Lodge Burroughs Strange No. 87
Vijayawada, India

There are some fixed misconceptions in the minds of the laity about Freemasonry - that we meet behind closed doors, get drunk, strip ourselves naked and run about in the Meeting place and that whether we like it or not, we are forced to drink and eat meat and fish. many also are of the opinion that we "raise the Devil" and practise some sort of "witch craft". Even to this day our meeting places and buildings in the North are referred to in local parlance as "BHOOTH KANAS" or "JADU GHARS". Let me categorically and unequivocally say that there is absolutely not an iota of truth in any of these notions. We call our meeting places "TEMPLES". For us, faith in God is the first requisite for admission into our Order. Our teachings are intensely religious in their import. We have constant. reference to God in our ceremonies and we invoke. His blessings in all our undertakings. Our meetings are conducted in an atmosphere of absolute silence and solemnity with dignity, decorum and decency and there is not place at all for the slightest frivolity therein.

Another misconceived notion about our institution is that we are a "secret society". This again is of course fallacious. We are neither a secret society nor an underground organisation. Perhaps we are an organisation with some secret signs and words to distinguish us from non masons. This is necessary in a worldwide fraternity like ours, where the need for proving our identity as genuine Freemasons to other Masons may arise in times of distress and unforeseen difficulties say, in a foreign place. There is nothing secret with regard to the broad principles, the spirit and ideals of Freemasonry. There are many books and periodicals about Masonry published in many countries which any one can read. Our meeting places are well known in the community and our printed meeting notices contain the names of all the members and the addresses of the principal officers. We are proud to be known as Freemasons in our communities.

The Gita is referred to as "Royal Secret" (Raja Guhyam) and the "Secret of Secrets" (Guhyathamam) meaning that its true imports cannot be grasped by one unless one has a prepared mind and intellect to imbibe those teachings; secrecy here refers to the profundity of the teaching and not that it is arbitrarily kept away from some people. Secrecy in Freemasonry has also a similar import.

Freemasonry may be described as an Universal Fraternal institution existing from time immemorial. Presently it has a strength of over 8 million picked men from all over the world with not restriction as to colour, creed, nationality or rank. It is a peculiar science of Morality and Spirituality which strives to realise in each individual definite ideals of conduct-both in public and private life. It requires its members to render obedience to the will of God, to live in conformity with Divine laws and teachings so as to convince to the world by their example that the object of our institution is to influence men to a better way of life and thus promote the welfare of the human race by inducing others to live moral and virtuous lives. In short, it is dedicated to the ideals and practice of UNIVERSAL BROTHERHOOD. This concept of brotherhood is not just a superficial and sentimental social formality of one addressing another as 'Brother'. It should spring from a firm conviction that all men are children of one Universal Father-God. To understand the deeper meaning of Brotherhood, one must Subjectively realise the spiritual identity between God and man and between man and man: that the soul in you is the same as the soul in me and him and which is the same as the supreme soul.

Our fraternity is a kind of a great school in which Masons learn the principles of brotherhood by practising them towards fellow-masons and later, with maturity of wisdom and knowledge, come to practise them in the community in the form of Brotherly Love and Relief (Charity).

Although we are an Institution seemingly aloof from others, we are very much in the community in and around us. Masonic charities are generally given to poor and indigent Masons and their orphans and widows. However, in addition we have some scholarships and annuities to be given to other deserving persons. We have in Madras, a Free Masonic Hospital and clinic. In Delhi, we have a poly clinic for the benefit of the general public. When Freemasonry in India grows to the stature like that in the more developed and affluent nations like the U.S.A. and England, we hope to extend the scope of our charities to the general public in a bigger way.

If you look back on what I have said, you will notice that in Freemasonry, Morality and Spirituality are intertwined. They seem to form a sort of symbiosis, one growing in the presence of the other.

It is indeed a great thing that at a time, when everywhere the spirit of strife and divisiveness is so rampant at all levels of human life, there should be a powerful Universal body of men which preaches and emphasises the need for Unity. Harmony and International Amity.