Saturday 21 February was a special day in the history of our Lodge. Our Past Master Bro. Alan M. Gray became Right Worshipful Master of Lodge St. James Doune No. 171 in the Province of Perthshire West.
In a ceremony that included many of Alan’s family, there were visitors from inside and outside the Province and from the English Constitution.
Alan affiliated to Lodge Doune in 2023 to support it. Like many lodges post-COVID, they struggled for Office-bearers. Having progressed through the offices, learning the differences in ritual from his Mother Lodge, the stage was set for this family affair of an Installation.
Alan’s Installing Masters were his neighbour and main Doune Installing Master Bro. Graham Orr PM, his relative Bro. Gerrard D. Dawson PM of 312 and his elder sibling Bro. Martin B. H. Gray. Alan’s younger brother Bro Michael J. Gray PM of 312 was Installing Senior Warden. Finally, Alan’s son Bro Alan Gray Jnr, Senior Warden of St. Nicholas University Lodge No. 93, in the Province of Aberdeen performed an unaccompanied solo, ‘How great Thou art’ with the brethren joining in at each chorus. Several moments of extra poignancy ran through the ceremony with references to the youngest Gray brother Alex who passed to the Grand Lodge above in 2024.
In a Tyle of 83 the following 312 brethren were there to support the new Right Worshipful Master: Bro. James G. White PM, Bro. Derek Irvine PM Chaplain, Bro. Sam Harris PM Tyler, Bro. Robert McGregor PM, Marshal, Senior Warden Bro. Derek A. Robertson, Bro. Sandy Renton, Bro. Ivan McMullan and Alex Gray’s sons Colin and Kevin Gray.
At the festival after the formalities, the new RWM promised his best for the Lodge with a renewed commitment to visiting inside and outside the Province. Bro. Orr, in a tradition of after-dinner fun with a new Doune Master, dressed Alan in disco era clothing and invited the assembled brethren to don their black moustaches. There were two brethren who provided songs during the harmony, one with a ukulele and the other guitar. First time there has been Metallica at an installation!
The family connections concluded when Alan’s wife Cathy and daughter Kirsty presented a fine celebration cake suitably decorated in Lodge colours.
So, from Alan going to Junior Warden where he enjoyed returning to being involved at every meeting and now installed to a chair of King Solomon, the Doune lodge now has Master potential candidates for the next six years.
Historically for our lodge, there have been 12 brethren of 312 who have been installed as Master in their affiliate lodge in over 200-years. Alan joins a very small group of three Past Masters who went on to be Master of their affiliated lodge. Robert McAulay PM, Cameron M. Fraser PM and Thomas J. Campbell, PM, DSC.
In what was a long and special day for Bro. Gray, we wish him every success for his term in office.
