PGLRE Annual Meeting and Installation

The Provincial Grand Lodge of Renfrewshire East’s Annual Meeting and Installation of Office-Bearers was held at Lodge Inchinnan No. 1405 on Saturday 27 January.

RWPGM Bro. Ronald E. Fraser opened Provincial Grand Lodge and welcomed a Deputation of Sister Provincial Grand Lodges headed by the RWPGM of Stirlingshire, Bro. Gordon W S Sewell.

A large Grand Lodge Deputation headed by Depute Grand Master Mason, Bro. William H Gauld was then welcomed into Provincial Grand Lodge by the PGM.

Eulogies were then given on behalf of Bro. William Wotherspoon PM of Lodge St. Chistopher No. 1453, Bro. William Watt PM of Lodge Moorpark No. 1263, and Bro. Douglas Nicol PM of Lodge St John Busby No.458. Reference was also made to the passing of Bro. Henry MacPherson PPGSW and PM of Lodge Paisley St Mirrin’s No. 129 and the mother of PSPGM, Bro. Kevin Pollock.

Bro. David Tayler, a MM of Sir George Cathcart No 617 and a retired Minister was installed as Provincial Grand Chaplain by PGM Bro. Ronald E Fraser, whose next duty was to present the outgoing PGSW Bro. Andew Greig with his PPGSW Apron and thank him for his time and effort in office.

The Installation of Provincial Grand Office-Bearers and Stewards was then carried out in impeccable manner by SPGMs Bro. Brian Shields and Bro. Scott Bogle.

Following that ceremony Honorary Grand Rank certificates and jewels were presented to PG Secretary Bro. William McMahon, Bro. Archibald Caldwell PM Lodge St Christopher No.1453 and Bro. Alan Graham PM Lodge Craigends No.1042. All three were warmly congratulated by the DGM and the PGM.

PG Almoner Bro. Douglas Fulton was then called to the edge of the carpet to receive Honorary Provincial Grand Rank of Senior Warden. Making the presentation, PGM Bro. Ronald E. Fraser recalled that this was the 9th year that Bro. Fulton has been installed as PG Almoner – an arduous task that he had fulfilled with enthusiasm – but which had prevented his progression through the ranks of Provincial Office-Bearers.

There was another final surprise when the RWM of Lodge Inchinnan Bro. Thomas McColl – who had earlier been invited to the East and thanked by the PGM for use of the Lodge premises for the meeting – was given the Honorary Provincial Grand Rank of Architect.

The evening concluded with a Burns theme Harmony with entertainment provided by Bro. Willie Fleming and Bro. Clark Leiper.