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 88 brethren signed the tyle, 48 brethren from lodge Polmont 40 visitors and apologies were received from 11 brethren a copy of which is recorded and held on file and there was a total of 22 visiting lodges in attendance.

Opening

The lodge was opened in the 1st degree in due and ancient form. 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.

Correspondence

An application was received which was read out in the lodge Mr Baxter proposed by bro Alan Duncan Curr IPM and seconded by Bro Martin Sinclair JD

Almoners Report

There was no almoners report, but various brethren gave individual updates on brethren who can no longer visit the lodge due to health issues and the RWM thanked the brethren for keeping the lodge up to date.

Visitations

The WJW Bro Alan Banks gave his report of the various lodges himself with various brethren had visited, The Dougals lodge on Thursday the 20th of March to witness a 3rd degree accompanied by Bro John McKinney and Bro Martin Sinclair JD, on Monday the 24th of March accompanied by Bro John McKinney, Bro Sam Alston DM and our own RWM Bro Alex Muir they witnessed a 1st degree. The RWM thanked Bro Alan Banks WJW and brethren for the various visitations and asked the assembled brethren to put their hands together and show their appreciation.

Ballot

The ballot was prepared for the affiliation of Bro Evans an active member of Loyal City Lodge No 4839 in the Province of Cheshire, the ballot was clear.

Raising to the 3rd Degree

While the lodge was in the 1st degree the Bro secretary sought permission to retire this was readily granted the RWM then proceeded to raise the lodge to the 3rd degree and await the deputation from South of the border which had assembled outside the door of the lodge. Deputation

With the drums and Pipes of Bro Peter Anderson and Bro Thomas Anderson a large and distinguished deputation was received from various lodges from South of the border consisting of English and Welsh lodges headed on this occasion by Worshipful Master bro Goulden of Lodge Loyal City No 4839 Chester and with a few words of welcome exchanged Worshipful Master Bro Chris Goulden was invited to take his rightful place in the East.

Past Masters

With the drums and Pipes of Bro Peter Anderson and Bro Thomas Anderson a drouth of Past Masters headed on this occasion Past Master Bro Billy Fulton sought admission into the lodge in order to confer the 3rd or high and sublime degree of a Master Mason on Bro Hamilton and after a few words of welcome were exchanged, the Past masters were invited to take their rightful place in the East.

Affiliation

The RWM instructed the Bro DOC to carry out his special duty and introduce Bro Douglas Evans to the assembled brethren the RWM then proceeded to invite Bro Evans on his acceptance to affiliate to lodge Polmont Bro Evans readily accepted the offer. The RWM then presented his father’s apron to Bro Evans along with a lodge Polmont tie and after introducing Bro Evans to the brethren as lodge Polmon’s newest affiliate made his way back to the East stating that the floor was all Bro Evans and after a few and very few words of appreciation and thanks from Bro Evans the RWM invited him to the East.

3rd Degree

The RWM tendered the gavel to past master Bro B Fulton in order for him to confer the degree of the evening and after a few exchanges Bro Fulton PM took to the chair instructing the office bearers of lodge Polmont to vacate office in favour of the past masters the deacons were instructed to retire and introduce Bro Hamilton the degree was carried out in the usual high standards as expected from the past masters of the lodge and at the conclusion of the degree Bro Fulton accompanied by our RWM descended onto the floor to be the first to congratulate Bro Hamilton. Bro Fulton addressed the brethren to ever meet greet and treat him as such and for the brethren to give him a very warm welcome among us. Bro Fulton instructed the deacons to uplift the collection which realised a handsome sum. Bro Fulton then thanked the members of Lodge Polmont for their continued support to Bro John Galloway for his musical accompaniment and thanked the RWM for the opportunity to once again sit in the chair of his mother lodge. He then tendered the gavel back to the RWM who congratulated Bro Fulton and the past masters for an excellent rendition of the 3rd degree he then invited the past masters to retire inviting them to stay behind for some lodge hospitality the past masters retired taking Bro Hamilton with them on the approval of the RWM. The RWM then proceeded to thank Bro Galloway for his musical accompaniment and to the visitors he thanked them once again 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 give the visitors a hearty vote of thanks.

Invitation to speak

The RWM then invited anyone if they had anything to say for the craft in general or for lodge Polmont in particular that he would hear them now. In reply Bro Ronnie Bateman 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 Bro Douglas Evans on becoming lodge Polmont’s newest affiliate and wished him all the best. To Bro Billy Fulton PM for an exceptional 3rd degree carried out by himself and his degree team consisting of the Past Masters of the lodge and wishing Bro Peter Hamilton on becoming lodge Polmont’s newest Master Mason thanking Bro Galloway for his musical accompaniment finishing off by 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 that the next regular meeting is on Wednesday the 9th of April which will be the 3rd degree conferred on Bro Moonie 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.