The sound of the bagpipes was again heard in the Saloon when a very large deputation of brethren from Lodge The Gael came to The Saloon to confer the Second Degree on Bro Don McVinnie. The Lodge was opened, the deputations of visiting Brethren and from the Provincial Grand Lodge of Renfrewshire West were admitted and then, led by 8 pipers playing The Green Hills of Tyrol, the deputation from Lodge The Gael No 609 swept into the Saloon headed by RWM Bro Alasdair Beaton, himself a fine piper. Amongst the pipers were No XII’s Honorary Members from Lodge The Gael viz. Bro Hamish MacLachlan PM, Bro Keith Bowes PM, Bro Donnie Finlayson PM and Bro Bill Bryce PM.
The assembled brethren in the large company than witnessed a thorough, sincere and expert delivery of the Passing by Bro Donnie Finlayson PM. Bro Don McVinnie was a fine candidate proving himself to be faultless when questioned on his homework.
After the meeting, the Top Table was piped into the harmony by Bro Dougie Bryce IPM and the Loyal and Masonic Toasts were observed. We had a Gaelic song from Bro Donnie Finlayson PM, Scottish folk songs from Bro Donald Iain Finlayson PM and Bro Bill Bryce PM and even The Great Caruso himself did a wee spot.
The high point of the evening was a selection on the pipes from Bro Keith Bowes PM, the first tune being his new composition, a 4/4 March named Lodge Greenock Kilwinning No XII. Bro Keith presented a framed copy of the manuscript to Bro Alan Beck RWM. He pointed out that he had written a nice easy 4/4 so that PM Bro Iain White would be able to learn it, whereupon he presented Bro Iain with a copy of the tune!!!
The evening closed, with a few drams having been taken and Auld Lang Syne lustily sung. When I left, RWM Bro Alasdair Beaton was still trying to get all of the Brethren from Lodge The Gael on to their bus home. Bro Alasdair said ‘It’s like herding cats!’
