Lodge Burroughs Strange No. 87
Vijayawada, India

A few members of the craft of the two Constitutions at and in the vicinity of Vijayawada, having felt the want of a Masonic Lodge, made enquiries in March 1910, as to how many brethren would join in founding a Lodge: and the ready and encouraging response from near and far, from so distant towns as Bombay, Madras, Waltair and Masulipatnam, determined to launch a Lodge under the English Constitution. Although at the outset there appeared no difficulties, there were many subsequently, but the unflagging energy and Masonic zeal of the few brethren overcame them all, and a petition of 25 brethren was submitted to the Grand Lodge through the District Grand Lodge, Madras, on September 15, 1911, being recommended by Lodge “John Miller” 1906 EC and Lodge “Carnatic” 2031 EC.

On November 15, 1911, the glad tidings of the prayer having been granted were received and the Warrant arrived on the 25th idem, but in the meantime, another difficulty about the building had arisen which threatened the Consecration of the Lodge to be deferred to many months, but happily it was also quickly solved in a most satisfactory manner, and the Consecration of the Lodge took place on January 27, 1912.

During the cyclone of 1925, the original Warrant was damaged and defaced, and a Warrant of Confirmation was issued on May 5, 1926.

From 1920, the Lodge was located in its own building constructed at a cost of Rs.15,000 by funds raised by donations and debentures on a site of about 1,000 square yards which was a free gift of Late Bother Kowta Poornanandam for which the Lodge expressed its thanks by a resolution dated October 19, 1918 and extensions of constructions were made on a site of about 500 square yards which was a free gift of his son, W. bro. Kowta Subba Rao and for which the Lodge expressed its thanks by a resolution dated August 25, 1928.

Subsequently a site of 1,200 square yards adjoining to the south of the said sites was purchased from the Lodge funds and an which a Guest House called “Kirlampudi Guest House” was constructed with donation of Late W. Bro. Rajah Rama Krishna Ranga Rao Bahadur, Zamindar of Kirlampudi at a cost of Rs.16,000, out of which Rs.12,000 was paid by him and Rs.4,000 was raised by debentures. The foundation stone for this Guest House was laid in 1948 by W. Bro. T. Bhasker Rao Naidu, ICA and was opened by his brother W. Bro. T. Prabhakara Rao Naidu, IAS, on March 19, 1949.

In the year 1961, our Lodge became one of the Founding Members of the Grand Lodge of India.

On February 2, 1974, the Diamond Jubilee of the Lodge was celebrated when W. Bro. C. V. Nageswara Rao was the Master. OSM, the then Regional Grand Master of Southern India, R.W. Bro. G. Ramanujam, OSM, R.W. Bro. V. Ramaswamy and R.W.Bro. T. Rama Prasda Rao, OSM, and M.W. Bro. P.M. Sundaram, OSM, Grand Secretary, graced the celebrations.

In October 1978, during the Mastership of W. Bro. N.R. Surendra, the Lodge hosted the Half-Yearly Meeting of the Regional Grand Lodge of Southern India. In the year 1983, the name of the Lodge was changed to “Lodge Vijayawada”.

In 1987, the Platinum Jubilee of the Lodge was celebrated when W. Bro. P. Janaki Ramaiah was the Master of the Lodge.

In the year 1990, the name of the Lodge was restored as “Lodge Burroughs Strange”.

In the last decade, many Workshops, Seminars, Divine Service and major and minor Charitable Projects were conducted by the Lodge.

M.W. Bro. M.S. Thacker, OSM, M.W.Bro. Justice D.P. Madon and M.W.Bro.K.L.Reddy are the Grand Masters who visited this Lodge. R.W.Bro. C.A. Rama Krishnan, ICS, OSM, R.W.Bro. A.S. Raja Sabai, OSM, R.W.Bro. V. Rajendran, OSM, R.W.Bro. D. Dhorrai Raaj, OSM and R.W. Bro. K.R. Raja Sekharan Nayar, OSM, R.W.Bro. Arun Chintopanth and R.W.Bro. Dr. B. Biswa Kumar are among the Regional Grand Masters who visited our Lodge.

Mark Lodge Coromandal No.18, R.A. Chapter Krishna No.27 and RAM Lodge Coromandal are the higher degrees annexed to our Craft Lodge. The Siva Gnana Conclave also functions here.

The Lodge formed a registered Charitable Trust. On the charity side, the Lodge furnished six rooms in Old Age Home, Namburu with six brethren contributing for the same. It is educating poor students and conducting medical camps at Vijayawada.

R.W.Bro. I.V.S.S.Murthy, R.W.Bro. P.C. Sekhar and W. Bro. N. Harinath had the opportunity to serve our area in the Region as Assistant Regional Grand Masters.

At present, there are 4 brethren who received 40 years LTS Jewels and 12 brethren who received the 25 years LTS Jewels.

The Lodge sponsored a new Lodge, Lodge Goddess Kanakadurga No. 331, which was consecrated on January 31, 2002, making Vijayawada a Masonic centre. Much credit goes to W. Bro. N. Harinath who was the Founder Master of the new lodge, for this development.