Page 11 - MML - Journal - Centenary Edition - Vol. 01 / 2023

emergency meeting of the lodge held on 17- 05-1924. In this emergency meeting it was also proposed to publish a Masonic Journal in the name and style of “Madras Masonic Journal” with W Bro. George Boag as the Editor. In the meeting held on 03-12-1924 the first Masonic lecture was given by W. Bro. J. W. Madeley on the topic “Notes on the History of Freemasonry” and the same was later published in the journal. It was during December 1924 the first issue of Madras Masonic Journal was released.
It must be recalled that W Bro. C.J. Rebeiro, the first secretary of the lodge, a very conscientious and painstaking officer, was maintaining the minutes in an exemplary manner. A plaque in his honour adorns the wall of the veranda in the first floor of the Freemasons Hall.
At this juncture, it should be mentioned that several eminent masons were members and many of them also served as masters of the lodge. The members include C.R.M. Smythe, Sir. A.Y.G. Campbell, P.M. Sivagnana Mudaliar, Sir. Salar Jung Bahadur, Sir. George Boag, C. Kunhi Raman, S. T. Srinivasa Gopalachari, C.A. Ramakrishnan, Justice. K. Veeraswami, Justice. T. Ramaprasada Rao, Justice S. Natarajan, Justice S. Mohan, Justice V. Ramaswami, Justice G. Ramanujam, Justice Subramanian Poti, Cavalier G.K. Devarajulu, I.V.M. Krishna Rao, A. S. Rajasabhai, V. Rajendran, D. Dhorairaj, Rajasekaran Nair, Arun Chintopanth, Dr. B. Biswakumar, G.K. Selvarajan, V. Narasimham, R. Sushil Raj, A.P. Chitra, Abraham Markos V.G. Madhusudan and T. N. Manoharan.
There was a healthy convention in the Madras Masters Lodge that the newly installed W.M, on the installation night, should deliver an oration on any masonic subject. This practice was followed for several years, and all the orations were reproduced in the Madras Masonic Journal.
Apart from the oration of the newly installed master, one or more masonic papers were presented by the brethren during every meeting and this practice was also continued for many years. These orations and lectures were invariably reproduced in the Madras Masonic Journal. A very wide range of Masonic inquiry had taken place under the aegis of the Lodge. The cost of dinner and refreshments for every meeting including installation meetings was shared by the members present. This information was also printed in the summons of the lodge according to which the cost of an European dinner was Rs. 3/-, Indian dinner was Rs. 2/- and that of the refreshments extra.
The partial list of orations and papers include the following subjects:
Freemasonry and the Upanishads Freemasonry and Zoroastrianism Religion in freemasonry
The efficacy of prayer
The Freemason’s God
The foundations of Masonry
The symbolism of our visible emblems
Is Masonry progressive?
Discipline – The supreme lesson in freemasonry
Are ceremonies necessary for freemasonry? Knowledge of yourself
The masonic life
Etiquette in masonry
Visits to lodges in North India, Egypt and Palestine
What freemasonry has taught me
Why am I a freemason
The mason in service of God
Madras Masonic Journal Vol. 01 / 2023 - Centenary Year Edition
A Publication of Madras Masters Lodge No. 103, GLI 10