As we saw in the last chapter, it was found to be necessary to have six candidates before expenses of the Lodge could be cleared. The position appears to have improved in 1927 because during that year we find nine candidates going through the various degrees. What this meant was at the end of 1927 the cash in hand amounted to over £14, and this has been brought out as the Lodge had started the year with only a balance of 5d (five pence).
During this year another fragment of Local History comes out in the Lodge records. A letter was read from the Town Clerk which intimated that the cars which had been available for hire to take non-infectious cases to hospital had been withdrawn. The Town Council was now asking all the Societies in town to appoint three Representatives to attend a meeting to discuss the question of raising funds to buy and maintain a car for this purpose. The Lodge sent three Representatives to the meeting, where the question was thrashed out, but at this time no decision was taken. Nevertheless, although the old horse cab was still in use for infectious diseases, we can see from the above that the idea of an ambulance of sorts was formulating in the minds of the leaders of the town.
By the end of 1927, the funds in hand had risen to such a sum as to be able to pay back three of the original guarantors. Originally there had been ten who had given £20 each to the Lodge, which sum was to be paid back when the Lodge was able to do so. Already four had been paid back in full, and it was decided by the Lodge that those remaining should receive £10 each, rather than give three the full amount and the other three nothing as yet. This was a deviation from the usual practice, but it seemed to be the fairest way of dealing.
During the same meeting at which this was decided, a gift of the old Bye-laws of the Fraserburgh Lodge of date 1812 was accepted by the R.W.M. on behalf of the Lodge from Bro. A. Hendry. This was, of course, a further link with the past and another stepping stone in the void which separated the Lodge of to-day with that of its predecessor.
Towards the end of 1928 and start of 1929 the regular meetings of the Lodge were altered from every second Tuesday in the month to the first and third Tuesdays. This thereby caused two fortnightly meetings to be held instead of as formerly, one monthly meeting - this practice is still in force to-day, although a suggestion to go back to the old system has been mooted. In 1930, because of this change, it was resolved that the nomination and election of office-bearers should take place on St. Andrew's Day, 30th. November, and that the Installation Meeting should be on St. John's Day, 27th. December, thus giving ample time for all the arrangements to be made for the Festival of St. John.
At the Installation Meeting on 29th. December, 1930, the usual circular from Grand Lodge regarding the Annuity Fund was read out, and for the first time in the history of the Lodge the collection taken was made up to a stipulated fee. This has now, of course, become a common occurrence, but it interesting to note that the first collection was augmented to the extent of three guineas (3g - three pounds and three shillings).
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Another milestone in the history of the Lodge was made on Friday, 27th. February, 1931. On this evening, at the request of the R.W.M., Wardens, and Brethren of Lodge St. Magnus No. 1270, Pennan, the office-bearers of "1055" visited Pennan for the purpose of working a Mark Degree. This was the first time that the Lodge had worked as a body outside its own Lodge Rooms, and after the working of the Degree the office-bearers were warmly thanked for the excellent manner in which they had carried out the ceremony. Needless to say, they were very hospitably entertained by the local Brethren afterwards.
About two months after this visit had been minuted we find the R.W.M. Bro. J. S. McCormick making a sympathetic reference to the death of Bro. J. H. Low. Bro. Low's death was especially minuted because he had been the first Initiate of the Lodge after it had been revived in 1909.
Another part of Lodge practice which is accepted to-day is the closing of the Lodge for the summer months. This was first tried in 1931, and in 1932 we find that the Brethren agreed to close the Lodge indefinitely for the summer. Nevertheless, the Secretary was instructed after consultation with the R.W.M. he had the right to convene meetings when they became necessary. To-day, of course, the Lodge closes for a stipulated time, but for a start this was not done. In fact the Lodge closed in April, 1932, and was re-opened in June, July and August for special meetings, while the regular meetings started again in August.
In 1933 we find the Proxy Master at Grand Lodge was (20th.) Lord Saltoun , and it gave great pride and pleasure to "1055" when it was announced in that year that Lord Saltoun had been elevated to the Throne of Grand Lodge. Thus a Past Master of "1055" had achieved what ought to be the ultimate aim of every Freemason in Scotland - the Master of the Grand Lodge of Scotland.
The Coronation of
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth
1937
It seems strange that in the very same year as this honourable elevation took place, we find that both the R.W.M.-elect and the S.W.-elect of "1055" intimated their resignations from these posts, and a special meeting had to be called in order to appoint other office-bearers in their stead.
However, the office-bearers were appointed and the Lodge settled down to its usual business. The highlight of the early part of 1934 was the visit to the Lodge by the Right Hon. The Lord Saltoun, The Most Worshipful and Grand Master Mason of Scotland. He gave an interesting address on Masonry in general, as it appeared to him in other countries which he had recently visited, and on Scottish Masonry in particular.
On January 21st., 1936, we find a reference in the Minutes to the death of King George V. Here the R.W.M. paid tribute to the late King, and an expression of deep sorrow which the nation had sustained by the death of the King was ordered to be recorded in the minutes. There is no further reference to the troubles which beset the Royal Family until these troubles had disappeared with the ascension of King George VI. The Lodge, like all other Lodges in the country, proceeded to Church for Divine Service in honour of the coronation of King George VI, who was of course, a Past Grand Master Mason (1936 - 1937 - known as Prince Albert, The Duke of York at this time).
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At this point, near the end of 1937, it may be well to take stock of the progress which ":1055": had made throughout the years. In reading the minutes relating to this time there is no mention whatsoever about the financial affairs of the Lodge. In other words, the Lodge was now well and truly planted on its feet and the early financial embarrassment which had beset the Lodge had now disappeared. This in itself shows that the Lodge was now accepted as a competent Lodge and that the members had every confidence in it - as they rightly should have in their Mother Lodge.
The Lodge had now been in existence for 28 years, and in that time it had continued to meet regularly and conduct its business in an orderly and well-founded fashion. In fact there had been 249 petitions in the Lodge from its inception until 1937 - an average of nearly 9 candidates per year. To keep up an average like this throughout the difficult years which the Lodge had to pass - remember it was a young Lodge when the First World War broke out, and then there were the difficult years of re-settlement and unemployment - shows that the Lodge was a force in Masonic circles in this N.E. corner.
However, time also took its toll on of members. Throughout the years we find reference being made to the deaths of the Founder Members. These adherents of Freemasonry who had faith in their new Lodge gradually became the older generation of Freemasons, and as time went on we find their names appearing in the minutes less frequently until the last notice appears. It is to them we owe our Mother Lodge, and it is pleasing to that the Lodge thought highly of them.
This little summary is necessary as it shows how the Lodge had progressed as times were very shortly going to change. The old world was entering its last complete year of peace before it was thrown into the Second World War, and the old ways of life were to disappear forever and a faster and much more hectic one was to appear with the coming of the 1939 War. Many people were about to enter into an era which they did not understand and thus, this very short summary might bring back memories for them of their old way of life as well as bring back very happy moments which they had spent in the Lodge with their fellow-men - many of whom have perhaps since departed this life.
Towards this end it might be interesting to read the names of Past Masters who formed a Lodge to work a Third Degree on the 7th. December, 1937. The sederunt was:-
| R.W.M. | - | A. J. RUSSELL, P.M. |
| S.W. | - | J. SMITH, P.M. |
| J.W. | - | A. DUTHIE, P.M. |
| S.D. | - | J. McCORMICK, P.M. |
| J.D. | - | A. FORBES, P.M. |
A list of R.W.M.'s is to be found at the end of this book (see PAST MASTERS in the menu), and the years of office of the above-mentioned people may be of interest to many. Incidentally, the R.W.M. at this time was Bro. J. B. Miller, who is now, of course, the Provincial Grand Master of Aberdeenshire East.
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