The Crowther Masonic Hall, Kollam (formerly known as Quilon), built by the patron Esquire Mr. Richard Facey Hunter Crowther popularly known as R.F.H. Crowther (1892-1953), was there in the map of Grand LodgeofFreemasons even before the constitution of Grand Lodge of India.[2][3]The first Freemasons lodge was established at Calcutta in 1730 and first IrishLodge was established at Madras in 1754. Incidentally the first LodgeinKerala was founded in the year 1806 by the name "Travancore Union" at Quilon. It was actually the relocation of Lodge Minden (Lodge Minden no. 464) to Quilon.[4][5] The Crowther Hall was constructed during that time by Richard Facey Hunter Crowther (1892-1953), who received Roll of Honour repeatedly in the year 1934, 1935 and 1941.[6][7]
In 1822 another Lodge by name ‘Hibernia and Union’ was started and that too at Quilon. In 1941, Lodge Quilon was established, nearly 135 years after the first Lodge in Quilon was constituted. Now the KollamFreemasons are active in Lodge Vanchinad No. 273 Kollam, which is near Anandevalleeswaram temple in the city.[8]AFreemasons hall is there in Anandevalleeswaram.[9] They are conducting meetings on 1st Sunday of every month[10]
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.[11]
Geographic locale
