The Grand Lodge of Antient Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland
William Ramsay McGhee, MStJ, D.L., Grand Master Mason
Brethren,
It has been a very enjoyable and rewarding week since my last update. Last Saturday I had the pleasure of heading a large Deputation to Lodge St John No 540 in Crossgates, Fife where we received a very warm welcome not only from the Lodge but also from the Province. The whole day went very well – great turnout at the meeting, great meal, and great company. I was back on the A9 in plenty of time for “Take the Floor” – even got home before it finished!
On Tuesday, it was a pleasure to hear Brother James Coghlan give an excellent presentation on Rosslyn Chapel in Lodge Allan Wilson No 851. He certainly knows his stuff and I think all the 55 brethren present learned something new.
Yesterday, we had a very productive meeting of the Overseas Committee and a full briefing meeting prior to Grand Secretary and I departing for Sierra Leone and, later in the week, Nigeria.
Today, I am looking forward to having lunch in Lossiemouth with Past Grand Master, Brother Charles Iain Wolrige Gordon.
Tomorrow, it is back to Fife, this time to Ladybank where we will celebrate 200 years of Freemasonry in Lodge King Robert de Bruce No 304. Again, I have a very healthy Deputation of 20 Brethren from Grand Lodge.
SCFS
As I mentioned above, Grand Secretary and I will be leaving on the 06.00 flight on Tuesday morning to our District Grand Lodge of Sierra Leone. It has been over 30 years since a Grand Master Mason visited the District. We will only have one full day in Freetown, but it will be action packed before flying on to Lagos, Nigeria where I will be installing the new District Grand Master, Brother Professor George EdaghoghoEriyamremu,and his Commissioned Office-Bearers.
We are already a third of the way through August. Many of our Lodges at home and overseas will be preparing to get underway once again for the new Masonic Season. As we return to our Lodges, it is a good time to ensure the following: insurance policies are up to date; all Lodges are fully compliant with national and local fire regulations;we are compliant with health and safety and health and hygiene regulationsand the buildings are thoroughly cleaned before we start again. Covid is still out there, so it will do no harm to give the premises a thorough clean with hand gel etc., available for any brethren who wish to avail themselves of it.
Likewise, please ensure the external aspects of our Lodges are looking good and the environs are kept in good order. There is nothing worse than the public at large viewing an untidy and unkempt building – it gives the wrong impression.
Ramsay McGhee
Grand Master Mason