Lodge Minchin No. 2710 E.C.

In the quiet coastal city of Trivandrum, in the princely state of Travancore, the late 19th century marked not just a time of infrastructure and administrative reform—but also of fraternal awakening. It was here, in October of 1897, that a vision took shape through the hands of a group of seven dedicated Master Masons, led by the enterprising and respected W. Bro. Humphrey Alexander Minchin, a British engineer whose contributions to Travancore’s irrigation and public works remain etched in the region’s history. The vision culminated in the formation of Lodge Minchin No. 2710, under the English Constitution of the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE). A Provisional Warrant was granted in October 1897, and by June of 1898, the lodge had received its permanent charter, becoming one of the earliest Masonic lodges in southern India under English jurisdiction.

The lodge named in honour of W. Bro. Humphrey Alexander Minchin—a rare and significant tribute that acknowledged both his personal stature and his Masonic leadership. Among the other founding members were distinguished professionals, administrators, and community leaders such as Bros. R. Rungarao, E. C. Mitchell, P. Subramonia Iyer—men who believed in building a spiritual edifice rooted in mutual respect and personal development.

From its earliest days, Lodge Minchin reflected a unique confluence of eastern nobility and western fraternal traditions. In December 1897, its first initiate was none other than His Highness Prince Marthanda Varma of Travancore—a historic moment that symbolised the royal house’s open-minded embrace of enlightenment ideals and moral fellowship. This early royal association lent the lodge prestige and helped embed it deeply within the cultural and civic framework of the city.

For over a century, Lodge Minchin has remained an unbroken chain of monthly meetings held on the first Saturday of every month—an enduring ritual observed with reverence and discipline. Throughout the decades, the lodge has celebrated key milestones: its Silver Jubilee in 1922, Golden Jubilee in 1947 (the year India gained independence), Diamond Jubilee in 1957, Platinum Jubilee in 1972, and its Centenary in 1997. Each celebration has been not merely ceremonial, but a reaffirmation of the lodge’s purpose and values in changing times.

Beyond ritual, the lodge’s true strength has been its spirit of charity and community engagement. In 1957, to mark its Diamond Jubilee, the lodge established the Freemasons’ Ward at the Trivandrum Medical College Hospital—an initiative that offered care and comfort to members and their families in times of illness. Decades later, in 2001, Lodge Minchin continued its legacy of service by dedicating a room at the Regional Cancer Centre, further deepening its humanitarian footprint in Kerala’s healthcare ecosystem.

One of the defining moments in the lodge’s history came in 1962, when Indian Freemasonry underwent a major transformation with the formation of the Grand Lodge of India. At the time, every lodge in the country was given the option to either affiliate with the new national Grand Lodge or remain under its parent constitution. After careful deliberation, the brethren of Lodge Minchin voted overwhelmingly—22 in favour, 3 against—to retain their allegiance to the United Grand Lodge of England, a decision that reflected both a sense of continuity and a profound respect for their founding traditions. Since then, Lodge Minchin has remained proudly under the jurisdiction of the District Grand Lodge of Madras (English Constitution).

Today, Lodge Minchin No. 2710 EC stands as a living institution—deeply rooted in heritage, yet dynamically engaged with the present. It welcomes men from diverse backgrounds who are united by a common desire for personal growth, ethical living, and meaningful fellowship. The lodge continues to conduct regular meetings, practice ritual work with precision, and promote inter-lodge relations through fraternal visits and collaborative events.

Many of the lodge’s past brethren went on to hold high offices in government, education, medicine, and public service—carrying the essence of Freemasonry into the world beyond the lodge room. As it moves forward in the 21st century, Lodge Minchin remains a beacon for those who seek not merely to belong to an organisation, but to be part of a brotherhood—where timeless principles find relevance in modern life, and where service to humanity is seen as the highest ritual of all.