Crowther Masonic Hall

Crowther Masonic Hall, Kollam
ക്രൗതര്‍ മസോണിക് ഹാള്‍, കൊല്ലം

The Freemasons' Crowther Masonic Hall in Quilon
General information
Architectural style British
Location Near DCC Office, Kochupilamoodu
Kollam, India
Completed 1806
Owner Freemasons of Kerala
(Lodge Vanchinad)
Technical details
Floor count 2

Crowther Masonic Hall or Freemasons' Hall in Kollam is a part of the Grand Lodge of India and it was a meeting place for many Masonic Lodges in the Quilon(Kollam) area. It is near Kochupilamoodu in Kollam city and has been a Masonic meeting place since 1806.[1] The building is now considered as a historic monument of Freemasonry activities in ancient Travancore area.

History

Freemasons Logo in the gate of Kollam Crowther Masonic Hall

The Crowther Masonic Hall, Quilon was erected and named after Richard F. H. Crowther & his brother Percy. F. H. Crowther whose photographs are in frame in the hall.[2]".[3][4] Kollam (formerly known as Quilon) was there in the map of Grand Lodge of Freemasons even before the constitution of Grand Lodge of India. The first Freemasons lodge was established at Calcutta in 1730 and first Irish Lodge was established at Madras in 1754. Incidentally the first Lodge in Kerala was founded in the year 1806 by the name “Travancore Union” at Quilon(Quilon was the most prominent trade city and business capital of Malabar coast then). It was actually the relocation of Lodge Minden(Lodge Minden no. 464) to Quilon.[5][6] Crowther Masonic Hall was constructed during that time by Richard F. H. Crowther, who received Roll of Honour repeatedly in the year 1934, 1935 and 1941.[7][8]

In 1822 another Lodge by name ‘Hibernia and Union’ was started and that too at Quilon. In 1941, Lodge Quilon was established, nearly one hundred and thirty-five(135) years after the first Lodge in Quilon was constituted. Now the Kollam Freemasons are active in Lodge Vanchinad No. 273 Kollam, which is near Anandevalleeswaram temple in the city.[9] A Freemasons hall is there in Anandevalleeswaram.[10] They are conducting meetings on 1st Sunday of every month[11]

Threat of Demolition

In 2009, the district authorities had taken a decision to demolish Crowther Masonic Hall to build Kollam's court complex. Mr. Shajahan, the then district collector have directed the authorities to initiate the land inspection as a preliminary to the land transfer proposal. But later they dropped the project because of protests from the local population to demolish an ancient pride of the city.[12]

Location

References

  1. ↑ "Land identified for Kollam court complex - The Hindu". Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  2. ↑ http://www.lchr.org/a/39/k1/heritage.htm
  3. ↑ http://www.lchr.org/a/54/6y/Principals_Roll.htm
  4. ↑ http://www.lchr.org/a/54/6y/Chapter_History.htm
  5. ↑ "260 years of Irish Freemasonry in India, 1754-2014 - Irish Masonic History and the Jewels of Irish Freemasonry". Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  6. ↑ "Freemasonry in Kerala before 1965 - Lodge Trivandrum". Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  7. ↑ http://www.lchr.org/a/54/6y/Chapter_History.htm
  8. ↑ http://www.lchr.org/a/54/6y/Principals_Roll.htm
  9. ↑ "Report on Activities of Lodges - Lodge Trivandrum". Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  10. ↑ "Report on Activities of Lodges - Lodge Trivandrum". Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  11. ↑ "Roll of Craft Lodges - Mason India". Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  12. ↑ "Land identified for Kollam court complex - The Hindu". Retrieved 21 February 2015.
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