The Cross Keys November 2019
Cross Keys November 2019
The Monthly Newsletter of Lodge Houstoun St. Johnstone No.242
Number 222
From the Editor The usual November edition with a military flavour in support of all our serving and veteran members of the Armed Forces, and those working alongside UK Forces. However, the opening article is bound to get brethren scratching their heads or perhaps not and the answers are very clear. Although not of a military nature, these are current concerns that are possibilities. Congratulations to Bro. Stuart Black PM and his team who helped at the Sportman’s Dinner last month which raised a magnificent sum of £1520. LEST WE FORGET! Grant Cover—statue of St. Andrew in Lodge Dalkeith Kilwinning No.10 (see P.12 for further details).
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
In this issue: 3 4 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 15 18 19 20 21 22
Serious Questions 23rd Reg & Scots Greys The Royal Scots Dragoons & the Craft Cameronian Lodge Col. Menzies Wayne Lodge No.25 St. Andrew Statue Cornwallis Lodge Lt. Col. Paddy Mayne Household Division Lodge Spiritual Alchemy Congratulations Philippines National Day Grand Lodge News
November Meetings Friday 15th INSTALLATION At 7pm Prompt
Thursday 28th EA Degree By OBs 7.30pm start
All Scottish Constitution.
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Serious Questions Question 1: what happens to a brother who changes to a woman? As a corollary to that, what happens if a man who was a woman seeks membership?
I know many brethren have answered this in the past with a resounding ‘NO’, but times have moved on. Again, this could be another model member and would it be fair? Alternatively, the purists can state the first or secPossibly the latter is easier to answer—as a ond question of the EC—do you believe in man, he should be entitled to join, I think. God? As our foundation is based on a belief That’s assuming the various operations in the Supreme Being then it would make have taken place and he is recognised legal- sense for that brother to resign his memberly as a man. What about a person midway ship. Why be part of something in which you through changes? don’t believe in the foundation stones? Every degree is opened with an acknowledgement Probably more difficult and I would think of God and the MMD has an even more serithat best to wait until the transition is com- ous recognition towards the E. It seems inplete. Returning to the compatible to be an original question, It seems incompatible to be an atheist and a freemason. should a brother be atheist and a freemason. refused entry? He may I have heard some be a PM of many years with exemplary rec- strange comments regarding gay men ord and a credit to his/her lodge. What hap- (apologies if this is incorrect terminology), pens then? Would brethren be comfortable but I believe this is completely irrelevant. with another sitting with a dress and an Here we have a gentleman (or a brother) apron? who believes in a Supreme Being and if he satisfies the committee then there is no issue Probably not, but would it be permissible to at all. Smaller text as this shouldn't ever be allow ‘her’ to sit in open lodge, but dressed discussed as a sensible topic in any lodge. more in line with traditional dress— trousers, jacket and maybe an open top I would be very interested to hear what shirt? It might be better to wait until it hap- brethren think about this? pens before making any guidelines and then it might be prudent to take each case on their merit.
Question 2: should a brother who has lost his faith in God be allowed to stay a freemason?
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An easy answer to both, is ask Grand Lodge!!! Sorry Ramsay…….
23rd Regiment of Foot & Scots’ Greys The following has been copied from Bro. Robert Strathern Lindsay’s A History of the Mason Lodge of Holyrood House (St. Luke’s) No.44.
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23rd Regiment of Foot & Scots’ Greys (ctd)
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23rd Regiment of Foot & Scots’ Greys (ctd)
After the Napoleonic Wars, many regiments were disbanded as the threat had gone and as a result, the lodges attached to them in many cases went into darkness. The 23rd had 3 lodges attached to the regiment with the last one disappearing in 1821 although a later battalion had a lodge working from 1884 to 1892.
Bro. Sir John A. MacDonald A plaque on the Ramshorn Kirk in Glasgow commemorates the birth of Sir John A MacDonald in 1820 within the Ramshorn Parish of Glasgow. His childhood home was above what was later the Mitre Bar, in Brunswick Street. He migrated to Canada to become influential in its transition to an autonomous Country , becoming its fist Prime Minister in 1867 -73 and latterly 1878-91.
He was initiated in Ancient St. John's Lodge No. 3 at Kingston, Upper Canada in 1844and became a Royal Arch Mason and Knight Templar and quite rightly is described as one of the most influential men in the history of Canada.
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The Royal Scots The history of the Lodge does not start in 1925, it started back in 1808. Originally the 4th Battalion of The Royal Scots raised in 1804 to fight Napoleon formed the first Lodge Royal Thistle in 1808, No. 289 on the Roll of Grand Lodge of Scotland, meeting in Edinburgh Castle. It was passed to the 1st Battalion after the 4th battalion was disbanded in 1816. From it`s first days, Royal Thistle worked in very close harmony with Holy St. John Lodge No. 11 of the Irish Constitution, which was the first military lodge to hold an ambulatory (or travelling) warrant. It is interesting to note that this warrant was issued to the 1st Battalion in 1732, four years before the formation of the Grand Lodge of Scotland. In 1838 the Lodge was renumbered 222. Lieutenant G. Galbraith and Lieutenant Deucher, both exceptionally keen masons were instrumental in forming this Lodge. Lieutenant G. Galbraith was the Lodges first R.W.M. In 1845-47 a regulation was issued, forbidding secret societies and Masonic Lodges in the army. Thus it would seem the Royal Thistle Lodge died. There are no records of any new members being admitted after 1845 and the warrant was struck off the Grand Lodge of Scotland roll and its name added to the list of extinct Scottish Lodges in 1852 as a result of being five years in arrears. The Lodge was perpetuated (revived) in 1925 in Glencorse Barracks (then home of The Royal Scots 4th Battalion) by the formation of the present Royal Thistle Lodge 1338. The first R.W.M. was Major N.H.S. Fergus D.S.O. O.B.E. It was suggested early in 1925 that a lodge should be formed for the benefit of serving and ex-soldiers of The Royal Scots and eventually local civilians of the surrounding area. So a petition for warrant was submitted to the Grand Lodge of Scotland on 7th May 1925. Charter 1338 was granted and thus Lodge Royal Thistle proudly raised its head.
Major Nigel Harry Skinner Fargus PM D.S.O OBE (Royal Scots)
First master since the revival in 1925
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Dragoons & The Craft The 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons was a cavalry regiment in the British Army, first raised in 1689 as Sir Albert Cunningham's Regiment of Dragoons. One of the regiment's most notable battles was the Battle of the Boyne in July 1690. It became the 6th (Inniskilling) Regiment of Dragoons in 1751. At Minden in 1759, when a massive cavalry charge was needed to complete the defeat of the French, the cavalry commander, Bro. Lord George Sackville, (Grand Master of Ireland) remained inactive in spite of orders. He was court martialled and was dismissed. The war in the Low Countries against Revolutionary France, 1793 ‚ was a catalogue of disaster and mismanagement. It spawned the rhyme ‘The Grand old Duke of York.’ The regiment also fought with distinction in the Charge of the Union Brigade at the Battle of Waterloo and again as part of the successful Charge of the Heavy Brigade against superior numbers at the Battle of Balaclava during the Crimean War. One famous member of the regiment was Captain Oates fame who gave his life in the Bro. Scott’s ill fated trip to the South Pole in the race against Bro. Amundsen who arrived first.
The First World War sounded the death knell for mounted cavalry as it became apparent that technology had moved forward with greater destructive power and made horsed cavalry redundant on the modern battlefield. The British Army reorganised and reduced its cavalry corps by disbanding or amalgamating many of its famous cavalry regiments. The InCross Keys November 2019
niskillings was one of those affected. It saw service for two centuries, including the First World War, before being amalgamated with 5th (Princess Charlotte of Wales's) Dragoon Guards to form 5th/6th Dragoons in 1922. Today after further amalgamations in 1992, it is now the Royal Dragoon Guards. Why mention this regiment at all? Under the Grand Lodge of All England at York, a Royal Arch Chapter called Inniskilling Regiment of Dragoons Royal Arch Chapter was formed in 1770. Unlike the regular Grand Lodges of the Ancients and Moderns that existed in England, York did not number its lodges or chapters. However, in 1797 the regiment applied for a lodge charter and it became Lodge No.311 meeting in Essex. Due to renumbering, it also held numbers 396 in 1814 and 274 in 1832 meeting also in Bristol, York, Edinburgh and Dublin before being erased in 1837.
Cameronian Lodge In 1838, the Cameronian Lodge (no numbering under Irish lodges), an Irish Lodge attached to the 26th Foot Regiment was working on close terms of friendship with Lodge Humility with Fortitude no. 229 E.C. at Fort William, Calcutta. The Lodge moved away along with the Regiment. As the 26th Foot Regiment was known as the Cameronians, the Cameronian Lodge may be taken to mean the Lodge warranted 309 I.C. on 7th December 1748. The 26th Foot Regiment served in India between 1828-1840. The 26th Foot Regiment had arrived in Madras in May 1828. It spent two years in peace in Madras; and was ordered to move to Calcutta in 1830; and subsequently to Karnal (then Kernaul). At Chinsurah, near Calcutta, the Regiment lost thirteen men to cholera, and arrived in Meerut after marching 900 miles over 80 days. From Meerut, they moved to Ghazipur, and returned to Calcutta on 17th January 1838. It departed for China in 1840. In 1848, while on Home Duty in Ireland, they struck a medal to celebrate the Centenary of their Warrant. In 1823, Lodge 309 applied to Grand Lodge to change its Warrant for a higher number, and was issued No 26, tying in with its honourable position on the roll of Foot Regiments within the British Army. By this time, the Lodge had decided to adopt the name Minden, and became the Minden Lodge No. 26 I.C. The Brethren of Minden determined that their medal should be given to all twenty members of the Lodge, and after much conCross Keys November 2019
sideration they decided to adopt a wooden wheel as their background with the name of one of their members on all sixteen of the staves. The centrepiece of the design was an “All Seeing Eye” with a circular hub around and on this hub was the legend “C. South. PM and WM Elect”. From this hub emanated sixteen separate staves and on each stave was the name of a Lodge member: “M. Kane, D. Bilham, P. Gerachtys, T. McMullan, T. Peden, J. Clarke, J. Matherson, J.D.G. Kilhourn, J Balme, H. Gibson, T.J. Waring, I.G.T. Higgins, W. Harris, J. Shaddock, R. Perkins and J. McGee.” On the outer band of the wheel were the three final Lodge Officers: “F. Oliver WM” at the top, “W. Robertson JW” on the right and “J. Clarke SW” on the left. This medal can claim to be the first Centenary Medal in the Irish Constitution. It was issued just one year ahead of The Grand Master’s Lodge, which was not issued until 1849. Over the preceding one hundred years the Minden Lodge, had survived many tribulations in postings across the British Empire of the day. All of its Lodge records up until the year 1802 have been lost as a result of these travails. The Lodge continued to work right up to the start of the First World War in 1914. However on the bloody fields of France the regiment was decimated losing most of its Officers, NCO’s and men. The Lodge never recovered and the Warrant was returned to Grand Lodge in 1922. Sadly too, the regiment only lasted another 45 years.
Colonel Menzies Bro. Col. Menzies was born near Aberfeldy, near to castle Menzies. He worked in Edinburgh for a brewing company and on becoming head of the Glasgow branch moved to Bothwell in 1865. While in Edinburgh, the volunteer movement was strong and he succeeded in raising the 2nd Highland Company which became the Queen’s Edinburgh Rifle Brigade. While serving in this unit he was sergeant of musketry. On his move to Glasgow, he joined the 4th Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers. In 1868, the War Office formed the 105th Lanarkshire Volunteers (later Glasgow Highlanders) and was given the commission of Lieutenant. He was quickly promoted to Adjutant (Captain) and through good service was gazetted Major. Four years later in 1888 he became Lt-Colonel and honorary Colonel as 2 i/c of the battalion. His service was 40 years in total, quite a feat. Bro. Menzies was a Deacon in the Incorporation of Maltmen and also a Past Master of Lodge St. John No.3 bis and is shown in his regalia. Like many prominent freemasons at the time, he was active in various areas ranging from Chairman of the Bothwell Ratepayers’ Association as well as numerous local initiatives for the improvement of Bothwell. He was also a past president of the Bothwell Burns Club and Bothwell Bowling Club. Bro. Menzies was 67 and died on 22nd August, 1907 after a short illness.
Serving with Pride Petty Officer 2nd, Bro. Jeff Hilton, US Navy SeaBees, PMC, Chev. Chico Chapter, Chico Ca. (Order of De Molay—the boys’ section of freemasonry). He is stationed at Bagrham AFB, Afghanistan and was recently honoured with an award from the US Navy for his community service overseas and at home. He is currently an advisor for Chico Chapter, and Master Mason in Chico-Leland Stanford Lodge No.111. Good to see the Craft is still important to him even while serving abroad.
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Wayne Lodge No.25, Indiana It was in 1823, the year of the organization of Allen County, less than a score of years since the coming of General Anthony Wayne and the establishment of his fort and traders station, but seven years after the organization of the Commonwealth of Indiana, one year after the platting of the village of Fort Wayne and two years before its organization, and six before its organization as a town, that a little band of the faithful soldiers and veterans of the revolution and Indiana wars, met and perfected Fort Wayne’s first secret organisation, Wayne Lodge No. 25 which continues in existence to this day.
The first meeting was held curiously enough, within the palisades of the old fort, in the rooms of General John Tipton, renowned for his connection with early Hoosier history and a hero of the battle of Tippecanoe and other Indiana warfare. General Tipton later became a United States senator and a Grand Master of Indiana masons. On this ground was held the first regularly constituted Masonic Lodge north of Indianapolis. Last summer the brethren had a special outdoor meeting at the Fort in remembrance of its founders.
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Parachute Regiment Chapter No.9315(EC) On Saturday 22nd June 2019, at Freemasons’ Hall, the very first Convocation of the Parachute Regiment Chapter No.9315 was held. Two years earlier, St James’s Union Chapter No. 180 was in a position where the members had agreed to hand in their Warrant. A group of Parachute Regiment Lodge No. 9315 members, and supported by members of other Chapters, approached the Scribe E of St James’s Union Chapter, E Comp. James Dow, PDGSoj (Natal) and started a dialog with the aim of saving the Chapter. After a series of steering committee meetings, the Chapter made a successful application to Supreme Grand Chapter for No.180 to be attached to the Parachute Regiment Lodge, and therefore take its name and number. Utrinque Paratus.
St. Andrew, Dalkeith Lodge No.10 This very fine, larger than life size, wooden statue of St Andrew, signed and dated by Sir John Steele 1827, as referred to in the Royal Scottish Academy as a colossal statue in wood carved for the North British Fire R Life Insurance Corporate, stands in a niche specially prepared for it, in the Temple of Lodge Dalkeith Kilwinning No.10. The statue was carved by Sir John Steele who was born in Aberdeen on 18th September 1804 and his family moved to Edinburgh about a year after his birth At the age of 14 years Steele was apprenticed to a wood carver. On completion of his apprenticeship Steele decided to become a sculptor and to this end he moved to Rome where he lived and studied for several years. He also became Sculptor to HM Queen Victoria, 1838-91. An article in the Edinburgh Literary Journal of 29th July 1829 states a large statue of St Andrew in wood and painted to resemble stone has recently been erected on the portice of the North British Fire and Life Insurance Company building in Princes Street at the foot of Hanover Street and which was burned down. The statue was then thought to have perished in the fire. And The Minutes of The Lodge, 2nd October 1848, R.W. Master then stated to the meeting that he had a statue of St Andrew the Tatuler Saint of Scotland, sculptured by Mr Steele, Edinburgh and at present lying in his studio and that he intended to give the statue in a present to the Lodge if they thought it would be convenient to the Lodge Room and that he would send the Poor Blind Candidate to the door of the Lodge free of all expense the arrangement of getting the statue fitted up in the room etc. to be left to the Committee. The Master rose and stated that he had called the Lodge together for the purpose of presenting them with the statue of St Andrew the Tatuler Saint of Scotland which was now placed upon its pedestal in the Lodge Room and which he now presented to the Lodge as a token of his esteem and regard and after a neat address sat down amidst plaudits of the Brethren and where the statue stands to this day. In the past 20 years or thereabouts the National Museum of Scotland and The Royal Scottish Academy have showed great interest in the statue and have concurred that the Blind Candidate of Lodge Dalkeith Kilwinning No. 10 is indeed the statue that was thought to have perished in the fire in the middle of the 1800s. Cross Keys November 2019
Victoria Cross Ceremony The first Masonic recipient of the VC was Bro Robert Loyd-Lindsay in 1854 for gallantry during the Crimean War. 14% of all VC winners have been freemasons which actually amoubts to over 200 brethren. The photo shows HRH the Dule of Kent, Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England with Bro. Johnson Beharry VC who was awarded the Victoria Cross for saving the lives of his unit – Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment – while serving in Iraq in 2004. Bro. Johnson is a member of Queensman Lodge No. 2694 in London. Both were present at the unveiling ceremony last June at Freemasons’ Hall in London—see VC INFO for the full article and photos.
Bro. Sir Nicholas Winton A UGLE Freemason, under the Provincial Grand Lodge of Berkshire, Sir Nicholas Winton was a truly extraordinary man, who during WWII saved 669 children, and never spoke of his work for over 50 years. Winton found homes for the children and arranged for their safe passage to Britain. The world found out about his work over 50 years later, in 1988. The British press dubbed him the "British Schindler". The wider world found out about his work in February 1988 during an episode of the BBC television programme That's Life! when he was invited as a member of the audience. At one point, Winton's scrapbook was shown and his achievements were explained. The host of the programme, Esther Rantzen, asked whether anybody in the audience owed their lives to Winton, and if so, to stand – more than two dozen people surrounding Winton rose and applauded. The clip below shows that scene. That’s Life
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Cornwallis Lodge It was during the efforts to suppress the Stuart rebellion that Cornwallis became founder in December 1748, of a military Lodge in his regiment, the 20th. Foot, No. 63, on the registry of the Grand Lodge of Ireland. The warrant was issued to Lord George Sackville, Lieut. Col. the Hon. Edward Cornwallis and Captain Milburne. When in 1759 this famous regiment gained new honours at the battle of Minden, that name was immediately adopted as the name of the lodge. The lodge ceased working about 1770 but was revived in 1812 and worked until 1819 when it became dormant until 1824. A third slumber, lasting for eight years was terminated at Bermuda in 1844, but the lodge worked for only six years. Unfortunately the warrant and all records and jewels of the Lodge were lost in the Indian Mutiny. Cornwallis could not have had much part in lodge affairs, for as already stated he was seconded from active service within a few months and was succeeded by Major James Wolfe, who tradition tells us had previously been made a Mason in the Lodge of the 20th. Foot. Cornwallis’ second lodge was founded in Halifax early in 1750 or possibly earlier, under a “deputation” or dispensation from Major Erasmus James Philipps of the 40th. Regiment at Annapolis Royal, Provincial Grand Master for Nova Scotia under Henry Price of Boston. Of this lodge, known as the First Lodge, Cornwallis was the first Master. It has continued without a break in its history and is now known as St. Andrew’s Lodge No. 1 “the oldest Lodge in the British Empire Overseas,” with a most notable history. It was during his term of office as governor at Gibraltar that he became for the third time, in 1768, a founder of a third lodge No. 426 on the English registry in the 24th. Regiment of Foot. In Masonic circles his name was chosen for a lodge founded in Halifax in 1786, No. 15, to meet in Halifax and included among its members some of the most distinguished and honoured citizens of its day; but it surrendered its warrant in 1810. Cornwallis Lodge No. 95, Dartmouth, was founded in 1926, and carries on the name today.
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Lt Col Paddy Mayne
Robert Blair "Paddy" Mayne was born on 11th January 1915, five months after the start of World War I at Newtownards, County Down. Mayne was from a Presbyterian family who had come originally from Scotland and settled in Northern Ireland early in the 18lh century. John Echlin Mayne, was born in 1781 on the Strangford Peninsula, of a Scottish Presbyterian family, who it is said was established there for a hundred years. It is not known which part of Scotland they originally came from. Robert Blair Mayne was one of seven children, with two older brothers, Thomas and William, a younger brother. Douglas, and three sisters, Molly, Barbara and Frances. His great grandfather, William Mayne, established the present family home, known as Mount Pleasant, at Newtownards and began a wine and grocery business there, which was still flourishing when Blair was a boy. The business had passed to his Grandfather, Thomas and on to his father, William. His father was a successful businessman, owning property and running a retail business in Newtownards who continued to live at Mount Pleasant, a property set in around 41 acres of grounds overlooking the town. The property is no longer in the ownership of the Mayne family have been developed in recent years as a housing development. On leaving school he studied law at Queen's University of Belfast, studying to become a solicitor. While at university he took up boxing, becoming Irish Universities Heavyweight Champion in August 1936. He followed this by reaching the final of the British Universities Heavyweight Championship, but was beaten on points. In March 1939, prior to the outbreak of World War II, Mayne had joined the Territorial Army in Newtownards. After training with the Queen's University Officer Training Corps, he received a commission in the 5th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, Royal Artillery. In April 1940 he transferred to the Royal Ulster Rifles. Following Churchill's call to form a "butcher and bolt" raiding force following Dunkirk, Mayne volunteered for the newly formed 11 (Scottish) Commando. He first saw action in June 1941 as a lieutenant with 11 Commando, successfully leading his men during the Litani River operation in Lebanon against the Vichy French Forces. It was after this particularly brutal and confused action, in which 130 officers and men, Cross Keys November 2019
Lt Col Paddy Mayne (ctd) around a third of the strike force, were wounded or killed, that Mayne reacted violently against what he believed was the ineptitude of his Commanding Officer, whom he considered inexperienced, arrogant and insincere. Some sources state that Mayne struck him, and was awaiting court-martial and almost certain dismissal. However, his leadership on the raid had attracted the attention of Captain David Stirling who recruited him as one of the founder members of the Special Air Service (SAS). From November 1941 through to the end of 1942, Mayne participated in many night raids deep behind enemy lines in the deserts of Egypt and Libya, where the SAS wrought havoc by destroying hundreds of German and Italian aircraft on the ground. Following Stirling's capture in January 1943, 1st SAS Regiment was reorganised into two separate parts, the Special Raiding Squadron and the Special Boat Section (the forerunner of the Special Boat Service). As a major, Mayne was appointed to command the Special Raiding Squadron and he led the unit with distinction in Italy until the end of 1943. In January 1944 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and appointed commanding officer of 1st SAS Regiment. He subsequently led the SAS with great distinction through the final campaigns of the war in France, Holland, Belgium, Germany and Norway, often campaigning alongside local resistance fighters including the French Maquis. During the course of the war he became one of the British Army's most highly decorated soldiers and received the Distinguished Service Order with three bars, one of only seven British servicemen to receive that award four times during World War II. Mayne pioneered the use of military Jeeps to conduct surprise hit-and-run raids, particularly on enemy airfields. By the end of the war it was claimed that he had personally destroyed 130 aircraft. It has often been questioned why Mayne was not awarded a Victoria Cross, and even King George VI was to express surprise at the omission. The answer almost certainly lies in Mayne's abrasive attitude to some of his superiors, combined with the Army hierarchy's askance view of the unconventional attitudes and tactics of the special forces.
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Lt Col Paddy Mayne (ctd) In 1945 Mayne was recommended for a VC after single-handedly rescuing a squadron of his troops, trapped by heavy gunfire near the town of Oldenberg in north-west Germany. After the squadron became pinned down and sustained casualties, Mayne rescued the wounded, lifting them one by one into his Jeep before destroying the enemy gunners in a nearby farmhouse. However, although the VC recommendation was signed by Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, commander of the Allied 21st Army Group, Mayne instead received a fourth DSO. He came from a ‘masonic’ family—his father was a member of Century Lodge No.284 in Bangor. Both Paddy and his brother joined Eklektikos Lodge No.542 in Newtonards and was master in 1954 (PM jewel to the right) while his brother took the chair 4 years later. On 13th December, 1955, aged 40 and IPM, after a lodge dinner he had been drinking and playing poker, he drove home in his Riley sports car at 4am. The car collided with a parked vehicle just a short distance from his home killing him. The line of mourners at his military funeral was over a mile long. This statue of Brother Lieutenant Colonel Robert Blair 'Paddy' Mayne, DSO, is to be found at Conway Square, outside Newtownards town hall—a true hero. 242 also had a link with the SAS. In 2011, the lodge donated £500 towards the Sir David Stirling memorial statue in Doune through the connection with the then secretary. A letter of thanks from the SAS Regimental Association is framed within the lodge’s foyer.
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Household Division Lodge No.9545 In 1993 W.Bro Derek Stratford was talking with a number of Life Guards about the problems he faced attending Comrades Lodge no; 2740 in London. He expressed how nice it would be to have a Household Cavalry Lodge in the Windsor area. Somebody replied that W.Bro Peter Hardwick had remarked that he would like to raise a Brigade of Guards Lodge in Windsor for the same reason. The seed was sewn; without further ado W.Bro Stratford and W.Bro Hardwick along with W.Bro Reg Clarke met to discuss forming a Lodge to promote Masonry among ex-members and serving members of The Household Division. Those Worshipful Brethren that had sought to bring the Lodge to it’s present standing received tremendous help and support from the Provincial Grand Master of Buckinghamshire R.W.Bro. Lt.Col. The Rt. Hon. Lord Burnham who was due to be the first Master of the Household Division Lodge. The idea grew, commitments were agreed and on the 24th April 1993 the first Founders’ Meeting was held at the Grenadier Club in Windsor. It was decided during this time that it would be the intention of the Founders to bring together Brethren of all ranks who have served, or are serving with any of the seven regiments of the Household Division, together with members of other regiments who have served for not less than twelve months with a unit of the Household Division and that members be permitted to wear the Brigade tie at meetings in place of the usual black tie. This honour being granted dispentation from Grand Lodge following a request from Lord Burnham. As the Lodge moved closer to consecration R.W.Bro. Lt.Col. The Rt. Hon. Lord Burnham tragically died and therefore former Grenadier Guards Drummer W.Bro. Reg Clarke was to be named as the first Master of The Household Division Lodge.
On 27th May 1994 the Lodge was consecrated into Freemasonry under the Provincial Grand Lodge of Buckinghamshire. The Lodge was sponsored by Comrades Lodge no; 2740 who later presented the Master’s Collar and the leather Warrant holder was presented by R.W.Bro. TheRt.Hon. The Viscount Gough of Household Brigade Lodge No. 2614. The 93 year old Worshipful Master of Sure and Steadfast Lodge of The Kings Messenger 9100 initiated his fellow Chelsea Pensioner and Royal Artillery veteran Bro. Ken who completed a long held ambition and took his first step in Freemasonry aged 87! Old soldiers never die!!!!
The next meeting is Friday 29th November 2019 at 1700hrs in the Slough Masonic Centre, Ragstone Road, Slough, SL12PX.
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Spiritual Freemasonry Spiritual Alchemy sounds an obscure concept. However, when you think about the times that the first three Grand Masters of the Revival, Anthony Sayer, George Payne and John Desaguliers lived in, then it makes sense. The “Golden Age of Alchemy” had come to an end in England around 1680, but there were still a few diehards who believed in theory of alchemy. They saw Operative Freemasonry as the ideal framework to keep alive the principles of alchemy, while promoting an important lesson. To protect this lesson from the profane, the three Grand Masters rewrote the two existing degrees of Operative Freemasonry, and added a third, the Third Degree, and more importantly they encrypted the degrees using steganography. So that the secret teachings would not be lost forever, they also included a key in the rituals that unlocks these secrets. The book “Freemasonry: Spiritual Alchemy” analyses the hidden alchemy, and explains what it means for modern Freemasons. I first found the key to the secret cipher when I was first made a Master Mason, but it took me a further thirty years to decipher the rituals. Then I had to research the social history of the time, to discover why the Grand Masters felt it was necessary to spend nearly eight years to rewrite the three degrees. What they accomplished was unique and drew the interest of the intelligentsia and the nobility to join the first speculative Lodges, not just that, but even royalty thought it important enough that they would support the three Grand Masters by becoming the Grand Master. A4 size, 262 pages Christopher Earnshaw Ph.D. 33° Past Grand Historian, Grand Lodge of Japan. Past Master of the Research Lodge, Grand Lodge of Japan. Scottish Rite 33° IGH, Past-Chairman of Education Committee. Recipient of the Order of Merit, Grand Lodge of Japan, for educational activities. Past Master of Sinim Lodge, Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. PhD in neuroscience and CEO of a medical device manufacturer, living in Tokyo, Japan. Amateur cellist. Other Books by C. Earnshaw: Freemasonry: Quest for Immortality (pub. December 2019) Freemasonry: Initiation by Light (pub. April 2020) The Tarot of the Revelation Sho: Japanese Calligraphy
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Congratulations
Congratulations to Bro. Danny Birrell PM on becoming the 1st Principal of Sir William Wallace Royal Arch Chapter No.109. This is the first time for many year a PM of 242 has gone to the chair of the RAC—before it was a common occurrence.
Congratulations also to Fr. Ian Robertson (centre) after his installation as Supreme Magus of the Rosicrucian Society of Scotland. Assisting in the ceremonial was William Koon SM SRICF (right of Ian in photo), Tony Llewellen SM SRIA (on the left of Ian) and Joaquim Coelho SRIL. Fraters from the US to Holland to Australia made it a very special day.
And to Bro. Graeme McGinley and Graeme’s Butchers on winning Best Business in Paisley. Have a look: https://www.facebook.com/ graemesbutchers/ Bro. Graeme is on the left and his son, Scott, on the right. The main shop is in Well Street, but two others have now been opened.
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National Day National Day in the Philippines was attended by various masonic orders from the Grand Lodge of the Philippines, Lodge Perla del Oriente No.1034 (SC) to Shriners, RO and youth organisations. It is tremendous to see the Craft and its other orders support such an important event in the history of the Philippines. After the ceremony, there was another wreath laying to the memorials to the National Masonic Heroes outside the Grand Lodge building. It’s great to see a Scottish brother and CK reader, Bro. Cameron Sloan as the rep for the Royal Order.
Top left—at Grand Lodge memorials Top right—1 star General, Shriner and member of GL then Bro. Cameron Bottom right—same police officer with Admiral of the Navy (& a freemason) Bottom left—group photo with various orders
Congratulations to Bro. Nicky Stetz on being installed as Master of the Anchor Lodge of Research No.1814 in Greenock. A packed lodge room witnessed the IPM Bro. Tommy Trotter install his successor, the usual custom in 1814 in a very competent manner.
Cross Keys November 2019
Cross Keys November 2019
Visitations of the Grand Master Mason 2nd 4th 9th 13th 16th 23rd 25th 27th 27th 28th 29th 30th
Lodge Tollcross 1194 – Centenary – Glasgow Lodge St Duthus No 82 – Installation Lodge St John No 280 – 200th Anniversary Reigning Master’s Degree – East Kilbride Lodge Liberton 1201 – Centenary Moises Gomez Lecture – Edinburgh (see previous page) Moises Gomez Lecture – Glasgow Meeting with District Grand Masters Overseas Dinner Grand Lodge Installation and Festival of St Andrew Meeting with Jordanian Brethren PGL of Glasgow Installation PGL Renfrewshire East Installations & Events
13 November—Ian Bell Memorial EA Degree at Lodge McLaren No.1688 at 7.30pm 23 November—Coffee morning Breast Cancer Awareness 10am Maxwelton Road, Paisley 8 December—Christmas parcels at Lodge Inchinnan meet at 9.00am, collection from 11.00am to 12.00pm 2020 13 January—Provincial Grand Lodge Committee - Moved to Lodge St John Busby No 458 at 7.00pm 25 January—Next Provincial Grand Lodge Tri Annual - Lodge Prince of Wales No 426 at 2.30pm
Cross Keys November 2019
In Memoriam 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. James R. McKay (Son of Bro. Jimmy McKay PM, Past Provost)
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/
Cross Keys November 2019