Let me start by telling you all a little about myself. I was born in the new town of Livingston (located just outside the city of Edinburgh), Scotland in July 1970.  My father joined the Craft in 1977 and both my parents joined the Order of the Eastern Star the following year.

My father stopped going to the lodges after a few years and became active as an Instructor in the Air Training Corps, until about 1999 when he decided to renew his Masonic Career.  Soon after my three sisters joined the Eastern Star (2 in Mid Calder and 1 in Livingston) and left me pretty much outside the Masonic Family.  I thought the Craft was invitational at this point and I kind of assumed that my Dad didn’t want me to join.

I was researching the Crusades in 2004 (which I have been doing on and off since I was teenager, fascinated by the Doctor Who story ‘The Crusades’ and the character of Nazir the Saracen in ‘Robin of Sherwood’) on the internet when I came across a link to Modern Day Knights Templars and its connection to Freemasonry and my interest was piqued.

I kept researching and trying to get my dad to answer questions, I had also been a bit wary of the Lodge because in Scotland its name is linked to The Orange Order – a anti-catholic order famous for its marches, but I was very much relieved when it was revealed that it had no part to play in Freemasonry.  Until in early 2005 I asked him why he hadn’t invited me to join the lodge and lo and behold he told me “you have to knock on the door of the lodge yourself”.

My application form was submitted to my father’s mother lodge (in the nearby town of Mid Calder) in April 2005.  I was proposed by my father and seconded by my Uncle. I was called to attend an Inquiry Meeting in November 2005 after which I was successfully balloted for membership.

I was initiated as an Entered Apprentice in Lodge St John Mid Calder, number 272 on the role of the Grand Lodge of Scotland on 17th January 2006.

I was passed as a Fellowcraft at the next meeting 7^th February 2006.

On 7^th March 2006 I was raised as a Master Mason and given the 5 points of fellowship lecture and demonstration by the Provincial Grand Master of Linlithgowshire, George M Preston.

Even before being Raised as a Master Mason I was aware of the Royal Arch (my father was a member) and wanted to join the Burnvale 397 Chapter of the Royal Arch, who also meet in my Mother Lodge’s building.

In Scotland you must be a Mark Master Mason to join the Royal Arch, so the Chapter graciously decided to work the Mark on me (otherwise I would have to wait until Christmas 2006 at the earliest to get my Mark in my Mother Lodge). So in April 2006 I was advanced to Mark Master Mason, with my dad being one of the overseers inspecting my work.

Just before the May 2006 Royal Arch meeting I was initiated in the Ancient Order of the Noble Cork by Dunearn 400 Lodge, meeting in Broxburn, this is a fun degree with the proceeds going to charity, I heartily recommend it to all mason’s

Then it was time to join the Royal Arch fully and I was exalted to Royal Arch Mason via the Excellent Master degree.  I have always enjoyed these degrees in the Royal Arch more than any other- I am drawn to the story and theatrics.

I should also mention that my father and I are prolific visitors, I attended my first Masonic meeting 2 nights after being made an Entered Apprentice, we carefully selected meetings I could attend as I progressed through the Blue degrees and the same was true in the Royal Arch – the night after being Exalted I attended a Royal Arch meeting in Edinburgh.

After a busy summer recess (I attended as many Lodge and Chapter meetings as I could find) I was admitted into the Mid Calder (260) Chapter of  the Order of the Eastern Star, which was attended and witnessed by my Mum and Dad and my three sisters in October 2006.

The same month I performed my first floor work in the lodge when I gave the North East Corner and 1st Degree Working Tools lectures as a prelude to becoming the Lodges Inner Guard, in the Royal Arch Chapter I  was nominated and accepted the position of 3rd Sojourner and was dually installed at the October meeting, Then in December 2006 I was installed as Inner Guard in my Mother Lodge.

Of course by now I wanted to know even more about Freemasonry, and as luck would have it I was chatting to a Freemason at a Royal Arch Burns Supper and after talking about the Cryptic Council he invited me to join the council.

So in the space of a month between February and March 2007 I was elevated as a Royal Ark Mariner, received as a Knight of the East and West at Burnvale (397) Lodge and Council along with being Honoured, Chosen and Greeted as a Royal and Select Master at Strathbrook (237) Cryptic Council.

A truly bewildering array of signs, tokens and words from 7 degrees.

In June 2007 I accepted a promotion at my work and relocated to South Yorkshire in England and for the next two years I only managed a few visits to my mother lodge, I was however still active in online Masonry and joined many Internet forums and groups.  I returned home to Scotland in March 2009 and immediately set about getting back into the Craft.

After just two months I was invited to join the Preceptory of the Lothians, Knights Templar which I was delighted to accept, I submitted my memorials right away and passed the ballot for membership in October 2009!

I joined the Corporation O’ Squaremen on Saturday 5th September in Kinross. where I was initiated in due style into Buchan Shed, I also decided to affiliate to the Linlithgowshire’s Lodge of Research and Instruction,  Lodge Pioneer 1305 which holds its meetings in Linlithgow, I was proposed by Brother William SC Renwick a past master for my mother lodge and Brother Tom Scott from Lodge Kirknewton and Ratho 85 and also the Depute Provincial Grand Master of Linlithgowshire.

On Thursday 24th September I stood in as 1st Sojourner in my Royal Arch Chapter in order to Exalt my brother in law Paul into the order. I was also then elected into that Position for 2009 – 2010, with the Installation taking place on the 22nd October 2009.

I became an affiliate member of Lodge Pioneer on 20^th November 2009, before being installed as Inner Guard for the second time in my mother lodge in Early December.

I entered my fifth year in Freemasonry in January 2010, My wife who had expressed a interest in joining the Order of the Eastern Star, when we returned home last March was finally initiated in February 2010.

Also in February 2010  I finished the York Rite of Freemasonry when I was completed as a Knights Templar, March 2010 brought my first Masonic Chair as I was elected Commander and Chief in Burnvale Lodge and Council.

As you can imagine I now have more than enough Masonic Activities to keep me occupied for years so I have decided to sit back now and enjoy the orders I have joined and the positions I have undertaken, as I continue my Masonic Career over the next few years.

Tags: Burnvale, Knights Templar, Linlithgowshire, Preceptory of the Lothians, Scotland, Scottish Freemason, St John Mid Calder, Strathbrock

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