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SG Chapter Golden Jubilee GF 2013

Speech Of First Grand Principal At Golden Jubilee Celebrations Of Supreme Grand Chapter Of India

On Friday 22Nd November,2013

M.E. The Past First Grand Principals, M.E. Grand Superintendents , visiting dignitaries from sister constitutions and foreign Grand Lodges, M.E. Companions, E. Companions , Companions and brethren all. I welcome you to this opening session of Grand Festival 2013 to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Supreme Grand Chapter of India and I am overwhelmed by your august presence in such large numbers.

The Supreme Grand Chapter of India was formed and constituted on Friday 22nd November, 1963 and here we are assembled today on Friday, 22nd November, 2013 to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the Supreme Grand Chapter.

According to Biblical text Jubilee is a 50th year and this 50th year is Sacred.  It is time of freedom and celebration. It is also a year of joy and rejoicing. It is a special year of redeeming of sins and universal pardon. A year when the mercies of God would particularly manifest. Many Chapters all over the country shall be celebrating the Golden Jubilee this year.
On 22nd November, 1963, 16 warrants for consecration of new chapters were issued and these 16 new chapters were consecrated within the first 6 months of the formation of the Supreme Grand Chapter. The first Chapter of course was named after the First, First Grand Principal or the founder First Grand Principal M.E. Comp. Bhogilal Shah.

The Supreme Grand Chapter of India was constituted with 38 foundation chapters. In the first year of its formation 18 new Royal Arch Chapters were consecrated. Thus by the end of first year there were 56 chapters and in 50 years we have consecrated 99 new chapters. The last chapter consecrated is Chapter Golden Jubilee No. 137 on 25th October, 2013. Let us see which Chapter becomes the 100th Chapter consecrated under the Supreme Grand Chapter of India. In the Golden Jubilee year itself, 8 new chapters have been consecrated, 4 in the Western Region, 3 in Southern Region and 1 in Northern Region.

It is a common thread in all religions that God is at the centre and the ultimate aim is to moves towards the centre. We describe centre as a point within a circle from which every part of the circumference is equidistant and that is the point from which Master Mason cannot err.

To move towards the centre different people take different radii.  If it be true that God is the centre of all religions, and that each of us is moving towards HIM along one of these radii, then it is certain that all of us must reach that centre.”
And at the centre where all the radii meet, all our differences will cease; but until we reach there, differences there must be. All these radii converge to the same centre. One according to his nature, travels along one of these lines and another, along another; and if we all push onward along our own lines, we shall surely come to centre; each of us is naturally growing and developing according to his own nature; each will in time come to know the highest truth, for after all, men must teach themselves." said Swami Vivekananda.

In 1962, Dr Sarabhai and Dr Bhabha were looking for a site to establish the space research station in the equatorial region. Thumba in Kerala was found most suitable as it was near the equatorial region and was ideally suited for ionosphere research. The locality, however, was inhabited by thousands of fishermen living in the villages there. It also had a beautiful church called St. Mary Magdalene Church and the Bishop’s house. As such, the acquisition of the land did not move any further.  Dr Sarabhai met the Bishop, his Excellency Rev. Dr Peter Bernard Pereira, on a Saturday and requested transfer of the property. The Bishop smiled and asked him to meet him next day. In the Sunday morning service, the Bishop told the congregation, ‘My children, I have a famous scientist with me who wants our church and the place where I live for the work of space science and research. Science seeks truth that enriches human life. The higher level of religion is spirituality. The spiritual preachers seek the help of the Almighty to bring peace to human minds. In short, what Vikram is doing and what I am doing are the same- both science and spirituality seek the Almighty’s blessings for human prosperity in mind and body. Children, can we give them God’s abode for a scientific mission?’ There was silence for a while followed by a hearty ‘Amen’ from the congregation which made the whole church reverberate.

Our culture teaches us to learn both para (spiritual) and Apara (wordly) vidya (knowledge). Therefore, together with knowledge of the Apara, one should learn the para as well. If one learns this, then Apara – wordly knowledge – vidya will become founded on dharma and spirituality. One must remember that in God’s scheme of things, the whole purpose behind creation is the idea that every person – every soul – attains bliss.

My dear Companions and brethren, I am delighted by your presence and especially by the esteemed presence of the two recipients of the distinguished service to Masonry M.W. Comp. Ratan Dubash and M.E. Comp Kancharla Ramabrahmam. I thank the Past First Grand Principals for their august presence. I thank the Grand Suprintendant M.E. Comp. Zawareh Wadia for the excellent manner in which he and his team have organized this function. A special word of appreciation for M.E. Comp. Arvind Chitra and M.E. Comp. B. Kamakoti for their meticulous planning and preparatory work and E. Comp Sameer Desai for his co-ordination and conducting of the programme today as Master of Ceremonies.

Vasudev Masurekar

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