[From the reminiscence of Shri Rai Chand Bural published in the Vinodana (Entertainment) issue of the Bengali Weekly 'Desh" (1973)]

Masonic Festival at the Lodge Anchor and Hope (C 1897).

Once on the occasion of its annual festival Lodge Anchor (and Hope) arranged a banquet. The Viceroy and Governor (General) was to attend it. Father was requested to perform on the piano during the musical session on that occasion. Father expressed his inability. For Father knew that Grandfather was the Grand (sic) Master of the Lodge Anchor (and Hope). He also would certainly be present there. Almost all the famous persons of Calcutta of that age were members of this Lodge. And this was a status symbol.

The authorities of the Lodge Anchor (and Hope) heard from the Principal of the St. Xavier's College about Father's virtuosity in Western music on the piano. When the Principal himself requested Father to perform, he could no longer refuse. Father was naturally reluctant to disclose Grandfather's aversion to music.

On the appointed day and time Father, clothed in impeccable Western dress, went to attend the function. He knew that Grandfather would come there on his way back from Court. Everything would be all right, so thought Father, if he could finish the performance and come back before that.But as he had gone to attend the ceremony, he found that Grandfather had been present there. Grandfather kept silent, when lie found Father there. As soon as the Viceroy and Governor (General) had arrived, Mr. L. C. Btual's piano recital began. As long as the recital went on, Grandfather, glum-faced, sat mum.

After some time the recital came to an end. The entire hall reverberated with applause. The Viceroy and Governor (General) went up two steps and shook hands with Mr. L. C. Bural. The authorities of the Club (sic) wanted to present the piano to Father in appreciation of his fine recital. The Viceroy and Governor (General) himself announced this and along with it wished the young Indian musician a bright future.

The meeting terminated. Then the father and the son together got into the carriage on they way home.

As soon as he sat in the carriage, anger and irritation, Grandfather had so long been nestling within him, burst out with a loud bang. At first lie asked, "Where did you learn how to play on the piano?"

Father, crest-fallen, did not answer. Grandfather once more shouted, "You can't keep mum. Do tell me where you have learnt it." Father faintly answered, "At College."

As if suddenly struck, Grandfather startled. He
_sked, "Where?"
"At College."
"St. Xavier's?"
'"Yes, Sir."
"Impossible! I don't believe it. The College teaches lessons and not music."

Father said slowly but firmly, "I am not telling a lie, Father." Grandfather was somewhat sobered by his son's voice. He said, "All right, positively tomorrow I'll visit the College. I'll ask of the Principal why the students are charged fees. For lessons or music?"

Even on his return home Grandfather was not assuaged. As soon as he faced Grandmother, he once more burst out and said, "Come, see what your clever boy has done. He has learnt how to play on the piano. He has got a piano as a gift from the Sahibs. What is more, the Viceroy and Governor (General) in an appreciative lecture praised (our) son's recitals. What is happening in this land? Have these Sahibs also lost their heads? "

Next day, before he went to Court, he visited the St. Xavier's College. He met the Principal. He learned that the College taught a course in music. Even there he started shouting. The Principal pleaded his helplessness. He informed that he had no power to change the syllabus which had been set at home.

Having heard this, Grandfather came out grumbling. Back home in the aftersoon he said to Grandmother, "Have you heard that in England also they teach music at College? What a shame! What a shame! The Sahib-race also has gone completely to dogs! They won't long continue to reign. That race also has gone to hell!"

Note: Translation is ours. N. C. Bural, a leading Calcutta Attorney, was the Master of Lodge Anchor and Hope in 1897. His son, L. C. Bural, was its Senior Warden in 1900 and Master in 1901. This interesting event, told by Shri R. C. Bural, son of L. C. Bural, probably took place in 1897, when N. C. Bural was the Master of the Lodge.

AIYAR, R. V. - Freemasonry in India, in Grand Lodge of India Sews Letter, Vol. III.
ANCHOR AND HOPE, Lodge-By-Laws (including Warrants and Short History), Calcutta, 1963.
BANERJEE, BRAJENDRA NATH - Sambad Patre Sekaler Katha, (Bengali), Calcutta, Vols. I-II.
BURAL, RAI CHAND - Reminiscences in the weekly 'Desh' (Bengali), Vinodan issue, 1973, Calcutta.
BUSTLED, H. E. - Echoes from Old Calcutta, 4th Edition, London, 1908.
CAREY, W. H. - The Good Old Days of John Company, Abridged New Edition, Calcutta.
CHUNDER, P. C. (EDITED) - Light of Freemasonry, Bi-Centenary Souvenir of Lodge Anchor and Hope, Calcutta, 1973.
COTTON - Calcutta, Old and New, 1905. DAS GUPTA, A. C. (COMPILFD) - The Days of John Company, Calcutta, 1959.
D'CRUZ, ANDREW (JR.) - The History of Freemasonry in Bengal, Calcutta, 1866.
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GOULD, R. F. - The Concise History of Freemasonry, Revised Edition, London, 1920.
GOULD, R. F. - History of Freemasonry, Revised Edition, London, 1952, Vol. IV.
HICKEY, WILLIAM - Memoirs, London, Vols. I-IV.
KHAN, MIRZA ABU TALEB - Travels, translated from Persian by C. Stewart. 1810.
KIPLING. RUDYARD - Works, New York, Vol. X.
LAWRENCE. JOHN T.-Masonic Jurisprudence, London, 1923, Sidelights on Freemasonry, London.
LONG, .J. - The Selection.1 from the Unpublished Records of the Government, Vol. I.
LONG, J. - Calcutta in Olden Time, in the Calcutta Review, Vols. XVIII and XXXV.
MARTIN, G. M. (COMPILED) - British Masonic Miscellany, Dundee, Vols. I-XX.
PICK, F. L. AND KNIGHT, G. N. - The Freemason's Pocket Reference Book, London, 1955.
PICK, F. L. AND KNIGHT, G. N. - The Pocket History of Freemasonry, Revised Edition, London, 1956.
RAMAKRISHNAN, C. A. - Freemasonry in South India, in Grand Lodge of India Newsletter, Vol. VI.
SETTON-KERR, W. S. & SANDEMAN, H. D. (EDITED) - Selections from Calcutta Gazettes, Calcutta, 1864-1869, Vols. I-V.
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Vol. I. WILSON. C. R. - Old Fort William in Bengal.
YULE, H. (EDITED) - Diary of William Hedges, London, 1887.

Chamber's Twentieth Century Dictionary

Encyclopedia Britannica (14th Edition)

ABBREVIATIONS:

BMH. - British Masonic Miscellany.
FPRB. - Freemason's Pocket Reference Book.
GHOF. - Gould's History of Freemasonry, Vol. IV.
GLIN. - Grand Lodge of India News Letter.
HOFIB. - History of Freemasonry in Bengal.
PHOF. - Pocket History of Freemasonry.

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