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. 80 brethren signed the tyle, 45 brethren from lodge Polmont, 35 visitors and apologies were received from 10 brethren a copy of which is recorded and held on file and there was a total of 12 visiting lodges in attendance.

The lodge was opened in the 1 st degree

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, the RWM then called on the brethren of lodge Polmont to afford the visitors a very warm welcome.

Correspondence

There was a letter from lodge Carron 139 inviting lodge Polmont to confer the fellow craft degree on Monday the 29^th of December 2025 this was put to the brethren and accepted by a show of hands the secretary would send an acceptance letter at the earliest.

Visitations

Our WJW Bro Alan Banks didn’t have the opportunity to give his report on his recent visits around the province but was keen to have these recorded in the minutes for future prosperity the visits are as follows.

Thursday the 9^th of January as part of a deputation of twelve brethren from lodge Polmont led on this occasion by our RWM they visited lodge Denny and Loanhead 176 to witness a 2nd degree and hopefully have the chance to take the travelling gavel back to lodge Polmont. Alas this was not the case

Tuesday the 14^th of January a visit to lodge St John Falkirk No 16 to witness a 1^st degree worked by St Patrick 1309 using the McBride ritual also in attendance were the RWM, S Alston, W Simpson, J McKinney, Honorary members John Galloway, Les Wilson, Ian McDonald, Andrew Goodwin and James Kerr.

Thursday the 16^th of January a visit to lodge Dolphin 911 who were carrying out a 1st degree. In attendance were the RWM, bro J McKinney, A Simpson PM, honorary members G Sewell RWPGM and A Montgomery PM and on each of these occasions he was charged to bring back warm and fraternal greetings to his mother lodge at his earliest opportunity.

Installation

The RWM instructed the D.O.C. Bro John Curry PM to install the remaining office bearers. Bro Ian Black and Bro Ian Penman were duly installed into their respective offices.

2nd Degree

The RWM invited the WSW Bro Ian Simpson to the East in order to confer the 2nd degree. IPM Bro Alan Curr took the WSW seat in the West. The RWM said a few words of encouragement to Bro Ian Simpson and presented the gavel in order to carry out the degree of the evening. Bro Peter Hamilton then received the 2nd degree in a most solemn precise and dignified manner as practiced by the RWM and office bearers of lodge Polmont and at the conclusion of the degree Bro Ian Simpson along with the RWM were the first to congratulate Bro Hamilton on becoming lodge Polmont’s newest fellowcraft. Bro Ian Simpson charged the brethren ever to meet greet and treat him as such but in the meantime give him a very warm welcome among us.

Bro Ian Simpson asked the RWM for permission to say a few words of thanks which was readily granted. He then went on to thank the RWM for the opportunity to carry out the fellowcraft degree thanking brethren in the columns for their quiet attention during the ceremony. To Bro John Galloway he thanked him for his musical accompaniment, to the IPM Bro Alan Curr for stepping in as senior warden and not forgetting the office bearers for carrying out the degree work of the evening. The RWM congratulated Bro Ian Simpson for a job well done and stating that the degree was carried out to the usual lodge Polmont standard the RWM then asked the brethren to show their appreciation to Bro Ian Simpson for the work of the evening he then thanked the members of Lodge Polmont for their continued support and to the visitors he thanked them once more for their attendance. To Bro John Galloway he thanked him for his musical accompaniment the collection realised the sum of £212.17 to which the RWM thanked the brethren.

Response

RWM Bro Jim Fisher 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 congratulating WSW Bro Ian Simpson and his degree team for an exceptional fellow craft degree and in his absence welcoming bro Hamilton on becoming lodge Polmont’s newest fellow craft Freemason and thanking bro John Galloway for his musical accompaniment bringing warm and fraternal greetings from all the visiting sister lodges but more in particular his own mother lodge, lodge Stirling Royal Arch No 76.

Intimations

The RWM gave the following intimation the next regular meeting is on Wednesday the 12^th of February which will be a first degree to be carried out on Mr Moonie. There being no further business the RWM closed the lodge in due and ancient form.