POSTED 2nd February 2020 – For the second year the Lodge held a Burns night celebration as part of its Festive Board. This is becoming so successful it seems this may become an annual event. Many thanks to those who assisted. Burns Night, celebrated on his birthday, 25th January, has become the second Scottish National Day, and is celebrated with Burns suppers around the world. The celebrations start with a general welcome and announcements, followed by the Selkirk Grace. Then the haggis is piped into the room and around the table, before the reading of the famous Address to a Haggis after which it is cut open and served, with neeps and tatties (turnip/swede and potatoes). During the meal, Burns’ Immortal Memory and other poems are read, toasts are proposed and drunk and the evening concludes with the singing of “Auld Lang Sein”.
A brief history of the man and his time as a Freemason is posted below. Rabbie Burns was Initiated as an Entered Apprentice at Saint David’s Lodge in Tarbolton on 4th July 1781, when he was 22, and Passed and Raised on 1st October, the same year. When this Lodge became dormant, he joined the Kilwinning Saint James Lodge, No. 135, and the minutes for 1784 show that he was heavily involved in Lodge business, attending all nine meetings, Passing and Raising Brethren, and generally helping to run the Lodge. In 1785, he was appointed Deputy Master, and between 1784 and 1788, his Lodge met 70 times. He was present at 33 of those meetings and occupied the Master’s Chair at 25 of them. He was exalted a Companion of the Royal Arch in May 1787 at the St. Ebbe’s Chapter in Eyemouth, and in token of their esteem, the Companions unanimously agreed to waive the usual admission fee. Over time, his fame grew and at a meeting of Lodge St. Andrew in Edinburgh in 1787, the Grand Master of Scotland, proposed a toast
POSTED 15th July 2019 – Several lodge members and guests attended a summer lunch on Sunday 14th July at Wyboston Lakes Hotel. In a relaxed atmosphere all enjoyed a good lunch.
POSTED 8TH APRIL 2019 – The annual Spring Lunch held on 7th April 2019 at the The Barnes Hotel in Bedford for Members, families and guests was enhanced by the presence of Lyndsey Wood Fund Raising Manager for Action Medical Research. This Charity is being supported this year by our Worshipful Master and the Lodge and raised £1000.00 from the raffle, donations and auctions held at the function.
A total of seventy people consisting of members, family and friends. attended. Pictures show Our Worship Master and Charity Steward presenting the cheque with the Toast Master watching on. Later the Toast Master is seen auctioning a Teddy for the Tender Loving Care Appeal.
Bedford Castle Lodge 