Cross Keys October 2011

The Cross Keys The Monthly Newsletter of Lodge Houstoun St. Johnstone Walking the Road / Seeking the Light October 2011

Number 151

In this issue: Obligations RMS Titanic Lodge 1557 Crest Masonic Exhibition Reply about Advertising Do you know your ritual?

Ad Astra Lodge GL & the Vails The Rectified Rite 1906 Earthquake Cross Keys Oct.. 2011

Are our obligations too much?

Grand Lodge No.1 MS (c1600s) "These charges that we have now rehearsed unto yu all and all others that belong to Masons, ye shall keepe, so healpe you God, and your hallydome, and by this booke in yor hande unto yr power. Amen, so be it."

Dumfries MS No.3 (Late 17th Century) These Charges which we now rehearse to you & all others ye secrets & mysteries belonging to free masons you shall faithfully & truly keep, together with ye Counsel of ye Assembly or lodge, or any other lodge, or brother, or fellow.

You shall not for any gift, or bribe, or reward, favour, or affection, directly or indirectly, for any Cause whatsoever, Divulge ye same to father or mother, brother or sister, son or daughter, wife, kindred, or relation, or any other person whatsoever, so help me God, ye holy lord, & the sentence of this book.

Compare to any obligation today. The population is less religious and yet the obligations are longer and secrets are more available—perhaps lodges should be reviewing their obligations in terms of relevance for their candidates.

Further thoughts: (from an article by Bro. Rev. John Clarke MBE) Obligations are also a source of concern and criticism despite the changes which have been made in the rituals. It is perhaps unfortunate that the change in the obligation still retains the phrase ‘In former times’ with the implication that the physical penalty was inflicted at one time.

One of the additional degrees uses the words, ‘This was of course, a symbolic penalty which never, nor indeed could, have been inflicted. However, the sign which is also the salute, alludes to the second part of that penalty.’ That makes it clearer but could still be improved.

While on the subject of oaths and obligations it is worth mentioning that there is also concern that the obligations are taken on the ‘Volume of the Sacred Law’. In Western Lodges we use the Bible which gives a strong feeling that everything is regular and acceptable. In other lodges the Volume of the Sacred Law could be the Old Testament or the Koran etc.

There is a need for a further examination of the question of obligations. Perhaps a further simplification might help to clear any ambiguity or misunderstanding and yet still retain the quality and intention of the obligations.

An Informed Mason is an Involved Mason Cross Keys Oct.. 2011

RMS Titanic

The ceiling of the Grand Lodge of NY’s main hall was so amazing that John Jacob Astor, who at the time was working on building the Titanic, was so impressed that he asked designers to copy the Grand Lodge’s ceiling for the fated vessel’s grand ballroom. So now, there are two identical ceilings. One in Manhattan, and one at the bottom of the Atlantic… Bro. John Jacob Astor was a Member of Holland Lodge No.8 in The New York Jurisdiction.

As the Titanic sank into the Atlantic on April 15, 1912, one of four postal clerks attempting to save the ship’s mail was Brother Oscar Scott Woody,(INSET) a member of Acacia Lodge No. 16, located in Virginia. Brother Woody was raised in that Lodge in 1903, and was age 44 when he perished with 1,513 other victims of the world’s most famous shipwreck. The May 27, 1912, minutes of Acacia Lodge indicate a resolution on his death was drafted to be presented to his widow and published in the Fairfax Herald. The Lodge purchased a wreath of flowers with Masonic emblems for Brother Woody’s subsequent burial at sea. Next month will have an article about the famous Astor family.

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Crests of the Province The crest is composed of the following: 1. The Chequered Square and All Seeing Eye 2. The Blue and White, and Red and White Squares Refers to the original seven Founder Members. (Murray Area Blue, Calderwood Area Red). Their purpose of meeting is defined by the Square and Compasses.

3. The Columns The Terrestrial and the Celestial did the Great Architect Design.

In Strength and Beauty did the Lodge grow. The Church and State did the Douglas's defend.

4. The Shield of the Douglas with three Mullets- the Three Stars The three Stars represent the three Brethren who form a Lodge.

The Douglas's are represented with the Three Mullets (Stars) from the lineage of 'Moray' in that of William, Le Hardi, father and his two sons William and James.

5. The Heart Represents one of the Sacred Dictates of a Freemason - 'A Faithful Heart'. The 'Douglas' relevancy - The Heart of King Robert, the Bruce - 'Faithful unto Death'.

6. The Bible superimposed on the Heart This is dedicated to Lodge St. John, Busby No.458, our Sponsor Lodge.

7. The 'Saltire' superimposed on the Shield This is dedicated to our other Sponsor Lodge St.Andrew E.K. No.524 and is also the Emblem of the Scottish People.

8. Lodge 'Douglas Motto', Avant (Forward) The Motto of the New Town of East Kilbride is 'Forward'. Forward was our Aim and Advancement of the New Town and the Craft. The Motto of the 'Douglas's', - ' j'ai arriere (Never Behind)'.

9. Parchment Scrolls Represents our Petition and Charter, granted 7th.May,1959. Seven Months in Erection of the Lodge by 52 Founder Members representing 46 lodges.

10. Lodge Number on the Roll of The Grand Lodge of Scotland No.1557 coincidental with a famous date in Scottish History: 'The First signing of the Scottish Covenant'.

11. The Crown The Good Sir James Douglas was Knighted on the field of Bannockburn 23rd.June 1314, and from that date the Douglas family bore the Crown within their Coat of Arms.

12. The All Seeing Eye My thanks to Bro. David Reid PGM

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Aprons with a Difference Lodge Scoon & Perth No.3 dates from before 1658 and is worth a visit to the lodge room in Atholl Crescent, Perth. The apron at the top is new while the one below is unknown. ‚Let the apron ever be to you as a symbol of a pure heart and the power to rule your life and your conduct through the blessings and guidance of the Divine Truth safely deposited in the hidden vault of your consciousness. As you wear this apron within the confines of this sacred retreat so may you take its symbolism home with you, and ever wear it in your heart and your every day living so that when you take your life’s work, that rough ashlar which you have polished into that perfect ashlar, and present it to God, he will reward true and square work as is wanted for the temple of humanity.‛

Prince Hall Certificate More and more regular Grand Lodges are extending recognition to Prince Hall Grand Lodges in the US whose brethren are generally coloured or of African origin. This recognition is not surprising since these brethren follow the same rituals, wear the same regalia, have a number of charitable events and as can be seen have similar certificates.

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Massachusetts Masonic Exhibition Many television programmes and movies have frequently made fun at fraternal groups by having characters belong to made -up organizations with strange names, wild hats and costumes. Members and nonmembers alike have often perceived Masonic costume as funny or outlandish.

Indeed, Masonic regalia seems to have a flair for the unusual. But today, we may think the same of the clothing we see in historic prints, paintings and photographs from the 1700s and 1800s. So when we start to look more closely — to compare the Masonic costumes and photographs with garments and images from the same time periods — we can see that perhaps they were not as outlandish as they may now seem to us. Often, regalia manufacturers took their cues from contemporary fashion houses.

By the late 1800s, menswear had become extremely standardized, offering little room for fancy and display. Regardless of their profession or geographical location, men became somewhat indistinguishable from one another. Similarly, as many Freemasons sought to impose national standards on the fraternity’s rituals, Masonic regalia also began to standardize. Large regalia houses began offering mechanically manufactured aprons and sashes. Still, fanciful Masonic costume provided men with a way to dress expressively, particularly during degree rituals and public processions. The manufacturers to a certain extent have dictated what regalia should be worn and many jewels that never existed before are readily available. Perhaps we should limit the number of jewels that can be worn and reducing some of the regalia that needs to be bought. This last point does put some brethren off joining or returning when they realise the expense of regalia.

Over the course of the fraternity’s existence, Freemasons developed and retained their regalia to suit both the organization’s needs and prevailing fashion styles. The traditional garments became part of their identity, reflecting the organisation’s values and ideals, as well as a man’s membership in a centuries-old, well-respected group.

Photos show a master, a KT and a Royal Arch degree team.

The exhibition in the National Heritage Museum is on until March 2012.

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Reply from the US about Advertising I saw your Editorial in CK September 2011, and thought I’d add a transatlantic view.

North Americans do indeed put up prominent signs in front of their premises, and they freely wear Masonic apparel, including pins/badges, neckties, baseball caps, Tshirts and windbreakers – but we do have more of a tradition here of gaudy imprinted clothing (you might have noticed!) that might not be as acceptable in the UK. There’s also a long tradition of getting Masonic coverage in the newspapers, although nowadays it can be an uphill battle because our proceedings and charitable doings are not as newsworthy as car crashes, or a cat up a tree.

In the USA, Massachusetts has led the charge in Masonic publicity, and now has strong, vibrant Grand Committees on Education and on Membership Development.

A decade ago a Grand Master deemed that there was actually no written rule specifying that a prospect must ask in order to join. This landmark acceptance had distinct consequences. Grand Lodge set a budget for publicity and created a flight of well-crafted radio and TV commercials featuring RW Bro Benjamin Franklin. (Ben Franklin was born and raised in Boston). Grand Lodge urged its lodges to hold Open Houses on a specified day, and publicized the event.

So what does the populace think of Freemasonry? Well, when it comes to loony fringe, I daresay our loonies are loonier than yours – so there is opposition from conspiracy theorists and Elvis-sighters. When it comes to religious objections, we probably have more religious groups opposed to us than you do. We do not, though, have a groundswell of opinion that Masons are the ‚toffs‛ who run the town council and all other important bodies. Masonry in the US is perceived of as being more egalitarian than it may be in the UK – and with good reason, for many of those who established the philosophical basis of this country were influenced by free-thinking Masonic thought.

The crux of the problem though is that most Americans think nothing of the Craft, because they are blithely unaware of it. Whereas the baby-boomers may have lived their whole life in one town, that is decidedly not true for our Gen-Xers, and Masonry is just ‘not on their radar’… or on their touchpads. They are no longer gradually inculcated into the ethos of Freemasonry by exposure to leading men of the town. Worse still, some US national figures (think banking and the stockmarket) are paragons of greed.

Continued over

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Reply from the US about Advertising (ctd) So our task is making youngsters aware of the Craft, which is not difficult to do – it just takes money and effort. Convincing them that they would benefit from being immersed in an ancient traditional body with the squirmy goal of ‘brotherly love’ is harder to do. Alone among the US Grand Lodges, GL Massachusetts has been successful in reporting substantial annual net gains in membership. Nor is this solely a ‘top down’ campaign, for a majority of the membership supports the advertising, and works towards the goals.

Masons in the UK need to give serious thought to the issue of publicity, before the net losses in membership trend to extinction. And for your brothers in North America, extinction in the UK would be a sad occasion indeed.

Right Worshipful Brother Graeme Marsden Boston, Massachusetts Editor of Rural Lodge Newsletter http://www.rurallodge.com/2NEWS/newsletter.htm

From the Columns On 8th September, 2011 Steven Graham Paton was initiated into the mysteries of the Craft by Lodge prince of Wales No. 426 Renfrew. This is the first visit by POW for many many years and the degree was enjoyed by all brethren.

On 22nd September, 2011 Bro. Steven Graham Paton was passed to the FCD by the office bearers. The degree was slightly different in that it was the ‘step-up’ degree and all OBs moved up one office. It was a well run degree and all OBs are to be congratulated.

Don’t forget—test fees are now due

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More from the 200th Anniversary

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More from the 200th Anniversary

Office Bearers with Grand Lodge Office Bearers and the Past Masters

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Scottish Masonic Tour Brother William Leight has organized a "Traveling Man's Masonic Tour of Scotland" for July 10-18, 2012.

It is being arranged through Perillo Tours. The tour will travel to Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Aberdeen, Inverness, and more. Sites include Rosslyn

Masonic Plaques Plaques behind the George Washington statue in the Washington National Cathedral.

The plaque on the left represents Washington's initiation as an entered apprentice in Fredericksburg Masonic Lodge, and on the right, his installation as master of Alexandria Lodge No. 22.

Chapel, Stirling Castle, Kilwinning Abby, Blair Castle, Balmoral and a cruise of Loch Ness.

Question & Answer Q:

Why did the Grand Lodge of Scotland adopted the term 'accepted' which is English?

A:

When the Grand Lodge was founded a very large number of Lodges then in existence in Scotland were made up of working stonemasons rather than ‘speculative’ Freemasons (and therein lies another tale!). Initially Grand Lodge had a problem in trying to encompass all the Lodges in Scotland (stonemason and non-stonemasons). Many Lodges could not understand why a nonoperative body wanted to claim jurisdiction over an operative trade body. When it was explained that GLoS want to exercise jurisdiction over the Degrees (which were essentially the same for stonemasons and non -stonemasons) it was decided to use a title that made it clear that GLoS was not a trade body. It could hardly do anything other than adopt the same terminology as already in use by the Grand Lodge of England.

My thanks to Bro. Bob Cooper, Curator at GL for this information.

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General Court Lodge General Court Lodge is a special lodge under the jurisdiction of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of New Hampshire of Free & Accepted Masons, chartered in 2006 as a lodge where Master Masons serving or working for the New Hampshire House of Representatives or State Senate may meet during the legislative session, from January to June.

For a fuller description go to the lodge website: http://www.generalcourtlodge.org/ index.html

Do you know your ritual?

As we know ritual varies considerably from lodge to lodge and from order to order. In some orders, the ritual is expected to be read and this indeed enhances the whole proceedings. However, it is only lodges that will be considered. Few lodges will have any ritual read although in some areas such as Sweden this is the norm for parts to be read by an appointed officer such as the Orator/ Grand Lecturer. In Scotland, one of the strengths is that lodges are in control of their ritual—how it is presented and to a large extent what it actually contains. Permission does not need to be sought if a lodge feels the need to alter any part of its ritual. This means quite simply that it is rare to see exactly the same degree twice in Scotland.

Lodges have ritual printed, written and on CD although most will have relevant portions hidden. This varies from grand Lodge to Grand Lodge. For example, in English lodges the Emulation ritual is popular although many other exist. In the US, some have their ritual in timed vaults! More are now having them printed with strict rules: This manual may not be used in an open meeting of the lodge.

This manual may not be used for prompting during a degree.

This manual may not be used to read from during any degree.

The material in this manual may not be copied or photocopied in any way.

No brother shall knowingly permit a non-Mason to look through this manual.

The Depute will audit the rituals during his visit to assure they are properly cared for.

Penalties include the removal of a charter. Perhaps to Scots, this is a bit extreme, but is does emphasise the importance of the delivery. Unfortunately, there appears to be a reluctance amongst many yound brethren to learn ritual. This is completely understandable bearing in mind that they have been mollycoddled through school by having dictionaries in exams, formula sheets, etc and the lack of memory work is staggering. Memory is part of learning and lodges can fill the void left by Scottish education.

Congratulations To Bro. George Dickson PM, HGA, HPGSec, HDM on reaching 90 years old last month, despite serving for 33 years as Secretary.

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1989 The master of 1989, Bro. Graham Brydson (who looks like a scouser!) accompanied by Bros. Henry Leslie IPM and John Flanagan SM—the one on the right with hair! How things change in the Craft!!!

Masonic App? Apps for iphones or androids are now common place. How about a Masonic lodge app?

As already shown in a previous CK, the GL of California has one for their online newsletter. Perhaps, the GLoS and UGLE could join forces to produce an app to find a lodge in any part of the country using sat nav technology. If supermarkets, service stations, etc can be found appear why not a lodge? Charging lodges or masonic centres £5 should produce enough revenue to employ a company to produce such an app.

To the Stars The Ad Astra Lodge, No. 3808 was formed from the Air Inspection Directorate in 1917 and still meets today in Freemasons’ Hall in London. The work of the latter was commemorated in the lodge by the collecting box, made from the central section of a laminated wood propeller.

Little was thought about this artefact until recently, when an examination of the serial marks on the wood allowed the identification of the plane as a SE2B, an experimental design with a rear-mounted propeller. This plane saw much service in the First World War.

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Grand Lodge & the Vails In 1760, the issue of the vails, or giving drink-money to servants was a current issue in all parts of the country. This seemingly insignificant issue of social reform sparked a debate that pitted master and servant against one another, and divided the country along class and cultural lines. Many societies were against this act including the Company of Hunters, Clerks to the Signet, Heritors of Mid-Lothian, The Select Society, The Society of Advocates, AND the Grand Lodge of Scotland.

Grand Lodge recorded on 4 February

1760 that It having been thereafter Represented to the Grand Lodge That as an Honourable Body of Gentlemen in this Country had Entered into a determined Resolution against Giving Vails to Servants which being a pernicious practice and Detrimental to Society the Grand Lodge would Consider of the Same Whereupon the Grand Master and Grand Lodge Recommended to the Committee to make up a Scroll of a Resolution against this Practice and Report the same to the Grand Master.

The following was then prepared to be sent to all Edinburgh newspapers by the Grand Secretary: A Quarterly Communication of the Grand Lodge of Scotland, lately held in Mary’s Chapel, having taken into their consideration, the prevailing practice of giving vails, or drink money to servants, did unanimously resolve, to do everything in their power to remove the same.

The zeal of Free masons for the welfare of the publick, and their readiness to promote every laudable purpose, will easily prevail on them to endeavour to discourage this practice, as by it the virtues of many servants have been destroyed and . . . Grand Lodge, reckon themselves obliged to declare to all under their jurisdiction, their dislike of any custom prejudicial to the principles of Masons . . .�

This resolution was forwarded to all Scottish lodges and two years later the practice of distributing vails was abolished.

Did the Scottish Craft influence the outcome? Maybe, but the important point here is that Grand Lodge felt strongly enough to get involved in a current issue—not a political or religious one, but one that was important to public interest and against Masonic principles. Is this an area where Grand Lodge(s) could become involved and demonstrate more relevance to the general public? For example, green issues, climate issues, etc. If you have thoughts in this area, let me know (email on last page).

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GL News Thursday 27th October, 2011— Grand Lodge Communication in Edinburgh at 2pm 24th November—Installation (12 noon) and Festival of St. Andrew (3pm)

PGL News Monday 3rd October, 2011—New Members’ Seminar in Barrhead Masonic Hall at 7.30pm. Any brother who has joined the Craft in the last year is invited to come along to learn a bit more about Freemasonry in Scotland and the province.

Monday 10th October, 2011—Provincial Grand Committee in Lodge Union and Crown No.307 Friday 28th October, 2011—Provincial Grand Lodge Communication will be held in Lodge Eaglesham No.1265

History of the Lodge

The history of the lodge is still available for sale priced £20. Due to its weight, it can only be collected from the lodge—see Bro. Allan Stobo PM. It covers 200 years from 2011 with appendices on the Houstoun & MacDowal family, Provosts, WW! Roll of Honour, Presentations, Lodge which have conferred degrees in 242, Thistle Lodge in NY, Notable Achievements, Installing Masters, etc.

An enthralling read!

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Caring & Sharing Fund Update Since its launch by PGM Bro. David A. Reid in January the 2011 PGLRE Caring and Sharing Fund has already reached £6000 through a range of activities by Lodges through the Province.

When the final amount raised in the Province is announced next month it will be augmented from the £275,000 fund made available by the Grand Lodge of Scotland as part of the celebrations to mark the 275th Anniversary of its founding.

It has been decided that all six outside charities chosen by PGLRE will benefit equally from the money raised. They are: Erskine Hospital, Combat Stress, Breast Cancer Care, Alzheimer’s Society, Beatson Oncology and Yorkhill Childrens’ Foundation.

A large proportion of the money raised came from donations made by individual Lodges during official visitations during February through to April when the RWM of each Lodge was presented with a hand-crafted Charity Mallet and invited to sign a special Charity Charter. Copies of the signed Charter were also sold to Lodges as souvenirs to raise additional funds.

Bros Iain McPhee, the PGM, tDonald MacReady RWM 1557 and Andrew Hosie

Bro. Hugh Gilmour RWM Garthland St. Winnoch No.205 signs the charter

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Caring & Sharing Fund Update (ctd)

Bro. Ian Gunning PM RWM of St Conval No. 1359

Bro Alexander Balmer RWM St. Christopher No.1453

Other activities included an evening of entertainment and dancing held at Lodge Moorpark No.1263 in June and a sponsored walk headed by Mrs Dawn Oliff, Homes and Charities Manager at Grand Lodge, accompanied by substitue PGM’s Iain McPhee, Neil Fraser and Bill Fleming, PM. Mrs Oliff also took part in similar sponsored walks in Edinburgh and Aberdeen. On the Aberdeen walk she was joined by the GMM Bro. Charles Iain R. Wolrige Gordon of Esselmont and the SPGM of PGLRE, Bro. Iain McPhee, who had also taken part in the Paisley to Bridge of Weir sponsored walk.

PGM Bro. David A. Reid said: ‚We will know the final total by next month, but the amount already raised is a great achievement made possible by the generosity of Lodge members who gave both in terms of time and money to make this initiative such a success. It has been a real opportunity to demonstrate our willingness to support outside charities.‛ Ken Stein PG Steward

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The Scottish Burned Children's Club (SBCC) is an organisation that helps children, up to the age of eighteen, who have sustained burn and scald injuries. The main aims of the charity are two fold, firstly to help in the rehabilitation process of these children and to provide support to their family. Secondly, it is the club’s aim to play a key role in the reduction of such injuries by raising awareness of the problem and promoting safe practice in relation to the dangers associated with burns and scalds.

Bro. Mark Stevenson (pictured) who is a member of 242 is heavily involved with promoting this charity and can be contacted at: mark@theburnsclub.org.uk.

This also the nominated charity for the Supreme Council for Scotland who will raise awareness over the next two years and make a presentation during the summer of 2013.

October’s Events in 242

Sportsman Dinner on Friday 7th October—Jimmy Nichol & Claude Bols Thursday 13th October—MMD by PMs at 7.30pm Thursday 27th October— AGM at 7.30pm Visit to St. Andrew, Annan on 4th November to confer MMD

Sir William Wallace RAC 21st October—Installation at 7pm

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A Grand Master Profile On 25th January 2011, Most W:.B:. Nadim Mansour was installed as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Israel 2011-2013. He is a Greek Orthodox Palestinian Arab, who was born in Haifa, and moved to Acre at the age of 5. He was initiated as a Lewis in 1971 into Lodge Akko, a lodge of which his father was a founding member. In 1980, he was elected Master of his lodge. He is also a 33rd degree Mason in the Ancient & Accepted Rite, where he is Grand Orator of the Supreme Council, State of Israel.

GM Mansour is the third Palestinian Arab to serve as Grand Master of Israel since the 1950s and was presented with a 242 stamp sheet in January.

The Reformed and Rectified Rite of US Just before Christmas an announcement was made on this website announcing the reception of the rights to confer the degrees of the Rectified Rite and form a Grand Priory to confer the Grades of the Rectified Rite here in the United States. The formation of a Grand Priory will be under the auspices of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar. The rights to confer 4째 through 6째 are the only degrees which we have been granted authority, and include Knight of St. Andrew through to Chevalier Bienfaisant de Cite Saint (CBCS).

In most Rectified Rite organizations, the rights to confer the first three degrees of Freemasonry or the blue lodge degrees are controlled if not conferred by those Grand Priories.

The Grand Encampment has no such right, no would wish to do so.

The R.E.R. is a strictly Christian Order, and as such the requirements are to be a practicing Christian. There are ritualistic requirements which cannot be assumed by nonChristians. Further one needs to be a Knight Templar and a member of a Symbolic Lodge in fraternal accord with a Grand Lodge recognized by most of the members of the Conference of Grand Masters of North America. A $750 initiation fee will be required which will cover the necessary paraphernalia and 2011 dues. Dues will be $100 per year. Only time will tell how successful this rite will be.

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Grand Lodge of California—1906 Earthquake Most people are aware of the devastating earthquake of 1906 in California which led to the design of many new buildings that would stand up to future earthquakes. However, few brethren would realise that the Grand Lodge of California was affected. The master and wardens jewels were damaged and recovered from the Grand Temple at Post and Montgomery following the earthquake and fire.

HMS Imperieuse

The photograph on the right is that of Bro. Coates dated 24/11/1893 and with a Hong Kong photographers tradecard back. A naval uniform, badges just visible on arm and with masonic dress of the HMS Imperieuse Masonic Lodge. It can only be assumed that there was a RAC attached to the lodge which met on board as well. A number of photographs appeared of sailors on the ship in regalia.

This comes from an album closely associated with HMS Imperieuse that was on China station at this time. The ship was an armoured cruiser launched in 1883. She was converted into a depot ship in 1905 and renamed HMS Sapphire II. The name was reverted to Imperieuse in 1909 and she was sold in 1913.

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Quite an Advert!

Fancy joining 4 or 5 Orders in a day? Well how about this? Very different indeed.

In Memoriam The dead are like the stars by day … withdrawn from mortal eye… yet not extinct that hold their way In glory through the sky… .Spirits of bondage thus set free… .Vanish amidst immensity… While human thought… .Like human sight… .Fail to pursue…. Their trackless flight.

It is with deep sadness and much regret that we have to inform you of a loss sustained to the craft in Renfrewshire in the passing to the Grand Lodge above of the following Brother: Bro. Ian Davidson

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The Cross Keys is Edited and Researched by Brothers - Grant Macleod & Brian Kerr E-Mail:

sec242pm@yahoo.co.uk

Lodge Websites www.lodge242.co.uk www.lodge242.bravehost.com Thanks to Bro. Allan Stobo WJW for proof reading.

Don’t forget to support the Ashlar magazine— Scotland’s only Masonic magazine., especially with 242 on the front Just click on the magazine to find out more.

Cross Keys Oct.. 2011