District Grand Lodge of Madras

District Grand Lodge of Madras
Established1866 (1866) (as District Grand Lodge of Madras under the United Grand Lodge of England)
Location
Region
Madras
Websitedglofmadras.org


The District Grand Lodge of Madras is a Masonic organization under the jurisdiction of the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE), serving as the administrative and governing body for Freemasonry lodges in the southern Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Kerala. [1]

Collectively referred to as the "District of Madras" for Masonic purposes, this region has a rich history of Freemasonry dating back over 250 years. The District Grand Lodge oversees a network of lodges and promotes the principles of Freemasonry.[2]

History

Freemasonry arrived on the Coromandel Coast of India in the mid-18th century, with the first lodge consecrated in Madras (now Chennai) in 1752 under the authority of the United Grand Lodge of England. This marked the beginning of organized Freemasonry in southern India, initially tied to the presence of the British East India Company. The oldest surviving lodge in the District, Lodge of Perfect Unanimity No. 150, was established in 1786 and celebrated its bicentenary in 1986, making it a cornerstone of Masonic heritage in the region.[3][4]

The District Grand Lodge of Madras was formally designated as a "District" under the UGLE in 1866, reflecting a reorganization of Masonic governance in colonial India. Prior to this, the region operated under Provincial Grand Masters, with Captain Edmund Pascal appointed as the first in 1752. The transition to a District Grand Lodge structure solidified its administrative role over lodges in the Madras Presidency and beyond.

Throughout its history, the District has been a hub for Masonic activities, hosting significant events such as investitures and celebrations. Freemasonry in the region adapted to the post-independence era, maintaining its traditions while fostering a sense of community among members in southern India.[5]

Masonic Temple

In the mid-19th century, the Lodge of Perfect Unanimity constructed a Masonic temple near the Madras seafront. When the location proved inconvenient, the building was rented to and later purchased by the Madras Police, becoming the police headquarters of Chennai; Masonic symbols from its earlier use remain visible on the building. [6]

Freemasons’ Hall at Egmore was formally opened on 26 February 1925 by Lord Goschen, then Governor of Madras, providing the first permanent home for Freemasonry in the city after more than a century of meetings at temporary venues such as Fort St. George, the Pantheon, Vepery, and Mount Road.[6]

The move to Egmore followed decades of frequent relocations caused by financial and spatial constraints. After recommendations made between 1914 and 1916 by Masonic officials, the District Grand Lodge consolidated resources to build a modern, shared temple, establishing Freemasons’ Hall, Egmore, as a significant institutional and architectural landmark in Chennai. [6]

Masonic Meeting Places in Madras (Chennai) [6]

Location Area Type Notes
Fort St. George Fort Temporary Earliest documented meetings; exact temple location unknown
Site of present St. Andrew’s Kirk Egmore Temporary Early Masonic temple noted by H. D. Love
Old Jail premises Broadway Temporary Used for meetings in early period
General Collins’ House Vepery Temporary Venue of first recorded DGL meeting (1799)
Pantheon Pantheon Road Temporary Major shared venue; jointly hired by Lodge PU and DGL
House near Spur Tank Spur Tank Temporary Rented as DGL office
Bungalow behind the Pantheon Egmore Temporary Former Lodge St. Andrew premises
College House College Road Temporary Still extant; later government use
Unspecified premises Vepery Temporary Shared by multiple lodges in mid-19th century
Book Mooneappa’s Library (upper room) Mount Road Temporary Lodge Carnatic meeting place

Purpose-Built or Long-Term Masonic Buildings [6]

Location Area Status Notes
Beach Road Masonic Temple Seafront Sold Built by Lodge PU; later sold to Madras Police; now Tamil Nadu Police HQ
Cotgrave House Vepery Repurposed Major shared lodge building; now St. Aloysius Convent
Masonic Hall, Vepery Vepery Temporary Used during repairs and transitions
Mount Road Masonic Hall (Chisholm design) Mount Road Sold Architect R. F. Chisholm; sold to fund Egmore move
Freemasons’ Hall Egmore Permanent Opened 1925; current headquarters of DGL Madras

Activities & Cultural significance

Freemasonry in the District of Madras has historical ties to colonial architecture and cultural events in southern India. The laying of the foundation stone for Presidency College in Chennai on February 6, 1867, by Lord Napier, a prominent Freemason and then-Governor, exemplifies this connection. [7]

The District maintains a museum and library at its headquarters in Chennai, preserving artifacts and documents related to its history and the broader story of Freemasonry in India. [8]

The District Grand Charity Fund Trust serves as the charitable arm of the organization, supporting initiatives such as scholarships, medical aid, and assistance to masons in distress. These efforts reflect Freemasonry's emphasis on philanthropy and community service. [9]


  • St. John's Masonic Lodge & Temple (St. John's Lodge No. 434 EC) Secunderabad
  • Hamilton Memorial Masonic Temple, Visakhapatnam
  • Crowther Masonic Hall, Kollam
  • Gosha Mahal Baradari, Hyderabad
  • Masonic Hall (Anchor Of Hope Lodge No. 1093 EC), Nilgiris

List of Lodges

Lodge Name Lodge No. Location Date of Warrant
Lodge of Perfect Unanimity 150 Chennai 1786
Lodge of Rock 260 Chennai 1816
Lodge of Universal Charity 273 Chennai 1811
St. John's Lodge 434 Secunderabad 1822
Anchor of Hope Lodge 1093 Wellington 1866
Pitt Macdonald Lodge 1198 Chennai 1867
Lodge of Faith, Hope & Charity 1285 Ootacamund 1869
John Miller Lodge 1906 Chennai 1881
Kerala Lodge 2188 Calicut 1886
Lodge St. George 2532 Chennai 1894
Lodge Minchin 2710 Trivandrum 1897
Golconda Lodge 3249 Secunderabad 1907
Lodge of Southern Brotherhood 3311 Bangalore 1908
Lodge Ampthill 3682 Coimbatore 1913
Cauvery Lodge 3848 Thanjavur 1918
Lodge Cochin 4359 Cochin 1921
Archibald Campbell Lodge 4998 Chennai 1928
Lodge Quilon 5839 Quilon 1941

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ^ "DGL Madras – The District Grand Lodge of Madras". Retrieved 2025-03-30.
  2. ^ Deschamps, Simon (2017-06-15). "From Britain to India: Freemasonry as a Connective Force of Empire". E-Rea. Revue électronique d'études sur le monde anglophone. 14 (2). doi:10.4000/erea.5853. ISSN 1638-1718.
  3. ^ "The District Grand Lodge & Madras – Connected History – DGL Madras". Retrieved 2025-03-30.
  4. ^ "Madras Musings - We care for Madras that is Chennai". archive.madrasmusings.com. Retrieved 2025-03-30.
  5. ^ Kalayansundaram, Abinaya (2017-08-23). "Masons of the city's past". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2025-03-30.
  6. ^ a b c d e V, Sriram (2025-03-27). "Hundred Years of a Masonic Temple". Madras Musings. Retrieved 2025-12-29.
  7. ^ V, Sriram (2017-08-17). "Masons, music and Madras: On Chennai's Freemasons". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2025-12-29.
  8. ^ V, Sriram (2025-03-27). "Hundred Years of a Masonic Temple". Madras Musings. Retrieved 2025-12-29.
  9. ^ "Service". District Grand Lodge of Madras. Retrieved 2025-12-29.


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