• 3^rd January, 2007(Installation Night): W. Bro D. Ramchandram was Installed as W. M for the year 2007. Around 115 Members attended. Sham -e Gazal, an evening of Ghazals was organised during the of Fellowship, which was appreciated by one and all. The well known Ghazal singer now member of Lodge Keys Bro Sadat Ali along with his troupe enthralled the gathering with the choices old Ghazal melodies.

Regular / Emergency Meetings:

• 7^th February, 2007: Working - I degree. FOUR candidates were initiated by dispensation.

• 7^th March, 2007: Working - Ist degree. THREE candidates were initiated by dispensation.

• 21^st March, 2007(Emergency Meeting): Working - II degree. ONE Candidate was passed.

• 4^th April, 2007: Working I degree. ONE Candidate was initiated. The Lodge meeting was convened at 4pm to accommodate "Best Signature Contest Prize Distribution ceremony". The Lodge meeting got over by 6pm. All the brethren joined the invited guest brethren at the function at 6.30pm. About three hundred including the prize winners and family members of brethren gathered to grace the occasion. Lodge Keyes No. 297 took up "Best Signature Contest" in aid of construction of government school in slum are. W.Bro. P. Vijay Kumar, ARGM was the Chief Guest and Mr. Satish Modi, philanthropist, Guest of Honour. The prizes were given away to the winners. A Ghazal program was organised during the fellowship. Through the novel Best Signature Contest, the lodge has mobiled Rs 2.17 lakh and another one lakh rupees was promised by Mr. Satish Modi.

• 2^nd May, 2007 (Emergency Meeting): Working I degree. NONE was initiated.

• 6^th June, 2007 (Founder Members Night): Working - I degree. FOUR Candidates were initiated by dispensation. Celebrated Founders Members Night for the first time in the history of Lodge.

• 4^th July, 2007: Working - II degree. TWO Candidates were passed.

• 1^st August, 2007 (Ritual Working Competition 2007, Stage - 1): Working - I degree. ONE Candidate was initiated.

• 19^th August, 2007 (Family Picnic): Lodge has celebrated the family picnic at Green Fields Resorts, Moinabad, Hyderabad from morning 10 AM to evening 6 PM. About 100 people including family members of many brethren participated in the picnic. 'Mothers vs Daughters' Cricket match was organised, where mothers played par with their younger siblings. It was the most memborable to everyone as the day was packed full of games and fun events. One Mr. Rajnikanth an artist has drawn live portraits of every one as goodwill gesture from the lodge.

• 5^th September, 2007: Working - II & III degrees. TWO Candidates were passed and TWO candidates were raised.

• 19^th September (Emergency Meeting): Working - III degree. TWO candidates were raised.

• 27^th September: A function was organised to launch www.lodgekeys297.org, Lodge Keys Website as well as to unveil "Decade & Beyond", a history book of Lodge keys and flag off "Masons on wheels", an all India road journey to connect masonry with society and propagate the message of Eye Donation and Blood Donation. The occasion is graced by M.W.Bro Justice Devinder Gupta, OSM, M.W. The Grand Master, Grand Lodge of India as Chief Guest and Mr. Nara Chandrababu Naidu, President, Telugu Desam Party and Opposition Leader, AP Legislative Assembly as Guest of Honour.
  
  
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  Lodge Keys Masons on Wheels
  Lodge Keys No. 297 Masons journey on wheels travelling length and breadth of India connecting Masonry with Society and Social Cause/s
  
  
  Masonry and Society: Freemasonry in more than 300 years old in India and 200 in twin cities. But, society hardly knows us. For many years we stopped being social with the outside world. We stopped practicing Masonry outside our lodges. Many of the traditional ways in which we had been visible, in which we had earned the respect of the community, were no longer available.
  
  
  Freemasonry in more than 300 years old in India and 200 in twin cities. But, society hardly knows us. For many years we stopped being social with the outside world. We stopped practicing Masonry outside our lodges. Many of the traditional ways in which we had been visible, in which we had earned the respect of the community, were no longer available.
  Of course, it doesn�t have to be that way. We can change. May be it is time we brothers make our lodges known and understood.
  
  
  If the public is to know us and recognise us, we must give them a reason. To do that, we must frequently invite them to our lodges and tell our story; and Most importantly, greet them on their own turf--out in the community where we all live, and make a difference in the world.
  Further to follow the guidelines from our Grand Master about taking Masonry Close to the society, this initiative "Masons on Wheels" is taken up Lodge Keys.
  
  
  Public�s recognition of image of Masonry
  In the late 1800s a miller discovered that the square and the compasses was not protected by a trademark, and he decided to use it as a logo for this own brand of flour. The Masons of that state brought Suit to stop him. Since there was no clear precedence to guide him, the judge in the case ordered a survey be made of a sample of the population to determine if the square and compasses were so well known to be associated with Masonry that the Craft had a claim on the symbol in equity.
  
  
  As a result of that survey, it was determined that more than 80% of the non-Masons in that state knew the symbol and knew that it stood of Masonry. The miller was not allowed to use the symbol.
  
  
  It was a wonderful testimony of the public�s recognition of image of Masonry. And yet, today less than 10% of the non-Masonic public can identify the symbol.
  
  
  Obejctive of Masons on Wheels: To spread Brotherly Love, Share and Care for sightless millions of people in the country by propagating Eye Donation.
  
  
  To spread Brotherly Love, Share and Care for sightless millions of people in the country by propagating Eye Donation.
  
  
  To dispel the prevailing notion that Freemasonry is a Secret Society.
  
  
  To make our Freemasonry, Lodges known and understood as per M.W. the Grand Master�s Vision for Freemasonry Circular(No 5/13) dt December 12, 2006 about Masonic Liberalization in the country.
  
  
  To take Masonry close to society and its problems(eye donation in this case) and create awareness for the same as millions people are living in blindness for want of corneal transplantation.
  
  
  To instill more Freemasonry in Men by spreading the message and philosophy of Freemasonry, so that we not only have more men in Freemasonry, but also to ensure that more men will have more Freemasonry in them.
  
  
  To endeavour in our own small way to make Freemasonry more vibrant and dynamic.
  
  
  Bro. J. Sampath Kumar, Project Coordinator
  Lodge Keys No. 297
  Mobile: O92463-77078
  Email: sip_hyd@rediffmail.com
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  Lodge Keys No. 297 wins RGL Trophy for maximum initiations in a Masonic Calender Year.

  Rajahmundry, September 29, 2007: Lodge Keys No. 297 wins a Regional Grand Lodge of Southern India Trophy for maximum number of Initiates in a Lodge in a calender year. Lodge Keys No. 297 is the only Lodge out of 123 Lodges in entire South India to have initiated 20 new members during a Masonic Calender Year in 2006.

  A Trophy was handed over to Worshipful Brother D. Ramchandram, Worshipful Master and accompanied by 26 of brethren in a half yearly meeting of Regional Grand Lodge of Southern India held at Rajahmundry. The Trophy was presented by Most Worshipful Brother Justice Devinder Gupta, M.W. The Grand Master of Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons in India who is also a former Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh High Court. The Trophy was given away in a glittering function where 800 Freemasonry members participated from all over South India including some from all India.

  The Trophy came as a bit surprise and it charged up our brethren, commented Master of the Lodge.

  It is appropriate to remind you here that Bro. D.Ramchandram, the current Master who was a Senior Warden and Bro. Madhusudhan Bojja, the current Senior Deacon who was Junior Deacon last year porposed the maximum number of members. Masonic dignitaries who spoke on the occasion recalled the contribution of the brethren who made the lodge proud.

  The 26-member team of Lodge Keys No. 297 comprises of W. Bro. D. Ramchandram, Worshipful Master; W.Bro. G. Dinakar, W.Bro. Indra Prasad, W. Bro. Ramana Gudipati; W. Bro. K.L Narasimha Rao, Bro. J. Sampath Kumar, Bro. Vijay K. Beerval, Secretary; Bro. Praful K. Sahgal; Bro. MVV Seshu Kumar; Bro. Chiranjeevi P.S.; Bro. Shree Nagesh; Bro. Khaja Nagaraj; Bro. Atmaram, Bro. Madhusudhan Bojja, Bro. Dr. Dwarakanath participated in the half yearly meet.

  It was moment of joy for the 13 years old Lodge. Brethren present celebrated the occasion.

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  Masons on Wheels symbolic rally return to city

  Hyderabad, Oct 01......Masons on Wheels an all over India journey covering 144 Masonic Towns covering a distance of 30,000 kms in over next couple of months by road of Lodge Keys No. 297 brethren returned today after attending half yearly meeting of the Regional Grand Lodge of Southern India held on September 29th and 30th at Rajahmundry.

  The three car motor rally was flagged off on 27th September evening by M.W. Bro. Justice Devinder Gupta, M.W. The Grand Master of Grand Lodge of India and R.W. Bro. S. Krishnan, Grand Secretary, started its journey on 28th September morning in three cars. Eleven brethren inclduing W.Bro. D. Ramchandram, W.Bro. Ramana Gudipati, Bro. Praful Sahgal, Bro. J. Sampath Kumar, Bro. Vijay K. Beerval, Bro. Seshu Kumar, Bro. Shree Nagesh, Bro. P.S. Chiranjeevi, Bro. Kaja Nagaraju, Bro. Atmaram, Bro Madhusudhan Bojja returned to city today.

  All the brethren sporting Masons on Wheels dress, White T-Shirt, Red Hat travelled 1200 kms(back and forth) to participate the RGL meet. Where they were received by ten other Lodge brethren. During the two day RGL meet at Rajahmundry Lodge Keys brethren were cynosure of all the brethren for their novel journey and equally suitable uniform for the journey.

  At the RGL Masons on Wheels team met Grand Master M.W. Bro Justice Devinder Gupta, M.W. Bro. Arun Chintopanth, immediate Past Grand Master, Regional Grand Master of Regional Grand Lodge of Southern India R.W. Bro G.K. Selvarajan, R.W. Bro S. Krishnan, Grand Secretary and RGM of Northern Indian Region and R.W. Bro. Vasudev J. Masurekar, The Regional Grand Master of Western Region. They all appreciated the efforts of the Lodge as it would serve in making masonry known very well across India.

  R.W. Bro. Vasudev J. Masurekar, The Regional Grand Master of Western Region was too happy to met the brethren on the Masons on Wheels and invited them to plan a trip to Mumbai. He assured them a rousing welcome to the Western Region. Overwhelmed by the response expected from the most unusual quarters, brethren are charged up to go to Western Region in near future.

  Prior to that a large contingent of Lodge Keys No. 297 brethren are planning to undertake a trip to Chennai in November to participate in the Annual Investituture meeting of the Grand Lodge of India to be held in November.

  Earlier enroute to Rajahmundry and back brethren were inteviewed by Siticable, The Hindu, Indian Express at a stopover in Vijayawada. Siticable aired a news about the Masons on Wheels on next morning. Three local dailies in Vijayawada Eenadu, Vaartha and Andhra Jyothi too covered the news. Andhra Bhoomi published photograph on the front page of Vijayawada edition.

  At an another couple of stopovers, brethren met many people on their way and explained their purpose of the journey and importance of Eye Donation as are the only organs of human beings which work six hours after a death of a human being. Donate Eyes and Live Twice they told them.

  The journey was full of fun and frolic. An elderly woman working at Surya Clones at Bayyangudem gave us blessings for the noble work we have undertaken, informed the brethren.

  Masons on Wheels has so far covered three thousand kilometers in over six days including the trial drive taken up during July.
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  19th October, 2007: Bro Venkatesh was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason in Lodge Engineers on 19th October, 2007
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  20th October, 2007: Bro. Deepraj Bandari was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason in Lodge Mayo 19 on 20th October, 2007.
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  Emergnecy Meeting: The 143rd Emergency meeting of the Lodge was held on October 24, 2007. Bro Bhanu Prakash and Bro Mansukh Patel were raised to the sublime degree of Masons Masons.
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  27th October, 2007: Bro D.Ramchandram, W.M. and Bro. Vijay K. Beerwal have joined the members of Deccan Masonic Society on 27th October for Site visit. About 50 brethren have altogether visited the site of the Deccan Masonic Society.
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  7th November, 2007: 144th Regular Meeting held. Mr. Ashok Kumar, Mr. Mohd Azeem were initiated. 20 brethren along with W.Bro. A. Sreedhar and W.Bro. K.L Narasimha Rao, honourary members attended the meeting
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  11th November, 2007: Lodge Keys decided to organise an exclusive charity film screening of Shahrukh Khan starrer OM SHANTI OM at Vijetha Theatre, Borabanda. This is being done with courtesy Bro. Deepraj Bandari, member of the Lodge. The ticke per head is Rs 200/- inclusive of snakcs. About hundred brethren are expected to participate in this project along with their spouses and children. The unique thing about this project is to give a gift of movie watching to the less previleged children. Bro. Madhusudhan Bojja is coordinating this activity.
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  Freemasons gessture

  Two days before Childrens Day, brethren of Fremasonry made a difference to the less previleged children on Sunday, 11th November evening. Lodge Keys No. 297 has organised Special Film Preview at Vijetha Theatre at Borabanda in Hyderabad for the Street Children and physically challenged kids.

  The SPECIAL FILM PREVIEW OF SHAHRUKH KHAN STARRER "OM SHANTI OM" went of well. With the contributions of Rs 5000/- announced by W.Bro. Biswa Kumar, PRGM, and another contribution of Rs 1000/- each by Bro BVP Raju and Bro Randheer Kumar we have invited 40 children mostly street children and child labours with two care takers from Hyderbad Council of Human Welfare(www.hchw.org) and 28 children(physically challenged) from Government Boys Hostel for Physically Challenged, Nalgonda Cross Roads and their attendants to the film preview.

  The three Brethren mentioned about though could not make to the premier, but contributed towards this cause.

  A twenty five seater bus and another 40 seater buses were booked to fetch them to Cinema Theatre. During interval the children were provided with softdrinks and refreshments. At the end of the film, the children were dropped back to their respective places.

  Bro Madhusudhan Bojja, Senior Deacon helped inviting the Children from Government Hostel for Physically Challenged, D.Ramesh, hiswife D. Santoshi, D. Kalpana, kids D.Rakesh and D. Sravanthi all the family members of W.Bro. D. Ramchandram helped inviting and picking up the Children from Hyderabad Council of Human Welfare.

  Along with 65 children, 35 brothren, their spouses and family members and friends have given company to the children. The eveing was most memorable for every one of us.

  The brethren who joined in this cause include Brother Madhusudhan Bojja, his wife and daughter; W.Bro. Ramana Gudipati, his wife and two daughters; Bro Veerabhadrudu, his wife and six other non mason guests; W.Bro. D.Ramchandram, his wife, two children and his brother and family; Bro. Vijay Beerval, Bro. J. Sampath Kumar, his wife and son; Bro Bhanauprakash, his wife and two guests, Bro. Vinod Solomon, his wife and child, W.Bro. Walter Sanjeev Rao, Lodge Mayo; Bro. Kaja Nagaraju, Bro. Praful Sahgal, Bro Vidyakar, his wife and family members joined the preview and contributed Rs 200/- towards the film ticket.

  When children boarded the bus, they jumped stared at the bus curiously. Looks like they never boarded such a bus before. From the word go from Alkapuri, the shelter for homeless street children run by Hyderabad Council of Human Welfare, from where the children were picked up, the young boys started singing songs merrily, narrated 11 years old D.Rakesh, Son of Bro. D.Ramchandram who not only accompanied the children but also filmed them on video camera

  While during the interval I saw a boy feeding his other friend seated next him who doesn't have two hands. This has moved me, informed wife of Bro. Bhanu Prakash.

  I am touched with the great activity taken up by our Lodge. The credit goes to every one. Keep doing such activities as regularly as possible said Bro Bhanu Prakash in a SMS message sent to the master of the Lodge.

  My family members are too happy to have been part of the great gesture to the less previleged children informed Bro Madhusudhan Bojja.

  I am thrilled. It is a nice gesture, commented Mrs. Sunitha, spouse of Bro Veerabhadrudu.

  Vijetha Theatre is owned by member of Lodge Keys Bro. Deepraj Bandari. He extended all the help in making it happen. Many thanks are due to him.

  In the end all posed for a group photo.

  The total cost of the project is Rs: 13, 500/-

  Worshipful Master thanked all who made it happen. And sought their support for future activities as well. With the active cooperation from brothren many more such projects which we can remember and cherish for life time can be taken up. Towards that end we would like to plan the following few more activities in the next 45 days before I demit my office as Master of the Lodge, said Bro D.Ramchandram.

  01. Visit to SOS Village

  02. Cultural Program, an evening of Ghazals to Chanchalguda Jail inmates with the support of Bro. Khan Ali Khan, who is a member of Lodge Keys. He will enthrall the jail inamates. The date will be finalised and intimated to you later.