===== Lodge St Mary Coltness donates money to charities =====

A cheque of £400 was made out to local Wishaw Charity, Lanarkshire Cancer Support Trust, Pictured L-R. Bro. David Higgins PM DM, Social Convenor Bro Eric Caldwell, a representative of the LCST Ms B. Young and Bro Hamish Mathieson SM. The Total of £400 was raised by the sale of pontoon tickets after regular meetings throughout the year. The Lodge would like to thank all of those who participated in this fundraising activity.

A cheque of £1,440 was made out to National Charity, MacMillan Nurses Cancer Support. Pictured L-R Social Convenor Bro Eric Caldwell, Bro Walter Barr, MacMillan Nurse representative Angela McCormack, Bro William Menzies IPM Secretary and Bro Archie Crockett SD. The total of £1,440 was raised by a sponsored walk attended by Members and Non-Members.

===== Lodge Open Day =====

Lodge St Mary Coltness No 31 will open it's doors to the public for the first on Saturday the 8th of September 2007, during this day members of the public are welcome to come along for a guided tour of the lodge temple between the hours of 12 and 3 the afternoon. Coffee and Tea will be provided for free to those who wish to attend the tour. Everyone is welcome to come along and we look forward to seeing you at the event.

===== Distinguished Service Award =====

Pictured above is a deputation from the Provincial Grand Lodge of Lanarkshire Middle Ward headed by Worshipful Depute Provincial Grand Master Bro James Shanks who was accompanied by the R.W.P.G.M. Bro James L Jack who had come along at the lodges request to present Bro David Jarvie Johnston Almoner with a Distinguished Service Award for his service to the Lodge.

===== Message from R.W.M =====

RWM Stan Sweeney sends greeting to all brethren and visitors to Lodge St. Mary Coltness no. 31's website.

2007 has been an eventful year for the Lodge so far. January saw a party of twelve brethren from both St Mary Coltness no 31 and our Sister Lodge, Lodge Mauldslie Castle no 1630 travel to Argyll for the installation of Lodge St John Inverary, no 50. This was a most enjoyable weekend trip, and a fine time was had by all brethren.

Friday 2nd of February was our annual Burn's Supper, which proved to be a most successful night, with great company, fine food, good music from the Clyde Valley Pipe Band, plus an impromptu appearance from a trio by tha name of The Drouthie Neighbours. The Immortal Memory was given by Alan Stevenson, while Archie Gilbert proposed the Toast to the Lassies. Thanks are due to the evening's Chairman, Bro Tom Mossie, organiser Bro Archie Sands PM, and to Bro Ian Nelson PM for his address to the Haggis.

On Saturday 3rd of February, we were proud to hand over the £1650 to the Friends of Emma Goodman. This money was raised as a result of our Sponsored Walk from Bridge of Orchy to Tyndrum, last November. Emma Goodman is a local 15-year old girl who has been diagnosed as having Motor Neurone Disease. Thanks to all who took part in the walk, or who helped in the fundraising in any way.

Next month will see our annual Senior Member's Get-Together, and we look forward to another fine evenng of good food and fine entertainment.

Regards
RWM Stan Sweeney

===== Friends of Emma Appeal =====

R.W.M Stanley Sweeney would once again like to thank all members and friends of lodge St. Mary Coltness no.31 for their continuous charity work and for recently taking part in the sponsored walk from bridge of Orkney to Tindrum in aid of the friends of Emma Appeal.

Emma Berry Goodman is a 15 year old girl from Larkhall who has sadly, recently been diagnosed with Motor Neuron disease which is a progressive illness. Sadly Emma is now in a wheel chair. The event was organised by Brother Eric Caldwell (social & charity convener) the fantastic sum of £1650 was raised, and was handed over to Friends of Emma appeal organisers Alison Corbett & Diane Winchester.

(click photo to enlarge)

Photo: From L to R: Brother Eric Caldwell, Alison Corbett, Diane Winchester & R.W.M Stanley Sweeney (photo by Walter Barr)

===== Holiday Wishes =====

"Right Worshipful Master Bro Stan Sweeney wishes a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year to the brethren, friends and families of Lodge St. Mary Coltness No. 31. I hope you have a happy, successful and prosperous 2007."

-- R.W.M. Bro. Stan Sweeney

"I wish you all the best over the holiday period and hope you all have an excellent 2007. 2006 has seen the start of the new website, I hope you all enjoy the site and will keep coming back in 2007."

-- Gordon Menzies, Webmaster.

===== M.M. Degree by Lodge 203 =====

On Thursday, 21st December the operative lodge of Airdrie No. 203 visited our lodge and on that occasion conferred an excellent rendering of the 3rd or high and sublime degree of an M.M. on the son of our I.P.M Bro William Menzies. Also on that night the R.W.M of Lodge 203 Bro Graeme Richards received honorary membership.

===== Bridge of Orchy - Sponsored Walk =====

On Sunday, 19th November, a group of 16 walkers headed North to walk from Bridge of Orchy to Tyndrum in order to raise money for Emma Berry Goodman, a fifteen year-old girl who lives with her mum, dad, brother and sister in Larkhall. Her life was like that of any teenager until January 2004, when she began to experience difficulty in walking. After extensive tests over a period of eighteen months, she has now been diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease, which is a progressive illness. Emma is now in a wheelchair and has been given a life expectancy of approximately three years.

The group of walkers was comprised mostly of members from St Mary Coltness no 31, ranging from our newest Entered Apprentice to Past Masters and current Reigning Master, and also included some non-members.

Thankfully, the weather held out, and even though it was late November, there was barely a drop of rain the whole day. A thoroughly enjoyable day was had by all.
A total of £1,650 was raised, for which we thank all those who took part, who raised money through sponsor forms, or who made a donation.

Photograph- click image to enlarge it - left to right:
Alan Crichton, Jim Pollock (at back), Scott Pollock, Joe Corrigan, Willie Menzies, Findlay Barr, John Wallace, Stan Sweeney, Eric Caldwell, Gerry Sweeney, Archie Crocket, Archie Sands, Grant Barr

===== Prize Winners =====

December £100 Prize draw:
John Scott

Christmas Hamper:
Senga Gilchrist and Lee Moffat

Christmas Draw:
1st Prize: Findlay Barr
2nd Prize: Alan Crichton
3rd Prize: John Scott
4th Prize: R. McMichael
5th Prize: Lesley Anderson
6th Prize: John Weir
7th Prize: Tom Sloey
8th Prize: Ian Robertson
9th Prize: Jessie Mathieson
10th Prize: Lesley-Ann Carnegy
11th Prize: John Weir
12th Prize: Jim McMillan
13th Prize: Jim Ballantyne
14th Prize: Norman Carnegy
15th Prize: D. McKenna

===== Visit to lodge 427 =====

We visited Lodge St Clair No. 427 on Wednesday 13th December, on that occasion R.W.M Bro Stan Sweeney headed a deputation of 20 and conferred and excellent Rendition of the F.C. Degree. On this night R.W.M Bro Stan Sweeney was honoured to receive honorary membership

===== Entered Apprentice Degree  =====

At our regular meeting on Thursday 7^th December, we enjoyed a fine rendition of the Entered Apprentice Degree, conferred by the Worshipful Senior Warden, Bro. Archie Sands PM, on two candidates, including his son Alan.

 We were privileged to have the pleasure of the company of the newly installed Depute Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Scotland, Bro Kenneth Kennedy, Past Master of Lodge Robert King Stewart No. 919, who had come along to witness a friend of his being initiated into Freemasonry.

===== A Message From R.W.M Bro Stan Sweeney =====

"A warm welcome to all visitors to this, the new Lodge St Mary Coltness No. 31 Website. Many thanks to our web designer Gordon Menzies.

I hope all visitors to this site enjoy finding out about the history, office-bearers, events and activities within the lodge.

Regards,
R.W.M Bro Stan Sweeney"

===== Presentation Dance - November 25th =====

Trophies were presented to the winners of the Games Night, Fishing Competitions and Golfing Competition. The winners were as follows:

Games Night:
Peter Farrell Trophy - William Menzies
Darts - John Hailstones
Bowling - Hamish Scott
Dominoes - Dougie Fleming (jnr)
Dominoes Doubles - Stan Sweeney (RWM) & William Noble
Conkers - William Noble

Fishing:
Heaviest Catch - Gerry Sweeney
Sea Fishing - Archie Crockett
Heaviest Bag - John Blyth
Smallest Catch - William Menzies

Golf:
Jim Pollock won all but one of the trophies, his clean sweep was stopped by Wilson Struthers.

£100 Monthly Draw was won by Robert Logan

Special Raffle Winner was Jane Robertson and the runner up was John Maxwell (RWM of lodge 1630)

===== District Grand Master of Central South Africa visits 31  =====

(Click image to enlarge)

Joining the recent deputation from lodge Mauldslie Castle No. 1630 was the Right Worshipful District Grand Master of Central South Africa Bro. Bob Law and the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master of Lanarkshire Upper-Ward Bro. Bill Landsborough. During the meeting Lodge Mauldslie Castle carried out an excellent rendering of the FC Degree.

Picture from Left to Right:
Bro Bob Law , RWM Bro John Maxwell, RWM Bro Stan Sweeney, Bro Bill Landsborough

===== Sponsored Walk - November 19th =====

16 Members and Friends of the lodge took part in a sponsored walk from Bridge of Orchy to Tyndrum to raise money for local girl suffering from Motor Neurone Disease.

Money is still coming in to be counted, amount raised will be published as soon as we have details on the exact value raised.

Thanks to all who took part and donated money.

If you wish to view the picture of the lodge on the right hand side in higher quality click on the image. or click here