On the 19th of June 2015 a new page in history was created when a Masonic meeting by our Indian Brethren were held in another country.
Lodge Nagendra of Gorakhpur, which is actively involved in the relief work in Nepal on behalf of the GLI, held its meeting in Kathmandu to initiate 16 very young and enthusiastic citizens of Kathmandu. These men are directly involved with GLI's charitable work involving the villages in Nepal.
Later that evening MW the GM consecrated a new Lodge - Lodge Capital No.399 (based in Gorakhpur in the Eastern Region) with the basic idea of promoting Masonry in Nepal. It was a very solemn and impressive historic ceremony in an aptly selected venue to double as a temple - the richly decorated and very Royal Banquet Hall of Hotel Yak & Yeti.
MW Bro Masurekar was at his usual best. R W Bro Kesava Rao's oration was also most enjoyable and enlightening. The new brethren from Nepal attended the ceremony and were later taken in as the joining members.
After the meeting the ladies and non-masons were conducted into the temple. The program started with the National Anthem of Nepal and later the layout of the lodge, various offices and the significance of VSLs were explained. The highlight was that Six VSLs were kept on the Altar with Budhist VSLadded to the usual five opened in our country.
R W Bro.Ranauta announced, on behalf of the ladies of Nepal, about the formation of Nepal Masonic Ladies Association. The charity collected that evening (amounting to about 40k) was handed over to them to start a charitable project.
We salute the vision of M W Bro.Masurekar, the direction and planning of R W Bro.Ranauta and the untiring efforts of W Bro.Dr AV Pathak,ARGM,brethren of Gorakhpur, V W Bro G D Rao, W Bro Dr Bhagwant Singh and, not to forget the new brethren of Nepal for this historic moment when the GLI has imprinted its footmarks on a land outside India. Indian masonry is all set to go places.
As reported by R W Bro. Puneet Sohal, Grand Director of Ceremonies, GLI
