25TH ANNUAL GRAND LODGE MEETING

19TH JANUARY 2020
 
Silver Jubilee

MW the Grand Master, MW Bro. Col. Shamsher Singh Dhanoa OSM

  

Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of Upper India is now 25 years old and it celebrated its Silver Jubilee on 19th, 20th and 21st January 2020 at the Masonic Complex Daun, Mohali (Chandigarh). The Annual Grand Lodge Meeting was held on Sunday 19th January 2020 at 6.00 p.m. It was attended by the Grand Officers (Present and Past), Past Masters, reigning Worshipful Masters, reigning Wardens and Master Masons of daughter Lodges and of recognized Grand Lodges. M.W. Bro. Ajit Singh Ranauta, M.W. Bro. Dr. Satwinder Singh Bhamra, M.W. Bro. Dr. P.S. Egan – President of the Grand Council of United Grand Lodges and other senior brethren graced the occasion.

M.W. Bro. Col. Shamsher Singh Dhanoa, the Grand Master, opened the Grand Lodge in ample form. After the usual Grand Lodge Agenda, he welcomed and greeted the visiting dignitaries. All the visiting heads of the Grand Lodges were saluted and greeted in the usual Masonic tradition.

 

RW the Ranuata Brothers. G D of C, Pres.G.Board and G.Secy.in active deliberations

 

The entire function was a grand success, especially due to the participation of Senior Brethren from Europe and South India. The delegates from Europe and South India were:

  • Grand Lodge of Belgium represented by M.W. Bro. Oscar de Wandel- Grand Master.
  • Sovereign Grand Lodge of Austria represented by M.W. Bro. Michael Muarer- Grand Master and R.W. Bro. Heiner Wiegele- Grand Chancellor.    
  • Grand Lodge of Serbia represented by R.W. Bro. Veka Radonjic - Grand Chancellor and R.W. Bro. Edvard Miljanic- Grand Orator.    
  • Grand Lodge of Hungary represented by M.W. Bro. Michel Singer- Grand Chancellor and Grand Representative of United Grand Lodges of India in Europe.
  • Grand Lodge of South India represented by M.W. Bro. Rajkumar Vaiyapuri- Grand Master, R.W. Bro. E.K. Nagrajan- Dy. G.M., R.W .Bro. K.R. Raman- Asst G. M. and 12 other brethren along with their ladies.
  • T.ILL.Fr: Philippe Douillet 33ème D (S.C. de France).
 

Senior Brethren on the Dias

 

About 22 delegates were present from South India and Europe. Five Grand Lodges were represented from Europe. A good number of our brethren were present including those from Amritsar and Delhi.
M.W. Bro. Michel Singer, our Grand Representative in Europe, introduced the visiting Dignitaries. 

 

MW Bro. Michel Singer our Grand Representative in Europe
Introducing the visiting foreign dignitaries

 

MW Bro Oscar de Wandel, MW Bro. Rajkumar Vaiyapuri, MW Bro. Michel Singer,
RW Bro. Heiner Wiegele, MW Bro. Michael Muarer, RW Bro. Edvard Miljanic
and RW Bro. Kamaldeep Singh Egan

 

R.W. Bro. E K Nagrajan-Dy.G.M. R.W. Bro. K.R. Raman-Asst G.M.of G.L.South India,
MW Bro. Ajit Singh Ranauta, MW Bro. Dr. PS.Egan and MW Bro. Dr. SS. Bhamra

 

Appointment and Investiture of Grand Officers

The Grand Master appointed and invested his Grand Officers for the ensuing year. R.W. Bro. Kamaldeep Singh Egan was re-appointed and invested Deputy Grand Master and R.W. Bro. Lt.Col. Iqbal Singh Khara was re-appointed Assistant Grand Master.
 

GM Presenting Patent of Appt. to R.W. Bro. Kamaldeep Singh Egan

 

Grand Officers Lined up for presentation of Patents of Appt

 

GM Presenting Patent of Appt. to VW Bro. Maninder Singh from Amritsar

 

GM Presenting Patent of Appt. to RW Bro Navneet Saxena

 

GM Presenting Patent of Appt. to VW Bro. Capt. Sudarshan Singh

 
R.W.  Bro. Lt.Col. MGS Khurana was re-appointed Senior Grand Warden and R.W. Bro. Brig. Malkiat Singh Dullat was re-appointed and invested Junior Grand Warden.
 

R.W. Bro. Brig. Malkiat Singh Dullat J. G. Warden

 

R.W. Bro. Dr. Sandeep Singh Egan G. Treasurer (as S G W)

 

GM Presenting Patent of Appt. to R.W. Bro. Harbinder Singh Ranauta

 

GM Presenting Patent of Appt. to R.W. Bro. Jasraj Singh Ranauta

 

Long Term Service Jewel Presentation:

M.W. the Grand Master invited M.W. Bro. Dr. P. S. Egan, President of United Grand Lodge of India, to take control of the Grand Lodge and conduct the Ceremony to present the Jewels for Long Term Service to Masonry.

M.W. Bro. Dr. P. S. Egan took control and addressed the Grand Lodge.  He proceeded to conduct the ceremony of presentation of Long Term Service Jewels.

 

MW Bro. Dr. P. S Egan conducting the LTS Ceremony

 

40 years Long Term Service Jewels were presented to the Grand Master, M.W. Bro. Col. Shamsher Singh Dhanoa and one to R.W. Bro. Dayawant Singh Loomba, and a 25 years Long Term Service Jewel was presented to R.W. Bro. Hardev Singh Ranauta the Grand Secretary.

M.W. Bro. Dr. P. S. Egan requested MW Bro. Rajkumar Vaiyapuri to invest RW Bro Hardev Singh Ranauta with the 25 yrs Jewel and present him the Certificate.
M.W. Bro. Dr. P. S. Egan requested MW Bro.  Ajit Singh Ranauta to invest M.W. Bro. Col. Shamsher Singh Dhanoa and R.W. Bro. Dayawant Singh Loomba with the 40 yrs Jewel and present them the Certificates.

 

Recipients of Jewels for Long Term Service to Masonry
RW Bro. Hardev Singh Ranauta, MW Bro. Col. S.S. Dhanoa and
RW Bro. D. S. Loomba

 

MW Bro. Rajkumar Vaiyapuri- Grand Master of Grand Lodge of South India decorated RW Bro, Hardev Singh Ranauta with the 25 years LTS Jewel and presented him the Long Term Service Certificate.
MW Bro. Ajit Singh Ranauta, Chairman Silver Jubilee Celebrations Committee, decorated MW Bro. Col. Shamsher Singh Dhanoa and RW Bro. Dayawant Singh Loomba with the 40 years LTS Jewels and presented each of them  their Certificates of Long Term Service.
MW Bro. Dr. P.S. Egan congratulated the recipients of the Jewels and handed back the Grand Lodge to M.W. the Grand Master.

 

RW Bro. Hardev Singh Ranauta receives the 25 years LTS Jewel and Certificate
from MW Bro. Rajkumar Vaiyapuri - Grand Master of Grand Lodge of South India.

 

RW Bro. Dayawant Singh Loomba receives the 40 years LTS Jewel and Certificate from
MW Bro. Ajit Singh Ranauta, Chairman Silver Jubilee Celebrations

 

Grand Master MW Bro. Col. S.S. Dhanoa receives the 40 years LTS Jewel and Certificate from
MW Bro. Ajit Singh Ranauta, Chairman Silver Jubilee Celebrations

 

Grand Master MW Bro. Col. S.S. Dhanoa receives the 40 year LTS Jewel and Certificate from
MW Bro. Ajit Singh Ranauta, Chairman Silver Jubilee Celebrations

 

Address by UGLI President:

MW Bro. Dr. P. S. Egan President of United Grand Lodge of India addressed the brethren and welcomed our brethren from Europe who came all the way to India to support us, to encourage us and to participate in the Silver Jubilee Celebrations of the Grand Lodge. He said Grand Lodge of Upper India has faced many ups and downs in the last many years and are happy today to be celebrating the Silver Jubilee.
He said that while Jewels for Long Term Service to Freemasonry were presented to three brethren, in fact among our rolls we have 25 or more brethren who have served Freemasonry for more than 25 years and there are many others who have served for more than 40 years.
The Grand Lodge of South India is also making good progress. They have a good number of dedicated Freemasons on their roll. The United Grand Lodges of India have now established itself in India.

 

MW Bro Dr. P. S. Egan, President of United Grand Lodges of India,
Addressing the Grand Lodge

 

Address by MW Bro. Rajkumar  Vaiyapuri

    MW Bro. Rajkumar  Vaiyapuri - Grand Master of Grand  Lodge of South India addressed  the  Grand Lodge. He said that on the outset he was highly impressed by the new look of the renovated Temple of the GL U I. He remarked that new illuminated fitments had enhanced the beauty of the Temple many fold.
     He specifically mentioned his appreciation of wonderful hospitality extended to him and his Delegation including arrangements for a visit to Shimla and to Amritsar
As a token of Brotherhood he   presented a Special South Indian Scarf of Honour to the Grand Master MW Bro. Col. S S  Dhanoa.                                                

 

MW Bro. Rajkumar Vaiyapuri - Grand Master of Grand Lodge of South India
addresses the Grand Lodge

 

MW Bro. Rajkumar Vaiyapuri Presents
Special South Indian Scarf of Honour to MW Bro. Col. S S Dhanoa

 

Address by R.W. Bro. Veka Radonjic

R.W. Bro. Veka Radonjic - Grand Chancellor of Grand Lodge of Serbia addressed the Grand Lodge. He said he and his colleague Bro. Edvard Miljanic were happy to be present here in Chandigarh to attend this 25th Annual Grand Lodge meeting. He is looking forward to signing a Treaty of Friendship with the United Grand Lodges of India.          
He congratulated the Grand Master on receiving the 40 years Long Term Service Award.
He appreciated the hospitality and the courtesies extended to him by MW Bro. Rakesh Mittal in particular and the Grand Lodge in general. 
RW  Bro. Veka Radonjic who was accompanied by R.W. Bro. Edvard Miljanic- Grand Orator, presented a Photo of the famous painting  “The Ancient of Days”  by William Blake to the GM, MW Bro. Col. S S  Dhanoa.

 

R.W. Bro. Veka Radonjic - Grand Chancellor of Grand Lodge of Serbia
Addresses the Grand Lodge

 

R.W. Bro. Veka Radonjic - Grand Chancellor of Grand Lodge of Serbia
Presents Photo of Painting ‘Anciernt of Days’ by William Blakes 

 

“Ancient of Days” 

 

The  Ancient  of  Days’  is  a painting by William Blake.  It shows
‘Urizen’- signifying conventional reason and law, which is usually
depicted as a bearded  old  man with  architect's  tools, to create
and constrain the universe.   He is shown crouching in a circular
design with a cloud-like background, while his outstretched hand
holds a compass over the darker void below.

 

Address by M.W. Bro. Michel Singer

M.W. Bro. Michel Singer- Grand Chancellor of Grand Lodge of Hungary and the Grand representative of United Grand Lodges of India for Europe addressed the Grand Lodge. He expressed his happiness for being amongst the brethren of Upper India where a good number of brethren from G L of South India are also present. He thanked MW Bro Ajit Singh Ranauta with whom he and T.ILL.Fr: Philippe Douillet were staying, and for the warm hospitality   
He said he is associated with the UGL of India since 2004 when a Treaty of Friendship was signed with GL of France. Since then UGLI has signed such Treaties with eight more G.lodges of Europe, and there are other Grand Lodges who are keen to establish cordial relations with Grand Lodges from India.
He congratulated the brethren who were presented Awards for Long Term Service to Freemasonry.

 

M.W. Bro. Michel Singer- Grand Chancellor of Grand Lodge of Hungary
Address the Grand Lodge

 

Address by MW  Bro. Michael Muarer

M.W. Bro. Michael Muarer- Grand Master of Sovereign Grand Lodge of Austria, who was accompanied by R.W. Bro. Heiner Wiegele- Grand Chancellor, addressed the Grand Lodge.   He said last year his Grand Lodge had signed a treaty of Friendship with United Grand Lodges of India and this year he was happy to be attending the 25th Annual Meeting of this Grand Lodge.  
He said he was impressed with the working of the Grand Lodge. He congratulated the Grand Master on receiving the 40 years Long Term Service award. He emphasized the need to have younger masons on the roll of Grand Lodge.  Younger masons are future of Freemasonry he said.
  He thanked MW Bro Ajit Singh Ranauta and his family members, with whom he and Bro. Heiner Wiegele were staying, and for looking after them and making their stay so very comfortable.     
He presented a Melody Music Box of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart the famous Austrian Freemason and Musician to the GM, MW Bro. Col S S Dhanoa. He presented a similar Melody Music Box   to MW  Bro. Rajkumar  Vaiyapuri - Grand Master of Grand  Lodge of South India and one to MW  Bro. Dr. P. S. Egan President, UGL of India

On behalf of his Grand Lodge he presented to United Grand Lodges of India a photo   ‘Winter- Johannis-Feier 6019’      
 

M.W. Bro. Michael Muarer Grand Master of Sovereign Grand Lodge of Austria
Addresses the Grand Lodge, R.W. Bro. Heiner Wiegele Grand Chancellor Stands to his right.

 

M.W. Bro. Michael Muarer Presents Melody Music Box of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
the famous Austrian Freemason and Musician, to the GM, MW Bro. Col S.S. Dhanoa.

 

M.W. Bro. Michael Muarer  Presents  Melody Music Box of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
the famous Austrian  Freemason and Musician, to MW  Bro. Rajkuma Vaiyapuri
Grand Master of Grand  Lodge of South India

 

M.W. Bro. Michael Muarer Presents Melody Music Box of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
the famous Austrian Freemason and Musician, to MW Bro. Dr. P. S. Egan
President, United Grand Lodges of India

 
 

MW Bro Michel Singer Presents Austrian Delegates Photo ‘Winter- Johannis-Feier 6019’
To GM, MW Bro. Col S. S. Dhanoa

 

R.W. Bro. Heiner Wiegele, M.W. Bro. Michael Muarer, MW Bro. Rajkumar Vaiyapuri
and MW Bro. Michel Singer Display the Photo ‘Winter- Johannis-Feier 6019’

 

Address by MW  Bro. Oscar de Wandel
 
M.W. Bro. Oscar de Wandel- Grand Master of Grand Lodge of Belgium   addressed the Grand Lodge. He said his association with this Grand Lodge is more that 15 years, for it was in April 2006 that our Grand Lodges had signed the Treaty of Friendship.  This is his first visit to Chandigarh and he is happy to be attending the 25th Annual Meeting of the Grand Lodge.  He congratulated the brethren who were presented Awards for Long Term Service to Freemasonry.  
He thanked MW Bro Ajit Singh Ranauta and his family with whom he was staying for their kind hospitality. He was especially full of praise for his three mason sons who looked after his every need.   
M.W. Bro. Oscar de Wandel presented a set of Square and Compasses to the Grand Master MW Bro. Col. S.S. Dhanoa

 

M.W. Bro. Oscar de Wandel- Grand Master of Grand Lodge of Belgium
Addresses the Grand Lodge

 

M.W. Bro. Oscar de Wandel Presents Sq Cmps to GM, MW Bro. Col S. S. Dhanoa

 

Address by MW Bro. Col. S.S.  Dhanoa

M.W. Bro. Col. S. Dhanoa MW the Grand Master addressed the Grand Lodge. He said that he considered himself lucky GM as the GL was to celebrate the Silver Jubilee during his tenure and furthermore that as many as five Grand Masters from Europe are  participating in the celebrations.
 

MW the Grand Master, MW Bro. Col. Shamsher Singh Dhanoa
addressed the Grand Lodge

 

He emphasised that Silver Jubilee had afforded him a chance to fulfill his cherished desire to carry out some improvements and decorative works in the temple of the Grand Lodge. 
He expressed his happiness that he was addressing an August Masonic gathering comprising of European Brethren besides Brethren from South India, Amritsar and locals.

 
 
 
 

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