History of Lodge St.Andrew 1972 - 1997.
1972
During Bro. Norman Robb’s year as Centenary Master it was noted
that the
Lodge St.Andrew had the pleasure of being
a sponsor to a new Lodge in
The year ended with Bro. Gavin Gordon taking the Lodge into the
next one hundred years.
1973
In 1973 the lodge received its first official visit from the new
Lodge, Kil Byrd, No. 1667.
Bro. Gordon, as Master, reported on a meeting with the two other
The Lodge had a visit from Lodge Roslyn St. Clair, No. 606.
Brethren attended a meeting, the ladies having a guided tour of
In Bro. Gordon’s year the Lodge received 26 Initiates, 2 Affiliates
and 21 brethren advanced to the Mark Degree.
At the end of the year it was Bro. Joseph M. Nicol’s
responsibility to take the Lodge into 1974.
1974
In Brother Nicol’s year it was agreed
that owing to the Masonic hall being used outwith
Masonic meetings that the hall was to be refloored
and cleaned. Volunteers led by Bro. G. Wallace D.O.C., members of ‘524’, brethern from our sister Lodge, Kil
Byrd, responded.
Rating revaluation of the hall was disputed and adjusted from £880
to £194.
Bro. Drew Marshall requested the hall to be opened on Friday and
Saturday evening during recess to maintain a social contact with the brethren.
This proved to be a most successful venture.
The annual ball was held within our own hall that year.
Numbers attending the regular meetings were increasing and there was
a complaint - a good complaint - there were not enough working aprons!
The Lodge was presented with a Masonic pottery mell
and water jug.
In the sporting field Bro. John Marshall won the bronze medal for
bowling in the Commonwealth Games in
Before the year ended Lodge St.Andrew was
again sponsor for a new Lodge in
In Bro. Nicol’s year the Lodge received
28 Initiates, 4 Affiliates and 20 brethren advanced to the Mark Degree.
A good number of brethren attended the installation of Bro. R. Wolrige. Gordon as Grand Master Mason of
Another good year for the Lodge although it had
not started well because Bro. Nicol had to inform the
brethren that a brother had lost two sons in a fire which had also destroyed
the house.
Bro. Frank D. Orr was installed as Master of the Lodge for 1975.
1975
During Bro. Orr’s year the Mod came to
On the first official visit to Lodge McLaren,
No. 1688 the lodge presented a masonic bible.
Another successful outing was to Lodge Roslyn St. Clair, No. 606 to
confer the F.C. degree and a visit to a building much in the news today, Roslin Chapel.
A talk on freemasonary in
Bro. Gavin Gordon, P.M. was encouraging office bearers and brethern to attend the instruction class in order to
preserve lodge practice and decorum.
Honorary membership was conferred on two brethern
- Bro. Archie McD. Hutcheson, P.G.D.M of the province
and Bro. Tom Robertson, M.M. of Lodge Rutherglen
Royal Arch No.116. A sad loss to the lodge was the death of Bro. Alex Smillie, a great source of knowledge and encouragement to
the younger brethren and degree workers.
In Bro. Orr's year the Lodge received 24 Initiates, 3 Affiliates
joined the lodge and 21 brethren advanced to the Mark Degree.
Bro. James M. Cantley was installed as
Master in December 1975.
1976
Bro. Cantley, an affiliate from St.
Marks's Lodge at
In his year the social club expanded and consideration was given to
erecting an extension to the rear of the present hall but the cost was
considered too high.
One of the highlights of his year was an F.C. degree carried out by
senior citizens of the lodge, headed by Bro. John Shedden,
P.M.
Over the years the Lodge had participated in various sporting
competitions and Bro. Robert Orr, P.M. and Bro. Joe Duffy won P.G.L's Samuel Love bowling trophy.
In Bro. Cantley's year the Lodge received
22 Initiates, 4 Affiliates joined the lodge and 20 brethren advanced to the
Mark Degree.
At the end of the year Bro. Rene Aitkenhead
became Master of the Lodge.
1977
Bro. Aitkenhead had the pleasure of the
company of his brother, Bro. Robert Aitkenhead, M.M.
of 524 and a P.M. of Lodge Lord Kitchener, No. 3402 (E.C.) at his installation
in December 1976.
As the attendence at Lodge meetings was
still rising it was agreed to install extra stewards
and Bro. John Barron made six jewels for the Assistant Stewards.
Three members of Lodge Kil Bryd, No. 1667 were made honorary members of the lodge,
Bros. R . Feelie, J .E Goldie and T McEwan.
Two well-travelled masons, Bro. N. Robb, P.M. and Bro. J. Dow came
to instruction class and gave interesting talks on visiting lodges in
Singapore, New Zealand and Iceland.
In Bro. Aitkenhead's year the Lodge
received 23 Initiates, 7 Affiliates joined the lodge and 22 brethren advanced
to the Mark Degree.
In December 1977, Bro. Charles W. McCall was installed Master of
the Lodge.
1978
Bro. McCall, an affiliate from Lodge Springburn, No. 1198, occupied
the chair of the lodge fot the year 1978.
A successful visitation to Lodge Springburn took place and in turn
Lodge Springburn visited '524' with a large deputation.
Numbers of brethern at lodge meetings had
been slowly rising now broke the 100 mark for average
attendance at regular meetings. This was to continue into the next Master's
year.
The lodge received permission to attend the Masonic Walk in
Bro. Andrew L. Tannahill, P.G.M. when
visiting commented on the vigour of the lodge in connection with it's masonic and non-masonic charities.
In Bro. McCall's year the Lodge received 23 Initiates, 5 Affiliates
joined the lodge and 23 brethren advanced to the Mark Degree.
In December 1977, Bro. James McG.
Anderson was installed as Master.
1979
Bro. Anderson, an employee of Rolls-Royce, had the pleasure of
receiving a deputation of the Rolls-Royce travelling masons, headed by the
Master of Lodge Douglas, No. 1557, Bro. R. Henderson. The deputation consisted
of twenty-seven lodges from five provinces.
Bro. Anderson had the added pleasure of having his father, Bro.
Alex Anderson as his Depute Master.
Sadly, the lodge had lost its Junior Warden, Bro. George Wallace,
who died midway through the year.
Bro. Jonathan MacLaughlan, P.M. a
well-known figure in the lodge also passed away and the lodge received his Past
Master's jewel.
The lodge suffered a great deal through the demise of many brethren
but fortunately the lodge had an excellent Almoner in the person of Bro.
William J. Wilson.
The social club continued to flourish and the lodge remained active
and healthy with 24 new members, 4 affiliates and 21 brethren received their
Mark.
At the close of 1979, Bro. Walter Gilmour was installed to take us
into 1980.
1980
For many years the lodge had the use of the West Kirk church hall
for its Installation. Breaking with past practice the installation was held in
the Ballerup Hall, Civic Centre,
During Bro. Gilmour's year he had the pleasure of the company of
his father, Bro. Walter Gilmour as his Depute Master.
A donation of £350 from the ladies Committee was received and it
was proposed to purchase an organ to enhance the ceremonial work.
Social Club was well established bringing fellowship to brethren outwith the normal masonic meetings.
Initation fees had increased but the lodge added 23
new members, 3 affiliates and 14 brethren took their Mark degree. Bro.
Archibald Lawson was installed as Master in December 1980.
1981
Bro. Lawson, an affiliate from Lodge Kelvin Patrick, No. 1207, took
up the reins as Master and during the year the lodge sponsored Bro. D.
Campbell, an affiliate to the lodge, to attend the Year of the disabled conferrence in
Permission was received to wear regalia for the Grand March only at
the Annual Ball.
Bro. John Shedden, P.M. received his
50-year Diploma as a member of the craft.
Bro. Gavin Gordon P.M. and Bro. Charles McCall P.M. had the
pleasure of installing the Master and the office bearers of
The lodge was represented when the foundation stone of the new hall
for Lodge Livingstone, No. 599, was laid in nearby
During Bro. Lawson's year 21 initates, 3
affiliates were added to the roll and 18 took their Mark.
Bro. John D Millar was installed as Master for the year 1982.
1982
In Bro. Millar's year the number of would-be initates
began to slow down. This was a sign of the time which continued to this day.
On a happier note the P.G.M. of the province, Bro. Alex. G. Hutton
presented Bro. Alex.
Two Hundred mark tokens were purchased.
Bro. Joe Prowse initiated into this lodge became W.M. some years
later in an English lodge.
The lodge received a gift of three collecting bowls in which all
four
Enquires were being made in the West of Scotland by P.G.L. for
premises suitable for a masonic retirement home.
The Scottish craft and many outside the craft lost a well-respected
brother on the untimely death of Bro. J. Stewart Lochrie,
Depute Grand Master of The Grand Lodge of Scotland.
The lodge initiated 12 gentleman,
affiliated 7 brethren and advanced 19.
At the close of the year Bro. Robert Brisbane became Master for
1983.
1983
Another
employee of Rolls-Royce Bro. Brisbane, had the pleasure of receiving a
deputation of the Rolls-Royce travelling masons, headed by a past Master of
Lodge Clydesdale, No. 551.
Another
colourful deputation received was from Britannia Lodge, No. 18, Grand Lodge of
Alberta,
It was during
this year that the lodge tragically lost its Treasurer, Bro. George Glendinning, P.M., treasurer for twelve years.
The lodge
continued to be very busy masonically and socially
adding 13 initiates, 2 affiliates and 10 brethren advance to the rank of Mark
Master Mason.
Bro. William
1984
At the start of
Bro. Bell's year it was agreed that the collection uplifted at the installation
for Grand Lodge Benevolent Fund would be sent, unaltered as a true reflection
of the sum raised.
During the year
a circular tray was presented to the lodge from two Canadian brethren and their
wives for 'memorable hospitality received'.
Bro. Bell had the
added pleasure of seeing his two sons initiated.
It was another
sad loss to the lodge when Bro. G. Greig, the lodges
oldest member passed away in his 97th year, also Bro. Joe Duffy, a real
character and former office-bearer.
Bro. Bell, on
behalf of the lodge presented Lodge Douglas, No. 1557 with a suitably inscribed
decanter on the occassion of their twenty-fifth year.
Fifteen
initiates and 3 affiliates joined the lodge and 12 brethren were advanced.
Bro. Andrew
Gordon was installed as Master for 1985.
1985
Bro. Gordon,
another affiliate, was from Lodge Neptune, No. 419.
During the year
the lodge kept up its involvement with masonic and
non-masonic charities such as the Wooddean
House,
£1,000 was
presented to the J. Stewart Lochrie Fund, a combination
of two year's work.
Bro. J. Leggat, P.M. was installed as P.G.J.W of the province.
On a visit to
his mother lodge with a very large deputation, Bro. Gordon was presented with
an inscribed gavel to commemorate his year.
The masonic hall had become 75 years old this year and an
interesting event took place when Bro. J. Currie took his Master Mason degree
some 43 years after his F.C. degree!
Fourteen
members were admitted, 1 affiliated and 15 advanced.
Bro. Alexander
McGregor was installed as Master for 1986.
1986
Bro. McGregor,
son-in-law to the late Bro. Jonathan MacLachlan, P.M.
took the lodge into 1986 and we had the pleasure of welcoming into the lodge
brethren from near and far.
We had the
added pleasure of a lecture from Bro. Frank Johnstone,
P.G.S.M.
Provincial
Grand Lodge were looking at properties in the west of
The lodge had
the misfortune to lose our oldest P.M. Bro. John Shedden,
in his 95th year.
This was The
Grand Lodge of Scotland's 250th anniversary with celebrations in Edinburgh,
garden party at Hamilton Racecourse, service in Glasgow Cathedral and a civic
reception in Glasgow City Chambers.
One of our
members, Bro. Ron Fordyce, was part of a winning choir at the Mod in
Twelve
initiates and 1 affiliate were welcomed and 13 brethren took their Mark Degree.
Bro. Joseph F.Fellowes was installed as Master for 1987.
1987
A good start to
Bro. Fellowes' year was the imitation that Bro. W.
Cunningham and Bro. G. Wilson and their respective wives had celebrated their
golden wedding anniversaries.
Donations to
the lodge were received in the form of a M.M.'s apron
belonging to Bro. R. Aitkenhead (R.W.M. 1905-07),
possibly worn about 1890-96. P.M.'s jewel from
Bro. W. H.
Wallace P.M. was thanked for bringing life and test fee book to date.
Mortgage on the
hall was paid off to the delight of the brethren.
Unfortunately,
Bro. Tommy Greig, P.M. passed away.
There were
fewer applications for membership, however the brethren soldiered on and kept
up their commitments, masonically and outwith the craft.
There were 7
initiates and 3 affiliates added to the roll with 10 brethren advanced to the
degree of M.M.M.
At the end of
1987 Bro. Patrick J. Clenaghan was installed as
Master.
1988
In Bro. Clenaghan's year word was received from the lodge
solicitors, John Wilson & Co., Glasgow - mortgage paid off, title deeds to
the hall in their possession and a cheque for overpayment of mortgage!
The lodge lost
Bro. Walter MacLaughlan, organist for many years,
Bro. Willie Grant, well known for his ceremonial work and Bro. John Henderson,
a recent recipient of his Jubilee Diploma.
Sadly too, the
lodge had a brother expelled from the craft.
Bro. W. Bell,
P.M./ Asst. Secy. installed
Bro. D. Laverty into the chair of lodge Kil Bryd, No. 1667.
Bro. Edward
Mahoney, sergeant in the K.O.S.B. and a M.M. of the lodge along with a
colleague ran the 108 miles around the Berlin Wall in
Two local
charities, Self Help Epilepsy East Kilbride group and the Saint Vincent De Paul
each received £550 towards their funds.
Eight initiates
and one affiliate were welcomed into the fellowship and six advanced to the
rank of M.M.M.
Bro. Robert L.
Alexander was installed as Master for the year 1989.
1989
During Bro. Alexander's year the lodge received from Bro. A.
McGregor, P.M. a set of square and compasses placed into the V.S.L., history of
Lodge Prince of Wales, No. 426 signed by the P.G.M., Bro. A. L. Tannahill, masonic jug from Bro.
R. Aitkenhead, P.M. On attending the annual dance of
our local lodge, McLaren, No. 1688 the Master had
received an inscribed ashlar and a Mark Token. A
letter opener from Britannia Lodge, No. 18 Canada and a masonic
plate from Bro. D. McJimpsey, M.M., Lodge Tollcross, No. 1194. The lodge also received a financial
donation from Bro. T. Naismith.
Notification from the minister of the West Kirk in
Ten brethren
and one affiliate joined with us and eight brethren were advanced.
In December
1989, Bro. Peter M. Linstead became Master.
1990
Into the 1990's
with Bro. Linstead at the helm and to help keep the
lodge on a sound financial footing a feasibility study was commissioned.
Two brethren of
the lodge, Bro. M. Hillhouse, S.D. and Bro. G.
Fraser, Chap., photographed some of the lodge treasures which subsequently
appeared in the 1993 Grand Lodge of Scotland year Book.
A framed masonic scroll was among the donations received and the
lodge accepted a new regalia quotation of £4,000.
The sum of
£1,000 was donated to Special Needs Adventure Playground (SNAP) and a 40oz.
bottle of whisky was donated to the S.V.D.P. prize draw.
Bro. Willie Moffart, a prime mover in the raising of money for non-masonic charities was presented with a pewter tankard for
services freely given.
Six initiates
and one affiliate were added to the roll with nine M.M.s being advanced.
Bro. Alexander
1991
Bro. Johnston
went to the chair of the lodge one year earlier than anticipated as Bro. Ian H.
Scott, W.S.W. had requested that he be allowed to stay
in the position as Senior Warden. Bro. Johnston went from Junior Warden to the
chair.
In this year
Bro. Ian H. Scannell, Org. received honorary citzenship of the town of
Bro. N. Robb,
P.M. and his wife Liz, celebrated their golden
wedding.
The lodge
received a gift of a miniature altar from the masonic
firm of D. M. Goulielock, Glasgow.
A possible
extension to the hall was being looked into but proved too expensive to be
practical.
The lodge lost
one of its long-serving members Bro. Archibald P. MacLachlan,
P.M.
Information was
received that Bro. Jim Neilson, M.M. of the lodge had been installed into the
chair of a lodge in
Five initiates
and one affiliate were added to the roll and six brethren advanced.
Bro. Ian H.
Scott was installed as Master for 1992.
1992
Bro.Scott's installation commenced with Bro. A. Bruce Watson, P.G.M.
dedicating the lodge's regalia.
Bro. James F. Nicol, P.M. received honorary P.G.L. rank of P.G.L. Standard
bearer. Bro. Nicol was for many years P.G.L.
representative for '524'.
As changes were
being proposed by Grand Lodge in the craft, Bro. W.H. Wallace, P.M. and Almoner
was thanked for going over the roll of the lodge and coming up with a more
realistic figure.
Wind of change
was blowing through the Village and a Village Facelift Project was being
implemented.
Bro. Joe
Prowse, M.M. of the lodge became Master of a lodge in
The lodge lost
a good brother when Bro. William J. Wilson, Almoner for many years, died and
one of our senior citizens, Bro. James Pearson, M.M. made his debut on the
floor at the young age of 72!
Bro. A.
Ralston, Jewel. took up the vacant position as lodge
Treasurer.
The sum of
£3,500 was gifted to the Scottish Motor Neurone Society.
Five Initiates
and one affiliate were welcomed. Five brethren were advanced.
Bro. William J.
McJimpsey was duly installed as Master for 1993.
1993
At the start of
Bro. McJimpsey's first year as Master, a former
Treasurer of the Lodge, Bro. George Pennington received a hand copy of the
V.S.L. for his seven years in that office.
With regret the
Lodge were informed of the death of Bro. James F. Nicol,
P.M. (R.W.M. 1966) and P.G.L. representative for twenty-five years, also Bro.
Alex. Brown, founder Master of Lodge Kil Byrd, No.
1667.
The Lodge was
remembered in the will of Bro. Jimmy Noble, an old member of the lodge.
Because of
pressure of numbers attending Grand Lodge of Scotland, the meeting on the
future of the craft in
A pleasant
event took place when the P.G.M., Bro. Alexander G. Murray, accompanied by Bro.
Alex. G. Hutton, P.P.G.M., presented the lodge with the Major Allan Golf Trophy
won by Bro. Robert Brown and Bro. Gordon Fraser.
Bro. Robert L.
Alexander, P.M. installed his son into the chair of our sister lodge,
Sadly, on the
night of the 1993 installation, Bro. William H. Wallace, P.M., Almoner for
eleven years passed away.
Five Initiates
and three affiliates were welcomed. Five brethren were advanced.
Bro. James B.
McBride an affiliate from Lodge Thorntree, No. 512,
was installed to take the lodge into 1994.
1994
Bro. McBrides's year started by being installed
into the chair by a long-time friend, Bro. John E. Goldie, P.M., Lodge Kil Byrd No. 1667.
At the very
beginning of Bro. McBride's year, the Treasurer Bro. A. Ralston went on holiday
and Bro. C. W. McCall, P.M., went to
Among the
donations to the lodge was a masonic jewel from
Bro. C. W.
McCall, P.M., lead a sponsored walk, organised by the local Duncanrig
Rambling Club, of which both he and the late Bro. William H. Wallace, P.M. were
members. The sum of £1,725 was raised in memory of Bro. Wallace and donated to
cancer research.
In the Mark
Degree the ceremonial mallet was used instead of the lodge mallet as it was
twenty-two years to the night it had been presented in memory of Bro. W.
Carrick, I.P.M.
The lodge
visited the mausoleum at
Six Initiates
and three affiliates were welcomed. Two brethren were advanced as M.M.M's
Bro. William
Elliot was installed as Master for 1995.
1995
Bro. Elliot, a
local boy, took the lodge into it's new year and one
of the first reports received was that at the end of the last Master's year the
Lodge donated £1,000 to the
Donations to
the lodge were received in the form of lodge centenary jewels, 'peace' stamp
and a small name plaque for the outside door of the hall.
A '100' club
was formed, run by Bro. Willie Babes, Architect, with the proceeds going to the
125th Year Anniversary Fund.
The lodge
contributed to the Common Good Fund set up by the Provincial Grand Lodge.
An invitation
had been received from Lodge Douglas, No. 1557 to participate in talks in view
to developing the Douglas Hall as a
Dispensation
was received, after correspondence with Grand Lodge, which allowed the lodge to
bring forward a gentleman living in
Sadly, there
was another letter confirming a sentence of suspension sine die on a brother of
the lodge.
Among the many
brethren who passed away were Bro. Hugh Morrison, P.M. and Bro. Alex. Andrewson, a church elder for sixty two years
The grounds in
the front of the hall are a credit Bro. Willie Rowan, M.M. of the lodge.
Our sister
lodge, Lodge McLarem, No. 1688, celebrated it's twenty-first year.
Four Initiates,
three Affiliates were well received with six brethren being advanced.
Disappointingly,
Bro. Stewart Littlejohn, W.S.W. because of work commitments had to move to
At the very
late hour, Bro. William J. McJimpsey, P.M./S.M. stepped forward to take up the reins as Master for
1996.
1996
Near the beginning of Bro. McJimpsey's
second term as Master he had the pleasure of presenting to Bro. S. Littlejohn,
former Senior Warden, a M.M.'s dress apron, suitably
inscribed.
This year being the bi-centenary of the death of Bro. Robert Burns,
poet, the lodge purchased a pew chair to be donated to
Glasgow Cathedral and for the lodge room one of a limited edition of a print
depicting certain aspects of the poet's life. Bro. W. Bell, P.M./Asst. Secy. donated to the lodge
a commemorative first-day cover relating to Robert Burns.
Flowers had
been presented to Mrs Bilsland one of our senior
ladies on her moving to Aberdeenshire and a floral tribute was taken by our
Almoner, Bro. Tom McCutcheon to Mrs McMillan on attaining her one hundredth
birthday.
A sorrowful
moment in the lodge was the passing of one of our younger brethren, Bro. Ruairigh J. Fordyce, aged 26.
Two of our
long-time tenants, Lodge Kil Byrd, No. 1667 and the East
Kilbride R.A.C., No. 781 moved out and joined with Lodge Douglas, No. 1557 at
the Douglas Hall.
Social Club
Committee due to lack of attendance at meetings was disbanded.
Bro. Alex
McGregor, P.M., became District Grand Patron of the O.E.S.
Five Initiates
and one Affiliate were admitted and four brethren advanced to that of M.M.M.
Bro. William Greig was installed into the chair for 1997.
1997
Into the
lodge's 125th year with Bro. Greig presiding and Bro.
James Pearson, D.M. being presented with his Jubilee Diploma for fifty years as
a member of the Scottish Craft.
New bye-laws
were under consideration and the lodges installation time was altered from 4
p.m. to 3.55 p.m. (yes five to four!).
In January 1997, the minister of the
There was a
request by the West Kirk Sunday School for the use of the Masonic Hall for
Sunday Mornings.
Momentum for the rededication and the anniversary was growing.Venue and date settled, P.G.L.
approached. New working aprons manufactured, commemorative jewels
purchased. Special lodge label on whisky bottles and
miniatures. Speakers contacted. Anniversary Ball in the Busby Hotel and
ladies presented with a commemorative china stickpin. Bench purchased, suitably
inscribed and placed in the conservatory at
The lodge went
into recess awaiting Saturday, 20th September 1997.