Life in India

The Beauchamp Lodge was formed in the early years of the British Raj. Nearly all its members came from traditional British backgrounds, and were men of the type immortalised by Rudyard Kipling in his writings about India. Their motives and actions were not always ones we would endorse today; but let us not think too harshly of them, as many did fight valiantly and labour diligently for what they believed to be right. Neither should we feel uncomfortable about celebrating their personal courage, or the part they played in bringing a number of technological advances and social reforms to India.

Some Brethren were to spend most of their adult lives in India, sometimes even staying on in retirement. Many brought their families with them, as prior to the introduction of steamship services the journey back to Britain was too long to undertake on a regular basis. Some would take temporary Indian ‘wives’, this practice may have given rise to the use of the term ‘my lady wife’ when referring to their actual wives.

Brethren generally enjoyed a very comfortable lifestyle in Roorkee, with many servants to look after them, but there was always the constant threat of disease or sickness. Excessive drinking and gambling could also be problems, especially for military Brethren whose depot based duties could be very tedious.

In the hottest months the wealthier Brethren would go up to Simla, the Raj’s summer capital in the mountains; whilst others might go on hunting trips or exploring different parts of India. In the cooler months there would be parties and concerts in Roorkee, as well as sporting activities such as cricket and rowing. The Beauchamp Lodge would hold farewells banquets for regiments or Brethren about to depart Roorkee, as well as annual dances where Brethren would wear their Masonic regalia; the lodge also organised an annual rowing regatta on the Ganges Canal.

The lodge would assist Brethren and their families if they were in hardship or distress; and sometimes arranged Masonic funerals, where the Brethren would pass around the grave throwing in sprigs of acacia. The Lodge also supported many charities, including local schools, a leper colony; and strangely the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, despite Roorkee being one of the places in India furthest away from the sea!

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