The Cross Keys November 2018
Cross Keys November 2018
Number 213
The Monthly Newsletter of Lodge Houstoun St. Johnstone No.242
From the Editor The usual November edition with a military flavour in support of all our serving and veteran members of the Armed Forces, and those working alongside UK Forces. This is particularly poignant this year on the 100th Anniversary of the Great War. Our congratulations go to W. Bro. Kevin Bryan who was installed in October as master of 5005 again. We look forward to him and W. Bro. Tony Campbell PM 5005 attending our installation this month.
The front cover is an image of an old French apron—during the days when aprons could be hand painted and all kinds of symbols would appear. I’m sure most brethren have read Bro. Paul Revere’s charge to the officers which is worth spending some time as there are lessons in it for today.
In this issue: 3 5 6 8 10 11 13 15 16 18 19 21
Paul Revere’s Charge C.Sgt. James Taggart Spanish Persecution Naval Lodge No.4 Macleod of Talisker Pioneer Lodge No.420(IC) Wreath Laying Concentration Camps Roll of Honour Tolerance Belfast Volunteers Grand Lodge News
If any military brethren have articles of a military nature, I’d be delighted to receive them for November 2019. LEST WE FORGET! Grant 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
November Meetings Friday 9th INSTALLATION
At 7pm Prompt Thursday 22nd EA Degree By OBs 7.30pm start
All Scottish Constitution.
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Paul Revere Charge to Officers The following charge is used by some lodges at the Annual Installation. It is dated from 1775 and is supposed to have been written by Bro. Paul Revere, famous for his night ride during the American War of Independence.
cient Fraternity, where Harmony is obstructed by the superstitious and morose. You must discharge the Lodge quietly, encouraging the Brethren assembled to work cheerfully, that none when dismissed may go away dissatisfied.
That the Society may prosper, you must pre- And You, Brethren of the Worshipful lodge, serve the dignity of your office, requiring learn to follow the advice and instruction of submission from the perverse and refracto- your officers, submitting cheerfully to their ry, always acting and being guided by the amicable decisions, throwing by all resentprinciples on which your authority is found- ments and prejudices towards each other; let ed: You must, to the extent of your power, your chief care be to the advancement of the pay a constant attendance on your lodge, Society you have the honor to be members that you may see how of; let there be a modest . . . Submitting cheerfully to your work flourished, and friendly emulation and your instructions their amicable decisions. . . among you in doing are obeyed: You must good to each other; let take care that neither your words or actions complacency and benevolence flourish shall render your authority to be less re- among you; let your actions be Squared by garded, but that your prudent and careful the Rules of Masonry; let friendship be cherbehavior may set an example, and give a ished, and all advantages of that title be sanction to your power. And as brotherly which we distinguish each other, that we love is the cement of our society, so cherish may be Brothers, not only in name, but in the and encourage it that the Brethren may be full import, extent and latitude of so glorious willing to obey the dictate of Masons, that an appellation. you have occasion to command. Words as relevant today as they were over And you, the Officers of this Worshipful 200 years ago. Lodge, must carefully assist the Master in the discharge and execution of his office; diffusing light and imparting knowledge to all the fellows under your care, keeping the Brethren in just order and decorum, that nothing may disturb the peaceable serenity, or obstruct the glorious effects of Harmony and Concord; and that this may be the better preserved, you must carefully inquire into the character of all candidates to this honorable society, and recommend none to the Master who in your opinion are unworthy of the privileges and advantages of Masonry, keeping the CYNIC far from the An-
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Bro. C Sgt James Taggart The Paisley and Renfrewshire Gazette, 20th Jan. 1900 states that Col. Sgt. J. Taggart of the Gordon Highlanders died at Ladysmith on the 9th inst. Deceased, who was a native of Johnstone, joined the Colours in March 1887 and was transferred to the Depot at Aberdeen in Feb. 1891. He was promoted to the rank of Sgt. in 1892 and to Col. Sgt. in 1896. He was married to an Aberdeen lady who accompanied him to India. Deceased, who was highly respected by those who knew him in Johnstone, was a member of the St. Nicholas Lodge No.93 in Aberdeen.
Aberdeen in February 1891. On 7th November 1894, James Taggart, age 27, Sergeant, Orderly Room Clerk, King Street Barracks, Aberdeen and married Jane Downie, age 28, a dressmaker from Aberdeen. They were both married in the Church of Scotland. King Street Barracks was the home to the 3rd (Militia) Btn., Gordon Highlanders. James would have been a member of the permanent staff there. A daughter Frances Helen Taggart was born on 23rd August 1895 at King St. Barracks. James was promoted Colour Sergeant in 1896.
His service record does not survive, probably due to the fact that he died on service. The Regimental History, The Life of a Regiment, Vol. 3 by Lieut. Col. AD Gardyne, lists No. 2521 Col. Sgt. J. Taggart died of disease, 9th January 1900, buried at Intombi, Near Ladysmith. How did all this come about?
He went to India with his wife and family, serving in D Company, 2nd Battalion, Gordon Highlanders, the battalion having gone out on 6th Sept. 1898, arriving in Bombay before going on to Umbala. The 2nd Gordon’s left Umbala, reaching Bombay, on 23rd September 1899 and sailed on the ship Pakistan’s, arriving Durban, South Africa on 9th October 1899 taking part in the Second Boer War.
James Taggart was born on 16th July 1867 in McDowall Street, Johnstone, the son of William Taggart, flax dresser, and Helen Daly. William was Irish by birth. The 1881 Census shows the family residing at 12 George Street, Johnstone with his parents and three brothers. His younger brother, Edward, would later join 242 in 1919 after returning from WW1. James is shown in the Census as being aged 13, a Post Office messenger, by occupation. He enlisted as a Private in the Gordon Highlanders in March 1887, the depot being Castlehill Barracks, Aberdeen. After a period of training he would have been sent to probably the 2nd Battalion which was on Home Service in the U.K., being station in Guernsey, Belfast, The Curragh, and Dublin. James Taggart was transferred to the depot at
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The 2nd Gordon’s , with James, were heavily engaged at Elandslatte, a battle which saw both Captain Matthew Fountaine Maury Meiklejohn and RSM William Robertson of the Regt. both awarded the Victoria Cross. After the battle was over the 2nd Gordon’s returned to Ladysmith and were under siege until a relieving force broke through at the end of February 1900. As the siege took hold numbers of the defenders and civil population who were wounded or sick grew. By agreement between the British commander Sir George White and the Boer General Joubert, the British in Ladysmith established a neutral camp outside the town for the reception of the sick, wounded, and such civilians as
Bro. C Sgt James Taggart (ctd) chose to take advantage of it., the camp being called Intombi Camp. By 11th Nov. 1899 the first two cases of enteric fever were received at the camp, which started an epidemic, and 1700 soldiers contracted this fever. Dysentery appeared early and during the siege there were 1800 cases. When the siege of Ladysmith ended on 28th February 1900 there had been 10673 admissions at Intombi. Of the 583 soldiers who died, 382 deaths resulted from enteric fever and 109 from dysentery. The photo below shows the cemetery at the time of the deaths. The memorial to the Gordon Highlanders stands in Intombi Cemetery listing those men who died during the Siege of Ladysmith. During the siege food became very scarce, and in the final months 28 soldiers a day were buried at Intombi Hospital Cemetery. James Taggart, Colour Sergeant 2851, 2nd Gordon Highlanders is buried in Intombi Cemetery, Grave 141. His name is also on the memorial to the right.
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Bro. Taggart was awarded the Queens South Africa Medal posthumously with two bars, “Elandslatte” and “Defence of Ladysmith”.
The Spanish Persecution It’s never too late. That was the spirit in which Spain’s freemasons held their recent annual assembly in Madrid, welcoming representatives of lodges from all over the world. The meeting came after a number of other major events organized by Spain’s Grand Lodge in recent months, all part of a bid by an organization that was once ferociously persecuted by General Francisco Franco to rebuild its reputation and establish that it isn’t, and never has been, a danger to the country. During his 40-year dictatorship, Franco who was a devout Catholic was fond of referring to the “Jewish-Masonic conspiracy,” even doing so in his final speech, given from the balcony of the Royal Palace in September 1975, less than two months before his death. With the dictator out of the way, Spain began its slow transition toward democracy, as political parties, labour unions, and religious movements were all legalized and civil rights restored. All except for the freemasons, that is, who had to wait until 1979 to be legalized, and only then after the High Court had overruled the Interior Ministry’s initial refusal to allow them to be registered. A few weeks later, a Spanish bishop suspended a priest for being a mason (and yet child abusing priests are not!!), while the Catholic Church’s Infovaticana magazine accused the organization of a range of crimes, including murder. Spain’s Grand Lodge brushed off the incidents in a humorous article in its publication, El Oriente, pointing out that the founders of three of the world’s biggest car manufacturers – the Chrysler brothers, Henry Ford and Andre Gustave Citroen – were all masons: “Criticism of the conspiracy is correct,” ran the article. “Do you want a real argument to feed antimasonic feeling? Without Ford, the Chrysler brothers and Citroen, there would be no traffic jams.” Nevertheless, some of Spain’s institutions are doing their bit to help restore the reputations of masons who suffered under Franco. In January, Madrid’s College of Lawyers rehabilitated the memory of 61 members
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who were expelled in 1939. In the wake of Franco’s victory in the civil war that year, dozens of freemasons, some of them wellknown figures, were either exiled, imprisoned or, in some cases, shot. All masons in 1936-37 who had not escaped Nationalist areas were murdered and in 1940, the Craft was officially outlawed. Which partly explains why Spain’s Senate this year invited members of the country’s Grand Lodge to take part in official acts as part of the United Nations’ International Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27, although it did so at the insistence of Isaac Querub, the president of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Spain, who had previously called on the upper house to invite Grand Master Oscar de Alfonso Ortega and the head of the Spanish masons’ Grand Council, Jesus Gutierrez Morlote. In fact, even some senior members of the Catholic Church are taking a more forgiving position. Italian cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, president of the Papal College for Culture, recently published an article in L’Osservatore Romano, the Vatican’s daily newspaper, entitled “Dear Brothers in the Masons,” calling for dialogue between the Catholic Church and the freemasons. It has to be said, though, that in the four decades since Spain has returned to democracy, the freemasons’ efforts to be accepted have met with mixed fortunes. At the most recent World Conference of Regular Masonic Grand Lodges, held in San Francisco in November 2015, Oscar de Alfonso Ortega told delegates: “Our country occupies a particular place in the history of persecution we have suffered, but that isn’t where the enigma lies. The masons who visit us, who take their status as such in their own country for granted, realize that democratic Spain has made no effort to restore the honour of this institution.” The theme of Spain’s Grand Lodge for 2016 is “Let your actions, not your words, speak for you.” De Alfonso Ortega attended the San Francisco conference bearing an unusual responsibility: aside from representing Spanish masons, since last summer he has presided the Ibero-
The Spanish Persecution (ctd) American Masonic Confederation, one of the most important regional masonic organizations in the world, with around 10,400 lodges in 25 countries and a combined membership of 350,000. “For Spanish masons, who number just 3,000, aside from being an honour [this responsibility] will help strengthen our Order here and internationally,” he says. In 1958, at the Pardo Palace in the outskirts of Madrid (Franco’s official residence), two US senators, along with a high-ranking military man, are received by Generalissimo Francisco Franco. Their mission is to sound out the dictator about a possible visit by the then president of the United States, Dwight D. Eisenhower. What kind of reception would he get? Franco is delighted at the prospect and begins expanding on the need to eradicate once and for all the Communist threat, and is willing to help the United States in its fight against the Soviet Union, hoping to win the support of the West in the process – after all, it had only been admitted to the United Nations in December 1955. Carried away in his euphoria, Franco also declares that freemasonry must also be done away with. At which point, one of the senators politely interrupts: “Sir, President Eisenhower is a protestant, I’m a mason, and my colleague here in the Senate is Jewish. We would all be in jail if we lived in Spain.” The military man, Eugene Vidal, an old-school Yankee blueblood and head of aeronautics at West Point military academy, drove home the point with a certain degree of sarcasm: “No, no my dear sir, I’m also a mason and I too would be shot here.” Franco was reportedly livid, but the prospect of parading through the streets of the Spanish capital alongside the leader of the free world was too much to resist, and he kept his views on the freemasons to himself after that. Eisenhower finally visited Spain in December 1959. Of course, it was not just the masons who Franco felt threatened his vision of Spain: he had only just allowed the first protestant
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churches to reopen, despite the vociferous opposition of the Catholic Church. By the late 1950s a few Jewish families had also cautiously returned. Some historians have wondered why Franco loathed the movement so much: some have speculated it might have been because his brother and father, both of whom he is said to have hated, were masons, and that he had been rejected by a lodge. The masons have always been associated with anti-clericalism and liberalism, both anathemas to Franco. What is beyond dispute is that in 1936, when he launched his uprising that led to the civil war, he made the 6,000 or so masons in Spain one of his prime targets. Once in power, legislation was soon passed outlawing freemasonry, and some 18,000 trials were held that led to firing squads, long prison sentences, and exile, along with the seizure of all property belonging to anybody convicted of belonging to the freemasons. After Franco died, there was arguably greater resistance from Spain’s institutions to legalizing the freemasons than there was to allowing the Communist Party to operate. There was a time when the masons were both numerous and powerful in Spain. There were 151 masons among the 470 parliamentarians who made up the first legislature of the Second Republic in 1931. Little wonder that Franco described the Republic as a masonic operation. Six of the Second Republic’s prime ministers were masons, among them Manuel Azana, along with 20 ministers and 14 undersecretaries. A further 21 masons served as generals in the army. Persecution of freemasons will continue to a greater or lesser degree. In the UK, it tends to be only the media who fancy a go if there is no real news. Depending who gets voted into some European countries, will see the future of some lodges under threat.
Naval Lodge No.4 Naval Lodge No.4 works in Washington DC was originally chartered as Washington Naval Lodge No. 41 by the Grand Lodge of Maryland in 1805. However, only six years later, it joined with five other lodges in the federal district to form the new Grand Lodge of Washington, DC, and was re-chartered as Naval Lodge No. 4. Because of its start as a Maryland Lodge, Naval Lodge retains some parts of the Maryland ritual, making it the only Lodge in Washington to do so Originally, Naval Lodge was made up mainly of workers in the Navy Yard.
In the early 1800s the Navy Yard was one of the largest employers in the city, and the Navy, freshly returned victorious from the war with Tripoli, enjoyed high regard. Throughout this time, and for nearly the next 100 years, the Lodge was mainly composed of craftsmen and workers from the Navy Yard and the market nearby. However, visitors were common. During construction and expansion of the Capitol and the White House, international craftsmen who came to work on those projects would visit the Lodge. In 1849 the Chief of the Choctaw Indians attended the Lodge as a visiting brother. During this time, Naval Lodge also began its long tradition of involvement in the community. Holding frequent fairs and fundraising parades, the Lodge raised large sums of money for the local orphanage and other charitable causes. Naval Lodge, and its members, also took part in historic events throughout the city. In 1814, when the Navy Yard was burned to prevent its capture by the invading British army, members of Naval Lodge took charge of the all the Navy Yard records and other valuable documents and secreted them
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away to Maryland for safe keeping. In 1848, the Lodge took part in the laying of the cornerstone of the Washington Monument. Two years later they contributed a stone which can still be seen partway up the stairway of the monument. Other historic events the reshaped the city, also reshaped the Lodge. The growth of the Craft, and of Naval Lodge in particular, during and after the Civil War, led to a decision to expand the building. In 1867, the Lodge building was expanded to three stories, and had gas lights added. However, it only took less than 20 years for the growing pains to start again. After a nineyear effort to find a suitable spot and raise money for construction, Naval Lodge bought the lot and began building its current building in 1893. Naval Lodge met at Potomac No. 5's hall in Georgetown, and at the Odd Fellows Hall on 8th Street during the construction. Once the building was completed in 1895, it became a centre of Masonic and community activity on Capitol Hill and Southeast Washington. Today it is the oldest Masonic building in the District that is still used for Masonic purposes. As the Lodge grew through the 20th Century, its membership began to include more "white collar" professionals, including lawyers, architects, and Congressional staff. Its
Naval Lodge No.4 (ctd) members suffered through the Spanish Flu epidemic, World Wars, race riots and all of the changes that shook our great nation. It was visited by Presidents, vice presidents, military and religious leaders, visiting soldiers, and Brothers from around the world. To the right and on the previous page are old postcards published by the lodge. The lodge today (showing E & W) has been refurbished maintaining its Egyptian theme and is looking amazing.
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Macleod of Talisker The Clan Macleod has a fairly comprehensive genealogy of the family. However, Norman Macleod, the son of Donald 3rd of Talisker in Skye was blank until April, 2012. Talisker is better known for the ’peaty’ malt whiskey from the Isle of Skye, but the area in the 18th Century produced many soldiers. Norman joined the Black Watch (42nd Highlanders) in 1747 and was commissioned as an ensign (2nd Lt) in 1756. The regiment went to the US and he took the commission of Lt in 80th Regiment (Gage’s Light Infantry) which was common to give officer experience in more than one regiment. He fought at the Battle of Ticonderoga (against the French) in 1758 and Montreal in 1760 when he was commissioned Captain-Lt.
He was described as a close friend of Sir William Johnson (see article next month) and his fellow freemason. Johnson said of Macleod that he had “great esteem for Captain Macleod who is a worthy man and one I am always disposed to serve.” Praise indeed. He became a supply officer at Fort Niagara looking after Indian affairs. He was granted land (3000 acres) in Nova Scotia in 1770 and later was a Loyalist Capt of the Detroit Militia during the American Revolution. He died in Montreal as a wealthy fur trader and died in 1796. Where did he join the Craft? There are three possibilities: (a) (b) (c)
in the Black Watch’s own regimental lodge founded in 1761 In the 80th lodge founded in 1762 St Patrick’s Lodge (NY) founded in 1766
We will possibly never know.
Brotherly Love No matter where and under what conditions, brethren will always find a way to practise freemasonry as shown by the brethren of an American lodge in Afghan.
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Pioneer Lodge No.420 (IC) In the early months of the year 1915, while the 16th Battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles (Pioneers Ulster Division) was undergoing training at Brownlow House, Lurgan, Co. Armagh; several Masonic Brethren conceived the idea of forming a Regimental Masonic Lodge and decided to apply for a travelling Warrant. Having the requisite number of Master Masons among the Officers, application was made to the Grand Lodge of Ireland through the Armagh Provincial Grand Lodge and warrant was in due course granted. Every possible assistance was given by the Lurgan brethren, and to show their fraternal interest, the Provincial Grand Lodge of Armagh forwarded a cheque for £60.00 to the Pioneers for the purchase of comforts etc. On the 8th June 1915, in Lurgan Masonic Hall, ‘Pioneers Lodge No. 420’ was duly constituted and solemnly dedicated by the Right Worshipful Brother Major Richardson, Deputy Grand Master of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Armagh in the presence of a large attendance of Provincial Officers and brethren representing the Lurgan Lodges. All brethren and candidates were only commissioned officers. As part of the 36th Ulster Division, the Regiment moved to Seaford in England then the Somme where Headquarters were located in a dilapidated chateau, and two rooms were earmarked for a Lodge room and anteroom respectively. Difficulty was experienced regarding Lodge furniture, but with the aid of a very handy workman, Warden’s Pedestals, Alter Steps, etc, were soon made. Brothers, Colonel Leader, Captains Shepperd, Platt and Jewell received their 3rd degree here, each as already stated had been proposed in Ireland, their 1st and 2nd degrees conferred in England, and by way of rounding off a very interesting record, they were all raised to the Degree of Master Mason in France. This amazing story can be read in full by clicking on the jewels below. It was written by the founding master Bro. Maj. R. Gardiner in 1917.
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Today, the lodge meets in Freemasons’ Hall, Arthur Square in Belfast on 2nd Thursday excluding summer months. It ius interesting to note that the first ‘civvy’ in the Chair was not until 1934. The words of the founding master are as apt today as they were in 1917:
In war even more than in peace, have we realised the depth and sincerity of the sentiment by which Freemasons are bound to one another, and our attachment to the principles of the Order has been strengthened by our experience of their working. Freemasonry, we are more than ever convinced, is a living force. It brings out all that is noblest and best in the character of each of its adherents, and causes the ideal of brotherly love to emerge as a great and blessed reality.
The above minute from 1813 mentions the articles of regulation for the Friendly Society within the lodge for indigent brethren. This became the Benevolent Fund which is necessary under Grand Lodge although at this time purely optional. It is interesting to note we had a Grand Master (as did many lodges then)!!
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Wreath Laying At the PGL of Renfrewshire East laying of wreaths for the 100th Anniversary of WW1, each of the 37 lodges from the Province laid a wreath at Paisley Abbey. 242 was represented by the master Bro. Brian Smolarek and Bro. John Flannagan PM ex RN. Bro. John was also involved with the Field Gun Competition.
5005 Installation Bro. Graham Scott PM attended the installation of W. Bro. Kevin Bryan being installed into the chair of Selsdon Park Lodge No.5005. Kevin is at the rear with the Asst. PGM Bro. Nick Gras front centre with the candidate, Bro. Ben Walking, who was initiated at the same meeting. Bro. Fraser Lees MM242 PM5005 can be seen hiding on the right! Bro. Graham can be seen with interesting road signs—is this another form of trainspotting…………..?
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British Military Freemasons
In addition to the Facebook page, there is also the website with all the military lodges called the Circuit of Service Lodges
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Concentration Camps In 1942 Hitler appointed Alfred Rosenberg, to intellectually fight Jews and Freemasons, and Rosenberg ordered the personal property, real property, archives, records, libraries, and artworks of Freemasons and Jews to be confiscated or destroyed. Eventually, Freemasons were rounded up with the political dissidents, Jews, Gypsies, and others deemed unfit or dangerous, and taken to concentration camps. It has been estimated that anywhere between eighty thousand and two hundred thousand Freemasons were murdered under Nazi rule. The people in the concentration camps wore a mark to show the guards of the camps what kind of prisoner each individual was. The Freemasons were considered political prisoners and had to wear inverted red triangles on their shirts and pants to identify them as such. it is rumoured that Freemasons identified each other by these red triangles on their clothing, and there is also the speculation that Freemasons wore the edelweiss or blue forget me not on their lapel to identify each other; however, there is no hard evidence of either of these being true other than word to mouth passed down through the generations. There is however undisputed proof of Masonic Lodges operating within concentrations camps. Even in the face of mechanized murder and genocide, Freemasonry was still able to carry on because of the strong will and desire of its Members to maintain the Order, and its cherished principles. The first known Lodge to exist within the walls of a concentrations camp was the Lodge Liberte Cherie or Beloved Liberty Lodge. This Lodge was started by seven Belgian Freemasons on November 15, 1943 inside Hut 6 of Esterwegen Concentration Camp in Germany. Only two members of this Lodge survived the detention in this concentration camp. The Masonic Memorial (below) is now part of the Cemetery.
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The full list of brethren who served in the Great War is given below on the 100th Anniversary of the end of that conflict. There will undoubtedly be brethren who recognise these names or maybe even knew the brer=thren themselves. Many survived long after the war.
Lt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Sgt Cpl LCpl L Cpl Pte Pte Pte Pte Pte Pte Pte Cpl Pte Pte Bdr Gnr Dvr Lt Spr Dep Ri Cpt Tpr Tpr Sgt Maj
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Paton, James Gow, Andrew S J Hewitson, David Y Hutchison, William J McIntosh, John Rankin, William Simpson, John Thomson, John Love, George W McDonald, R McFarlane, Thomas Blake, Thomas Dickson, Henry Gault, Alexander Nelson, David M Paterson, Alexander Patterson, James Wright, A W Jack, Isaac Milne, James Reid, John M McQueen, Hugh Allan, Alexander Paterson, Alexander S Campbell, P M Mussen, Richard Paton, William A Wade, Rev Stanley G Cathcart, Robert Sinclair, John McDonald, James Lindsay, J H
A&SH A&SH A&SH A&SH A&SH A&SH A&SH A&SH A&SH A&SH A&SH A&SH A&SH A&SH A&SH A&SH A&SH A&SH KOSB KOSB KOSB RGA RGA RGA RE IWT RE RE Chaplain QO R Yeomanry QO G Yeomanry F & F Yeomanry Canadians
L Cpl Pte Pte Cpl Pte 2 Lt 2 Lt Sgt L Cpl Pte Pte Pte Tpr Pte Pte Pte Pte Pte Maj ERA Stkr 2AM
Campbell, John Baker, John Blatch, Frederick C McMinn, John Napier, Charles McConnell, P M Peacock, William McAulay, William Leggat, McKenzie, John R Nairn, John Martin, Raymond C Miller, J H Flockhard, Daniel Smith, H L Smith, George Stevenson, William Mussen, Henry Stevenson, Robert Thomson, James Smith, Wiliam McIntyre, James
Canadians Canadians Canadians Lovat Scouts Lovat Scouts Royal Scots Royal Scots Royal Scots Royal Scots ASC ASC Royal Fusiliers Scottish Horse Royal Scots Greys Royal Dragoons Gordons Highland Cyclists Liverpool Scottish AOD RN RN RAF
Battle of Dettingen On June 27, 1743, at the Battle of Dettingen, a French officer found himself trapped under his wounded horse. An English dragoon fell upon him, with sword raised, ready to end the soldier's life. In a moment desperation, the Frenchman made the Masonic sign of distress. The dragoon, being a Brother, ceased his attack, helped the wounded man and gave him a drink from his canteen. Instead of killing him, he took the man prisoner and treated him with kindness until he was released in a prisoner exchange. This incident is the first recorded use of the sign of distress.
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Tolerance There are a number of qualities or attributes which are essential to the Craft. A belief in a Supreme Being, adhering to the Constitutions and Laws of the Grand Lodge or not permitting talk of a religious or political nature. Of course, these are important, but another that is absolutely essential is that every brother must have TOLERANCE. From brethren tolerating each other, we have brotherly love and relief as natural follow ons. Brethren are willing to help and support each other in exactly the manner our forefathers intended. It’s easy to see why many military men have joined our ranks as they exhibit that same support they have been used to in their time within the Armed Forces. What is very disappointing in the amount of back biting in many lodges, usually larger lodges. How many brethren know of internal feuds between brethren to the point they avoid each other? This only brings disharmony to lodge and if these brethren have learned anything from their degrees, it should be to put these differences aside and shake hands. Smaller lodges and many smaller Orders work in perfect harmony, even at Grand level where there is no evidence of being stabbed in the back. However, our lessons are strong enough that the size should not matter as usually these differences are between a handful of brethren at most. Disputes exist even between PMs who should know better. We often hear about falling numbers. Lack of tolerance loses members as well—how many brethren have you heard say, that’s it I’ve had enough never to return again? Too many. When researching the history of 242, a number of incidences of this nature appeared, albeit on a very small scale over 200 years. In the ‘old’ days, this often led to a suspension of a brother for a few meetings and on his return he apologised in open lodge to his fellow brethren. This was readily accepted and the brother was welcomed back into the fold. On no occasion in the minutes did this brother err again. I wonder how many brethren today would accept a suspension and apologise in open lodge? I really don’t know but it’s the mark of a man to apologies and to accept it. Today’s climate often means a brother who has been offended or spoken about behind his back usually means he will be lost to the Craft and that is tragic. We should all be more aware of what we say and remember to be more tolerant. No one is perfect, but the Craft tries to make us better men. Always remember that.
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Belfast Volunteers During the First World War (1914-18), the War Office approved the formation of a semi-military volunteer body, designated the "Belfast Volunteer Defence Corps", for the purpose of relieving for overseas service some of the combatant soldiers who were stationed in Belfast on guard and security duties. The Corps was mainly manned by volunteer Belfast business men who were for various reasons exempt from or unfit for active military service. It was thus somewhat similar to the Home Guard formed in the Second World War.
teers Masonic Lodge was prepared to start on its splendid career as a unique Lodge which brings together in Masonic Fraternity former members of the Belfast Volunteer Defence Corps and others who volunteered for service in His Majesty's Forces.
The Lodge was Constituted and Dedicated in the New Masonic Rooms, 16, Donegal Square South (still popularly known as the Scottish Temperance Buildings) on 19th April, 1918, by R.W. Bro. J.H. Stirling, D.P.G.M. of the Masonic Province of The Headquarters of the Corps was established in Antrim, assisted by the Grand Officers of the the Harbour area in a building made available by Province. Harland and Wolff Ltd. A Regular Army Permanent Staff Instructor was allocated to the Corps The Grantees of the Warrant were V.W. Bro. J. and the volunteers (who soon reached a strength Pim Thompson, W.M.; W. Bro. John W. Gillmour, of above 600 were trained in various soldiery S.W. and Bro. Robert Ervine, J.W. There were a skills - marching, musketry, guard duties etc. further fourteen founding brethren. When volunteers were adjudged proficient, they were permitted to purchase their own uniforms. In March 1921 it was decided to limit the memThe main duties of the Corps were to guard the bership of the Lodge to a maximum of 80, this Harbour area, comprising docks, wharves, rail- figure was increased to 90 in February 1923. The way goods yards, petrol storage tanks and other installations vital to the war effort. The volunteers were unpaid and as they were of course carrying on their usual business or profession during normal working hours, their Corps duties were mainly performed at night or during weekends. Each man whilst on duty was armed with a rifle and five rounds of ammunition. On occasions the members of the Corps attended courses in musketry, gun drill, etc. at Army Camps such as Kilroot. The enthusiasm and esprit-de-corps which quickly developed in this select band of men was very great: such was the spirit of friendship and comradeship that some of the members who were Masons were inspired with the idea of forming a Masonic Lodge in order to perpetuate, after the War, this happy spirit in a more enduring form. Warrant No. 439 was obtained and Belfast Volun-
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Belfast Volunteers (ctd) early years say various presentations made by the brethren including two silver cups which were competed for from time to time. Due to the "black out" it was decided at the October 1939 meeting to meet at 6.00 p.m. in future and this continued for the duration. The May 1941 the Lodge's usual meeting place was "out of bounds" (owing to the proximity of a UXB). W. Bros. W. Baxter and D.H. McCoubrey executed (un-observed by authority) a flanking movement to obtain the warrant and jewels and the Lodge met by candle light at very short notice in 9, College Square North. Thus 439 was able to declare "we never closed". In February 1956 the Lodge decided to have one of its swords refurbished and presented to the Provincial Grand Lodge of Antrim. At the same meeting the brethren made a donation of £100 to the Building Fund of the New Provincial Hall. May 1956 saw the last meeting to be held by the Lodge in the Masonic Rooms, 16 Donegal Square South and in September of that year they met in the new Provincial Hall, 15 Rosemary Street. In January 1961 Bro. R.S. Adamson was installed as Worshipful Master, being the first of the Second World War soldiers to occupy the Chair of 439. His father was the first of the First World War soldiers to occupy the Chair of 439 (in 1935) in succession to the veterans who founded the Lodge.
Sir William Wallace RAC No.109 The installation of the Royal Arch Chapter took last month with ME First Principal Gordon Renfrew being re-installed and 2nd Principal Danny Birrell PM 242. The remaining OBs were similar to the last couple to years. Meetings this year: 15th November—EM Degree 20th December—RA Degree
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RECOGNITION OF GRAND LODGES After detailed discussion and examination of six applications received, the Committee determined that the applications from the following Grand Lodges are suitable for recommendation to Grand Committee: 1. The Grand Lodge Masonic de Estados de Espiorito Santos. 2. The Grand Loja Maconica de Estado de Rio de Janeiro. 3. Masonic Grand Lodge of Minas Gerais. 4. The Grand Lodge of San Marino. THE GRAND LODGE OF NEW YORK Grand Secretary explained that after appraising himself of the background to this matter, he had both telephoned and written to the recently installed Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of New York (GLNY). He had been courteously received and there appeared to be a genuine wish on the part of our American brethren to achieve resolution of the matter. However, GLNY is having difficulty in understanding why our Disciplinary Review Committee did not simply follow the decision of GNLY to expel the three Brethren concerned. Grand Secretary will explain further as to how and why the decision was reached and will continue to negotiate. The Committee was pleased that communication had been re-established and that dialogue is to continue. New Grand Master Mason Congratulations to Bro. Ramsey McGhee who will be the new GMM—more next month on this Kilbarchan brother.
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