RWM Brother James Garside:
There’s an old Chinese (appropriately enough) curse… “May you live in interesting times”. The meaning is clear. Everything is easier when there’s not too much out of the ordinary happening. It’s when things get “interesting” that things get tough.
My first year as Master of the Lodge from November 2018 to 2019 was straightforward. It wasn’t easy, by any means, but I was getting to grips with the role – the work in the Lodge, the visits, the hospitality, the dinners and so forth. There was more than enough going on to keep me on my toes. My predecessors, Bro. John Waddell PM and Bro. Creighton Halliday PM, had set a high bar for deputations to other Lodges and I was keen to maintain the momentum.
Taking on a second year, 2019 to 2020, should have been straightforward. I had a year under my belt, was comfortable in the role of Master, and looked forward to cementing many of the strong relationships that myself and my team had established. Then the world took a very strange turn.
Very few of us had heard of Wuhan. A city in China which in December of 2019 became ground zero for something else we’d never heard of… Covid. And none of us appreciated for a second how much it would impact our daily lives and how much it would impact the Lodge… for the next three years! The lockdowns began early in 2020 and became more severe as the months passed.
As I handed over the reins in November 2022, I could look back on some strange new events in Lodge history, not least being the first Master to serve four consecutive years in the chair.
Then there was the first “virtual” meeting of the Lodge… now we ALL know about Zoom meetings, about shouting “You’re on Mute!” at others, while getting glimpses into each other’s lounge, kitchen, office or bedroom. Very quickly, we all had to become just that bit more adept at using technology.
It was almost two years later before the first “in person” meeting could take place, and even then everyone arrived, fully masked up, mumbling and muttering to each other through our face coverings. I do stare in wonder at the bizarre sight of our Lodge photograph from that initial return, with everyone’s face hidden behind masks.
In my second year before lockdown, in March, l was proud to see my son Bro. Marc Garside progress through all three degrees, something very special for me as reigning Master.
The return to normality proved short lived however, as Covid resurged and we were quickly shut down again for another period of virtual meetings.
I was determined that while in office I would strive to modernise our Lodge, including how it runs and how we look to the outside world. I am very proud of the results of that effort. Examples include pressing for this new, more professional looking website (thank you Bro. Steve Malloy) and the introduction of social media to the Brethren who I am pleased to say now happily embrace the use of WhatsApp and Facebook. As a modern lodge, we must continuously strive to improve our use of these essential tools.
Heading into my 3rd and 4th years l was continuously aware of, and thinking of, our older brethren. These were difficult times and and I was conscious of my duty to look to their well-being. This isn’t something you think about when going into the chair as you tend to think only of the positive things. Although we were back online again, this also raised some new challenges.
Having fully returned to “face to face” meetings in the latter half of 2022, I have to say what a tremendous tribute to our brethren it is that we came through this dark period intact and returned stronger than ever. As I stepped down from the chair and Brother Howard was installed, we had nearly 100 attendees at his installation, including 62 visitors representing 28 lodges. Incredible!
The support I’ve had from the brethren over the four years has been exceptional but, in particular, I must thank Bros. Derek Rankin PM and John Waddell PM for my installation, obviously a very significant event for me. Special mentions also for Bro. Robert Garrity PM for his ever-present advice and support and Bro. David Mackenzie for his tireless companionship “on the road”.
I hesitate to suggest that Brother Howard should have an “uninteresting” year, that’s impossible as Master of Lodge Pollok, but I do express the hope that it’s a more traditional year than the majority of mine were.