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LODGE ALBERT 448, LOCHEE, DUNDEE SCOTLAND ©Lodge Albert 448,
2004 |
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On the 28th October, 1931 the new halls were consecrated. The report next day in the Courier & Advertiser read -
Dundee Mason’s New Halls
Lodge Albert’s Premises Consecrated
An Ambition Realised
The new Masonic suite erected by Lodge Albert (No. 448) at Tullideph Road, Lochee, was consecrated by Bro. Thomas Lyell, M.C., Provincial Grant Master of Forfarshire, last night.
So great was the desire on the part of the brethren of the Lodge and members of other Lodges to take part, that admission had to be restricted to ticket-holders, and many who came to the hall in hope of “finding a corner” had to be disappointed.
In carrying out the ceremony of consecration, the following Office-Bearers of the Provincial Grand Lodge, assisted the Provincial Grand Master:- Past Provincial Master, A.J. Ramsay, Dundee; deputy acting P.G. Chaplain, William Harvey, Dundee; substitute P.G.M., James Macrae, Dundee; S.W., C.J.S. Samson, Monifieth; J.W., Ernest Watt, Montrose; Secretary, H.H. Souter, Montrose; Treasurer, D.M. Burdon, Dundee; Director of Ceremonies, John T. Dickson, Dundee and Director of Music, P.G., Organist, William Whyte, Friocheim.
In the course of an impressive consecration oration, Bro. William Harvey said he sometimes thought that the purpose of such an oration as that was not so much a mark of the fact that a new building was being set aside for the use of Masonry, as to give them an opportunity of rededicating themselves to the great work in which we are engaged.
For after all, Masonry is not a matter of temples, beautiful though they might be. Neither was it a system of signs and grips and words, honoured as these might be to the brethren.
Masonry was an influence in the lives of men - an ideal to be pursued by all who would be true to their highest nature, by all who were anxious to further the kingdom of God upon Earth.
It was the great virtue of Masonry that while it recognised no creed in religion or code in politics and was deaf to the demands of every sect and faction, it was constantly active in promoting the great principle of Brotherhood which was common to them all, and surely now more than in these days of stress and turmoil was the mission of Masonry something in which earnest men might engage.
At the moment the world was sick unto death. If it was to be saved from utter destruction it would be by the exercise of just those qualities that were woven into the weft of the ancient craft - loyalty to God, to King, and to the Commonwealth.
Following praise and prayer, the Provincial Grand Master and his Office-Bearers formally consecrated the temple to the interest and practice of Freemasonry, by the sprinkling of corn, in token of the divine goodness in the liberal provision made for all our wants, temperal and spiritual, with wine as one of the symbols of strength and gladness, with oil as the emblem of joy and peace which should fill all hearts on the completion of every work of importance.
Before the party proceeded to the spacious dining hall, Bro. J.R. Nicoll, R.W.M. of the Lodge, said that the ceremony they had just witnessed marked an important event in the life of Lodge Albert. It must be a unique event for the officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge to take part in the laying of the foundation stone, as they had done last November, and perform the consecration ceremony during their term of office.
This was the first temple in Dundee to have been built from the foundation, and the brethren of the Lodge should feel proud, after many years of speaking about a house of their own, to know that they had at last got their wish.
The minutes go on to record that -
Thereafter a pleasant evening was spent in harmony, the usual loyal and patriotic toasts proposed, congratulatory speeches by P.G. Master and a varied programme of songs and orchestral music which was greatly enjoyed and highly appreciated.
Three days later, on Sunday 1st November, a Thanksgiving Service was held in Lochee West Church. The Lodge was opened, then adjourned, and the brethren of the Lodge along with the brethren from Sister Lodges in the province, were marshalled by Bro. D. Milne and proceeded in processional order to the Church, where Bro. Hugh M. Agnes, M.A. of St. David’s North Church, preached an inspiring sermon from II Peter, Chapter 3, Verse 17 on “Steadfastness”, exhorting the brethren to be true to their obligations.
On 5th November, David Traill Bruce became the first mason to be initiated in the new temple. He was the son of Past Master D.H. Bruce.
Despite the sterling work he had done during his year in office, R.W.M. John Nicoll could not rest on his laurels. At the annual nomination of Office-Bearers he was opposed for a second term in office along with the Junior Deacon and Organist. Bro. Nicoll won the vote by 74 votes to 42. His opponent hadn’t been on the list of Office-Bearers before, and as far as I can see, never appeared again.
There did not seem to be any real progression to the chair in these days. Usually if you served as Junior Warden and Senior Warden you made the chair, but not always.
The man who followed John Nicoll into the chair came straight from being a committee member only, and the man who had served as Bro. Nicoll’s Senior Warden went no further. This may well have been as a result of the depression, but seems strange today.
Hall lets began to flourish with the help of “snappy” ads on the benefits of the hall advertised in the Evening Telegraph.
Chairs for the Master and Wardens were presented to the Lodge by P.M. H.F. Stewart, P.M. George Smith and P.M. B.S. Paton of Lodge David No. 78. These are still in use.
In May 1933, Lodge Scone and Perth visited to work a third degree. A monthly whist drive and dance became a regular feature about this time.
In January 1934, the R.W.M. received Honorary membership of the Masonic Club, an honour granted to all R.W.M’s in the province then.
It was about this time that names of brethren who I’ve known personally began to appear in the minutes.
The nomination and election in 1934 was the first time for many years that there were no contested offices in the Lodge.
During 1935 and 1936, fund raising efforts took many forms. A special performance by the Muirhead and Birkhill Musical Associates was held in aid of the Building Fund.
A Diddling Competition was a big success in 1936.
On 20th August, 1936, Jim Adams and Robert Clapperton went through their first degrees together.
Jim would later install Robert’s son, Bert into the chair of the Lodge in 1984. Jim should also have installed our present Master, Ian Clapperton, but died the previous year. His installation was carried out by Bro. Bert.
Another point of personal interest for me was the presentation of a Past Master’s jewel to Stewart Wilson on 28th January, 1937 when I was just nine days old. That jewel was later presented back to the Lodge by Stewart’s daughter, Jean Harvey, and was the jewel presented to me when I became Immediate Past Master!
The first mention of war appeared in the minutes in 1938. Brethren joining the colours were to hand names to the Secretary so that a Roll of Honour could be prepared.
As war approached, the members agreed that meetings would carry on whatever!
The war years were necessarily quiet years for the Lodge. Votes on various decisions taken in the Lodge showed that numbers at meetings were small.
In February 1940, a Bro. Henry Vale was welcomed back on leave. He had been a C.P.O. on H.M.S. Ajax at the Battle of the River Plate, and later gave a talk to the members of that great battle with the German battleship Graf Spee.
The war featured often in the minutes. In September 1940, an application was received from Ancrum Road School to use the small hall as a classroom.
Applications were also called for fire watches for the Hall during air raids.
Due to the difficulty in filling offices because of the crisis, the office-bearers for the 1941-1942 session were elected and recommended by a committee for the first time.
The 1941 Provincial visit commended two Albert members for their long service - A.F. Reoch, P.M. who had been Treasurer for 16 years, and R.K. McKenzie who had served 22 years as Secretary.
In June that year, a Lodge flag day was arranged as part of the Dundee Masons effort to buy an ambulance.
The R.W.M. between 1941 and 1943 was George D’All. George was still very active in the Lodge when I first joined. He was a great character, and soon took Bert Innes, Harry Scott and myself under his wing. One of the first men in Scotland to survive a broken spine, he passed a lot of his love of the craft on to us.
On 11th February, 1943 a Mr George Lawrence came before the Enquiry Committee. At time of writing, George is one of our oldest and most respected Past Masters.
There was no official Provincial visit that year due to travel restrictions caused by the war. For the same reasons attendances were often small.
Much doom and gloom was also recorded in the minutes with members being killed and injured around the world, but there were bright moments too.
On the last meeting of the year, the R.W.M. announced that he had just heard that the Secretary, R.K. McKenzie had “entered the bonds of matrimony”. Nobody had known until he had entered the Lodge that evening. The Master instructed that the Lodge’s best wishes for a long and happy life for the new couple should be recorded in the minutes. The Secretary duly obeyed, then closed the minute with the words “And so say all of us”! Funny lads these Secretaries!
The Provincial visits resumed in 1944, and mention was made of a loan of £350 from the Benevolent Fund to the Building Fund. This was against Grand Lodge laws, and repayment should be made as soon as possible. OOPS!
As 1944 progressed, there was a steady pick-up in attendances and candidates. A Welcome Home Fund was set up, as it obviously became evident that the war would not last much longer. Whist drives and other social functions began to return to swell the fund, and members of the Forces, on leave, were regularly welcomed back into the Lodge.
In July 1944 communications from Lebanon Lodge No. 191 New York, and from the Army and Navy Masonic Service Centre, Norfolk, Virginia, reported on visits from Bros. David C. Taylor and James S. Sprount. In September a letter from David Taylor described another visit he had made to Lodge Justincian, New York.
David still likes to write. Several collections of his poems in the Lochee dialect have been sold for the benefit of heart charities over the past few years.
I’m hoping I might get a small poem from him for this book!
The Burns Supper in January 1945 sounds like a grand affair, as the social side of the Lodge began to build up again. The Immortal Memory that year was given by the redoubtable Rev. Harry Andrew of Gilfillan. Harry was later made an honorary member during a night of Toasts, Songs and Recitations. No doubt the Toast to Absent Brethren was a stirring one that evening.
The matter of the loan made from the Benevolent Fund to the Building Fund was again mentioned on the Provincial Visit. The loan had been reduced, but further attention should be given to it. The Treasurer finally announced that the loan had been fully repaid, on Nominations night in November, so that blot had finally been erased from Lodge Albert!
As had happened after the 1914-1918 war, there was a tremendous upsurge in interest in the craft. Candidates came thick and fast, and were going through seven at a time. Inter-Lodge visits sprang up again. Harmonies resumed after meetings. A Social Committee was formed for the first time since 1939, and a Lodge Dance took place in May.
In April it was announced that a Bro. Arthur Suttie had been released from a German P.O.W. camp, and was back in Britain. Later that year, he gave a talk in the Lodge on how Freemasonry had been kept alive in the prison camp right under the noses of the guards.
Grand Lodge held a Thanksgiving Service for Victory in Edinburgh. The craft was in a vibrant state again.
Challenge Whist matches between Lodges were popular at this time, and Lodge Albert were winners of the Whist Cup in 1946.
P.M. Lamond and his team worked Mark degrees in a number of Lodges during the year.
The Lodge continued to prosper. Thirty seven members received their Mark Degrees in November, with a further 19 going through in the following March, which gives some idea of the numbers coming in.
The upsurge in interest also showed in the 1946 Nominations and Elections, when there were two nominations for Master, three for Junior Deacon and five for Inner Guard. W.Y. Smith was defeated by Jim Robb as Master, but there did not seem to be any animosity as P.M. Smith missed only a handful of meetings during the two years which Bro. Robb had as Master.
The 1946 installation was carried out by P.M. Richardson, a member of Lodge Albert, who was Past Substitute Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of All Scottish Freemasonry in India.
In April 1947 a Welcome Home Dinner was held for brethren who had served in the war. Life Membership Certificates were presented to 61 members, and tributes paid to all serving members. Two minutes silence was observed for Bros. Harrison and Ross who had not returned.
In May Bro. W. Beharrie proposed that the Lodge should close during the summer, and for the first time there was a recess between June and September.
A new heating system was installed in the Hall at a cost of £53. 10s.
Food parcels were received by various Albert members, courtesy of Australian Freemasons. An Albert member, now living in Australia was behind the gifts.
A Lodge Summer Drive to Loch Lomand was a big success, and four buses were immediately booked up for the 1948 drive to Ayr!
In February 1948 a report was put before the Property Committee of damage incurred during a Dundee Tiger’s Supporters Club dance in the Halls. Windows and chairs had been broken, and the trellis gate at the front door wrenched off. The Supporters Club admitted liability and agreed to pay for repairs. The Committee recommended that this be accepted, and that further lets should be granted as long as there was no further rowdiness! Sounds like a good night to me!
At a May meeting, an apology for absence was recorded on behalf of a Bro. Peter Smith. Apparently Bro. Smith had found his retirement rather boring, and had therefore taken a job on board ship, and was now on his way to America!
At the 1948 nominations in November, George McRae Webster was elected as Secretary, a job which he carried out until his death in 1982, with tremendous enthusiasm, eventually being recognised by Grand Lodge with Honorary Grand bible-bearer rank.
During the Burns Supper in January 1949, the last three Masters of the Lodge received their Past Master’s jewels. This was the first time since the war that these had been manufactured.
Over 240 brethren took part in a Special Church parade in April, marching from the Lodge to St. Luke’s Church in Lochee, behind the 6th Company B.B. Pipe Band. Fifteen lodges were represented.
In June, the first application for use of the halls by No. 3 Shed, Corporation of Squaremen was made.
During this session Bro. John C. Adamson was heartily congratulated on becoming Lord Provost of Dundee.
George Webster’s minutes had now reached an immaculate standard. Carefully detailed, with clear marginal notes they are a pleasure to read.
George was a real worthy, and Lodge Albert became a big part of his life. It was unusual for him to miss any meeting, and he always maintained that if his minutes were all right, the working of the ceremonies afterwards would be okay too!
A large deputation of Lodge Albert members attended a Divine Service at Rattray West Church, Blairgowrie, under the auspices of Lodge St. John No. 137 on 18th May, 1950. During the Fifties many lodges held such services, which were well supported.
On the 18th May, Lodge Albert held such a service. The Lodge was opened at 5.15 p.m., then adjourned and the various Lodge deputations were assembled in appropriate order and preceded by the 6th Co. Boys’ Brigade Pipe Band, marched to Lochee West Church. The minute goes on -
R.W.M. Jim Adams read the lesson, and soloist was Bro. Andrew Petrie of Lodge St. David No. 78. After a most impressive service the Brethren, consisting of approximately 200, returned to the Lodge. The Master thanked the representations of 18 lodges, then the Lodge was closed in due and ancient form.
The collection that day amounted to £14 0s. 6d. Out of that amount £2 7s. 6d. was spent on printing hymn sheets. The balance went to St. Ninian’s Church Restoration Fund. At the next meeting a donation of £2. 2s. 0d. was made to the Boys’ Brigade Pipe Band, who in their turn also presented that amount to St. Ninian’s.
At that same meeting 17 brethren received their Mark Degrees in the Lodge. Quite a fortnight!
A monthly Scottish Country dance became a feature in the social calendar in the Autumn of 1950, and these were well supported.
The Lodge was buzzing! Lodge Glamis No. 99, Lodge St. John Blairgowrie No. 137 and Lodge Lour No. 309 all worked degrees in the Lodge that autumn. In turn Lodge Albert worked a degree in Blairgowrie and Glamis. In the same spell two whist challenges took place against Lodge Thistle and Lodge Caledonian, and two bowls matches were played against the staff of West Green Hospital.
At the nominations meeting in November 1950, Robert Cable was elected Master. He was too ill to attend the installation ceremony, and the Office Bearers were installed in his absence.
1951 started on a sad note. At the first meeting it was announced that Bro. Cable had passed away that afternoon. He was buried with full Masonic honours on 15th January, and at a meeting on 18th January, Jim Adams was re-elected for another year. On 8th February, he was re-installed into the Chair.
At that same meeting P.M. George Lawrence received a special mention in the Lodge for his sterling work as M.C. at the monthly Scottish Country dances!
In April the R.W.M. Jim Adams suggested instruction classes be held on Sundays. Any Brother could attend. No further mention was ever made of these, so we don’t know how successful they were.
The Lodge’s Divine Service drew an even bigger crowd this year. Over 250 brethren from 20 lodges marched to the Service in St. Ninian’s Church, Methven Street.
On 16th August the first applications for entry into the Masonic Home in Dunblane were called for.
In November, Jim Adams gave way to Tom Don as R.W.M. after two extremely eventful and incident-packed years in the chair.
Revised bye-laws were passed in the Lodge in February 1952. The Installation day was moved to the last Saturday in November, with Nomination and Election two weeks before. At a later date, the last meeting in October became nominations day, as it is now.
Three months mourning for the death of King George VI, a Past Grand Master, was ordered by Grand Lodge. Lodge altars were to be covered in crepe, as were all jewels of Masters and Wardens of Daughter Lodges. No lodge social functions were to be held until the Memorial Grand Lodge of Sorrow at the end of the month.
The first mention of the Masonic Year Book also appeared around this time.
On 14th August, 1952, Bro. Robert Kidd proposed that the names of brethren taking part in the working of degrees should be recorded in the Lodge minutes for record purposes. The names of those taking part in that evening’s degree were so recorded and this has been the practice since then.
Open Nights twice a year on meeting nights began at this time. These consisted of a social and dance after the meeting.
The last meeting of the year took place on Christmas Day. Wives must have been most understanding in those days!
After the 1953 Burns Supper P.M. Jim Adams suggested that future Burns Suppers should be open to wives and friends.
In April P.M. Wm. Burden received the Lodge’s good wishes on leaving to live in Cheam. Bro. Burden, R.W.M. in 1924-26, was Substitute Provincial Grand Master. As a parting gift, he donated the Mark Master’s stone, used in our Mark Degree today. Sadly P.M. Burden did not have long in Cheam, his death being reported in August.
Light refreshments were now served after every meeting in the Lodge, and were much enjoyed by the brethren.
The Secretary’s report for 1953 gives some idea of how busy the Lodge was. There had been 32 regular meetings and 1 emergency meeting. There were 23 initiates and 1 affiliate, compared with 22 and 2 the previous year. The Property Committee met three times, Social Committee five times and the Enquiry Committee ten times. Lodge Albert office bearers certainly earn their corn!
In January 1954, the Lodge accepted an invitation from Lodge Progress to attend Divine Service in Gilfillian Church. This service became a regular occurrence each year until the death of Ifor Howell John, minister of that church, in the eighties. Ifor was a P.M. of Lodge Progress.
In August a letter from Provincial Grand Lodge advised that a letter received from the Grand Lodge of Puerto Rico, appealing for assistance towards the building of a Masonic temple there, should be disregarded and not read in open Lodge.
That year Lodge Albert was defeated by one shot in the final of the Lyell Bowling Trophy, their best performance yet.
Bye laws were changed so that meeting nights were now the second and fourth Thursdays each month except July and August. The third Thursday was later used as a regular social evening.
The Lodge received particularly glowing reports during the Provincial visit of 1955. It seemed even the piano had made a profit!
During the meeting on 13th January, the Reverend Harry Andrew dedicated the Lodge’s new carpet.
The Burns Supper in January 1956 was the first where the ladies attended.
The ladies were coming more and more into the life of the Lodge, and the Order of the Eastern Star gifted curtains for the Lodge windows.
The members were obviously forward looking for in May 1956, the R.W.M. George Lawrence formed a Centenary Committee to arrange for the celebration of 100 years of the Lodge in 1965. An appeal for funds was made to all members, and a ladies sub-committee was formed to assist with the running of fund raising events. A Sale of Work opened by the Hon. Lady Lyell of Kingoodie raised over £108. This was the first of many such events which took place over the next nine years.
The friendship with Lodge Lour was now firmly cemented. Visits were exchanged regularly, and two invitations to the Annual Dance of Lodge Lour were received each year - and still are!
Of the twelve brethren who received their Mark Degrees on 28th March, 1957 two were to become Masters of the Lodge - Alexander Muir Garty and David Dysart McLagan. Bro. McLagan would later become Provincial Grand Master of Forfarshire.
Candidates were again coming thick and fast, usually going through in batches of five. Twenty two new members joined in George Lawrence’s first year as Master.
In June the Lodge members voted that the Master and Wardens should attend the Grand Lodge meeting in August and put an amendment to Grand Lodge’s suggested rise in fees - the annual test fee 10/- instead of the proposed £1, and Life Membership £5 instead of proposed £15. That amendment was defeated.
A film about “Ault Wharrie” the Masonic Home in Dunblane was shown in the Lodge on the night of the A.G.M.
A Bro. James Adams died on a voyage from California in April 1958. Bro. Adams had last visited the country 32 years before and had been looking forward to a visit to his mother lodge.
P.M. Willie Watson represented the Lodge at the opening of the Scottish Masonic Home, Randolph Hall, Dunblane on 2nd August by the Countess of Eglinton and Winton.
A deputation from Lodge Albert attended the 150th Anniversary of Lodge Forfar and Kincardine No. 225 in August.
A pamphlet entitled “The Entered Apprentice” was introduced by Grand Lodge in September that year. Since then a copy of this pamphlet has been presented to each initiate into the Lodge.
William W. Whyte took over as R.W.M. in November 1958 and the meeting due to fall on Christmas Day was actually cancelled that year!
The Children’s’ Christmas Party had become a regular feature in the Lodge diary, always organised in plenty time, well attended and obviously enjoyed by all.
The Secretary’s annual report in December showed that during his two years in the chair, George Lawrence had initiated 49 candidates.
Lodge Panmure No. 299 Arbroath, worked a degree in Lodge Albert for the first time in February 1959.
In April that year a letter from Grand Lodge advised its disapproval of tombola and similar games as a method of raising money. Changed days now with our bingo, bandits and race nights!
The availability of the book “What Robert Burns owed to Freemasonry” was advertised in the Lodge in May.
In September the Lodge was represented at the Centenary Dinner of Lodge St. John No. 137, Blairgowrie and later in October at the working of an Exhibition third degree in that lodge by the Glasgow Travel Association who had recently toured the U.S.A.
The installation in 1959 was held on a Saturday for the first time.
A degree by the Past Masters of the lodge had now become a regular occurrence each year.
The 50’s ended on a happy note with Bro. Donald Grant Munro having Distinguished Service Membership conferred upon him.
The highlight of the Sixties was obviously to be the celebration of the first hundred years of the Lodge, for which the brethren had been preparing for a number of years.
Bro. Ernie Edwards, still a regular attender in the Lodge was the first initiate in the Sixties.
The Lodge’s first golf competition was arranged for March 1960, but had to be cancelled at the last minute. It was a great year for the Lodge bowlers however. For the first time they won the Lyell Trophy. The Lodge’s own bowling competition was once again won by Bro. John Cosans who won the trophy several times.
There was tremendous competition for offices in October 1960. There were two nominees for Junior Warden; two for Senior Deacon; three for Junior Deacon; two for Director of Ceremonies; three for Marshall; two for Standard Bearer, and no less than five for Inner Guard!
In December, the R.W.M. Bro. Herd also took on the duties of Social Convenor, despite protests that this was too much for one man. It proved just so when he gave up the Convenership in February 1961. There was a hint of a little bit of tension in the Lodge about this time.
Early in the year a letter from the Masonic Kilties from New Jersey was received, suggesting that they should work an Exhibition third degree for the Lodge in August. In a blaze of enthusiasm the Lodge booked the Caird Hall for the degree, and the Marryat Hall for the dinner to follow. But as time passed their sights lowered a bit, and finally it was decided that Lochee West Church Hall should be used for the degree, and the Albert Halls for the dinner.
In April Lodge Solomon No. 197 from Fraserburgh worked at third degree in the Lodge and invited Lodge Albert to return the compliment in Fraserburgh in April 1962.
It was minuted that a half bottle of whisky be raffled at the P.G.L. visit, the first time spirits had been raffled in the Lodge. Drink again caused a split at a Cafe Chantant arranged for May. Several brethren said that people moving about during the performance of the artists spoiled the entertainment and that the bar should not be opened. Surprisingly, this was carried!
Around this time, a proposal that the Lodge should have regular meetings on the first, second, third and fourth Thursdays was also defeated. This too was surprising, since by means of Special Meetings, they were usually working on these Thursdays anyway.
The first meeting after the recess was the visit of the Masonic Kilties. It sounded like a wonderful evening.
The Masonic Kilties, led by Worshipful Bro. William Aitken were piped into the Lodge by three pipers. The degree they worked was in two sections, each section chaired by a different Master - P.M. Aitken running the first section and P.M. Robert Sunran chairing the second part. There was a Senior Master of Ceremonies and a Junior Master of Ceremonies, likewise a Senior Steward and Junior Steward among the working officers. Ten craftsmen played a part in the second section of the degree, and one man was listed as a “Seafaring Man”.
A collection was taken in aid of the Masonic Homes Fund, then the brethren returned to the Albert Halls for a dinner and harmony.
The Nomination and Election in 1961 went quietly. Not one office was contested.
With the centenary year drawing closer, a football sweep and a “Stop Watch” Card Raffle were started to augment the funds. A circular was also sent out to all members requesting donations.
In April 1962, the brethren travelled to Fraserburgh to work a third degree in Lodge Solomon No. 197.
A large deputation attended the consecration of the new halls in Dura Street of Lodge Camperdown No. 317.
In May a deputation from Lodge Springhill No. 1198, Glasgow worked a third degree in Lodge Albert. The Master, David Fraser, had been the man who organised the Masonic Kilties visit.
Hugh Robertson one of the stalwarts in Dundee F.C’s one and only league-winning team, became a Lodge Albert member during the session . A few months later, Craig Brown, Scotland’s present manager also became a member. Alec Stuart and Sandy Davie were two other footballers to join the lodge.
The Rennie Bowls Trophy was won by Lodge Albert’s James Niall and Bob Hay. On the day the trophy was brought into the Lodge, it was proposed and seconded that -
The trophy should be filled with refreshment and passed round the brethren!
Around this time Willie Forbes took over as caretaker and there were many comments in the minutes about the excellent manner in which he carried out his duties. Willie is now resident in Menzieshill Home and will be 100 this year.
In January 1963, P.M. Willie Watson was installed as Substitute P.G. Master under the new P.G. Master, David J. Worsley. The Lodge moved their regular meeting to a Tuesday night so that the brethren could attend the installation on the Thursday. This took place in Gray’s Rooms with a dinner thereafter in the Royal Hotel. The ceremony was conducted by Bro. Lord Bruce, Grand Master Mason.
In June an invitation to work a third degree was received from the Lodge of Old Aberdeen No. 164. This began an exchange of visits which continues to this day.
On 27th June, 1963, Bro. James G. Duncan was congratulated in open Lodge on becoming the father of a bouncing baby boy. You should see the baby now!
Once again Lodge Albert won the Lyell Bowling Trophy.
In November, Bro. William Suttie stood down as Treasurer after 23 years service. Alex. Stewart took over and along with George Webster formed another formidable team, running the Lodge’s business.
On the day of the Installation, Bro. Suttie was presented with a wrist watch for himself and a floral brooch for his wife.
In April 1964, Grand Secretary Alex. F. Buchan gave a lecture on “Freemasonry in Scotland” at a special meeting. In the summer, Lodge Albert once again won the Lyell Trophy! It was becoming a habit.
Throughout the year a steady stream of candidates were initiated, social events were well attended and finances were gathered in towards the Centenary celebrations to be held the next year.
Andrew Smith received a Distinguished Service Diploma after fifty years in the Lodge.
Six children from the Dundee Orphanage were invited along to the Children’s Christmas party. This practice continued for several years.
Inter-lodge visits had settled into a regular pattern by 1965. Lodge Tay Union No. 273, Lodge Solomon No. 197, Fraserburgh; the Lodge of Old Aberdeen No. 164, and Lodge Lour No. 309 were regular participants. There was a steady flow of candidates and tickets for Lodge social events were snapped up quickly.
The Centenary Committee were now meeting regularly as arrangements were formed for the celebrations. Surprisingly the Lodge voted not to have a Divine Service to mark the event.
Lodge Albert were represented at a Divine Service in the Parish Church, Forfar at the invitation of Lodge Forfar Killwinning No. 10, to celebrate the Tri-Centenary of the granting of the town charter.
It was a time for celebrations. During the year representatives also attended the Jubilee celebrations of Lodge Dundee St. Mary No. 1149, and the Bi-Centenary of Lodge Glamis No. 99.
A golf outing was finally held. The venue was Kirriemuir and it proved a great success. A similar outing was suggested for August.
The Lodge bowlers again excelled themselves. To mark the centenary Lodge Albert completed a hat-trick of wins in the Lyell Bowling Competition.
All the organisation finally came together on the 6th November, 1965. The minutes of the meeting held that night in the Angus Hotel began -
On this day, Saturday Sixth November, Nineteen Hundred and Sixty Five, Lodge Albert No. 448 celebrates its centenary.
R.W.M. David McLagan presided, and thirteen Past Masters of the Lodge were in attendance. Alex. Garty was Senior Warden, Donald McNaughton Junior Warden, John Douglas Senior Deacon, David F. Gordon Junior Deacon, James Mitchell Inner Guard and the brethren signed special tyle sheets to mark the occasion.
A deputation of the representatives of sister lodges was admitted, then one from the Provincial Grand Lodge of Forfarshire, led by the Provincial Grand Master Bro. David Worsley, C.A., and finally the Grand Lodge of Scotland deputation, headed by Bro. Lord Bruce, Most Worshipful Grand Master Mason.
After the singing of the 23rd Psalm, and scriptive readings, the Act of Rededication was carried out, terminating with the Threefold Blessing incorporating Hymn 601. Bro. Lord Bruce then addressed the brethren, wishing Lord Albert every success in the future.
Before the Prayer of Thanksgiving, the brethren sang Paraphrase 2 and the proceedings ended with the Benediction and the National Anthem.
After the Lodge was closed a dinner followed in the Claverhouse Suite of the Hotel. The Toast List was as follows -
The Loyal Toast - D.D. McLagan, R.W.M.
The Grand Lodge of Scotland - James Adams, P.M. Reply by M.W. Grand Master Lord Bruce.
The Provincial Grand Lodge of Forfarshire - Alex. Thomson, P.M. Grand Marshal. Reply by David Worsley, R.W. Past Grand Master.
Our Noble Selves - David Swankie, I.P.M. Lodge Lour 309. Reply by R.W.M.
Our Guests - Alex. M. Garty, W.S.W. Reply by Ernest Reynolds, R.W.M., The Lodge of Old Aberdeen No. 164.
Absent Friends - William Watson, P.M., Substitute Past Grand Master.
Tylers Toast - William W. Whyte, P.M.
Over 200 sat down to the dinner, during which a cheque for £100 was presented to Lord Bruce for Grand Lodge Benevolent Funds.
The pride fairly oozes out of George Webster’s minutes of that evening. It must have been a marvellous night for the brethren present.
A few weeks later, the Lodge was in the midst of its installation ceremony once again, and at the A.G.M. the following week, a letter from Grand Lodge instructed that in future the ancient penalties would be deleted from the obligations. The retiring Grand Master Lord Bruce had recommended this and Grand Lodge had approved.
What had been a memorable year for Lodge Albert closed with an invitation from Lodge Kyle Kildrum No. 1602, Cumbernauld, for the R.W.M. and office-bearers to work a Mark Degree during 1966. The Lodge was certainly well travelled.
Just how far travelled the members had become was shown by a letter received in January 1966 from Edson Lodge No. 68, Edson, Alberta, informing the Lodge that Bro. John Thomson initiated in Lodge Albert on 3rd January, 1906 and a Charter Member of Edson Lodge was to receive his Sixty Year Bar from the Grand Master of Alberta.
Besides the now regular visitations mentioned earlier, Lodge Ancient No. 49 exchanged visits with Lodge Albert this year and Lodge St. David No. 78 also worked a degree.
In September the Lodge ran a bus to the “Ault Wharrie” Masonic Home in Dunblane. After a tour of the Home they took a number of the residents for a bus run and a meal at a local hotel.
An application by Lodge Caledonian No. 254 to hold their meeting in the Albert Halls was turned down due to lack of storage space.
During the year the Inner Guard of the Lodge, a Bro. James Mitchell was replaced. Bro. Mitchell had not been present for a number of weeks and had not replied to the Secretary’s enquiries. Bro. David K. Macintosh was elected to the post. At the same time William Forbes took over as Tyler, an office he held several times in the following years.
After the recess the members set about constructing a new bar and store. All the work was carried out by the brethren of the Lodge.
In November, Alex. Garty became R.W.M. In his two years in the chair David McLagan had initiated 51 new masons. The Lodge continued to prosper.
Early in 1967 Grand Lodge advised that the Masonic Homes Board had been giving serious thought to a third Masonic Home in the grounds of “Ault Wharrie”. The cost would be £100,000. Lodge Albert donation of £100 from their centenary celebrations had been marked down for this fund, and later a further £200 was presented.
The R.W.M. Alex. Garty took part in a reigning Master’s degree in Lodge Lour No. 309. The collection that evening went towards the Grand Master’s appeal, and when it was sent to Grand Lodge it was revealed that just two months after the Grand Master’s original appeal, over £65,000 had already been pledged towards the project!
Monthly dances at the Lodge proved popular this year. Admittance was always by ticket only and this rule was strictly adhered to. Some brethren, turning up without tickets had been turned away.
In March 1968 a large deputation from Lodge Albert attended the installation of the New Provincial Grand Master William H. Sharpe. The ceremony was carried out by the Grand Master Mason Bro. Major Sir Ronald Orr-Ewing. A dinner followed in the Castle Hotel.
The 150th Anniversary of Lodge Tay Union No. 273 fell this year. A special third degree was arranged worked by various reigning Masters, including Alex. Garty.
In May a Distinguished Service Diploma was presented to P.M. Alex. Reoch for his long service to the Lodge. Bro. Reoch was R.W.M. between 1912 and 1915 and later served as Secretary for 16 years.
Around this time Jim Rattray’s name began to appear in the minutes as organist. He became organist officially that November.
In July a small fire was started in the kitchen by two people who had broken into the Halls. The Fire Brigade attended and little damage was done.
On 14th November, R.W.M. Alex. Garty presented the title deeds of the halls to the Lodge. The final £500 Bond had been paid off, and at last the halls were ours!
Once again the Children’s Christmas Party seemed to be an uproarious success. The Scottish Society of Mentally Handicapped Children also held their Christmas Party in the halls that year, and have done so ever since - always with free use of the hall from the Lodge.
A certain amount of niggling was again creeping into the Minutes. There was an argument about the correctness of the Nomination and Election of the Inner Guard, which required a letter from Grand Lodge to settle it. Then the Junior Warden elect, who had not yet been installed, sent a letter saying he would not after all be taking up the office. He was the brother of the Inner Guard involved in the previously mentioned debate. It was later decided that a Past Master should occupy the Junior Warden’s office until the 1969 Nominations.
A letter was received from Grand Lodge in appreciation of the magnificent effort of the Scottish Lodges in raising the money for a third Masonic Home at Ardnablane. More than enough money had been raised and the furnishings of the lounges in the home had been gifted separately.
P.M. Cecil Black and P.M. R.B. Kidd received fifty year diplomas in April. Cecil Black was R.W.M. from 1926-1928 and was the prime mover in beginning the search for new premises.
Bro. Sydney T. Martin presented a trophy to be played for by the Bowlers of the Lodge and this competition is still one of the highlights of activities in the recess.
The Royal Masonic Home at Ardnablane was officially opened by Lady Orr-Ewing in September. P.M. David McLagan represented Lodge Albert at the ceremony.
The Seventies started with agreement finally being reached on the Lodge meeting every Thursday of the month, except the first Thursday, and that the Installation evening should be the last Saturday in November. It had taken a long time.
During his annual visit, the Provincial Grand Master William Sharpe, paid tribute to the work done by P.M’s McLagan, Watson and Don, who were in office in Provincial. The P.G.M. received honorary membership of the Lodge that evening.
A further attempt to get a Lodge of Instruction running in Lodge Albert again failed to get any support, and several trivial arguments were recorded in the minutes, giving the impression that there was a certain amount of antagonism among certain members at that time.
W.J.W. David Mackintosh was removed from office after failing to turn up at a number of meetings, without sending apologies.
Bro. Sydney T. Martin presented the Martin Cup for annual competition by the bowlers of the Lodge, a competition which is still a highlight in the summer months today.
A letter of congratulations was sent to James Lyon, a Lodge Albert member living in Yonkers, New York who had received his 50 year pin and diploma in a New York Lodge.
Around this time there seemed to be a rush of members taking out Life membership. Over 30 were presented in March and April.
The Burns Supper in January 1971, led to a stream of complaints from brethren. The Toast to the Lassies, by a well-know Dundee worthy, had contained vulgar and crude passages, most unsuitable for a mixed company. The R.W.M. apologised to the brethren and their friends. The gentleman’s speech had not been vetted before the night. The man would certainly not be invited back!
The Lodge was saddened by the death of P.M. William Watson in January. Bro. William Watson had been R.W.M. between 1929-1930. He had been a Substitute Grand Master of Forfarshire, a Grand Steward and Proxy Master of Lodge Ruwenzori No. 1652 in Kilembe, East Africa. A memorial service was held in the Lodge on 28th February, where P.M. Jim Adams paid a moving tribute to a man who had been a stalwart of the Lodge for many years.
In March, Lodge Dundee St. Mary No. 1149 worked a third degree in the Lodge. The retrospect charge that evening was given by Bro. Peter Cram, now Provincial Grand Master of Forfarshire.
In September, the William Watson Golf Trophy was presented to the Lodge for annual competition.
John L. Addison, P.M. 250 who was a regular visitor to Lodge Albert sent greetings from Linden, New Jersey, giving details of the Lodges he had visited out there. John was to become a regular attender in the Lodge, eventually affiliating, and this was the first of many such visits he made to America, where he was eventually made an Honorary Past Master of Cornerstone Lodge in Linden.
A regular progression to the Chair had now evolved in the Lodge. Office-bearers in 1972 were W.S.W. Albert Robb, W.J.W. Eric A.G. Brown, S.D. Duncan Erskine, J.D. Alexander J. Lees, I.G. George L.R. Cairns, Sword Bearer William Wallace, in rotation the next seven Masters in the Lodge.
The R.W.M. Bro. John Douglas suffered a heart attack at the beginning of the year, and a number of past masters substituted for him in his absence, in particular Alex. M. Garty. His I.P.M. Donald McNaughton did not seem to attend at all.
On one occasion P.M. Garty worked the whole of a second degree himself, because of the shortage of office-bearers present.
I had the pleasure of seeing Alex. speaking in the Lodge for many years. He had a remarkable memory. At times it appeared photographic, and he could deliver almost any charge at a moment’s notice - a boon to any masters left in the lurch by anybody due to deliver a charge not turning up.
On the 20th April 1972 a serious complaint was made in the Lodge by P.M. David McLagan. Apparently at the last monthly dance, stewards had removed glasses from tables while the brethren were up dancing, which - wait for it - still contained some drink! The blaggards!
After the next dance P.M. McLagan also complained in open Lodge, that a brother had been reluctant to leave at the end, and hoped that this would not be repeated.
There were to be many similar pieces in the minutes in years to follow, and many amendments to proposals by Bro. McLagan, that gave the impression that he kept a beady eye on all goings-on in the Lodge. Later I met the man and found this was indeed so! The sight of David McLagan, rising to his feet, and pushing his glasses back on his nose, with the opening words “Right Worshipful Master, in my considered opinion ...” struck fear and dread into many a Mason!
The Lodge just failed to win the Lyell Trophy this year, losing in the final to Lodge St. Thomas No. 40 by one shot.
At an initiation in the Lodge in September, the apron charge was delivered by Bro. Wm. Green of Lodge St. David No. 78 to his son who was joining the Albert.
A break-in at the Halls in early October led to a small amount of cigarettes and spirits being stolen.
At the Nomination and Election, the returning R.W.M. John Douglas, now recovered, paid special tribute to P.M. Alex. Garty for the extra work he had undertaken during the year, due to the R.W.M’s illness.
Albert Robb now moved into the Master’s chair.
Reading the minutes now became an even greater pleasure, since I could now put faces to all but a few of the office-bearers and many of the brethren.
Three men were apprehended on the roof of the halls on New Years Eve 1972. They had been removing copper sheeting.
It was decided to hold club evenings’ on the first Tuesday of the month for a trial period. These proved popular for a number of years.
On 13th September 1973, P.M. John L. Addison of Lodge Union No. 250, Dunfermline affiliated to the Lodge. He was to be a regular attender until his death in 1995.
Several members attended a special meeting in the Marryat Hall to witness a third degree Exemplification by the Robertson Fellowcraft Club of Ohio, U.S.A.
Eric A.G. Brown took over as R.W.M. in November 1973. Albert Robb had initiated fourteen new members in his year in the chair. This had been around the average intake for two or three years now.
1974 began with a letter being received from New South Wales, advising that a Lodge Albert member living there had fallen on hard times and was in need of benevolence. The matter was passed to Grand Lodge for investigation. By the time further information was received back from New South Wales, the brother in question had obtained work, and was no longer in need of help!
In a letter from the Provincial Grand Lodge of Forfarshire giving the date of their annual visitation, it also added that the working of a degree should be witnessed. This was an innovation.
Unfortunately, due to the sudden death of Bro. Douglas Gerard, the Provincial Grand Master, the meeting was moved to a later date, and no degree was worked. As far as I can remember such a request has not been made again, and these visitation have been for business only.
The Lodge was on a high once again. Twenty one candidates were initiated. The Lodge was visited by Lodge Lour No. 309, Lodge St. Andrew No. 814, Pitlochry, The Lodge of Old Aberdeen No. 164 who worked third degrees. In turn the Lodge visited Lodge Airlie No. 286 to work a third degree, and Lodge Roineach Mhor No. 1308 for a second degree. A deputation also visited Lodge Union No. 250, Dunfermline to witness a third degree, and a deputation from Corsterphine St. John No. 788 visited Lodge Albert to witness a second degree.
Monthly lodge dances were popular, as were the Club Nights on the first Tuesday of each month. A summer picnic took the children of members to Kirriemuir, and a Coffee Morning and Sale of Work in November, run by the wives of the members, raised over £500. A successful Christmas Draw was held, and for the first time the Senior Brethren were entertained to a special Christmas dinner in the Lodge, when their Christmas parcels were presented to them.
A large deputation also attended the Installation of the new Provincial Grand Master, Stephen Gavin Fisher in November in the F and K Halls.
In the midst of all this, on 26th September, an apology was received from one, Ian Munro, who had been due to be initiated that evening. The minute reads - Mr Munro had a slight accident today.
In actual fact I had fallen off a ladder that morning, breaking my right wrist, and severely bruising my left side and left leg.
I managed to crawl to the door in answer to a ring at the doorbell. Outside was an insurance agent, flogging accident insurance of all things, who eventually drove me to the D.R.I.
To this day my wife maintains that this was all a message from God, warning me not to get mixed up with the Masons!
In November, George Webster received a wrist watch from the brethren to mark his 25th year as Secretary, and on the same evening, John L. Addison was wished well as he set out for another six week Masonic sojourn in America.
I finally received my first degree on 9th January 1975, and remember being completely astonished by the amazing welcome I received. There was such a tremendous atmosphere in the Lodge, you couldn’t help but be impressed. This was something I was really going to enjoy.
The matter of splitting Forfarshire into two provinces was again raised in 1975. Lodge Albert voted unanimously to keep the one Provincial Lodge and this proved to be the overwhelming wish of all the lodges in the Province.
P.M. Jim Adams retired from his work in the summer and set off for a six month holiday with his family in Australia.
Eric Brown’s second year in the chair proved just as successful as his first. There were 22 initiates in the year, and two Mark Degrees were worked.
Several Lodges were visited - Lodge St. Andrew No. 814, Pitlochry; Lodge Lour No. 309, Forfar; Lodge Ancient No. 49, Lodge Camperdown No. 317, and The Lodge of Old Aberdeen No. 164, where degrees were carried out.
An annexe for storage purposes was added to the Lodge, the work being carried out almost entirely by lodge members. The dining room was redecorated and the Caretaker’s room refurbished.
Again the monthly dances were well supported. The Annual Dinner and Dance was a big success in the Leisure Centre in October. The annual Burns Night was again a very popular evening.
William Cochrane and David Robertson ran the social side in those days with great success.
In November, Duncan Erskine took over as R.W.M. with the Lodge in tremendous shape.
A fine ritualist, Duncan was, and I believe still is, the youngest R.W.M. to take the chair in Forfarshire. The Lodge continued to thrive under his direction. Duncan’s was the first installation ceremony I had witnessed, and I can remember being so impressed by the performance of the installing team - P.M. Tom Don, P.M. David McLagan and P.M. Stewart Brown (254). The dinner and harmony that followed were also memorable!
Another 22 candidates were initiated in Duncan’s year in the chair. It was a busy year.
In all there were 27 Regular Meetings and 1 Special Meeting. The General Committee met once, the Property Committee six times, the Enquiry Committee seven times, the Social Committee six times, the Club Committee twice, and the Benevolent Committee once. This is now a pretty typical programme for a year in Lodge Albert, and office-bearers devote a large portion of their time to the Lodge.
The social side was in high gear at this time. Monthly dances were a feature, and on one occasion there was a complaint about too many people attending these functions. Past Master McLagan - who else? finally proposed that numbers should be restricted to 100, and this rule is still in force today. Three special Cabaret Dances and a Charity Dance also took place, and the Annual Dance once again took place in the Leisure Centre, Club nights continued to be well attended.
The 100 Club had now become popular, and was providing a lot of revenue for the Lodge.
The profit from the Charity Dance, along with many other donations enabled the Lodge to present an electric wheelchair to Carol Macwhinney, a patient in Strathmartine Hospital.
The Lodge made the usual visits during Duncan Erskine’s year in the chair. One to Lodge St. Andrew No. 814, Pitlochry stands out in my memory. It turned out to be a real marathon.
Lodge Albert worked the degree in the Town Hall, then the company retired to Scotlands’ Hotel for a meal and harmony. However, nobody had told the bus driver about the arrangements. He returned to the Town Hall around midnight, and found it in darkness. For some reason he assumed we had made our own way home, and took the bus back to Dundee.
It was some time before we realised that something was amiss. A series of phone calls eventually got hold of the driver who returned to Pitlochry for us
The upshot was that the Tyler’s Toast was finally given around 4.30 a.m. and we returned to Dundee after that.
George Cairns met his wife going out to work, and Alex. Garty made the acquaintance of his milk boy for the first time. I fell sound asleep at my desk around noon! It was a visitation to remember.
P.M. Tom Don had now reached the office of Provincial Grand Senior Warden, and at the Grand Lodge meeting in November, our Secretary, George Webster was awarded the Honorary Grand Lodge office of Bible Bearer, a well-deserved tribute.
In November, Alexander Lees took over as R.W.M. with the Lodge in tremendous shape.
In February 1977, P.M. Tom Don vacated his office as Provincial Grand Senior Warden, and the Provincial visit to Lodge Albert, the P.G. Master, Stephen Gavin Fisher thanked him for his long and faithful service to Provincial Grant Lodge. He also complimented P.M. David McLagan for his work as Provincial Grand Treasurer, P.M. Don was then presented with the apron and jewel of a Past Provincial Grand Senior Warden.
At the same meeting Secretary, George Webster was presented with his Diploma as Honorary Grand Lodge Bible Bearer.
The Albert Angling Club held its first outing in May. This was the first of many outings, and over the next few years the club was to go from strength to strength.
The annual prize-giving dance became one of the highlights of the year, and the helpings of salmon served on that night always reflected the number of fish that the members caught during the year. I can’t remember which year it was, but seemingly the long dry summer made fishing conditions dreadful all over. The menu that year consisted of steak pie!
A memorable outing took place on Friday, 27th May, when a large deputation of Lodge Albert members travelled to Lodge Union No. 232, Glasgow to witness a raising in that Lodge. One of their candidates was comedian Billy Jeffries, and the harmony that followed was one of the finest I’ve ever attended. A bus load of very happy Albert members made an early morning return to Dundee, refusing the offer of a police escort out of the city.
Regular dances were again well supported, and the 1977 Charity Dance raised a large donation for the Dundee Gardens Centre for the Handicapped. £50 was also donated to the new Broughty Ferry Lifeboat Fund.
On 29th September the General Committee passed by a very small margin, a motion to recommend to the Lodge that a gaming machine should be installed into the Lodge for a trial period. I remember that this recommendation caused harsh words in the Lodge and after a fiery discussion was only carried by 41 votes to 32 with 7 abstentions. Several members, including one Past Master hardly attended the Lodge after the decision was made. In retrospect the members appear to have taken the right decision because the money raised over the trial period by this machine gave a quite important boost to the financial strength of the Lodge, when it was really needed.
The bi-annual exchange of visits with the Lodge of Old Aberdeen No. 164, had become another highlight of the Lodge year. On our visit to Aberdeen we’d normally leave Dundee at ten or eleven in the morning. While the ladies had a shopping spree in the afternoon, we would work a degree in the Aberdeen Lodge. In the evening would follow a dinner and dance, either in the Temple in Crown Street, or in some other hotel in the city. The festivities usually lasted well into the evening when a tired but happy bus-load would journey back to Dundee, with perhaps a stop at a late-night chipper in Montrose to round off the day!
The Aberdeen visit to Dundee was on similar lines, and I remember one Aberdeen bus having to return to Dundee from half way along the road to Forfar when it was realised that a certain Bro. Myles from Lodge Albert was still on the bus! He’d thought they were going home by the coast road, and meant to get off somewhere near Douglas!
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