On which day and date, a regular Meeting was held within the Masonic Hall 14 Maddiston Road Brighton’s at 1930hrs. Present were the RWM Alex Muir, office bearers and Brethren as per the attendance Register. 12 brethren from the PGLoS and 5 from the GLoS. 30 visiting sister lodges were represented on the evening and apologies were received from 10 brethren.

Deputations

A large and distinguished deputation from our English and Welsh brethren who had Sojourned North to witness the past master’s degree were admitted.

Thereafter the past masters of the lodge headed on this occasion by PM Bro James Bennie

A large and distinguished deputation from the Provincial Grand Lodge of Stirlingshire were admitted headed in this occasion by the RWPGM Bro Gordon Sewell

A deputation from the Grand Lodge of Scotland were admitted headed on this occasion by S.G.M Bro John McKenzie.

RWM then tendered the gavel to PM James Bennie in order for him to carry out the degree of the evening. Taking to the chair of his mother lodge Bro James Bennie instructed the office bearers of lodge Polmont to vacate office in favour of the past master’s after a brief exchange the deacons were instructed to retire prepare and introduce Bro Alan Robertson in order to confer the third or high and sublime degree of a master mason.

Having carried out an excellent rendition of the past masters 3^rd degree and at the conclusion of the degree conferring master Bro James Bennie accompanied by our RWM Alex Muir, Provincial Grand Master Bro Gordon Sewell and SGM Bro John McKenzie made their way to the West to be the first to welcome our newest master mason into the lodge and after a few welcoming words from each of the brethren PM James Bennie introduced Bro Alan Roberston to the assembled brethren asking the brethren to ever to meet, greet and treat Bro Roberson a such but in the meantime to give him a very warm welcome into the lodge, the brethren putting their hands together welcomed Bro Robertson into the lodge the deacons were then instructed to find Bro Robertson a seat in the lodge.

PRESENTATION

The RWM then instructed the past masters to vacate office in favour of the office bearers of lodge Polmont then instructed the DOC to carry out his special duties to which the DOC presented PM James Bennie to the distinguished East for the RWM to present his 60-year diploma the RWM accompanied with the RWPGM and SGM made their way to the west to say a few words of appreciation for the long service and dedication to which Jim had devoted to his mother lodge. After the presentation had taken place the RWPGM bro Gordon Sewell then presented PM Jim Bennie with Honorary Provincial Grand rank by conferring him with the rank of Honorary Grand Director of Ceremonies in recognition of his service to lodge Polmont, Provincial Grand lodge of Stirlingshire and to Freemasonry in general Brother Jim was taken aback and after the RWM, RPGM and SGM returned to the East the floor belonged to PM Jim Bennie and to say Bro Jim was speechless was an underestimation. After a moment to compose himself and to take in what had just transpired Bro Jim found the words to give what he was emotionally feeling but did say it was an honour to receive his 60-year diploma but never did he expect to receive honorary Provincial Grand rank and he thanked the RWPGM, commissioned office bearers and the provincial Grand lodge office bearers for considering him for such a high rank among them with such words given Bro Jim returned to the East under a resounding and well-earned applause from the brethren.

RWM then invited the deputation from the GLoS and the PGLoS to retire this was readily accepted and before retiring SGM Bro John McKenzie requested permission for Bro Alan Robertson to retire with the deputation which was readily granted the RWM then invited the deputation to stay behind for some lodge hospitality the deputation retired to the sound of the pipes and drums with the rods being manned the RWM then addressed the past masters of the lodge inviting them to retire which PM Jim Bennie took great pleasure in assembling the afore mentioned brethren but before retiring the RWM invited all to stay behind for some lodge hospitality which was eagerly accepted the past masters then retired to the sound of the pipes and drums with the rods being manned.

Thanks

The RWM then thanked the brethren in the columns for their quiet attention during the ceremonial, he then went on to thank the past masters in their absence for an outstanding past master’s degree congratulating PM Jim Bennie on receiving his 60-year diploma and attaining the Honorary rank within the PGLoS and that the brethren once again shown their appreciation to the past masters for a job well done, he also thanked Bro John Galloway for his musical accompaniment which as always adds to the ceremonial. To Bro Peter Andrson and Bro Thomas Anderson for piping in the various deputations to the members of lodge Polmont he once more thanked them for their continued support. To the visitors he thanked them for their attendance and asked that they take warm and fraternal greetings from Lodge Polmont back to their mother lodges at their earliest convenience and asked the brethren of lodge Polmont to once more give the visitors a hearty vote of thanks.

The RWM was aware of how late in the evening it was getting and mindful that we had visiting brethren downstairs and with the power invested in him as RWM of the lodge and there being no further business of the evening the lodge was closed in due and ancient form with one knock of the gavel.

Below is Bro Jim Bennie pm with his degree team of past masters with SGM Bro John McKenzie and PGM Bro Gordon Sewell