A Circle of ElevenMasons from Australia,Hong Kong, India, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, and the United States.

What does a Chartered Accountant living in India have in common with a retired Car Plant Employee living in the Mid West of the USA? Answer, they are both Freemasons and members of the Masonic Circle. The formation of the Masonic Circle was not planned ~~ it just came about by Masons "meeting" in Cyber Space, and an accident occurring to Jim Nash! Please read on ~~~~~~~~~~.

In late 1997 W.Bro Allan Bevan of Cornwall, UK, 'met' W.Bro James G Nash of Indiana, USA, via the Freemasonry-List. The frequency of their correspondence soon grew to a daily event. In early 1999 Allan 'met' Bro Tejinder Singh Rawal (Bobby) of Nagpur, India, via the UKMason-List. Again, regular correspondence ensued. Shortly after this 'meeting' Jim had an accident, (he fell over his lawn mower!). From this unfortunate event something good came about. Allan told Bobby of Jim's accident and Bobby emailed Jim to wish him well. ~ Three way correspondence between Allan, Jim and Bobby had commenced. It was soon decided to widen this group of corresponding Masons. Bobby introduced W.Bro Suresh Dixit and W.Bro Adil Dalal, both Past Masters of his Lodge.

It soon became obvious from his email that W.Bro Suresh Dixit is a great teacher, the nickname ‘Swamiji’ was used in reference to him by Bobby and this name has stuck with him from that day forward.

The name, “Masonic Circle” was born and five Masons were then in regular contact. It was decided to include two further Brethren to the Circle and members were asked to recommend Brethren for this honor. A correspondent of Allan, Bro Colin Frankland of Hull Old Grammarian Lodge, and a fellow PM of Jim 's Lodge, W.Bro John Roush, were asked to join, they accepted. The five existing members held a ballot, and Colin and John were duly welcomed as members.

The brethren discovered a great Mason in VW. Bro. Cevad Gurer, The Assistant Grand Treasurer of the Grand Lodge of Turkey ( now Grand Junior Master of Ceremonies), following a ballot he was invited to join the Circle.

Following a ballot, Brother Angel , a member of the Grand Lodge of Spain was invited to join. For personal reasons his full name and photograph are not included on this page.

Bobby visited China in 2000 April. He decided to take a transit halt in Hong Kong on his way to and from the Mainland. While trying to get in touch with the Freemasons in Hong Kong , so that he could meet the fraternity there and attend a Lodge meeting, he came across a very active Mason, the RW Master of Lodge Eastern Scotia, Bro Ashok Mahbubani. Bobby was very impressed, and on his return from China, was pleased to propose the candidature of RW Bro. Ashok, who was duly balloted and admitted into the Circle.

Meanwhile John Roush and Jim Nash suggested that they have a very suitable candidate for joining, in W.Bro. John Housey of Lodge Dignity No 866, Grand Lodge of Victoria , Australia. John Housey had met Bro James Nash on one of the Masonic Sites on the internet and started corresponding by email on a reguar basis for about two years. He then travelled to the U.S.A. and arranged with Bro Jim to go and visit him. He visited their Lodge McCulloch Lodge 737, Marion Indiana , and was bestowed the honour of being its Honorary Member.

A ballot followed, simultaneously with the ballot of Bro Ashok, and both the candidates joined the Circle.

The Masonic Circle had grown to eleven. There are no plans to increase the membership ~~~~ but watch this space! Bobby soon became the Masonic Circle technical expert, and thanks to his expertise correspondence now takes place using a mailing list. Many varied items are discussed; Lodge events, photographs, experiences, family events, even cooking recipes and jokes have been exchanged. Never wishing to sit on his laurels, Bobby has now produced this web page, and the members of Masonic Circle are certainly grateful that they have a knowledgeable and willing member in their midst.

The eleven Brethren/Bhaiyon of the Masonic Circle are members of six Grand Lodges, (UGLE , The Grand Lodge of Indiana, The Grand Lodge of Spain and The Grand Lodge of Turkey, United Grand Lodge of Victoria, and the Grand Lodge of Scotland), and six of the World's great Religions, (Christian, Hindu, Jew, Muslim, Parsi and Sikh. Even the Christian members are from different denominations, Anglican Baptist, Catholic and Methodist,). They are from differing cultures and backgrounds but all share a great interest in Freemasonry, they would agree that Freemasonry is truly universal! Strong bonds of friendships have formed since the formation of the Masonic Circle, and some of the members have traveled to meet each other.

The three Brethren (Bhaiyon) in India are members of the same Lodges, and the two Brethren in Indiana are members of the same Lodge.

Allan and Colin both live in England but are yet to meet.

Allan, in company with his father, visited Jim and John in Indiana in May 2000. Allan and his father were made Honorary Members of their Lodge.

Bobby has traveled to Turkey and has met with Cevad. Unfortunately there was not time for Bobby to accompany Cevad to Lodge.

Bobby has also travelled to Hong Kong met Ashok Mahbubani, and have attended a wonderful Lodge meeting there.

John Housey had travelled to the USA and had met John Roush and Jim Nash, before he joined the Circle.

Colin has already met with Brother Angel , and they hope to soon sit together in Lodge during a forthcoming visit to Gibraltar.

Will all eleven members of the 'Circle' ever sit in Lodge together? It would be a wonderful occasion, once it was thought unlikely, but as members are now meeting each other face to face, it is certainly a possibility. Yet, in a sense they already do sit in Lodge together, as they sit at their keyboards and correspond from different continents in which they live.

W.Bro Allan Bevan

PM Beacon Lodge No 9425 Province of Cornwall UGLE.

Connaught Lodge No 2915 District of Gibraltar UGLE.

Hon Member, McCulloch Lodge #737, Grand Lodge of Indiana. 

Bro. Adil Dalal Bro. Allan Bevan Bro. Cevad Gurer Bro. Colin Frankland Bro. James Nash

W.Bro John Housey RW Bro.Ashok Mahbubani Bro. John Roush Bro. Suresh Dixit

Bro. Tejinder Singh Rawal Bro. Angel

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