 Bro. Stuart F. Donald R.W.M. Hello brethren. It’s hard to believe that the first half of the 482 Masonic season has now officially ended, although it did of course come to very premature finish after just a few meetings due the outbreak of Coronavirus and the government advice and lockdown rules that followed. This decision soon resulted in the Provincial Grand Lodge of Midlothian and the Grand Master Mason confirming the suspension of all masonic activities until further notice. Unfortunately, we still have difficult times ahead of us until this terrible disease is beaten and, as long as we continue to comply with government guidelines, we will get through this and be able to enjoy one another’s company again in the not too distant future. I would also take the opportunity to thank the brethren for the weekly updates on the health and wellbeing of our brethren and families, and the assistance being provided. And let's not forget to extend our sincere thanks and eternal gratitude to all the dedicated NHS workers on the front in our hospitals, or caring for our elderly in their homes and the many, many others who are putting themselves at risk simply too care for us.  Our RWM with Bro. Zander Clark on his Initiation In the meetings we did had though it was a great honour for me – along with the newly-installed Office Bearers - to initiate Mr Alexander Clark, son of our President of Stewards, Bro. Alexander ‘Sugar’ Clark. And with two more gentleman already accepted for Initiation - and another application on the way - exciting times lie ahead for the lodge. I’m highly optimistic, and looking forward to a very successful - although busy - second half of the season. Can I thank the brethren who have joined me in my visits to other lodges, especially my 1st Deputation as RWM to Lodge Kirknewton and Ratho 85 and the Deputation received from Lodge St. Leonard Loanhead & Lasswade No.580 headed on this occasion by their R.W.M. Brother Jimmy Young. In closing can, I thank all the members, honorary members and visitors who have supported Lodge Kirkliston Maitland so well since my Installation in February and please continue to “Stay Safe”.
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Bro. Stuart F. Donald RWM My year as the RWM began on Saturday 1st February 2019, where I had the honour and privilege of being installed as the Right Worshipful Master of this fine lodge with an aim to maintain the traditions of the lodge and continue our increasing involvement within the community. My installing masters were Bro. Stuart White PM and Bro Peter Ritchie PM. I would like to take this opportunity to thank both Stuart and Peter for all their hard work and congratulate them on an excellent ceremony. It was a fantastic evening and one of the most amazing nights of my life. My thanks go out everyone who came along and also to those who sent their apologies and were unable to attend.  Installing Masters Congratulations must go to all the office bearers who were installed on the evening and I look forward to working with you all in the year ahead. Particular thanks must go to IPM Bro Gordon Yeoman for all his hard work over the last three years as Right Worshipful Master and I look forward to having Gordon at my left hand side in his term as IPM. To the members of 482, I thank you for your continued support. To our visitors I thank you for visiting us here at 482 and look forward to seeing old friends and new throughout the year. To any members who have not been for some time. I can assure you that a warm welcome awaits you at your mother lodge.  As we start a new year and a new decade, there's quite a lot coming up at 482. Our first regular meeting of 2020 is on Wednesday 15th January and this will be a FC Degree and on Monday 20th our R.W.M. will head a Deputation to Lodge Dalkeith Kilwinning No. 10. Then we have a special meeting on Wednesday 29th - special in more ways than one!! First of all, we'll have Deputations from Lodge St. John Fisherrow 112 and from The Thistle Lodge 270. As these two Lodges meet the same night as us, special meetings are one of the few ways for us all to get together. This will also be a 2nd Degree. And this night is made extra special as it will be our R.W.M's 'greetin 'meetin!! After three tremendous years in the Chair, this will be Bro. Gordon's final meeting as our Right Worshipful Master so it's sure to be very special indeed. Please join us if you can. And this takes us up to Saturday 1st February and our Annual Installation & Festival of St. John. We'd love to welcome you to any - or all - of these meetings. Several 482 brethren joined in support of our Our Right Worshipful Master Bro. Gordon Yeoman when he presented a cheque for £3000 to Fiona Shapcott, founder of the fantastic local charity 'Kids Love Clothes'. The money was raised by way of an 11 mile sponsored walk and we were absolutely delighted to have been able to triple our original target of £1000. Our R.W.M. once again expressed his heartfelt thanks to everyone who donated towards this amazing cause. Making up the photo are just a few of the many local volunteers who help with the running of the charity. Kids Love Clothes is an entirely volunteer-led charity. Based in Ratho, they have a team of dedicated trustees and an army of wonderful volunteers, right across the Lothians. The families they help live locally, and sadly, the need for their service is growing all the time.  Our last meeting before the summer recess was indeed one to remember, with the presentation of two diplomas and also welcoming a new Honorary Member. During a fantastic evening we enjoyed excellent deputations from The Provincial Grand Lodge of Midlothian, Lodge Penicuik & West Linton 429 and the Loretto Centenery Lodge 1373. A total of 104 brethren signed the attendance book and during the evening Bro. Tom Smith R.W.P.G.M. presented a 60 year diploma to Bro. Alastair Smith P.M. and a Distinguished Service Certificate to Bro. Peter Richie P.M. And our R.W.M. Bro. Gordon Yeoman had the pleasure of conferring Honorary Membership to Bro. Stephen Humphries P.M. 429 and P.M. 1373. In making the presentations, Bro. Smith congratulated both brethren on their service freemasonry in general and to Lodge Kirkliston Maitland in particular. The honour of presenting Bro. Alastair's 60 year jewel went to Bro. Stuart White P.M. Also present were three brethren from Lodge St. Nicholas 2586 E.C. Here are some photographs from the evening and click any image to enlarge         Well, that's the first half of our Masonic Season done and dusted - and what a 'first half' it's been!! We've welcomed three new Honorary Members, numerous deputations and our R.W.M. Bro. Gordon Yeoman has become an Honorary Member of Lodge St. John Corstorphine 788 and Lodge Dalhousie Bonnyrigg 720. A great honour for Bro. Gordon and for Lodge Kirkliston Maitland. We have also taken delivery of our fantastic new Lodge furniture and, to cap it all, our 150th Anniversary Celebration was an outstanding success enjoyed by all the 90 members, Honorary Members and guests who attended.  As we now begin our summer recess, we take this opportunity to wish all our members, Honorary Members and friends - and their families - all the very best over the next few months and we look forward to welcoming everyone back in September. Speaking about the last few months, our R.W.M. said: "I think it’s safe to say brethren that being RWM of Kirkliston Maitland in 2018 our 150th year has been an experience that has topped anything I have achieved in Freemasonry. Your support to your Mother Lodge has been exceptional which in turn has made me enjoy being RWM all the more. So thank you one and all for all that you’ve done to put 482 on the map on this special year. Hope you all have a happy summer break".           Well brethren what a year that was to be your RWM, beginning with getting Honorary Grand Rank and finishing off with with the reply to the Daughter Lodges at the Grand Lodge Installation in November.
Something I will never forget and makes so proud that I got this on behalf of 482. So if that was good this year, it’s going to be great to be your RWM again in this our 150th year in in the village of Kirkliston. It’s an absolute honour and privilege and I hope all the Office Bearers and brethren are going to be up for the year ahead. The support I got last year was absolutely fantastic and we really did get 482 out there in the Province and beyond. I know you will help me keep up the good work in the year that lies ahead. I’m really looking forward to our Installation this Saturday and know I’m in good hands with my Installing Masters. We're sure to have a night to remember and kick off our 150th celebrations in style. So let’s keep up the hard work and enthusiasm and, at the same time, try to encourage new members to come and join us in this fantastic fraternity making 2018 a year to remember for everyone at Lodge Kirkliston Maitland. RWM 🤵 Well, that's our last meeting of the year done and dusted and it was great to end on a high with our R.W.M. Bro. Gordon Yeoman presenting Bro. Alex Stewart M.M. with his 50-year G.L.O.S. jewel, the fifth Lodge member to receive this newly-created jewel during 2017. It was good also to welcome our last deputation of the year from Lodge Gorebridge Dundas 1039 headed by their R.W.M. Bro. Simon Fairley. And all the brethren enjoyed a well-worked Master Mason Degree, with a huge thanks to Bro. Alan Banks H.M. for stepping in as our candidate.  All in all, 2017 has been an exciting year. Since our Installation in February we've welcomed 22 deputations and seven new Honorary Members - and of course our latest Master Mason Bro. Scott Travis. And one of the major highlights was in November at the Festival that followed the Installation of The Most Worshipful Grand Master Mason and his Office Bearers when our R.W.M. replied to the toast to Sister Lodges. A very proud moment indeed for Bro. Gordon and for Lodge Kirkliston Maitland 482. Bro. Gordon described being Right Worshipful Master of 482 as 'A Dream Job', one that would be totally impossible without the help of all the Lodge Brethren. Bro. Gordon said: "I would really like to express my sincere thanks for support of the office bearers, Past Masters and brethren during 2017. They have been absolutely fantastic and I'm so grateful." He then added: "I would also like to mention our Secretary Bro. Murrie Thomson and his good lady Janet, our W.J.W. Bro. Peter Cox and his good lady Karen for all their help with harmonies during the year. And of course our President of Stewards Bro. Alex 'Sugar' Clark for all his work behind the scenes. Without this support, the Lodge just wouldn't run so smoothly." Now we can look forward to 2018 when we celebrate our 150th Anniversary. A special year indeed. And as part of the celebration we'll be presenting new Lodge furniture and an amazing new Lodge Banner!! However, before that big day we have our Installation on Saturday 3rd February when Bro. Gordon will again be Installed into the Chair of King Solomon. Our first meeting of 2018 will be on Wednesday 17th January when we'll be working a Fellowcraft Degree and we look forward to welcoming members and visitors on the night. In the meantime we wish all our members, Honorary members and friends a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Peaceful New Year.  Lodge Kirkliston Maitland 482 are delighted to have been involved in the project to 'Light Up Kirkliston' this Christmas.
Because of budget cuts, the City of Edinburgh Council announced that they would no longer provide Christmas lights for the village so a group of dedicated volunteers set up a fund-raising initiative to ensure Kirkliston did indeed have Christmas Lights. The 482 brethren have sponsored one of the 25 lamp-posts placed along the Main Street and down Path Brae, all of which were switched on at the beginning of the month. Our Right Worshipful Master Bro. Gordon Yeoman said: "Christmas is for kids and we're delighted to have joined the many other businesses, organisations and individuals who have stepped in to help 'Light Up Kirkliston' at this special time of the year and we salute the volunteers and the community for their magnificent effort and truly sparkling result." A double celebration at our meeting on Wednesday when we welcomed our latest Master Mason and our newest Honorary Member. With Bro. Peter Ritchie P.M. in the Chair, Bro. Scott Travis was Raised to the High and Sublime Degree of Master Mason and, earlier in the evening, our Right Worshipful Master Bro. Gordon Yeoman conferred Honorary Membership on Bro. John Anderson, Master Elect at Lodge St. Margaret South Queensferry 548. And joining members and visitors on the night were excellent deputations from Lodge Kirknewton & Ratho No. 85 and Lodge St. Margaret South Queensferry 548, heading by their respective Right Worshipful Masters Bro. Kenny McMaster (H.M. 482) and Bro. Trevor Cronin. During the unofficial harmony that followed the R.W.M. proposed toasts to both brethren and the duo were very warmly received by all present. On behalf of himself and his Dad, Bro. Sid Yeoman H.M. 482, Bro. Gordon then presented Bro. Scott with a new Master Mason Apron and Sash. And congratulations to the degree team on a first-class Master Mason degree.
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AuthorA diary of up-to-date news and events at Lodge Kirkliston Maitland 482 Archives
December 2021
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