In the days leading up to the Lodge Greenock Kilwinning No XII 286th installation on 18th November 2014, I for one was trying hard not to show any nerves by playing it cool whilst at the same time growing evermore excited. Those who know me know I am quite a shy and quiet guy who keeps himself to himself and therefore didn’t really show any emotions about the upcoming installation. In my short masonic life so far I have been to many installations including two of our own. At our last installation I was given the honour of taking up the position of Senior Deacon, this time however, the prospect of being installed as the Worshipful Junior Warden for this fine old lodge, filled my heart with an additional shot of pride.
Preparation for the big night for me was making sure I understood everything that was expected of me in the role not only on the night but during my term of office. Of course a big part of this is having the correct responses ready for the Worshipful Installing Masters and the Right Worshipful Master himself. So the night proceeded as expected and Bro Captain Allan I MacFeate was obligated and installed as Right Worshipful Master, after which the remaining office bearers were to be obligated and then installed by Worshipful Installing Master Bro Kenneth Morrison PM. This too went as planned and eventually I was installed into my new office complete with matching jewel, gauntlets and column. I was installed alongside WSW Bro Allen Glen and I felt so proud to be led to my ‘rightful’ place in the south. The rest of the office bearers were then duly installed in their respective offices.
So I am now standing at my dais in the south whilst a little cheery voice in my head was saying that I was now officially WJW of Lodge Greenock Kilwinning No XII, just one little problem it said, these gauntlets are a complete pain in the backside, something I overheard Bro Bob Bain PM moaning about sometime in the past but for once he was right. Nevertheless, that is something that I have already become used to, no not Bro Bob’s moans, but the gauntlets. (Just a wee joke Bob, only kidding!) ‘Worshipful Junior Warden’, came a different voice but I continued to beam out across the lodge. Then a startled voice inside my head said, ‘hey, that’s me!!’, it seemed to take forever to realise this but at last I turned to the east to see Worshipful Installing Master Bro Kenneth Morrison looking directly at me, my first test as WJW, could I find the right response inside this head of mine, let alone manage to get it out there. Well it all just seemed to fall into place and I managed to convey my first words as WJW.
The rest of the installation continued as normal and I just about managed to get all the correct responses and actions, at least that’s how I perceived it. The installation was brought to a close and this was followed by hearty congratulations from brethren who attended. We went on to have some photographs taken as per above. Of course the evening was still young and we continued into the small hours by having our fantastic installation dinner, provided by our own Bro Tony Buckley and his team. After dinner we had various toasts from our top table all of which were to the usual No XII high standards. Interspersed between toasts we were thoroughly entertained by Mrs IPM Polly Beck, our own Bro Barry Banks and IPM Bro Alan Beck. Near the end of the speeches we had our raffle, which we had no less than twenty-one prizes on offer. Now I’m pretty sure the raffle wasn’t fixed, as I helped setting it up, but sixteen of the prizes went to the top table and my table didn’t even manage to get one. Oh well there’s always next year… The toasts were not over though and it was the turn of WSW Allen Glen who gave a great toast to the Visiting Brethern. This was promptly followed by the Toast to the Stewards and Lassies to be given by yours truly. I wanted to also include the artistes for the evening and also thanked them too. We finished off by a rousing Auld Lang Syne.
So all in all, our installation was a complete success and it goes without saying really that I am so proud to be the new WJW of Lodge Greenock Kilwinning No XII. I would like to thank all of the brethren who helped answer my questions about what to do, where to do it and more importantly what to say, especially to my proposer into freemasonry Bro Alan Beck IPM.
Bro Bob Crossan WJW
Lodge Greenock Kilwinning No XII
