Chapter 5
Acquisition and Consecration on new Lodge Room.
Although no mention of where the meetings were held, they had apparently for some time taken place in Mr. Oliver’s warehouse. On the 6th March 1874 Mr. Oliver intimated that he could not let the Masons have the use of it after the 1st April.
It was agreed to offer £360 for the West U.P. Hall, (Myreslawgreen) eventually bought for £350, a grand prize draw was held in order to clear off the debt on the hall, on 15th October an abstract of Income and Expenditure drawing was read which showed a balance of £265-19/7.
The Masonic Hall was consecrated according to the rules of the Order by the Substitute Prov Grand Master, Br. Thomson of Galashiels. 120 brethren formed into a processional array and after parading the principal streets of the town returned to the Lodge and sat down to dinner presided over by the Substitute PGM. A Grand Ball was held in the evening.
Unfortunately, the U.P. Hall required extensive alterations and repairs in order to adapt it to its new use. A debt was incurred which in the course of years became a heavy burden on Lodge funds, as well as to a serious impediment to its usefulness and prosperity. In 1886 the accounts showed a deficit of £270, and the members resolved to make a supreme effort to clear this and place the finances of the Lodge on a healthy satisfactory basis. Accordingly they decided to hold a bazaar as the best means to raise the required amount.
The event was held in the Town Hall for three days, and in the words of the RWM, “was successful beyond the expectations of the brethren and equal to those of the most sanguine”. An abstract of the income and expenditure of the bazaar was read at a meeting on 7th October which showed that Lodge funds had benefited by £400-3/- from the function.