A very good afternoon to you all, my Distinguished Brethren. We welcome each and everyone of you to this our Annual Communication 2017 and it is heart warming to see so many Brethren seated here today, from near and far. On behalf of the District Grand Lodge of the Eastern Archipelago, I place on record our sincere thanks and appreciation to everyone for having taken time off your busy schedules to join us. Our very special and heartfelt thanks to Right Worshipful Bro Mal

As the newly appointed District Grand Mentor I thought it made sense to make use of the Ashlar Newsletter as well other available means of communication within the District so as to reach out to all our members within the District so to get the word out on the goals and objectives of the District Grand Lodge of the Eastern Archipelago Mentoring Programme. Before doing so I must first thank my predecessor W. Bro. Darren Deskler for his valuable work in laying down a solid and

Dewan Freemason, Seremban The Brethren of Negri Sembilan Lodge No. 9572 E.C. and Joseph Eu Lodge No. 3552 E.C. came together in solidarity and in sorrow to hold a Masonic “Ceremony of Remembrance” in honor of Worshipful Brother Dato’ Dr. Ramachandra Nadarajan and Worshipful Brother Dato’ Dr. .Raveendra Kumar Saravanan who were recently called to the Grand Lodge above on the 27th day of June and 28th day of August, 2017 respectively. W Brother Dato’ Dr. Raveendra Kumar Sarav

Origin of the Order The first references to this Order are known to be of Dutch origin. The inhabitants of the northern part of Netherlands, Holland were mainly of Protestants in religious persuasion. In the sixteen century, Charles V and later Philip II, the Catholic kings of Spain who ruled over the Provinces made it their mission to defeat Protestantism. The harsh measures of suppression led to increasing grievances in the Netherlands and led to the war for independence.