The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Renfrewshire West was held within the Masonic Temple of Lodge Greenock St. John’s No. 175 on Friday 1^st February and it was very pleasing to have the initial problem of a short delay while extra seats were set up for the many brethren who crowded into the Lodge. On the evening, the brethren witnessed an excellent installation ceremony carried out in a friendly and dignified manner by Depute Provincial Grand Master, Brother John Williamson Black. For once all the elective office-bearers managed to make the meeting which allowed the opportunity to have a photograph taken with all the brethren present. We would welcome into the ranks of Provincial Grand Lodge our newest office-bearers, Brother Dr. Fraser Gray, who has taken on the role of Organist, Brother Alexander B Wilson, the office of Inner Guard and Brother John Tanner, the office of President of Stewards.

It was a delight to welcome into the Lodge many friends and visitors from sister Provinces including Argyll and the Isles, Ayrshire, Glasgow, Stirlingshire, Dunbartonshire, Renfrewshire East, Lanarkshire Middle Ward and Stirlingshire. On the evening, the deputation was headed by the Provincial Grand Master of Dunbartonshire, Brother James Forrest.

Answers on a postcard – what is the collective term for a group of Provincial Grand Masters? In this case, we had four Provincial Grand Masters present, from left to right – Brother William Steele, Provincial Grand Master of Ayrshire, Brother James Forrest, Provincial Grand Master of Dunbartonshire, our own Provincial Grand Master of course, Brother William A Perry, Provincial Grand Master of Lanarkshire Middle Ward and Brother James C Peddie, Provincial Grand Master of Glasgow.

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Brother George J Carson, Past Master of Lodge Crawfurdsburn No. 1121 and Honorary Provincial Grand Chaplain was called to higher service on Sunday 27^th January 2019 at the age of 92.

In addition to his life in Freemasonry, George was a well-loved member of the Royal West of Scotland Boat Club and was still enthusiastically rowing in recent years. However, Brother George’s love for freemasonry was legendary and he was a regular visitor at all the Lodges in the Province until very recently, enjoying not only the meetings themselves but the fellowship which followed.

As a mark of respect, the boat Club will lowered its colours to half-mast as his funeral procession passed by on the way to his committal at Greenock Crematorium on Wednesday 6^th February 2019.

George had been a member of Lodge Crawfurdsburn No. 1121 for over 66 years having been initiated on the 9^th January 1953, Passed on 10^th June 1953 and Raised on the 17^th November 1953. He served as a very popular Master of the Lodge and had the honour of installing his son George into the chair of their mother Lodge.

In 2017, in his 90^th year, he was presented with his jewel as Honorary Provincial Grand Chaplain, which he proudly wore are every meeting until his passing. The phrase is that we can hope for no more than to live respected and die regretted and this was never more true than when applied to Brother George Johnstone Carson PM.

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On Saturday 5 January I attended a very enjoyable Senior’s lunch at Lodge Crawfurdsburn No 1121.

On Tuesday 7 January I had the pleasure of heading a Deputation from PGL to Lodge Crawfursdburn No 1121 for the first Annual Visitation of the year where we enjoyed an excellent FC Degree and following the reports from PG Secretary and PG Treasurer, I was pleased to award the Lodge a Clear Minute for the session 2017-18.

On Friday 11 January accompanied by PG Sec Bro Alan Beck, I attended Lodge Greenock St John’s No 175 where we welcomed 3 new Initiates into the Province.

On Monday 14 January I attended Lodge Firth of Clyde Gourock No 626 and had the pleasure of welcoming 2 new Initiates into the Province.

On Tuesday 15 January I attended Lodge Greenock Kilwinning No 12 and enjoyed an excellent paper delivered by Bro John S Miller Immediate Past PGM of Renfrewshire East entitled “The Mission of Freemasonry”.

On Thursday 17 January I had the pleasure of heading a Deputation from PGL to Lodge Cumberland Kilwinning No 217 for their Annual Visitation where we enjoyed an excellent EA Degree and following the reports from PG Secretary and PG Treasurer, I was pleased to award the Lodge a Clear Minute for the session 2017-18. It was also good to note that 4 of the new Initiates into the Craft were present on that occasion.

On Saturday 19 January I attended Lodge Firth Clyde Gourock No 626 Annual Burn’s Supper.

On Saturday 27 January together with Dep PGM Bro John Black I attended the Annual Communication and Installation of Elective Office-bearers of the PG Lodge of Dunbartonshire and after the Installation we enjoyed an excellent dinner and hospitality. My thanks to IPPGM Bro James Livingstone and PG Sec Bro Alan Beck who attended a similar event on behalf of the Province at the PG Lodge of Renfrewshire East.

On Monday 28 January I had the pleasure of heading a Deputation from PGL to Lodge Firth of Clyde Gourock No 626 for their Annual Visitation where we enjoyed an excellent FC Degree and following the reports from PG Secretary and PG Treasurer, I was pleased to award the Lodge a Clear Minute for the session 2017-18.

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Some time ago, I advised that through Brother Jim Gardiner, PM1018 and Provincial Grand Chaplain of Dunbartonshire, I had come into possession of a number of hand-carved Crests of the former Burghs of Gourock, Greenock and Port Glasgow as well as one of Inverclyde Council and a clock depicting all four crests. These had been created by the father of Mrs Heather Clissett who is well known in the area for her fundraising activities on behalf of Erskine Hospital.

I offered these to the Lodges in the area through the medium of the Provincial Grand Lodge facebook page and I’m delighted to say that these crests are now the property of Lodge Firth of Clyde, Gourock No. 626 (Gourock), Lodge Greenock Kilwinning No. XII, (Greenock Crest) and Lodge Doric Kilwinning No. 68 who took the Port Glasgow and Inverclyde Crests as well as the clock.

The Lodges were very generous with their donations and as a result a total of £150 was raised and as Mrs Clissett has such connections with Erskine Hospital, it seemed appropriate that the sum was donated to that most worthy of causes.

It was a privilege to visit the hospital on Tuesday 22^nd January and hand over the cheque with the generosity of the Lodges being acknowledged on the organisation’s own website.

Bro. Jim Livingstone IPPGM

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