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MW Bro. Dr. Balaram Biswakumar, MW The grand master of the grand lodge of mark master masons of India, RW Bro. Sisir Kumar Ghosh and RW Bro. KK Gautam, the visiting Regional Grand Masters from the Eastern and northern regions, RW Bro. Bhagawan Balaji singh, RW the District Grand Master of the District Grand Mark Lodge of Madras, RW Brethren, VW Brethren, W Brethren and My dear Brethren,
We have come to the last part of the half yearly meetings at Pondicherry and It is my pleasure to welcome you all to this Half yearly meeting of the Regional Grand Lodge of Southern India. I heartily welcome our beloved MW The Grand Mark Master and thank him for his benign presence. I also welcome the visiting Regional Grand Masters from our sister regions and also the District Grand Mark Master, who had always been with us in showing their affection and giving all the moral support.
Brethren, I am glad to inform that the Regional Grand Mark Lodge of Southern India, with a strength of 46 Mark Lodges, had been very active and made a good progress during the first half of the year. Beginning with a membership of 2,361, the strength of the Regional Grand Mark Lodge has gone up to 2432 as of 30th June 2010, with 27 advancements and 5 joinings.
Similarly, the Royal Ark Mariner Lodges of our Region also have been doing well. The membership was 1,568 at the beginning of the year and rose to 1614 by the end June, 2010 with 20 elevations & 26 joining members, with a gain of 46 members in total.
I am glad to inform you that several localized workshops and seminars have been conducted by the Mark Lodges in the region to serve the Mark master masons of their respective areas. Mark Lodge Visakha, Visakhapatnam had conducted a work shop on Mark Masonry with a particular reference to the ceremony of advancement under the stewardship of W.Bro. V.Kesava Rao, Asst Regional Grand Mark Master. I congratulate Bro. Kesava Rao for organizing the workshop in a very effective and interesting manner.
I am glad to inform that a new Royal Ark Mariners’ Lodge Bharathi no. 109 had been consecrated by MW The Grand Master on 26th June, 2010 at Pondicherry. With that, Pondicherry is now equipped to provide all the Masonic degrees available under the Grand Lodge of India.
There are quite a few Lodges, who have collected petition forms from the Regional Grand Mark Lodge and I expect that they may come at any moment soon.
Brethren, we have come to the last stages of this half yearly meetings and I thank each and every on of you from the bottom of my heart for supporting your regional grand Lodge by way of your participation.
I once again thank MW Bro. Dr. Balaram Biswakumar, MW The Grand Master for his gracious presence at our meetings despite his pressing Masonic and professional preoccupations. I also thank him for his continued support to me and the Region. My thanks are also due to RW Bro. Sisir Ghosh, Rw. Rajeev Khandelwal and RW Bro. KK Gautam, RW the Regional Grand Masters. I also thank RW Bro, B. Bhagavan singh, RW the District Grand Master.
I congratulate all the members of the organising commitee for excellently organizing this RGL Meet at this beautiful venue. All of us have been provided with brand new rooms, brand new crockery and cutlery, serene ambience and of course excellent food. I am sure all of us will go back with good memories, feeling contented.
My particular thanks are due to the Management and staff of the resort, Ocean Spray, for the excellent hospitality. They have formed part of our reception committee and involved so much and worked with the members of our organizing committee with hand in glove.
Brethren, the maximum number of advancements have been conducted by the Mark Lodge Coimbattore no. 79, having advanced 10 candidates. I request the Worshipful Master to come forward and May I request MW The Grand Master to kindly present the award.
Royal Ark Mariners’ Lodge Coimbattore no. 70 have elevated the maximum number of members during the last year with number of 10. I request the Worshipful commander to come over to receive the award from the hands of MW the Grand Master.
Brethren, I offer my best wishes to you and all your family members to have health and happiness and for a safe journey back.
Thank You Brethren.
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