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Interesting Events
On 11th November 1875, HRH the Prince of Wales (afterwards King Edward VIII), the Most Worshipful Grand Master of England, who was on his tour of India laid the
foundation stone of Prince's Dock in Bombay according to Masonic rites.This was the only Masonic Ceremony in which he took part and the proceedings excited great public interest and brought Freemasonry in further light
Minutes of the Lodge Meetings used to be published in Masonic journals. This practice was prohibited by the Grand Lodge in 1903.
Installing Master's Address. Until 1904 it was not usual for the Installing Master to address the WM, officers and brethren after the installation. The practice
came into being since then but it became regular and continuous only in 1923.
Investiture of EAs and FCs. In December 1915and 1916, two fellowcrafts were invested as JD and Tyler. The former died in 1917 before being raised as MM and the
other was made a MM only in 1920.
World War I. In 1919 an emergent meeting was held and a resolution of thanksgiving was passed for the victory of the Allied Forces in the First World War.
Deacon's Jewel. For the first time (and perhaps the last) a Deacon's Jewel was presented to a brother in 1922. The recipient was W. Bro. Dr. R.P.
Iyer. It was presented him in recognition of his meritorious services for the revival of the Lodge.
Secretary's Jewel. In 1924 the Lodge voted a Secretary's Jewel to W. Bro. M. Govinda Pillai.
Summons., Permanent Committee, Audit Committee. The practice of pasting a copy of the summons in the minutes book, and appointing a Permanent Committee and
separate Audit Committee came into being in 1924.
Non Resident Members. Brotheren residing outside a few miles of the city of Trivandrum (beyond the length of their cable tow) were considered non-resident. In
1925 this was amended to make only those resident out the state, non-residents. As such residents of Kanyakumari District became non-resident on 1-11-1957consequent on the formation Kerala state, when Kanyakumari District was attached to the
Tamilnadu State. The distinction was dropped in 1972.
Grand Lodge Deputation. About the end of 1927, a deputation from the Grand Lodge of England appointed by the M.W. The Grand Master arrived in India. The
deputation consisted of :
1. Rt.W. Dy. Grand Master, the Rt Hon'ble Lord Cornwallis, C.G.E., T.D.
2. Rt. W. Bro. Lt. Col. G. Monckton Arundell, DSO; OBE; PGW
3. V.W. Bro. Sir John Ferguson, P.E; Grand Treasurer
4. W. Bro. Sir Kynaston Studd, OBE, PGD
5. W. Bro. Col. The Hon'ble S. Pleydell Bouverie, DSOO; BE; TD; Dy. GDoC
GM's Message. The following message was then sent by His Royal Highness The Duke of Connaught to the Brethren in India, Burnma (now Myanmar) and Ceylon (now Sri
Lanka):
"On the occasion of the visit of the deputation headed by the Deputy Grand Master Rt. W. Bro. The Lord Cornwallis, I welcome this opportunity of sending
fraternal greetings for all brethren of the Lodges in India, Burma and Ceylon. I look back with pleasure to the period during which I held office of the District Grand Master of Bombay, and I have continuously watched the progress which the Craft has
made since that time. I regard the visit of Grand Officers to the various Districts Overseas to be of the highest importance as tending to strengthen that bond of friendship and goodwill which unites us all in further promoting the great principles
of our Order."
After the deputation visited the Lodges in the Madras (now Chennai) city they visited Lodge Rock at Tiruchirapally in February 1928. Responding to the invitation to meet
the delegation WM W. Bro. H.S. Chatfield and four other brethren attended the function and participated in a 3� ceremony, which, reportedly, was well appreciated by the delegation.
Master's Report. The practice of the outgoing Master delivering an address on the working of the Lodge was discontinued from 1925.
Record Number of Meetings and Ceremonies. During the year 1920-21, under the stewardship of W.M, W. Bro. K.R. Rangaswamy Iyengar 15 initiations, 16 passings and
11 raisings were made in 28 meetings. In 1933-34, when W. Bro. L.A. Lampard was in chair, 18 meetings were held and twenty six ceremonies were performed with 10 initiations, 9 passings and 7 raisings. The year 1957-58 also presented a similar
period of hectic activity; in 12 regular meetings - no emergency meetings were held this year - 12 candidates were initiated, 9 were passed and 8 raised. W. Bro. N. Raman Pillai was the W.M. The same trend was seen in the succeeding two years
when it was the turn of W. Bro. S.S. Pillai to conduct 8 initiations, 9 passings and 10 raisings.
A Stewards Fund was opened in 1951with an annual contribution of Rs 2 per head.
New Bylaws.
In 1951, the Lodge bylaws were revised in accordance with the changes made by the GLE in the Book of Constitution.
Installation of MW the Grand Master. R.W. Bro. The Earl of Scarborugh was installed M.W. the Grand Master in November 1951 at the Installation Meeting held at the
Great Royal Albert Hall, London. The ceremony was attended by W. Bro. P.F.H. Crowther and W. Bro. H. Sage and represented the Lodge.
Minchin Member Installs District Grand Master of Calcutta. It was a unique honour to the Lodge, when its
senior most member and the then District Grand Master, Rt. Wor. Bro. A.P. Thampi installed Rt. Wor. Bro. Archibald Edwards, as District Grand Master of Calcutta on April 1, 1989, as was authorized by MW the Grand Master.
RW Bro. A. P. Thampi felicitated on his Satabhishekam
Rt. Wor.Bro. A.P. Thampi completed 84 years in September 1995. Accredited with having passed 1000 lunar months, he was felicitated at a function held at
Kovalam on 28th October 1995. The function was jointly organized by the four lodges in Kerala (Kerala Lodge No. 2188, Lodge Minchin No. 2710, Lodge Cochin No. 4359 and Lodge Quilon No. 5839) and was attended by Mrs. Tampi and a large number of
brethren.
Visit of MW the Past Grand Master, MW Bro. John Choa.
On 6 October 2004, MW the Past Grand Master of Philippines, MW Bro. John Choa, who was the current President of the Ysmen International, visited Trivandrum at the
invitation of the W.Bro. Ben Roy, WM of Trivandrum Lodge No. 168 GLI. The W.M and senior brethren of Lodge Minchin participated in a Masonic function where the visiting dignitory spoke on the History of Grand Lodge of Philippines, and at the festive
board thereafter, both hosted by Lodge Trivandrum. W.Bro. P. George Thomas, W.M., Lodge Minchin presented a gift on behalf of the brethren of the Lodge.Pictures in the next column.
Pictures : 1, 2: MW Bro. John Choa addressing the Brethren; 3 : W.Bro. P. George Thomas felicitating MW Bro. Choa, W.Bro. Ben Roy in chair; 4 : Some of the Brethren of Lodge Minchin in attendance; 5.W.M., W.Bro. P. George Thomas presenting a gift to
MW Bro. Choa; 6.W.Bro. J.M.I. Sait asking questions to MW Bro. Choa; 7 to11 : The Festive Board
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