Visit to Masonic Lodges Penang, Malaysia Bro Alistair Glenny PM

The brethren of No XII do a lot of visiting.  Bro Alistair has taken this to a new level! He has supplied this report on his visit to Malaysia.

“From ancient times no Master or Fellow could be absent from the Lodge; especially, when warned to appear at it without incurring a severe censure, unless it appeared to the Master and Wardens that pure necessity hindered him.”                                                                                      
- Ancient Charge


During a recent stay in Malaysia visiting family, I was privileged to enhance my Masonic experiences with visits to three of the Lodges who meet with other Lodges, Chapters and associated Masonic organisations in the Masonic Temple on the Island of Penang. The building is undergoing extensive repairs and will soon be restored to its former glory, shown below.

Once, part of the Empire. Penang has many reminders of colonial presence which include Farquhar, Campbell, Argyll and Downing Streets, the Cameron Highlands with Bukit (Hill) Fraser, a monument to Queen Victoria, and the ubiquitous funicular railway that to this day still takes the ex-pats to the cool of a hill station.





On December 18^th 2014 I visited Lodge Scotia No 1003 SC which was formed and consecrated in 1906 and is a Lodge within the District Grand Lodge of the Middle East. Part of the business on this the last meeting of 2014 was to obligate the District Grand Standard Bearer by Substitute District Grand Master Bro Paul Manecksha.

A Xmas party, at which our Wives and partners joined, then took place providing a great opportunity to make new friends   

                                                         



On January 2^nd 2015 I visited Lodge Shamrock in Penang No 938 IC a young Lodge constituted on 8^th December 2007 warranted by The Grand Lodge of Ireland





Many of the brethren are also members and Office Bearers of the other Lodges who meet in the Temple, some of whom are included in the photograph above. This was the first meeting of the year and part of the business discussed was an application to increase the number of meetings – so the future looks bright!!

On both visits, I was accompanied by my Son-in-Law, Bro Simon Gray a member of Lodge Firth of Clyde Gourock No 626, and a resident of Penang.

As well as conveying fraternal greetings I left a synopsis of our Installation and that of RWM Bro Andrew Piggott of 626, a No XII tie and a No XII Mark Token. I also gave a brief history of our Lodge and as District Office Bearers were present, of our famous Provincial Grand Master of 275 years ago, Bro Alexander Drummond!

I also managed a third visit on January 7^th 2015 to The Royal Prince of Wales Lodge No 1555 EC when I witnessed an excellent Fellowcraft Degree carried out in a manner very similar to our own 2^nd Degree. This well attended meeting was the first for the new RWM Bro Syahril Rezwan Abdullah. Again I conveyed the best wishes of the brethren of Greenock Kilwinning Nox11


Alistair Glenny PM