Bro. Raymond T Miller Presents Stewards Rods to Provincial Grand Lodge

Brother Raymond T. Miller
Past Substitute Provincial Grand Master
President of Grand Stewards in the Grand Lodge of Scotland

Brother Miller presented Stewards Rods to the Provincial Grand Lodge of Fife and Kinross at the Quarterly Communication at Balridgeburn Dunfermline on Saturday 25th. January 2014.

In presenting the rods he intimated that he had been Installed as President of Grand Stewards in the Grand Lodge of Scotland in November 2013 after a long and at times tedious journey. He went on to say that there are 46 Grand Stewards in Grand Lodge representing various Provinces. A Grand Steward is nominated by the Provincial Grand Master to represent the Province in Grand Lodge. Brother Miller said that he had been nominated by Brother Lord Elgin after the late Brother John Marshall had demitted office as President of Grand Stewards. On average a Brother elected to a Grand Steward takes approximately 25 years to reach the top.

He wanted to mark the occasion in some tangible way. The Rods and carrying box were over a year in design, procurement and production. He went on to say that as Provincial Grand Lodge is "Nomadic" in nature i.e. moves from Lodge to Lodge in the Province to hold our meetings a carrying box was required to transport the Rods with security.

The Vice President of Steward's Rod in Provincial Grand Lodge is embellished at the top with the Cornucopia in a laurel wreath. The cornucopia or horn of plenty is a symbol of abundance and nourishment. It is commonly depicted by a horn-shaped container overflowing with produce, flowers, nuts, other edibles.

In Greek Mythology the Cornucopia is one of the best-known myths which involves the birth and nurturance of the infant Zeus, who had to be hidden from his devouring father Cronus. He was hidden in a cave on Mount Ida on the island of Crete. Baby Zeus was cared for and protected by a number of divine attendants, including the goat Amalthea "Nourishing Goddess", who fed him with her milk. The suckling future king of the gods had unusual abilities and strength, and in playing with his nursemaid Amalthea accidentally broke off one of her horns In a token of reverence she offered the horn to Zeus. In turn using his divine power he agreed to provide unending nourishment to Amalthea.

In presenting The President of Steward's Rod he intimated that the top of the Presidents Rod was a more complicated shape to reproduce as it curved in 3 dimensions. It was only after three visits to Grand Lodge taking pictures, measurements and rubbings that he was happy with the design. The "base shape" looking down from the top of the rod is an "equilateral triangle" eluding to the triune essence of the Deity. The three curved faces at the top are adorned with a shield on which the letters A (alpha), Ώ (omega) and G. depicting the First the Last and the Great Architect of the Universe are carved. The Rod symbolises Authority and Decorum.

In conclusion in making the presentation Brother Miller said that he hoped that the Rods would be used by the Provincial Grand Master and his successors in office for many years to come.

Brother Raymond T. Miller

Photographs provided by Bro. Raymond T Miller PM Lodge St. Fothad's Auchterderran No.1059.