Copyright © 2009 by The St Johns Operative Lodge Rutherglen No.347. All rights reserved.  RIGHT WORSHIPFUL MASTER’S TRAVELS 3 Dec 09 My first visit as RWM was to Lodge Dramatic 571 for their annual installation. The principal installing master was superb carrying out some exceptional ceremonial work. This was followed by about 120 brethren sitting down to a lovely meal and the harmony was tremendous with their own Junior Deacon in my opinion being the star of the show. Something to be recommended for those who have never witnessed it. 4 Dec 09 Accompanied by a number of 347 brethren I attended Lodge Toryglen 1561 installation. It was a great honour for me to lead a deputation albeit small of reigning masters. A very efficient ceremony was followed by the usual Toryglen harmony. It was good to chat and meet a couple of Brethren from Lodge Integrity in London. 5 Dec 09 I went along to Lodge St. John Busby 458 installation along with our IPM. I again went in with the deputation of reigning masters. Unfortunately I couldn’t stay for Lodge harmony on this occasion. 8 Dec 09 I visited our good friends at Pollokshaws Royal Arch 153 to witness their instruction class carry out an exemplification of the EA Degree. This was a fine degree and although there was a low turnout, another very enjoyable evening was had. 10 Dec 09 Along with our IPM Brian Keenan, PM Bob White, John Paton, and our Worthy Almoner Willie Kerr, I attended the installation at Lodge The Gael 609. There was a big turnout with 87 visitors representing 28 different Lodges. I stayed for some harmony but when I left, it was in typical Highland fashion just beginning! A good night.  12 Dec 09 I attended the installation of Lodge St. Andrew East Kilbride 524. This was an excellent ceremony by installing masters Derek and Ian Bell followed by a lovely meal and some entertaining harmony. 14 Dec 09 I went to Lodge Milncroft 1515 for the first time to see PM Billy Spencer of Cambuslang Royal Arch install master elect Jim Fox into the chair of King Solomon. Another excellent ceremony followed by some good food and harmony, and enough drink to sink a ship!   17 Dec 09 Along with several of the Brethren from 347 I attended the annual installation of Lodge Burnside 1361. RWM Paul Linnich was placed in the chair for a second year as RWM so the ceremony was shorter than usual allowing for some good harmony afterwards. Paul’s wife had prepared some lovely Italian food for the Brethren which was well appreciated. 18 Dec 09 Myself and a couple of the Brethren from 347 attended the annual installation at Lodge Cambuslang Royal Arch 114 to see Bro. Graham Hardie being installed as RWM. An excellent ceremony was witnessed throughout followed by some excellent harmony. The hospitality was first class, so much so that I have no recollection of events after consuming one rather large whisky! 28 Dec 09 With some of the Brethren from Lodge 347, I attended the annual installation of Rutherglen Royal Arch 116 to witness Bro. Jim Shields being placed in King Solomon’s chair. This was an excellent night with a huge attendance  with big deputations from Ayrshire and Alloa. Unfortunately on this occasion I couldn’t stay for the meal or harmony. 6 Jan 10 I visited Cambuslang Royal Arch 114 to see the new RWM’s first meeting.  I witnessed a very fine EA Degree by the Past Masters and Officebearers of the lodge on one of their new young candidates. A good evening was had on a bitterly cold night. 9 Jan 10 I took a trip out in heavy snow to the installation of Bro.John Forbes at Lodge Southern Cross 1243 who held their ceremony in Lodge Georgetown. This was Bother John’s second year in the chair and it really was a disappointing turnout considering the number of visits John had put in. He had brethren up from London and had organised a band for the harmony.  It was a brilliant harmony that went on all night, thoroughly enjoyable even if the weather had put people off coming. 11 Jan 10 I accompanied the deputation from Rutherglen Royal Arch 116 on their visit to Lodge Nitshill 1478 to witness them conferring an excellent MM Degree up to the usual very high standards they set. I was invited to the East and asked to comment on the degree. Unfortunately on this occasion I couldn’t stay. 14 Jan 10 Along with the IPM of The Operative Lodge of Airdrie 203 I visited Lodge HLI RHF 1459 for a specially arranged meeting to see Partick St Mary’s 117 confer an EA Degree on four of their candidates. They brought along a very fine deputation, it was a very fine and full degree and some good harmony was had by all. I even won a litre bottle of vodka in the raffle. Happy Days! 15 Jan 10 This was my first official visitation as RWM and it was to Lodge Toryglen 1561. There were 26 brethren in my deputation and we conferred a FC Degree on one of their candidates. I have to say I was a bit nervous but conferring the obligation soon put me at ease. I also carried out the final charge. The harmony was good and the top table was busy and folk had a great night. 18 Jan 10 I visited Lodge Buchannan 1499 and went in with the deputation from Livingstone 599 from Blantyre. There was a very large turnout and we witnessed an excellent FC Degree. I enjoyed some harmony with the brethren before returning home. 20 Jan 10 Myself and Davie Murray PM went along to Cambuslang Royal Arch 114. I went in with the deputation from Lodge Buchannan 1499 and for the second time in a week witnessed another very fine FC Degree ably conferred by the PM’s and office bearers of Buchannan. This turned out to be quite a late night given it was midweek and the hospitality from 114 was superb as usual. 21 Jan 10 For the third time this week I witnessed another FC Degree this time when I visited Lodge Burnside 1361. Lodge Douglas 1557 were the visitors and their degree work was flawless. Unfortunately I couldn’t stay on this occasion. 22 Jan 10 Myself and 5 other brethren from 347 went along to Lodge Glasgow at Glasgow 441 on a rare opportunity we had to visit as they meet on the same nights usually as ourselves but January being a five Friday month afforded us this chance. We witnessed a fine EA Degree on one of their candidates conferred by the past masters and office bearers of the Lodge. We enjoyed some haggis, tatties and neeps afterwards with some Burns poetry and songs. An excellent evening.  26 Jan 10 Supported by a handful of brethren from 347 I visited Lodge St. Andrew 524 in East Kilbride where we witnessed their own wardens and deacons ably conferring an EA Degree on two candidates. I was asked to comment on the degree and passed on fraternal greetings before enjoying an hour of harmony. 27 Jan 10 Accompanied by my two wardens and our newest FC mason, I returned to East Kilbride this time to visit Lodge McLaren 1688 to see the past masters of Lodge St. Christopher 1453 carry out an excellent exemplification of the FC Degree. There was a large visiting deputation and for the second night in a row I was again asked to comment on the degree.  3 Feb 10 This was an official visit to Cambuslang Royal Arch 114 to confer an EA Degree on two candidates. I headed a deputation of 18 brethren. The degree went very well and we enjoyed some fine harmony and hospitality before making our way home in heavy snow! 4 Feb 10 Myself and our WSW attended the first quarterly meeting of Grand Lodge in Edinburgh along with the RWM and WSW of Lodge Toryglen. It was good to catch up with some old friends and there was deputations there from Grand Lodge of Greece, France and Canada. Nothing of any great note came from the meeting. 5 Feb 10 My 3^rd official visit was to our good friends at Rutherglen Royal Arch 114 to confer the Fellowcraft Degree on one of their candidates. The RWM of Lodge Douglas accompanied our deputation boosting it to a healthy 23 bodies. The degree went very well and I myself did the obligation and final charge. The majority of our deputation enjoyed some fine 114 hospitality. 9 Feb 10 I visited my good friends at Lodge Scotia 178, my first time as RWM. There was a deputation from Ontario in Canada headed by the Very Worshipful Bro. Roy Cummings, Past Grand Steward St. Andrews 593 giving an overview of their three degrees, acting out certain parts of each one. Their EA and FC Degrees are very very similar to the way we confer ours here but the MM Degree was a little different. There was an excellent final charge unique to that area in Canada. This was a break from the norm and the fact that there were over 100 in the temple from many different Lodges, including 11 reigning masters showed just how many had heard about the Canadians coming over. The meal and harmony were first class, with the boys from Canada contributing and thoroughly enjoying themselves. Lodge Scotia are to be congratulated on their superb friendship and hospitality.   10 Feb 10     I visited Lodge Cadder Freestone 1584 for the first time in a while and went in with     the deputation from Lodge Possilpark 1330. I witnessed a fine FC Degree by a good     mix of Past Masters and Office Bearers. The temple was quite busy with 81 in     attendance, 31 of which were visitors and 6 of which were reigning masters. I stayed     for a little bit of harmony before heading home.  Visits