Charity Project on the Occasion of Golden Jubilee of RGLSI

The Regional Grand Lodge of Southern India was inaugurated on 9th December, 1961. To commemorate the Golden Jubilee of the Regional Grand Lodge of Southern India on 9th December, 2011, Lodge Gomantak No. 248, as desired by the R.W. the Regional Grand Master, carried out a charity project.

The W. Master of the Lodge, W. Bro. Devidas V. Borkar, accompanied by the I. P. M. W. Bro Pankaj Saraf, Secretary Bro. Mohit Saraf, Treasurer W. Bro. Prakash Gaunekar, Junior Warden Bro. G. Richard Gould, Tyler W. Bro Yazdi Shroff and Bro. Prasad Borkar, visited the Centre run by the Goa Branch of the National Association for the Blind, and presented the inmates with food articles worth about Rs. 1760/-, as per a list supplied by the management of the Centre.

The gesture was well appreciated by the management as well as the inmates of the Centre.

 It may be recalled that the Lodge had earlier donated a sum of Rs.21000/- to the Centre on the occasion of Universal Brotherhood Day on 24th June, 2011, and had also assisted them in their fund-raising drive to the tune of Rs. 13800/- by purchasing tickets of the play organized by the Goa Branch of the National Association for the Blind.

Visit To Lodge Haig-Brown No.3829 – English Constitution

The Worshipful Master of Lodge Gomantak No. 248 and senior brethren of the Lodge were invited by the outgoing Master W. Bro. Dr. Ajay Aras to attend the Installation Meeting of Lodge Haig-Brown No. 3829 – English Constitution, at Clube de Goa, Porvorim , Goa on Saturday, 8th October, 2011.

W. Bro. Alvito Martins was ceremoniously installed as the Worshipful Master of the Lodge by W. Bro. Suresh Nadkarni, IPM, in the presence of R.W. Bro. Percy Driver, District Grand Master, R. W. Bro. Arun Deshmukh, Dy. District Grand Master and other district officers and brethren of lodges under the English Constitution.

It was a pleasure and an educative experience to witness the installation ritual, which was marginally different from the ritual in our lodges. The W.Master conveyed fraternal greetings and good wishes to the newly installed Master and his officers, and congratulations to the outgoing Master on a year  worth remembering.

It was also an occasion to meet and interact with the District Grand Master R.W. Bro Percy Driver, Dy. District Grand Master R. W. Bro. Arun Deshmukh and the brethren of Lodge Haig-Brown and of other lodges under the English Constitution.

Brethren enjoyed the fellowship and festive board after the formal ceremony.

Long-Term Service Jewel Presentation Ceremony At Lodge Victoria No.9, Belgaum.

Worshipful Master of Lodge Gomantak No. 248, W. Bro. Devidas V. Borkar and brethren of the Lodge had the privilege of attending the Long-Term Service Jewel Presentation Ceremony  at Lodge Victoria N0.9, Belgaum on Sunday 4th September, 2011.

Two former members of Lodge Gomantak, namely W. Bro. A.J Desai, who received the 50 years LTSJ and who, incidentally, was a founder member of Lodge Gomantak and W. Bro. Shivkumar Patil, Past ARGM, who received the 25 years LTSJ were amongst the recipients of the awards. We congratulate them and all other recipients on the honour conferred on them.

The address of the M.W. the Grand Master on the occasion was highly inspiring and was applauded by all.

It was an occasion to meet and interact with M. W. the Grand Master M. W. Bro Capt. Dr. Balaram Biswakumar. OSM, R.W. the Regional Grand Master R.W. Bro R. Sushil Raj, W. Bro. Yashkaran Singh, ARGM and brethren of Lodge Victoria and other nearby Lodges.

Brethren enjoyed the fellowship, the impromptu entertainment and the festive board immensely. 

Inter-Lodge Meeting of Lodge Gomantak No. 248 and Lodge Calicut No 237 Held In Goa.

An Inter-lodge Meeting of Lodge Gomantak No. 248 and Lodge Calicut No. 237 was hosted by Lodge Gomantak at Jai Kieran Hall, Ramnathi, Ponda, Goa on 14th August, 2011.

The meeting was attended by around 50 brethren of the two lodges as well as visiting brethren from lodges in North Karnataka area. W. Bro. Yashkaran Singh, A. R. G. M. of North Karnataka Area and W. Bro. Dr. K. G. Alexander, A. R. G. M. of North Kerala Area graced the meeting.

Two Entered Apprentices, Bro. Anthony Fernandes of Lodge Gomantak and Bro. Sujith Kumar Thacharakkal Nalukandathil of Lodge Calicut were passed to the degree of FellowCraft Freemasons.

W. Bro. Devidas V. Borkar, W. Master of Lodge Gomantak was ably assisted by officers from his lodge as well as by the W. Master W. Bro. M. Shahier Singh and substituting officers from Lodge Calicut in the Second Degree Ritual.

W. Bro. Yashkaran Singh, A. R. G. M. of North Karnataka Area and W. Bro. Dr. K. G. Alexander, A. R. G. M. of North Kerala Area, in their address conveyed the compliments of R. W. the Regional Grand Master W. Bro. R. Sushil Raj, as well as their own compliments to both the Lodges and their W. Masters on this pioneering venture of the two lodges, and hoped other lodges would be motivated by this example to organize similar inter-lodge meetings.

W. Bro. M. Shahier Singh, W. Master of Lodge Calicut No. 237 expressed his happiness at the success of the inter-lodge meeting, and his gratitude to the brethren of Lodge Gomantak for the excellent arrangements as well as the assistance given to the visiting brethren.

The two W. Masters exchanged mementoes at the hands of their respective A.R. G.M.s, in commemoration of the historic event.

The inter-lodge meeting was preceded by the regular meeting by dispensation of Lodge Calicut No. 237.

The inter-lodge meeting was followed by a family get-together of the families of the brethren of the two lodges which included a cultural programme organized by the brethren of the two lodges and their families.

A traditional Kerala Dance and a traditional Konkani folk song were the main highlights of the cultural programme, in addition to popular songs rendered by the brethren.

The official Home-page (Web-site) of Lodge Gomantak No.248 (http://www.lodgegomantak.org/) was formally inaugurated on the occasion, at the auspicious hands of A.R.G.M. W. Bro.  Yashkaran Singh, in the presence of W. Bro. Dr. K. G. Alexander, A. R. G. M. of North Kerala Area and W. Bro. M. Shahier Singh, W. Master of Lodge Calicut No. 237.

A Festive Board concluded the proceedings of the afternoon, and the brethren departed with a promise to have a similar inter-lodge meeting of the two lodges at Calicut in the near future.

Half-Yearly Meet of The Regional Grand Lodge of Southern India

The Worshipful Master and brethren of Lodge Gomantak No. 248 travelled to Thanjavur for the Half-yearly Meet of the Regional Grand Lodge of Southern India on 6th and 7th August, 2011.

Besides attending the Half-yearly Meet of the Regional Grand Lodge of Southern India, it was an occasion to meet and interact with the R.W. the Regional Grand Master, R. W. Bro. R. Sushil Raj and officers of the Regional Grand Lodge of Southern India.

In particular, the W. Master and brethren of Lodge Gomantak No. 248 had an interaction with the R. W. the Regional Grand Master, R. W. Bro. R. Sushil Raj, W. Bro. Yashkaran Singh, A.R. G.M., North Karnataka Area, W. Bro. Dr. K. G. Alexander A.R.G.M., North Kerala Area,  and W. Bro. M. Shahier Singh, the Ruling Master of Lodge Calicut No. 237 and senior brethren from the Lodge about the forthcoming inter-lodge meeting of Lodge Gomantak No. 248 and Lodge Calicut No. 237 to be held at Goa on 14th August, 2011. 

R.W. the Regional Grand Master, R. W. Bro. R. Sushil Raj expressed his pleasure at this pioneering venture of the two lodges, and hoped other lodges would be motivated  by this example to organize similar inter-lodge meetings. While regretting his inability to be personally present for the meeting, he extended his good wishes for the success of the meeting, and requested the A.R.G.M.s of both the areas to grace the occasion.

Brethren also visited the landmarks of Thanjavur, in particular the Brihadeeshwara Temple, which has been adopted by UNESCO as a World Heritage Monument.
Brethren of the Host Lodges of the Meet deserve a word of appreciation for the excellent arrangements made by them for a pleasant and memorable stay of all visiting brethren.

Universal Brotherhood Day with National Association for the Blind.

Lodge Gomantak No.248, celebrated Universal Brotherhood Day on 24^th June, 2011 at the Goa State Branch of National Association for the Blind. Brethren of the Lodge, along with their families, interacted with the officials and members of the State Branch of NAB and the visually challenged children residing in and those attending the centre run by them. 

Snacks and soft drinks were served to the inmates of the Centre run By NAB. A senior brother of the Lodge also distributed packets of biscuits to all the inmates. An amount of Rs 21,000/- was presented to the Chairman of the State Branch of NAB to take care of the needs of the inmates. The Lodge also arranged to introduce a Senior Professor of Ophthalmology of Goa Medical College, who agreed to provide necessary emergency and normal medical assistance to the inmates.

 

The inmates of the centre organized a short but beautiful entertainment programme for the Lodge members, which was very well appreciated by all. The centre, which provides boarding facilities to around 30 visually challenged children and is a resource centre for other similarly placed children from the vicinity, is run by a dedicated team of officials and workers who strive hard to obtain financial support from the public and provide facilities for an integrated education of these children, taking care of their special needs, while developing and nourishing their various talents.

After the visit to the NAB centre, members of Lodge organized a family get-together as a part of the celebration of Universal Brotherhood Day.

Lodge Meeting and Picnic at Candolim

23^rd and 24^th of April 2011 were special days for the Brethren of Lodge Gomantak No.248. On 23^th evening, a regular meeting of the Lodge was held at Casa Dos Reis, Candolim, Goa, the residence of Brother Erle Brito, combined with an overnight outing and picnic.

All precautions to secure and tyle the hall and to ensure privacy were taken and special dispensation for holding the meeting was obtained from the Secretary, RGL. Two Fellow Craft, Bro. Erle Brito and Bro. Prasad Borkar were raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason.

After the meeting, family members were familiarized with the basic philosophy of Freemasonry. Variety entertainment by brethren and their family members, fellowship and dinner concluded the evening.

The next morning, Bro. Erle Brito gave all interested members lessons in photography, archery and rifle shooting, which brethren and their children found very interesting.

Many members with their families visited Candolim beach, adjacent to the venue of the meeting. They departed in the early evening after a sumptuous lunch.

Installation Ceremony - 19th Feb 2011

The 30^th Installation Ceremony of Lodge Gomantak No. 248 was held on Saturday, 19^th February, 2011. Bro. Devidas V. Borkar was ceremoniously installed as the Ruling Master of the Lodge for the year 2011-12 by the Installing Officer W. Bro Pankaj Saraf, the Ruling Master, in the presence of W. Bro. Yashkaran Singh Lauly, ARGM, and brethren from neighbouring lodges. W. Bro. D. V. Borkar then invested his officers for the year. The ceremony was attended by brethren of the lodge in large numbers.