Provincial Grand Master's Notes and Reports
On Sunday 2nd August, again accompanied by my wife Anna, I attended the Annual Garden Fete at Sir James McKay House. The event was organised on this occasion by the Provincial Grand Lodge of Linlithgowshire and was well attended with many families with their children helping, I am sure, to make the day so much more enjoyable for the residents.As well as the usual raffle, cake and candy and books stalls among others, there was face-painting (some wondeful sights!) ther was musical entertainment and a burger stand, all staffed by volunteers. The staff and residents had also been hard at work and there was sufficient strawberry tarts and cakes to feed an army. We did our best to do it justice and once again my wife and I were quite lucky at the raffle. It was a pity that it rained just after 3 o'clock and while this may have dampened the clothes it certainly didn't dampen our spirits! My sincere thanks to all who helped to make it such an enjoyable day.
On Friday 9th July, along with my wife Anna, I attended the official opening ceremony of the new sun lounge at Sir James McKay House, Ravelston, Edinburgh. The ceremony was graciously performed by Mrs Angela Wolrige Gordon, wife of our Most Worshipful Grand Master Mason. It was most evident from the smiles and comments of both staff and residents that tha project has been worthwhile and will provide years of additional facilities which will enhance the quality of life for the residents. Many thanks once again to all the Daughter Lodges and brethren who contributed to the success the project.
(The picture shows Mrs Angela Wolrige Gordon cutting the ribbon watched by the Most Worshipful Grand Master Mason outside and the residents and staff inside. (The rain was just beginning to fall)
On the same evening, I had the great honour to lead a deputation of very special brethren into one of our oldest lodges, Lodge St. Andrew No. 25, to confer an initiation ceremony at the invitation of the office-bearers and brethren of that Lodge. The attendance was worthy of the occa
sion and the reception was warm in every respect. The brethren who conferred the degree were all holders of honorary grand rank and between the nine of them they had a combined 487 years of service to the Craft, an average of 54 years each. At the end of the evening, the Right Worshipful Master of Lodge St. Andrew, Brother Bill Cargill, handed over a cheque amounting to £225.00 to our Provincial Grand Treasurer who received it with grateful thanks.
The Degree Team on the evening was (from left to right starting at the back) :Bro. Willie Reid P.M., Lodge Union No. 250, Honorary Grand Bard; Bro. Ian Allison P.M. Lodge Kinneddar No. 1239, Honorary Grand Bard; Bro. Ian Hunter P.M. Lodge Canmore No. 1175, Honorary Grand Junior Deacon; Bro. Rab Drummond P.M. Lodge St. John No. 540, Honorary Grand Architect; Bro. John Mackie P.M. Lodge St. Leonard No. 935, Honorary Assistant Grand Secretary; Bro. David Britton P.M. The Lvdge of Dunfermline No. 26, Honorary Assistant Grand Secretary; Bro. Bill Michie P.M. Lodge Earl haig No. 1260, Honorary Grand Marshal; Bro. Sandy Sutherland P.M. Lodge Balcarres No. 1240. Honorary Grand Bible-Bearer; Bro. Peter Myers P.M. The Lvdge of Dunfermline No. 26, Honorary Assistant Grand Treasurer and Bro. Charlie Mather P.M. of Lodge St. Andrew No. 25, Honorary Grand Sword-Bearer. Also seen in the picture are Bro. Bill Cargill R.W.M. of Lodge St. Andrew No. 25, the candidate and the Provincial Grand Master.
Saturday 19th June, Substitute Provincial Grand Masters Brother Ian Waugh, Brother Tom Donaldson, Brother Gordon Michie and Provincial Grand Treasurer Brother Ian Hunter accompanied me to the Installation Ceremony of Brother John F. Lamb (Joe) as Provincial Grand Master of Roxburgh, Peebles and Selkirk Shires, carried out by the Right Worshipful Depute Grand Master Brother Hugh Bryson in the Town Hall in Jedburgh. Another splendid day when I did quite well in the raffle!
Thursday 17th June, enjoyed a wonderful day at Grand Lodge golf outing to Buchanan Castle, Drymen. Wonderful weather, wonderful company, shame about my golf.
Saturday 12th June, Substitute Provincial Grand Master Brother Tom Donaldson and Substitute Provincial Grand Master Brother Ian Waugh accompanied me to the Installation Ceremony of Brother Andrew McKinnon as Provincial Grand Master of Stirlingshire carried out by the Most Worshipful Grand Master Mason in the Lodge rooms of Lodge Callendar No. 588 in Falkirk. The splendid dinner, which followed, was held in the Dobbie Halls in Larbert.
Thursday 10th June, greatly supported by many brethren from the Province, I attended the Statutory Communication of Grand Lodge and later in the company of Substitute Provincial Grand Master Brother Ian Waugh and Provincial Grand Treasurer Brother Ian Hunter, attended the Installation Meeting of Lodge Sir Robert Moray No. 1641. Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master Brother Maurice Wilson kindly invited me to join his deputation to see Brother Trevor Stewart being installed by Past Master Brother Tommy Hardwick in his own inimitable style.
Friday 21st May, Substitute Provincial Grand Master Brother Ian Waugh, Provincial Grand Treasurer Brother Ian Hunter and I attended the Installation Communication of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Roxburgh, Peebles and Selkirk Shires. This was Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master Brother Allan Marshall's last meeting before demitting office and the attendance showed the high regard in which he is held.
Friday 14th May, Provincial Grand Treasurer Brother Ian Hunter and I attended the Statutory Communication of Provincial Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Fife and Kinross. We were again well received and entertained by the Provincial Grand Superintendent, Most Excellent Companion Dennis Cook and his office-bearers and once again the bond and co-operation between Provincial Grand Lodge and Provincial Grand Royal Arch Chapter was greatly strengthened.
Sunday 9th May, Substitute Provincial Grand Master Brother Ian Waugh and I, accompanied by our wives, attended the Divine Service of the Provincial Grand Lodge of East Lothian and Berwickshire in North Berwick. Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master Brother George Donnelly made us most welcome and afterwards we retired to the local chip shop for a fine repast.
Friday 7th May, Substitute Provincial Grand Master Brother Ian Waugh, Provincial Grand Treasurer Brother Ian Hunter and I attended the Installation Communication of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Lanarkshire Upper Ward. We were warmly received by Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master Brother Tom Miller and enjoyed a fine dinner and other hospitality after the meeting. During the meeting we witnessed Brother Tommy Booth, brother of Brother John Booth, Immediate Past Master of Lodge St. Serf No. 327, being installed as Provincial Grand Steward.
Tuesday 4th May, Substitute Provincial Grand Master Brother Tom Donaldson and I attended a meeting of retired Masons in Dundee where we had been invited to make a presentation of our visit to Sri Lanka in 2008. We were well received and hospitably entertained by some very experienced and interesting Forfarshire brethren.