Page 12 - MML - Journal - Centenary Edition - Vol. 01 / 2023

The symbolism of the working tools of the craft degrees
Freemasonry in the Indian continent
R. W. Bro. A. Y. G. Campbell who was the District Grand Master of Madras was installed as the second Master of the Lodge on 28-02-1925. He appointed W Bro T. C. Adikesavalu Pillai as his secretary, who continued in the said post from 1925 to 1928 and again from 1932 to 1935, that is for a total period of eight years. It was also in this meeting that the first exclusion of a member happened. W Bro. J. L. Jeffery was excluded. The team of W. Bro. Campbell and W. Bro. Adikesavalu Pillai continued in the year 1926 also. Thus, Campbell became the first master to rule over the lodge for two successive years. It was on 27-02-1925 the Freemasons Hall at Egmore was declared open by Viscount Goschen and at 8-30 P.M that evening the solemn ceremony of dedication of the temple was done by the DGM, R W Bro. Archibald Campbell assisted by various members of the lodge, namely, W. Bro. Sivagnana Mudaliar, W. Bro. Thirumalai Pillai, W. Bro. R.F. Standage and W. Bro. Arthur Knapp.
On 18-02-1927. C.R.M. Smythe was elected as the first Hon. Member of the lodge after he submitted his resignation with effect from 31-12-1926. A lodge of instructions affiliated to this lodge was also started functioning from 1926. It continued working till 1970 but unfortunately was closed on 26-02-1970 because of financial strain and after the Grand Lodge of India turned down a request from the lodge to exempt the lodge of instructions from paying the annual dues. All the lodges meeting in Madras were requested to contribute a sum of Rs. 50/- per annum payable in advance on or before 01st February. All master masons of every contributing lodge could attend the lodge of instructions without further subscription or donation and without proposal and ballot.
The attendance which was very promising in the beginning dwindled down slowly despite the efforts of the preceptors, and was finally closed down in 1970.
R. W. Bro. Sir. George Boag who was later appointed as District Grand Master, became the Master of the Lodge during 1930 and during his tenure the membership of the lodge which was steadily growing crossed the mark of 100 and touched 114. He was the Municipal Commissioner of Madras and his residence was in T’Nagar, where development was underway in full force. He was the last British Mason to be appointed as District Grand Master. The road where his house stood was named after him - ‘Boag Road’. After he left Madras to become the Governor of the province of Orissa the house where he stayed was acquired by Venkata Reddy Rao Naidu, the Prime Minister of Madras and was later purchased by the father of the legendary actor Sivaji Ganesan and is still occupied by his family. Now the name of this road became Chevalier Sivaji Ganesan Road in honour of the thespian.
R. W. Bro. Archibald Campbell who served in the Indian Civil Service in the Madras Presidency from 1896 to 1934 had to return to England on his retirement as Chief Secretary and hence he demitted his office as D. G. M and informed the same in the open lodge. He also informed that R W Bro. George Boag was appointed in his place. P.M. Sivagnana Mudaliar, our member was appointed as Deputy D.G.M. It is relevant to mention here that Archibald Campbell was the person who conceived the mettur dam. In appreciation of his services to masonry the brethren of the District presented a bust of him which was sculpted by another illustrious mason, D. P. Roy Chowdhury, the first Indian Principal of the Madras School of Arts and Crafts. The bust was unveiled during December 1934 by W. Bro. P.M. Sivagnana Mudaliar who received it on behalf of the District Grand Lodge. The bust
Madras Masonic Journal Vol. 01 / 2023 - Centenary Year Edition
11 A Publication of Madras Masters Lodge No. 103, GLI