Greetings, Brethren. I am writing Temple Topics today from Belgaum, India, in the southern state of Karnataka. Earlier this week, I had the pleasure of attending the installation and festive board of Chapter Victoria No. 96, Royal Arch Masons, under the Grand Lodge of India. As I have found to be usual in my travels, the hospitality was warm and brotherly (companionly?) The associated lodge (Victoria No. 9) is 150 years old, and the hall over 100 years old. The layout of the Chapter, names and clothing of the officers, and some elements of the ritual differ from ours, but only on the surface (I was relieved to find that the sign and words were the same). As you may know, in India, five volumes of the sacred law are laid on the altar: the Bible, the Bhagavad-Gita (Hindu), the Koran (Islam), the Zend Avesta (Zoroastrian), and the Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh). They use 6 lesser lights, in two interlocking triangles. The Mark Master degree is not part of their Royal Arch Chapter, but is conferred in a separate Mark Master’s Lodge. And, of course, alcohol is permitted at the festive board, which concludes with a series of toasts.
Trestleboard
Upcoming events can always been seen on the lodge website, http://www.berwynlodge.org. The Worshipful Master has been conducting practice sessions for officers and members on special meeting nights that do not have degree work scheduled. Bro. Alex Cabral, Senior Deacon and lodge education officer, will also soon kick off a new Masonic education program for meetings. And our Secretary, W.B. Luisito Fanlo, has finally returned to the U.S.!
Grand Lodge news
Berwyn Lodge received the Grand Master’s Meritorious Award for the past Masonic year, an achievement for which the brethren should be very proud. This also gives W.M. Terry an even higher goal to aspire toward this year: the Award of Excellence.
Word puzzle
The following cryptogram is a well-known sentence from a Masonic lecture. Can you figure it out? Each letter stands for a different letter (but is consistent throughout the puzzle).
DWQ DQJQDH CK T STHCJ’H NFCKQHHMCJ TFQ LFCDWQFIX ICUQ, FQIMQK, TJY DFRDW.
Masonic thought for the day
“Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but really great people make you feel that you too can become great.” – Bro. Mark Twain