Incorporation of Masons of Glasgow: Supporting Stonemasonry and Allied Trades
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  • Events
    • Year 2022 - 23 >
      • Deacon's Choosing Dinner 2022
    • Year 2021 - 22 >
      • Wreath Laying
    • Year 2019 - 21 >
      • Visit to the Worshipful Company of Tylers and Bricklayers
      • PTSD Memorial Unveiling
      • PTSD Memorial Beginning
      • Visit to Plaisterers' Hall 2020
      • Candlemas Court 2020
      • Glasgow Cathedral ~ November 2019
      • Deacon's Choosing Dinner 2019
    • Year 2018 - 19 >
      • Pear Eating 2019
      • Masons Stained Glass Window
      • Lammas Court 2019
      • Box Opening 2019
      • Prince and Princes of Wales Hospice Visit
      • Candlemas Court Social 2019
      • Curling Winners 2019
      • Army Cadet Force Affiliation
      • Remembrance Sunday
      • St. Mungo Presentation
      • Deacon's Choosing Dinner 2018
      • Deacon's Choosing Meeting 2018
    • Year 2017 - 18 >
      • Pear Eating 2018
      • Box Opening 2018
      • Ladies Golf Winners 2018
      • Sculpture Project
      • Memorandum of Understanding
      • Deacon's Choosing 2017
      • Choosing Dinner 2017
      • Pre-Apprentice Competitions 2017
      • Pre-Apprentice Competition 2018
      • Pear Eating 2017
    • Year 2016 - 17 >
      • Box Opening 2017
      • Visit to Below Central Station
      • James Hamilton Smith ~ Obituary
      • Choosing Dinner 2016
      • Choosing Lunch and James Hamilton Smith's Golden Jubilee
    • Year 2015 - 16 >
      • Pear Eating 2015
      • Choosing Dinner 2015 >
        • Prize Winners 2015
    • Year 2014 - 15 >
      • Sculpture Project
      • Choosing Dinner 2014 >
        • 2014 Choosing Dinner Photographs
      • Candlemass Court Social
      • Pre-Vocational Bricklaying and Plastering Competitions
      • Scottish Skills Olympics 2015
      • Box Opening 2015
      • Curling Champions 2014
    • Year 2013 - 14 >
      • Deacon's Choosing Dinner ~ Sept 2013
      • Candlemas Court and Social 2014
      • Lady McDonald Lecture 2014
      • Box Opening 2014
      • Pre-apprentice Bricklaying Competition 2014
      • Pear Eating 18th September 2014
    • Year 2012 - 13 >
      • Pear Eating 2013
      • Deacon's Choosing Meeting 2012
      • Prize Winners 2012
      • Deacon's Choosing Dinner >
        • Incorporation's Silver
      • Candlemas Court 2013
      • Curling Champions 2013
      • Necropolis Visit 2013
      • Box Opening 2013
      • Pre-Vocational Bricklaying 2013
      • City of Glasgow College Prizegiving 2013
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Trades House Entrance Hall

Picture
Masons Crest

As you enter the Trades Hall, on the way to the main hall have a look at the bench on the right hand side of the hallway.   You will notice that it has numerous carved crests on it.   The 14 Incorporations and the main cities of Scotland and some other crests are carved on it.   Try to find the Incorporation of Masons' Crest, it is not very near the entrance.

Please click the image for an enlarged view.

Stairs to the Main Hall

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Masons Stained Glass Window

As you walk up the stairs to the main hall, have a look at the stained glass window on the left hand side.    There is a pane for each of the Incorporations.

To see an enlarged view of the window, please click on it.
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Deacon's Choosing Dinner

The Deacon's Choosing Dinner is probably the most important event in the Incorporation's calendar and it is on this occasion that the Masons' Flag takes pride of place in the Trades House.  (Please see Masons' Flag above).    This is the first occasion that the new Deacon will wear his chain of office and preside at his/her first meeting of the Incorporation.   All attending will be in evening wear and many dressed in Highland attire or trews and Bonnie Prince Charlie jackets.

The top table will have the Incorporation's Silver laid out and in front of the Deacon will be the Deacon's Bell, Mallet and Trowel, he will also have his Deacon's Goblet with him/her.

The Main Hall

Picture
Masons Crest

In the main hall there is a wonderful dome and round the bottom of it are the crests of the 14 Incorporations on display.    The Incorporation of Masons crest is shown to the left and to see an enlarged view, please click on the image.

Rapping the Shed

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Traditional Boxwood Rule
The dinner has a number of traditions associated to it and one of the nicest is the "Rapping the Shed" at the end of the evening.   This is when the senior Past Deacon present raps the table with a folding rule (see image to the right) in the traditional manner which represents when the foreman would call the masons to stop work at the end of the day.   The words used were as follows:  "STOP  STOP  STOP,   All the Masons In the Shed,    STOP  STOP  STOP".   Each rap of the rule represents each word in the above stopping call and therefore consists of three raps with a slight pause between, followed by a longer pause, then six raps in time as if you were saying "All the Masons in the shed", striking the rule at each word, followed by another pause then a repeat of the first three raps.

Anyone wishing to attend this wonderful event should use the 
Contact Us page for further information.

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Copyright Statement
Credits: The Incorporation of Masons is delighted to acknowledge the help and assistance given by George Mahoney, Photographic Lecturer and Graeme Hamilton, student 
               both at John Wheatley College, Glasgow in photographing most of the items on the website.