The Cross Keys Number 241
December 2021
The Monthly Newsletter of Lodge Houstoun St. Johnstone No.242
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From the Editor Continuing the theme of past Grand Master Masons of Scotland, we have Sir Iain Colquhoun of Luss and the 6th Marquis of Lothian. The page from the London Illustrated News describes the Duke of Clarence’s installation as PGM of Berks. This follows on from a previous article in September 2020. It is also sad to hear of the passing of Bro. Eddie Bledge PM Past Sec Prince of Wales No.426 last month aged 92. 166 brethren attended POW in 2019 to see his receive his 70 Diploma. He will be sady missed by many including his sons Bros. Willie and Alistair Bledge. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all brethren across the globe. Grant Cover—Sir Iain Colquhoun of Luss Past Grand Mason (see page 15) 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
In this issue: 3 4 7 8 10 11 13 14 15 16 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 26 28 29 30
The Obligation Foundation Stone Paisley The RA Borders Earliest Tracing Board? The Alexanders of Paisley The Square & the Circle The Duke of Clarence Beaumont Lodge Apron Masonic Miscellany Bro. Sir Iain Colquhoun of Luss 219 Booklet Fox Family Sir William Biggart Lang 6th Mar. of Lothian GMM Old Cornish Working Australian Timber Building Cartside Mill Grand Lodge & PGL News Trades House Lodge No.1241 A Wee Christmas Present Numbers!
December Meetings Friday 10th Open lodge committee meeting at 7.30pm Prompt Social Club is open afterwards Note—this is not a lodge meeting so no regalia and casual dress
All Scottish Constitution.
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The Obligation The Edinburgh Register House Manuscript (ERH MS) of 1696 is curious for number of ways. Not only its age and the proof of of ‘a great many ceremonies to frighten him,’ it gives an obligation that would surprise many today. Here it is in full (slightly modernised):
throat cut, my tongue taken from the roof of my mouth, my Heart plucked from under my left Breast, them to be buried in the sands of the sea, the length of a cable-rope from shore, where the tide ebbs and flows twice in 24 Hours, my Body to be burnt to ashes, my Ashes to be scatter'd upon the Face of the Earth, so that there shall be no By god himself and you shall answer to god when more Remembrance of me among Masons. you shall stand naked before him, at the great day, you shall not reveal any part of what you shall So in a short period of 34 years, we begin to see a hear or see at this time whither by word nor write more lengthy obligation with penalties of a physinor put it in write at any time nor draw it with the cal nature rather than just swearing on a Bible point of a sword, or any other instrument upon the before God. From this point on, obligations besnow or sand, nor shall you speak of it but with an came longer and no doubt brethren in those days entered mason, so help you god. found them the least interesting part of a degree. It is short, but was deemed sufficient to ensure Some points to think about: the mason’s fidelity. Today, our obligations can be very lengthy and clearly do not follow tradition. Do we need lengthy obligations? Many inSomewhere they changed. Here is another from clude phrases such as ‘engrave, enamel, . .’ 1730—Pritchard’s Masonry Dissected: which adds antiquity, but in all likelihood is a more modern inclusion. I Hereby solemnly Vow and Swear in the Presense We talk about maintaining tradition so perof Almighty God and this Right Worshipful assemhaps returning to an obligation similar to bly, that I will Hail and Conceal, and never Reveal the one in the ERH MS would be in line with the Secrets or Secrecy of Masons or Masonry, that operative masonry? shall be Revealed unto me; unless to a True and Does every degree need an obligation? I Lawful Brother, after due Examination, or in a Just can hear the gasps of horror, but do we? and Worshipful Lodge of Brothers and Fellows well Surely if a candidate promises not to reveal met. the secret as of an EA that could be generalised as Craft secrets? Or at least, they could I furthermore Promise and Vow, that I will not be drastically reduced. This could be exWrite them, Print them, Mark them, Carve them or tended to Orders with more than degree or Engrave them, or cause them to be Written, Printgrade. ed, Marked, Carved or Engraved on Wood or Stone, so as the Visible Character or Impression of a Let- Obviously this is a matter for lodges, but in a 21st ter may appear, whereby it may be unlawfully ob- century, it’s worthy of discussion. There are tained. plenty of ‘traditional’ sections within the ritual that shorter obligation will not detract from the All this under no less penalty than to have my overall ceremony.
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Paisley Library & Museum Foundation Stone 1869 On the afternoon of Tuesday , the 27th April, the memorial stone of a building which is to contain a Free Library and Museum for the use of the community of Paisley , was laid with full Masonic honours by the Right Hon. the Earl of Dalhousie K. T., Grand Master of Masons in Scotland. The history of this institution is so creditable and so well worthy of imitation by the affluent in other towns that we shall indicate it briefly before narrating the proceedings of Tuesday. Some years ago the Rev. William Fraser brought under the notice of the Philosophical Society of Paisley a scheme for the establishment of a library and museum to which the public should have free access. He had calculated that an expenditure of about £3000 would erect a building amply suited to the purpose and he proposed that an endeavour should be made to get ten gentlemen to raise that amount by subscriptions of £300 each. All the world nearly has heard of the house of J. & P. Coats in connection with the manufacture of threads and now another and higher species of fame connects itself with the partners of that firm. Twelve months ago we noticed the gift to Paisley by Mr. Thomas Coats of Ferguslie of the magnificent park known as the Fountain Gardens and to-day wo record with equal pleasure that Mr . Peter Coats of Woodside like his brother to serve the best interests of his fellow townsmen and taking up the library and museum scheme of Mr Fraser has at a cost , it is said , of something like £ 12,000 procured the establishment of an institution which when completed , will stand first of its kind in Scotland. The site is in High street—the main thoroughfare of Paisley— Cross Keys Dece,ber 2021
and the building, now far advanced towards completion, is designed in the Ionic style of Grecian architecture. The business of the day began at one o'clock when the Grand Lodge of Scotland met and was constituted in the County Hall. The Worshipful Grand Master, the Right Hon. the Earl of Dalhousie K. T., occupied the throne and was supported by Colonel Campbell of Blythswood Acting Deputy Grand Master; Sir Michael R. S. Stewart Bart Acting Substitute Grand Master ; William Maun Senior Grand Warden ; William Officer , Junior Grand Warden ; Rev . V . G . Faithful , Grand Chaplain ; Daniel Robertson , Grand Bible Bearer ; Alex. Hay , Grand Jeweller. While the Grand Lodge was being opened, the general body of processionists formed in County Square and the adjoining streets , and shortly after two o ' clock started in the following order : — Farmers , carters , etc, on horseback ; Rifle Volunteers ; Captain Ingrain , Grand Marshal ; Ferguslie Workers ; Tinplate Workers ; Knight of Malta Lodge ; Weavers ; Plasterers ; Bricklayers ; Plumbers ; Blacksmiths ; Oddfellows ; Cloth lappers ; Boilermakers ; Amalgamated Engineers ; Order of Foresters ; Operative Bakers ; Amalgamated Tailors ; Joiners ; Dyers ; United Operative Masons ; Amalgamated Slaters ; Royal St . Crispin Lodge ; Independent Slaters ; Glenfield Workers ; Burgh Officials ; the Sherill and ALP . for the Burgh ; the Provost , Magistrates , and Town Council ; the Justices of the Peace , Clergy , Physicians , and AVritcrs ; the Incorporated Societies in their order ; University Students ; the Philosophical Society and Curators of Paisley Library ; the Architect and Builder of the Library ; Guard of Honour ; the ProvinPage 4
Paisley Library & Museum Foundation Stone 1869 (ctd) cial and Local Lodges in their order ; the Winnoch ; 215 , St . Andrew , Strathaven ; Grand Lodge ; the Earl of Dalhousie , W . G . 219 , Star ,Glasgow ; 230 , St . Barnabas , Old M . ; Guard of Honour. Cumnock ; 233, Hamilton : 242 , Houstoun St. Johnstone ; 244 , Union , Stonehouse ; The following Masonic Lodges were repre- 250 , Union , Dunfermline ; 252 , St . John , sented —Provincial Grand Lodge of Glasgow ; Thornhill ; 272 , St . John , Mid-Calder ; 275 , Provincial Grand Lodge of Renfrewshire , Shamrock and Thistle , Glasgow ; 290 , Blair , AVest ; Provincial Grand Lodge of Renfrew- Dairy ; 291 , Celtic , Edinburgh and Leith ; shire , East ; Mother Kilwinning ; 3 , St . John , 292 , St . John; 306 , St . Thomas , Larkhall ; Glasgow ; 4 , Glasgow Kilwinning ; 7 , Hamil- 320 , St . John Kilwinning , Ardrossan ; 321 , ton Kilwinning ; 8 , Journeymen , Edinburgh ; St . Andrew , Alexandria ; 332 , Union , Glas9 , Dunblane ; 12 . Greenock Kilwinning ; 18 , gow ; 335 , Argyle , Dunoon : 347 , St . John , Dumbarton Kilwinning ; 20 , St . John , Lesma- Rutherglen ; 354 , Caledonian Railway , Glashagow ; 21 , Old St . John , Lanark ; 22 , St . gow ; 360 , Commercial , Glasgow ; 362 , St . John Kilwinning , Kilmarnock ; 27 , St . Mun- Clair , Glasgow ; 370 , Renfrew go ,Glasgow ; 28 , Co .Kilwinning , St . John KilwinPaisley ; 384 , ning , KirkintilAthole , Kirkintilloch ; 31 , St . loch ; 392 , CaleMary , Coltness ; donian , Edin39 , St . John , Kilburgh ; 399 , Roysyth ; 46 , St . al Blues , KilJohn , Auchterbirnie ; 408 , arder ; 47 , OperClyde , Glasgow ; ative , Dundee ; 413 , Athole , 01 , London KilGlasgow ; 419 , winning , NewNeptune , Glasmilns ; 57 , St . gow ; 426 , Prince John Kilwinning , of AVales , RenHaddington ; 68 , frew ; 427 , St . Doric Kilwinning ,Port Glasgow ; 69 , Alloa ; Clair , Cambusnethan ; 437 , Govandale , Go73 , Thistle and Rose , Glasgow ; 86 , Naviga- van ; 441 , Glasgow , Glasgow ; 442 , Neptune , tion , Troon ; 87 , Thistle , Glasgow ; 88 , Ardrossan ; 458 , St . John . Busby ; 465 , St . Montrose , New Monkland ; 103 , Union & Andrew , Glasgow . There were, however, Crown , Glasgow ; 109 , St . Marnock , Kilmar- several others represented . The entire nock ; 117 , St . Mary , Partick ; 122 , Royal number of lodges, we understand, was Arch , Perth ; 126 , St . Andrew , Kilmarnock ; 109 and the total number of brethren 127 , Thistle, Stewarton ; 128 , St . John , Shet- 4300. tleston ; 129 , St . Mirrin , Paisley ; 147 , Cadder , Argyle ; 149 , St . Andrew , Irvine ; 156 , The route of procession was through Love Royal Arch , Pollokshaws ; 156 , St . Barchan , Street, Wallace Street, New Sneddon, Gilmour Kilbarchan ; 157 , St . John , Beith ; 160 , Ro- Street, Old Bridge, Gauze Street, Thread man Eagle , Edinburgh ; 169 , Thistle and Street, Bridge Street, Orchard Street, CauRose , Stevenston ; 170 , St . John , Leven ; seyside, George Street, Broomlands and 171 , St. James , Doune ; 175 , St . John , Green- Wellmeadow to the new building. As it turned ock ; 177 , St . James , Old Monkland ; 178 , out, this route was long and owing to the Scotia , Glasgow ; 179 , St . Mungo , crowded state of the streets the main body of Mauchliue ; 187 , St . John , Carluke ; 201 , St . the processionists did not reach High Street Thomas , Muirkirk ; 202 , St . Clement , Riccar- until about 4 o ' clock. The memorial stone ton ; 204 , St . Paul , Ayr ; 205 , Garthland , St . was laid in the facade, to the right and left of Cross Keys Dece,ber 2021
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Paisley Library & Museum Foundation Stone 1869 (ctd) which accommodation had been provided for a considerable number of ladies and gentlemen. The Grand Lodge took up position close to the stone, the Provost and Magistrates, Sheriff Fraser and others being in the immediate neighbourhood. The proceedings were opened by Mr Peter Coats presenting a handsome silver trowel to the Worshipful Grand Master.
officers applied the plumb, level and square, and certified that the work had been executed according to the rules of Masonry. Thereupon the Grand Master, giving the stone three knocks, said— "May the Almighty Architect of the Universe look down with benignity upon our present undertaking , and crown the edifice, of which we have now laid a memorial stone , with every success.” The cornucopia was then delivered to the Substitute Grand The Earl of Dalhousie, in reply said—Mr Master, the vase with wino to the Senior Coats , I have had Grand Warden the honour of and the vase with laying the founoil to the Junior dation stones of Grand Warden various public and the contents buildings, both in of each thrown Scotland and in on the newly-laid England , but on stone by the the present occaGrand Master. sion I feel particThe ceremony ularly gratified at closed with praybeing invited , as er. Grand Master Mason of Scotland, to lay the memorial stone The memorial stone ceremonial was followed of a building which will convey to this town by a public banquet which took place in the so many important benefits, and which, I am Drill Hall. The hall was tastefully decorated proud to say has been presented by one for the occasion with flags and evergreens At whose generosity is respected wherever it is one end the chairman’s platform was erected known by all. while the general company were seated at five tables which extended along the whole The Grand Chaplain then offered up prayer, length of the spacious hall. In all, there were after which the Grand Master directed the probably about 400 persons present. treasurer, secretary, and clerk to place the coins in the cavity of the stone and the architect to bring forward the necessary workmen. Today, it undergoes a redevelopment and exThese duties having been performed, the tension costing £42 million and should re-open stone was lowered to its bed and the proper next year.
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The Royal Arch Borders The Lord gave Moses instruction in the colours to be used in the fabric of the tabernacle. These colours were red, purple and blue, or blue, purple and scarlet depending on which version of the Bible you read.
Purple: Is a symbol of union, and refers to the intimate connection of ancient Craft and Royal Arch Masonry, hence it is the appropriate colour of the degrees, which must be passed through in the prosecution of the search. The mosaic sign refers to the restoration of the These colours were said to represent the ele- leprous hand back to health. ments. Red for fire, purple for the sea as the blood of shellfish dyes it and blue for the sky. Scarlet: Is a symbol of fervency and zeal, and The Lord chose Bezaliel and Aholiab, other was appropriated by the Royal Arch because names in our ritual, to prepare and sew the it is by these qualities that the beginner must cloth for the tabernacle. expect to be successful in his search.
Blue: Is the symbol of universal friendship and benevolence. It is the appropriate colour of the symbolic degrees, the possession of which is the first-step in the progress for the search for truth to the now initiated.
White: Is the symbol of purity and peculiarly appropriate to remind that it is only by purity of his life that he can expect to be found worthy of the reception of truth.
The Sword & The Trowel The sword and trowel were adopted by Royal Arch Masons to commemorate the valour of those worthy men who assisted at the building of the second temple, who, with trowel in hand and sword by their side were ever ready to defend the city and Holy Sanctuary against the unprovoked attacks of their enemies, thereby leaving an impressive lesson to future ages; that, next to implicit obedience to all lawfully constituted authority, a manly and determined resist-ance to lawless violence is the first of social duties.
in the left hand, as the trowel was in the right, helps to explain why the sash that may once have held a sword is on the right; why the penalty in this Order is given with the left hand, as if holding a sword; and why the toast to our grand originals should be given with the left hand.
The presence of a sword, as that wielded by a worthy defender of the holy places, also explains how easy it was to link the Royal Arch with what was once its immediate partner, the Knight Templar degree. Since all Knights Templar had, in the The sword needed to be ever ready to defend the medieval Order, to be of noble blood the idea of City at the rebuilding of the temple and walls of Princes and rulers in this Order made their holdJerusalem and its introduction into our Order was ers very natural candidates. part of enacting that scriptural situation. The fact that one is made a Prince and ruler when invested The presence of a sword in the chapter room is a in the Royal Arch meant that in the 18th century constant reminder of the difficulties faced by the rebuilders of the temple in Jerusalem. With brosuch an implement would also fit the rank of such ken city walls and surrounded by enemies, the a person. The sword even began to replace the rebuilding of the Temple was carried out in controwel in the Craft. stant danger. The builders and supervisors had to be ready at all times to defend themselves as well The fact that the sword was presumed to be held as protecting the work already completed.
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The Earliest “Tracing Board” ?
This drawing dates from c.1727 and was included in a handwritten copy of the “Old Charges” known as the Carmick MS, rediscovered in the early 1900s with the title “Constitutions of St. John’s Lodge” and signed by Bro. Thomas Carmick. Unfortunately we know little of Bro. Carmick, however it is likely that he copied it from older source, possibly belonging to his lodge and probably for the purpose of study or education.
this form’s use in Europe, the Sloane MS for example talks of a “three cornered pavement” however it’s far from being as clear as the diagram above. Other examples from exposures such as “Three Distinct Knocks” or “Jachin and Boaz” in the 1760s show an oblong square and in many ways much simpler than the design we find from Bro. Carmick.
The overall design is based on that of an old level, with the plum line hanging down the The caption that accompanies the drawing at centre from the top point of the triangle. At the top of the page is “This figure represents the end of the plum line is a disc which could the Lodge”. represent the blazing star, surrounded by the points of the compass orientated as found in In the early 18th Century and prior, it was a Lodge and on a tracing board today. common place for “The Lodge” to be drawn upon the floor usually in chalk or charcoal by Below this and at the bottom of the level is the Tyler of the Lodge. Brethren and Office two rows of mosaic pavement. I’m yet to find Bearers would assemble around the floor dia- any explanation for the change in pattern and gram, and within it symbols of the Craft therefore put it down to nothing more than a would be either drawn or placed with thin mistake on the part of Bro. Carmick as he silver or tin reproductions. drew it. He probably wasn’t expecting anyone to be critiquing his work 300 years on. What is unusual about the form of the Lodge in the Carmick MS however is it’s triangular Picking up on the fact that there are two in shape. There is some evidence to support rows, this probably represents two steps. In
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The Earliest “Tracing Board”? (ctd) later versions we find three steps, again one for each degree of Craft Freemasonry, if this is indeed a copy of a much older manuscript perhaps it predates the addition of the third degree. It’s worth pointing out at this point that the term Master was in use long before the introduction of a Master Mason Degree as a way of identifying Stonemasons that had employees or Apprentices that worked for them. We see this as far back as the 16th Century as William Schaw the Master of Works to King James VI writes his First and Second Schaw Statues. On the three sides of the level towards the bottom we see positioning for the Brethren. Fellowcraft on the left, Masters on the right and Entered apprentices at the foot. The Warden, again an ancient term well known in early Scotland for what we now refer to as the Right Worshipful Master, is found at the top of the triangle.
and compasses, plum rule, mallet and trowel with two symbols representing candles above them, and not forgetting that the shape itself represents the Level. Finally around the two vertical edges we find alternating numbers, right to left from 1 to 15. Fifteen being a symbolic number for the name of God in Hebrew numbers YOD HE. Best guess however, is that this is to do with position of Brethren around the diagram on the floor. This sketch, reproduced by Bro Carmick, represents the form of the Lodge symbolically as it would have been drawn on the floor during a meeting at this time. It’s logical to think that he did this either for study or education... So whilst not intended, and many years before we start the term or see anything we would recognise in today’s Lodge, by committing this drawing to paper has Bro. Carmick essentially created the earliest example of a Tracing Board?
Within the shape, we find the tools; square My thanks to Bro. Scott Watson WSW Lodge Kelburn No.459 in Millport.
German Jewels A typical master’s collar jewel and a PM’s jewel far right from the United Grand Lodge of Germany. The latter is not given automatically but only on the recommendation of three PMs. As such not all PMs wear a PM jewel.
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The Alexander Family of Paisley The first documented records of our branch of the Alexander family, Alexander of Paisley, date from 1413 when Richard Alexander was a lawyer, and was recorded as being feu superior of Paisley Abbey.
eral of the Forces in India. On his return to Scotland in 1776, he purchased the Ballochmyle Estate from the Whiteford family. He was involved in the establishment of the Cotton Mills in Catrine along with David Dale.
Bro. Claud Alexander of Newton was the first Master of Lodge Paisley Kilwinning in 1750/51, 1758, 1760, 1762/63, 1768 and again in 1772 when he died. His four sons all became members of Paisley Kilwinning.
Capt. (later Maj.) John was the 70th member of Paisley Kilwinning and joined the 56th Regiment of Foot (Essex regiment). The regiment had a lodge attached to it chartered by Scotland in 1760 called King George III No.101 which was disbanded in 1809. He dies without issue.
Claud of Ballochmyle (left in portrait), joined in 1769 as the 167th member and was also a member of Lodge St Mungo No.240, Mauchline, (later to be renumbered as No.179) which was Chartered in 1791. He became its second Master in 1792 and was succeeded by Brother Gavin Hamilton in 1793.
Alexander was the 129th member in 1765 and also died unmarried the following year in Jamaica. Boyd of Southbar, (having sold Newton in 1772) joined in 1786 as the 237th member (right in portrait) and married the daughter of Bro Boyd Porterfield of the lodge. He was MP for the County in 1796 and Glasgow & District in 1802 and Depute Lord Lieutenant of the County. He laid the foundation stone of Inchinnan New Bridge in 1809 which was done with full masonic honours. He also died without issue in 1825.
On 25th July 1787, at a Meeting of Lodge St James (Kilwinning) Tarbolton No.135 held in Mauchline, Robert Burns made five brethren Honorary Members - Professor of Mathematics Dugald Stewart (Canongate Kilwinning No.2), Claud Alexander of Ballochmyle, Claude Neilson of Paisley Kilwinning, John Farquhar Gray of Gilmilnscroft (JP charged with performing During this time, the lodge met at The Town’s the marriage of Burns to Jean Armour), and House or Saracen’s Head Inn which was the Dr George Grierson of Glasgow. main building for events before the new Town Hall, etc were built. See October 2021 Bro. Claud served in the East India Company for further details on the building. and rose to the high rank of Paymaster Gen-
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The Square and the Circle Having re-read the recent additions to this superior platform of Masonic insightfulness, and failing to resist the urge to inject a more than casual comment on what very much appears to be the Dichotomy of the Craft, nervously I throw my hat into the ring.
together in a way that is not harmonious and destined to endlessly repel from one another.
The mighty yet mysterious Vesica Pisces is a worthy vehicle to work on such a dichotomy, the ‘Vessel of the Fish’ is constructed as we know, by two circles of exact proportion In the blue corner, we have ‘Green Bean Ma- (we’ll call them ‘aspects’ for this considerasonry’ with all its trimmings, traditions, din- tion) coming together in perfect harmony ner clubs, and its connection to the material and proportion to create a third ‘aspect’. plane, and in the other blue corner, we have ‘Symbolic Masonry’ with all its teachings, phi- This ‘third aspect’ or rather, the space known losophy, observance and its connection to the as the Vesica Pisces, the Fish Bladder, the spiritual plane. Mandorla, call it what you will if you’ll excuse the simplicity, in Sanskrit means “Yoni”. Without the need to quote words from the Translate Yoni back and you get “Holy pasgreat teachers of Light nor require to don the sage”. A Holy passage proportioned to the cap of the likes of Euclid, but rather to look at ratio of 265:153, or 153 for short. A sacred this dichotomy from a place of Harmony and number in Pythagorean theory, which some the Natural Laws that surround us on every attest to be the secret behind the parable of plane. We are taught "no thing" is singular the 153 fish in Scripture. A passage for the outside of the All. From the mind of the All, a soul to the material world, a ‘Holy’ soul that duality is formed and the coming together of manifests itself into the material world. that duality in perfect harmony creates that which is to manifest into being. That creation Knowing that this ‘third aspect’ of 265:153 or is the result of consciousness. Perfect crea- the root of 3 (√3) defines three-dimensional tion requires a balance of male and female space, it also defines the space within a cube energies. by the measurement of the length of the diagonal of a cube, or dare I say a perfect ashlar. Consider this duality to be that of what appears to be a ‘Happening’ in the blue corner In Scripture, Jesus after his resurrection of the Craft. Two schools of thought trying to helped his followers with their nights occupy the same space at the same time ‘fishing’. His followers hadn’t caught anything whilst understanding that one without the all night, but with the help of Jesus, just beother is indeed a "no thing." fore dawn, they caught exactly 153 fish. A Scriptural riddle incorporating 153 subtly With that being said, let us consider one of wants to tell us that a dualistic property of these dualistic circles of thought and bound- Jesus, namely a property labeled Mary or less energy being bound to the title of ‘Green ‘The Sea’ alludes to the feminine aspect of Bean Masonry’ and the other circle of duality and that it played a very important thought and boundless energy being bound role in the resurrection of the Christ. to the title of ‘Symbolic Masonry’. You see where I’m going with this? This duality of Jesus meaning ‘The Sea’, translated into Greek, becomes η αγδαληνη and Without faith in the true beauty of creation, also holds a numerical value of 153. What we and that the coming together of a duality in have is a telling of a duality coming together harmony, proportion, and ratio, which natu- in perfect harmony, proportion, and ratio to rally births all intent into creation, all is lost. resurrect I AM that which has been born into These two spheres of boundless energy will being from perfection. forever bounce about the blue corner, coming Cross Keys Dece,ber 2021
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The Square and the Circle (ctd) Your point being? I hear you say.
have different skills but together they can create a thing of magnificent perfection, and Well, let us scale the proportion down if I that coming together with a desire to build may and consider the Craft to be a singularity that thing of magnificence for the betterment bound to the title of ‘Wisdom.' of all mankind, is by its very nature profound. Also, consider if you will, a duality being that of ‘Green Bean Masonry’ bound to the titles of ‘Male and Strength’, and ‘Symbolic Masonry’ bound to the titles of ‘Female and Beauty’. One without the other is a "no thing" creating disharmony within the singularity. Scripture teaches us the backlash of the singularity appearing to favor one brother over the other, how those very first brothers in Eden travailed, and the dichotomy fated on all mankind. Creation may travail in pain but it cannot escape its destiny. One can only imagine how good and how pleasant it would be today if those two brothers dwelt together in perfect harmony. In perfect Brotherly Love.
We are taught that inner work is to better ourselves and we are given the tools to do so, Bricklayers build square things, Poets build in circles. When will we realize that we are one and the same pouring forth from a singularity and treat each other with equal passion? Are we not taught that bettering ourselves, in turn, betters our Lodges and therefore betters the Craft as a whole? Know thyself and respect your Mother. Thanks to Bro. Steven O’Donnell is a Master Mason of Lodge St Duthus No 82 Tain, in the Highlands of Scotland.
Understanding that a Bricklayer and a Poet
Lord Provost Campbell, Glasgow Bro. Alexander Campbell was born in George Square, Glasgow. His father established the firm J & W Campbell, wholesale merchants in the Saltmarket and was Lord Provost of Glasgow between 1840 and 1843 and was educated at Glasgow High School and Glasgow University before becoming a partner in the family firm. He was appointed convener of the committee in charge of raising of funds to build and maintain a new university on Gilmorehill. He was assessor to two rectors and two chancellors, being a member of the University Court from 1869 till 1884, when he received the degree of LLD. On the death of his father in 1876, he inherited the Stracathro estate near Brechin and was a J.P. and Deputy Lieutenant for the counties of Lanark and Forfar. In 1880, Bro. Campbell was elected Member of Parliament for Glasgow and Aberdeen Universities, and held the seat until 1906. As a Conservative he was opposed to the policies of his brother, Henry Campbell-Bannerman, Liberal Prime Minister from 1905 to 1908. He acted on many Commissions appointed to enquire into Scottish educational endowments and the constitution of the Scottish Universities. Bro. Campbell was initiated into Lodge Govandale No.437 and master 1871—73. He died at Stracathro at the age of 83 after a lingering illness, a fortnight later than his brother.
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The Duke of Clarence
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Lodge Beaumont No. 237 Lodge Beaumont was constituted in 1810 and worked in Yetholm in Berwickshire. This old apron was presented to The Hawick Lodge No.111 by Mr J. J. Vernon along with photographs of past masters in 1909. Unfortunately the lodge was erased in 1837. However, it has a a distinctive Royal Arch feel to the apron, both from the border styling and the symbol on the flap. Perhaps the lodge worked the Craft degrees and the Royal Arch degree during this period.
Interesting Snippet
THE FREEMASON, JAN. 8, 1870 St. Mirrens Lodge No. 129—On Monday the 27th ult ., the members of this lodge celebrated the Festival of St. John. The brethren met about half-past six o'clock in the evening, in their Hall in Moss Street and after having masonically clothed themselves they marched, headed by the instrumental band of the Paisley Volunteer Corps, accompanied by flag and torch bearers through the streets of the northern part of the town and thence to the new town, where the procession halted at the residence of Bro. Ex-Bailie Hamilton, in Thread Street. The Ex-Bailie is the oldest Mason in the town and as may be supposed, he was right heartily greeted. Leaving there, the procession recrossed the river to Causeyside Street, and refreshed themselves at the residence of their R. W. M. Bro. Andrew Wallace. The R. W. M. then joined in the procession, which proceeded to the west end and returned by way of Highstreet to the Globe Hotel. A couple of questions:
(a) (b)
Is the building at 5 Moss Street still in existence? Or does a photo of the building exist?
I have been unable to answer these so any info would be appreciated.
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Question Why were the Compasses presented to your naked left breast at the time of your initiation? Answer As the Compasses were then an emblem of torture to my body, so should the recollection ever prove to my mind, should I at any future period be about improperly to disclose any of those Masonic secrets I was then on the point of being entrusted with. A not so gentle reminder of the penalty at one time included in the Obligation of a Mason that of having the throat cut across should I improperly disclose the secrets of Masonry................. It’s a pity, instead of having non-Masonic Lectures or demonstration ceremonies, more Lodges don't make use of the time by enacting sections of "The Lectures of Three Degrees in Craft Masonry" contained in the "Green Book" published by Lewis Masonic which contains questions and answers about the ceremonies in all three degrees, as a most useful means of improving their members knowledge and understanding of the Craft? Lodges please take note - The Questions and Answers can be shared and delivered by a number of members, PMs as well as MMs..................................... Question We are told that the pillars are B.. on the left and J.. on the right. Is that as you approach the Temple or as you leave it? Answer Without using numerous quotes from the Old Testament which indicate that the left hand and right hand pillars are being described by someone standing inside the Temple, looking out towards the entrance in the east. (Note that whilst the temple was aligned east to west, according to Ezekiel the entrance was in the east.) Then perhaps the simplest explanation is that of Professor Whiston’s note in his edition of Josephus - “Antiquities of the Jews,” book 7 Chapter 3 Section 4: Josephus states: “the one of these pillars he set at the entrance of the porch on the right hand and called it J.., and the other at the left hand and called it B...” He adds a footnote: “Here Josephus gives us a key to his own language, of right and left hand in the tabernacle and temple, that by right hand he means what is against our left, when we suppose ourselves going up from the east gates of the courts towards the temple, and so vice versa when leaving the temple; it follows that the pillar J.., on the right hand of the temple, was on the south against the palm of our left hand, and B.. on the north against the palm of our right hand.” Thanks to the PGL Warwickshire.
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Bro. Sir Ian Colquhoun of Luss During WW1 Sir Iain Colquhoun of Luss was an officer in the 1st Battalion Scots Guards serving on the Western Front. He had a distinguished career being both wounded and awarded a Distinguished Service Order (DSO) and bar and mentioned in despatches for bravery. He was also, uniquely amongst the men from this area, court martialled for a very unusual offence – “Conduct to the prejudice of good order of military discipline in that on 25th Dec he Approved of a truce with the enemy Permitted a cessation of hostilities.”
He had participated in what was effectively a Christmas Day truce in December 1915 so that the Germans could collect and bury their dead. To-day that would be deemed a humane and correct thing to do but not by General Lord Cavan in 1915, who commanded the Division in which the Scots Guards were serving, and who was actually regarded as one of the better British generals of World War One, although one might think that there wasn’t a lot of competition for that title. The Christmas Truce of 1914 which has passed into legend, and of which a first-hand account was given in the Lennox Herald of 23rd January 1915 by one of its participants Bonhill man, Sergeant William McAusland, 1st Battalion Royal Scottish Fusiliers, when he was home wounded less than a month after the truce, had given the British generals a severe fright. No matter that both sides had quickly resumed killing each other with hitherto unseen ferocity after the truce, and that 1915 was as bloody as any other year in France and Belgium, the High Command was concerned that such truces undermined the men’s will to fight and had disciplined many of the soldiers who had participated in the 1914 truce. They had also issued strict orders that there was to be no repetition of the truce Cross Keys Dece,ber 2021
at Christmas 1915. To try to ensure that the order was obeyed they ordered the artillery and the machine gunners to fire off salvoes every few hours over the Christmas Period including throughout Christmas Eve and Day. Sir Iain’s Diary, of which this is a transcript, explains why he, a Captain and Company Commander, believed that he was not ignoring that order, although a few of his superiors thought otherwise, and what happened to him and to his immediate superior Captain Miles Barne (sometimes spelt Barnes in the diary), in temporary charge of 1st Scots Guards, who was also court martialled. There has been an assumption since 1916 that Sir Iain was treated leniently because of who he was (apart from anything else his wife was the niece of the Prime Minister, Herbert Asquith) and that may be so, but it should be remembered that virtually every British officer of the time came from the upper classes and many were of similar social standing to Sir Iain, with exactly the same public school and landed gentry backgrounds: their set of values would have been the same as Sir Iain’s. So the officers who sat in judgement of him were his social peers and some at least would have had similar experiences of trench warfare, all of which would have made them more sympathetic to Sir Iain. As well as having the Prime Minister’s niece as his wife, he had Asquith’s son Raymond as his Prisoner’s Friend - which is what defence counsel are known as in military discipline. Raymond Asquith was a fellow front line officer – he was killed during an attack in the Battle of the Somme later in 1916 - and one of the finest minds of his generation. Asquith was unimpressed by the military hierarchy generally, in particular their tactical incompetence, but chose to serve at the front Page 16
Bro. Sir Ian Colquhoun of Luss (ctd) and had a high regard for his fellow trench officers and soldiers. Sir Iain’s detached approach to the court martial, his belief that he had done the right thing and stood by it no matter what some of his superiors thought, impressed Asquith – it was very much in line with Asquith’s thinking, as he later recorded.
Lieutenant of Dunbartonshire soon after the war. To-day we would applaud his actions and condemn the foolishness of Lord Cavan for bringing the charges in the first place. Sir Iain died on the 12th November 1948 in Luss, He is buried in Luss Cemetery.
Asquith’s efforts did not get Sir Iain acquitted but they ensured that his sentence was the minimum possible. Sir Iain was found guilty but only received a Reprimand. General Haig, who had been Commander-in-Chief BEF only since 10th December 1915, and whose duty it was to confirm or reject the punishment, was smart enough to see all the pitfalls of the sentence. He personally rejected even a reprimand sentence and Colquhoun was immediately returned to full duties. He went on to a have a distinguished army career, and became Lord
Sir Iain Colquhoun DKL No.18 Master 19241926, Affiliate of Partick Saint Mary’s Lodge No.117 in 1925 and Grand Master Mason of Scotland 1935-1936.
Sir Iain Colquhoun of Luss and Colquhoun nominated The Duke of York as the next Grand Master Mason at the Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge held on 6 August 1936, and it was he who installed the Duke on 30 November 1936. Following his accession to the throne a mere eleven days after his Installation, it was not until 8 March 1937 that the King wrote a letter of resignation from Buckingham Palace, addressed to Sir Iain Colquhoun at his London address, so in theory he remained Grand Master Mason of Scotland for 88 days after becoming George VI.
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Lodge 219 Booklet 1912
The above pages are from an 1912 Lodge Glasgow Star No.219 booklet which contained all the details of the lodge as well as PGL and GL. I wonder how many lodges even do a syllabus card or booklet today. Facebook and websites have taken over but many brethren still like a hard copy of a syllabus. Interesting photo of the PG Secretary with his large array of jewels! Cross Keys Dece,ber 2021
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The Fox Family In the 1750s, one William Fox—possibly some relation to, if not the father of, the painted subject—was a prosperous ship-owner, merchant, tavern-keeper, and original member of the Kilwinning Crosse Lodge in Port Royal, Caroline County, Virginia. (A Jacob Fox was listed as a member of the same Lodge ca. 1770.) And in 1771, 1772, and 1774, a Jacob Fox (possibly the Lodge member) was listed as a ship's captain trading out of Virginia—a role that corresponds neatly to this portrait subject's elegant telescope and the sailing vessels depicted behind him. William Williams is not known to have worked in Virginia. After stints in Philadelphia and Jamaica, the English-born artist took up residence in New York City by 1769 and, about 1776, left there for England, where he died. Jacob Fox's clearly-dated 1774 portrait thus falls well within the span Williams is believed to have spent in New York City. Fox could have travelled there. In fact, ship cap-
tain Jacob Fox is known to have operated between Virginia and New York in 1774. William Williams had a son who also took up easel painting. Confusingly, the son was also named William Williams, and the works of the two men have been confused in years past. Jacob Fox's likeness includes all the earmarks of the father's style, including crisp delineation, elongation of the figure, and a contrived, theatrical setting. In this picture, the last is suggested by the dark mound occupying much of the right side and part of the lower edge of the picture and by the stacked, rocky ledge that similarly defines the left side and part of the upper edge. The effect is hardly coincidental: Williams is known to have painted stage scenery in Philadelphia. The full-length format and small scale of the painting belie the artist's English origins, inevitably recalling the conversation pieces that were so much more popular in Britain than America.
Anthony Sayer Lodge No.4225 (EC) The Founder’s jewel for the Anthony Sayer Lodge in London is dated 1920. The lodge is named after the first Grand Master of England in 1717 according to the Constitutions and shows a very high quality miniature portrait painting. Born in c.1672, Sayer was a bookseller of modest means living in St Giles in the Fields, London, an area north of Freemasons’ Hall on Great Queen Street. He was a member of a lodge meeting at the Apple Tree Tavern in Covent Garden, now Lodge of Fortitude and Old Cumberland, London. Described as a gentleman, Sayer was elected as Grand Master for one year on St. John Baptist’s Day, 24th June 1717. Two years later, Sayer was appointed Senior Grand Warden by the Grand Master, the Rev. John Theophilus Desaguliers. Sayer’s progress as a freemason has become symbolic; having come from a modest background to serve as Grand Master, elected by his fellow members, he can be seen as a person of character and respect. Facing financial hardship, he demonstrated fortitude by setting up lodge rooms for meetings and humility by receiving assistance when needed. It is fitting that the first Grand Master’s own story reflects the merits of freemasonry that endure today.
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Bro. Sir William Biggart Lang The youngest of the five sons of John Lang founder of John Lang & Sons Engineering was William Biggart Lang (1868-1942) - the Johnstone company known worldwide as ‘Langs for Lathes’. Bro. Lang, whose death occurred on 17th February 1942 in his seventy-fourth year, was well known in the West of Scotland as a prominent engineering employer. He was associated with his father's firm, Messrs. John Lang and Sons, Ltd., lathe and machine tool manufacturers, of Johnstone, near Glasgow, during the whole of his professional career.
After receiving his education at the Paisley Grammar school and Glasgow and West of Scotland Technical College, he entered the firm as an apprentice and in 1895, at the age For his services to his country and industry of twenty-seven, was appointed a director. he was knighted in 1937. In the same year he was elected a Member of the Institution of He married Agnes Barr in 1887 with the cou- Mechanical Engineers. ple’s first house being Springfield, South William Street, Johnstone and at a later time The He was initiated into 242 on 27th May, 1902. Grange, Park Road, Johnstone. He subse- He was buried in the family plot in Abbey quently became chairman of the board and Cemetery in Elderslie. retained this position for the remainder of his life. In addition he was chairman of the Machine Tool Committee of the Ministry of Munitions from 1915 to 1918, president of the North West Engineering Employers' Association in 1921 and 1922, and a member of the Management Board of the Engineering and Allied Employers' National Federation from 1921 until 1924. In 1937 he served as president of the Machine Tool Trades Association. Sir William was Provost of Johnstone from 1914 to 1923.
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William Kerr, 6th Marquess of Lothian GMM
W
illiam Kerr was born in 1763 and educated at the University of Edinburgh. In 1786 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. He was Lord Lieutenant of Roxburghshire from 1812 and of Midlothian from 1819. He served as Colonel of the Edinburgh Militia from 25 March 1811 until his death. He was The Earl of Ancram before becoming a marquis, created a Knight of the Thistle in 1820 and Baron of Kersheugh in 1821.
In all likelihood, he would have joined the lodge attached to the 11th Dragoons, but that cannot be confirmed. In 1794 to 1796 he was Grand Master Mason of Scotland and in 1796, he had reached the rank of General. He lived in the family home of Monteviot House near Jedburgh and died in Richmond, Surrey on 27 April 1824.
He served in his father’s regiment in 1756, the 11th Dragoons Guards which had ‘modern’ lodge No.211 called Captain Bell’s Troop in 1755 in the GL of England and finishing with No.124 before being erased in 1782. He then went on to command the 12th Foot (East Suffolk Regiment) which had the Duke of Norfolk’s Lodge No.158 under the GL of Scotland, the 4th Regiment of Horse before returning to the Dragoons.
Bro. David Weeks The Past Master jewel of the Ashlar lodge No. 76 (Trenton, New Jersey) belongs to Bro. David Fairchild Weeks (1874-1929). He was a renowned American football player, coach and doctor. He also took part in research on the human nervous system and mental disorders, later becoming a medical director for NJ.
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Old Cornish Working Many old customs are often not recorded in the minutes as they were deemed standard knowledge and should not be divulged to the public. One of these was a part of the Royal Arch degree originally worked in lodges which eventually disappeared—perhaps heath and safety! Some Scottish chapters have vaults for the candidates and some old rituals depict the lowering and raising of candidates being exalted. However, very little proof exists to say for certain that this was standard practice. However, as far away as Cornwall, some proof does exist—Falmouth, Penzance, Hayle and Truro, all fairly close to each other. The candidate was actually lowered and raised by pulleys from the ceiling. In Volubian Chapter in Falmouth, the ceremony continues to be practiced in this form mentioned above. In Penzance, Holy Mount Chapter No.121 (attached to Mount Sinai Lodge) has only circumstantial evidence, but it’s strong. Although no one can remember this being part of the RA degree, the third floor of the masonic centre in Penzance used to be a chapter room. Probably the difficult access made the brethren change to using the lodge room below.
Although the room has never been used since, it still has some paintings on the ceiling pertaining to RA symbols. However, in the centre of the ceiling is a ring within a triangle and a line of the triple tau passing through the point of attachment which would support a pulley. There was also a table and steps (presumably for the candidate to walk up and be lowered) and an old harness used to lie on the floor in the corner. In the lodge room opposite, the letter G hangs from the ceiling by a wire which apparently (before renovation in the 1980s) could support a 200 pound weight which would easily support a man. It would appear this ceremony was practiced in Penzance, but unfortunately no record in any minutes state when it was discontinued and the upstairs has been cleared a few years ago.
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Timber Framed Lodge Building Barcaldine Masonic Lodge is heritage listed at 39 Beech Street, Barcaldine in Australia. It is a two storey, timber framed building set on low stumps with a corrugated iron roof. The exterior is clad in vertical corrugated iron at the rear and sides. Comet Lodge was built at Dingo Creek in 1876 by Robert Ballard , chief railway engineer. It was moved to Cometville in 1878, Emerald 1879, Bogantungan 1881, Pine Hill 1883, Jericho 1885 and finally to Barcaldine in 1886. After many relocations, it was a bit worn out so members decided to replace it in 1900 with a new building. The Comet Lodge 1680 E.C. has had a career which is probably unique in the records of Freemasonry. It holds its Warrant approx. 644km distant from the town for which it was granted.
'The expense of continually pulling down and removing the hall and the purchase of land always kept the lodge funds very low. However, when Barcaldine was reached it was felt the Lodge was here to stay: the building was considerably improved internally. We read that in 1891 this building was '… an unpretentious two-storied affair of iron, but beautifully furnished inside.' This hall served the lodge until 1900 when £720 was raised to erect a new building.
The inaugural meeting for the formation of a lodge was held at Dingo Creek on October 25th, 1876. Nine Brethren were present, the majority being members of Leichhardt Lodge, No. 932. Bro. Willoughby Hannam was appointed Chairman. The meeting decided to invite Bro. Robert Ballard (Chief Engineer of More super photos can been seen at: the Central Railway) to be the first W.M. The Masonic Lodge - Comet Lodge of Freemasons – Wardens Treasurer, and Secretary were ap- Barcaldine (barcaldine-peopleplacesthings.org) pointed from the Brethren present. Thanks to Bro. Al Williams PM 242 UGLV
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Cartside Mill In 1825 there were about 13 mills in the Johnstone area. One of the earliest was the Cartside Mill, built in 1794 under the direction of the successful cotton spinner Robert Burns, whose partners in the venture, Bro. William Macdowall of Garthland and Bro. George Houstoun of Johnstone, had earlier been responsible for a cotton mill at Lochwinnoch in 1788. A large, 6-story building, Cartside Mill was considered one of Scotland’s finest, early water-powered cotton mills. The original Cartside House, a compact 8-room structure with servants’ quarters, standing a short distance east of the mill on high ground on the south bank of the Black Cart, was built about this time for the mill manager.
before moving to Cartside House shortly after his marriage in 1845. His elder son George Ludovic Houstoun see, who was to succeed his uncle as laird of Johnstone in 1862, was born at Cartside in 1846, Houston extended the mill, making an addition in 1825 which nearly doubled its size. In addition to being a successful cotton-master, Houstoun is credited with transforming canal travel in the 1830s. previously unacquainted with boats and untutored in boatbuilding, he designed swift, iron boats which were introduced as passenger vessels on the Glasgow, Paisley and Ardrossan Canal, which had opened in 1809. Pulled along at twelve miles an hour by a single horse, the enabled the canal company in 1839, when there were 13 boats sailing daily between Glasgow and Paisley, to carry over 400,000 passengers, twice as many as were transported on the Forth and
It appears to have become a temporary home for the Napiers of Milliken after 1801, when the old house of Milliken was destroyed by fire. Colonel Robert Milliken Napier (1765-1808) made Cartside his home in 1802 on Clyde Canal. his retiral from the army. The business flourished only for a very brief periHe had entered the British Army in 1779 and over od, however, declining rapidly after a faster and the following twenty-two years saw active service more convenient mode of travel arrived with the in Holland, Ireland, the West Indies and India, opening of the Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway where he commanded the siege of Mangalore. in 1840. After Houston and his family moved to Obliged to retire from military service due to the Johnstone Castle in 1862, Carside House, with severity of wounds received in battle, he died at about 8 acres of polices, was regularly leased out. Cartside House in February, 1808. From 1862 it was occupied by the Glasgow East India merchant Archibald Glen. The original mill partnership, Houstoun, Burns and Company, was dissolved with the death of Following losses in his business with Singapore, Bro. George Houstoun in 1815, and the mill, house Malaya and the Philippines, Glen went bankrupt and 19 acres of Cartside became the responsibil- in 1874 with liabilities of £150,000, and died at ity of his second son William, who operated the Cartside House in December, 1875. Around 1877 business as George Houston and Company. the paper manufacturer Peter McLaurin moved into the house with his family. McLaurin in 1849 Bro. William Houstoun (1781-1856 & first master had founded the Glasgow firm Smith and McLauof 242) lived in Johnstone Castle with his elder rin, which pioneered the manufacture of gummed brother Ludovic, who had become laird in 1815, paper.
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Cartside Mill (ctd) In 1869 he had purchased the Houstoun’s Cartside Cotton Mill, which he converted into a paper mill to produce a wide range of paper products – gummed tape, pasteboards, cardboard and label cloth paper suitable for envelopes and books. Shortly after moving into the mansion, in December 1878, a fierce explosion shook the house. The gas boiler in the kitchen exploded after a feed pipe which had frozen in a severe frost thawed, sending a stream of cold water rushing into the heated and empty boiler cylinder.
brothers in the family business. He was living at Cartside House in 1914 with his widowed mother and his brother Alexander. In 1931 Johnstone Town Council, driven by the housing needs of the Burgh, acquired Cartside House and the grounds for housing, and the following year extended the burgh boundaries to include the property. Five years earlier it had purchased neighbouring Linn House and policies, and now brought forward proposals to build 220 houses for over 900 people on the joint 32-acre site.
The kitchen, which was occupied at the time, was badly damaged, with the ceiling and windows de- Cartside House, which had stood at the junction of stroyed, walls split and part of the kitchen wall Cartside Avenue and Beach Road, was demolished thrown across the room. soon after. The Cartside Mill, including the original 1794 block, was demolished in 1992. A twoThe cook died in hospital, while two of McLaurin’s storey stone structure, the last remaining fragchildren were severely burned. This accident may ment of the works complex, continues to serve as have been the catalyst for McLaurin’s rebuilding an office block for the company. of Cartside House in 1881, in Scottish Baronial style to designs by Paisley architects Andrew Thanks to Philip Pohler on Glasgow FB Page Robb Scott and John Albert Rennison. Peter McLaurin had nine children, three of whom emigrated in the late 19th century to the United States, where they established a successful paper business. After McLaurin’s death in 1909 one of his sons, Duncan McLaurin, returned to join his
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Many thanks to Brother Ivor Lopez, District Grand Secretary, for sharing the following news … The donation mentioned below is as a result of a local family who are very grateful to Great Ormond Street Hospital for the treatment given to their son. A group of Gibraltarians took part in a marathon in London at the weekend and have collected nearly £30000. A last minute request was made by one the members of Lodge Al Moghreb Al Aksa, No. 670, in the District of Gibraltar, resulting in the Lodge also donating £100 to Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity. New Office-Bearers Congratulations to Bros. Bud Gauld as GDoC, David Reid PPGM RE as GJD, John Miller PPGM RE as GSwB, Andy Mushet PGM of Glasgow on being installed as Grand Treasurer and also to Alistair Henderson PPGM of Glasgow as Grand Architect. And also to (shown) Bros. Jim Bell DGM, Ramsay McGhee GMM and Jim Peddie SGM.
PGL Renfrewshire East Installations & Events
The Province is almost up to date with the rearranged Lodge Anniversary Re-dedication Ceremonies that are being carried out by Grand Lodge. The most recent being the centenary celebration at Lodge Eaglesham No 1265, which was completed on Saturday 27th November. Everyone in attendance witnessed an excellent ceremony by a deputation from Grand Lodge, headed by the newly installed Substitute Grand Master, Bro James Campbell Peddie. Invitations to the Installation of the Provincial Grand Master and his Commission will be sent out at the beginning of December, an early reply would be much appreciated. Provincial Grand Lodge will be visiting the St John’s Operative Lodge No 347 on Saturday 11th Dec, to rededicate the Lodge on the occasion of their 175th Anniversary. PGL Christmas vouchers will be distributed to Lodges in mid December. Cross Keys Dece,ber 2021
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Jewels of the UGLE
Two super drawings of jewels taken from the UGLE’s Book of Constitutions in 1947. On the left is the Grand Master’s jewel showing compasses at 45° resting on an arc with eye within a triangle both radiated. On the right is the jewel of the First Grand Principal of the Supreme Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of England General Regulations in 1949. The jewel shows the interlaced triangles, a similar set of compasses with a crown of the FP. Both jewels are still worn by the Duke of Kent, Grand Master and FGP in England.
Perceptions of the Craft
Brethren are aware of the media’s often biased view of the Craft over recent years although many bodies have tried to work with the press to varying degrees of success. However its not new. Above left is the front cover of an old comic in 1883 which speaks volumes! Middle from a French caricature in Le Pelerin magazine 1912 and on the right The Meccan magazine dated about 1850. Cross Keys Dece,ber 2021
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Trades House Lodge of Glasgow No.1241 The installation of the lodge took place last month along with the re-dedication to celebrate its 100th Anniversary. We have touched on the lodge in April 2019 Cross Keys. The lodge was consecrated in 1920 (Covid delayed the anniversary last year) from a discussion on train in an attempt to bring the 14 trades of the House more closely together—an idea still important to the lodge and the House which has the 14 arrows on its crest bound together. The link with the city became obvious when Bro. Matthew Montgomery, Lord Provost of Glasgow, was installed as master only four years after its consecration. This was followed another four years later when Bro. Sir John Train MP for Cathcart was installed as master while serving as Deacon of the Incorporation of Masons and later became Deacon Convener. The master’s chain has the crests of all 14 incorporations as shown. The installation on 13th November started at 10am which was followed by the ceremony of Rededication by Bro. Ramsay McGhee, Grand Master Mason and member of the Incorporation of Masons, again maintaining the link from 100 years ago. Just before the start of the ceremony, Grand Chaplain performed a short remembrance ceremony for Armistice which was thoroughly appreciated by the assembled brethren. Following the labour, a seven course meal concluded the day. From a visitor’s point of view, it was great to be back in regalia, to be welcomed warmly as a visitor and enjoy the company of so many brethren (young and old) which made the day very special. 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.
Bro. Ramsay McGhee GMM with the master Bro. Hamilton Purdie PM
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A Wee Christmas Present……. A collection of seventy-two miniature jewels formerly belonging to Henry Bladon, a Freemason and manufacturer of Masonic regalia in London. During the Victorian era it became the custom for Freemasons to wear jewels to demonstrate not only their various Masonic achievements but also their membership of Masonic Orders beyond the Craft. The enthusiasm for doing so became such that the only way of adequately achieving this was by wearing miniatures. Henry (Harry) Bladon took over the family jewellery business in Clerkenwell when his father Joseph retired in 1894. Although the partnership with Frederick Humphries was dissolved in 1897, the company traded as Bladon & Humphries until 1910, when it became Bladon & Co.; it continued to manufacture and retail Masonic jewellery and regalia until Harry’s death in 1948. Henry Bladon was born in 1867 and, having been proposed into the Duke of Cornwall Lodge No. 1839 by his father, was initiated on 13 September 1890. He combined business with pleasure by becoming what can only be described as a very enthusiastic and conscientious Freemason. He joined Roll Call Lodge No. 2523 in 1895 and was a Founder of Victoria Diamond Jubilee Lodge No. 2675 in 1897, of which he was Master in 1901. Over the next twenty years he became a member of twelve lodges, helped found nine, and was Master of seven. As a Provincial Officer in Middlesex and Surrey, he was part of the Consecrating Team on a large number of occasions, resulting in him becoming an Honorary Member of some twenty lodges. Awarded London Rank in 1911, he first became a Grand Officer in 1916.
This set of jewels can be viewed at the museum of the UGLE in London. Can you imagine walking into a lodge today . . . ?
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Numbers!
A subsidiary question is: was/is Freemasonry ever intended to be a mass-membership organisation? If we desire the same intake as the 1950's/1960's etc. the answer would seem to be yes. If we look to the period before the first world war then the answer would appear to be no. Certainly 19th Century freemasonry was not intended for the majority and lodges often functioned with varying numbers such as 15 to 25. It is interesting to note that in 1885, the number of intrants was only 4052. The graph over the page shows the distribution of present day lodges formed during the various periods. The most marked is the Victorian period from the 1850s when Freemasonry became “Royal” - ie. HRH The Prince of Wales joined. This interest continued until WW2 and then for a short time after. From the 1970, the Craft was on a decrease and has continued to fall in numbers. How many lodges sat on their laurels during the 1970—90 period and continued to mass produce candidates without keeping them interested?
Probably most as the Halcion days were thought round the corner. The system of Freemasonry that we have today is in no small part due to having a GL to plan its future and eventually attract high profile men of value which was highly visible in Scottish society. Should we return to having more high profile gentry?
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Numbers (ctd)
Recently, the trend has been more abroad than here: 2010-15: all lodges have been chartered abroad 2001-10: 16/18 chartered abroad 1990-01: 19/22 chartered abroad
To submit an article or want added to the mail list or Facebook group, contact the Editor, Grant Macleod: E-Mail:
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Website: http://lodge242.bravesites.com/
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