A Grand Night Out

It’s over three decades ago in July, a sweltering night in the Temple of an old Lodge in the west of Scotland. Most of the other Lodges are in recess so the place is rammed with visitors, many resplendent in their regalia as well as a goodly number of local Brethren who are regular attenders. The latter have witnessed the First Degree being conferred here tonight many times but are still impressed by, and appreciate the high standards that the Office-Bearers attain in delivering the ritual. There’s the usual rustling of sweetie papers being shared round: sometimes one falls and rolls along the floorboards, prompting glares from other Brethren and visitors intent on ensuring they don’t miss anything.

The three Candidates have already been obligated and restored to light, trying hard to focus on the information being conveyed to them while at the same time not be distracted by the splendour of some of the Brethren on the benches, as they attempt to reconcile the scenario with all with the tales and wind-ups they’ve heard from Masons (and others) beforehand about what might happen to them tonight.

Suddenly a Brother on the back benches starts to cough and wheeze, his face becoming firstly red then purple. Clearly he is in some distress. One of the Lodge’s Past Masters (a local GP) gets up from his seat in the East, majestically descends to the level and after acknowledging the RWM, strides across the floor (at fidelity) toward the Brother who is unwell. He looks into his mouth, tells him to bend forward then hits him an almighty whack on the back so that the Brother hits his head on the back of the bench in front of him. A mint imperial shoots out of his mouth and lands on the chequered carpet (that an Officebearer swiftly retrieves and discreetly conceals). ‘Are you OK’ asks the PM. ‘Yes, and thank you’ mouths the Brother (now completely recovered but with a large red mark on his forehead). The PM then returns to the East, acknowledges the RWM and goes back to his seat.

All attention is then focussed on the three candidates who by now are in a state of total perplexity, not sure if what they’ve just witnessed is part of the ceremony or a major tragedy being averted! Hopefully their sponsors put them right after they’d retired!

My thanks to Bro. JFC for proving this reminisce.

The images are from an old Lodge Scoon and Perth No.3 certificate given to candidates before Grand Lodge certificates became standard practice. The crest above is the town of Perth crest.

2006 Visit to Ireland

One to finish—Bro Des McCulloch PM is the only 242 master to have sat in the chair of the Grand Lodge of Ireland on one of our trips with the brethren from Wallace Masonic No.146. The trip had been arranged by Bro. Gary Walsh PM 146 and some others. It started from an early morning breakfast in the lodge in Newry to a few beers back in Holywood and Bangor that night.

Different Orders

Lodges used to confer various degrees until the early 19th C when a stop was made by Grand Lodges. However, here is another set of miniature jewels suggesting it was possible to attend these Orders wearing the following members’ jewels from left to right:

Craft, Mark, Excellent Master, Royal Arch, Knight Templar and Rosicrucian.

Whilst freemasonry here in Scotland has been very much on the back burner for the whole of 2021, Brother Brian Kerr PM242 reports that in Ohio, Freemasonry has been running very much as usual given the impact Covid-19 has wreaked upon society at large.

Recently the Amelia Lodge No.590 (Brian's adopted lodge) on the roll of the Grand Lodge of Ohio held a car show as a means to accrue some much needed funds in order to facilitate the promise of a $1500 collage scholarship to a local high school student as part of their on going commitment to be an integral part of the local community.

With approximately 50 cars on show, the support of the brethren, their families and friends and the blessing of a beautiful sunny day to grace the ocassion, the Brethren of the lodge met that challenge head on and with the payment of all expenses duly incurred, a surplus in the region of $1700 was the reward for a days work well done by the Brethren of the Amelia lodge.

The Brethren of Ohio have a different outlook when it comes to raising funds in order to sustain the successful day to day running of their respective lodges, holding a car show is just one example of how they do it.

Thanks to Bro. Brian ‘OJ’ Kerr for supplying the details and photos—quite an impressive display.

In Memoriam

It is with deep sadness and much regret that we have to inform you of a loss sustained to the lodge in the passing to the Grand Lodge above of the following Brother:

Bro. Blair Alexander Thomas Barclay

Bro. Blair joined 242 on 22nd November 2018 as a Lewis. He was the new master’s first candidate— the master was Bro. George (his dad & our current master who was in his second term of office). His dad initiated, passed, raised and advanced him during his year as master. The photo on the left shows Bro. Stewart Coyle, Blair, George and his friend Josh who also joined that night. On the right with dad after his FCD in December.

Sadly Bro. Blair passed away in May, aged 20.

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