- In December, 1908, a general desire had been expressed by a number of prominent and enthusiastic Freemasons in Fraserburgh to constitute a new Masonic Lodge. The three leading members in this desire were...
- John N. Hendry, Proprietor, Castle Brewery, Fraserburgh;
- W. Donald, Ironmonger, Fraserburgh;
- W. S. F. Wilson, Architect, Fraserburgh.
- These three asked the co-operation of seven other Freemasons to act in the formation of a new Lodge in order that they would be able to undertake the obligations which naturally presented themselves in constituting a Lodge.
- The seven others who were asked to co-operate were...
- Dr. Beddie, Saltoun Place, Fraserburgh;
- J. Yeats, Proprietor, Kinnaird Head Engineering Works, Fraserburgh;
- A. J. Russell, Master Clothier, Fraserburgh;
- J. R. Miller, Master Cabinetmaker, Fraserburgh;
- T. P. Burnett, Master Fishcurer, Fraserburgh;
- J. D. McIntosh, Solicitor, Fraserburgh;
- G. Murison, Master Jeweller, Fraserburgh.
These seven all signified their intention of accepting office in the new Lodge and the following resolutions were agreed upon-
- That we make application to Provincial and Daughter Lodges for recommendation to send to Grand Lodge praying for a Charter to hold a new Masonic Lodge in Fraserburgh.
- That the Initiation Fee be £5 5/-. 5 pounds and 5 shillings.
- That the Affiliation Fee be £2 2/-. 2 pounds and 2 shillings.
- That the Quarter Pennies be £0 10/-
.
10 shillings.
Quarter Pennies are believed to have been replaced at some point by Annual Dues.
Membership fees, paid quarterly instead of the current annual basis.
The next question was to acquire suitable premises in which to hold meetings, and it was agreed to approach Mr. Brebner, who was rebuilding his property at the corner of High Street and Cross Street, to see if suitable rooms were to be had there. This approach proved to be successful and the Lodge Rooms were to consist of two ante-rooms and the Lodge Room itself. The lease was for twenty years with a break at ten, and the rent was to be £15 per annum. These rooms were used by the Lodge continuously for 38 years, i.e., up to 1947.
The next question to be settled was that of the Bye-laws. These were drawn up on the 17th. January, 1909. One or two have since been changed, e.g., instead of a monthly meeting the Lodge now meets twice a month, but in the main the Bye-laws are still the original ones. It was also pointed out that the Lodge could not be dissolved while three members still continued to meet in a regular manner. Nevertheless, the Laws of the Grand Lodge of Scotland were to over-ride the Bye-laws, if the Bye-laws proved to be inconsistent with those of Grand Lodge. The Bye-laws were sanctioned by the Provincial Grand Lodge, Aberdeenshire East, on the 24th. February, 1909.
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In order to put the new Lodge on a true Masonic level with the Lodges in the Province of Aberdeenshire East, a petition was sent out to nine Lodges asking them to sign the nomination to Grand Lodge for the erection of a new Lodge in Fraserburgh. Six of the nine Lodges agreed to support the petition, while the other three decided to take no action. The Provincial Grand Lodge of Aberdeenshire East agreed to grant the petition and recommended to Grand Lodge that a Charter should be granted for the formation of a new Lodge in Fraserburgh.
This Charter was granted by Grand Lodge on 6th. May, 1909, and the first minute of the Fraserburgh Lodge of Freemasons No. 1055 was entered on 26th. October, 1909. This minute notes that the new Lodge Rooms would be ready for occupancy by the 9th. November, 1909.
A complaint against "1055" was brought up by the Solomon Lodge over an "Old Copper Diploma Plate" which belonged to the Fraserburgh Lodge of Freemasons No. 287, which had been instituted in 1807, but which had disappeared from existence. The plate had come into the hands of William Rennie, who was at this time the I.G. of "1055".
This plate had lain in Lodge Solomon but it was not officially handed over in any way, and when the new Fraserburgh Lodge was spoken of, Rennie, who was a founder
member of "1055", handed it over to the new Fraserburgh Lodge as he looked on the new Lodge as a continuation of the now extinct "287". Rennie thought
that it would be "treasured by the New Lodge in tracing its Ancient History".
(Extract from letter of William Rennie to Secretary, Grand Lodge of Scotland, Edinburgh, dated 8th. November, 1909).
The Plate was sent to Grand Lodge and here the matter seems to have rested.
The first meeting in the new Lodge Rooms in High Street was held on 2nd. December, 1909. At this meeting it was intimated that Wednesday, the 22nd. December, 1909, had been decided upon for the Consecration and Erection of the Lodge. This was not carried out on the stated date but on the 9th. February, 1910.
By this time, of course, all offices had been filled by founder members, but the office of Tyler was still vacant. There seemed to be some difficulty in filling this position, but on the 7th. February, 1910, it was intimated that Bro. T. Atkins had agreed to accept the appointment at an "Annual Salary of One Guinea with Affiliation Fee free and Annual Test Fees free".
The Lodge was now well and truly founded and things were proceeding at a normal Masonic pace. The new Lodge was now established in suitable premises, it was completely furnished, the Office-Bearers all had Regalia (which belonged to the Lodge), aprons were available for visitors for all degrees, and even the mode of dress for Office- Bearers on monthly meetings had been decreed - evening dress.
As regards the regalia which belonged to the Lodge, it seemed to last well, for there is no more mention of it until 40 year later, for it was only in 1949 that the new regalia was purchased. Needless to say, the regalia which is used to-day is that which was purchased in 1949, but to emulate the first set, the set in use to-day has still 30 years to last.
Another change from the original form is that to-day evening dress is worn by the Office-Bearers only when a Third Degree is to be worked.
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Although uniformity in dress is desirable the war years must be blamed for the dropping of the old traditions and hence the appearance of the Office-Bearers in evening dress only during the ceremony of Raising.
The Lodge made its first public appearance on 20th. May, 1910. This, unfortunately, was a sad occasion as the appearance was to be made, along with other public bodies, in order to attend the public funeral service of His Majesty King Edward VII, which was held in the Parish Church. At the meeting this was decided, the R.W.M. delivered "a most impressive and touching speech" in memory of the late Monarch, and in the course of his remarks referred to the interest His Late Majesty took in the Masonic Art. After this speech the Lodge was adjourned until after the funeral.
One practice of the Lodge at this time which members of the Lodge to-day would find very difficult to carry out, was that of having two degrees on the same night. Whether this was because of the fact that the meetings were monthly, or that there were a number of candidates waiting to be admitted, the records do not say, but the Lodge apparently seems to have been busy and working hard. It may also be noted that besides the monthly meetings a large number of Special meetings also took place. Candidates were Initiated, Passed or Raised at these Special meetings which had to be called, as there were only 12 Regular meetings in the Year.
The Lodge was now established and everything was in good working order, and the founders and members could only wait and see what was in store for their new Lodge - hoping, no doubt, that it would soon be established on a very sound footing and go on from strength to strength.
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