Revealing what lay behind closed doors

They have been viewed as a secret society for the longest time. The publication of books like the Da Vinci Code and later a film by the same name drew public attention to their groups. Now, in a bid to get rid of that tag, freemasons, observing the Universal Brotherhood Day on June 24, organised an exhibition of their ceremonial gear and artefacts for the public, allowing commoners to enter their Masonic temple and chat with members about their practices.

“We have decided to have an exhibition of the masonry artefacts and certain implements which are still being used at meetings that are of symbolic value to us,” says Nand Kumar VR, master mason at two lodges in Bangalore.

The secular society was set up nearly 250 years ago in India by the British. “Initially, Indians were not allowed to join. Then, in 1961, the Grand Lodge of India was set up admitting local members. We have had lodges dedicated to doctors, members from services like the army and chartered accountants. Now that has changed and all members are allowed,” says HS Sudhindra, assistant regional grand master (Bangalore area).

The city has eight lodges affiliated to the Grand Lodge of India and a lodge that is still affiliated to England. Many famous persons were part of freemasonry, from royalty like Marthanda Varma and Srikanta Datta Wodeyar to former presidents like C Rajagopalachari, Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed and Motilal Nehru .

Symbolism is an integral part of freemasonry. The exhibition showcased gavels, colourful aprons with symbols and ceremonial swords used during meetings even today.

The society, based on the principle of “the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man,” doesn’t accept atheists. Men can become freemasons at the age of 21 and in case a person’s father is a freemason, the son can become one at the age of 18.

“A freemason has to propose the name of an aspirant at the meeting. It is decided through ballot if he should be admitted or not. We prefer candidates who have a good education and a moral standing in society. It is essential that they have faith in God,” he adds.

The freemasons are keen to ensure they aren’t perceived as a secretive society by the public. “It was reported that when imposing emergency, Indira Gandhi sent a letter to Fakhruddhin Ali Ahmed, the then-president to ban the freemasons because we were perceived as a secretive society. She didn’t know that he was a freemason. He promptly sent for her and explained it to her, so freemasons were allowed to practice, whereas many others were banned,” Nand Kumar recalls.

Lodges are groups formed by freemasons, which meet once every month at their temples. The board outside the temple states clearly, ‘Non-members not allowed from here’,” this includes family members as well.

In India, women are still not allowed to become freemasons. Recently, however, UK and US have started admitting women as co-masons. “It will take a few years for that to happen in India. But in the meanwhile, women family members of freemasons continue to be active in charitable activities conducted by the lodges.

Reluctant to discuss or reveal the amount of charity work they do, freemasons here have set up hospitals and schools and raised money for national funds during the tsunami and the Kargil war.
“Charity is an essential part of freemasonry, but we don’t like discussing it. It is all done to fulfill our motto of making good men better,” says Sudhindra.

Just the basic facts
The origins and early development of freemasonry are a matter of some debate and conjecture. A poem known as the Regius Manuscript has been dated to approximately 1390 and is the oldest known Masonic text.

There is evidence to suggest that there were Masonic lodges in existence in Scotland as early as the late sixteenth century.

There are clear references to the existence of lodges in England by the mid-seventeenth century.

The first Grand Lodge, the Grand Lodge of England (GLE), was founded on June 24, 1717, when four existing London Lodges met for a joint dinner.

Grand Lodges and Grand Orients are independent and sovereign bodies that govern Masonry in a given country, state, or geographical area.

A Lodge (often termed a Private Lodge or Constituent Lodge in Masonic constitutions) is the basic organisational unit of freemasonry. Every new Lodge must have a Warrant or Charter issued by a Grand Lodge, authorising it to meet and work.

A Lodge must hold regular meetings at a fixed place and published dates. It will elect, initiate and promote its members and officers; it will build up and manage its property and assets, including its minutes and records; and it may own, occupy or share its premises.
A man can only be initiated, or made a Mason, in a Lodge, of which he may often remain a subscribing member for life.

Freemasons use signs (gestures), grips or tokens (handshakes) and words to gain admission to meetings and identify legitimate visitors.
The Landmarks of Masonry are defined as ancient and unchangeable principles.

A candidate for freemasonry must petition a lodge in his community, obtaining an introduction by asking an existing member, who then becomes the candidate's proposer.

Requirements
Generally, to be a regular freemason, a candidate must:

Be a man who comes of his own free will

Believe in a Supreme Being (the form of which is left to open interpretation by the candidate)

Be at least the minimum age (from 18–25 years old depending on the jurisdiction)

Be of good morals, and of good reputation

Be of sound mind and body

Be free-born. Some jurisdictions have removed this requirement

Be capable of furnishing character references

Deviation from one or more of these requirements is generally the barometer of Masonic regularity or irregularity. However, an accepted deviation in some regular jurisdictions is to allow a Lewis (the son of a Mason) to be initiated earlier than the normal minimum age for that jurisdiction, although no earlier than the age of 18.

Sources: Masonicsites.org; The Origins of Freemasonry; Coil's Masonic Encyclopedia; Masonic Quarterly Magazine; American Quarterly Review of Freemasonry and its kindred sciences