Traditionally held by turn at the up-country Lodges, the District had, perforce, to hold the Half-yearly Convocation and Communication at Calcutta this time. On Saturday, the 13^th of February. It has but to be conceded that the attendance, shorn of the usually enthusiastic participation of the mofussil Lodges due to the restrictions on travel, was a modest forty. The general enthusiasm was, likewise, somewhat dimmed. That, however, was amply compensated by the application and diligence of that handful of members, especially the Assistant District Grand Master, the District Grand Secretary and his Assistant, who always ensure that the meetings end in resounding success. That cliché of twenty percent of the people doing eighty percent of the work and frowned upon for not doing the remaining twenty comes to the mind.

 While nothing that can be termed remarkable was transacted, either at the Convocation or at the Communication, the amendment in the By-laws for a five-fold increase in the fee for granting Dispensation did occasion a collective  superciliary elevation.  To discourage a propensity, at times  on grounds bordering on the frivolous, — the DGS reasoned, darting a meaningful glance at yours truly – to avail liberally of the cheap facility to cater to the convenience of certain Lodges and members.

In his address, RW Bro Thapar welcomed RW Bro Ajit Kumar Saha and his deputation from the Regional Grand Lodge of Eastern India. He went on to appreciate the good work that was being done by his Deputy  and Assistant, and the Past District Grand Master; while the President of the District Charity Fund Trust and his deputy, Bro Sanjay Sapru, had been rallying round to bring the Masonic Montessori House on an even keel, Bro Anil Vaswani as President, DBGP, had been doing stellar work in helping improve Lodge performances and sorting out irregularities in the District. The DGM made special mention of Bro G N Singh; as the District Grand Secretary, Bro Singh’s contribution had been principally instrumental in the smooth running of the District.  Bro Thapar lamented that with the huge expenses involved in the fire fighting project and the legal cases on the one hand and the stoppage of revenue from letting out the banquet halls and the abandoned meetings and convocations on the other, meeting of expenses like wage bills, electricity and municipal dues had become an area of concern. Charity, under the circumstances, has regrettably had to be relegated to a back seat. In fine, Bro Thapar reposed faith in the united effort of all in resolving the crisis.

Communication and Convocation apart, there was the inauguration of the dining/conference room, fashioned out of what had earlier been the office of the Principal of the Masonic Montessori House, now relocated inside the school  . The imposing mahogany table that had earlier been banished unceremoniously from the BMRA bar – Bengal Masonic Recreational Association, in case anyone is wondering,  – to be replaced by furniture that can variously be described as plebeian and kitsch, and left to languish at one dimly-lit end of the Scottish Room, held pride of place here. Crafted on the lines of the Cozy Room, and under the auspices of Calcutta Lodge which had donated a generous one hundred thousand, the place is yet to be baptised. Principally because there is talk of portmanteauing it with the Scottish Room into a fourth banquet hall.  

The inauguration was preceded by the rededication of the   painting of Archangel at the half-landing of the bifurcated staircase. Two handsome vintages complementing each other. Resident cognoscente, Anirudh Chari, recounts below the restoration at considerable length and with an incisiveness that only one endowed with an extensive virtu can. Savour the account, dear brethren.