If you are reading this, well done, you found the secret way into this site. Easter is past and May is on us, it will soon be time to look out the summer clothes, (some hope). the Lodge is having a special meeting on the 12th of May, someone quite famous joining the Lodge, so come along, you might see a Super Bowl ring. I'm always on the look out for things to put into the sites, so if you have any ideas, lets be having them. The Lodge has a great idea, they pick a Lodge every month hire a bus and visit it, its called their travel club and its paid for by a weekly subscription, why not contact Jimmy Peoples and fine out more about it!

The Donaldson household has new cat which we have adopted, Suzy, she's 6 years old and is a Maine Coon, which is an American breed.  A big Cat, very friendly and very timid, in fact the only thing small about her is her Meow. When I went into the web sites about this particular breed, I found out how much they sell for, does anyone know a vet that can reverse a cat that's been spayed! Anyway, Suzy has her own fan club, so watch out for the continuing adventures of this beautiful feline!

Well the lodge had the Burns supper, and by all accounts it was a great success, the speakers were brilliant, even me! the entertainers were even better. There is no doubt that the Lodge Burns supper in an event that is a must go! Why don't you come along next year, I'm sure you'll have a great time.

As you all know, I run the website for Lodge 76, well if you don't by now you should! and I've put in a new fun page, with a few interactive tricks and a few games you might like, have a look! Click here!

How did we survive?

If you lived as a child in the 40's, 50's, 60's or 70's, looking back, it's hard to believe that we have lived as long as we have... As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags. Our cots were covered with bright coloured lead-based paint. We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors, or cupboards, and when we rode our bikes we had no helmets. We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle. We would spend hours building go-carts out of scraps and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times we learned to solve the problem. We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on. No one was able to reach us all day. No mobile phones. Unthinkable.
We got cut and broke bones and broke teeth, and there were no law suits from these accidents. They were accidents. No one was to blame, but us. Remember accidents? We ate patty cakes, bread and butter, and drank cordial, but we were never overweight...we were always outside playing. We shared one drink with four friends, from one bottle and no one died from this. We did not have Playstations, Nintendo 64, X-Boxes, video games, 65 channels on pay TV, video tape movies, surround sound, personal mobile phones, Personal Computers, Internet chat rooms ... we had friends.
We went outside and found them. We rode bikes or walked to a friend's home and knocked on the door, or rung the bell, or just walked in and talked to
them. Imagine such a thing. Without asking a parent! By ourselves! Out there in the cold cruel world! Without a guardian - how did we do it?
We made up games with sticks and tennis balls, and ate worms, and although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes, nor did the worms live inside us forever. Footy and netball had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't, had to learn to deal with disappointment..... Our actions were our own. Consequences were expected. No one to hide behind. The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke a law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law - imagine that! This generation has produced some of the best risk-takers and problem solvers and inventors, ever. The past 40 years has been an explosion of innovation and new ideas. We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned how to deal with it all.
And you're one of them. Congratulations!

Work has begun on the update of the Lodge's Origin, and about time I hear Paul Miller say, the idea is to put in on CD-Rom format and make it available to the Members of the Lodge, as the original booklet which was published in 1986 is out of print.

 I've no time scale for this yet, but I will put a bulletin in this home page once I have a better idea. Paul doesn't know it yet, but he will be the producer of the CD, well, it gives him something to do. I hope to include some photos and graphics, but this is still in the planning stages yet. Meanwhile, the above graphic is one that I made up years ago, which can be copied if any Brother would like to, it only works well on a white background.

This is another graphic I designed, I use it when I e-mail reply's on behalf of the Lodge web site, and if any Brother cares to use it, feel free for mail only, do not use it on any web sites please.

RWM Lodge 76
Thanks to all who attended the Lodge Installation on the 10th.

photo by Paul Miller ©

This website is copyright and belongs to J. Stewart Donaldson© do not copy or distribute any of the material in here without the permission of the owner. Everything in this web site is my own thoughts and in no way represents the views of any Masonic body. Any comments about the site, please contact me.