encourages v Committed to its universal motto of “Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth” v Charity as the predominant Characteristic of every Freemason’s heart v A unique society of men concerned with moral and spiritual values 3 4 v The moral virtues of Temperance, Fortitude, Prudence and Justice Professors, Teachers Advocates, Chartered Accountants, Business Executives, Judges, Officers of various ranks belonging to Armed Forces, Civil Service Officers etc. v Extending fellowship and providing relief to those in distress How to Join Freemasonry? Brief History Welcome v Freemasonry does not solicit or canvass for membership v Freemasonry traces its origin from King Solomon’s times, but its real origin is lost in to Freemasonry antiquity v Those above 21 years of age and who believe in God, as a Supreme Being can join v Freemasonry in its present form originated in England, in1717; it came to India, at v One has to be proposed and seconded by a Freemason to join a Lodge which is the Calcutta in 1729 basic unit for admission of membership v Every candidate to Freemasonry is invited to interact with a screening committee of the v Freemasonry exists in over 190 countries in the World Lodge which he proposes to join before he is balloted for initiation v There are over 5 million Freemasons in the world; in India we have about 20,000 A For further details about Freemasonry you can visit our website: www.masonindia.org or Freemasons Brochure send E –mail to [email protected] for the v There are as on date, 360 Lodges in 142 locations all over India, which are the basic newly Initiated units for membership Organisational Set-up Candidate v Prominent Indian Freemasons include Swami Vivekananda, Moti Lal Nehru C. Before we take you on a retrospect of the ceremony of your initiation, it is desirable that Rajagopalachary, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, Fakhrudhin Ali Ahmed, you must know about our organizational set up. Freemasonry all over the world is Actor Ashok Kumar, Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi etc., as also a wide variety of a cross governed in each country, by a body called the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and section of society and professionals, such as Doctors, Engineers, Industrialists, Accepted Masons - Grand Lodge for short. The head of that body is called the Grand 5 4 v The moral virtues of Temperance, Fortitude, Prudence and Justice Professors, Teachers Advocates, Chartered Accountants, Business Executives, Judges, Officers of various ranks belonging to Armed Forces, Civil Service Officers etc. v Extending fellowship and providing relief to those in distress How to Join Freemasonry? Brief History Welcome v Freemasonry does not solicit or canvass for membership v Freemasonry traces its origin from King Solomon’s times, but its real origin is lost in to Freemasonry antiquity v Those above 21 years of age and who believe in God, as a Supreme Being can join v Freemasonry in its present form originated in England, in1717; it came to India, at v One has to be proposed and seconded by a Freemason to join a Lodge which is the Calcutta in 1729 basic unit for admission of membership v Every candidate to Freemasonry is invited to interact with a screening committee of the v Freemasonry exists in over 190 countries in the World Lodge which he proposes to join before he is balloted for initiation v There are over 5 million Freemasons in the world; in India we have about 20,000 A For further details about Freemasonry you can visit our website: www.masonindia.org or Freemasons Brochure send E –mail to [email protected] for the v There are as on date, 360 Lodges in 142 locations all over India, which are the basic newly Initiated units for membership Organisational Set-up Candidate v Prominent Indian Freemasons include Swami Vivekananda, Moti Lal Nehru C. Before we take you on a retrospect of the ceremony of your initiation, it is desirable that Rajagopalachary, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, Fakhrudhin Ali Ahmed, you must know about our organizational set up. Freemasonry all over the world is Actor Ashok Kumar, Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi etc., as also a wide variety of a cross governed in each country, by a body called the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and section of society and professionals, such as Doctors, Engineers, Industrialists, Accepted Masons - Grand Lodge for short. The head of that body is called the Grand 5 6 Master who is respectfully called and addressed as Most Worshipful (M.W.) the Grand Foundation Lodges and as a token of their contribution to the formation of the Grand Master. Lodge of India, each such Lodge was presented a Foundation Lodge Jewel by M.W.