Chapter 12
The Lodge at the turn of the 19th Century.
Between May 1898 and 1913 a number of interesting items were recorded in the minutes. A wedding present was given to Br. Frank Scott junior. A deputation from Galashiels visited the Lodge and they left to catch the 10.06 train back home. A celebration in honour of the centenary of Henry Scott Riddell was held at a cost of £12-11/8. A joint service with 424 and 111 attending was held and a deputation was present at the laying of a foundation stone at the Tweed Bridge, Peebles. A procession was held to celebrate the surrender of Pretoria. Br. Rogers RWM was congratulated on his promotion to captain of the Border Rifle Volunteers (his photograph appears in the Lodge room in uniform). Scottish Masonry went into mourning for three months following the death of Queen Victoria.
In January 1901, three volumes of the History of Freemasonry by PM Br. Davidson were acquired. Electricity was introduced to the town and an estimate of installation was given to the Lodge of £3 5-8/6. A banner was purchased and unfurled. 424 joined together with 111 to lay the foundation stone of the new library. A number of visitors were received into the Lodge from as far away as Tasmania, America, Chile, Valparaiso, and a number of brethren left to emigrate to countries all over the world.
More letters were received requesting assistance to raise new Lodges in Scotland. The number of members in full standing was 195.
In August 1904 Br. Oliver was passed the second degree, the Lodge was then reduced to first degree when, through a misunderstanding over the time a brother who should have received the second degree arrived late. The Lodge was reopened in the second degree and another second degree worked on the same evening.
A brother reported the laying of a foundation stone at the new North Bridge, Edinburgh, which according to him was “a complete failure and arrangements were a jumble from beginning to end”.
In September 1898 a memorial tablet was erected at Teviothead Cottage in memory of Br.Henry Scott Riddell, and in May 1905 a bust was unveiled.
A discussion was held whether or not to hold a drink licence, PM. Tumbull said, “It would place a temptation in the way of younger members”.
Grand Lodge sent a directive stating that Masters should not receive the installed Masters degree until having spent a year in office.
Two visitors were refused admission for not wearing a dark suit and white tie.
In April 1905 nine initiations were reported in the past year, compared to 34 in 1903.
In November 1907 a visitation to St David’s 36 was made together with Brethren of 424,and a suggestion was made that St David accompany 111 on their next visit to the Cairn at Teviothead.
Photographs of Pastmasters were presented to the Lodge in 1909, and an apron of the now defunct Beaumont Yetholm was also presented
A man was proposed and passed the ballot At his initiation, while “Riding the Goat” and asked his age, he wrote nineteen, and when asked if his father was a Mason he replied “no”. A letter was written to PGL for advice. PGL replied that “Under the circumstances the man should be allowed to proceed through the degrees”. After this incident the procedure for admitting persons to Masonry was tightened up.
In March 1910 the Secretary and Tyler reported that they had found in an old cupboard, the Bible dated 1766, which had been used at the erection of the Lodge in 1768, also the old seal of the Lodge and other relics. (Where are they now?) It was recommended that a bookcase be purchased to exhibit them.
A new edition of the 1514 etching was presented to the Lodge.
A dinner was held in the Masonic Hall, Myreslawgreen to celebrate the resuscitation of the Lodge, attended by 170 brethren including members from Grand Lodge. Brethren from 424 and 111 joined together in a funeral service for King Edward VII and marched in procession to St John’s Parish Church wearing white tie and gloves.
John McNairn was passed to the second degree, thereafter the Lodge was reduced and Thomas Chisholm initiated on the same night A request from Grand Lodge was received for £30 from each daughter Lodge to complete Grand Lodge premises and a deputation to lay the memorial stone travelled to Edinburgh on April 28th, 1911.
Dr Middleton retired as PGM after 25 years continuous service, at the installation of the new PGM the Grand Master Mason was introduced to Br. William Waddell, Tyler of Stow Lodge, who had been a Mason for 54 years and over 40 years continuously as Lodge Tyler.
It was announced that some life members of the Lodge were living abroad in Hawaii, Switzerland, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Toronto, South Africa, Rhodesia, Johannesburg, Bloemfontein, California, Chicago, Kimberley, New Zealand, and Germany etc. In December 1912 there were 183 members in full standing. An invitation was received to attend the consecration of Lodge Ercildoune 1119 on January 20th, 1913.