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.
Collectively referred to as the "District of Madras" for Masonic purposes, this region has a history of Freemasonry dating back over 250 years.
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.
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. Freemasonry in the region adapted to the post-independence era, maintaining its traditions while fostering a sense of community among members in southern India.
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.
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.
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. Masonic Meeting Places in Madras (Chennai) LocationAreaTypeNotesFort St. GeorgeFortTemporaryEarliest documented meetings; exact temple location unknownSite of present St. Andrew’s KirkEgmoreTemporaryEarly Masonic temple noted by H. D. LoveOld Jail premisesBroadwayTemporaryUsed for meetings in early periodGeneral Collins’ HouseVeperyTemporaryVenue of first recorded DGL meeting (1799)PantheonPantheon RoadTemporaryMajor shared venue; jointly hired by Lodge PU and DGLHouse near Spur TankSpur TankTemporaryRented as DGL officeBungalow behind the PantheonEgmoreTemporaryFormer Lodge St. Andrew premisesCollege HouseCollege RoadTemporaryStill extant; later government useUnspecified premisesVeperyTemporaryShared by multiple lodges in mid-19th centuryBook Mooneappa’s Library (upper room)Mount RoadTemporaryLodge Carnatic meeting place Purpose-Built or Long-Term Masonic Buildings LocationAreaStatusNotesBeach Road Masonic TempleSeafrontSoldBuilt by Lodge PU; later sold to Madras Police; now Tamil Nadu Police HQCotgrave HouseVeperyRepurposedMajor shared lodge building; now St. Aloysius ConventMasonic Hall, VeperyVeperyTemporaryUsed during repairs and transitionsMount Road Masonic Hall (Chisholm design)Mount RoadSoldArchitect R. F. Chisholm; sold to fund Egmore moveFreemasons’ HallEgmorePermanentOpened 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.
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.
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.
Gallery
List of Lodges Lodge NameLodge No.LocationDate of WarrantLodge of Perfect Unanimity150Chennai1786Lodge of Rock260Chennai1816Lodge of Universal Charity273Chennai1811 St. John's Lodge434Secunderabad1822 Anchor of Hope Lodge1093Wellington1866Pitt Macdonald Lodge1198Chennai1867Lodge of Faith, Hope & Charity1285Ootacamund1869John Miller Lodge1906Chennai1881Kerala Lodge2188Calicut1886Lodge St. George2532Chennai1894Lodge Minchin2710Trivandrum1897Golconda Lodge3249Secunderabad1907Lodge of Southern Brotherhood3311Bangalore1908Lodge Ampthill3682Coimbatore1913Cauvery Lodge3848Thanjavur1918Lodge Cochin4359Cochin1921Archibald Campbell Lodge4998Chennai1928Lodge Quilon5839Quilon1941
See also
United Grand Lodge of England District Grand Lodge of Bengal The St. John's (Secunderabad)
References