[Divine
Service is being held as a Programme of the Grand Lodge of India. M.W. Grand
Master of Grand Lodge of India had presented a paper on the Divine Service some
time ago in a distinguished gathering of
M.W. Grand Masters of 100 Grand Lodges at the 8th World Conference of
Masonic Grand Lodges in Paris. Brethren
of various countries have been evincing interest in the Divine Service and many
have requested us for posting the Divine Service in this website. Divine
Service was conducted in Chennai by
M.W. Bro. Justice Devinder Gupta O.S.M., our M.W. Grand Master, few
weeks ago in a distinguished gathering of Freemasons, their family members and
a galaxy of special invitees, with the Hon’ble Chief Justice of the State High
Court as the Chief Guest. Portions of the Scriptures were read and translated,
all but one, by the Ladies of the Masonic Family. Divine Service commenced with
an introduction by M.W.Grand Master, followed by the reading and translations
of the Scriptures and a brilliant and illuminating address by the Chief Guest
(which has been posted as Article No.253). Since, India is a secular state and
there are different religions, all co existing in peace and brotherhood, all
the five Sacred Books namely Srimad Bhagavad Gita, the Book of the Hindus, Holy
Bible, the Book of the Christians, Holy Quran, the Book of the Muslims, Guru
Granth Sahib, the Book of the Sikhs and Zend Avastha, the Book of the Parsees
are kept in the Altar. Portions from all those Sacred Books were read and
translated during Divine Service. There are also Freemasons’ Prayer and Prayer
for the Future. We are all very thankful and beholden to M.W.Grand Master for
having conducted the Divine Service in Chennai as part of the celebrations on
the completion of 500 th Meeting of our Lodge, Sri Brahadeeswara (No.150)]
Divine Service
( M.W.Grand Master, together with the Chief Guest, R.W.Regional Grand
Master, Grand Chaplain and the Bearers of Sacred Laws led by the Grand Director
of Ceremonies entered in procession and took position. All the five Sacred
Books were kept on the Altar and were opened. All those present stood to order.
After M.W.Grand Master took his seat, all were seated )
M.W.Grand Master : “
I welcome you all to this Divine Service of Freemasonry.
Unfortunately, not much is
known to the general public about Freemasonry and what little is known, is also
based mostly on misinformation, with the result, it is often considered to be a
Secret Society. Let me assure you that Freemasonry is not a Secret
Society. There is nothing secret or secretive about Freemasonry. No doubt
it has some secrets, but these relate to the mode of recognition amongst
Freemasons and are no different from the use of passwords in accessing internet
or the secret code required while using Credit Cards, which are precautionary
measures to prevent misuse and ensure privacy. Our meetings, like meetings of
many other social and professional associations, are private occasions open
only to members. Freemasonry does not conceal the time and place of its meeting,
nor does a member hide the fact of his membership. Freemasons are encouraged to
speak openly about their membership, while remembering that they undertake not
to use it for their own or anyone else's advancement.
Let me give to you some introduction to our organisation. Freemasonry
is one of the world's oldest secular fraternal Organizations, which believes in
the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man. It is a society of men
concerned with moral and spiritual values. It seeks to make good men better and
there by make the world a better place to live. It is characterized by such
things as equality, fairness, dignity, forgiveness, generosity, respect for the
rights of the individuals and building for a better tomorrow. It in fact is a
way of life.
Freemasonry in an organised form has been in existence for nearly 280
years in the world and for over 266 years in India. However, the Grand Lodge of
India was consecrated as a Sovereign Grand Lodge on 24th of November 1961.
There are number of prominent Indians from all walks of life, who have
been Freemasons. To name a few, Swami
Vivekananda, Shri C. Rajagopalachari, Shri Moti Lal Nehru, President Dr.
Rajendra Prasad, President Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, President Shri Fakhrudin Ali
Ahmed, J.R.D. Tata, Prof M.S.Thacker, Sir C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer, Sir
Chimanlal Setalvad, Sir Dorabji Jamshedji Tata, as also several serving and
retired judges of Supreme Court and High Courts, serving and retired Defence
Personnel and Civilian Officers besides many Industrialists, Business men,
Business Executives and other Professionals like Doctors, Engineers, Chartered
Accountants etc.
The primary unit organisation of Freemasonry is a Lodge. Masonic
buildings are called "temples". Master of a Lodge is selected
annually by the members. Progression through the various Offices of a Lodge
enables its members to develop self-confidence and improve speaking skills and
promotes qualities of leadership. In a Lodge meeting there are two types of
meeting agenda. The first is like the business meeting of any other
organisation, The other type of meeting is one in which new members are
received in solemn ritual ceremonies and stimulating lectures, which relate to
the ancient traditions and principles on which Freemasonry is founded. The
meetings usually conclude with an enjoyable fellowship over dinner.
Freemasonry is fundamentally based on Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth,
which are ethical principles acceptable to all good men. It supports the
"Golden Rule" - To do unto others as you would wish them to do unto
you. It teaches each member to act and live in such a way that he will always
strive to become a better man, not better than someone else, but better
tomorrow than he is today.
Masonic ceremonials form the basis for teaching the Masonic philosophy.
which leads to a better understanding of the purpose of life and the need for
care and concern for others, care for the less fortunate and help for those in
trouble, sorrow, need, sickness or any other adversity. Masonic teaching inculcates
in its members. obedience to God and observance of the Laws of the country. It
promotes personal growth of character and encourages Freemasons to lead an
active life in the community. It flourishes in every free country and is a way
of life for men of all nations.
Masons practice charity and benevolence and strive to promote human
welfare. It is committed to extend the hand of fellowship & provide Relief
to those in distress. All monies raised for charity are drawn from
amongst Freemasons. In India the Masonic Fraternity is involved in several
charitable projects, all over the country. The General Williams Masonic
Polyclinic at Janpath, New Delhi, Masonic Public School in Vasant Kunj, New
Delhi, Amrit Masonic Charitable Society, Noida, Masonic Medical care centre for
children in Coimbatore, as also the adoption of an entire village located in
backward area in Bheemlipatnam in Visakhapatnam District and another village in
Srikakulam District, for all round development in Health, Sanitation, Education
& Housing. & Construction of Sheds for cyclone victims in Andhra
Pradesh, awarding many Scholarships and Bursaries to deserving students,
helping institutions for the handicapped and the aged, holding of periodical
Blood donation camps, Eye camps and other Health Camps etc., are examples of
some of the socially relevant activities of Masonic organisations all over the
country.
Freemasonry reinforces kindness in the home, honesty in business,
courtesy in society and fairness in all things. Freemasonry is not a social
club. It however provides the means of socializing among its members,
which consists of a cross section of society drawn from all walks of life, who
meet on an equal footing. It also involves the families of members on such
social occasions.
Freemasonry is not a political organisation. It has no political
agenda. Discussion of any topic of a political nature is not permitted in
Lodges. Freemasons are urged to perform their civic duties according to
the laws of the country in which they work or live. It reminds them of
the filial affection one should always have for the Land of their birth, to
remain loyal to the laws of the land, which, for the time being, may be the
place of their residence, or afford them protection. The use of membership of the
Craft for material benefit is discouraged.
Some people confuse Masonry with a religion, because we call Masonic
buildings as "temples." But we use the word in the same sense that
the Court of law is called a "Temple of Justice". Although every
meeting is opened and closed with a prayer, Freemasonry is not a religion, nor
is it a substitute for religion. An essential qualification for a person
who wants to become a Mason is that he must have a belief in God. No atheist
can ever become a Mason. A Mason is taught, as one of the first lessons of
Masonry that one should pray for divine counsel and guidance before starting an
important undertaking. But that does not make Masonry a "religion."
Men of many different faiths are members of our organisation. While each member
is encouraged to continue to follow his own religion, discussions of a
religious nature are not at all encouraged in a Lodge. However, it emphasises
secularism by teaching respect for and tolerance towards all religions.
In every Lodge meeting Volumes of Sacred Law are kept open on the altar or
table. In the Lodges under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of India Volumes
of Sacred Laws of five major religions in India viz. Bhagawad Gita, Holy Quran,
The Bible, The Holy Granth Sahib and The Zend Avestha. These volumes of sacred
laws are reverentially opened on the altar or table at the commencement of a
meeting and are closed reverentially at the close of the meeting.
The absolute qualification for admission into membership are that a man
must be over the age of 21 years; be of good character; be law abiding and
profess belief in a Supreme Being without reference to casts, creed or
religion. This is essential and admits of no compromise, there being no place
for atheists in Freemasonry.
There is a rule in Masonry that a person must seek admission himself.
Some men are surprised that no one has ever asked them to become a Mason. They
may even feel that the Masons in their town don't think they are "good
enough" to join. But it doesn't work that way. For hundreds of years,
Masons have been forbidden to ask others to join our fraternity. We can talk to
friends about Masonry. We can tell them about what Masonry does. We can tell
them why we enjoy it. But we can't ask, much less pressure, anyone to join.
There's a good reason for that. It isn't that we're trying to be exclusive. But
becoming a Mason is a very serious thing. Joining Masonry is making a permanent
life commitment to live in certain way viz. to live with honour and integrity,
to be willing to share with and care about others, to trust each other, and to
place ultimate trust in God. For information a person can always call the Grand
Lodge/Regional Grand Lodge office and get information. The Grand Lodge of India
has its website http://www.masonindia.org. Information about Freemasonry can be
had from this web site or host of other sites.
Having said so, now let me now turn your attention to the Divine
Service for which we have assembled here today. As I said earlier, apart from
trying to demystify Freemasonry to the Public, what we try to demonstrate
through this ceremony you are about to witness, is the Oneness of God, though
the approach to Him, by us as human beings, may be through different
religions. In fact God created Man. He didn’t create
Religion. It is man who created Religion. We as Freemasons believe
in a Supreme Being without reference to Caste Creed or Religion. In the
Divine Service we try to identify the common thread of thoughts, sentiments and
philosophy that runs through the scriptures of all the Major Religions of the
World, all of which coexist in peace, amity and harmony in our country.
It is in recognition of this amity and coexistence in peace and harmony of various
religions in our country that we pay respect to the religious books of all the
Major Religions of the World by placing them reverentially on the Altar. As I
told you earlier in order to prove the universality of Freemasonry, we respect
the Srimad Bhagawad Gita, the Holy Koran, the Holy Bible, the Guru Granth Sahib
and the Zend Avestha in the same manner as you find them open on the Altar.
These volumes of sacred laws are reverentially opened on the altar or table
before any meeting is commenced and are closed reverentially at the close of
the meeting.
The
Divine Service is therefore intended to project the ideals of Freemasonry to
the public to enable them to appreciate the basic philosophy of Universal
Brotherhood propagated by Freemasonry. For this we have involved on this
occasion, for the first time ladies belonging, as far as possible, to different
religions. Mrs. Dr. Bhanumathy Giridharan and Ms. Kanchana will read and
translate respectively various portions from Shrimad Bhagawad Gita. Mrs. Sunita
Santtosh will give renderings of various portions from The Holy Bible. Mrs.
Ruksana Rafiq and Ms. Ayisha will read and translate respectively various
portions from the Holy Quran. Ms.Gurmeet Kaur and Ms.Jasleen Kaur will read and
translate respectively various portions from Guru Granth Sahib and Mrs. Zarina Mistry will give renderings of
various portions from The Zend Avestha as well as the translation.
In
Freemasonry we begin all our ceremonies with a solemn prayer. Before we
commence the proceedings of the day and the readers give us renderings from
various portions of the five Volumes of Sacred Laws, I call upon our R.W.Bro.
Dr. John Reginald, acting as Chaplain to recite The Freemasons’ Prayer. All stood to order and R.W.Bro.Dr.John Reginald recited the
Freemasons’ Prayer
Almighty and ever-living God, who hast taught us to make prayers
and supplications and to give thanks for all human beings, we humbly implore Thee, most
mercifully, to receive these our prayers, which we offer unto Thy Divine Majesty
—beseeching
Thee to inspire us continually with the spirit of Truth, Unity and Concord.
We pray Thee also to guide, save and defend our
President and the Rulers of every land in which our Brethren be, that with meek heart and reverence, aided by the principles
of our Order, we may hear and obey Thy Holy Word, truly serving Thee in holiness and righteousness, all
the days of our lives.
We most
humbly beseech Thee of Thy goodness, 0 Lord, to comfort and succour all our
brethren, wheresoever dispersed over land
and sea, who are distressed by troubles, sorrows, needs, sicknesses or any other adversities, giving
them a speedy release, if it be Thy will, from all their sufferings and
should they desire it, a
safe return to their
native land.
May we
continually lift up our eyes to Thee, 0h! Most High,
from whom descends
light, love, peace,
goodness and salvation.
So mote it be.
( All were seated)
M.W.G.M :- “After the beautiful Prayer for the welfare of all Freemasons wherever
they are spread, wishing them speedy relief, if it be His Will, from their
distress, trouble, sorrows, needs, sickness or any other adversities or
sufferings, we will now proceed to invoke the presence of the Supreme Being and
see how our scriptures offer their Invocations. Invocation means offering
of Prayer or an appeal. In all
religions we prostrate ourselves before God, to seek His blessings. We as
helpless creatures look upto Him for guidance, comfort and support.”
INVOCATION
Shrimad Bhagavad Gita
With my
very being tainted by the vice of faint-heartedness and my mind puzzled with
regard to duty, I am asking You. Tell me that which is decidedly good; I
am Your disciple. Pray, instruct me, who have put myself into Your hands.
(2:7)
Holy Bible
Lead me, 0 Lord, in Thy
righteousness because of mine enemies ; make Thy way straight before my face.
For
there is no faithfulness in their mouth ; their inward part is very wickedness;
their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.
But
let all those that put their trust in Thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because Thou defendest them: let
them also that love Thy name, be
joyful in Thee. (Psalms
5: 8-9, 11)
Holy Quran
In the name of Allah, the
Beneficient, the Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, The
Beneficient, the Merciful, Owner of the Day of Judgment
Thee alone we worship.
Thee alone we ask for help. Show us the straight path.
The Path of
those whom Thou hast favoured. Not the path of those, who earn
Thine anger, nor of those, who go astray. 1: 1-7
Guru Granth Sahib
Millions
of our sins YOU annul and in
innumerable ways instruct us.
Without knowledge of little understanding as
are we :
Pray, YOU
fulfil YOUR Honour
With YOU,
we seek shelter, in YOU lies our Hope.
YOU alone
our friend and
Cherisher.
LORD
Compassionate, Saviour ! Save Nanak, slave of YOUR House.
Zend Avestha
1. To the Glory of Ahura Mazda Ashem Vohu
2. In the name of Ahura Mazda, the LORD GOD,
the beneficient, May HIS Glory
and HIS
Radiance increase. May the Creator
Ahura Mazda, the Resplendent, the
Glorious, The Most Spiritual in the Spiritual World, the SUPREME,
be Gracious to us.
Ahura Mazda Yasht
M.W.G.M :
I hope all of you were able to appreciate how the
Invocation in all religions are similar in their approach, showing that all
paths lead, but to the same goal. We will now turn our attention to
another aspect to see how Adoration is offered to God. Adoration means
expressing our deep love and bestowing of deep affection and worshipping of
Supreme Being. The more we have faith, the more we can have
Hope.
Praising God and expressing
adoration for Him reinforces our faith and rids us of our doubts and our
anxieties, in the sure belief that He is there to guide us. It is our
adoration towards God, which leads us to worship Him. It brings intimacy with
God. It leads to a deeper relationship with Him. Hence, the spiritual adoration
for God is inherent in us. When we realize this natural instinct in us and
yield to it, it changes us. All things were created through Him and for Him.
Our spiritual adoration will make us worship Him with spirit and truth. Let us
adore Him.
Adoration
Srimad Bhagavad Gita
YOU are
the Father, nay, the greatest teacher of this moving and unmoving creation
and
worthy of adoration.
O LORD of
incomparable might, in all the three worlds there is none else even equal to
YOU, how then any better?
Therefore
LORD, prostrating my body at YOUR feet and bowing low, I seek to propitiate
YOU, the ruler of all and worthy of all praise.
It
behoves YOU to bear with me, even as a father bears with son, a friend with his
friend and a husband with his beloved spouse.
Holy Bible
HE
disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands can not perform
their enterprises.
Happy is
the man, whom GOD correcteth ; therefore despise not thou, the chastening of
the Almighty.
For HE
maketh sore and bindeth up : HE woundeth and HIS hands make whole.
Job 5:12, 17 & 18.
Holy Quran
All that
is in heaven and earth
glorify ALLAH. HE
is the Mighty, the Wise One. HIS
is the Sovereignty of the
Heavens and Earth. He
ordains life and death and has
power over all things. He is
the first and
last, the visible
and the unseen. HE
has knowledge of all
things.
Guru Granth Sahib.
THOU art
Father, mother, friend, brother, with THEE as succourer in all places
What fear
do have I .
By THY
Grace, THEE have I realized, THOU my shelter, my esteem
Nothing
other that Thee exists.
All
existence, the theatre of THY play.
Zend Avastha.
Praise be
to THEE, O LORD Supreme, Merciful Master, with THY Name I begin.
Ever
existed THEE and shall ever be. O INVISIBLE ! THOU art fearless and free. Powerful and Wise O LORD OF CREATION.THOU
nourisher and preserver full of perfection. Protector is THEE, who forgiveth
everyone O Almighty LORD, THOPU perfect in Judgment.
M.W.Grand
Master :
I trust you
were able to see the commonality of approach in expressing Adoration of the
Supreme Being, in all the Scriptures. All of us irrespective of the
religion, to which we belong, pray humbly and fervently to God, which aspect is
called Supplication. Supplication means pleading or petitioning humbly.
Supplication is the most common form of prayer, wherein a person asks the
Supreme Being to provide something, either for the person who is praying or for
someone else on whose behalf a prayer of supplication is being made. The
concept is perfectly at home with secular use. The supplicant may also be
described as a suppliant but the former word is more commonly used. The key
meaning is of a request by the lesser person in an acknowledged unequal
relationship. Portions from the Scriptures on this aspect will now be read out.
Supplication
Srimad Bhagavad Gita
YOU are Vayu, the wind God, Yama, the God of death, Agni, the God of
Fire,
The Moon God, Brahma, the Lord of Creation, nay,
the father of Brahma himself,
Hail, Hail to YOU a thousand times; salutations,
repeated salutations to YOU, once again.
O LORD of Infinite Prowess, my salutations to
YOU, from before and from behind. O soul of all, my obeisance to YOU, from all
sides indeed. YOU, who possess limitless might, pervade all ; therefore, YOU
are all.
Holy Bible
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his
friends.
And now, I am no more in the world, but these
are in the world and I come to THEE, HOLY FATHER, keep through THINE own name,
those whom THOU has given me, that they may be one, as we are.
I pray not that THOU shouldest take them out
of the world, but that THOU shouldest keep them from the evil.
John 17 :11 :15.
Holy Quran
LORD, accept from us, YOU are the hearing, the
knowing. LORD, make us submissive to YOU, make of our descendants a nation,
that will submit to YOU. Teach us our rites of worship and turn us mercifully.
YOU are the forgiving, the Merciful. LORD send forth to, them an apostle of
their own people, who shall declare to them YOUR revelations and instruct them in the Book and in wisdom
and purify them of sin. YOU are the mighty, the wise one.
(127-8)
Guru Granth Sahib
Nothing outside THY WILL happens, THOU CREATOR , dost behold and know about all.
What may we say, beyond expression in THY might.
All that is in manifestation of THY will. All our prayers to THEE are
addressed. Whom else should we supplicate?
All that we utter or hear is THY UTTERANCE alone. THOU alone knowest all. THOU, Master
of all marvels.
HIMSELF
HE creates, HIMSELF knows, Saith
Nanak.
Creation and Dissolution HE accomplishes and
beholds.
Zend Avestha
For my house, ardently here I wish. Obedience
over defiance may always succeed !
Preach that is lasting with serenity remain—generosity
over miserliness firmly domain!
Reverence and respect remain with cheer. Truth
spoken speech to false will defeat. Righteousness over falsehood shall ever
prevail.
M.W.Grand
Master :
As I said
earlier, we prostate ourselves before God and plead for his Divine
blessings. Hence, we accept his Omnipresence, Omnipotence and Omniscience
totally and surrender ourselves to His Will. I am sure, you will all
agree, that hardly there can be any difference in approach when we pray humbly
and fervently for His blessings, which is what we saw in the portions of the
Scriptures just read. There can be no half measure in
believing in Him. We have to totally surrender ourselves to his Will,
knowing that He knows best, what is good for us. Dedicating our life to
Him means devoting our life in such pursuits, which are congenial for the good
of all living things. It implies the whole of gamut of good conduct in
terms of charity in thought, word and deeds.
As a
Freemason we are taught that we should so conduct our life that when one is
said to be a Freemason, the world may know, that he is one to whom the burdened
heart may pour forth its sorrow, to whom the distressed may prefer their suit,
whose heart is expanded by benevolence and whose hand is guided by justice.
It is thus that Freemasons dedicate their life to spread the message of
Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth, which is our motto.
We now
turn our attention to the aspect of Dedication, which means the process of
conveying our devotion to the Supreme Being and dedicating our life to His
service. We, as human beings pledge our faith in Him and to see how different
religions approach this aspect. Portions from the Scriptures on this aspect
will now be read and translated.
Srimad Bhagavad Gita
( 9-34 )
Fix
your mind on ME. Be devoted to ME,
worship ME and make obeisance to ME;
Thus
linking yourself with ME and entirely depending on ME, you shall come to ME.
Holy Bible
If any
man will come after ME, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow
ME, for, whomsoever will save his life shall lose it and whomsoever will lose
his life for MY sake, shall find it.
For
what is a man profitted, if he shall gain the world and lose his own soul or
what shall a man give in exchange for his soul ?
Mathew 16 ; 24 – 26
Holy Quran
In the
Name of ALLAH,
the Beneficient, the Merciful.
Ye, who believe ! Be careful of your duty to
ALLAH and be with the truthful.
Guru Granth Sahib
Mind,
body, all that we possess is THINE
THOU
our LORD, Master Sovereign
Life
and body is all THY property,
All
might is to THINE
Eternally
do THOU Confer Joy,
At THY
feet, in low obedience, I offer homage,
To win
THY favour is directed all my doing
As it
pleases THEE, this to grant.
Zend Avastha
Truth that is best, ever thou adopt-for only in truth thou seeth God. Keep piety of mind and truthful speech.
Have good actions, best results to reap.
Through
highest-Righteousness thy vision I behold, for, it is my aim to approach Thee. Upto thy domain I desire to
come. To be with infinite and be one.
M.W.Grand Master :
I do hope, that all of you were not only able to appreciate the
similarity of approach for Dedication in all the religions, but also once again
able to appreciate, what I had emphasized earlier about the common thread
running through all the religions in their approach to God, which is what
Freemasonry also believes.
I trust, what you have heard so far would have made a favourable
impression in all of you about Freemasonry. I hope therefore that you will
readily agree to Affirm with me as follows:
All stood and recited the Affirmation as under:-
We Affirm Our Common Faith. That The Lives Of All
Human Beings Are In The Hands Of God And That He Is Wherever Living Beings Are.
M.W.Grand Master :
Thank you for joining me in the Affirmation. I now call upon our
Chaplain to conclude this Divine Service by offering a Prayer for the Future of
Freemasonry.
Chaplain :
PRAYER
FOR THE FUTURE:
Pour
out, O! God, we beseech Thee, Thy spirit upon the craft, that all its members
may be given a new vision, new life and new fellowship both with one another and the world at large. Send us out and
through us send out many others to proclaim the message of Brotherly
Love, Relief and Truth. Open our hearts that we may receive Thy power. Open our
eyes that we may see Thine outstretched hands to bless. Do with us that Thou
wilt and not what we may desire, so shall the earth be filled with the
knowledge of Thyself as the waters cover the sea, to whose Honour and Glory we
and all human beings live.
So mote it be
M.W.Grand Master :
With that Prayer we come to the end of this Divine Service. As
mentioned by me in my opening remarks, the purpose of this Divine Service was
to bring to your notice the Philosophy of Freemasonry, which believes in the
Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man, irrespective of caste, creed or
religion. Before I conclude, I would also like to add for your
information that a few months ago I had attended the 8th World Conference of
Masonic Grand Lodges in Paris, where nearly 100 Grand Masters from the Grand
Lodges of various countries were present. On behalf of the Grand Lodge of
India I had the privilege of sharing with those present in the Conference, the
salient features of our Unique Masonic Divine Service, which traces the common
thread running through all the major religions of the world in their approach
to God. I am happy to inform you that the presentation was not only very
well received, but also without exception all present considered it to be one
of the most practical ways of demonstrating the Universal Principles of
Freemasonry.
When Mr. Venkatachalapathi Samuldrala, Parma, Ohio, USA. the first
Hindu priest ever to give opening prayer in the U.S. Congress recited his
opening prayer on Sept 14, 2000 the U.S. Congressmen said that the prayer
reminds us that while we may differ in culture and traditions, we are alike in
the basic aspiration for peace and righteousness.
You
are omnipresent, omnipotent, and omniscient.
You
are in everything and nothing is beyond you.
You
are our Mother and Father and we are all your children.
Whatever
you do is for our good.
You
are the ocean of mercy and you forgive our errors.
You
are our teacher and you guide us unto righteousness.
Today, in this great hall, are assembled the elected representatives of
the people of this Nation. They are ready to perform their duties. God, please
guide them in their thoughts and actions so they can achieve the greatest good
for all.
The priest finished this invocation with a prayer from the ancient
scriptures of India:
May
all be happy;
May
all be free from disease;
May
all realize what is good;
May
none be subject to misery;
Peace,
Peace, Peace Be Unto All!
“ I sincerely thank you for participating in this Solemn Event. I now
request the Chief Guest Hon’ble Justice A.P.Shah, The Chief Justice, High Court
Madras to give us the benefit of his Address and his impression about the
Divine Service. However before doing so, I will request W.Bro.
R.Gandhi, to introduce him formally to
you all.”
After the formal Introduction of the Chief Guest, he delivered a
brilliant and illuminating address ( Already posted as Article No.253 in the
General Section of this Website), all present stood to order and the Sacred
Books were closed. National Anthem was then rendered
M.W.Grand Master and the Chief Guest accompanied by the Officers then
retired in procession, while the audience remained upstanding.
