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.

On which day and date, a regular 1st degree meeting was held within the Masonic Hall 14 Maddiston Road Brightons. The right Worshipful Master Alexander C Muir was in the chair. 55 brethren signed the tyle.

The RWM opened the meeting in the first degree and welcomed all into the lodge room. He thanked the brethren of lodge Polmont for their continued support and also the visitors for coming along. The brethren of lodge Polmont were asked to give our guests a hearty welcome. He then invited all qualified brethren to assist him in the east.

Alan Campbell PM thanked the lodge for the support given when he had chaired the military degree held within the premises of Lodge Bannockburn Bruce and Thistle No 312. Some 14 Lodges had taken part and covering various of our armed services. Having been a serving soldier he had been a proud man leading the degree team and also representing Lodge Polmont.

1st degree.

The deacons were then invited to retire and returned with Mr Patrick John Yeend. A gentleman properly prepared to be made a mason. The RWM and his team progressed Bro Yeend through the 1st degree ceremonial in due and ancient form. At the conclusion of the ceremonial the RWM introduced Bro Yeend to the assembled brethren as Lodge Polmont’s newest Entered apprentice Freemason RWM then expressed his appreciation for the assistance given by brethren assisting in the degree ceremonial and covering offices. PM Alan Curr WJW. PM Alan Simpson SD, Campbell McCulloch JD, PM Jim Bennie inner Guard and PM John Curry Secretary & DOC. The RWM thanked the brethren of lodge Polmont once again for their continued support and the visitors for their attendance. He then called on the brethren of Lodge Polmont to afford the visitors a warm vote of thanks.

In reply for the visitors Robert Baird RWM Lodge Camelon 1456 thanked the RWM for the warmth of his welcome and congratulated the degree team on a job well done.

The next meeting will be a lecture on the 1st degree including the tracing board on Wednesday 9th October at 1930hrs.

After wishing everyone a safe journey home the lodge was closed in due and ancient form.

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