TSUNAMI APPEAL

Tsunami Disaster:

 From the Grand Master.

 The world awoke on Boxing Day morning to the most awful news of the tragedy of the Tsunami in the East.   I was most particularly concerned about our Brothers John and Adele Algeo who were at Adyar, Madras which we heard had been hit by the tsunami.   The Theosophical Society estate goes almost down to the sea, except for a fishing village; it also has the river Adyar running alongside the Estate.   Our Brothers Liz and Chris Parker were also in India and gave us cause for some concern.   The M.W.Bro. Pearl King, P.G.M. e-mailed Brother John on Boxing Day regarding our concern for them and for the Most Illustrious Grand Master, Bro. Radha Burnier, as well as all the people who were attending the Theosophical Society’ Conference.   It was to be followed by the second Masonic Supreme Council Meeting and that meant that our friends from New Zealand, Brazil, Spain, North America and the South Americans would all be there.  This was a special time for the Freemasons of The Eastern Order of International Co-Freemasonry to get together and also to attend meetings of all degrees.

 We were most grateful to Bro. John for sending us an e-mail and to know that they were all safe also that Adyar Estate had miraculously escaped damage but unfortunately the fishing villages along the bay were demolished and lives lost.   Many of the villagers sought shelter in the Alcott School, in the estate, overnight.    This would possibly be on the Assembly Hall which is raised above the ground and holds a large number of school children sitting down.   Since then, we have had further e-mails from Bro. John, in answer to our request that we wished to send donations direct to the Head of the Theosophical Society who is also the Most Ills. Bro. Radha, for her to distribute to the fisher villagers for their comfort, in whatever way she feels will be to their benefit.

 You will have received the Letter of appeal for funds to send out direct to Bro. Radha and that the President of the Board of Charity and Benevolence, V.W. Bro. Moyna Busby has agreed to donate £500 from the Charity collections.   We have the Bank of Standard and Chartered Account number for the T. S. Funds and will send the total sums of monies collected from our brethren direct; this will enable all the money to be used for the purpose of assisting the villagers. 

The M.W.Bro. Pearl King, P.G.M. and R.W.Bro. Tina Carlile, P.S.G.W. invited the Brothers John and Adele Algeo to their house on Monday 10^th January, 2005 in order to meet with the Grand Master, Past Grand Master J. Michael Westcott, S.G.W. and the Grand Secretary.  The Brothers Algeo had broken their journey to home in America and were anxious to impart to us the project which the Most Ills. Bro. Radha Burnier has given consideration to.  It transpires that the fishing villagers men folk had lost their lives, their wives being out at work and the children at school; their homes destroyed there would be a hardship to rebuild the little homes they had.    Some of these were owned by a Landlord, who it is thought, would charge a large amount of rent for a new home.   Bro. Radha is investigating buying land and building a better type of home for the villagers, these will have concrete floors and walls and the villagers will fix their roofs with palm leaves.   This is a worthwhile project and we hope that our monies when collected will assist towards this farseeing project.

The Past Grand Masters, Deputy and Assistant Grand Masters, the Grand Secretary and I thank you all for your generosity both in sending to our funds and for your donations given elsewhere.  

The Collection has raised the substantial sum of £2,500 at 13th February 2005 which will be forwarded shortly to India to assist with the urgent work there.