112 Magazine January 2019 Issue No.3

112 On The Level Masonic Magazine for St. John Fisherrow No.112

Issue No. 3

January 2019

Editor’s Comments

Happy New Year to all our readers Brethren we hope that you have had a wonderful time over the festive season and wish you all a very prosperous 2019.

Yes, it is a new year and we will be faced with new and unforeseen obstacles but at least we do so in the sure knowledge, that we as a Lodge are well equipped and ready to face any challenges in store.

Got something you want to say about your Lodge, or just Freemasonry in general? Why not submit an article to “On The Level”and see it printed here. (The Editor reserves the right to refuse to publish any article deemed by himself to be offensive).

Brethren, We have recently purchased some Lodge badges which can be added to your cases. The cost of these are £15. Anyone wishing to place an order please contact our Treasurer, Bro. Douglas Hoy P.M. D.S.M., who will be only too glad to take your cash.

Masonic dates are written "A.L." for "Anno Lucis" or "In the year of Light" which is 4000 years plus the current year, i.e. the year 2019 written Masonically would be 6019. This is because the practice has followed the ancient belief that the world was created when God said "Let there be light", 4000 years before Christ.

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The Right Worshipful Master Brethren, may I start by wishing you all a very Happy and Prosperous New Year.

By the time the majority of you are reading this my Installation will be but a distant memory and we will have embarked upon yet another Masonic year with our Office-Bearers in their new stations, hopefully fully charged with enthusiasm, ready and willing to work long and hard for the good of their Mother Lodge.

Let’s Rekindle that “CAN DO” Attitude!

What is putting something off until tomorrow costing Freemasonry?

Procrastination almost always costs the fraternity. We need dreamers in the Masonic fraternity! Men who ask “Why not?” Men who dream and plan for the future! If we don’t make plans for the future, we’ll never accomplish very much. If we do nothing but dream and plan, we will never succeed. Masonry is not a coffee break. Although great dreams and plans may be hatched over a cup of coffee, nothing will happen if we don’t get up from the coffee table and put those dreams and plans into action. Putting our dreams into action may cost us something, but not putting them into action will cost us more. The desire for soft living and inaction will lead to failure. I am convinced that the members of 112 have dreams they would like to see fulfilled in our fraternity and that working together, we can find the skills to make those dreams a reality.

Let’s not let the future be a failure. Let’s rekindle that “CAN DO”.

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RWM Brian Ritchie

DID YE KEN!!!!

The first registered livestock brand in Montana was the Square and Compasses dating back to before May 25, 1872 when brands were first registered. It is still in use today.

Masons used coffee to fight the Nazis?

A horse named FREEMASON won the $2 million Tancred Stakes held at Rosehill Gardens near Sydney, Australia, in April this year. He was sired by GRAND LODGE and is the grandson of a horse called MAGIC FLUTE !!!

Q. Why do we use the word “Compasses’’ instead of Compass?

A. The term Compasses is singularly Masonic in usage.

The Fraternity has generally applied this term, the plural, to distinguish it from the magnetic compass, the instrument used to find direction.

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At “Busy Brew Coffee”, we honor the memory of Hermanus Van Tongeren. He was the Grand Master of Masons in the Netherlands when Nazi Germany invaded and suppressed the fraternity. Brother Tongeren managed to keep freemasonry alive by having it meet under the guise of "coffee clubs" in plain sight of the Nazi commanders.

Eventually, the coffee clubs were found out and Van Tongeren was ultimately died in a concentration camp. After his death, Hitler recognized the opportunity to go in and seize all of the art collections of the Dutch Masonic Lodges as well as their bank accounts but upon attempting to do that, nothing could be found. During the "coffee club" meetings, Van Tongeren had successfully smuggled out or liquidated most of the Dutch Masonic resources and his daughter, Jacoba Van Tongeren, used a great deal of the resulting money to fund Group 2000, a wildly successful resistance campaign that fought via the press as well direct armament against the Nazis for the remainder of the war.

NEW GRAND MASTER MASON

Congratulations to Bro. Ramsey McGhee who has been installed as our new Most Worshipful Grand Master Mason of the Grand Lodge of Scotland. Brother Ramsey becomes the 111th Grand Master Mason. His Mother Lodge is St. Barchan, in Renfrewshire East. He affiliated to Lodge Seaforth in Fortrose and was elected Provincial Grand Master of Ross and Cromarty in 2006.

He is also Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Ross, Cromarty, Skye and Lochalsh.

Sustaining Pillars

The great moral temple of Freemasonry is supported by wisdom, strength, and beauty. Its foundation was laid in wisdom, and its strength and beauty are derived from the moral lessons which it teaches. It was suited to the times in which it was founded, and its wisdom displayed in the fact that it has been suited to the times through which it has subsequently passed.

Within its sacred precints no lesson is taught which is inconsistent with the preceps of the Volume of Inspiration; no doctrine is inculcated which is at variance with good government, or submission to the laws; no duty or service is required which may not be performed. When a proper disposition is united with a determination of purpose to carry out the principles of the order, its beauties will be displayed in adorning the characters of its professors.

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Acheson’s Haven 376

Any brothter wishing to obtain these degrees speak to Bro. Graeme Nicol Masonic Education

LODGE INSTRUCTION CLASS

Bro. Andrew Raeburn PM our Instruction Master would like to remind any brother wishing to have a go at some degree work should contact him or come along to the instruction class on a Sunday evening from 7.30pm.

It’s informative and good fun. It is always a nervy couple of meetings for all the office bearers but those brethren in particular learning ritual for the first time.

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There is so much in the 24-inch Gauge to get members onto the road to knowledge. Past discussions that once compelled Masons to examine their lives and improve their world seem to have been put on the back burner, replaced by other activities that, while helpful, do not improve oneself in Masonry.

The Masonic Ritual tells us what we need to do: “Ask and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you.” When we start speaking aloud about Masonic Education we can begin to labour together to replenish knowledge in our pursuit of Truth.

D E A CON S T I ME CR A F T I CO L UMND E S I R E RDH T A P E R S C A ND L E S AME A COMP A S S E SW I S DOM S A P A S S E D F ROMT D F I H POC A HOP E HO L YO F S L R C A B L E T OW T R OWE L EOA S I E UN I V E R S E T O RNN I B RO T H E R EOSWT R L D A L T R U T HWV A T I I VO I T EMP L E AOE T A TM L V DGR I P AORR A H S H E E E A S T O F RN K D L MOR E E N T E R E DME L I GH T I L T OEMB L EMS S S I GN S I F E L L OWG O D T F I R S T G OB L I GA T E S A CR E D F H MO R E F I S H E R R OWO R T GEOME T R Y E S HOP EOH F UR T H E R S E L OND AME A S YMBO L D E D I C A T E D I D S UNH I R AM J EWE L S T OMA S T E R S B RO T H E R H P A S S E DMOON A L T E R Brother Derek Mather J.D. 112

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“60 Years in the Craft”

Bro. Robert (Bobby) Ross D.S.M.

Initiated into the craft on 17/12/1958, Passed, 16/4/1960, Raised 2/11/1960.

Awarded the Distinguished Members Medal in 2012.

Born at North High Street on 2nd May 1931, and the 2nd youngest of a family 3 brothers and 5 sisters. Raised in Whitecraig and attended the Cowpits and Crookston Schools. After leaving the school he served his apprenticeship as a joiner with HM Raitt and played football at the weekends playing for Whitecraig Star, Wallyford Bluebell and played alongside Mike Haughney and the great Dave McKay, playing as a goalie for Newtongrange Star.

He served his National Service in 1951-53 and in 1956 he married his sweetheart Jean Hogg, raising daughter Shirley and son Kenny. Bobby became self employed and along with Jean ran a guest house from 1975 to 1990 before retiring.

From the age of 11 Bobby began a singing career, singing in village concerts and at that time 3 nights a week in the Regal Cinema. After joining 112 his musical career hit new heights performing for many lodges, Installations, Grand Lodge, the Police Federation, Golf Societies, to name a few, highlighting his musical career was singing with the Jim McLeod Band and the Jim Johnstone Band.

Bro. Bobby represented Musselburgh Bowling Club in the Scottish Finals at Queens Park, playing 5 times in Ayr and Green Champion 3 times.

Bro. Bobby also holds Honorary Membership with 8 other lodges, St. James Operative 97, St. Clair 349, Rifle Lodge 405, Roslin St. Clair 606, Dalhousie 720, St. Leonard’s Newington 1283, Scotia Regia 1345 and Brothery Love 1428.

“60 Years in the Craft�

Bro. James (Jim) Nicol D.S.M.

Initiated into the craft on 21/1/1959, Passed, 17/10/1959, Raised 30/01/1960.

Awarded the Distinguished Service Medal in 1975.

Schooled at the Burgh and Grammar Schools in the Town, where he received a Dux Medal for being the Cleverest Boy at the Grammar.

After leaving the school he worked for British Rail for 44 years starting as a Station Lad at 15 years old, at Inveresk Station and retiring at 59 as a Manager at the Travel Centre at Waverley Station.

Married to Margaret for 58 years come September, raising 3 children, George, Elaine and Graeme.

Served as Recorder for both Atchison Haven Cryptic and Lodge an Councils for over 25 years. Was given the Chair Degrees and made Trice Illustrious Master of the Cryptic Council for 1 year, the dates are on the Roll Board at the lodge. Served as Scribe for Preston Tower for 20 years which included the 2 years that I was in the chair. I know he was a great help to myself and all others who were in the Chair.

I know that being given his DSM for 112 is one of his proudest moments in craft.

Along with seeing is younger Brother Alex (late) taking the chair of The Beddington Lodge 5492 in Surrey. Alex was a member of 112 and I think would have joined the same time as my Dad.

I know that he was proud that they had followed their late father in becoming Free Masons. His Father was a member of Kirkliston Maitland.

Brother Graeme Nicol

Robert Burns Poet, Song Writer & Famous Freemason In 1781 the Burns family were farming at Lochlea farm (or Lochlie – Burns used both spellings) near Tarbolton in Ayrshire. Tarbolton is equidistant from Ayr, where Burns was born and Kilmarnock where his first edition of “Poems Chiefly in the Scots Dialect” was published in 1786.

Tarbolton is even now a small village but had 2 lodges operational in 1781. In 1771 a lodge was chartered by Mother Kilwinning and named Lodge Tarbolton, Kilwinning. However, the influence of the Grand Lodge of Scotland was increasing and that of Mother Kilwinning waning, even in its home county of Ayrshire. Two years later, twenty brethren petitioned to align with the Grand Lodge of Scotland and in February 1773 a Charter was duly granted with Lodge St. David Tarbolton being founded, added to the Roll of Lodges as No. 174.

However, the remaining brethren of the original Lodge Tarbolton Kilwinning carried on for a few months but then decided to align with the Grand Lodge of Scotland and eventually they too were Chartered by Grand Lodge in May 1774 under the name of Lodge St. James Tarbolton Kilwinning No. 178. Thus the older lodge by age became the younger lodge by Charter from the Grand Lodge of Scotland. Both lodges carried on for a while but soon realised that there was not enough room in the small village for two lodges and a merger took place in June 1781 under the name of Lodge St. David’s, No. 174 – this having the older Charter recognised by Grand Lodge. It was in this lodge that Bro. Robert Burns was initiated in 1781.

The Initiation fee was 12 shillings and 6 pence (£0.625p). At that time, Burns was still working on the family farm and receiving a wage of between £8 and £10 a year. This means that it cost him around one-sixteenth of his annual income to join the Craft. If those scale of fees were still applicable today it would cost at least £1000 to join the Craft now – and that is based on Minimum National Wage Rate scales. Based on Average Wage scales the comparative Initiation Fee today would be closer to £1650.

At the time of his Initiation, the lodge met in the upper rooms of a local pub owned by John Richard who was the steward of the lodge. This place was favourite venue for many local village events and there in November 1780, Burns and few friends set up a Debating Society called “The Bachelor’s Club”. This building survives today and is known as the “Tarbolton Bachelor’s Club” owned by the National Trust for Scotland. It was there that Burns was initiated on 4th July 1781. No further meetings of the lodge

took place until 1st October 1781 when Burns was Passed and Raised.

Freemasonry was increasing in popularity and its teachings struck a chord with Burns who became a fervent supporter. However the teachings of Brotherly Love were short-lived in the combined St. David’s Lodge as many brethren of the original lodge resented seeing their lodge more or less disappearing so they broke away in June 1782 and Lodge St. James became active again. Burns went with the break-away faction and little more is heard of his masonic activity until 27th July 1784 when he was elected as Depute Master of Lodge St. James.

In those days, the Master of the Lodge in many rural village lodges was often the local laird or landowner and they had little involvement in the running of the lodge or conducting meetings. In these lodges the Master was an honorific office with the Depute effectively having the role of RWM as we recognise today. Burns served in this office for a period of 4 years. He alluded to those having this particular privilege in these lines in his “Farewell to the Brethren of St. James’ Lodge, Tarbolton” in 1786 when he was contemplating emigrating to Jamaica. “Oft have I met your social band, and spent the cheerful festive night. Oft, honoured with supreme command, presided o’er the Sons of Light”.

Burns’ plans for emigrating were put on hold following the success of the publication of the Kilmarnock Edition of his poems on 31st July 1786 which was met with national acclaim. Encouraged by many of his close friends, many of them Freeemasons with close associations with Edinburgh Society, he was encouraged to travel to Edinburgh and pursue a further publication which followed on 21st April 1787.

As an enthusiastic Freemason, Burns did frequent meetings in Edinburgh. He was made an affiliate member of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning No. 2 on 1st February 1787 and was known to have visited Lodge St. Andrew and meetings where Grand Lodge was present – this was quite a common event in those days. The depiction of him being made Poet Laureate in Lodge Canongate Kilwinning No. 2 as shown in the print above the Secretary/Treasurer’s desk is the subject of much controversy and lengthy debate so best left alone here.

His association with Canongate Kilwinning was particularly beneficial as members of that lodge included Lord Elcho (Grand Master Mason), Earl of Glencairn (who was a staunch supporter and promoter of Burns). Earl of Torphichen, Patrick Miller of Dalswinton (owner of Ellisland Farm which Burns later rented from him). Other members were William Creech (publisher of the Edinburgh Edition), Henry MacKenzie (author of “The Man of Feeling” which Burns avidly studied as a young man) and Alexander Nasmyth (artist who later painted Burns’ portrait). The first Nasmyth portrait was painted in 1787 and the full size portrait was painted almost 30 years later.

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Burns’ links with the Craft are well documented and his association was extended into Royal Arch Masonry when on his Border Tour on 19th May 1787 he was in Eyemouth and admitted (free of charge) as a Royal Arch Mason in Land o’ Cakes Chapter No. 15 (meeting held in the premises of Lodge St. Ebbe No. 70). He used the term “Land o’ Cakes” as a reference to Scotland in the opening lines of his poem “On the Late Captain Grose’s Peregrinations Thro’ Scotland”. A very nice tribute to his Mother Chapter.

Burns was sometimes direct in his references to Masonry in his poems (e.g. “Ye sons of old Killie, assembled by Willie to follow the noble vocation” – Old Killie being Lodge St. John’s Kilmarnock No. 22 and the Master was Bro. Major William Parker of Assloss who was an old friend of Burns). However, many of his poems alluded to the themes that we would recognise in the several Masonic lectures heard to this day – Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth, Virtue, Morality, and Equality.

The “Address to the Unco Guid”, “Epistle to a Young Friend”, “The Twa Dogs” and the “Cottar’s Saturday Night” in particular promoted the ideals that decency, happiness, contentment and an honest, well-spent life were not be measured by the accumulation of wealth and power alone. He often pointed out that in the ranks of the poor and under-privileged there were often more decent and honest people to be found than amongst the rich and wealthy in society.

Burns was also given Honorary Membership of Lodge Louden Kilwinning, St. John’s Kilwinning, Kilmarnock and on moving to Dumfries he affiliated to St. Andrew Lodge .

179 where he was elected Senior Warden in 1792. The arduous job he had as an excise man and still composing and collecting songs for the “Scots Musical Museum” and “Select Scottish Airs” publications took a toll on his health. Despite popular myth, Burns was not addicted to alcohol and was a moderate drinker by the customs of his day.

It is believed he may have had a rheumatic fever as a young boy and his toils on the land as a farmer and workload as an excise man had a detrimental effect on his health in his adult life.

Bro. Robert Burns passed to the Grand Lodge above on 21st July 1796 at the age of 37 and a half years. His funeral procession was witnessed by an estimated crowd of 10,000 and he was interred in the north-east corner of St. Michael’s Churchyard in Dumfries.

His wife Jean did not attend the funeral as she gave birth to their son Maxwell at the time of the funeral – sadly Maxwell only survived for 2 years.

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His remains were later exhumed on 19th September 1817 as the original plot was severely crowded and insignificant. A campaign led by Sir Walter Scott amongst others wanted a more appropriate memorial and with funds coming in from the UK and worldwide a new Mausoleum on the east side of the graveyard was erected and Burns (together with two of his sons who had died at age 9 and 2) were re-interred on 19th September 1817 to be joined by his wife Jean Armour on 26th March 1834 and son Robert on 14th May 1857.

His poems and songs are studied at length world-wide even to this day and almost universally his song “Auld Lang Syne” brings in every New Year with the sentiment that we should never forget “auld acquaintances”. An equally strong message is found in “A Man’s and Man” with the hope that one day we all “shall brothers be for a’ that”.

Bro. Robert Burns was a Scottish Freemason and while we should be proud of that fact we should not claim him as being unique to the Scottish Craft. What is ours is ours to share – a sentiment we hope Bro. Burns would heartily promote. His strong beliefs in the universality of the tenets of our Craft and the way in which he expressed his genius in poetry and song should be enjoyed by everyone.

Brother Andrew M. Raeburn P.M. D.S.M.

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Famous Quotes

Being persuaded that a just application of the principles, on which the Masonic Fraternity is founded, must be promote of private virtue and public prosperity, I shall always be happy to advance the interests of the Society, and to be considered by them as a deserving brother.

George Washington

The Secrets of Freemasonry

Labour of Love

The secret of Masonry, like the secret of life, can be known only by those who seek it, serve it, live it. It cannot be uttered; it can only be felt and acted. It is, in fact, an open secret, and each man knows it according to his quest and capacity.

Like all things worth knowing, no one can know it for another and no man can know it alone.

Masonic Labour is Purely a labour of love. He who seeks to draw wages in gold or silver will be disappointed. The wages of a mason are paid in their dealings with one another: Sympathy that begets sympathy: Kindness begets kindness: Helpfulness begets helpfulness and these brethren are the wages of a mason.

Dr. Joseph Fort Newton.

Bro. Benjamin Franklin

“We represent a fraternity which believes in justice and truth and honorable action in your community.. men who are endeavoring to be better citizens…[and] to make a great country greater. This is the only institution in the world where we can meet on the level all sorts of people who want to live rightly.”

Harry S. Truman

Associate yourself with men of good quality, if you esteem your own reputation; for it’s better to be alone than in bad company.

Theodore Rosevelt

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Dates For Your Diaries

Wednesday 16th January 2nd Degree Enquiry/Committee Meeting Teusday 22nd January Wednesday 6th February 3rd Degree Wednesday 20th February 3rd Degree

Friday 22nd February Lodge Ladies Night (see below for information)

Enquiry/Committee Meeting Tuesday 26th February

St. John Fisherrow No.112 presents

Ladies Night Dance

Friday 22nd February 2019 Dance the night away with music from

Holly Burns Tickets £20 from, Bros.Terry Kirkwood J.W. and Robert McNeill S.W.

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OFFICE BEARERS FOR 2018-19

Right Worshipful Master.....................................................Bro. Brian Ritchie

Immediate Past Master......................................Bro. John R. Thorburn P.M.

Depute Master..........................................................................Bro. Tom Edgar

Substitute Master....................................Bro. Allan E. Williams P.M. D.S.M.

Senior Warden..................................................................Bro. Robert McNeill Junior Warden................................................................Bro. Terry Kirkwood

Secretary.............................................Bro. Andrew M. Raeburn P.M. D.S.M.

Treasurer................................................Bro. Douglas W.M. Hoy P.M. D.S.M. Almoner....................................................................................................Vacant

Chaplain....................................................................Bro. Gilbert Meikle P.M.

Senior Deacon......................................................................Bro. Harry Bryson Junior Deacon.....................................................................Bro. Derek Mather

Master of Ceremonies............................................................Bro. David Innes

Ast. Secretary...........................................................................................Vacant

Ast. Treasurer...........................................................................................Vacant

2nd Master of Ceremonies..........................................Bro. James Rutherford

Jeweller.................................................................................Bro. Kenneth Ross

Bible Bearer.......................................................................Bro. Brian Marwick

Architect......................................................................................Bro. John Tod Sword Bearer.....................................................Bro. Richard Hadden (BEM)

Director of Music......................................................Bro. Robert Ross D.S.M.

Organist..........................................................................Bro. Robert Law P.M.

Marshall..................................................................................Bro. Stewart Lee

Standard Bearer.......................................................................Bro. Kris Edgar

Inner Guard...................................................................Bro. Stuart McDonald President of Stewards...........................................Bro. George Fraser D.S.M.

Tyler....................................................................................Bro. Robert Ritchie

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