At the Installation Meeting in December, 1945, one well-known personality's name was missing from the list of office-bearers. Bro. A. J. Russell had decided to retire from office, and the Lodge came to the conclusion that this would be a good time in which to show its appreciation of the work done by the retiring Treasurer. At the same time it was also decided that Bro. A. Duthie, P.M., should also be honoured because it was due to his enthusiasm and devotion that Lodge Fraserburgh No. 1055 had been able to keep going during the early difficult years of its existence.
Thus in February, 1946, a dinner was held in the Station Hotel to mark the valuable services which these two gentlemen had rendered to the Lodge. Gifts were handed over to both of them and to their respective wives, as it was pointed out by one of the Brethren that a Freemason is only as good as his wife allows him to be.
This presentation was something unique in the annals of the Lodge, but it did display the bond of true fellowship without which no Lodge could stand for long. Indeed this bond of good fellowship must be instilled into all Freemasons if the Craft is to survive and to keep the place it has already attained in the history of the world.
The Lodge premises at this time were in High Street, and they had been used by the Lodge since its inception. However, several times in the minutes we read that the premises were about to change hands. This, of course, would have affected the Lodge's tenancy but the change never seemed to materialise. The Lodge had installed, at its own expense, electric light and fittings, so it came as a shock when the premises were eventually sold and they would be required by the new owner for alternative accommodation.
The premises had to be vacated, but an agreement was achieved between the two parties which was to their mutual advantage, although the Lodge itself had only a month in which to vacate. However, this was speedily accomplished, and the furniture, etc., was stored until a new hall was found. A committee was formed with full powers to negotiate for alternative accommodation.
The alternative accommodation was found in the Kinnaird Lodge of the Caledonian Order of United Oddfellows, which was situated in Gordon's Court, Mid Street, Fraserburgh. The arrangement was perfectly simple and straightforward. In return for a certain rent (which was to be inclusive of rates and lighting) the Fraserburgh Lodge No. 1055 was to be guaranteed the exclusive use of the Hall and the ante-rooms on each Tuesday fortnight. This in no way interfered with the meetings of the owners, but it was made a condition that if the Lodge had to use the Hall at any time outside the stipulated day then application had to be made for its use to the owners.
The arrangement was altogether satisfactory, and when the matter was put to the open Lodge (the meeting was actually held in the proposed Hall) the members unanimously agreed that the premises were suitable. Thus the business of acquiring a new Hall had been cleared up very quickly and the first regular meeting of the Lodge in its new premises - a First Degree - was held on Tuesday, 21st. October, 1947.
Page 29
It must be recorded that a request was sent to Lodge Solomon for the temporary use of their Temple in Commerce Street if no accommodation could be found, and to this request Lodge Solomon amicably complied. Although the fulfilment of this request was not required as later events proved, this ready desire to help a Sister Lodge relieved the situation as far as "1055" was concerned at the time, and it was only one factor which showed the reliance which existed between the two Lodges and it also helped cement further the deeply rooted friendship.
The Lodge seemed to settle down very well in its new surroundings and the work went on as smoothly as ever. Perhaps as an indication of how well the Lodge did settle down, harmonies after the meetings seemed to increase. This idea of a harmony is, of course, a good one, as it means that the members can spend time in a social atmosphere as well in an atmosphere of Masonic work. The harmony, to be successful, must be well organised as far as the catering side is concerned, and the debt which the Lodge owed to the wives of certain members was made quite clear in one of the minutes which recorded an appreciation of the services which these good ladies had rendered to the social functions of the Lodge.
Complete set of "1055"
office-bearers regalia
Throughout this period (1946-1950), the Lodge progressed from strength to strength. Candidates for initiation and affiliation came with regularity, and such is the pull of Masonry that one initiate's father came all the way from Somerset to attend his son's First Degree. However, one thing seemed to be missing - a complete set of regalia.
In April, 1949, we find a recommendation from the General Committee that the Lodge should purchase a complete set of office-bearer's regalia - Aprons, Sashes, Collarettes and Gauntlets. This was to cost the Lodge approximately £168, and the Committee also suggested various ways and means whereby this money could be raised.
It must be admitted that this was a tremendous amount of money to spend in this way, but it was a necessity as far as putting a finished touch to the work carried out by the Lodge was concerned. Another idea was to simply furnish regalia for the three principal office-bearers but this motion was not carried presumably because it was felt that it would be better for all the office-bearers to be in regalia or none at all. A Regalia Fund was opened, and in about three months the sum raised was over £70, so by this it can be deduced that the Lodge members wanted to see the Lodge and the office-bearers furnished with regalia and that they intended that the money should be raised as quickly as possible.
In September, 1949, the Lodge had an honoured visitor in the person of Bro. F. M. D. Watt, the Honorary Grand Chaplain. Bro. Watt was in "1055" that evening to unveil the memorial to the Brethren belonging to the Lodge who had made the supreme sacrifice during the Second World War. This ceremony was carried out in a most impressive manner. The memorial, which is still to be seen in the Lodge to-day, was the work of Bro. J. Heatherington, who was of course, personally thanked at the ceremony for designing such a beautiful memorial.
A month after this service had been carried out the Lodge witnessed another ceremony - one which was much happier than the last. The Provincial Grand Master Depute, Bro. J. B. Miller (photo of Bro. Miller on Page 32), carried out the ceremony of dedicating the new Lodge Regalia and invested the R.W.M. and his office-bearers with the regalia of their respective offices. This ceremony was whole-heartedly appreciated by the Brethren present, as it was a milestone in the history of the Lodge.
Page 30
At this same meeting a notice of motion was given by the R.W.M. that the Lodge should institute a Jubilee Fund to make timeous preparation for the year 1959 when the Lodge would celebrate its 50th. anniversary. It seems strange coming across this idea of celebrating an event 10 years hence - an event incidentally, for which this history is being written. The idea was a sound one, however, and to form a nucleus of this fund, £10 was transferred from the General Fund, and the new fund was to be augmented by the collection taken during each Second Degree.
Another honour befell the Lodge shortly afterwards. This was the promotion of Bro. Davidson, P.M., to the Grand Lodge rank of Grand Steward. It is not often that such an honour falls to a Mason, and the Lodge was justly proud of it, especially when it was so well deserved, for Bro.&bnsp;Davidson had been a very conscientious Mason and a Past Master of Lodge Fraserburgh No. 1055.
For some years now the Children's Christmas Treat had been carried out most successfully and enthusiastically under the general direction of Bro. Malley. The usual drawback had been funds, but due to donations and various methods, the money had always been raised. However, in 1949, the ladies again came to the rescue by holding three whist drives which raised quite a considerable sum. Allied to this - perhaps the men were a little ashamed of what the ladies were doing to aid the fund - a very successful raffle was held by the Lodge and several members were to be praised for the generous way in which they donated the prizes. Thus in 1949, the Christmas Treat for the children was assured of being a success because the Lodge had made certain that, in one way or another, there should be no lack of funds. In addition to the Party, it was also decided to make a trip to Aberdeen in order that the children should see the pantomime. This, of course, turned out to be a huge success.
The Lodge had now been in existence for 40 years, and it was still striding forward as strongly as ever. From the above, it can also be seen that the Lodge was progressing in other fields - not only in Masonic work. As well as the Children's Christmas Treat, which has just been mentioned, the Lodge was having frequent harmonies after the Lodge business had been finished and, of course, the Annual Dance had become an occasion which was looked forward to by many people. After all, the social aspect of any institution is a very important part, in fact it is an integral part of the institution itself, if the institution is to carry out the aims for which it was formed.
I found the only spelling mistake of the book on this page, and one typo - not bad for a book that couldn't be run through a spell checker..!
Page 31
« Previous Chapter » - « Next Chapter »
