Toast to the Sister Provinces

by

Brother Sandy Thomson
Substitute Provincial Grand Master

Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master, Most Worshipful Grand Master, Distinguished Brethren and Brethren all, I am delighted to have been given the pleasure of proposing the toast to the prosperity of our guests from the various Sister Provincial Grand Lodges. I have done a little home work and I can confirm that we have 46 guests from 16 Sister Provinces in attendance. Brethren you are all most heartily welcome into the Province of Stirlingshire.

I recognise many familiar faces as I look around the hall and that is to my benefit. I can also see that we have several brethren who are attending for the first time and we give you an especially warm welcome into the Province. Some Brethren have travelled a considerable distance to join us today and to make our celebration complete. This fact is much appreciated and we wish you a safe journey home in the present stormy conditions.

In my two terms as a Commissioned Office-bearer I have enjoyed the hospitality, camaraderie and comradeship of the members of the Sister Provinces as we each attend Installations, Divine Services and other such special occasions.

I illustrate this statement by referring to my most recent attendance at the installation of Elective Office-bearers in the Province of the Scottish Borders last Saturday where I had a most enjoyable time.

I have made many valued friends over the years and I would want to thank you all for that friendship. It is very much appreciated by me. I bring to your attention two brethren in particular that have been an exceptional support to me. Firstly, Immediate Past Provincial Grand Master Brother James Livingstone who regularly sends me his monthly ‘West Column’ and so keeps me up to date on what is happening in the Province of Renfrewshire West and indeed further afield. Secondly, Worshipful Substitute Provincial Grand Master Brother Stewart Cruikshank from the Province of Ayrshire who has sent me a veritable library of thousands of photographs illustrating events that he and often times myself have attended over many years. This has allowed me to keep up to speed with the activities and events of the various Sister Provinces and indeed Grand Lodge.

We trust that you have all enjoyed your visit and short time with us today and that new friendships have been made.

To conclude Brethren, guests are an extremely important part of our Masonic meetings and therefore I hope that you have had an experience that will tempt you to return to the Province Stirlingshire. I assure you that you will be made most welcome.

Brethren of the Province of Stirlingshire please rise and join with me in a toast. I give you: the prosperity of the Sister Provincial Grand Lodges coupled with the name of Brother Douglas Fergie Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master of the Province of East Lothian.

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