Click to enlarge It was great that our first regular meeting in Kirkliston Bowling Club went so well and congratulations to all the Office Bearers for doing such a good job. I have to confess, I was more nervous on the night that I was at my 1st meeting as R.W.M. 12 months ago!! There was a good turnout of members and visitors and it was tremendous to see brethren who haven't been at 482 for some time taking their seats in the Lodge. We must hope that this trend continues in the months that lie ahead. I really do think it will. One notable group of visitors was from Lodge Buchan St. John 636, headed by their R.W.M. Bro. James Vaughan. Bro. James said that they had come along to welcome us back to our 'home' and this is particularly touching as 636 had to leave their home in Broxburn and now meet in Livingston. Hopefully they too will manage to return to where they belong. One very positive bit of feedback came from Bro. Derek Winchester R.W.M. of Lodge St. Kentigern Penicuik & West Linton 429. When I visited 429 on the Monday after the Installation, Bro. Derek said - in open Lodge - that when he arrived for the Installation, it really was like walking into a Masonic Temple and I think we can all take reassurance from such a comment that all our work has been worthwhile. This is exactly the impression we were aiming to achieve. Finally, thanks and all credit to the members and visitors who helped put away all the furniture after the meeting. It was done in double-quick time - faster than I thought possible!!
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That's the only way to describe our 2012 Installation, the first meeting in our new home at Kirkliston Bowling Club. It truly was a memorable occasion and I extend my sincere thanks to everyone who attended on the day. The 87 members and visitors witnessed an excellent ceremony and my thanks and congratulations go to Installing Masters Bro. Gordon Yeoman P.M. and Bro. David Swan I.P.M. and all the Installing Team: Bro. Stuart White P.M., Bro. Les Duff P.M. and Bro. William Reddington P.M. The Festival of St. John saw a series of first class toasts and replies and we were well entertained by our artistes: Bro. George Veal from Lodge St. John Corstorphine 788, Bro. Alan Banks from Lodge Kirknewton & Ratho No. 85 (and an honorary member of 482) and Bro. Walter Renton from Lodge Dalhousie Bonnyrigg 720. For me, it proved - once again - to be a very emotional night. I didn't really think I'd experience the same feelings '2nd time around' but I was very wrong!! This may of course have been enhanced by the fact that this was out first meeting in Kirkliston Bowling Club bu, nevertheless, my emotions were very high indeed. And it would be very remiss of me not to thank everyone at Kirkliston Bowling Club for their help and I'm sure we'll continue to work together to our mutual benefit. As for the Lodge itself, I couldn't believe how great it looked and I don't think we could all be blamed for giving ourselves a wee pat on the back for putting it all together in such a short space of time. With the last of the dividers only delivered on Friday, it was very close to the wire. And when we combined the dividers and display systems with our Lodge furniture, I think it was a case of 'job done'. I really do think that everyone was impressed with what we had done. We will be adding some enhancements, principally some photographs and other Lodge information but we can now do this in a much more relaxed fashion. I am truly honoured and very proud to have again been installed as Right Worshipful Master and I extend my grateful thanks to every member of the Lodge for allowing me this great privilege. I will continue to do everything I can to further the interests of the Lodge. Thanks again brethren. Lodge Kirkliston Maitland 482 After helping to set up for our Installation Ceremony, I couldn't resist 'putting pen to paper' and comment on how great it is to see our Lodge set up. I tried to imagine how it might look but I wasn't quite prepared for the feeling I experienced when I saw everything in place. Although I'm really looking forward to the ceremony, I can't really believe it's actually is happening - and this is exactly the same way as I felt last year!! I never really thought I'd see our own Lodge furniture and artefacts again - never mind actually use them - so today will be extra special for so many different reasons.
I hope everyone enjoys the ceremony and the Festival of St. John and I look forward to seeing brethren we haven't seen for a while. I'd like to thank all the 482 brethren who came along to help this morning and for all the work that's been done in making this day happen. It will, I'm sure, be a tremendous occasion. As we have new moved back to our 'spiritual home' - and have a new Lodge web site, I thought this was a good time to incorporate my blog into the site. The former posts are still in place for now and can be found here. A lot has happend since my last post but with all the additional work involved in our move to Kirkliston Bowling Club, I'm a bit behind schedule. I was really disappointed to have missed our last meeting in Corstorphine, especially as it was a joint degree with Lodge St. John Corstorphine 788 and, of course, Bro. Camy Stewart I.P.M. was receiving honorary membership. However, with Janet unwell, my place was at home and my thanks again to Bro. Gordon Yeoman P.M. for stepping in at a very late stage - and to all the Office Bearers from both 482 and 788 who took part in the degree. So now it's full steam ahead for our Installation this Saturday, February 11th and I have to say I'm really looking forward to the ceremony - and to being R.W.M. of the Lodge for another year. The past 12 months have gone really quickly and I've enjoyed every moment. I'm sure the next year will follow the same pattern and I can only thank the brethren of 482 once again for allowing me this honour. Installing Masters are Bro. Gordon Yeoman P.M. and Bro. David Swan I.P.M. Where Gordon is an 'old hand', the is Bro. David's first time as Installing Master and I'm sure the ceremony will be one to remember. As I said, we've had a busy time but all the original Lodge furniture is now in place and, until our new carpet arrives, we're delighted the brethren of Lodge Kirknewton & Ratho No. 85 have agreed to loan us theirs in the meantime. We've added a few more modern display items to the mix and when we set everything up for our rehearsal last night, it was a really good feeling. We aslo have a backdrop for display in the East which shows the mural from our former premises in the village. The image for this was pieced together from various photographs by Bro. W. Raymond King P.M. and many thanks to him for his patience in putting this together. I think it will be more than a bit nostalgic to see it in place but it's a sight I never thought I'd see again. The 'room dividers' we ordered were delivered today and will be in place for the Installation and I look forward to welcoming members and visitors to the ceremony and to the Festival of St. John that follows. Now that we've moved back to Kirkliston, we've had more than a few members say they'll be returning to the Lodge. I really hope they do and help take 482 from strength to strength.
Next job is to set up for the ceremony and this will be done on Saturday morning at 8.30am. To coin the old phrase, 'many hands make light work' and I'm hoping a good few brethren will come along to lend a hand. I'll be back soon!! |
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