St.Peter's Operative Lodge No.284

RWM Bro. Allan Waugh opened his Lodge in the First Degree, and after the minuets and all competent business were attended to there was an alarm, this proved to be the DOC of Lodge Allan Wilson 851 seeking the admission of the RWM and his Office Bearers of Lodge Allan Wilson 851. RWM Allan Waugh granted this request, and after their admission the RWM of St.Duthus Bro Allan Waugh extended fraternal greetings and invited the RWM Bro John A Fraser of Lodge Allan Wilson to his rightful place in the east which he accepted with pleasure.

It has to be noted that the RWM of Lodge Allan Wilson No.851, is also "First Grand Principal of the Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Scotland. Most Excellent Companion John Alexander Fraser was installed as First Grand Principal of the Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Scotland in Freemasons' Hall, Edinburgh, on 21st March, 2009 succeeding Most Excellent Companion Charles Iain Robert Wolrige Gordon of Esslemont who has recently been appointed Grand Master Mason of the Grand Lodge of Scotland.

Most Excellent Companion Fraser was initiated into Lodge Averon No 866 in 1964 and was Master thereof from 1972 to 1974.   He is also a member of Lodge Fortrose No 108.   He joined the Hebrides Royal Arch Chapter No 364 in 1966 and later affiliated to Cromarty Firth Royal Arch No 310 becoming its First Principal in 1974.  

He has served as Provincial Grand Master and also as Grand Superintendent of the Province of Ross and Cromarty. Appointed Second Grand Principal of the Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Scotland in 1998 he became Depute Grand "Z" in 2002 Most Excellent Companion Fraser is a member of various other Orders including the 30th Degree and the Royal Order of Scotland.

He is a Past Proxy District Grand Master of the the District Grand Lodge of Central South Africa and is currently the representative of of the Grand Lodge of India near the Grand Lodge of Scotland.

RWM Bro. Allan Waugh then offered the Gavel of authority to the RWM of Lodge Allan Wilson, which he accepted with pleasure. RWM Fraser then thanked RWM Allan Waugh and the brethren of St.Duthus for the warm welcome that he and his Office-Bearers received on entering his Lodge.

Bro Fraser then requested that the Office Bearers of Lodge St.Duthus vacate their positions in favor of the Office Bearers of Lodge Allan Wilson, this was duly done. Bro Fraser then passed the Lodge to the second degree, and then continued to work the Fellow Craft Degree with the assistance of his Office-bearers, which I must admit, with some variations to the way that we in St.Peter's and I'm sure St.Duthus work this degree. After the work in the degree was finished, and before handing the gavel of authority back to Bro Allan Waugh ,Bro Fraser thanked his Office-bearers for their assistance in the working of the degree, and also expressed  his thanks to the candidate for his attention and the way He conducted himself during the degree.

Bro Fraser then offered the gavel of authority back to the RWM of St.Duthus intimating that he hoped that the gavel had not lost any of it's Masonic luster while in his care but before accepting it, Bro Allan Waugh congratulated Bro Fraser and his Office-bearers on an excellent example of the working of the Fellow Craft Degree. Bro Allan Waugh also congratulated the candidate on taking his second regular step in Freemasonry and that he is now part of history in association with Lodge Allan Wilson No.851.

Bro Allan Waugh now accepted the gavel of authority back from Bro Fraser and expressed his pleasure and the proud feeling that he felt while witnessing the working of the degree in St.Duthus, and that the gavel has now been increased with Masonic luster. Bro Allan Waugh then proceeded to close his lodge but before doing so asked if any Brother had anything further to say for the good of Freemasonry, and there was quite a number of Brethren stood up wanting to have their say.

First was Bro Ramsey McGhee Provincial Grand Master of Ross and Cromarty, and who is also DOC of The Grand Lodge of Scotland. Bro McGhee first of all thanked Bro Waugh and the Brethren of St.Duthus for the warm welcome he received on entering his Lodge, he then congratulated RWM Bro Fraser and the Office bearers of Lodge Allan Wilson for an excellent working of the second degree, and also to the candidate in taking his second regular step in Freemasonry. Bro McGhee then went on to explain a bit of the history attached to Lodge Allan Wilson and that they had to more or less reform after their situation in Zimbabwe, which I am sure you would like to read the whole story regarding this affair,  I think you may find it on the Provincial Grand Lodge of Ross and Cromarty web site, or perhaps on The Grand Lodge of Scotland site, I will also be looking for it.
Bro McGhee then went on to extend fraternal greeting to all in attendance from the Provincial Grand Lodge of Ross and Cromarty.

Next was Bro Jim Hawthorn PM. SPGM of Caithness who passed on the apologies from RWPGM of Caithness and extended fraternal greetings from the Province of Caithness, and also congratulated RWM Bro Fraser and his Office bearers on a fine working of the second degree, and also to the candidate for the excellent manor he conducted himself during the working of the degree.

Next RWM Bro Dave Warren of St.Peter's offered fraternal greetings to RWM Bro Allan Waugh and to the Brethren of St.Duthus for the very warm welcome that he and his delegation from St.Peter's received on entering his Lodge, he also went on to say that it was a pleasure and a privilage to have witnessed such a fine working of a second degree performed by such a distinguished  Brother as Bro Fraser. And he also congratulated the candidate on taking his second regular step in Freemasonry.

Before Bro Allan Waugh finally closed his lodge he had one more important announcement to make, and to do this he asked Bro Andy Sutherland to stand in front of the alter facing east, Bro Sutherland with a look of shock and confusion on his face was totally unaware of what was going to happen next. Bro Allan Waugh then asked RWM Bro Dave Warren to take up his position by the alter, this created even more confusion on the face of Bro Sutherland. Bro Allan Waugh then handed the following proceedings over to Bro Dave Warren, who then went on to explain to Bro Sutherland and to all the Brethren in attendance what was about to happen.

After his brief explanation, Bro Dave Warren asked Bro Andy Sutherland if he would accept Honorary Membership of St.Peter's Operative Lodge No.284, again with a look of confusion and amazement on his face, Bro Andy Sutherland accepted with pleasure. Bro Dave Warren then proceeded with the necessary obligation required for this honor, and must be said was done with sincerity and some emotion.

On completion of the obligation Bro Dave Warren then explained to all in attendance the bond of friendship that exists between St.Duthus and St.Peter's which has now spanned 190 years, and was brought about with the help extended to St.Peter's when they sent a Petition to The Grand Lodge of Scotland requesting a Charter, which was granted 7th, Feb. 1820, and that St.Peter's might not even exist now but for the help of Lodge St.Duthus No.82, and thanked them for this deed.
Bro Dave Warren once again thanked Bro Andy Sutherland for accepting Honorary Membership and passed the proceedings back to RWM Bro Allan Waugh who thanked Bro Dave Warren on behalf of Lodge St.Duthus for the kind words and praise that he expressed on behalf of Lodge St.Peter's.

RWM Bro Allan Waugh now invited all in attendance to join him and the Brethren of Lodge St.Duthus to a harmony after the Lodge is closed, and asked all the Brethren to be upstanding to assist him in closing the Lodge which was done in due and ancient form.

Footnote

We all know what happened when the smoking ban came into effect, that it created a divide between smokers and no-smokers, meaning that smokers were no longer allowed to smoke in public places, so all establishments, pubs clubs etc, had to try and provide a suitable alternative for their smokers, at St.Peter's  the only alternative was that smokers would have to go outside the Lodge building to smoke their cigars and cigarettes, not a problem but this would mean that suitable dispensers had to be provided for the cigar and cigarette butts, otherwise this could create quite a mess after time with butts lying all over the entrance to our Lodge.

So what kind of ashtray did we come up with...A bucket of sand and water, which must be said looked very unsightly after a while. But we thought that this was better than drilling holes in the Lodge building to hang butt-boxes on. On a previous visit to Lodge St.Duthus we noticed that they had come up with the perfect solution, and after making some enquiries we set fourth to try and copy their example. Nothing was done for some time but in passing conversations, word must have got back to the ears of Bro Andy Sutherland, and without any hesitation set about to make a replica of their dispenser..(ashtray). After about four months of tireless and skilled workmanship he had finished his latest project and made arrangements to come to St.Peter's to install his state-of-the-art cigarette dispenser, which he did on, 16th Aug 2009.

  Andy receives his Honorary Diploma...Full Size                             Andy installs his State-Of-The-Art Dispenser..Full Size