On which day and date, a regular Meeting was held within the Masonic Hall 14 Maddiston Road Brighton’s at 1930hrs.

Present were the Right Worshipful Master Bro Alex Muir, office bearers and Brethren as per the attendance register 45 brethren signed the tyle 33 brethren from lodge Polmont 12 visitors and apologies were received from 20 and there was a total of 9 visiting lodges in attendance.

The RWM welcomed all into the lodge and to the brethren of lodge Polmont he offered his thanks for their continued support a warm welcome was extended to the visiting brethren from the sister lodges both within and out with the Province of Stirlingshire

Visitations

Our WJW Bro Alan Banks passed on a report which wasn’t read out in open lodge but requested that he would like it recorded in the minutes of the lodge Bro Banks on the 2^nd Sept visited lodge Ancient Stirling No 30 where he witnessed a 3rd degree. On 3^rd Sept a visit was paid to Kirkliston Maitland 482 where he witnesses a 2nd degree. Lodge Slamannan 484 on the 18^th Sept accompanied with the RWM and DM they witnessed a 1st degree on the 19^th Sept a visit to the Douglas lodge 409 where he witnessed a 3rd degree.

An application was received from one gentleman

Obituaries

It was the RWM’s sad duty to inform the brethren of the sudden passing of Bro Iain McPhait. Brother Ian E R McPhait PM passed away suddenly at home on Saturday the 26^th of Oct. Ian was Master of lodge Camelon 1456 from 2001 – 2003 and was made an honorary member of lodge Polmont on the 25^th of Oct 2006.

The RWM reflected on Iain’s character saying that Iain was cheery always smiling, joking and an ambassador to freemasonry and ever helpful towards his fellow man the RWM’s thoughts then turned to Iain’s family, the RWM then asked the brethren to be upstanding and to observe a minute’s silence for departed Merrit.

The RWM then adjourned the lodge in order to present Brother Kevin Thomson PM lodge Couper ‘o’ Fife No 19 PM of lodge Dunnern Burntisland No 400 and IPM of lodge Hope Kurrachee Fife lodge of research who was present to give a lecture on a 1st degree walk through and the tracing board and Brother Robert McAuley IPM of lodge Craiginnan Dollar 850 who was present to give a presentation and introduction to prostate cancer.

The lecturers delivered an exceptional and very informative presentations which on the conclusion of each presentation the floor was open for any questions. The RWM thanked the brethren that took the time to share their personal experience stating himself on the importance of getting yourself checked out.

The lecture and presentation having come to an end the RWM resumed the lodge in the 1st degree the RWM then instructed the deacons to uplift the collection which realised the sum of £170.17 to which the RWM thanked the assembled brethren, the raffle tickets at the harmony in the lounge raised the sum of £84 which added to the collection raising it to £254.17 it was proposed by IPM Bro Alan Curr to round up the combined collection to £300 to which the RWM seconded the proposal and the proceeds to go to prostate Scotland the RWM then thanked the brethren once again for their generosity.

PM Brother Norman Bridgeman replied on behalf of the visiting brethren for the warmth and cordiality on entering the lodge something that has always come to be expected at lodge Polmont and for the excellent lecture by Brother Kevin Thomson PM on his interpretation of a 1st degree walk through and a fantastic explanation of the 1st degree tracing board also thanking brother Robert MacAuley IPM on a very extensive and highly topical subject on prostate cancer finishing off by bringing warm and fraternal greetings from all the visiting sister lodges but more in particular his own mother lodge the lodge of Alloa No 69.

Intimations

The RWM gave the following intimations that the next regular meeting is on Wednesday the 23^rd of October which will be the nominations and elections of office bearers for 2024-2025 and a 2nd degree. The next general committee meeting would be on Monday the 14^th of October commencing at 7pm the RWM then invited those who could to stay behind to do so for some lodge hospitality and to the brethren that could not that they have a safe journey home. There being no further business the RWM closed the lodge in due and ancient form.