Cross Keys December 2018 (Freemasonry)

The Cross Keys The Monthly Newsletter of Lodge Houstoun St. Johnstone No.242

December 2018

Cross Keys December 2018

Number 214

From the Editor In this issue:

To finish 2018 with some good news, the above plaque has been placed at 66 George Street in Edinburgh where the two stonemasons worked before going to Washington. They travelled with 6 brethren of Journeyman Masons Lodge No.8 in 1794.

242 has a new master who has some ideas to progress the lodge; there is a ‘young team’ coming through and brethren hopefully will be returning—we have a great deal to be pleased about, but the hard work must continue and all brethren must support as much as possible.

3 4 5 7 8 9 11 12 14 15 17 18 21 22

A Call to Arms Liverpool FC Royal Arch Names Johnstone Kilwinning The Lodge Master Is Freemasonry Dying?

Christmas Present The Word Freemason Cool Lodge Rooms Tradition!

National Grand Master Stanley Cup 242 Installation Photos Poppy Garden

It’s a team game so let’s all play apart—that sounds so bad, but you know what I mean brethren. Merry Christmas!

Grant The Cross Keys is a free magazine distributed across the many countries in order to spread the good (and sometimes not so good) qualities of the Craft. All views are of individual brothers and not any organised body.

Editor: Bro. N. Grant Macleod PM of Lodge Houstoun St. Johnstone No. 242 PM of The Anchor Lodge of Research No.1814 Past Provincial Grand Secretary of the Province of Renfrewshire East.

Proof Reader: Bro. Allan Stobo PM of Lodge Houstoun St. Johnstone No. 242 Treasurer 242

All Scottish Constitution.

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December Meetings Thursday 13th FC Degree Thursday 27th Business 7.30pm start Christmas Dance on Saturday 15th

I

A Call to Arms

t is obvious that our Lodge membership is not functioning as a unit. There are Lodge members that are not showing up at all to our meetings. I understand that we all have personal activities that prevent us from attending the Lodge on a regular basis, but, I also believe that we are not making an extra effort to attend.

your feelings known. If there are activities which you feel are not congruent with your nature let us know. It is your Fraternity and we the Brethren need to know your real feelings so that we could make a better effort to help you get more out of your Fraternity. If members are not motivated to attend a meeting when they can, the fault probably lies in the design of our meetings.

There have been many times that I have Therefore speak up and share! thought of not attending a Lodge meeting, The Internet is a great and powerful tool but but I think about my the one thing it lacks is Brethren that do attend human interaction. SoThere have been many times and I make the effort to cial Networks are very attend. When I do at- that I have thought of not at- good tools to aid in tend I welcome the Felcommunication with tending a lodge meeting. lowship. It is a habit our fellow Brethren but that we must learn to nurture. Fellowship is in the last analysis it is a cold environment. the cement that binds In this Corporeal world, The Great Architect our Fraternity. of the Universe gave us the highest level of intelligence for the purpose of enjoying life It seems that when we have fruitful Masonic to its fullest. activities the same members volunteer.

How long can this continue, since these It is through our Fellowship that we could members have other personal duties that adhere to this mandate since as the Bible they must do as well. It is not a fair situation states, “ Behold, How good and how pleasant to have a small group of members perform it is for Brethren to dwell together in Unity.� all of the Lodge activities. We need more May the Great Architect of the Universe bless member participation. If you can recall, our Fraternity and guide us in making it a membership in our Fraternity was contin- better and more interesting Fraternity. gent upon real participation, we were not looking for just card carrying members. If Br. Louis A. Dobles Chaplain that would have been the case we would not Orlando Lodge No.69 (Florida) have accepted you into our Fraternity.

If there is a reason why you are not motivated to make a real appearance, please share it with us. This is the opportunity to make

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Anfield Lodge No.2215 (EC) There is a strong link between football and Freemasonry. The first rules of football were drawn up by the new Football Association in six meetings at the end of 1863 at the Freemasons’ Tavern on Great Queen Street in London, now the New Connaught Rooms next door to Freemasons’ Hall.

Many of the founding fathers of famous football clubs were Freemasons, none more notable than John Houlding (shown), a brewer from Liverpool who owned the land on Anfield Road where Everton football club, founded in 1878, played from 1884 to 1892.

When they moved to their own ground at Goodison Park, Houlding filled the vacancy at Anfield by creating a new football team: Liverpool FC. Of the original six directors of the club, four were masons. Houlding, who also served as a Tory MP and Mayor of Liverpool, founded Anfield Lodge, No. 2215, and had been Master of Everton Lodge, No. 823, and Hamer Lodge, No. 1393.

He was Provincial Senior Grand Warden in West Lancashire and, in 1897, was appointed Senior Grand Deacon; he was also a 33° member of the Ancient and Accepted Rite.

Other notable Liverpudlian football administrators in masonry, all members of Cecil Lodge, No. 3274, were John McKenna, Liverpool’s first manager and president of the Football League for two decades from

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1910;Will Cuff, chairman of Everton and the Football League in 1938; and Sidney Reakes, who as chairman of Liverpool took the shrewd decision in 1959 to appoint a then little-known Scot called Bill Shankly to be the club’s manager. Under Shankly, Liverpool went from the foot of the old Second Division to winning the UEFA Cup. Houlding’s brethren had rallied round to support him in the establishment of the club. Out of the original forty-six subscribers seventeen were Freemasons. The Lodges most closely associated with the club in its earliest days were: Sincerity Lodge, No. 292, and Everton and Anfield Lodges, as mentioned above. Of the original six directors, four were local Freemasons: Houlding himself, John James Ramsey, John McKenna and John Ashbury. Even after Houlding’s death, the Masonic presence on the board continued to be strong right up to the outbreak of the Great War. Between 1892 and 1914, fifteen out of Liverpool’s twentythree directors were Freemasons.

Royal Arch Lodge Names The Grand Lodge of Scotland has 11 active Lodges with the words "Royal Arch" in their title, viz.: 76 Royal Arch, Stirling chartered 1759 114 Royal Arch, Cambuslang 1769 116 Royal Arch, Rutherglen 1769 122 Royal Arch, Perth 1770 153 Royal Arch, Pollokshaws 1783 195 Caledonian St John Royal Arch 1796 198 Royal Arch, Maybole 1797 314 Royal Arch, West Kilbride 1825 320 St John's Royal Arch, Ardrossan 1826 321 Bonhill and Alexandria St Andrew's Royal Arch 1826 424 Border Union Royal Arch, Hawick 1868 This apparent inconsistency is due to events in the late eighteenth century when Freemasonry evolved into its present forms and was also influenced by the great social and political upheavals at the turn of the century.

Prior to 1800, many Lodges worked Royal Arch, Knights Templar and other degrees, although to give precise numbers and other details would be impossible due to many old minutes being missing. However, there are 5 good examples of these mentioned in Masonic histories and other sources.

One of the earliest English Masonic records, the "Sheffield Papers", "prove" that Royal Arch Freemasonry was practised in Scotland at an early date, and this may be inferred from the names given to several Lodges where it was the desire of members to practise Royal Arch Freemasonry in the Lodge in addition to Craft degrees and those papers specify: Maybole Royal Arch Lodge 254 (now 198) being formed in 1797 for the very purpose of practising Royal Arch and Knight Templar Masonry within the Lodge.

There is, of course, one very famous example:Robert Burns became a Royal Arch Companion in Lodge St Ebbe, No. 70, in Eyemouth along with Cross Keys December 2018

one Robert Ainslie from Duns, who was charged one guinea. Burns was not charged "On account of his remarkable poetic genius." At a later date the Royal Arch Masons there formed a separate Chapter under the English Constitution as Land of Cakes, No. 52. It is now No. 15 under the Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Scotland.

Burns is much honoured in Scotland and in Lodges the world over. On 7th November 1864, Lodge Robert Burns in Baillieston, No. 440, was chartered by Grand Lodge. It originally requested the title Robert Burns Royal Arch Lodge, and a charter was drawn up in that manner before objectors had their way. The original charter was never delivered and is still kept by Grand Lodge.

Lodge St Stephen's, No. 145, in Edinburgh kept its Royal Arch records separate from those of the Lodge, and as early as 3rd December 1778 its members received the 4th Degree "Past the Chair" from brethren of Perth and Scone.

There is much evidence that the Royal Arch degrees originated in France, as shown in the vast collection of "Morrison Papers" held at Grand Lodge, and the Auld Alliance helped its spread throughout Scotland. Many of the defunct Royal Arch Lodges had military connections with dragoons in barracks or encampments all over Scotland, and the Craft is still well established in the forces.

Many Lodges have changed their titles: for example, Inverary St John, No. 50, was Inverary Royal Arch Lodge in 1796, while Bonhill St Andrew's Royal Arch Lodge moved over the river and became Bonhill and Alexandria Royal Arch Lodge. Its petition to Grand Lodge (23rd January 1826) raised. problems, and the Lodge history shows that the question was whether the title Royal Arch could be authorised by Grand Lodge to a subordinate Lodge, but there was no Royal Arch Chapter and so it was agreed that "Royal Arch" could be retained as there was no indication that Royal Arch degrees were being worked.

In Masonic histories little mention is made of outside influences, but from 1789 Europe was in

Royal Arch Lodge Names (ctd) turmoil due to the effects of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars.

Political unrest quickly spread through Britain and the rest of Europe, and societies sprung up which corresponded with the political clubs which had formed all over France. In Ireland, 200,000 men were armed and drilled secretly for revolt, and France prepared to assist them. A small French force actually landed at Fishguard in South Wales in February 1797, but was easily dealt with. There was terrible hardship in Britain and little clubs formed by workers were embryo trade unions, many of which took the style and title of Lodges. In 1799 and 1800 the "Combination Acts" forbade such groups. The French influence through Royal Arch working (probably via Ireland) must have caused much consternation, and it can be no coincidence that in 1800 Grand Lodge wished to separate Craft Masonry from Royal Arch and other degrees by prohibiting anything above the third degree.

However, little attention was paid to Grand Lodge, and Lodges continued to work many degrees. In 1815, Edinburgh Royal Arch Chapter, No. 1 (constituted 1765), but actually the eighth Royal Arch Chapter in Scotland after Stirling Rock and St Enoch, Montrose, etc., is noted as working the following degrees: Excellent, Super Excellent, Arch, Royal Arch Ark, Mark Link Jordan and Babylonian Passes Royal Prussian Blue Order.

The rise of Napoleon, who controlled the rest of Europe and planned to invade England (from 1803), was thwarted only by the efforts of the navy and its greatest leader — Horatio Nelson.

His victory, and death, at the Battle of Trafalgar, is remembered every year in November at Lodge Trafalgar, No. 223, in Leith, and in Royal Navy establishments.

All the financial and political problems, and worries about spies, may have had some effect on Grand Lodge and other bodies. On 20th October 1817, the Knights Templar separated from Royal Arch to set up their own governing body.

In August 1817, Grand Lodge recognised only three degrees and prohibited the use of other Cross Keys December 2018

regalia, and from then on was much more strict.

Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter was formed on 28th August 1817.

While Royal Arch working in Lodges was banned, the use of the title by Lodges restricted to the Craft degrees, was still allowed by Grand Lodge as shown by the charters of neighbouring Lodges No. 314, Royal Arch, in West Kilbride on 2nd May 1825, No. 320, St John Royal Arch, now in Ardrossan, on 6th February 1826. That matters were much more strict is shown by the problems already mentioned of No. 321, Bonhill and Alexandria St Andrew's Royal Arch Lodge (also in 1826). The peculiar circumstances of the Hawick Border Union Royal Arch Lodge, No. 424, were sufficient to convince Grand Lodge to allow such a title. Members of the established Hawick Lodge, No. 111, had some disagreement, and some decided to form their own Lodge. The argument prevented their sponsorship by No. 111 or neighbouring Lodges, and the petition was signed by members of a Royal Arch Chapter presumably as Master Masons rather than Companions. In recent years talk of amalgamation or better use of premises has brought the brethren of both Hawick Lodges together.

BRO. STEVE CHALMERS. PM. Lodge Trafalgar, No. 223, Leith Article first published in the Grand Lodge of Scotland yearbook of 1990.

Reproduced by kind Permission of SRA No 76 Monthly Magazine (Bro. Stewart Donaldson).

Johnstone Kilwinning

The previous was published in The Freemason, an old periodical from the 19th century. Unfortunately, the minute book does not reveal why this amalgamation took place or why Johnstone Kilwinning was ever formed.

Many people from the Johnstone area at that time were burgess members in Glasgow as they had to be due to trade and merchant rules, but this is pure speculation. It should be pointed out that Johnstone in 1753 was on the other side of the River Cart and the current Johnstone was only formed in the 1790s. The name changed when the Laird kept it after buying the current land where Johnstone exists today. Perhaps the Houstoun family who were heavily involved with the founding of 242 were freemasons in Glasgow and decided to form their own lodge in Glasgow.

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The Lodge Master This booklet was written by Bro. Andrew MacBride PM Lodge Progress No.873 in Glasgow. The booklet has loads of pertinent information for masters and two pages have been included below. Another useful addition to a Christmas stocking!

Go to the website by clicking on the front cover:

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Is Freemasonry Dying?

The following is a series of comments from Twitter which has many vibrant comments about the Craft. Along with Instagram and Snapchat, these social media platforms are common for mostly young brethren (apologies to Dougie‌..) to interact. These comments were responses from the above question.

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The 1813 minute was typical of all the minutes during this period—quite clearly no brethren could complain about being bored with the business!

242 Installation December 1894 The except below shows a real change in times—242’s installation reported alongside the main football results in the Glasgow Herald! Not only that, we no longer have the installation on St. John’s Day in December. Bro. Captain Forbes, the new master, was ‘Chief of Police’ in Johnstone.

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Christmas Present This superb book covers a huge range of aspects of the Craft written by a freemason with experience in English, Belgian, French and Canadian Constitutions. This is more than a book – it is a journey about the Craft and its links with Rosicrucian, Martinist and alchemical thinking while delving into what the initiatic art and its purpose.

Delving in and out of this book will provide the mason with his daily advancement of masonic knowledge.

Bro. Vaughan states that the “lack of dogma means that we can bring any philosophy, any teaching to the table for intelligent consideration…and whose inclusiveness means any man who seeks more in life than the mundane daily routine can expand his understanding of life…”

This book provides the mechanism to do just that within the comfort of a home and therefore allow serious contemplation of many points within each chapter.

The opening chapters of the book discuss symbolism, the purpose of initiation by using the seven liberal arts and sciences and masonic meditation before going into the spiritual aspect of life.

Having some background knowledge in side orders would be helpful although not essential and it may also encourage brethren not in some orders to consider joining them. The necessary lessons within these orders are explained in detail and will force the reader to think more deeply about them especially when these are heard again in the ritual.

In a talk delivered to the US about the origins, the author explains much of what has been said before but in a succinct manner with some interesting observations. If the reader is not keen on the historical aspects of the Craft then this one chapter which leads onto freemasonry in the US is good enough to explain the background to where

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we are today.

Another extremely fascinating chapter was a talk about the 14th Degree of the A. & A. Scottish Rite, a degree rarely seen in the UK and therefore of great interest to Rose Croix masons.

This explanation is a useful prerequisite to this degree. On the same vein, an exegesis of the Most Excellent Master degree is given leading to a Kabbalistic approach inviting the reader to seek for further explanation.

All this leads naturally to the Rosicrucian (including alchemy) and the Red Cross degrees which includes the AMD and the variations, The Royal Order of Scotland concluding with an explanation of an old Royal Arch ritual. For a mason, not in some of these Orders, it provides a clear explanation of the ‘bigger picture’ of the masonic degrees. The whole story is similar to a family tree with many turns, but the author does a great job in attempting to logically put the story in a comprehensive and understandable account.

This is a superb book for any brother with an interest in degrees after the Craft – it has a delightful blend of historical, symbolical and philosophical descriptions that cannot fail to force the enquiring mason to research further into the more hidden aspects of the Craft.

Available by clicking on the image above.

The Word Freemason The earliest use of the word freemason appears in 1325 on the Calendar of Coroners’ Rolls of the City of London. It describes “Nicholas le Fremason” helping a felony escape! Not the best start. The second reference is in 1332 when “John le Fremassoun” is mentioned, again as a surname. The Statute of Labourers in 1351 uses the French term mestre meson de franche peer meaning master mason of freestone. The first reference as a trade is 1376, again in London (letter-book H) although the entry has been scored out and replaced by masons.

The term first came into use around the middle of the 16th century. It appears in Charters granted by the King of England in 1604 and among the minutes of the Masons Company of London in the 1620. In Scotland, the usual form was for a "free man" or for a "free-man mason." However, the Lodge of Edinburgh's minutes of 1636 contains the term "frei masones" and in the Melrose version of the Ancient Charges, that term is repeatedly interchanged with the term "free-man mason." From the middle of the same century onward, the terms "mason" and "freemason" are used interchangeably. It is therefore of no surprise that Anderson used "Freemason" in the Constitutions of 1723 and 1738.

Any interested mason should do further research into this interesting topic—for instance when was the first Scottish mention?

Jewel

The jewel of the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Michigan is valued at $38,000 and is made out of gold and diamonds. Perhaps not something you would want to wear late at night on the way home!!!

Are there any other Grand Master’s jewels of this quality?

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Unique Tracing Board The tracing board across is from the Inhabitants’ Lodge No. 153 in Gibraltar as used by the lodge in 1859. The lodge was originally warranted by the ‘Athole’ Grand Lodge in England in 1777, but became dormant and was revived in 1858.

The board is set out in the degrees of freemasonry culminating with the MM degree.

Poppy Scotland Appeal in EK At last Friday night’s meeting in Lodge Douglas No.1557, East Kilbride, Brother Kenny Marshall, Depute Master handed over a cheque for £3,518 to Brother Gordon Michie (left), Head of Poppy Scotland. Brother Gordon is a Past Master of Lodge Earl Haig No 1260, Windygates, Fife.

A great achievement from Brother Kenny who arranged two dances, bowling tournament, mountain climb, half marathon and at the harmonies collected money in a large orange bucket.

A tremendous effort for a superb cause.

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Cool Lodge Rooms I’m sure these lodges in Brazil do not have retention problems!

Cool Building This must be one of the most unique lodge buildings. It is Lafourche Lodge No. 427 in Cut Off under the Grand Lodge of Louisiana.

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Tradition…..

Ours is a fraternity founded on traditions, but is our obsession with traditions having a detrimental effect on the Craft? Our lodges bring men into the Craft; some of those new members will go on to become enthusiastic freemasons, but others will drift away.

Doubtless a lodge will make some sort of effort to reach out to those brethren on the fringe, but do we do that with a listening ear, and an open mind? Do we ask standardized questions which would allow a centralized collation of responses to observe trends across the whole Craft? Do we ask the difficult questions which might be perceived as attacking the traditions on which our lodges operate?

Are our meetings too long? Are we spending too much time at meetings on non-essential matters - many lodges already circulate minutes electronically; how many do the same with correspondence? Do we need to present every Distinguished Brother? Is our ritual too verbose - do we spend more time delivering it by rote than thinking about the lessons it is intended to impart?

Are our meetings too frequent? Do we continue to hold meetings as frequently as was done in the past, even though we end up working exemplifications? Is the commitment to visit too high? For many, the commitments of modern life leave them timepoor; does an expectation of visiting to ensure reciprocation cause some brethren to simply not attend?

Is the financial commitment greater than expected? We may advise a candidate about the Initiation Fee, and the Annual Fee, but do we make it clear about collections?

About Harmony charges or about raffle tickets?

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Are our social functions still relevant? Is there still an appetite for a Ladies Night/ Dinner Dance or is it no longer appropriate given the nature of modern relationships? Are fund-raisers such as Race Nights just viewed as another drain on the same contributors?

Is the " It's a secret - join and find out." response counter-productive? In the Information Age we like to make informed decisions. Are men joining to "find out", and having got the basics, drift away without being encouraged to seek for the deeper message which freemasonry can deliver?

I have often said that I am a great respecter of traditions - I do not seek to throw out our traditions wholesale; however, I also refuse to be hide-bound by traditions. Some traditions having served their purpose should be set aside to let new traditions arise in their place.

The above statement was made by Bro. Alan Rudland PM on Facebook with some of the following replies:

I can give my opinion on some points you have raised. I am 36 years old and joined when I was 21. My dad and grandpa were in the craft. In my opinion the biggest fib you get told when you join is “as long as you make your own meetings” No one tells you about the pressures of visiting when you take up office. The family dynamics have changed since the glory days and there are greater pressures on men with regards to balancing their time with regards to work, family and the lodge and the order they put them in. You can’t go home after work these days and say right I’m going out 3 times this week visiting.

Tradition….. (ctd) Financial-You May get told roughly about test fees etc. No one mentions beforehand if you go into office the need to buy a dinner suit etc and the financial cost in visiting. No one tells you the amount you spend when you are the Master. I’m sure there are many man who would make great masters but can’t afford it.

Should they be stopped from progressing because they can’t afford it?

From my point of view I don’t attend social functions because the dances are out of date and my wife isn’t interested. I went as far as Jnr Warden but didn’t progress because of the pressures expected of me to visit other lodges attend PGL and Grand Lodge. I knew I couldn’t manage what was expected by my ML. The pressures on me with work commitments and family means I can’t give to the lodge what they would expect from a Master.

If lodges are to be sustainable they need to realise the pressures modern masons face.

Masonry is supposed to be progressive, but the people running it aren’t. When I was WJW it was one of the most stressful periods I’ve had in office. No one tells you before you go into office what’s expected. After I stood down the relief was awesome and I started enjoying masonry again. A PM said to me the difference in being in the top 3 offices and the others is like comparing it to being amateur and professional. Lodges need to do more to support members in their offices.

A big thing is that the Master in a daughter lodge is the main representative and a lot of

responsibility is expected from them, I get it.

That being said, why is it acceptable in PGL for the Substitute Master to represent the Master and undertake some responsibilities when visiting but in a daughter lodge it’s all the Masters responsibility. In my ML the substitute master does “Hee Haw” He just sits there and says a bit during the opening. I explained that if I were going to go to the chair in my ML I wouldn’t make every meeting, visitation, dance and would need the Substitute to go for me. What would go against me would be older PMs who may not understand why, how family dynamics have changed. Not all people work 9-5 jobs. Most people need to work shifts. We are all aware we are not blessed with big numbers sitting in the body of the lodge. If lodges want new masters and not PM’s going back in for the 3/4th time then they need to look at what they are expecting from their Master, and what they can do to support the Master while he is in Office. This is an important point and 242 is in this situation where the Master Elect may struggle to visit due to work commitments—however, the lodge has recognised this and is willing to support him with other brothers hopefully taking on this role.

Another brother commented: My own province works a 'recent members degree' and has a recent members network. Excellent ways of getting new members from different lodges to meet one another and become good friends.

This particular post generated many comments, but what became very clear was the general consensus with virtually all the brethren. We have a new Grand Secretary and hopefully he will grasp the opportunity to seek a way forward. The Craft used to be an organisation where all kinds of leaders found an interest and a way to live. Our teachings have not changed but we need to re-package the product and make it attractive to more people.

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National Grand Master While there is no Grand Master of the United States of America, there once was a "national" Grand Master, prior to the American Revolution.

Bro. Joseph Montfort, a member of Royal White Hart Lodge No. 2, of Halifax, North Carolina, was commissioned as the "Grand Master of and for the Americas" by Henry Somerset, Fifth Duke of Beaufort, and Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of England. Montfort chartered several Lodges in that role and was buried in the only grave allowed within the grounds of Royal White Hart Lodge.

DGL of Lebanon The District Grand Lodge consists of 9 lodges under the Grand Lodge Scotland, three of which being fairly recent. In Lebanon, the first Masonic Lodge was chartered by the Grand Lodge of Scotland in 1861. It was given with the name of Palestine Lodge No. 415 and operated in Beirut but it became dormant in 1895. There are several other Masonic lodges built in Lebanon but some of these were extinct, merged with other, and undergone a change of jurisdictional authority after World War I and II.

My thanks to Bro. Jim Jack PPGM for the photo.

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Stanley Cup The Stanley Cup is the championship trophy awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoff winner. It is the oldest existing trophy to be awarded to a professional sports franchise, and the International Ice Hockey Federation considers it to be one of the "most important championships available to the sport". Originally commissioned in 1892 as the Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup, the trophy is named after Lord Stanley of Preston, then– Governor General of Canada, who donated it as an award to Canada's top-ranking amateur ice hockey club, which the entire Stanley family supported, with the sons and daughters playing and promoting the game. The first Cup was awarded in 1893.

With the Stanley Cup playoffs in full swing, we just had to share that Lord Stanley, the cup's namesake, was a Master Mason. In addition to being the 16th Earl of Derby, Lord Stanley was a member of Royal Alpha Lodge No. 16 in London.

Lodge Craigellachie

Lodge Craigellachie No.241 in Grantown-on-Spey has a magnificent ‘mural.’ It’s not really a mural as the artwork actually is round all four walls of the lodge room and is truly spectacular. Most definitely worth a visit if in the area.

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YouTube Videos Many young people at school view search engines such as Google as archaic. However, looking through YouTube as a search engine is fascinating.

There are a number of very useful and informative videos available. One such example is a short one about learning ritual which helps many masons are a stress reliever—I’m sure many will relate to this easily. Most masons will have their own way of learning ritual, but this has some useful tips for young masons starting their journey. Click on the image above to go straight to the clip or click on https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0gbGH1hfsA&feature=youtu.be .

Christmas Present……...

Need ideas for a Christmas present, then look no further.

Words are not really necessary!!!

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Unique Certificate The Life Membership Certificate from Lodge Livingstone Stonefield No. 599 in Blantyre under the Grand Lodge of Scotland is dated December 22nd, 1913.

Although each lodge usually has a variation in their certificates often with the lodge crest, Lodge 599 is slightly unique in that being the birthplace of David Livingstone, the well known adventurer in Africa, his image is depicted on the front.

St Mungo A truly amazing sculpture of St Mungo, the patron saint of Glasgow was unveiled last October.

It was commissioned by the Incorporation of Masons (although not masonic, they have many freemasons serving & Past Deacon Craig Bryce gave a talk in 242).

The current Deacon, Gordon Weetch (centre) and the Collector David Taylor (right) are seen with the sculptor Roddy MacDowall. This is a superb addition to the City of Glasgow.

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242 Installation

Above the new master (centre), Bro. George Barclay with the young team: Bros Kenneth MacDonald, Jordan Garrow, Alistair Morrison and Mark Weir. Excluding the master, their combined age is less than 100!!!

To the right, we have Bro. George and his installing masters Bro. Allan Stobo PM Tres and Bro. David Black PM both of whom carried out excellent ceremonies in the installing of the master and officebearers respectively.

We wish them all a most successful year and to take 242 into the future.

242 Visit to 5005 The lodge is looking to visit Selsdon Park Lodge No.5005(EC) on 26th January to renew old friendships and make new. Below left we had Bros Kevin Bryan WM 5005 and Tony Campbell PM 5005 attend the installation and lay a wreath along side our own master on 11th November. Below right was when 242 exemplified the MM in Croydon.

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Masonic Poppy Crosses The usual splendid display of masonic crosses at the Scott Monument in Edinburgh representing every lodge in Scotland . The Grand Lodge of Scotland once again has continued supporting Poppy Scotland recognising this is not a one off, but a continued effort to support the Armed Forces both past and present which is a comforting thought for many currently serving. They will never be forgotten.

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To submit an article or want added to the mail list or Facebook group, contact the Editor, Grant Macleod: E-Mail:

sec242pm@yahoo.co.uk

Website: http://lodge242.bravesites.com/

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