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MW Bro. Dr. Balaram Biswakumar, MW the grand master of the grand lodge of the mark master masons of India, RW The regional grand mark masters of the Regional grand mark lodges of Northern and Eastern India, W.Bro. Dr. K.K. Varma, representative of RW the district grand master of the district grand mark lodge of Madras, and my brethren,
We have come to the last part of the investiture meetings and I once again express my sincere gratitude to MW Bro. Dr. Biswakumar, for having spared his valuable time to be here among us , despite his pressing professional and other commitments.
Brethren, I am glad to inform that the Regional Grand Mark Lodge of Southern India had been very active and made a good progress during the last year. Beginning with a membership of 2,226, the strength of the Regional Grand Mark Lodge has gone up to 2,361 at the end, with 80 advancements and 77 joinings, besides a loss of membership of 22 due to resignations and cessations.
There was also a new Mark Lodge Sakthi no. 121 consecrated at Gobichettipalayam which takes the total number of Mark lodges in the Region to 46.
Similarly, the Royal Ark Mariner Lodges of our Region also have done well. The membership was 1,488 at the beginning of the year and rose to 1,537 by the end with 41 elevations & 8 joining members, with a gain of 49 members in total.
Brethren, before I conclude, it is with pleasure that I inform you that the work shop on Mark Masonry and RAM degree, conducted yesterday by the Regional Grand Mark Lodge of South India under the stewardship of W Bro. D.Dhamodara Swamy, Asst. Regional Grand Mark Master went on well with excellent participation from the Brethren. I congratulate Bro. Dhamodara swamy and Bro. Dr. PK Muthukumara Swamy for organizing the workshop in a very effective and interesting manner. I am sure the participating Brethren have enjoyed and enriched themselves.
I thank all the newly invested officers of the regional grand lodge who have accepted the appointments and sincerely hope to work together with that love and harmony which should at all times characterize freemasons. Brethren I do look forward to your cooperation and support with which only, we can all grow together.
Brethren, you all have assembled here traveling long distances, sparing yourvaluable time away from your family members. That really shows your dedication and devotion for freemasonry. That is where we all have to learn the techniques of time management and allotment of time to various day-to-day activities of our lives. We should not ignore any of our obligations towards, family, occupation, friends and relatives, not forgetting the order of priorities.
A philosophy professor stood before his class with some items on the table in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks, about 2 inches in diameter.
He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks.
He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else.
He then asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous “Yes.”
“Now,” said the professor, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The rocks are the important things – your family, your health, your children – things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.
The pebbles are the other things that matter – like your job, your house, your assets.
The sand is everything else. The small stuff.” in life
“If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued “there is no room for the pebbles or the rocks. The same goes for your life.
If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. There will always be time to go to work, have time at home, give a dinner party.
Take care of the rocks first – the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.”
Then there is a continuation to the story, which I have added.
The professor reached under the table and pulled out a bottle of wine and poured it in, and it, of course, filled into the gaps between sand particles.
“And this, my Brethren, demonstrates that there is ALWAYS room for a little bit of Freemasonry in your life.”
I once again thank each and every member of the organizing committee under the stewardship of W.Bro. Thomas Joseph and Mathew Thomas, ably supported by the chairmen of the sub committees. Every committee chairman had toiled day and night for the last many months and gave their best. I also thank all those who have supported by way of registrations and advertisements.
I express my sincere gratitude to MW Bro.Dr. B.Biswakumar, MW The Grand Mark Master for being kind enough to give us his magnanimous presence. I also thank all the members of the Deputation from the Grand Lodge for joining us at Cannanore. I also thank the visiting dignitaries and the members of their deputation.
I also thank every Brother present here for showering me with their affection by way of their august presence, thank you.
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