The Virginia Craftsmen visit 242.

On October 5th  1987 , we at lodge Houstoun St Johnstone had the  honour and privilege of witnessing an exemplification  of the M.M. degree  conferred by The Virginia Craftsmen.  A Lodge from the Common Wealth of  Virginia in the United States of America

Opening ….  Brother James w Jackson presided and was supported by the following brethren …. Graham Bryson ..W.S.W.  John Flannigan.. W.J.W.  Archie Paterson.. S.D.  Stephen Johnston ..J.D… Stuart M’c Black  I.G. with Brother J. Ross  156 acting Tyler

Welcome….      The  R.W.M. then extended a warm welcome to the assembled brethren

Deputation …. A deputation from the P.G.L.O.R.E. headed by the  

From P.G.L      R.W.P.G.M. Brother Alexander Hutton was then welcomed in to the lodge. The P.G.M. brother Hutton was invited to the East where the usual exchange of the mallet took place .

Collection ….  The collection in order to “ defray” the expenses of the evening

was then uplifted and amounted to the sum of £ 180.

Deputation         Brother Samuel S.S. Reid PM / DOC  then presented 

Presented            Brother Allen E Roberts and the Brethren of the

& Welcomed      Virginia craftsmen to the R.W.M. of 242  who extended a warm and heartfelt welcome to the American brethren who numbered 14,  each of whom was dressed in the Gray and Yellow uniforms  similar to those worn by the officers in the confederate army during the American civil war. 

M.M. Degree    The office bearers from the Virginia Craftsmen then   Conferred        assumed control of the lodge and a superb  exemplification of the M.M. degree  was carried out on Brother Grant Macleod ..A master mason of 242  who was acting as the candidate for the ceremonial of the degree . At the conclusion of the Degree brother Roberts presented the lodge with a plaque bearing the badge of the Virginia craftsmen (Today this plaque hangs in the Masters Room)  he also presented replica jewels to the R.W.M. to Brother Hutton P.G.M. and to the candidate Brother Macleod and one to P.M.  David  Grimsley for “doing the spade work” in making the visitation possible. 

Mallet         Brother Roberts  then returned the mallet to Brother Jackson 

Returned     and there after  thanked  the brethren of 242  for the invitation allowing  the “Virginia craftsmen” to confer the M.M.  ceremonial and for the wonderful hospitality extended to his  Brethren and their ladies  at the dinner dance held in their honour the previous Friday evening at the Lyndhurst hotel.

 Vote of Thanks    On accepting the return of the mallet the R.W.M.  Brother Jackson congratulated  Brother Roberts and his degree team on the excellent manner in which the M.M. degree was conferred by the Virginia craftsmen and called on the assembled Brethren to pay wages for work , very well done.

The R.W.M.  brother  James  Jackson then presented Brother Roberts with a Gavel suitably inscribed to mark the occasion and personal gifts of  a 175th anniversary jewel and the lodge mark penny .

 P.G.M.     The R.W.P.G.M.  Brother Alexander Hutton expressed his delight in being present this evening and also added his congratulations to the brethren from Virginia for the exceptional presentation of the M.M. degree.

The  deputation from P.G.L. accompanied by Brother Roberts then retired to the adjacent.

There being no further business the lodge was closed in the M.M.  degree .