CHAPTER 4

Visit to Jedburgh and death of Henry Scott Riddell.

A deputation consisting of Br. J. Wilson and eight members of 111 visited Jedburgh l04 on 10^th July 1868, when deputations from several others Lodges in the province were present. During the evening Br. Wilson conferred the "M.M.'s" degree on 20 Fellow Crafts of the Jedburgh Lodge.

The celebration of St Johns Festival is noteworthy for on that occasion the brethren of both Lodges 424 and 111 joined in procession and dined together afterwards.

On 2nd August 1870 the brethren assembled to follow the Mortal remains of their late Bard Br. Henry Scott Riddell to his last resting place at Teviothead Cemetery.

"That Churchyard

 That Lonely is lying amid the deep green wood

 By Teviot's wild strand"

No one felt his loss more keenly than his Brother Masons of 111. He was elected Bard of the Lodge in December 1863 and was regularly elected every year until his death in 1870, but there is no record in the minute book referring to his initiation. It is unlikely that he would be elected an office bearer of the Lodge if he was not a member, so in spite of his name being omitted from both the minute book and roll book, we may safely conclude he was a member and the fact that he held the office of Bard may be taken as proof of that, the omission of his name must therefore have been due to an oversight

In November 1882 a deputation from 111 was present at the consecration of Selkirk's new Lodge room and at the laying of the foundation stone at the Cottage Hospital deputations from as far away as Largs, Arbroath, Campbeltown, and Irvine being present.

The Lodge books contain the record of a Lodge meeting held on 12th April 1872 when the extraordinary number of 14 brethren were raised to the degree of Master Mason.

On 21^st February 1874,a interesting and unusual ceremony took place in the 111 Lodge room when Br. Robert Wilson and Francis Dick were installed as RWM's of St Johns 111 and St Junes 424 respectively.

The first mention of a Burns Supper appears in the minute of January 1874 and the Lodge recorded its protest against assertions of infidelity, sedition and disloyalty made by the present Pope (in 1738 Pope Clement XII forbade all Catholics to become Freemasons, two years later membership was punishable by death).

A letter was received from Grand Lodge on 21st March 1873 stating that the installation had not been carried out to their instructions and they could not register the RWM until he was properly installed.

 

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 1^st 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.

 

CHAPTER 6

1878 - 1882.

1^st February 1878 difficulty was experienced in obtaining a Provincial Grand Master for Roxburgh and Berwickshire; Kelso gave notice that if a Provincial Master was not found in the near future they would attach themselves to the Haddington Province.

Concern was expressed regarding the letting of the hall for weddings etc., since this was causing annoyance to the neighbors. "Something ought to be done to lessen this evil". It was agreed to let the hall on condition that no alcoholic drink was sold.

Br. Kidd had to go to the Infirmary with a broken leg but had no money, and was awarded 5 shillings.

In April 1882 the PGM drew attention to the irregularity of the working of the second and third degrees, and the RWM replied that "it was carried by the majority of the Lodge." PGM insisted that it be adopted to take the same form as Provincial Grand Lodge, and the Senior and Junior Wardens resigned from their seats on that night in protest.

A letter was received from Lodge St James BURA 424 requesting the use of the upper hall as a meeting place, PM Br. Turnbull replied saying he didn't think it was a good idea to have two Lodges meeting in the same premises.

A letter was received from Grand Lodge stating that the three degrees could not be conferred on a candidate in one night.

It is recorded that twenty-nine windowpanes were broken in the lodge, but Police had the names of 10 boys and it was agreed that the parents would be approached to pay for the damage.

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