RT. WBRO. THE HON’BLE GRORGE OWEN WILLIAM DUNN
During the absence from India Rt. WBro. Sir Lawrence Jenkins, the District was in charge of Deputy DGM WBro. Oven Dunnm who was later at the September 1908 Communication installed as District Grand Master by WBro. CB Robinson as acting Deputy District Grand Master.
The new DGM referred to: “unfortunate state of things which a section of our Indian fellow subjects have succeeded to some extent in Bombay”. He called attention to the peculiar position of Freemasonry in India and its great potentialities for good and said: “Transplanted in India, it’s pure principles appeal to a considerable number of our Indian fellow subjects who have joined its ranks, who appreciate the mysticism of our ceremonies, who share in our charities as givers and receivers and who greet us here as Brothers. Here it is not only irregularities of rank and wealth that disappear, in this temple differences of race, of caste and religion also put aside and in the name of GAOTU to whom we jointly appeal as well as the benevolent and fraternal objects with which we are associated, we Christians, Hindus, Mohammedans and Parsees, meet on common ground where are only differences are as they should be, in friendly emulation as regards the excellence of our working, the generosity offer charities and we all embracing nature of a fraternal feelings one for the other.”
Lodge Ubique in the East No. 3338 was consecrated by the Dy. DGM at Kirkee on 30th January 1909. This lodge was transferred to London in 1948.
The DGM said he was shortly proceeding on leave at the expiry of which he would have retired from Government service.
The Royal House of Muscat renewed its Association with the craft in 1909. A former Sultan had been initiated in Lodge Concord No. 757 Bombay, about 40 years ago, the ceremony having been translated into Arabic by Rt. WBro. Budroodin Tyebji. H.H. Prince Syed Tymur, the Crown Prince of Oman saw the light in Lodge Union No. 757 Karachi along with his private secretary .
It was clarified by Grand Lodge that there was no objection to the singing of hymns provided they took place before opening the lodge or after its closing.
DGM referred to the death of His Majesty King Edward VII, Patron of our Order adding that King George V, not being a freemason had consented to become the Patron of the Royal Masonic Institutions for Boys and Girls .
Rt.WBro. Dunn, in his address to the DGL referred to the special conditions Freemasonry in India on the points wherein it has duties and responsibilities far beyond what obtains in England and on the enormous potentialities for good:
“ I should like to feel that all you Brethren realize this and that you feel your Lodge to be a unit working for the cause of Brotherhood, for the removal of misunderstandings, for friendship without distinction or race, creed or colour and that to use it for display of personal animosities or gratification of petty spite is to degrade it from the lofty aims with which it was consecrated and me rely to show your won unfitness for membership of our Ancient and Honourable Order
It is to encourage the fraternal spirit of the Craft and to provide for a meeting place for the Brethren of Lodges in this country when they are in England on leave, or retirement, that a new Lodge Star of India No. 3444 was consecrated last June by Most WBro. Pro Grand Master Lord Ampthill. The Lodge has a list of 60 founders including DGMs of Bengal, Bombay, the Punjab and Ceylon, the Past DGMs of Madras and Bombay. It will welcome to its meetings Brethren from India.”
Lodge Bhore Ghaut No. 3465 was consecrated by the DGM on 28th January 1911 bringing the total number of Lodges in the District to 35. This Lodge was transferred to GLI in 1961.
In April 2911, the DGM consecrated at Raipur, the headquarters of the Chattisgarh Division of the Central Provinces, a new Lodge called Chattisgarh No. 3507. By a happy coincidence, the constitution of Lodge Chattisgarh (meaning “the 36 forts”) brings up the number of Lodges in the District to 36 (chattis) and on this omen was based a hope that the new Lodge would provide a veritable stronghold of Freemasonry in a part of the country hitherto unilluminated by the Freemasons’ doctrines of the universal brotherhood of man. Lodge Chattisgarh was also transferred to GLI in 1961.
It was reported that Rt. WBro. Sir. Lawrence Jenkins, Past DGL of Bombay, had been appointed as the District Grand Master for Bengal.
The DGL celebrated its GOLDEN JUBILEE in this year. WBro. C.B. Robinson, Deputy DGM said:
“ I have not been able to look up records in order to give you the dates of its first meeting, but the first Warrant I can trace was given on 16th July 2861. I believe the DGL has held its meetings in unbroken sequence since that date.”
Reference was also made to the death of Rt. WBro. Lord Northcote, Past DGM.
Lodge Holland No. 3554 was consecrated in Bharatpur by Rt. WBro. Dunn on 6th January 2912 with WBro. R.E.Holland, I.C.S., as the first WM. The Lodge was closed in 1927.
Presiding over the February 1912 Communication, Rt.WBro. Dunn announced that the donations to the Capital account of B.M.A. had reached the sum aimed by the founder of the Association, Rt.WBro. Tyrell Leith viz. Rupees One Lakh.
The DGM further revealed that he had resigned from office and that Rt.WBro. W.A. Haig Brown had been appointed to succeed him.
Reviewing is own Masonic career, Rt.WBro. Dunn stated that in 1896 there was 25 Lodges (the correct number actually was 26) in the District and the number of Brethren was 860, of whom 231 were Indians. In 1912 there were 37 Lodges and the total number of Brethren 1,982 of whom 686 were Indians.
In a farewell message he said: “Have charity” and continued “As it is commonly used, the word has come to mean the giving of alms and the affording of material assistance to the poor tand distressed, but it has a far wider meaning that this. It embraces the characteristics of Kindliness, Toleration and Humility in our intercourse with our fellow men and it is in this aspect particularly that I urge upon you all, Brethren to “Have Charity”.
I have noticed in one or two Lodges a spirit of intolerance for other members’ opinion of vindictiveness and self-assertiveness which is directly contrary to the true spirit of the Craft and is destructive of the Harmony that should prevail amongst the Brethren.
I connot do better that quote the beautiful description of Charity which occurs in the V.S.L. namely, ‘Though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor and though I give my body to be burned and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long and is kind, charity envieth not, charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself provoked, thinketh no evil; beareth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things, Charity never faileth, and now abide faith, hope and charity, but he greatest of these is charity”.
It was reported that Rt. WBro. Owen Dunn passed away in 1933.