The Grand Lodge of India

The formation of the Grand Lodge of India was a landmark in the history of freemasonry in this country. As far back as 1948, certain brethren of  New Delhi organized themselves into a body styled 'Masonic Fraternity of New Delhi' and initiated discussion on the drafting of a constitution. The Convention called by this body was pronounced as irregular. In the following year The District Grand Lodge issued dispensations to the Lodges under it to consider the issue of organizing a Grand Lodge for India. In January 1949, the Lodge passed a resolution that "this lodge was in favour of setting up a sovereign Grand Lodge of India following the pattern of the Grand Lodge of England and that this lodge is of the opinion that the question is not premature." Not much action followed until 1961 when the District Grand Lodge asked a poll to be taken to ascertain the lodges opting to join the new Grand Lodge. By a resolution passed at the regular meting in May 1961, 12 brethren voting in favour and 20 against, it was decided not to join the new Grand Lodge, but to remain under the United Grand Lodge of England.

Towards the end of October 1959 the Most Worshipful Grand Masters of England and Ireland and the Past Grand Master of Scotland arrived at a consensus that a Grand Lodge of India be formed.  Out of the total of 277  Lodges, then  in India,(178 English, 75 Scottish, 14 Irish) 145 lodges (101 English, 40 Scottish, and 4 Irish ) were in favour and The  Grand Lodge of India came into being on 24th November 1961. 132 lodges (77 English, 35 Scottish and 10 Irish ) opted to continue under their respective jurisdictions. Four English lodges in Kerala viz: Lodge Kerala, (Calicut 1886), Lodge Minchin, (Trivandrum 1897), Lodge Cochin  ( Cochin 1921) and Lodge Quilon  (Quilon 1941) and one Scottish - Lodge Heather    (Munnar 1902)  opted out. 14 other Lodges in Madras District also decided to continue under the English Contitution, one each under the Scottish and Irish Constitutions, at Chennai decided to maintain status quo ante. 

The Grand Lodge of India was formed in November 1961, in accordance with the wish of the majority of the lodges in the country. The Grand Lodge of England recognized the Grand Lodge of India at the quarterly communication held on December 13, 1961and a treaty, known as a Concord,  was signed by the MW the Grand Masters of England, Scotland and Ireland, in which it was agreed that the three sovereign Grand Lodges will not issue further warrants in India. It was then necessary for the Lodges to once again decide on joining the new Grand Lodge or to remain under the respective Grand Lodges, within six months of the formation of the former. A majority of two-thirds of the members present and voting was required to carry a resolution to transfer the Lodge to the Grand Lodge of India. At a special meeting held on 28 April 1962, with a vote of 22 against 3, members of Lodge Minchin decided to continue under the United Grand Lodge of England.

The following 19 Lodges under the District of Madras opted to join the Grand Lodge of India:

Eighteen Lodges as under opted to remain with the UGLE.

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The Grand Lodge of India was officially constituted at ten minutes to six o'clock on Friday the 24th November 1961 in the Ashoka Hotel, New Delhi. There were three delegations from the Grand Lodge of Scotland, Ireland and England in that order. The consecration was conducted by the Grand Master Mason of Scotland. This was followed by the constitution of the Grand Lodge by the Deputy Grand Master of Ireland who officially constituted the new Grand Lodge with these words "in the name of the Grand Lodges of England, Ireland and Scotland and by the command of their Grand Masters, I constitute and form you, my good Brethren into the Sovereign Grand Lodge of India. You are empowered henceforth to exercise all the rights and privileges of a Grand Lodge according to the ancient usages and landmarks of the Craft. May the Grand Architect of the Universe prosper, direct and counsel you in all your proceedings."

After the Consecration and Constitution, the Deputy Grand Master of England assumed the Throne and installed Major General Dr. Sir Syed Raza Ali Khan, G.C.I.E., D.Litt., LL.D., His Highness The Nawab of Rampur, as the first Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of India. 

The Aprons, Collars, Gauntlets etc. for the new Grand Lodge were gifted jointly by the three parent Grand Lodges.