An Outstation Meeting of Lodge Pandyan was conducted in Goa on September 16th at the Jay Kieran Hall, Ponda, the regular venue of Lodge Gomantak No 248. The meeting was organized with the support of the Worshipful Master and brethren of Lodge Gomantak. Worshipful Master, WBro Perumal Baskar and his team of officers Raised Bro Kunwar Vikram Singh Bhati, a Brother from Lodge Gomantak, to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason in an impressive ceremony. All our officers performed their roles to perfection and were duly appreciated by the brethren of Lodge Gomantak for the exceptional ceremony conducted. The meeting was well attended with a total of 27 brethren.
UNIVERSAL BROTHERHOOD DAY CELEBRATIONS – JUNE 2017
The Annual Universal Brotherhood Day was celebrated on 24-June-2017 by the Lodges of Madurai Area. Prof Era.Mohan, Tamil scholar and retired professor was the guest speaker of the evening who gave an enlightening speech correlating Tamil literature with the principles of Masonry.
WBro P Suryanaryanan introduced the chief guest and R W Bro P K Muthukumarasamy gave an introduction on Masonry. Educational and medical aid to the tune of Rs.1.00 lac was disbursed as charity being main agenda on the occasion. W Bro K Natarajan proposed vote of thanks.
OUTSTATION MEETINGS – MAY 2017
Our Lodge has an established convention of visiting Lodges outside Madurai periodically and conducting either joint or independent ceremonies. We sincerely believe that while this practice enables an enhanced brotherhood it also facilitate a continuous learning process.
In continuing with this tradition we had two visits. We visited Lodge Goodwill and Peace No 149 at Thanjavur on 15/04/2017. The Lodge was opened in due form but there was no regular ceremony but floor working demonstrations were held by W Bro J Arasu Shanker, W Bro Baskar Perumal and Bro Alagu Singaram. Bro N Neethiraj explained Second Degree Tracing Board in his own inimitable style.
The second visit was to Lodge Kodaikanal No 235 at Kodaikanal on 13/05/2017. Bro Siddharth Suryamuthy, Initiate of Lodge Deccan No 20 was raised at the meeting. The highlight was brethren of Lodge Deccan No 20, Hyderabad joined us in this meeting and R W Bro Hanumantha Rao of Lodge Deccan No 20 delivered Traditional History – Part II.
PRESENTATION OF LTSJ TO R W BRO P V CHANDRASEKARAN @ NAGERKOIL – APRIL 2017
R W Bro P V Chandrasekaran was presented the 50 years LTSJ on 01-April-2017 at his residence at Nagerkoil.
R.W.Bro.Abraham Markos, R W Bro The Regional Grand Master adorned him with the jewels and presented the certificates. He came down to Nagerkoil exclusively for honouring this senior brother whose family has multiple generations of active freemasons and have contributed immensely to freemasonry. R W Bro Appu Kurien, R W The Deputy Regional Grand Master accompanied him. W Bro K Natarajan, W The Assistant Regional Grand Master, W Bro Baskar Perumal, W M Lodge Pandyan No 49, R W Bro Sureshkumar B Raheja, Treasurer and B Bro V Venkatsubramanian, Secretary, Lodge Pandyan No 49 joined The Regional Grand Master in honouring the senior brother.
VISIT BY REGIONAL GRAND MASTER OF SOUTHERN INDIA – APRIL 2017
R.W.Bro.Abraham Markos, P.Dy.G.M, R W The Regional Grand Master, Regional Grand Lodge of Southern India made his maiden visit to Madurai on 10-March-2017. R W Bro Appu Kurien, R W The Deputy Regional Grand Master and W Bro K Natarajan, W The Assistant Regional Grand Master participated in the various programs along with him on the occasion. The day saw a hectic schedule with various programs.
Brethren of Mark Lodge Kudal No 17 and RAM Lodge Kudal No 17were presented the LTSJ. At Mark Lodge Kudal No 17 W Bro Vasudev Talreja received the 25 years LTSJ. At RAM Lodge Kudal No 17.R W Bro Sureshkumar B Raheja and V W Bro P K Murugesan Durai were presented the 25 years LTSJ. R W The Regional Grand Master adorned the brethren with the jewels and presented the certificates.
A joint meeting of Lodge Pandyan No 49, Lodge Rajasabhai No 212, Lodge Kodaikanal No 235,Lodge Meenakshi No 269 and Lodge Heritage No 412 was held in the evening. The brethren of Lodge Pandyan No 49 and Lodge Rajasabai No 212 were presented the LTSJ. Bro AL Perianan Shanmugam of Lodge Pandyan No 49 received the 40 years LTSJ. W Bro H M Kadher Mohideen and Bro VR Lakshmanan of Lodge Rajasabai No 212 received the 25 years LTSJ. R W The Regional Grand Master adorned the brethren with the jewels and presented the certificates.
R W Bro Dr P K Muthukumarasamy felicitated R.W.Bro.Abraham Markos, R W The Regional Grand Master, Regional Grand Lodge of Southern India emphasizing his humility and calm nature. R W The Regional Grand Master addressed the brethren who recalled his association with the senior brethren of Madurai. He congratulated the recipients of LTSJ. He also thanked for the felicitations.
We had the privilege of releasing the first issue of the quarterly newsletter of Lodge Pandyan No 49 titled “TRESTLEBOARD” at the hands of R W The Regional Grand Master and the first copy was received by W The Assistant Regional Grand Master.
The impressive ceremony was well-attended with brethren from Madurai, Kodaikanal, Trichy and Thanjavur.
A FEAT BY SENIOR BROTHER R.W.BRO P V PARTHASARATHY – FEBRUARY 2017
R W Bro P V Parthasarathy, born on 16 January, 1936 who excelled at Athletics at University, National and State level events during his school and college days continues to be to this day as an active and very successful participant from Madurai, Tamilnadu, India, at the veterans meet at the National and International Level Events.
Recently, he won two gold medals in 80mts hurdles and 200mts hurdles at the National Masters Athletic Meet in the 80 plus age group held at Hyderabad on 23rd and 24th February. He will be representing India in the Masters Asian meet at China. We congratulate him on this great feat and wish him many more laurels.
CHARITABLE INITIATIVES
In a major thrust to its Charitable Initiatives, the Lodge has established the Lodge Pandyan Masonic Charitable Hospital at Madurai. The Hospital provides treatment to the lower strata of society at a nominal fee. And also provides medicines and drugs for a limited period of treatment.
With a view to promote the cause of charity, Lodge Pandyan along with the other Lodges in Madurai started the Madurai Masonic Trust in 1975. The Trust is a Registered Body under the TamilNadu Society Registration Act. The activities of the Trust are administered by an Executive Committee, headed by a President.
The current Executive Committee comprises :
President : R. W. Bro. V Rajendran, OSM
Secretary : W. Bro. R Mohanraj
Treasurer : V. W. Bro. Sureshkumar B Raheja
The following initiatives are carried out by the Trust :
- Annual Educational assistance to the tune of
Rs. 30,000 - Distribution of School Bags to children
The Lodge Pandyan Masonic Charitable Hospital
Distribution of Water & Buttermilk to Devotees during Chitrai Festival
Universal Brotherhood Day 2008
Universal Brotherhood Day 2010