My meeting with a Brother from America.

Last year I had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of Bro. Stephen McKim of Octagon Lodge #511, Octagon, Indiana, USA.  For those of you that don't frequent these pages very often he's the creator of all the beautiful Masonic graphics that grace these pages.  Anyway to cut a long story short we soon became good friends & have been in regular touch ever since.

After 10 years in the planning Steve was finally getting his wish to visit Scotland & Ireland on a tour holiday, after discussing details it turned out that Steve would be in Nairn for one night.  Nairn is only 75 miles away, whilst this is a considerable distance, it is nothing compared to the 3,749 miles (I looked it up!) that normally separates us.

So on Sunday August 7^th., 2005, accompanied by my good lady Trudy we set off for the Newton Hotel in Nairn to meet with Steve & his good lady Debbie.

For those of you that read as far as this, I had one of the most enjoyable and memorable nights of my Masonic career.

Bro. Stephen McKim, a credit to his country, Grand Lodge of Indiana, his Mother Lodge Octagon #511 and the Craft in general.

Debbie, a Mason's wife and computer widow, but still she manages to smile !

Also on the night I was granted the honour and privilege of presenting Honorary Life Membership to Bro. McKim in recognition of all his hard work in creating not only beautiful, but original Masonic graphics for this site.

To conclude my page I would like to offer this advise to anyone who ever gets the chance to do something similar, grab the bull by both horns and go for gold, you won't regret it!

Bro. Duncan Russell (Webmaster)

Lodge St. Andrew #518