Cross Keys Dec. 2015

The Cross Keys The Monthly Newsletter of Lodge Houstoun St. Johnstone

December 2015

Number 188

In this issue:

An American Spy

Message from the IPM

Sir William Arrol

English Footballers’ Lodge

Malta & Freemasonry

The New Master

Greenock Windows

Installation Photos

FROM ALL AT

242

Cross Keys Dec. 2015

An American Spy?

Bro. Haym Solomon was born on April 7, 1740, in Poland. He was

the son of a rabbi from a family of Portuguese Jews that migrated to

Poland. He came to America penniless in 1772 after facing years of

persecution from the Russians because he was Jewish.

Haym Solomon was a Freemason. Information has been found indi-

cating he was a member of King Solomon Lodge No. 12 in Pennsyl-

vania, and was affiliated with Maryland Lodge No. 2, Ancient York

Rite.

He came with a passion for liberty and a desire to succeed. He moved to New York in

the Wall Street section (not yet known for money) and began what became many years of

hard work. Sympathizing with the Patriot cause, Bro. Solomon joined the New York

branch of the Sons of Liberty

On September 15th, 1776, New York fell to the British and Bro. Haym carried on as he had

before. He watched the British carefully and gathered information that he was able to

give to the American army. On September 20th, a mysterious fire destroyed 493 houses in

New York, 25% of the city. Despite conclusive evidence, British General William Howe

(probably accurately) blamed the Sons of Liberty.

Bro. George Washington supposedly said of this fire: “Providence, or some good honest

fellow, has done more for us that we were disposed to do for ourselves.” (as Congress

has forbidden destruction of the city, period.)

Along with other members of the Sons of Liberty, Bro. Haym was arrested in September,

1776 by the British as a spy. Prisoners of war were not lucky. They were treated harshly;

often having little food and living in squalid conditions.

Bro. Haym was taken to a converted prison called Sugar House because it was originally

a warehouse to brick sugar. There was no roof above them and they suffered through the

ailments. But Bro. Haym had a special weapon he didn’t even realize. The British hired

the German Hessians to fight, but they had a hard time communicating. One guard no-

ticed that Haym was able to talk to the Germans and he soon became an interpreter for

the British.

At the time, he spoke 8 or 9 languages and the British stationed him with a German

named Heister, who was in charge of the Hessian mercenaries. Bro. Haym worked as an

interpreter for Heister, and this gave him a considerable degree of free movement. He

used some of this time and energy to persuade Hessians to switch sides.

His passion for liberty never waned. While talking to the Germans he added extra words

of his own, telling them about the opportunities found in America and how they could

Cross Keys Dec. 2015

An American Spy? (Ctd)

live here and not fight for the British. He also continued collecting information in what

he saw all around him. He was eventually released for his service and he went back to

making money, but this time marrying Rachel Franks and having their first child.

He continued to help the Americans, often by taking care of hurt soldiers in his

home. Again Bro. Haym was arrested after a Loyalist heard moans from his house and

turned him into the British authorities. This time there was no mistaking that he was a

spy, and that meant death by hanging. The big event was scheduled for August 11,

1778.

The Sons of Liberty learned of Bro. Haym’s plight and smuggled in escape plans. He was

able to conceal some gold coins which bought his freedom from a greedy guard. He was

smuggled out of the city, making his way to Philadelphia, and settling down to work,

once again penniless. His successes were immediate and grand, and he soon found him-

self a very rich man.

In August 1781, the Continental Army had trapped Lieutenant General Charles Cornwal-

lis in the little Virginia coastal town of Yorktown. Bro. George Washington

(Fredericksburgh Lodge No. 4) and the main army and Count de Rochambeau with his

French army decided to march from the Hudson Highlands to Yorktown and deliver the

final blow. But Bro. Washington's war chest was completely empty, as was that of Con-

gress. Bro. Washington determined that he needed at least $20,000 to finance the cam-

paign. When Morris told him there were no funds and no credit available, Washington

gave him a simple but eloquent order: "Send for Haym Solomon". Bro. Solomon raised

$20,000, through the sale of bills of exchange, and Bro. Washington conducted the York-

town campaign, which proved to be the final battle of the Revolution.

Bro. Solomon negotiated the sale of a majority of the war aid from France and the Dutch

Republic, selling bills of exchange to American merchants. Bro. Solomon also personally

supported various members of the Continental Congress during their stay in Philadelph-

ia, including Bro. James Madison (Hiram Lodge No. 59, Westmoreland Courthouse, Vir-

ginia) and James Wilson. Acting as the patriot he was, he requested below market inter-

est rates, and he never asked for repayment.

Bro. Solomon is believed to have granted outright bequests to men he felt were unsung

heroes of the Revolution who had become impoverished during the conflict. One exam-

ple is Dr. Bodo Otto, senior surgeon in the continental army. Dr. Otto joined the army at

the age of 65 and served for the entire war. Among other things, he established the hos-

pital at Valley Forge were he often used his own funds to purchase medical sup-

plies. Thanks to Solomon's bequest, Dr. Otto was able to rebuild his medical practice in

Reading, Pennsylvania at war's end.

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An American Spy? (Ctd)

The Treaty of Paris, signed on September 3, 1783, ended the Revolutionary War but not

the financial problems of the newly established nation. America's war debt to France was

never properly repaid, which started the cascade of events leading to the French Revolu-

tion.

When Morris, the National Superintendent of Finance, approached him with need for

money for the army, he was quick in his reply. He ended up providing the struggling

government with over $200,000 of his own money (equivalent to $3.5 million today). He

was so trusted and respected he was even put in charge of France’s finances in Ameri-

ca. Good thing he also knew French.

He died on January 6th, 1785, he was survived by his wife Rachel and their three children

(plus one born three months after his death).

The U.S. Postal Service honoured him by putting him on a stamp and naming him the

“financial hero of the American Revolution.”

Commemoration:

· In 1893, a bill was presented before the 52nd United States Congress ordering

a gold medal be struck in recognition of Salomon contributions to the United States.

· Hollywood saluted Salomon with the 1939 short Sons of Liberty starring

Claude Rains as the patriot. (see IMDB under Claude Rains)

· In 1941, the writer Howard Fast wrote a book Haym Salomon, Son of Liber-

ty. That same year, the Heald Square Monument, a sculpture designed by Lorado

Taft was erected at Wacker Drive and Wabash Avenue in downtown Chicago. Taft

began the work but died in 1936. It was completed by his associate, Leonard Cru-

nelle. The monument depicts George Washington flanked by Salomon and Robert

Morris and grasping hands with both men.

· In 1946, a memorial statue was erected to Salomon at Hollenbeck Park in Los

Angeles. The statue was rededicated in 2008 at Pan-Pacific Park in the Fairfax Dis-

trict, where it can be found on the corner of Gardner and Third Street.

· In 1939, Warner Brothers released Sons of Liberty, a short film starring Claude

Rains as Solomon.

· In World War II, the United States liberty ship SS Haym Salomon was named

in his honour.

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Message from our Retiring Master

I could not pass up another opportunity to

thank you for your support during my time

as master. I can honestly say it has been one

of the most wonderful years in my life.

The honour of being the third member of

my family to hold the office and the birth of

my son Harrison within two months of each

other has given a fresh perspective of life in

general and another reason to want to en-

sure the future of our fine old lodge.

In these last few months I have been greeted by many distinguished brethren from 242

and throughout the province with the words "you have had a fine year"; it is hard not to

look to the past and compare such a statement in a wider context.

For that brother, I take you back to 1948/49, special years not only as they proceeded the

war but it was also the years my great grandfather Bro. David McCulloch served as Mas-

ter. During his two-year term, a staggering 67 initiates and 2 affiliations were ad-

mitted into Lodge Houstoun St Johnstone. To put that into perspective our average

attendance in 2014/5 was 68 and we would need to combine all new initiates from our

36 sister lodges to reach that number. The years following Bro. McCulloch's term contin-

ued a similar fashion until relatively recently with many of our Past Masters including by

own father Bro. Stuart Black enjoying such prosperous times that 5 candidates a meeting

allow. (It must be stated that attendances have not correlated with the number o f initiates

and retention has always been a problem.) My own term as master was conducted under very

different circumstances and the days in which we turn out 'masons' right, left and centre

are gone forever. The days in which we fill progressive offices with newer members are

beginning to look like a distant memory and even the new floor workers could be aver-

aged out as nearly 1 every 2-3 years.

With this information in mind is it fair to argue that I had a 'fine year'? ...... Absolutely!!

I have cherished the company of my own brethren in one of the most respected and well

attended lodges in the province for our 17 regular meetings, 4 visitations, and our joint

divine service with 1042. Social occasions like the Kids’ Christmas Pantomime, Christ-

mas Dance and a sold out Sportsman's Dinner have added to the privilege. I have re-

joiced in the opportunity to represent our lodge both within and out with the province

and although there have been nights where lodges have struggled to have enough breth-

ren present to constitute a meeting, there have been many where I have been lucky to get

a seat thus demonstrating a future for freemasonry in some capacity!

PTO

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Highlights of my year have included leading a deputation of reigning masters into Lodge

Captain Speirs the day after my installation welcomed by Bro. Graham Tidd RWM, head-

ing many deputations to sister lodges and obligating one of my closest friends Bro. Colin

Ross as an Entered Apprentice. The help, support and guidance from my installing mas-

ters my old da' Bro. Stuart Black PM and the indefatigable Bros. David Grimsley PM,

IPM Allan Stobo Jr. and Sec. Danny Birrell PM has been invaluable and provided that bit

of extra confidence to ensure the smooth running on the lodge.

We have now reached a crossroads in Freemasonry in this country, in the province and

in our lodge, to ensure that new members of our organisation are afforded the same op-

portunity to learn the true tenets of our society, the bond of friendship, and if they wish

to do so, the honour of progressing to the chair we must search for the positives, rejoice

in our history but not cling on to it to the detriment of our future. I look forward to con-

tinuing to serve the lodge in whatever capacity I can and to offering the same support to

the brethren that I have been afforded.

I finish by congratulating Bro. Ian Rogers and wish him the best of luck for another 'fine

year' in the history of Lodge Houstoun St Johnstone.

Bro David Black IPM 242

Message from our Retiring Master (ctd)

Interesting Statement We’re never going to get back to what we were before the First World War, because irre-

spective of numbers killed, people are not clubbable any more. In 1914, for example, there

were 1.2 million Oddfellows, now there are 200,000, and less than a thousand meet in lodg-

es. Fraternal societies everywhere are struggling, and they’re never going to get back to

what they were, but I think we’re bucking the trend in the Orange, I do. We’re returning

more every year – not massively more, but we are returning more every year, and in a time

when people are not clubbable. I’m sure people would say we are anachronistic, in that we

hold to the old values and loyalties that we do, but nevertheless we do hold to them. There’s

so much change and so much situational ethics, and I think it’s part of the human spirit

that it wants a degree of certainty – it wants to know that this that I was brought up to be-

lieve in, it’s still true.

This is a statement from Richard Harvey, Grand Chaplain of the Grand Orange Lodge of

England, and member of LOL 844 in Sheffield. Although the Orange & the Masonic are

completely unrelated, there are obvious similarities. I think the term ‘clubbable’ sums up

many young people today—even the messes in the Army today are empty despite hav-

ing heavily subsidised drinks and an encouraged camaraderie.

Cross Keys Dec. 2015

Bro. Sir William Arrol 1839—1913 Few Societies can boast a more illustrious member amongst their an-

nals than Sir William Arrol.

Born in Houston, Renfrewshire in 1839, Arrol was not afforded the ed-

ucation and auspicious advantages of his contemporaries. He was born

into a family who were not of sufficient means to provide him with a

formal education and as such began work at the age of 10 in the John-

stone Cotton Mill. By the age of 14 he had become a bobbin-maker with

J & P Coats at the Threadmills in Paisley. Not satisfied at plying a

trade, Arrol followed his instinct and sough employment more suited

to his interest with local Blacksmith - Thomas Reid, also in Paisley.

Here it was that Arrol realised his ability to work with metals and

gained the expertise which allowed him to take his skills elsewhere

throughout Scotland and the North of England. He became foreman at Laidlaw & Sons, Boiler-

makers in Glasgow at the age of 24 and by the age of 29 in 1868 he had set himself up in Business

in Glasgow’s East End. Barely two years later, Arrol founded the Dalmarnock Iron Works which

was to become Sir William Arrol & Co; the single most important Civil Engineering Company in

British history.

In 1875 Arrol cemented the first standard of his reputation with the award of the contract for the

Bothwell viaduct spanning the river Clyde in South Lanarkshire near to Hamilton. Further pres-

tigious contracts followed, the rebuilding of the Tay Rail Bridge was entrusted to Arrol in

1882.The original bridge constructed by William Bouch tragi-

cally collapsed during a storm three years earlier with the loss

of 90 lives. With his credibility destroyed, Bouch was stripped

of the contact for the proposed Forth rail crossing and this was

awarded to Arrol in the same year. Construction of the Forth

Bridge took 8 years to complete. The bridge was opened on 4th

March, 1890, by the Prince of Wales, later to be King Edward

VII., and at the banquet held in celebration of the event H.R.H.

announced that Her Majesty Queen Victoria had resolved to confer the honour of knighthood on

the builder of the bridge. Spanning a total length of 8,296 feet, it was at that time the largest canti-

lever bridge in the world. It was also the first ever all steel

bridge construction in the United Kingdom. The span on

the Forth Bridge remains the second largest for a cantile-

ver bridge, even now, almost 125 years after its construc-

tion.

Four years prior to the completion of the Forth Bridge,

Arrol’s skill was to be employed in another project of

great prestige. London Bridge was fast approaching its

capacity and a solution was required to ease the strain. A

Special Bridge or Subway Committee had been formed in 1877, chaired by Sir Albert Joseph Altman, to find

a solution to the problem. The design of the new crossing was opened to public competition

which attracted 50 submissions. The evaluation of the designs was surrounded by controversy,

and it was not until 1884 that a design submitted by Sir Horace Jones, the City Architect (also one

of the judges) was approved. Work began on the new Tower Bridge in 1886 and Arrol was

charged with building the steel superstructure. The fabrication of the steel took place entirely at

Cross Keys Dec. 2015

Arrol’s works in Glasgow and was floated to London on

barges to be assembled by some 400 men who pieced the

structure together at the rate of only 200 rivets per day.

There were estimated to be over 2 million rivets used in

the construction of the Bridge. It was completed in the

space of 8 years and was officially opened on 30th June

1894 by The Prince of Wales.

In, 1908, Sir William Arrol & Co. was contracted by Har-

land and Wolff Shipyard, Belfast, to construct a large gantry (known as the Arrol Gantry) for the

construction of three new super-liners, one of which was called the RMS Titanic. Like the ships

themselves, the gantry crane was one of the largest built at the time, comparing with transporter

bridges in length, height and capability.

Other examples of Arrol’s ingenuity are the Titan Crane in Clydebank, the Nile Bridge in Egypt

and the Hawkesbury River Railway Bridge in Sydney Australia. The Titan Crane famously being

the only structure on the Clyde to survive “the Blitz” in 1941.

In the General Election of July, 1895 Arrol was returned as Member of

Parliament representing the Liberal Unionist Party for the Constituen-

cy of Ayrshire Southern where he was the M.P until 1906. Arrol died

in 1913 having spent his latter years at his Seafield Estate in Ayr. He is

buried at Woodside Cemetery in Paisley.

It will come as little surprise to learn that such an accomplished Gentleman was a member of the

Craft. It may come as more of a surprise to learn that on Thursday 15th, April 1869, William Arrol

became a member of Lodge Houstoun St. Johnstone; no 242. The Lodge minutes give his occupa-

tion as an “Engineer” and his name is suffixed by the letters JP, presumably standing for “Justice

of the Peace”. Little else is known of his Masonic career and there is no record of him ever having

been an Officer of the Lodge. However, he is forever 242 and it is our great privilege to have an

indisputable record of him in the annals of our history.

The Clydesdale Bank announced in 2014 that in the follow-

ing year it would be issuing the first polymer banknotes to

circulate in mainland Britain, the design would feature the

construction of the Forth Rail Bridge and pay tribute to it’s

Builder Sir William Arrol. The new plastic banknote was is-

sued in early 2015 and represents a portrait of Arrol on the

front whilst the rear features the Bridge itself .

It’s difficult to undertake a journey in the United Kingdom

without happening across one or more of Arrol’s astonishing achievements, it’s equally as diffi-

cult to imagine how you might make a trip without crossing a river that hasn’t been bridged by

Arrol or the engineering that he pioneered. Maybe the next time you are travelling you might

want to spare a thought when you arrive at your destination that it was, in all likelihood this 242

man that made it possible for you to get there.

Thanks to Bro. Garry Forbes PM 242

Bro. Sir William Arrol 1839—1913

Cross Keys Dec. 2015

English Footballers’ Lodge

For years, Freemasonry has battled conspiracy theories that its members secretly run the

world – but now the shadowy organisation is planning to rule the football field. This

week, the organisation’s Grand Master, the Duke of Kent, is set to grant a warrant for the

first Football Lodge – a place where members meet – in Hampshire. Players, managers

and referees who are Masons will gather four times a year to listen to guest lecturers

from the world of football as well as perform a series of Masonic rituals, though the or-

ganisation claims that many of the stereotypes, such as secret handshakes, are false.

In recent years the Masons have sought to expand their appeal by setting up a range of

‘special interest’ lodges. Groups include a biker gang called the Widows Sons and ‘a

Lodge of Brevity’ for the ‘modern man’ where meetings are about half the normal four

hours. The Football Association was formed in 1863 at the Freemasons’ Tavern in Lon-

don – now The Grand Connaught Rooms.

Stars including Sir Stanley Matthews (right), Dixie

Dean and Nat Lofthouse were all Masons. Freema-

sons are also responsible for Premier League team

Manchester City playing in the light blue of all Eng-

lish aprons. In 1894 the club was in a financial crisis

and was bailed out by Masons, who asked that in

return the team wear the Masonic colour of blue. A

petition to form a Football Lodge will be considered

at this week’s meeting of the Grand Master’s Coun-

cil.

From the Daily Mail: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3308796/Freemasons-Utd.html (8th November, 2015)

Perhaps ridden by the Sons

of the Widow bike group?!!

Cross Keys Dec. 2015

The Digitisation Project

Although there is a huge amount of Masonic material

(Minute Books, Financial Records, Application Forms,

Membership Registers, Research Lodge Transactions,

Year Books, Masonic Magazines and many, many, oth-

ers) there is no universally agreed/accepted common

method(s) of storing, repairing, protecting and digitis-

ing Masonic records. The Grand Lodge of Scotland bit

the bullet and devised its' own process for tackling the

problem.

Firstly, a large storage area used mainly for transient waste was cleared and shelving

added from floor to ceiling. This is a very large underground fireproof vault. In clearing

the clutter and erecting sturdy shelving we can now accept material from Lodges who

no longer have the facilities to store their records. It is, vitally important, in our opinion,

that as much Masonic material as possible is retained in Masonic buildings provided

they have the proper storage facilities. Some Scottish have, for good reason, transferred

their records to libraries and museums owned an operated by Local Government. In so

doing some failed to explain that these were only being deposited 'on loan' and so they

have become the property of Local Government and are no longer owned by Freema-

sons.

In one instance the situation is very serious in that because the library's policy is that

they cannot be copied in any way and can only be consulted by appointment. If that

were to apply to all Masonic records then future generations of Freemasons (and other

researchers for that matter) will have a monumental problem in accessing Masonic rec-

ords that are scattered all over the country. For that reason the GLoS decided to try and

centralise all Masonic records in Freemasons' Hall, Edinburgh. Unfortunately, the rec-

ords that have already been placed in other non-Masonic facilities are unlikely to be re-

turned to Masonic hands.

The fireproof vault in Freemasons' Hall is underground and tests has shown that the

environment (temperature, humidity etc.) are stable throughout the and suitable for

long term paper storage. The next step was to catalogue all the material (an ongoing

process) and in doing so identifying potential problems especially those that show

signs of mould. These are removed from the rest of the collection, bagged, and placed

in a freezer for six months to kill any mould spores. Thereafter the book, journal etc. is

assessed to determine whether or not further remedial action is required.

This will be the last article quoted in full—others will be cited as over the page.

Cross Keys Dec. 2015

Further articles on the GL Facebook Page

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Freemasons suspended in Malta

Two Party Nationalist (PN) members have

been suspended over their freemasonry links,

after they were found in breach of the party’s

code of ethics.

But PN deputy leader Mario de Marco (centre

right with both brethren) has told Malta Today

he was unaware of the participation of two

close political aides in a masonic lodge, and

urged them to disassociate themselves immedi-

ately.

Last week, Malta Today revealed that former

magistrate Carol Peralta, who retired from the bench in August 2015, had appeared in a

list of Maltese freemasons summoned to a meeting in France. The list included business-

men Olvin Galea and Jonathan Pace, who are De Marco’s long-time campaigners.

In comments to MaltaToday, De Marco said he has known Galea and Pace for many

years, but that he was “never aware or made aware of their alleged participation in any

Masonic lodge or similar association prior to the article that appeared in the MaltaToday

last Sunday.”

Galea and Pace spearheaded De Marco’s leadership campaign in the wake of the PN’s

2013 defeat. On one occasion, Galea and Pace were pictured together with Busuttil and

former Telemalta Corporation CEO Tony De Bono, who was also pictured with Galea in

masonic lodge events.

“I strongly disapprove of any such participation even if related to their personal or pri-

vate lives,” De Marco said, adding: “I urge them to immediately disassociate themselves

from any such lodge and desist from any further participation.” A spokesperson for the

Nationalist Party told Malta Today that membership of the PN and a secret society were

“incompatible”.

The moment the membership of Mr Galea and Mr Pace in the Malta Grand Lodge be-

came publicly known, they automatically stopped being members of the party.

It is good to see some brethren view their Craft membership as important.

Cross Keys Dec. 2015

December Events in 242

Thursday 10th—FCD by Thistle & Crown No.1167, Neilston

Thursday 24th—cancelled

Visit:

No visits until January 5th to St. Barchan No.156 to confer the

FC degree as first foots!

Anti Masonry Video Clip

VICHY — Freemasonry is to be suppressed in

France under a decree adopted by the government

of Marshal Henri Petain last night [Aug. 2] em-

powering Raphael Alibert, Minister of Justice, to

draft a decree dissolving all secret societies. Fol-

lowing, as it does, measures taken recently against

foreigners, this action is another step tending to

bring France’s policy into line with that of Germa-

ny and Italy, where Freemasonry has been pro-

scribed by the Nazi and Fascist governments.

Commenting on the decree, the newspaper ‘‘Le

Jour’’ said today: ‘‘It is a veritable abscess that the

government has just cut — an abscess which for

half a century poisoned the country so much that

it nearly perished. On the margin of the official

powers and more often against them, the policy of

the Third Republic was directed, under the re-

gime now fallen, by an occult and all-powerful force — that of the secret societies, and

notably of the most powerful and best organized of all — Freemasonry.’’

— New York Herald Tribune, Aug. 3, 1940.

Click on either photo to go to the page (no sound on video).

Cross Keys Dec. 2015

Paisley Abbey Preceptory

On Wednesday 18th November, Fr Eddie

Gray (of 242) was installed as Preceptor

of the Knight Templar Preceptory in

Maxwelton Road under District Grand

Priory of Strathclyde. Fr Eddie was

installed by Fr Ken Blackie PP (DM

242) and the officers by Bro. Sandy

Graham PP (MM 242 PM 156).

A superb cake was offered to knights

in the refectory and a thoroughly en-

joyable night was had by all the

knights in attendance.

Congratulations Fr. Eddie!

Grand Lodge Poppy Appeal

Once again, it was great to see Grand Lodge place

Poppy Crosses (and some Crescents and Stars of Da-

vid - for Muslims and Jews respectively) at the Scott

memorial in Edinburgh to represent every Scottish

lodge.

These are planted in the Scottish National Poppy

Garden in Princes' Street Gardens, Edinburgh. The

section is so large that it is 'marked off by' these

Grand Lodge signs planted on all four sides.

Cross Keys Dec. 2015

Victorian Windows Return to Greenock Town Hall

The old Victorian windows of the Greenock Town Hall have returned! The more creative

amongst us could see clear links to the imagery and teachings of the Craft. This led to the

hypothesis that perhaps when the Town Hall was being designed, the architects had

these windows put in the Lodge Room quite deliberately with the Masonic context in

mind. Or did the windows simply allude to the immense industries of the town of

Greenock at that time? These were the industries that led to our stately and superb Mu-

nicipal Buildings being constructed to reflect the importance of the town and as a state-

ment to all that Greenock was an important cog in the machine that was The British Em-

pire. The windows were removed during demolition work, but never returned.

As time went on, members of No XII, and some other Masons in the Province, increasing-

ly lamented the disappearance of the windows. Indeed, at different times we were told

that they had been lost or damaged beyond repair. Neither situation was true. Through

the efforts of the Brethren of No XII, the windows are now back adorning the Saloon!

In fact, the crates were stored in the basement of the Town Buildings. It took us a while,

some detective work by retired polis Bro Alex Galbraith, many meetings, more than a

few letters, multiple discussions and umpteen emails but we got there. Actually, we nev-

er believed that we would fail in our quest to get the windows re-installed. Ultimately,

the advocacy of Deputy Provost Bro David Wilson (an honorary member of No XII) was

absolutely crucial and we are very grateful to Inverclyde Council for its time in planning,

designing and funding the return. The first 6 windows are back in place with specially

installed lighting to accentuate them. Two are shown—visit the lodge to see the others.

Thanks to Bro. Bob Crossan WJW for the images and Bro. Iain White PM XII for the article.

Lodge Greenock Kilwinning No XII

The Saloon of the Town Hall, Greenock

Regular Meetings – 7.30pm 1st and 3rd Tuesdays – September to April

Cross Keys Dec. 2015

Bros. John Flannagan PM, Chris Walker (who

cooked the installation dinner) and Ross

Green—winners of the Lord Blytheswood

Bowling Trophy 2015 were presented with the

trophy by Bro. Neil Fraser SPGM at the start of

the meeting.

The fourth member of the team Bro. Jim Taylor

couldn't make the installation. Bro John

poured some whisky into the trophy at the har-

mony and passed it amongst the brethren.

Well done brethren. Same again next year!

Three Desperate Characters

Thanks to W Bro. Tony Campbell

PM Selsdon Park Lodge No.5005

(EC) for acquiring this matchbox

with the Grand Lodge of Scotland

logo. Picture show front and re-

verse with the date 1936 celebrating

the 200th Anniversary of the Grand

Lodge.

New Addition to 242 Cabinet

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242 Installation

On Friday 13th November, 2015 while events were about to kick off in Paris, Bro. Ian

McaFarlane Rogers was installed as master of the lodge by Bro. Brian Smolarek PM

while Bro. Ray Ganson PM installed the OBs. There were 136 brethren in attendance,

with 27 lodges being represented—proof of the amount of visiting Bro. Ian has done

over the last few years. 81 brethren were present in the installing board with our friends

from Selsdon park Lodge No.5005 in Croydon, London.

Above left, with his wardens Bros Garry Forbes JW & Graham Scott SW; and on the right with his installing masters

Bros. Ray Ganson (installed the OBs) & Brian Smolarek (installed the master). Below, the master with Bro. Neil Fra-

ser DPGM and the OBs.

Cross Keys Dec. 2015

In Memoriam

The dead are like the stars by day … withdrawn from mortal eye… yet not extinct that hold their way

In glory through the sky… .Spirits of bondage thus set free… .Vanish amidst immensity… While hu-

man thought… .Like human sight… .Fail to pursue…. Their trackless flight.

It is with deep sadness and much regret that we have to inform you of a loss sustained to the

craft in Renfrewshire in the passing to the Grand Lodge above of the following Brother:

Bro. David Reid

Support for Paris 13/11/15

Support for the atrocities in Paris last November was spectacular across the world as

shown below. On a personal note, I would also add my condolences to the families.

Cross Keys Dec. 2015

Thanks to Bro. Allan Stobo PM for proof reading.

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E-Mail: sec242pm@yahoo.co.uk

Lodge Website www.lodge242.co.uk