starry starry night

I came across the term 'Free Masons' when i saw the utterly forgettable movie 'National Treasure' starring Nicolas Cage. I assumed it to be a society/group formed on the lines of say 'The Priory of Sion' somewhere in US, something which a lot of powerful people were part of. Beyond that, i can frankly admit to not bothering much, for a typically american group of people. Strangly enough, i bumped into them again, right in my living room today, when i was going through a diary which my sister brought home from work. It belonged to her boss, and detailed the activities of Free Masons in India along with the listing of a lot of top members.



The seal on the cover showed the crest... the top was a elephant standing atop a rectancle with four parts. four symbols which i couldnt quite recognize, though clearly, one was a tiger and the other three were historical sites in india. In a semi circle in the bottom, there was a symbol of protactors and some kind of ruler. The tagline said ' Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth ' .



Notice this : while the members list boasted of people like the former chief justice of Andhra Pradesh High Court, Chief engineers for PWDs - most of the people who hold top ranks did not mention their designation in their letters.



The interesting thing is that they claim not to be a secret society, at the same time, urge the members never to talk about Masonary outside the lodge walls. Their reason for coming together is mentioned simply as "an opportunity to experience the benefits of being a part of a good orderly organization..... is a way of life which may enable us to live respected and die regretted" !! Vague enough.



A historical overview, described them to be one of the oldest fraternal societies based on "Fatherhood of God and Brotherhood of man." It was supposed to have been started in Europe and is indeed influenced by the Knights Templar. It has been supposed to have come in India way back in 1720's. The stone lodge in Calcutta called the 'Star in the East' was the first one to be built in India 256 or more years ago. Indian were not allowed to be a part of it till 1775.



Illustrious (and ofcourse politically influencial) brothers of the past include Swami Vivekananda, Moti Lal Nehru and our first president Dr. Rajendra Prasad, besides many Supreme and High Court Judges and Civil Servents. More details are provided on their beliefs and members lives etc. Three basic features : They consider themselves as upholders of morality and freedom; a belief in God is essential to be a member and (why doesnt this surprise me) membership is exclusively male.



That's where i stopped reading.

Chk out this link :



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