The Cross Keys April 2019
Number 218
The Monthly Newsletter of Lodge Houstoun St. Johnstone No.242 Cross Keys April 2019
From the Editor This moth starts off with the magnificent tour of Scotland by the Masonic Bikers, the Widows Sons, aided by Bro. David Reid PPGMRE. A couple of brethren have asked me about the certificate in the foyer of 242 so I’ve included a very short explanation about it which can also be read about in the lodge’s history available from the Secretary. Trades House Lodge is a ‘newish’ development—Trades House itself has no connection with the Craft of Freemasonry although many members of the Incorporation are in the Craft and other masonic Orders meeting in the Trades House. Indeed, last year’s James Donald Memorial Lecture was about the Incorporation of Masons. The event by Bro. David Black PM about the Founders’ Trail on Rangers FC looks to be nearing a sell out and is guaranteed to be a great night so if you haven’t bought a ticket and fancy it then now’s the time to get one. I believe only 2/3 left.
In this issue: 3 7 8 9 10 11 13 14 15 17 18 19
Poppyscotland 19th Century Certificate Two Pillars of KST Trades House Lodge Masonic Memorial Ren East & West 1859 Outside Degrees Lodge Marie Stuart fire Babylon When is a man…. Founders’ Trail Roadshow Sag Harbour Lodge No.437
Brethren, don’t forget the Divine Service on Sunday 28th April.
The Cross Keys is a free magazine distributed across the many countries in order to spread the good (and sometimes not so good) qualities of the Craft. All views are of individual brothers and not any organised body. Editor: Bro. N. Grant Macleod PM of Lodge Houstoun St. Johnstone No. 242 PM of The Anchor Lodge of Research No.1814 Past Provincial Grand Secretary of the Province of Renfrewshire East. Proof Reader: Bro. Allan Stobo PM of Lodge Houstoun St. Johnstone No. 242 Treasurer 242
All Scottish Constitution.
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April Meetings Thursday 11th MM Degree Thursday 25th EA Degree 7.30pm start Sunday 28th—Joint Divine Service with Craigends No.1042 at 242
Poppyscotland The Grand Lodge of Scotland and Poppyscotland entered into a joint venture to commemorate the end of the Great War in 1918. This venture also provided an opportunity to raise funds for Poppy Scotland during a very poignant year. 31 Provinces, the length and breadth of the country agreed to participate. The primary purpose was to lay wreaths at local War Memorials and hold a short service of remembrance. To provide a common link with all provinces, the Widows Sons Scotland, who are also Freemasons and motorcycle enthusiasts, agreed to support the venture by visiting these Provinces.
The tour commenced on Saturday 4th August at
the City Chambers in Edinburgh and concluded on Saturday 29 September in Dumbarton. It covered 9 weekends and 14 days. A Brother who visited all 31 Provinces would travel 2,801 miles and 57.35 nautical miles, using 288 litres of fuel, costing circa £375. This St Olafs Cemetery in Kirkwall
excludes the cost of ferry travel.
The hospitality received on route was second to none, with local Lodges providing refreshments at the local meeting points. Two overnight stops were required, firstly in Kirkwall, where Lodge Kirkwall Kilwinning No.38 ² provided the use of their premises for a sleepover and an excellent meal. Secondly in Buckie where the following Lodges – Gordon’s No.589, Craigenroan No.1289 and Bow Fiddle No.1349 provided the use of their premises for a sleepover. It is impossible in this report to list all Lodges who participated, however, their support was immense and greatly appreciated. On Sunday 26 August 2018, a large turnout of Brethren attended the ceremony in Paisley within the Province of Renfrewshire East.
The Provincial Grand Lodges who participated in ensuring the venture was a success are to be congratulated for their assistance and organisation with this project. The weather primarily was kind, however, two very inclement days were experienced. The drive from Perth to Dunblane was one, the other being the visit to Hamilton where the rain was heavy and incessant. This also made the ride to Paisley rather unpleasant. Overall, the visit to 31 Provinces in 9 weekends was a challenge which provided an excellent opportunity to see these locations. The commemoration service in each Province was different, reflecting the nature and culture of the country, however always poignant and well presented. The Widows Sons Scotland are to be commended
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Poppyscotland (ctd) for supporting this venture and ensuring that every venue had a motorcycle presence. Indeed 3 Brethren travelled from Shetland for the northern leg of the tour and a Brother from Northern Ireland joined in at various locations. Local publicity throughout the country was positive and supportive. Over 300 wreaths were purchased and 6,000 Poppy pins sold to date. Many Provinces and Daughter Lodges organised Fundraising Events and as a result £53,201.37 was raised for Poppyscotland ’s Funds. This excludes the annual campaign of Masonic crosses which raised in the region of £20,000. The venture concluded with a ‘Thank You’ BBQ at the Lady Haig Poppy Factory in Edinburgh on Sunday 14 October. This was provided by the PGL of Edinburgh. It should also be noted that The Widows Sons Scotland presented Poppyscotland with a cheque for £1,918. On Thursday, 25th October 2018, at the Grand Lodge Communication, The Grand Master Mason, Bro. Charles Iain Wolrige Gordon of Esslemont presented a Scroll to Bro. Angus Park, Past Master, Lodge Saint Conval No.1359, Past President WSS to mark the achievement of the WSS visiting 31 Provinces. Bro. Tom Brown, Substitute Master of Lodge St. Thomas No.306 was inspired by the tour to compose a poem, which provides a fitting epilogue to the tour and this article. This was read to the Brethren at the Poppy Factory.
Widows Sons Scotland—Supporting Poppy Scotland We don our biker gear and motorbike engines start, From all over Scotland, is where we depart. To meet up at Lodges and Memorials too,
Catching up with Brethren, of old and of new. What an adventure, those weekend runs, Supporting Poppy Scotland, with the Widows Sons. Thirty-one Provinces, our Brothers did visit, All for a good cause, not much to ask, is it? So, because “In God, is all our trust”, When others need, then help we must. A sombre occasion, around the Cenotaph, As we remember, what THEY gave, on our behalf. The commemorative poppies, stand in full view, A remembrance tribute, from us and from you.
They all deserve our greatest respect, That’s why we say, “Lest we forget”. And for those who do suffer, but among us still live, Reassurance and support is what we should give. So Grand Lodge, Provincial, and Sister Lodges too The PRIVILEGE was ours, and for that, We THANK YOU.
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Poppyscotland (ctd) Date
Location
Province
4 August
Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Prestonpans
Midlothian
Haddington
East Lothian
Dryburgh Abbey
Scottish Borders
Carluke
Lanarkshire Upper Ward
Korean War Memorial
Linlithgow
Rosyth
Fife and Kinross
Dundee
Forfarshire
Stonehaven
Kincardineshire
Perth
Perthshire East
Dunblane
Perthshire West
Dingwall
Ross and Cromarty
Kirkwall
Orkney and Zetland
Wick
Caithness
Golspie
Sutherland
Hamilton
Lanarkshire Middle Ward
Paisley
Renfrewshire East
Inverness
Inverness-shire
Lossiemouth
Moray and Nairn
Buckie
Banfshire
Turriff
Aberdeenshire West
Ellon
Aberdeenshire East
Aberdeen
Aberdeen City
9 September
Millport
Argyll and the Isles
15 September
Dumfries
Dumfriesshire
Stranraer
Galloway
22 September
Cowie
Stirlingshire
23 September
Kilmarnock
Ayrshire
Kilwinning
Kilwinning
Port Glasgow
Renfrewshire West
Dumbarton
Dunbartonshire
5 August
11 August
12 August
18 August
19 August
26 August
1 September
2 September
29 September
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Poppyscotland (ctd) Acknowledgements The Benevolence and Care Committee at The Grand Lodge of Scotland Bro. Andrew Mushet, Depute PGM of Glasgow for production of the Scrolls. Bro. Angus Park, Past Master, Lodge Saint Conval, No.1359 – Past President of the Widows Sons Scotland Bro. Gordon Michie, Past Master, Lodge Earl Haig No.1260, Fundraising Manager at Poppyscotland
The above Brethren greatly assisted in developing a concept into a reality. My sincere thanks to Bro. David A. Reid PPGM RE and Senior Deacon, Lodge Randolph No.1434 for writing this comprehensive and fascinating article, as well as all the hard work he and his team have put into this venture for a fantastic charity. This, quite rightly, is something that brethren can be proud that the Scottish Craft has achieved.
All brethren are encouraged to attend our annual divine service in 242 at 2pm.
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Lodge & Chapter Certificates
The certificate on the top left will be known to brethren who have been to 242—it’s on the left in the foyer just after the Master’s Room. This was the typical certificate given prior to Grand Lodge issuing certificates. Many lodges did something similar and were given free reign as to what it should look like. The top of this certificate has part of the Houstoun shield—the hour glass which is quite appropriate as an emblem of the MMD. The remainder of the shield was the Houstoun crest which would have had the permission from the Laird who was a member of the lodge at this time. On the right is a very similar English certificate so it is likely 242’s was copied from an earlier certificate.
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Two Pillars of King Solomon’s Temple
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Trades House Lodge No.1241
T
he Trades House of Glasgow, which was incorporated by Letter of Guildry in 1605, is an elective Body consisting of representatives chosen from each of the Fourteen Incorporated Trades or Craft Guilds of the City of Glasgow.
One hundred and fourteen members of Lodges having, as Founders presented the petition to Grand Lodge, were admitted Life Members - of these, twenty-seven were Deacons or Visitors, thirty-three were Past Masters, and six had held both offices. Some office-bearers are shown:
Each of these Craft Guilds received legal recognition as a Body Corporate by means of a Charter or Seal of Cause between the year 1516, when the first of such Charters was granted (by the Provost, Bailies, Council and Community with consent of the Archbishop, James Beaton, Chancellor of Scotland and Commendator of the Abbey of Kilwinning), and 1605 when the Trades House was constituted. A movement was initiated during the Spring of 1920 to form a Lodge of Freemasons connected with the Trades House and the fourteen Incorporations and a meeting was held in The Trades Hall on 14th April, 1920, at which it was resolved to proceed with the necessary application to The Grand Lodge of Scotland. A Committee comprising one representative of each Incorporation was appointed to carry this resolution into effect, and a Charter was granted by Grand Lodge on 4th November, 1920. On Wednesday, 17th November, 1920, The Trades House of Glasgow Lodge No. 1241 was erected and consecrated in the Trades Hall, 85 Glassford Street. The Ceremony of erection and consecration was performed by Brother A. A. Hagart Speirs, D.L., J.P., of Elderslie, Provincial Grand Master of Glasgow and the first master Bro. John Adam shown in 1920.
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The Trades House of Glasgow Lodge meets in the Trades Hall on the 2nd Monday of each of the months of October, November, December, February and March at 6.30pm. You are guaranteed a warm welcome; and a visit to Trades House alone is well worth it.
In 1828, Mr James Sloan was initiated – he owned the Buck’s Head Inn (in Johnstone High Street) and so the lodge had a few meetings here. On 5th August, 1828 an inventory was written into the minutes. The lodge was only 17 years old, but it had amassed 25 objects and mostly silver. Many of these would be kept in the Tyler’s chest and for setting out the lodge he was usually paid 2 gills of rum. These appear to include most of the current office bearers’ jewels. Interestingly, it gives a rough idea of regalia worn in the early 1800s. There were ten silk sashes with the letters “H.St.J.” in
gold with ten aprons which were painted and gilded. A couple of items are described, but their use has been lost in time. The master has a painted and lettered rod with a triangle on top and there was a canvas oil painting with an attached roller. Why did the master have a rod—was this similar to a deacon’s rod? Was the painting an early tracing board? We can only surmise.
Masonic Memorial in Nazi Camp This is the sculpture of the 7 masons in Nazi concentration camp Hut Emslandlager VII, located in the city of Esterwegen, Germany in 1943, where even in the most terrible moments during World War II, freedom remained ideal and objective to maintain the hope of survival. There were 7 Freemasons of Belgian nationality who founded the Masonic lodge "Liberte Cherie" (dear freedom), the founders: Bro Paul Hanson, bro Luc Somerhausen, broJean de Schrijver, BroJean Sugg, Bro Henri Story, Bro Amedee Miclotte and the Bro Guy Hannecart.
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East & West Provinces
Above and over the page is the list of lodge in the Provinces of Renfrewshire East and West in 1859, both provinces being only 33 years old. It is interesting to see that 242 did not have blue in the regalia as we do today and even more noticeable are the number of defunct lodges—10. In this list is Gartland St. Winnoch which still exists in Lochwinnoch and Union & Crown in Barrhead. In Renfrewshire West, only one lodge is defunct although Mount Stewart in Greenock would soon be defunct. There has always been natural wastage and it would be surprising if some lodges do not ‘go to the wall’ over the next 5 to 10 years.
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East & West Provinces (ctd)
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Strange!
In 1799, Barton Lodge in Upper Canada accepted "good merchantable wheat" in payment of lodge dues.
Lodge St. George in Bermuda has rented an old state house since 1816 from the Governor for the sum of "one peppercorn per year."
William Hesketh Lever Lodge No. 2916, England was the only lodge named for a nonmason, the first Viscount of Leverhulme (the soap manufacturer) who was first initiated there and later formed Leverhulme Lodge No. 4438 (EC).
Outside Degrees
As we approach better weather, the outside degree is becoming more and more popular. In 2013, the J W Jackson Lodge of Mark Master Masons No.32 on the Roll of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of Queensland, held an Advancement to the degree of MMM above. To the right is another example from South America. Centre—Dayton Lodge in Ohio at the outdoor festival. Would we get permission to hold these events? I’m not sure.
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Lodge Marie Stuart (March 1874) A previous edition mentioned the new lodge, Marie Stuart, in Crosshill south of Glasgow in Queen’s Park. A building in the Prince of Wales Terrace was engulfed in flames in the early hours of the 13th which appears to have started from a ground floor shop owned by Bro. Inglis of the lodge. The lodge had aquired the large hall above the restaurant which was elegantly furnished. Unfortunately, every item within the building was destroyed including the lodge charter, all its jewels and books. Although insured to £100, the shares of the lodge exceed this amount. The lodge will continue from Watson’s Academy in Langside Road and the master is looking to buy or build a new lodge as the candidates are so numerous. Sadly the lodge eventually went dormant.
Boston Masonic Lodge, Lincs In an east coast port in Boston in Lincolnshire, there is a masonic temple (and that is probably the correct word to use) built in Egyptian style. Above the entrance to the door is a winged sphere with Greek lettering meaning “Know thyself.” The main pillars each feature further inscriptions. On the left is, "Zetland was ruler of the Mysteries," and on the right, "St. Albans was ruler of the District when this building was dedicated to the God of Truth, who lives forever. The cornerstone of the building was laid in 1860 and opened in 1863. It is owned by The Lodge of Harmony No.272 who share it with three other lodges. This lodge building is most definitely worth a visit.
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Babylon Of all the world’s lost cities, none surely can compete for evocative splendour, age or mystery with Babylon. Here on the desert plains 60 miles south of Baghdad, where the sun turns horizons into flashing pools of mercury, is where so much human history began. But the Babylon that elicits a thrill in anyone with a passing interest in history is the city of that Old Testament anti-hero: the Jew-slaying, temple-smashing, gold-loving despot Nebuchadnezzar II, who succeeded to the throne in 605 BC—this king is mentioned in various orders of freemasonry, but what did he do? Flush from a whirlwind of military conquest in Egypt and Syria, Nebuchadnezzar plunged into a monumental building programme which resulted in the largest, most glorious city of the ancient world. It was a dazzling urban vista of towering temples, shrines and palaces clad in blue-glazed tiles, resplendent in gold, silver and bronze; all encircled by city walls so massive that two chariots, each drawn by four horses, could pass each other with ease on the road that ran atop them, according to the Greek geographer Strabo. Nebuchadnezzar’s imperial frenzy of construction also produced the city’s most celebrated monument, a construction so hubristic in ambition it became the most famous building in the world, a byword for mankind’s god-rivalling arrogance. Babylonians knew it as the 91-metre tower – or ziggurat – of Etemenanki on the top of the temple of Marduk, the “house of the frontier between heaven and earth”. The rest of the world, starting with Old Testament readers, knew it as the Tower of Babel. There were a number of smaller temples in this eastern, older section of the city, together with quays for merchant ships, an indicator of Babylon’s rise to fabulous prosperity through conquest and trade. Within a neat grid of streets the central and most important artery was the Processional Way, a paved road running north through the Ishtar Gate, embellished with bulls and dragons in relief, to the Bit Akitu temple, the “House of the New Year’s Festival”. Two great palace complexes rambled across 40 acres of land to the west of the Ishtar Gate, one of Babylon’s eight fortified defences. In 597 BC, Nebuchadnezzar attacked and seized Jerusalem. The Book of Kings describes how he “carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valour, even 10,000 captives, and all the craftsmen and smiths: none remained, save the poorest sort of the people of the land.” It takes little imagination to see his prisoners pressed into forced labour on his megalomaniac construction projects. When he was not having enormous gold images of idols set up for popular worship on pain of death by incineration, the Babylonian king was embellishing his capital with the most opulent buildings. The story of Babylon is the ebb and flow of slaughter and mercy, war and peace, a microcosm of human history. It is a tale of greed, hubris, empire and religious persecution; also of human civili-
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Babylon (ctd) sation, prodigious wealth, architectural glory and religious tolerance. It encapsulates humankind’s finest and most deplorable traits, and burst on to the world’s media during the Iraq war precisely because Babylon is the source of our history. The birth of human civilisation belongs to us all. The Saddam era restoration, an anathema to professional archaeologists, had at least given Iraqis something to look at amid the forlorn mounds, ruins and piles of rubble. An Iraqi art historian put it: “Ruins in Iraq are ugly for most people. Ordinary Iraqis want something they can be impressed by like this.” And amid this Despot’s Disney (to the right is the ‘new’ Ishtar Gate), there were historical parallels between Nebuchadnezzar’s boasts in burnt brickwork and those of his 20th century successor (“This was built by Saddam Hussein, son of Nebuchadnezzar, to glorify Iraq”). The truth is that Babylon had long ago been brought to earth, besieged by wars, weather and time. The looting and levelling in 2003 were merely the latest attack on the shrinking fabric of the city, seat of a worldspanning empire which had given its name to denote greatness, untold wealth and ostentation, not to mention decadence and debauchery. Though its most ancient ruins are virtually extinct, through its cycle of destruction and reconstruction and in our collective memory of what it means to be human, Babylon will always endure.
From The Guardian newspaper August 2016 by Justin Marozzi is the author of Baghdad: City of Peace, City of Blood, winner of the Royal Society of Literature’s 2015 Ondaatje Prize.
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When is a Man‌. When he can look out over the rivers, the hills and the far horizon with a profound sense of his own littleness in the vast scheme of things, and yet have faith and courage, which is the root of every virtue. When he knows that down in his heart every man is as noble, as vile, as divine, as diabolic and as lonely as himself; and seeks to know, to forgive and to love his fellow man. When he knows how to sympathize with men in their sorrows, yea even in their sinsknowing that each man fights a hard fight against many odds. When he has learned how to make friends and to keep them and above all, how to keep friends with himself. When he loves flowers, can hunt birds without a gun and feels the thrill of an old forgotten joy when he hears the laugh of a little child. When he can be happy and high-minded amid the meaner drudgeries of life. When star crowned trees and the glint of sunlight on flowing waters subdue him like the thought of one much loved and long dead. When no voice of distress reaches his ears in vain, and no hand seeks his aid without response. When he finds good in every faith that helps a man to lay hold of divine things and see the majestic meanings in life, whatever the name of that faith may be. When he can look into a wayside puddle and sees something beyond mud, and into the face of the most forlorn fellow mortal and see something beyond sin. When he knows how to pray, how to love, how to hope. When he has kept faith with himself, with his God ; in his hand a sword for evil, in his heart a bit of a song; glad to live, but not to die!!. Such a man has found the only secret of Freemasonry, and the one which it is trying to give to “All the World.â€?
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Sag Harbour Lodge No. 437 A magnificent mural by Bro. John Capello in the Masonic Temple in Sag Harbor, Suffolk District in Long Island, US depicts symbols meaningful to the fraternal organization as well as a comet that was visible in the sky in 1858, the year the hamlet’s Wamponamon Lodge was founded.
From the Past It was good to see our Secretary received a clear minute in his first year at the PGL Visitation last week. Also in attendance were the previous three secretaries: Past Masters Bros. Henry Leslie (1991—1997) centre, Grant Macleod (1997— 2011) left and Danny Birrell (2011—2017) right. In all the wee corner of the East, had 27 years of secretarial experience!
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A Brand New Mark Master!
Congratulations to a good friend of many brethren in 242, Bro. Costa Trizis, who has become the Master of Aegean Lodge of Mark Master Masons No.1978 in the Province of London. Bro. Alan Reid MMM 242 is seen on Bro. Costa’s left. Although we have the Mark degree, Scotland does not have an installed Mark ceremony as known in England, nor a Grand Lodge of MMM.
To submit an article or want added to the mail list or Facebook group, contact the Editor, Grant Macleod: E-Mail:
sec242pm@yahoo.co.uk
Website: http://lodge242.bravesites.com/
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