SILVER JUBILEE, 1959: W. Bro. J.P.C. Shroff
- Viren Joshi
- Nov 17, 1959
- 4 min read
The TWENTYFIFTH (Silver Jubilee) INSTALLATION MEETING of Lodge Reginald Spence No.5514 EC was held at Freemasons Hall, Ravelline Street, Fort, Bombay on November 17,1959. The offcers were:
W.Master. | W. Bro. J.P.C. Shroff |
I.P.M. | W. Bro. Yahya Mohamedally Degani |
S.W. | W. Bro. Dr. Homyar Dinshaw Dastoor |
J.W. | W. Bro. Framroz Nadurshaw Shroff |
Chaplin. | W. Bro. Dara Mervanji Munshi |
Treasurer. | W. Bro. Gaman Manilal Mehta |
Secretary. | W. Bro. Girdharlal Karsondas Fozdar |
D of C. | W. ro. Bhaidas Rugnathdas Shroff |
S.D. | W. Bro. Abbubakar Haji Eisa |
J.D. | W. Bro. Dinubhai Labhshanker Bhatt |
Asst. Secretary. | W. Bro. Pramukhlal Manilal Mehta |
Almoner. | Bro. Raghubar Dutt Pant |
Organist. | W. Bro. Dr. Burjor Edulji Daruvalla |
I.G. | Bro. Amiruddin Esufali Haveliwala |
Steward. | Bro. Moshin Mohamedbhai Doctor |
| Bro. William Henry Brett |
Tyler. | Bro. P. S. Chaina |
The year 1959-60 was the Silver Jubilee Year of Lodge Reginald Spence No.5514 EC. The master for the year was the first master of the lodge W.Bro. J.P.C. Shroff and he was installed by W.Bro. Yahya Mohamedally Degani in a very befitting manner. Rt.W. the District Grand Master, Rt.W. Bro. Bhogilal Chimanlal Shah accompanied by the deputation from the District Grand Lodge was invited to the meeting and later to the festive board. 15 visitors from various lodges attended the meeting. There were 57 members on the roll of the lodge at the commencement of the year and 10 meetings were held during the year.
The meeting dated January 16 was of especial importance as once again Rt.W. the District Grand Master with his deputation was invited to the meeting. The history of the birth of Lodge Reginald Spence No.5514 EC was recalled by W.Bro. J.P.C. Shroff and a fitting response was given by Rt.W.Bro. Bhogilal Chimanlal Shah. Especial congratulations were sent by Rt.W.Bro. Sir Reginald Spence Kt, who mentioned his desire was fulfilled when a brother from India was the ruling master of the lodge. He wished the brethren many more years of success in freemasonry. At this meeting 53 visitors attended and this record was unmatched for years.
W. Bro. Dr. Mirza Hassan Kazerani was a medical practitioner and had his practice at Central Hospital and Nursing Home, Bellasis Road, Bombay. He was born on December 9,1926. He was initiated on February 16,1960, passed on March 15,1960 and raised On May 17,1960. I remember Bro.Dr. Kazerani very well as he was the ruling master when I was initiated in Lodge Reginald Spence No.109 GLI.
An outstanding and strong personality, he made most of his booming voice. He was an excellent after- dinner speaker and it was during his mastership that a ladies nite was held at the Blue Nile Restaurant, New Marine Lines.
Bro.Dr. Kazerani held several offices in the Lodge. He was I.G. 63-64; J.D. 64-65; S.D. 65-66; Secretary 67-68; Chaplin 68-69; J.W. 69-70 and S.W. 70-71. He was installed in the Eastern Chair on November 22,1971. He was IPM the next year. W.Bro. Dr. Karerani had a very busy practice and after his mastership he was not able to attend the lodge regularly. However he was always present at installation meetings.
His wife Dr. Nargis was a constant help to him in running his nursing home. He developed cancer of the larynx And had a total laryngectomy performed (removal of the voice box). This episode in his life made him unable to communicate with the other masons verbally and he stopped attending the meetings thereafter. I had met him several times later on when with the help of speech therapists he had developed a sort of abdominal guttural speech. After several years he developed respiratory complications. He had received the ranks of P.G.Marshal, P.A.R.G.M. He was called to the Grand Lodge Above following a brief illness on January 5,1991.
During the year 1959-60 there were brethren who were no longer members of the lodge for one reason or another.
Bro. JEHANGIR MANEKJI DARUKHANAWALA was initiated on December 15,1959. Passed on April 19,1960 and raised on September 20,1960. He resigned on December 17,1963.
Bro. BHAGWANDAS HARIBHAI BHAWSAR joined the lodge on December 15,1959. He was a member of Lodge Sohrab Daver No.5831 SC. He resigned on May 31,1961.
Bro. BHRAGURAI MAGANLAL BUCH was initiated on December 15,1959. He was excluded on December 17,1963.
Bro. NARSINGRAO LAXMANRAO KODIKAL was a rejoining member on January 19,1960. He was a member of Lodge Ashok No.7025 EC. He resigned on April 17,1962.
Bro. MOHAMED ALI KAZERANI was a rejoining member on February 16,1960. He was master of Lodge Reginald Spence No.5514 EC in 1946. He was called to the Grand Lodge Above on February 4,1973.
Bro. EDRIS HUSAINI VARAWALLA was a joining member on February 16,1960. He was a member of Lodge Cornwallis No.5062 EC. He resigned on November 29,1982.
W. Bro. ARDESHIR FAREDUN BAKHSHAI member from Lodge Blackwell joined on March 15,1960. He resigned on December 20,1960.
During the year W.Bro. A.J. Sharp gave a talk on Masonic Teachings.
W.Bro. Bhaidas Rugnathdas Shroff was nominated to the Board of General Purposes and Bro. A.K.E. Haveliwala, Bro. Jamshed Jhabwala and Bro. Naushir J.P. Shroff were elected to serve on the Permanent Committee.
Initiation: Mr. Bhagvandas Haribhai Bhawsar proposed by W.Bro. J.P.C. Shroff and seconded by Bro. Naushir J.P. Shroff, Mr. Jehangir Manekji Daruwalla proposed by W.Bro. J.P.C. Shroff and seconded by Bro. N.J.P. Shroff and Mr. Bhragurai Maganlal Buch all on December 15,1959; Dr. Mirza Hassan Kazerani proposed by W.Bro. J.P.C. Shroff and seconded by W.Bro. Bhaidas Shroff on February 16,1960.
Passing: Bro.Dr. Noorodin Esufali Haveliwala and Bro. Jehangir Manekji Darukhanawala on April 19,1969; Bro.Dr. Mirza Hassan Kazerani on March 15,1960 and Bro. Dr. Oosman Ahmed Furniturwala on September 20,1960.
Raising: Bro.Dr. Noorodin Esufali Haveliwala and Bro.Dr. Mirza Hasan Kazerani on May 19,1960. Joining: Bro.Dr. Fez Hiptoola and W.Bro. Ardeshir Fardun Bakhshai.
Resignation: Bro. Narsingrao Laxmanrao Kodikal, W.Bro. Mohamad Ali Kazerani and Bro. Husaini Abdullabhoy Verawala.
There was one exclusion from the lodge.
The amended byelaws of the lodge were ratified. Bro. A. C. Kapadia was called to the Grand Lodge Above.
