At last night’s visit to Lodge Loch Lomond 1483 bro. Jim Bennie pm was presented and received a certificate from PGM Gordon Sewell for being the first brother in the province to complete his Chromium Passport after visiting all sister Lodges and a PGL visit. Congratulations Jim on being the province’s most prolific visitor.

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 Bro Alex Muir, office bearers and Brethren as per the attendance

register 41 brethren from lodge Polmont 17 visitors giving a total of 58 brethren signing the tyle

5 visiting sister lodges were represented on the evening and apologies were received from 10

Brethren.

The lodge was opened in the 1st degree.

RWM then presented the gavel to PM Ure in order for him to carry out the Mark degree.

The degree was carried out by the Bro Sec PM Alex Ure and the degree team chosen for the

evening and this was carried out in a most solemn, entertaining and sombre manner which has

come to be expected by the office bearer’s and Past Masters of lodge Polmont and on the

conclusion of the ceremony the Bro Sec accompanied by our RWM descended on to the floor

to be the first to congratulate the candidates on becoming lodge Polmont’s newest mark master

masons after a few words of encouragement and thanks from the RWM and Bro Sec the Bro

Sec addressed the distinguished East worshipful warden’s brethren and visitors charging

them to ever meet, to greet and treat Bro Ross Mcculloch, Bro Greg Mcculloch, Bro Ian Wood

Bro Alan Robertson and Bro Shane Donaldson as such but in the meantime to give them a very

warm welcome among us.

PM Ure went on to thank the RWM for giving him the opportunity sit in the chair of his mother

lodge and for the honour of conferring the Mark Master degree at Lord Bruce No 1601 he then

went on to thank the degree team for an excellent rendition of the Mark degree thanking the

candidates for taking part and the brethren in the Columns for their quiet attention while the

ritualists performed their particular pieces of ritual.

Having thanked various brethren PM Ure returned the gavel to the RWM the RWM thanked PM

Ure for a degree well executed and on his choice of brethren to perform the degree also

thanking the candidates having taken part in the ritual the RWM then resumed the lodge in the

2^nd degree and asked the degree team to vacate office in favour of the office bearers of lodge

Polmont.

The RWM then thanked the brethren in the columns for their quiet attention during the

ceremonial 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.

PM Sandy Macintosh replied on behalf of the visiting brethren for the warmth and cordiality on entering the lodge this evening and for the excellent work done by Bro Alex Ure PM and the office bearers of lodge Polmont and congratulating the candidate’s on becoming lodge Polmont’s newest mark master masons. PM Sandy Macintosh then concluded by bringing warm and fraternal greetings from all the visiting sister lodges but more in particular his own mother lodge, lodge St Baldred No 313.

There being no further business the lodge was closed in due and ancient form by the RWM.

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

Present were the IPM Bro Alan Curr, office bearers and Brethren as per the attendance register 35 brethren from lodge Polmont 16 visitors giving a total of 51 brethren signing the tyle. 

The IPM welcomed all into the lodge room and apologies we’re received from the RWM Bro Alex Muir who is recuperating at home and sends his regards and all the best for the degree tonight. Bro Jim Bennie passed on from the brethren to the RWM a speedy recovery.

The deacons retired in order, to prepare and introduce Mr Jack Robertson a candidate who wished to gain the benefits of freemasonry at the hands of the office bearers of lodge Polmont.

The degree was carried out by the IPM and the office bearers of lodge Polmont in a most solomn and somber manner which has come to be expected at lodge Polmont and on the conclusion of the ceremony the IPM Bro Alan Curr descended on to the floor and accompanied Bro Jack Robertson in the West to be the first to congratulate him on becoming lodge Polmont’s newest entered apprentice and addressing the distinguished East, Worshipful warden’s brethren and visitors they charged them to ever meet, greet and treat Bro Robertson as such but in the meantime to give him a very warm welcome among us.  The IPM then returned to the East inviting Bro Robertson to retire and restore himself to his former comfort 

The IPM then thanked the brethren in the columns for their quiet attention during the ceremonial, 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 IPM then went on to thank the degree team and that the RWM would be a proud man for the quality of work that was performed this evening.

 Rwm Bro Jim Fisher replied on behalf of the visiting brethren for the warmth and cordiality on entering the lodge this evening and for the excellent work done by the IPM and the office bearers of lodge Polmont and in his absence welcoming bro Jack Robertson on becoming lodge Polmont’s newest entered apprentice also thanking bro John Galloway for his musical accompaniment and wishing our RWM a speedy recovery the RWM Jim Fisher then concluded 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.

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

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 32 brethren from lodge Polmont and 12 visitors giving a total of 44 brethren signing the tyle 8 visiting sister lodges were represented on the evening and apologies were received from 8 brethren.

Honorary Membership
The RWM instructed the D.O.C to carry out his special duties to which he introduced bro Jim
Barrie from the West to the RWM and assembled brethren to present him with honorary
membership into lodge Polmont and after a few exchanges of words the RWM asked bro
Alan Curr IPM to carry out the obligation.
Bro James Barrie was initiated into his mother lodge, lodge St Andrew No1587 Livingston
station on the 12 th of Feb 1999, passed on the 12 th of March 1999, raised on the 9 th of April
1999 and advanced on the 24 th of September 1999, after a short obligation Bro Jim Barrie
was invited to say a few words, Jim replied that it was an honour and a pleasure to be invited into lodge Polmont as an honorary member and that on his many visits to lodge Polmont he has always felt at home with the warmth and welcome the brethren always give him and after a few words of appreciation on receiving his honorary membership the RWM invited bro Jim Barrie to sit in the East on such a special occasion.

1st Degree exemplification
Due to work commitments the candidate was unavailable for his introduction into freemasonry and Bro. Ian Wood volunteered. The degree was carried out in a most solemn and dignified manner at the conclusion of which the RWM thanked Bro. Wood and charged the brethern present to give him a very hearty vote of thanks.

Rwm Bro Les Langham replied on behalf of the visiting brethren for the warmth and cordiality on entering the lodge this evening and for the excellent work done by the RWM and the office bearers of lodge Polmont and in his absence welcoming bro Ian Wood on becoming lodge Polmont’s newest entered apprentice for the 2 nd time also thanking bro John Galloway for his musical accompaniment, Congratulating Bro Jim Barrie on receiving honorary membership RWM Les Langhan then concluded by bringing warm and fraternal greetings from all the visiting sister lodges but more in particular his own mother lodge, lodge St John Falkirk No 16. Intimations
The RWM made the following intimation, the next regular meeting would be on Wednesday the 27th of March tyling at 7.30pm and would be a 3 rd degree to be conferred by the Past masters of lodge Polmont with PM bro Jim Bennie Almoner taking to the chair.

We apologise for not posting news of our meetings for a while and hope this omission has now been rectified.

There was a large turnout of brethren at Lodge Polmont No 793 on the 24th of September to witness RWM John Curry and his team carry out a fine working of the Second Degree. There were visitors from some 13 sister lodges present and they were asked to convey fraternal greetings from Lodge Polmont to their own respective lodges. Past Master Les Wilson of Lodge Camelon, No 1456, made an appropriate reply on behalf of the visitors.