Deputation to Lodge Kelburne No 459 Saturday 8th October 2016

Report by Bro Iain White PM

7 brethren from No XII, led by RWM Bro Allan MacFeate, assisted by RWM-elect Bro Allan T Glen, completed the Millport landings on the Isle of Cumbrae on Saturday 8^th October to join the Brethren of Lodge Kelburne in celebrating the 150^th Anniversary of the Lodge.  We were drawn there by our friendship with Bro Stewart Aitken.  While Bro Stewart is a Past Master of The Glasgow Star Lodge, as a Cumbrae resident, he is also prominent in Lodge Kelburne.  After the landings were successfully negotiated we repaired to Fraser’s for refreshment and while away the time before the Ceremony.  A convivial hour or so was spent, with sustenance in the shape of some very fine sandwiches coming from a function taking place in Fraser’s at the time.  We were impressed by the generosity of the islanders!

In good time, and aided by Bro Alan Jess’s encyclopaedic knowledge of the geography of the island, we joined well over 120 brethren at the Rededication ceremony in a hall at the Garrison, conducted by a Deputation from the Grand Lodge of Scotland led by Substitute Grand Master Bro George R Kelly, Grand Junior Warden Bro Rev Andrew E Paterson officiating.  As ever, the work of the Grand Lodge deputation was carried out with quality, dignity and decorum and it befitted the special day that it was for Lodge Kelburne.  The members of the No XII deputation were all presented with very handsome commemorative 150^th Anniversary jewels by Bro Stewart Aitken and we may be seen wearing them proudly in the photograph below. Interestingly, the Consecration of Lodge Kelburne in 1866 was carried out by Sir Michael Robert Shaw Stewart 7^th Bart of Ardgowan, Provincial Grand Master of Renfrewshire West who was, of course, a member of No XII and later was Grand Master Mason from 1873 to 1882.



As is ever the case, when Masonic travels are made, we were pleased to meet friends from hither and yon.  In particular, Lodge Rothesay St John No 292 was well represented in the Deputation from the Provincial Grand Lodge of Argyll and the Isles with Past Masters Frank Baxter, James MacMillan and Ellis Rutherford all in attendance.  We spoke of happy days spent at the Installations on Bute.  They had been joined in the Deputation by Bro Bobby Diamond PM of Lodge St Munn Ardnadam No 496 a frequent visitor to No XII in the past and often seen in Lodge Firth of Clyde Gourock No 626.

On a personal level, I was delighted to meet up with Bro Frank Mapes, (see photo below) Past Master of Lodge Kelburne and Past Provincial Grand Master of Argyll and the Isles.  I used to see Bro Frank regularly at the Installations at lodge Rothesay St John in the late 1980s and 1990s when he would be on Provincial business and I was, on several occasions, an Installing Master.  I was Assistant Rector at Rothesay Academy from 1987-1992 and a colleague at that time, Bro Stewart Shaw, is a Past Master of 292.  It was a double pleasure as Bro Frank’s father was actually a member of No XII and, in years gone by, I had managed to find all the relevant information about his Dad from the No XII records.  Many of you will have come across Bro Mapes either directly, or indirectly, in the past.  Prior to his retirement, he owned the cycle hire shop in Millport!  I was further delighted to meet Bro Lindsay Hunter, Past Master of Lodge Innellan and Toward No 1435.  At the time I worked in Rothesay Academy, Lindsay was a Principal Teacher of Guidance in Dunoon Grammar School.  Lindsay may also be seen in the photo below.  As a by the way, the RW Master of Lodge Innellan and Toward, at present, Bro Alasdair Henderson, like me is an honorary member of Lodge The Gael No 609 and he has been in No XII on a few occasions when on duty as one of Lodge the Gael’s pipers.



When the Ceremonial was over we did not have tickets for the sell out dinner, so we repaired again to Fraser’s and had a handsome lunch and some refreshment.  Strengthened by the steak pie, curry, scampi and fish and chips, and suitably fortified by other refreshments, we boarded WJW Bro Bob Crossan’s big car and headed for the safety and security of the mainland.  

Still in a mood of of conviviality, a pit stop was made at the Royal West of Scotland Amateur Boat Club where we met good friends of No XII – Bros Donnie Cunningham and Eric Dickson of Lodge Doric Kilwinning No 68 – and the first report on the Millport landings was made. In due course we headed for home, resolving to return to Millport for the 200^th Anniversary in 2066.  Well, Bro Alan Jess, at least, has a fighting chance of being there …