The Fraserburgh Lodge of Freemasons #1055

The First Fifty Years

CHAPTER 3

THE FIRST WORLD WAR

aka World War 1 or The Great War (28th. July, 1914 - 11th. November, 1918)

In the early months of 1914 the meetings were as usual, held on a monthly basis. Often there was no candidate, and apparently the Lodge met in order to hear various papers read. Thus, it would appear that the Lodge met at times, as a Literary Society, although most of the papers read had some bearing on Masonry. Into the bargain, we also find many special meetings being convened in order to put people through certain degrees.

One of these meetings saw the initiation of Herr Ernst Günther, a Herring Exporter, who came from Halle in Germany, but who was living at King Edward Street, Fraserburgh, at the time. It seems strange to find that the first foreigner who went through the Lodge was a German - and yet his country and ours were to be locked in a struggle for world supremacy in six months' time.

At the meeting on 10th. November, 1914, we find mention of the first casualty of the war to affect the Lodge. This was the death of the Hon. Simon Fraser, son of Lord Saltoun, Past Grand Master. The Lodge sent a letter of condolence to Lord Saltoun, dated 30th. November, 1914, part of which reads as follows:-

"We would also express the hope that the Hon. William may soon recover,
and that no ill effects will result from the serious wounds he has received . . ."

This is brought out to show that even in the first two months of the war the casualties were high, for in one family we see that one son had been killed and one very badly wounded. This was by no means an exceptional case as other families all over Britain were in the same circumstances, but to find such a reference in the Minutes of the Lodge points out that even in this small corner we had our own share of battle.

At the beginning of 1915 we find a communication from Grand Lodge requesting that the Lodge should, in conjunction with other Lodges in Scotland, prepare and preserve a Roll of Honour, which should contain the names of those Brethren who were or had been, engaged in the service of the country. The Lodge was requested to make up a List or Roll of all Brethren serving or who had already given their lives in the War. It was also suggested that the List should be kept up to date until peace returned. Then all the Rolls from every Lodge in Scotland would be available in the Records of Grand Lodge, there to remain for all time.

Not long after, we find that Grand Lodge also recommended that any Lodge could, after due notice and by a majority, pass a motion freeing members on active service from their Annual Contributions during the war without them losing their good standing. This was a very humane action and one that was carried out by the Lodges without any argument.

As had been mentioned before there seemed to be a number of the brethren nominated for one office, and up to this time that office had been filled usually when some of those nominated withdrew their names. To end all this we find an alteration being made to the Bye-laws in December, 1915. This Bye-law, which was an addition to Bye-law X,

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stated that in the event of two or more nominations for the same office, the election shall be declared by ballot at the regular monthly meeting in December. This was a much better idea because it now meant that the office-bearers could be truly representative of the Lodge and the members of the Lodge could put in office those whom they thought would be the best for the Lodge. It also saved the embarrassment of having to decline a particular office as so many had to do.

It is also heartening to note that some of the members did not forget about the Lodge, even when they were on active service. At the Installation Meeting in December, 1915, a letter containing seasonal and fraternal greetings was read out from one of the Brethren "Somewhere in France ". For a man, who was engaged in the front line, to remember his own Lodge at this particular moment, shows the regard he had for his Mother Lodge.

Ballot Balls
Masonic Balloting Balls
Each member is given two balls,
one black, one white
WHITE = FOR / BLACK = AGAINST

In 1916 we find the Constitution and Laws of Grand Lodge being changed. This effected every Lodge in Scotland because now we find that no candidate for initiation could be admitted as a member unless he produced an application which gave his name, age, profession and residence. He also had to show that he had never been refused by another Lodge. Two Master Masons had also to sign the application, and the character and qualifications of the applicant had to be fully enquired into by a Committee of Enquiry. It was also further stated that no application should be considered by the Lodge until the Committee of Enquiry had reported.

After the application had been read and the report of the Committee considered, the Brethren had to satisfy themselves by ballot that the candidate should be admitted. It was also pointed out that the three black balls would exclude a candidate, although Lodges in the Colonies and in foreign parts could enact that two black balls may exclude.

The outstanding part of this was, of course, the imperative command that every Lodge had to have a Committee of Enquiry, and as many Lodges had never thought about this (1055 included), two members of the Lodge had to be appointed at once to act as ex-officio members.

This new part of the Constitution was simply to safeguard the Lodge in order to make thorough enquiry into a possible entrant's background and character to find out whether he would make a suitable Mason or not. Many of those who are against Freemasonry are against this - some say that it is like the workings of a police state. Yet would these people object if they were asked for a reference if they applied for a position? It is the same thing, is it not?

We also find another resolution coming from Grand Lodge at the same time. This one affected the right of Brethren of alien enemy birth or nationality to attend Lodge meetings during the continuance of the war. These Brethren were not allowed to enter a Lodge in case the peace or harmony of that Lodge might be disturbed. This, in all probability, had been due to the fact that casualties had been so high in France that an alien would not have been looked upon by some people, who had lost relatives or friends, in very high esteem.

Apart from these very weighty matters coming from Grand Lodge, the Lodge itself (1055) was facing a trying time. This was the result of very poor attendances at the meetings. Something had to be done to try to recapture the members who were not attending regularly. It was therefore put before the Lodge that the meetings should be held fortnightly instead of once a month - that Masonic Festivals (such as St. John's Day) should be observed in some social way - that friendly visits should be paid to Sister Lodges in the district - that a complete

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Roll of Members should be kept in the Lodge for reference at any time - that when working conditions permitted the evenings might be filled up with papers (not necessarily of Masonic character) or some other form of instruction or entertainment.

It must be kept in mind that these ideas were simply suggestions put forward in an endeavour to find some scheme that would be the means of introducing the Brethren to unite together at a time when the Lodge was passing through a critical stage. Money was still in short supply, and the proposals given above might have alleviated the position. The other idea was to lower the Initiation Fee, but this was not accepted because it would not have been conductive to the interests of the Lodge in particular or Freemasonry in general.

There can be no doubt that the Lodge was in an unhealthy state financially, but there was no truth in the rumour current at the time that the members would be held liable for any debts. Anyone coming into the Lodge did not incur any financial liability, and that the landlord or any other creditor could only claim on the property of the Lodge. A statement to this effect was made and the atmosphere was cleared in this respect. However, the grave situation was overcome due to the generosity of the Founder Members who themselves lifted the bill, and this action of the Founders was engrossed in the Minutes. The lifting of the bill relieved the Lodge of its obligation to the Bank and set the financial position on a sound footing again.

During the period of the war we find one or two emergency meetings of the Lodge in order to confer degrees on Brethren of other Lodges who found it impossible to attend their own Lodges - now referred to as a "Degree of Favour". In our own case we find a Lieutenant of the Indian Army, a Mr. Morrison, from New Maud - at some point after 1965 and the closure of the railway the "New" fell out of use and the village is now just called Maud -, being initiated into "1055", but as he had to return to India very shortly, the arrangements for his other degrees being conferred had to be made by "1055" to take place in India. Such were the actions which wartime had placed upon the craft.

We also find records of Canadian and Australian visitors to the Lodge. Men from these countries would never have been here had it no been for the war of course. One of the Canadian soldiers who visited "1055" was a member of the Lodge. He had emigrated to Canada and had joined the Army there at the start of the hostilities, and in no time found himself back in Europe. Naturally, at the first chance he had returned to his birthplace and had the opportunity while in town, to visit his Mother Lodge. This is just another example of the freak happenings of war-time.

The R.W.M., Bro. William Reid, considered that it was not inappropriate for him to endeavour to give expression to the thoughts and feelings of the Brethren regarding the momentous events that had occurred in connection with the war. He went on to say that there were met that night under happier auspices than they had done for over four years. The great cause for which they had entered the war - the cause of freedom, justice and righteousness - had been triumphantly vindicated and the power that had tried to enslave the world had been crushed. The throne of the mightiest autocrat and absolutist in Europe had crumbled beneath him and now, he, who thought to dominate the world, was a fugitive.

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Whilst they rejoiced, he continued, at the triumph our sailors and soldiers had won, they should not forget the price at which victory had been gained - the blood of so many gallant men, for whose loss and sacrifice, so many hearts in the country were, at that time, aching.

The R.W.M. went on and said that their attitude at that juncture should be one of thankful joy that the Country, which had given them birth, had helped to maintain and bring to a triumphant close the great conflict on behalf of the liberties of the world.

With these remarks of thanks and happiness at the end of the greatest strife the world had seen it all its long history, it might be fitting to close this chapter on the war and now go forward and see how fortune treated "1055" in the "brave new world".

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