MY ASSOCIATION WITH LODGE PANDYAN
July 4, 2025
W.Bro. Joe Turner – Ref : 1990 Centenary Souvenir of Lodge Pandyan
Although none of my immediate family had any masonic connections, I had formed a favorable impression of Masonry and resolved to join, if ever the opportunity arose.
After I arrived in India, I found many of the expatriates were Lodge members and I often wondered why I was never asked to join, so one day I approached W.Bro. Tom Hambleton and asked him the reason. He informed me, that the masons never canvassed for members but if interested parties made a request, their case would be considered.
An Unexpected Path to Freemasonry in India
To my great joy and eternal gratitude Lodge Pandyan accepted my application and I was duly initiated in October 1955, however shortly after I was raised I was transferred to Ambasamudram. As a mason I felt my first 5 years in India had been wasted and now just as I was beginning to enjoy life as a junior mason, I was transferred and only attended 5 or 9 meetings in the next four years.
While in Ambasamudram I came under the guidance of Wor Bro Duncan Fraser, who as D of C of the Lodge, struck fear into the hearts of those who were ill prepared for their ritual work. Bro Fraser belonged to that class of Masons, who while keen and very sincere in their masonic duties and responsibilities did not recognise anything outside Craft Masonry and has such would not join the Side Degrees-Bro Fraser also had some objection to visiting Sister Lodges and as a consequence of this, I only visited Lodge Southern Cross once in 3 years I spent in Ambasamudram.
So it can be seen that my first 5 years in Masonry were not very auspicious and my progress had been retrograde, I was in danger of forgetting the signs etc.
I was transferred to Madurai in June 1960 and on my return I was determined to make up for lost time and resolved to attend every Lodge meeting and take an active part in the Lodge of Instruction.
I think the Minute Book will confirm that during the next 15 years I never missed a Lodge Meeting, unless I was on U.K. furlough. In the Lodge of Instruction I took up whatever work I was given and under the encouragement of Rt Wor Bro Rajasabai and Wor Bro Watt, I undertook the Second Degree Tracing Board (English Version) and to this day it remains my favourite lecture.
"I think the Minute Book will confirm that during the next 15 years I never missed a Lodge Meeting, unless I was on U.K. furlough."
W.Bro. Joe Turner
You can imagine my joy when the Master Elect Bro V Sakharam Rao appointed me Senior Deacon for 1961, however I had serious misgivings, apart from my limited experience, there were many senior Masons who had held office. Looking back it seems incrediable that I overstepped RW Bro V Rajendran who was my senior. However I think by and large my appointment was generally accepted and I was determined to justify the trust that had been placed in me.
1961 was the year that Lodge Pandyan voted in favour of Founding the Grand Lodge of India, while not unique, Lodge Pandyan was one of the few Lodges that voted unanimously for the formation of the Grand Lodge.
Once you have your feet on the bottom rung of the ladder the months roll by, as you pace backwards and forwards hour after hour, hoping against hope that you will be prepared for the next ceremony.
Visitors to the house in those years would ask the children what I was doing at the bottom of the Garden and they would reply “Building a Temple in Jerusalem”. I dare not reveal my thoughts after spending so many hours on the ritual, when someone would remark “It must be nice to have a photographic memory”.
Eventually I was installed in the Eastern Chair and that year was notable for two reasons, first a number of visiting Masons met in the Boat Club to discuss the possibility of holding a Lodge Meeting in Kodaikanal. The response was very encouraging, as Masons from all over India visiting Kodaikanal during the season, promised their support. Lodge Pandyan obtained a dispensation to hold its May Meeting in Kodaikanal from 1965 and the practice continued until a Lodge was consecrated in Kodai.
The second notable event was the visit of Rt Wor Bro Bhogilal C Shah, as he was the first Grand Master to visit Lodge Pandyan. It was gratifying to have the support of the Lodge in making this visit a night to remember. Rt Wor Bro Bhogilal C Shah insisted that his visit should be a family occasion, with wives and children joining us after the meeting. Alice brought the children down from school and both Susan and Janet were word parfect in delivering their poetry. The Grand Master took them to his heart and kept them amused with stories of visits to other Lodges. He recalled one occasion when one Lodge arranged a drama and after 5 hours the G. M. congratulated the only other person left in the Hall for staying to keep him company, he was told that it was his job to roll up the mat that had been provided for the G.M.
The following year the Lodge celebrated its Platinum Jubilee and it was a great relief to hand over the arrangements, in to the capable hands of the newly installed Master W Bro V Rajendran. It might be worth noting that as Immediate Past Master I was also designated Industrial Products Manager, incharge of the Industrial Products Mill, so 1965 was I.P.M. year in more ways than one.
Lodge Pandyan is fortunate in many ways and has always enjoyed an excellent reputation in Masonic Circles, however in respect of Past Masters, the Lodge was a disaster area. Many Past Masters had left the country and others were transferred or changed job and had to leave the district. The lack of Past Masters seriously affected the Side Degrees and in my case I was deeply committed in all the Side Degrees in addition to being Lodge Secretary.
It was during this period that the question of a second Lodge was raised, as some of the junior brothers would have to wait 20 or even 30 years before going through the Eastern Chair and the pressure on the Lodge to perform more than two ceremonies in one evening was not welcome.
While many brothers were favorably disposed there was a significant number, who were against a new Lodge, as they sincerely felt it would spoil the harmony and fraternal friendship that existed in the Lodge. It was to the credit of all those concerned that it was agreed that no new Lodge would be proposed unless it was unanimously agreed. Finally the unanimity of thoughts converged.
The Grand Master graciously agreed that the new Lodge could be named Lodge Rajasabai although in principle he was opposed to naming Lodges after individuals he was prepared to grant our request in recognition of the service rendered by RW Bro Rajasabai and his family to Masonry in general and Madurai in particular. During the 9 years I was Lodge Secretary I never really mastered the correct pronunciation of many of the names and I was always conscious of the amusement I caused while reading the minutes. I hope no one took offence.
Each month as I read the minutes, it became obvious that we were approaching the one thousandth meeting of the Lodge and after some discussion it was decided that we should celebrate the 1001st Meeting in a special way. The brothers again rose to the occasion andtheG.M and nearly 300 Masons enjoyed a superb weekend in Kodaikanal. The reputation of Lodge Pandian and all those connected with the arrangements was greatly enhanced.
Unfortunately all good things come to an end, after 25 years in India, Alice and I decided it was time to return to the U.K. to be with our family. It was a difficult decision, as we felt we were leaving so many friends. I was presented with a model of an apron displayed between two Silver Columns representing the Pillars of King Solomon’s Temple and when the Brothers raised their glasses and proposed the toast to “Bro Joe” I felt f was an accepted Brother amongst true and trusted friends and knew at that time, the past 20 years on the square had been fruitful and rewarding.