Freemasons to celebrate 'Universal Brotherhood Day' tomorrow

Bangalore, June 23 (UNI) Freemasons across the country will celebrate the Universal Brotherhood Day tomorrow to reiterate their belief in 'Fatherhood of God and Brotherhood of Man.' About 18,000 Freemasons would gather at their 348 'Lodges' (units) all over the country and pledge by the fundamental principles of Freemansonry--Brotherly Love, Relief, Truth and firm belief in the existence of a 'Supreme Being'.

Briefing newspersons about the event, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of India, M W Arun Chintopoanth, who is the supreme leader of Freemasons in the country, said ''Freemasonry is the only Institution where the Scriptures, what we call Volumes of Sacred Law, of the great Faiths are kept open side by side and respected while our meetings are in session. Infact it is obligatory that Bhagwad Gita, Bible, The Quran, the Zend Avesta and Guru Granth Sahib be opened at every meeting which shows the liberal views of a Freemason.'' Stating that Freemasonry was not a myth, but had some mysticism attached to it, he said ''It has some secrets, but it is not a secret society in any sense of the term. Like scantity, curiosity is also important for a religion. Secret society is one which doesn't reveal its ideology. But we do not belong to this. Our actions like promotion of Brotherhood of Man, social service and charity has demolished the myth.'' The Grand Master said the society, which had not allowed women to become members in its 300-year-old history, would open its doors for them soon. ''Our society in France has initiated such a move and soon we will have women members worldwide. However, women are not shunned by the society. Our family members actively take part in the social work we undertake,'' he added.

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