Pictured, Bro.Gordon Mackay PM, Bro Ewan Mackay IPM and Bro. Trevor Cooke RWM
On the eve of March 23rd, 2023, beneath the timeworn rafters of Lodge St. Olaf 1188, the brethren gathered for their regular meeting. Yet, this was no ordinary assembly, for it bore a moment of profound significance—a ceremony to honor Immediate Past Master Brother Ewan Mackay, and to mark the enduring legacy of friendship and brotherhood that binds the Lodge across generations.
As the brethren filled the hall, their voices hushed in reverence, Trevor the Worshipful presided with an air of solemnity. At his side, Brother Ewan stood steadfast, unaware of the tribute soon to be bestowed upon him—a gift steeped in history and affection, bound by the threads of fate and memory.
It was Past Master Gordon Mackay (Ewan’s father) who rose to speak, his voice carrying the weight of the occasion. “Brethren,” he began, “tonight, we honor not only the service of Brother Ewan Mackay as Immediate Past Master but also the spirit of fraternity that transcends time. To mark this occasion, we present him with a jewel—a token of both honor and connection to one who shaped his path long before he walked it himself.”
The jewel in question was no ordinary ornament. It was the Past Master’s jewel once worn by Brother Kenny Davidson, a storied leader of Lodge St. Olaf who had held the office of R.W.M. from 1986 to 1988. Kenny had long since ascended to the Grand Lodge Above, leaving behind a legacy of kindness, humor, and literary prowess. Yet, through the mysteries of providence, this jewel now found its way to Brother Ewan, whose life had intertwined with Kenny’s in ways both unexpected and endearing.
Gordon recounted the tale of young Ewan, a mere lad of five summers, who had boldly opened the Mackay household door to greet the esteemed Kenny Davidson. With the confidence of a seasoned host, Ewan invited Kenny into the lounge and offered him a refreshment—whisky from the family drinks cupboard, no less! Kenny, suppressing his laughter, graciously declined, soon realising that Ewan’s mother was otherwise occupied upstairs. It was a scene of such innocent charm that Kenny would recount it with mirth for years to come.
Yet, their bond was not limited to whimsical anecdotes. Kenny, a prolific writer in the Doric tongue, had dedicated one of his works, I Ploomins Grep an’ Werd, to young Ewan when he was but 18 months old—a gesture that foretold the friendship that would bloom between them as the years unfolded.
When Kenny Davidson passed into the annals of Lodge history, his Past Master’s jewel was bequeathed to the Lodge, awaiting the right moment to shine once more. That moment came with Brother Ewan, a Lewis Mason whose own journey began in 2014, 15 years after Kenny had first departed.
The brethren of Lodge St. Olaf saw the symmetry in their connection, the echo of mentorship and memory that resonated between them. And so, with pride and purpose, they determined that this jewel should adorn the breast of Brother Ewan Mackay, a tangible link to the past and a beacon for the future.
Ewan, visibly moved as his father presented the jewel, expressed his surprise and gratitude. “It is not only an honor,” he said, “but a responsibility, to carry forward the spirit of those who came before us—of Kenny, who was a friend and mentor to my family, and of all those whose legacies guide our steps.”
With a wry grin, Trevor the Worshipful concluded the presentation with a sentiment that brought laughter to the hall. “We’re all for recycling at Lodge St. Olaf,” he declared, eliciting a round of hearty applause. Indeed, the gesture was emblematic of the Lodge’s ethos: not merely preserving history but repurposing it, imbuing it with new life and meaning.
Brother Ewan, now adorned with Kenny’s jewel and the Past Master’s apron of another family friend, the late Brother Derek Stephen, carried these symbols with pride. Together, they stood as reminders of the unbroken chain of fellowship that stretched from the Lodge’s earliest days to the present and beyond.
As the meeting concluded, the brethren gathered to congratulate Brother Ewan, their words mingling with shared memories of Kenny Davidson. The hall was alive with the spirit of fraternity, the ties of friendship and respect binding them as surely as the oaths they had sworn.
Thus, another chapter was written in the storied history of Lodge St. Olaf—a tale of jewels and memories, of laughter and loyalty, and of the enduring light of brotherhood that shines across generations.
The End… For Now.