M.W. the Grand Master, M.W.Bro.Justice Devinder Gupta, OSM accompanied by R.W.Bro.S.Krishnan, OSM Grand Secretary attended the 10th World Conference held at Libreville, Gabon, West Africa on 4th, 5th & 6th November, 2009. Earlier M.W. the Grand Master, M.W.Bro.Justice Devinder Gupta, OSM also attended the installation of the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Gabon on 31st October, 2009. M.W.Bro.Ali Bongo Ondimba, recently elected President of Gabon is also the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Gabon.
The 10th World Conference of Grand Lodges was inaugurated by M.W.Bro.Ali Bongo Ondimba, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Gabon on the evening of the 4th November, 2009 in the impressive International Palace of Conferences. In all 46 Grand Lodges were represented at the Conference either by the Grand Masters themselves or by their representatives which included Heads of State like Congo and Chad as the Grand Masters of the respective Grand Lodges.
The inaugural session was followed by an impressive welcoming Cocktail and inaugural Dinner, at the well decorated – Banquets Palace which included visiting ladies.
The theme for the conference was “ Art of Building and Preserving our Environment together” and was divided into the following topics:
1. Building the World while preserving our environment.
2. Promoting Peace and Brotherhood throughout the World by Means of Masonic Teachings.
3. Preserving the Masonic Philosophy and Teachings in a changing environment.
While M.W. the Grand Master spoke on Promoting Peace and Brotherhood throughout the World by Means of Masonic Teachings. R.W.Bro.S.Krishnan, Grand Secretary spoke on Preserving the Masonic Philosophy and Teachings in a changing environment.
Both the presentations were very well received with all round acclamation. Many Grand Masters and other delegates congratulated them on their excellent presentation.
Later during the administrative session of the Conference, M.W.the Grand Master made a presentation requesting for the holding of the 12th World Conference in India to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of the establishment of the Grand Lodge of India and the Installation of the 15th Grand Master in November 2012. This was unanimously approved by the Conference. M.W. the Grand Master was congratulated by various Grand Masters on the Grand Lodge of India hosting the World Conference of Grand Lodges for the 2nd time and showed their keenness to visit India to attend the Conference.
One of the highlights of the Conference was the unanimous Resolution passed by way of Declaration on “What Freemasonry is What Freemasons Stand for”. This Declaration of formed the part of our M.W.the Grand Master’s presentation at Washington at the 9th World Conference held there. In that Conference while the Declaration as presented by our M.W. the Grand Master was accepted, it was decided that it may be adopted at the next World Conference after its contents are looked into various Grand Lodges in the interregnum. Before the formal closing of the Conference our M.W. the Grand Master was called on the dais to propose the Declaration for adoption. He read out the Declaration in extenso. R.W.Bro.Thomas Jackson, Executive Secretary of the World Conference then asked the Grand Masters and Representatives of various Grand Lodges present at the Conference whether they had any suggestions on the proposed Declaration. All present unanimously agreed with the Declaration as presented. It was thereafter adopted with a thunderous applause. The Conference was then formally closed by the Dy.G.M. of the Grand Lodge of Gabon since the Grand Master and the President of the Grand Lodge of Gabon could not be present due to some urgent work.
Later in the evening Most Worshipful of the Grand Master, Grand Lodge of Gabon M.W.Bro.Ali Bongo Ondimba held a gala reception at his President Palace, which was followed by sumptuous banquet. It also included cultural events and a tribal dance troop gave an interesting African Dance.
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