Chapter 10

Provincial Grand Lodge and Consecration of 107.

In November 1892 Peebles Lodge No.24 was placed under the jurisdiction of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Roxburghshire and Selkirkshire. At a Provincial Grand Lodge meeting the Junior Warden of Peebles 24 moved that the Lodge be again transferred to the Edinburgh district, but the PGM moved that the motion was incompetent.

The members of 424 joined together with 111 in a torchlight procession accompanied by two bands they proceeded by way of the Howegate, High Street, Bridge Street, Wilton and Sandbed where the members of 111 branched of to Buccleuch Street and Beaconsfield to Myreslawgreen.

On October 6th 1893 an invitation was received from Lodge St James BURA 424 to assist in the consecration of the new Lodge rooms.

In 1894 the RWM announced that a desirable property, the E.U. Chapel (now a Doctor’s surgery in O’Connell Street) was for sale and suggested that 111 buy it, Br. Swinton thought it a” foolish idea to sell our own hall on account the new railway was most likely to come through this way and make our own property more valuable”.

At that time there were 301 members on the roll with 170 in good standing. An invitation was received from Hawick Town Council to the opening of Wilton Lodge Park and the Lodge received a visit from Langholm, Eskdale Kilwinning 107, and in October of that year an invitation was received from 107 to the laying of the foundation stone of the new Lodge room. About 20 brethren from 111 attended. In September of 1895 a number of brethren attended the consecration of 107, representatives from 13 different Lodges took part in a procession through the streets of Langholm, and afterwards attended a bazaar in aid of Lodge funds.

A widow of a brother with a family of three was granted £5 from the Benevolent Fund.

A number of requests were made to the Lodge from other Lodges, as far away as Wick, for assistance for building Lodge premises. A letter was received from Dalkeith requesting subscriptions to erect a Burns Memorial.

Visitors were received from all over the world, America, Australia etc, and a number of brethren were given all their degrees in one night as they were emigrating.

Four brothers (Ballantyne) were initiated in November 1895 and the Treasurer reported the abstract of accounts showed a balance of £596-4/- with 171 members in good standing. Chairs were purchased for the RWM and Wardens.