Freemasons to celebrate Universal Brotherhood Day tomorrow

In a bid to dispel myths about Freemasonry, the Freemasons of Nagpur will celebrate Universal Brotherhood Day in the city tomorrow.
The event has been organised to inform the citizens that it is not a secret society, but the world's largest and oldest fraternal, secular and charitable organisation.
The highlight of the programme will be a presentation on various charitable projects undertaken by Freemasons under the Grand Lodge of India (GLI), chairman organising committee, Mangesh Shastri told reporters here yesterday.
There are 12 Craft Lodges under GLI functioning in Nagpur represented by their Worshipful Masters.
Co-Chairmen of Organising Committee Tarun Shrivastava and Yagnesh Thakar informed that Universal Brotherhood Day is observed to commemorate formation of Grand Lodge of England when Freemasonry in its present form took shape about 300 years ago in 1717.

"Freemasonry is not a religion but it emphasises secularism through respect and tolerance for all religions and belief in supreme being irrespective of caste, creed, religion and race," Thakar said.
Politics and religion are not discussed in any Masonic lodge, Shrivastava said adding that Freemasonry is a way of life.