Speech Of First Grand Principal At Grand Festival 2013
Annual Investiture Meeting Of Supreme Grand Chapter Of India
On Sunday 24th November, 2013
M.E. The Past First Grand Principals, M.E. The Grand Superintendents, visiting dignitaries, M.E. Companions, E. Companions and Companions all. A very Good Morning to you all and a warm welcome. I am delighted to find such a large attendance this morning to the Annual Investiture Meeting of the Supreme Grand Chapter.
Supreme Grand Chapter of India was constituted with 38 Royal Arch Chapters as foundation Chapters on 22nd November 1963. On the date of formation 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 was named after the First, First Grand Principal or the founder First Grand Principal M.E. Comp. Bhogilal Shah.
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.
Jews called their God Elohe. It was Moses who gave the name Jehova. Moses in the wilderness at first attempted to lead the 12 tribes of Israel as if he were a team leader. Moses was presented with a seemingly impossible task. He felt himself not to be up to it. But he said yes and he grew as a leader – it was a creative experience. He did have one asset – humility – which meant that he was willing to listen to good advice.
One day his father-in-law Jethro watched him as he sat alone all day from dawn to dusk listening to complaints, resolving disputes and giving counsel. ‘This is not the best way to do it, said Jethro. ‘You will only wear yourself out and wear out all the people who are here. The task is too heavy for you; you can not do it by yourself. Now listen to me….’
Jethro told him that he must remain the people’s representative before God and to instruct in the principles of how to behave and what to do. ‘But you must yourself search for capable, God fearing men among all the people, honest and incorruptible men, and appoint them over the people as officers over units of thousands, of a hundred, of 50 or10. They shall sit as a permanent court for the people; they must refer difficult cases to you but decide simple cases themselves. In this way your burden will be lightened, and they will share it with you. If you do this, moreover, this whole people will here and now regain peace and harmony.’ Moses, listened to his father-in-law and did all that he suggested. Moses was the First Grand Master of the First or Holy Lodge.
Companions, the scepter of the second principal Hagai bears the all seeing eye which is an emblem of vigilance. The colour of the robe is purple an emblem of harmony and union composed of blue and crimson and exhorts the second principal by every means in his power endeavor to establish permanent union and good understanding and harmony in the different orders of freemasonry. And there is a prayer which says that as the glorious sun at its meridian height disperses the clouds and mist which obscures the horizon may you dispel the gloom of jealousy and discord when ever it may arise.
In Craft we have a prayer at the close of the second degree which says wherever you are and what ever we do, He is with us and His “all seeing eye” observes us. The ‘All Seeing Eye’ is shown as a single eye. Is it the eternal eye, third eye, Shivanetra? It is believed that the third eye is situated between the two eyebrows. Close your eyes and focus both eyes in the middle of your eyebrows. Give your total attention to it. This is one of the simplest methods of being attentive. Between the two eyebrows is the gland called pineal gland. The gland absorbs attention. By continual practice of focusing both eyes on the space between the middle of the eyebrows, the third eye which is closed and non-fuctional gets open. Both your eyes become hypnotized by the third eye. The third eye focuses attention, it is magnetic. Your attention is brought to it forcibly. It is absorbed. For the first time you will see thoughts running before you. You will become the witness. It is just like a film screen. Thoughts are running and you are a witness.
Companions, you will all agree that this is a beautiful degree and a colourful one that too. It is in this degree that we regain the secrets which were lost in Craft Masonry and this degree must be strengthened and the standard of Ritual Working should also be toned up. I request all of you companions to enthuse the brethren to join our fold and for which we must propagate the ideals of Royal Arch Masonry in a big way. This is the degree which inspires us to work with sincerity. The three lectures of the Principals if delivered properly and dramatically will leave us spell bound, but I am afraid that this is not being adhered to by a majority of the Chapters in the country. I urge you Companions to draw up a strategy to improve the standard of Rituals thereby kindling the interest in the minds of the companions to foster this degree and bring in more brethren into the fold.
Craft trains us, disciplines us and teaches us to promote the horizontal relationship with God through our fellow human beings. The holy Royal Arch Chapter teaches us, trains us, and disciplines us to promote the vertical relationship with God. The Craft teaches us to explore the most interesting of all human studies, the knowledge of yourself. The Chapter invites you to explore the possibility of merging self with the higher self. Atman with Parmatman.
I thank the outgoing Active Officers for their support and assistance to the Supreme Grand Chapter and a special mention must be made of M.E. Comp. S. R. Pai, the outgoing Third Grand Principal, a young brother in his early 80’s. During his tenure he attended to the arduous ritual working in consecration of new Chapters, gave thought provoking orations with a simple narrative and performed his role as consecrating Third Grand Principal in an excellent manner. I am Beholden to you R. M.E. Companion Sreeniwas Pai of Tellicherry. I welcome the incoming active officers and I am sure that they will discharge the duties of their office to the best of their ability.
Once again special Thanks to M.E. The Grand Superintendent of the Regional Grand Chapter of Western India M.E. Comp. Zawareh Wadia and his organising team, for the excellent handling of the event.
Companions we take a short break after this meeting and assemble again for the Mark Meeting.
Vasudev Masurekar