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Most Ex. Companion Dr. Balaram Biswakumar, M.Ex. The First Grand Principal of The Supreme grand chapter of India, M.Ex. The Grand Superintendents of the Regional Grand chapters of Northern and Eastern India, ME Comp. S.Krishnan and ME Comp. Sisir Ghosh, E.Comp. Dr. K.K. Varma, representative of M.E. The Grand Superintendent of the District Grand chapter of Madras, M.E. Companions, E. Companions and my dear companions,
A very good and bright morning to you all. I thank every one of you for being present on this annual convocation of the Regional grand chapter of southern India for having taken pains to get ready early in the morning after a great and late evening.
I once again extend a warm welcome to all of you.
Companions, the Regional Grand Chapter had been very active and vibrant during the last year. We had one new Chapter Kalingaraya no. 124 consecrated at Erode, taking the total number of chapters in the Region to 48.
The strength of the Region had gone up from 2,388 at the beginning to 2,468 at the end of the year, with 104 exaltations and 59 joinings. There were, however, 83 members lost due to resignations, cessation and death.
Companions, yesterday, I was talking of the four cardinal virtues professed in freemasonry. Due to paucity of time, I could only throw some light on the two of them, namely, Temperance and Fortitude. I wish to share some more light on the other two virtues, Prudence and Justice.
Prudence is the exercise of sound judgment in practical life. It is often associated with wisdom, insight, and knowledge. In this case, the virtue is the ability to judge between virtuous and vicious actions, not only in a general sense, but with regard to appropriate actions at a given time and place. Although prudence itself does not perform any actions, and is concerned solely with knowledge, all virtues had to be regulated by Prudence. Distinguishing when acts are courageous, as opposed to reckless or cowardly, is an act of prudence, and for this reason it is classified as a cardinal virtue.
Prudence was considered, as the cause, measure and form of all virtues. It is considered to be the charioteer of all the other virtues. It has also been translated to such terms as "practical wisdom," "practical judgment," or "rational choice."Prudence is considered the measure of moral virtues since it provides a model of ethically good actions.
The content of the decision is the product of an act of prudence, while the actual carrying out of the decision may involve other virtues like Temperance, fortitude and justice such as doing it in spite of fear of failure or doing the job well out of justice. The goodness of the actual act is measured against the original decision made through prudence.
The perfected ability of man as a spiritual person, achieve their perfection only when they are founded upon prudence, that is to say upon the perfected ability to make right decisions
Justice is another important cardinal virtue. While the theological virtue of charity emphasizes our duty to our fellow men because he is our fellow, justice is concerned with what we owe someone else, precisely, even if he is not our fellow being.
Thus charity may rise above justice, to give someone more than he is rightfully due. But justice always requires perfect precision in rendering to each person what he is due.
Justice, then, respects the rights of others, whether those rights are natural or legal. Should legal rights ever come into conflict with natural rights, however, the latter take precedence, and justice demands that the natural rights be respected over legal rights.
Companions, I thank you for the enthusiasm and dedication with which you have attended this convocation this morning. I am sure you will all go back to your chapters enriched with the fellowship of companions across the Region. My particular thanks are also due to all the visiting companions from other Regions.
I once again express my gratitude to ME The First Grand Principal for his love and affection showered upon me and all of you by making it convenient to be present at this convocation. I also thank the visiting Grand Superintendents from the Regional Grand Chapters of Northern and Eastern India and the representative from the District Grand chapter of Madras.
Thank you my companions
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