Masonic Charitable Fund Endowed Bursary

Here is the list of the donors / lodges who contributed towards the bursary (in alphabetical order):

1. Dalhousie Chapter in memory of Mr Arthur Edward Beavis
   Made possible by the Masonic Charitable Fund in collaboration with the Dalhousie Chapter in memory of Mr Arthur Edward Beavis. The Dalhousie Chapter No. 508 E.C. was a beneficiary of Mrs F.R. Bywater Will Trust and the Trustees conveyed that this gift from the Trust was made in memory of Mrs Bywater’s friend, the late Mr Arthur Edward Beavis. The late Mr AE Beavis came to Singapore in the early 1900s and was an accountant, merchant, planter and boxing promoter as well as active Freemason in Singapore and Malaya before returning to England. In particular, the late Mr AE Beavis was a past First Principal (1934) and Honorary Member (1956) of The Dalhousie Chapter No. 508 E.C. In memory of Mr Arthur Edward Beavis, the Masonic Charitable Fund in collaboration with the Dalhousie Chapter made an endowed donation of $50,000 towards the Masonic Charitable Fund Endowed Bursary.
2. Dalhousie Chapter in memory of Dr Arthur Wesley Sugunaratnam Thevathasan
   Made possible by the Masonic Charitable Fund in collaboration with the Dalhousie Chapter and the family of the late Dr AWS Thevathasan in memory of Dr Arthur Wesley Sugunaratnam Thevathasan. Dr Arthur Wesley Sugunaratnam Thevathasan was born in Ceylon (now known as Sri Lanka) in 1913 and came to Singapore with his parents at an early age. He was educated at the Anglo-Chinese School (ACS) and carried out his medical studies at the King Edward VII College of Medicine (now the National University of Singapore). His keenness to learn, intellectual integrity and clarity of thought were a powerful stimulus to colleagues and teachers. Dr AWS Thevathasan’s achievements were immeasurable. He was President of Singapore’s Red Cross Society and Vice-President of Rotary International. He was acting Professor of Anatomy and Clinical Teacher at the Singapore General Hospital. He served in the Singapore Anti-Tuberculosis Association, the Council of the Singapore Medical Association, Chief Medical Officer of St John’s Ambulance, President of Young Men's Christian Association, Board member of ACS, Boards of Singapore Gardening Society and Singapore Music Society. He was appointed to the Council of University of Malaya (later known as University of Singapore). In 1962, he was appointed by Minister Yong Nyuk Lin to the Commission of Education headed by the Vice-Chancellor, to to improve the education of Singapore. He was awarded an Honorary LLD in 1963. He was also a member of the Board of the Singapore Improvement Trust, a forerunner of the Singapore’s Housing Development Board. His passion was engineering. As it was not offered, he took up medicine at King Edward VII College of Medicine in Singapore. He was the first Singaporean doctor to be awarded a Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians (MRCP) of the United Kingdom without having to work in a hospital in London. He was bestowed an Order of the British Empire in the Queen’s honour’s list in 1957. Dr AWS Thevathasan was the first Principal of Dalhousie Chapter, the first Asian in that role. In memory of Dr AWS Thevathasan, the Masonic Charitable Fund, the family of the late Dr AWS Thevathasan and the Dalhousie Chapter made an endowed donation of $50,000 towards the Masonic Charitable Fund Endowed Bursary.
3. Lodge Singapore
   Made possible by the Masonic Charitable Fund in collaboration with the Lodge Singapore. The Masonic Charitable Fund in collaboration with the Lodge Singapore made an endowed gift of $25,000 towards the Masonic Charitable Fund Endowed Bursary to support financially needy undergraduates in the College of Design and Engineering. The 1st student was awarded in Academic Year 2023/2024.
4. Mr Justin Lodge from The Lodge of St George in memory of Mr John Stewart Lodge
   Made possible by the Masonic Charitable Fund in collaboration with Mr Justin Lodge in memory of Mr John Stewart Lodge. Mr Justin Lodge from the Lodge of St George, in collaboration with the Masonic Charitable Fund made an endowed donation of $25,000 in memory of his late father, Mr John Stewart Lodge who was also a Freemason. Mr Justin Lodge’s grandfather returned from World War II in 1948 and was not demobbed until 1951, hence he could not afford his father’s education in the 1950s. His father left school at 14 years old to become a joiner and cabinet maker’s apprentice. He studied mathematics and engineering at night school until he was 21, and then went to college in Cardiff in Wales to get a diploma. He took one ‘O-level’ in English and passed the examinations to become a professional structural engineer. The late John Stewart Lodge was equally creative at home, designing and building a custom spiral staircase out of hardwood as he was designing a nuclear submarine for Vickers, or a nuclear power station for the UKAEA. Mr Lodge feels if there were bursaries then, that would have made a huge difference for his father as he is able to continue with his tertiary studies.
5. Mr Murali Menon and brethren from the Eastern Gate Lodge in memory of Mr Ramgopal Menon
   Made possible by the Masonic Charitable Fund in collaboration with Mr Murali Menon and the Eastern Gate Lodge in memory of Mr Ramgopal Menon. Mr Murali Menon, the father of the late Mr Ramgopal Menon, an engineer, collaborated with the Masonic Charitable Fund and the Eastern Gate Lodge, made an endowed donation of $25,000 towards the Masonic Charitable Fund Endowed Bursary to honour the memory of his son, who has passed on due to illness.
6. Mrs Rosaline Wilson, Sir Stamford Raffles Lodge and Star of the East Preceptory in memory of Mr John William Wilson
   Made possible by the Masonic Charitable Fund in collaboration with Mrs Rosaline Wilson, the Sir Stamford Raffles Lodge and the Star of the East Preceptory in memory of Mr John William Wilson. Mrs Rosaline Wilson jointly with the Sir Stamford Raffles Lodge, the Star of the East Preceptory and the Masonic Charitable Fund, supported the Masonic Charitable Fund Endowed Bursary with an endowed gift of $50,000 in memory of her late husband, Mr John William Wilson. Mrs Wilson hopes that the gift will ensure a legacy to impact the future of our young people. In Academic Year 2023/2024, two undergraduates from the College of Design and Engineering have benefitted from this donation.
7. Lion of Erin Lodge in memory of Mr Sivakumar Murugaiyan
   Made possible by the Masonic Charitable Fund in collaboration with the Lion of Erin Lodge in memory of Mr Sivakumar Murugaiyan. Mr Sivakumar Murugaiyan was born in Singapore in 1964. He was educated at the University of London and carried out his legal studies at the Queen Mary College. As a member of the Singapore Bar, he has appeared as Counsel before tribunals & courts in Singapore including the High Court, the Singapore International Commercial Court & the Court of Appeal (Singapore’s highest Court). He has also acted in the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) and ad hoc Arbitrations as Counsel and Arbitrator and has also served as Council Member, Exco Member & Treasurer of the Law Society of Singapore and the Board of Commissioners of Oaths and Notaries Public of the Singapore Academy of Law for 10 years. The Lion of Erin Lodge No. 934 I.C. is a Lodge of Freemasons meeting in Singapore under the auspices of the most worshipful Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of Ireland. Mr Sivakumar Murugaiyan was a Founding Master of Lion of Erin and was also Assistant Provincial Grand Master of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Southeast Asia. His generosity and warmth, as well as active participation in all the Lodges and progressive Orders to which he belonged provided a powerful stimulus to his brethren. Sadly, he died at a relatively young age due to severe illnesses. The Lion of Erin Lodge in collaboration with the Masonic Charitable Fund, made an endowed gift of $100,000 in memory of Mr Sivakumar Murugaiyan’s invaluable contribution to their Lodge and to Masonry.
8. Zetland in the East Lodge in memory of Dr Arthur Wesley Sugunaratnam Thevathasan
   Made possible by the Masonic Charitable Fund and the Zetland in the East Lodge in memory of Dr Arthur Wesley Sugunaratnam Thevathasan. Dr Arthur Wesley Sugunaratnam Thevathasan was born in Ceylon (now known as Sri Lanka) in 1913 and came to Singapore with his parents at an early age. He was educated at the Anglo-Chinese School (ACS) and carried out his medical studies at the King Edward VII College of Medicine (now the National University of Singapore). His keenness to learn, intellectual integrity and clarity of thought were a powerful stimulus to colleagues and teachers. Dr AWS Thevathasan’s achievements were immeasurable. He was President of Singapore’s Red Cross Society and Vice-President of Rotary International. He was acting Professor of Anatomy and Clinical Teacher at the Singapore General Hospital. He served in the Singapore Anti-Tuberculosis Association, the Council of the Singapore Medical Association, Chief Medical Officer of St John’s Ambulance, President of Young Men's Christian Association, Board member of ACS, Boards of Singapore Gardening Society and Singapore Music Society. He was appointed to the Council of University of Malaya (later known as University of Singapore). In 1962, he was appointed by Minister Yong Nyuk Lin to the Commission of Education headed by the Vice-Chancellor, to improve the education of Singapore. He was awarded an Honorary LLD in 1963. He was also a member of the Board of the Singapore Improvement Trust, a forerunner of the Singapore’s Housing Development Board. His passion was engineering. As it was not offered, he took up medicine at King Edward VII College of Medicine in Singapore. He was the first Singaporean doctor to be awarded a Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians (MRCP) of the United Kingdom without having to work in a hospital in London. He was bestowed an Order of the British Empire in the Queen’s honour’s list in 1957. Dr Arthur Wesley Sugunaratnam Thevathasan was the 1st Local Head (Worshipful Master) of Zetland in the East Lodge, the oldest lodge in Singapore. In memory of Dr AWS Thevathasan, the Zetland in the East Lodge and the Masonic Charitable Fund made an endowed donation of $100,000 towards the Masonic Charitable Fund Endowed Bursary.