The Brotherhood of men

A lot has been written about Freemasonry and I am not going to write about explaining it in detail again. It does warrant a brief description though. It is a soceity, if you want to call it, of men who have the best intentions of spreading three basic principles of scoiety ever since it was founded by humans. Truth, Brotherly Love and Charity. Those are the only three founding principles that hold this fraternity together. If you want to know more about Freemasonry click here. I wanted to recount my expreiences as a mason.


I came to know about Freemasonry through an article I read about it in the newspaper and ever since then have been intrigued by it. I researched about it on the internet a lot as well. Then I came to know my uncle, who lives next door, is a memeber and when I joined the my first job, I asked him to refer me. That is how I came to know, learn and be a Free Mason.

When I first walked into a Freemason Lodge, it was a feeling of elation, a step on the mysterious side. The initiation was more ritualistic and an experience. Instead of just walking into the room and being welcomed with open arms, I was prepared mentally, and physically, to be a mason. But after I crossed the line, and since then, I have felt as much a part of the whole group as a decade old memeber. I never thought that Freemasons had such warmth in their hearts. I feeling that I had always echoed, and also why I felt that I belonged here. I was the youngest memeber and also the only bachelor there. (I remember getting an invite to a memebers' son's wedding which amicably said: "Mrs. & Mr. Jatin Mehrotra") Before I knew it, I was among people, a brother, with people of my grandfather's age and even older, listening, and even life experiences (telling dirty jokes at times too).

I knew what I was there for, and why I wanted to be there, but I also realieased that it wasn't just about the charity which is at the heart of our society. We do a lot of charity work; no doubts there. The other reason, and I might be inviting a little ire here, is that all men need their space. It is also probably one of the reason that Freemasonry has survived for so many centuries. Men need their own space too, period.

Freemasonry is not just a society, although it is often referred as one. In India, it is registered as a charitable trust. The membership of the Lodge always welcome people from all walks of life. Many American Presidents have been members, including the first. Indian kings, Nawabs and now SC Judges, industrialists and sportsmen. They have all been members. We never solicit membership, or ask any friends and family to join. A man must come of his own free will. Its like our notice board says - To be one, Ask one.
I have an incident to recount for every meeting that I have attended, wether in Agra, or anywhere else. That would be in later posts. For now, it would be sufficient to say that it is a different world to be on the other side, and it is an experience different from all other.