Roving Mark Masons Reporter
This Time It’s North of the Border - Part 1
To Celebrate 60 Years as A Mason Back to where it All Started For W. Bro. Bernard Rourke
The Edinburgh Defensive Band Lodge No. 151
 
Well this great journey, a trip to look forward to all started early one overcast morning in Stockport, upwards of fifty of us, Masons, wives and partners gathered outside the Alma Hotel where the coach was waiting to transport us to Scotland, once we had parked up our own vehicles around the hotel we climbed aboard what was a really nice well equipped (posh) coach and made ourselves comfortable. Once Bernard (Rourke the Celebrant) and his wife Jesse had checked that we were all present and correct that was it, off we set into the wild blue yonder, well actually what I should have said was “we joined the rest of the early morning traffic jam on the M60” before joining the M61 and on to the M6 heading North.
Loading Up
Lets Go
The first stop was at the World Famous location “Gretna Green”, I had already had a Marmite butty and a swig of Dandelion and Burdock (as usual) but everyone on board made for one of the many eating places where they could get a variety of late morning breakfast or even a Big Mac and coffee. I had a mooch round a book shop and purchased some interesting reading a book with the title “The Secrets of your Handwriting” well I thought it was worth a look at anyway! Having checked we hadn’t lost anyone off we set again, the general traffic had really thinned out and a very relaxing journey was now enjoyed all the way to the Braids Hotel on the outskirts of Edinburgh arriving at around 4pm.  

The Hotel
View of Edinburgh Castle from Hotel
Once checked in everybody went for a good rest before the evening meal which was due to be served at 8 pm, there was good choice on the menu but whichever was chosen it had Haggis somewhere in the mix, which I did find a little weird but you know what they say join in, do as the locals do, but sticky toffee pudding, custard and Haggis is taking it a bit far, (only kidding) luckily I quite enjoy it. The first night was just for relaxing so most of us gathered around the very welcoming bar for a few drinks and a lot of chat in anticipation of tomorrows events.
Inside Hotel
Breakfast was served between 8 and 10 which again offered a great choice including Haggis sausage, I kid you not, following a hearty breakfast we made our way to the waiting coach, about 30 of us were heading for Roslyn Chapel whilst the rest of the party were going to spend a few hours shopping and looking around Edinburgh.
The visit to Roslyn will be Part 2 of this special visit.     
Ready for meeting
Later on that first day when everybody had returned from their adventures we once again gathered in the bar area, everyone was excited with the prospect of the evening ahead, the Ladies were heading for the theatre to watch “The Jersey Boys”, the men all attired in their usual dark suits were looking forward to visiting the very old Defensive Band Lodge No.151. for this special occasion.
Anti Room

The Lodge Awaits 1576
Having dropped the Ladies off we arrived in an undistinguished side street in the centre of Edinburgh where the Lodge was situated, now you may think we have road works in West Lancs and especially in the centre of Manchester well they are as nothing when compared to this city, you can see where you want to be but you just can’t get to it.!!. We piled off the bus and made our way upstairs as there just wasn’t anywhere else to go, we were greeted by several Masons which all seemed to be in different coloured aprons, yes and I hadn’t been drinking. To say the whole space available was on the small side is not an understatement, now I’m not sure if this is the usual meeting place or not as some things were a little vague, there are no summons produced for each meeting only a news letter every few months, here is an extract:-
Can I once again remind everyone, that the first meeting in January will be cancelled and a meeting will be advertised in the Edinburgh Evening News for a Degree on a five Tuesday month to compensate.

WM’s Chair
After Meeting
A warm welcome to Bro’s Byers, Brown and Kennedy who were Advanced together to the Honourable Degree of a Mark Master Mason on the First of May last.   REMAIN IN TEST. Don’t be caught out by being forgetful pay your dues by SO or spread your payments over the year by SO monthly instalments. Some Lodge officers we don’t have, Depute Master, Substitute Master, Bible Bearer, President of the Board of Stewards, Prov G.L.Office Bearer.

Now Smiling
& Austin
I did enter the Lodge room to take some photo’s as you will see, it was very plain and nothing out of the ordinary to see I’m afraid. We all waited in the corridor whilst the Lodge was opened then invited to parade in, several of us were in Mark Degree Regalia which is totally accepted in their Craft Lodge as that’s where Mark Masons are created.

Two Mark MM & Bernard
The Certificate
I had the honour of being presented to the WM as a chain bearing Grand Mark Officer, now that was special. Proceedings went along at a pace then it was time for W. Bro. Bernard Rourke to be escorted in to the Lodge and receive due acclaim for his 60 years as a Mason, a resumé of his private and Masonic life was given, he was then presented with an illuminated framed Certificate and a very special Jewel to commemorate his fine achievement.  

Festive Board
WM with his own bottle
Now you may think that was that but no, next up to our surprise was an Initiation Ceremony !! Now that’s what you call a long meeting. We all retired somewhat shell shocked but we quickly returned to the Lodge room to take some photo’s to record this special meeting even I managed to get in front of the camera, then it was off to the dining room, where was it in the building I still haven’t got a clue. We were served up a more homemade type of meal at the Festive Board, mince and tatties and vegetable soup now I’m not saying we didn’t have a sweet but maybe a few whisky’s were clouding my memory by now. Following on from the meal we had the usual Toasts and responses, then it was harmony time from one of the Masons who had travelled with us playing guitar and singing a few songs, which were all well received.

Happy Now
Don’t Ask
Basically that was it, time to say our goodbyes and thanks to members of the Edinburgh Defensive Band Lodge, we made our way to the end of street in the hope of waving down some taxis, now would you stop on seeing about 25 slightly sossled men waving at you, not to worry Bernard with the help of his wife Jesse had already organised our recovery, we got back to the hotel where we sat around for a while with another couple of whisky’s discussing what a great pleasure and success the evening had been and all the highlights we had shared together.  
Music Time
With Thanks to Jesse and Bernard Rourke a special couple who organised the whole trip
which went like clockwork.
Words and pictures by Austin N Fletcher. PGStwd.
Flixton Shepherd Eastwood. No. 1173
Link to Part 2