It was a fantastic evening yet again for the members and guests of Royal Victoria Lodge No 1013 at their meeting at Liverpool Masonic Hall. The meeting which took place in the Adams Suite was a well-attended event, as to be expected. The regular monthly meeting was opened in due form and ceremonial by the WM Stephen Lee, ably assisted by his officers. On conclusion of its normal business the lodge was called off to allow for the demonstration of a ‘third degree’ ceremony as worked by the Scottish Constitution.
Anyone who has witnessed the Scots’ method of bestowing this degree on a candidate knows it differs in some aspects with regard to our own ceremony in England. The Scots’ ceremony could be described as being of a more colourful performance; with the candidate more involved himself within the procedure. Boldly stepping up to the mark and pressing himself forward as ‘the candidate’ was the WM of Royal Victoria, Stephen Lee: either with the heart of a lion, or in blissful unawareness; he stepped forth to warm applause, and knowing smiles.
Led by their WM Jim Bennie, the deputation from Lodge Polmont No 793 had arrived in number, plus a few friends from Lodge Zetland No 391 in nearby Grangemouth. Lodge Polmont has quite an interesting history commencing in 1893. It was then that a dozen or so Freemasons met in a schoolroom at Brightons to consider the founding of a new Masonic lodge. The nearest existing lodges were located in the nearby towns of Grangemouth and Falkirk. Recent improvements in road and rail communications had made Brightons and nearby Polmont, lying on the Edinburgh/Glasgow line, a convenient location and the local expanding population would make a lodge in the district viable. The consecration of the lodge was held on 18 October by Provincial Grand Master of Stirlingshire George Christie. Lodge Polmont was extremely popular from the start and 21 months after George Christie consecrated the lodge, he was called upon to lay the foundation stone for the new premises in Maddiston Road, Brightons.
From this foundation the lodge continued to expand and the members of today are justly proud of their heritage and reputation and set great store by their ability to perform the ceremonial degree ritual to so high a standard. This was experienced by the members of Royal Victoria Lodge on the evening and WM Steve Lee in particular, of no doubt an event that will always remain in his memory.
