Members Page

This is a page for members to submit articles or post information on whatever topic they like.

I'll post some things here to get the ball rolling, and hopefully other Brethren will contribute.

My Father Bro. Tom McGuffie Snr., spotted this small piece in the local paper (Kilmarnock Standard 24th Dec. issue)

Pensioner Joe Baird revealed he had raised £1500 for a charitable trust after being moved by a short film on BBC's Songs of Praise. Joe, 70 of ------- Place, Kilmarnock said he had been touched by the TV piece on the Cooper Atkinson Charitable Trust for India. As a direct result he had put together a book of his poems and sold the publication to bring in the money

Bro. Joe is to be commended and congratulated for raising such a magnificent sum for his charity

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Poem by the late Bro. Charlie McWhirter

Bro. McWhirter was our Lodge Bard in 1989-90. As we gathered for our Annual Installation on the 30th March 1990, he presented me with the following poem he had written. Brethren, I have been a Freemason for some twenty years and this folded, hand-written piece of A4 paper, is something that I will dearly treasure for the rest of my life.  

To R.W.M. Tom McGuffie on his Installation 30-3-90

Congratulation on being installed in King Solomon's seat,
Five years you have slaved for this Lodge, quiet a feat,
It is a pleasure to see you sitting there to-night,
Having progressed one more step, in the path of light.

You are a Brother, with a spirit like elastic,
Springing to help, with a soul so divine,
You are firm, true, warm and enthusiastic,
Welcoming all Brothers, with the Masonic sign.

We are all ruled, by compass, square and level,
and in other Brothers company, we laugh, we sing, we revel,
Our Brothers here to-night, are heart and hand united,
To see such a pleasant Installation Ceremony, we are all delighted.

A true Mason, his country serves,
While freedom braces, all his nerves,
We help the Widow's Son, the poor, the cripple and the blind,
To prove to the World, the Mason, is a benefit to mankind.

Few outside our ancient craft, realise our greatest gift is Light,
Without this Heavenly commodity, it would always be night,
The trees, fruit and vegetables, would never ever seed,
All life on Earth would die, because there was nothing on which to feed.

Written by Brother Charles Lockhart McWhirter, Bard 1759

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This is the 250th anniversary jewel of my Mother Lodge, Lodge St. John K/K No.22 (see below), plus, attached to the ribbon is the Bicentenary Jewel, dated 1934. The Bicentenary jewel was given to my father by the wife of the late Past Master Bro. George Littlejohn of Lodge St. John, who then past it to me.

The "penny" below, commemorating the bicentenary of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky is an impressive and sizable (nearly 50mm in diameter) piece. It was a gift from a Brother I met while on holiday over in America a few years ago, and holds pride of place in my collection still.