Out & About

Dumbarton Lodge Minutes of 1726:

There is no doubt that the third degree was being worked in Scotland as early as 1725. The earliest Minutes of the Lodge of Dumbarton No. 18, dated 20 January 1726, reveal that those present included John Hamilton, Great Master, accompanied by seven Master Masons, six Fellow Crafts and three Entered Apprentices:

Att the Lodge of Dunbritan the 20th January, 1726 “The which day being the first meeting of the Masons thereof after their Constitution, Conveened John Campbell, James Brock, George McGie, James Nucoll, William Wallace, James McFarland, and Walter Williamson Masters, John McLauchlan, James Wallace, James Colquhoun, William Mitchell, Gabriell Porterfield, & Robert Fleming Fellows of Craft, James McArthur, John McNiell & George Ritchie entered prentices. All by the advice and with Consent of John Hamilton the Great Master of the Lodge.

The following entry states:

Lodge of Dunbritan 25th March 1726 –. . . The said day Gabriell Porterfield By unanimous Consent of the Masters, was admitted and received a Master of the Fraternity who Renewed his oath and Gave in his entry money in the termes of the Institution All which ammount to The Sume of Nine pound Twelve Shilling Scots, Left in the Box.

This is the first record of a third degree ceremony in Scotland, although there must have been earlier raisings.

The photos show the E in Lodge Beith St. John No. 157 and the stained glass window in the entrance door. The lodge meets 1st and 3rd Thursday September to May (January—1st Thursday only), at 7.30 p.m. It is definitely worth a visit (wee hint for Dogie RWM . . .). Both the lodge room and the social club are looking good.

A Royal Arch Unsustained

The rapidity with which Masons are made in these days, and the knowledge (or rather lack of knowledge) ‘which lowing incident, which came under our observation : A brother was exalted, and before twelve months had passed left for New York, destitute of a knowledge of Capitular Masonry, and desirous of visiting a Chapter, he was refused for not possessing the necessary word and manner of communicating it: whereupon he posted a letter to the Recorder of his Chapiter for it and for instructions! It was our pleasure to read the letter—a perfect gem (?) of Masonic ignorance. This individual Companion does not stand solitary and alone in the Masonic world, but has a host for company. A year’ s subscription and the perusal of a well conducted Masonic journal would have saved him from becoming the butt and laughing stock, of his Chapter.

From The Masonic News 6th January, 1873

The author of this piece certainly did not hold back on what he thought of this particular brother who did not shed a good light on the Scottish Craft abroad.

Congratulations to Bro. Darryl Gordon of 242 on receiving his MBE from Princess Anne just before the recess. It was awarded for Darryl’s work with NATO contributing towards their communications, logistical and crypto operational outputs to deployed units. It was awarded in 2020 but due to Covid, it was delayed.

Masonic Windows

Freemasonry first came to Liskeard in 1845 with the formation of St Martin’s Lodge, the Lodge met at several different venues before the current building in The Parade was erected in 1872.

The masonic building, which opened in 1862, was the work of John Paul, who was from Morval and was himself a freemason. He worked with Liskeard's foremost and bestknown architect, Henry Rice, who, it is said, valued John Paul's meticulous work. However, it is good see that freemasonry is deemed an important aspect of town life. Liskeard has a sizeable Masonic presence with no fewer than eight Masonic bodies meeting at the Masonic Hall: St Martin's Lodge No. 510 and Royal Arch Chapter No. 510, Mark, RAM, 18th, OSM, Acorn & Athelstan Orders all meet in the lodge building.

The windows are quite spectacular and can be viewed fully here. The lodge meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 7:15 pm.

From a kids’ website about the town!!!

Dutch café with two statues of masons showing how lodges met in coffee houses before many built their own premises.

Just before the recess, the Treaty has been officially signed by both Grand Masters’ of Prince Hall Grand Lodge and the Grand Lodge of Georgia is official recognition of each body. This might now see joint ventures between both bodies for the good of the Craft and externally within the State of Georgia.

Guards Masonic Tactical Recognition Flash lapel pins for Household Division Lodge No.9545 (EC) are available from:

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