The Centenary Anniversary Souvenir Booklet
Whilst going through P.M. Bro. Jim Mackie of Lodge Camelon 1456 stuff, after he passed, I came across many interesting items. In particular to Lodge Callendar I came across a copy of the Programme for the Lodges Centenary Celebrations in 1976 which can be viewed by clicking here. I also came across the Centenary Souvenir Booklet.
Below is a transcript of that booklet. It contains the history of the Lodge during the first 100 years of the Lodges existence. The information and images have been obtained from the Centenary Souvenir Booklet which was issued to mark the Centenary Celebrations of the Lodge in 1976 which I thought may be of interest to the Brethren of Lodge Callendar.
We are not sure who the author/authors were but we are grateful for his/their efforts in producing this document. If the authors are known to you please let me know so that I can properly recognise their efforts.
I would thank R.W.M. Bro. Colin Chalmers for his permission to publish this information.
H Graeme Russell P.M.
Lodge Camelon 1456
Lodge Callendar No. 588
Falkirk
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Centenary
Souvenir
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1876 - 1976
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| BRO. ALEX GALLOWAY R.W.M. 1876-79 First Master of the Lodge |
BRO. WILLIAM H. SMITH R.W.M.1925 Jubilee Master |
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| BRO. DAVID D. LAING R.W.M. 1976 Centenary Master |
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LODGE CALLENDAR No. 588
FALKIRK
1876 - 1976
A history of Lodge Callendar No.
588, Falkirk
during the first 100 years of its existence
While it is right and proper to look to the future, to embark on our second century as a Lodge, it is fitting nevertheless at this time of rejoicing on the attainment of our centenary as a Lodge to take a retrospective view and consider our genesis and the sacrifices made by the original members who laid the foundation of Lodge Callendar No. 588.
A history of Lodge Callendar was prepared early this century, in 1904, and to this work the authors are grateful as the full account given then of the Lodge's early years is worthy of reproduction yet again.
Those who were chiefly instrumental in promoting the movement for the formation of the Lodge, as yet un-named, were Mr. John Happer, Mr. Archibald Galloway, Mr. John Kirkwood, Mr. Alexander Kirkwood, Mr. R. Brownlee, Mr. J. Cullen, Mr. G. Roper, Mr. J. Wood and Mr. R. Stirling.
Although resident in the town they were members of Lodge St. Andrew No. 199, Cumbernauld, and they along with a number of other interested gentlemen met and resolved to form a Lodge. For the purpose of conducting preliminary correspondence, Mr. R. Stirling, a Falkirk solicitor, was appointed secretary.
By way of honouring the landed proprietor Mr. William Forbes of Callendar it was resolved to seek his permission to name the new Lodge Callendar. When he readily agreed he paid the prospective Lodge the further honour of inviting it to adopt the Callendar colours, blue and gold.
This correspondence, the fore-runner to the establishment of what we now know as Lodge Callendar, must have taken place in the early months of 1876 as at the beginning of May that year it is recorded that the members formally applied to the Grand Lodge of Scotland for a Charter.
The following is a copy of the Working Letter of Authority which was sent down, investing the office-bearers with full powers for the working and conduct of the Lodge until such time as the Charter could be prepared:
GRAND LODGE OF SCOTLAND
No. 588
"WHEREAS upon the 5th day of May, 1876 a PETITION in regular order and properly recommended was presented to the Grand Committee, praying for the Erection of a Lodge at Falkirk under the Name and Title of "The Callendar," Falkirk, which Petition was favourably entertained by Grand Committee and Grand Lodge recommended to grant the Charter prayed for, which recommendation Grand Lodge was pleased to adopt; In order, therefore, to save time, until the Charter is expede, interim authority is granted by said Grand Committee to Archibald Galloway, John Kirkwood, James Stewart Wood, Alexander Kirkwood, John Happer, James McMillan, Robert Stirling, John Cullen, Robert Brownlee @ c., the PROPOSED OFFICE-BEARERS of the NEW LODGE, to hold regular Meetings thereof, Enter Apprentices, Pass Fellow-crafts, and Raise to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason: and generally to do in the premises all that pertains to the conduct of a well-ordered and well-regulated Lodge: for all which this Working Letter of Authority to the said R.W.M. and other Office-Bearers Elect shall be a full and sufficient warrant.
Given at FREEMASONS' HALL in the City of Edinburgh this 6th of June, 1876.
J. LAURIE,
Grand Secretary."
Thus it can be seen that May 5, 1876 is the date upon which Lodge Callendar No. 588, Falkirk, came to be officially recognised, the date upon which it entered the Roll of the Grand Lodge of Scotland. Its first meeting place as Lodge Callendar No. 588 was Bank Street Church Hall and its first Right Worshipful Grand Master was Bro. Archibald Galloway, a master draper, whose three-year term in the Chair of King Solomon was marked by a steady flow of candidates for initiation and a steady rise in the prosperity of the Lodge. Although he belonged to Redding he had lived in India for some time, and it was there, under the English constitution, that he was initiated into the Craft.
His office-bearers were: Depute Master-Bro. - John Kirkwood, Grahamston; Substitute Master - Bro. James Stewart Wood, Linlithgow; Senior Warden - Bro. Alexander Kirkwood; Junior Warden-Bro. - John Happer; Treasurer - Bro. J. McMillan; Secretary - Bro. R. Stirling; Senior Deacon - Bro. J. Cullen; Junior Deacon - Bro. Robert Brownlee; Inner Guard - Bro. George Roper; Tyler - Bro. A. Still.
The first names which appear in the roll book are: Archibald Galloway, merchant, Grahamston; Alexander Kirkwood, baker, High Street, Falkirk; John Happer, Slater, Wilson's Buildings, Falkirk; George Roper, publican, Cow Wynd, Falkirk; and T. Anderson, joiner, High Street, Falkirk.
It would appear that the first meeting held for initiation purposes took place on June 1, 1876 and at that meeting according to the roll book the following seven candidates were initiated in Freemasonry: James Bell, seaman, Grahamston; William Douglas, moulder, Grahamston; Andrew Bruce, moulder, Grahamston; William Russell, mason, Falkirk; William Gardner, mason, Cow Wynd, Falkirk; Robert Ferguson, Cross Keys, Falkirk; and William Millar, seaman, Grahamston.
Of those Entered Apprentices of June 1, 1876 only two - Bros. William Gardner and William Millar - survived to celebrate the Lodge's jubilee in 1926.
In those early days the office-bearers received valuable aid and instruction in the working of the Lodge from Bro. Halkett of Glasgow, a personal friend of Bro. Galloway, the Right Worshipful Master. Along with several other brethren from the city Bro. Halkett paid periodic visits to Falkirk.
One of the first occasions on which the Lodge was represented at any public function was the opening of the additional docks, as they were then described, at Grangemouth Docks on June 3, 1882. On that occasion the brethren were preceded in solemn procession by the two pipers of the Lodge, one of whom was William Douglas. The name of the other piper is unknown.
By December, 1876 no fewer than 32 candidates had been initiated, a remarkably strong start for the new Lodge. During 1877 26 candidates took the First Degree, and in May of that year, almost a year and a week after Lodge Callendar No. 588 was formally recognised and entered on the Roll of the Grand Lodge of Scotland, the infant Lodge had its first Provincial visitation.
Bank Street Church Hall remained the meeting place until 1888 when, owing to the increasing numbers in membership of Lodge Callendar - the roll had reached in excess of 200 - additional accommodation was considered an urgent priority. Accordingly Lodge Callendar agreed to rent the Masonic Hall in Newmarket Street from Lodge 16 for their meetings and so at Whitsunday 1888 Lodge Callendar left their first home for ever.
The new meeting place was obviously more appropriate for the purpose of Freemasonry, and much more spacious as well, yet on reflection it is interesting to note the chequered existence of Lodge Callendar during its first 10 years.
Between 1881-1882 only 10 candidates were initiated and while during the next three years there was a distinct improvement there was another sharp drop, for some unexplained reason, during the years 1886-1887 when only 16 candidates were initiated. Then, with the exception of the period 1891-1892 when the roll was augmented by only 11 members Lodge Callendar No. 588 appears to have made steady progress from 1888, the date of its transfer to the Masonic Hall in Newmarket Street.
During the 1890s, as Lodge Callendar consolidated itself after a hesitant financial start to the decade, several founder members passed to the Grand Lodge Above and when the new century dawned members of Lodge Callendar could barely mark time for just over 12 months to mark the silver jubilee of the Lodge.
And appropriately on such a happy occasion the 25 years of Freemasonry in Lodge Callendar were fittingly celebrated with a social and dance in the Masonic Hall when Bro. Samuel Porter, Right Worshipful Master, presided.
But if the fortunes of Lodge Callendar fluctuated in respect of candidates in the early years there was no such impediment during the early years of this century when Bro. William Murphy reigned as R.W.M. from 1901 until 1904.
The Lodge was favoured with phenomenal success because during these three years it created a record throughout the Province of Stirlingshire in respect of the number of candidates initiated. From the beginning of 1901 until October, 1904 no fewer than 159 candidates joined the Lodge and of that number 64 were initiated into the mysteries of the Craft in one year, 1903.
These candidates were embarking on Freemasonry at a propitious moment in the history of Lodge Callendar as in 1900 Life Membership was introduced for the first time. And the fees? The grand sum of £l.10s or even better, just £l for a Brother with four years' membership or above.
When Queen Victoria died in 1901 the Lodge marked the passing of the Defender of the Faith by holding a special service in Falkirk Old Parish Church.
The years passed but not without earnest discussion within the Lodge to acquire premises of its own, central, spacious and appropriate for a Lodge which had celebrated its silver jubilee. Was it possible? Where there's a will there's a way and when Bro. Bailie Russell, Depute Master, gave notice on November 19, 1902, that he would move a month later "that a committee be appointed to look out for a site to build a hall, and to arrange for holding a bazaar under the auspices of the Lodge" the first step had been taken. Now for the next, even harder steps.
Bro. Russell's motion was duly approved the following month when it was also agreed that the Past Masters of the Lodge plus the office-bearers should form the committee. They could add to their numbers if they saw fit - and wisely stipulated that no change be made in the composition of the office-bearers until their mighty task was accomplished. Thus assured of the continued confidence of the members the office-bearers entered into the project with a zeal and enthusiasm which culminated in a triumphant success.
Under the chairmanship of Bro. Russell the bazaar duly took place, and when on January 18, 1905 the Bazaar Committee was formally disbanded the funds at the disposal of the Lodge stood at more than £l,600, a remarkable sum for the time. The next step was to secure a suitable site. Committees were formed and the site occupied by the Lodge today was obtained in 1906, and on November 3 that year the Memorial Stone was duly laid, and the Temple consecrated and dedicated, the ceremonies being performed by Bro. William Black, Provincial Grand Master. Lodge Callendar No. 588, it could be said, was home.
At last that was where home would be because the first meeting in the new Temple in Lint Riggs did not take place until September 4, 1907, when Bro. J. G. Russell, by now Provost of Falkirk, and his colleagues on the Lodge Building Committee, formally handed over the premises, their mighty task accomplished.
In October that year Bro. Adam Sandilands presented no fewer than 12 American masks to be used during the initiation ceremonies, and the following month Bro. Daniel Fowler, who joined Lodge Callendar way back in October, 1877 presented the Lodge with a chest to hold the emblems of mortality. And in December Bro. W. W. Callendar, who had previously presented the Lodge with an oak desk, was himself honoured by the Lodge when he was presented with a jewel for his services to the Lodge.
Presentations - portraits, globes for the tops of columns, an album of Past Masters' photographs and a book containing ancient Masonic marks and signatures - proceeded apace in the years following the dedication of the new Temple.
By 1911 the existing Byelaws were in need of revision to incorporate necessary laws in respect of the Trustees Property Committee and the new building.
On August 28, 1912 the Lodge agreed to confer Honorary Membership of Lodge Callendar No. 588 upon Bro. Robert Dollar of San Francisco, a worthy citizen of Falkirk who was home on a visit. Bro. Dollar was duly informed and on September 2, just a week later, the ceremony was performed by the Right Worshipful Master, Bro. T. M. Copland. When the ceremony was over Bro. Dollar asked for, and was given permission, to address the R.W.M. and brethren and in a most interesting address described many of his experiences in Chinese, American and Canadian Lodges.
The high honour was not allowed to pass unnoticed on the other side of the Atlantic as the following year the Lodge received a framed parchment certificate on behalf of Lodge Marine No. 191, San Rafael, California, by way of conveying fraternal greetings and thanking Lodge Callendar for the courtesies extended to Bro. Dollar on his visit the previous year.
If the Lodge had been anything but solid and well-established the intimation in late 1913 that the Bond at present over the Temple was being called up would have shaken the resolve of lesser men. But it was unanimously agreed to remit the financing of a new loan to the committee with full powers. That they discharged their heavy duty in a responsible fashion can best be judged by the fact that not only did they secure a loan but succeeded at the same time in reducing the debt by the sum of £800.
Late 1913 was in many respects a bitter-sweet time for the Lodge. It had to answer to its loan bond, had succeeded in securing another - and then Bro. Rev. John Scott intimated his resignation from the office of Chaplain after serving Lodge Callendar in that capacity since shortly after his initiation in 1877. Ill-health had prompted Bro. Scott to demit office and as he had been the first Chaplain of the Lodge arrangements were made to recognise his long and distinguished service. The Right Worshipful Master, Bro. Alexander McNiven, later reported that along with a deputation of office-bearers he had called upon Bro. Scott and presented him with an honorarium.
War clouds loomed on the horizon and when hostilities commenced in 1914 the Temple in Lint Riggs was taken over by the military authorities and Lodge St. John No. 16 once again came to the rescue by agreeing to grant the use of their premises free of charge as long as members of Lodge Callendar No. 588 were denied the use of their premises.
The war was to play a noticeably important part in the proceedings of the Lodge over the next four years. Early in 1915 Grand Lodge recommended the preparation of a Roll of Honour of members of the Lodge serving, or who had served "with the Imperial Forces during the war."
In February, 1915 following receipt of yet another circular from Grand Lodge, it was resolved "that all members of Lodge Callendar on active service be relieved of payment of their annual contributions during the continuance of the war without losing their good standing. "
And in March, 1915 it was agreed "that a parcel and commemoration card be sent to each member of the Lodge presently serving with His Majesty's Forces." This gesture was greatly appreciated by the recipients.
While the war in Europe overshadowed everything at home there was a bright glimmer to relieve the gloom—and it came from the opposite end of the globe when Bro. James Shirra of Lodge Callendar No. 588 was installed as Right Worshipful Master of Lodge Ashton No. 1105 East Brisbane, Australia.
As the war rolled on wounded servicemen returned home to try to carve a new life for themselves - and in early 1917 the Lodge agreed to send 10 guineas to the support of the Scottish Hospitals for Limbless Sailors and Soldiers at Erskine House and Edinhall, near Musselburgh.
And as 1918 was ushered in the
Lodge received intimation from Lodge Saint Luke No. 225, Ipswich, that
Bro. John Russell, a member of Lodge Callendar No. 588, had been
installed Right Worshipful Master. In April the R.W.M. of Lodge
Callendar, Bro. John Wilson, was himself the recipient of Lodge
generosity when, upon the occasion of his marriage, he was presented
with a silver tea and coffee service in token of the high esteem and
respect in which he was held.
On September 4, 1918, the Provincial Grand Lodge approved an increase in Lodge Callendar's initiation fee to one guinea - and the Byelaws were altered accordingly.
When the war was over, and members of the Lodge returned to their home town, Bro. John Wilson, the Immediate Past Master, presented to Bro. Lawson a Senior Warden's Jewel, and to Bro. Tom Pitcairn, who was to perform yet greater service to Freemasonry in the Province and in Grand Lodge, a Secretary's Jewel, both for their services to Lodge Callendar No. 588.
Similar presentations followed in the next year to other members of the Lodge and in January, 1923 Bro. Henry Fowler presented the Lodge with the emblems of the Third Degree plus two Deacons' rods and a box. The following month Bro. Daniel Fowler made a significant presentation.
On behalf of the Lodge he invited the Right Worshipful Master, Bro. Alexander Garden, to accept from him a Marshal's Baton and a 24-inch gauge. Bro. Fowler said the Baton and gauge were made by himself, the wood for them having come from the old tower of the Old Parish Church where it had been part of the original lintel, having been moved only a short time before to make room for the erection of the Church memorial for the fallen of the 1914-1918 war.
Bro. Fowler added that he believed the wood to date back to the time of Malcolm Canmore, as far back as 1080, he thought.
On March 4 the Lodge unveiled its own memorial to the Brethren who fell in the Great War. A deputation from Grand Lodge, headed by the Right Honourable Bro. the Earl of Elgin and Kincardine, the Most Worshipful Grand Master Mason of Scotland, and a deputation from the Provincial Grand Lodge of Stirlingshire, headed by Bro. Dr. Edmund Dyer, Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master, helped to swell to its utmost the seating capacity in the Lodge as Bro. Alexander Garden, Right Worshipful Master, on behalf of Lodge Callendar No. 588, welcomed the Most Worshipful Grand Master and surrendered the Chair to him. Thereafter and following praise and prayer the Roll Call of the Fallen was read out to a hushed Lodge and following the sounding of the "Last Post" by Bro. John Martin, Bro. the Earl of Elgin and Kincardine addressed the assembled Brethren on "Faith, Hope and Love."
The Lodge's compassion for the survivors of the Redding pit disaster, and the dependents of those miners who died, was underlined in November, 1923 when it was agreed to donate the sum of £10 to the Disaster Fund.
A year later the Lodge donated £25 to the Falkirk and District New Infirmary Building Fund - and the Infirmary Appeal Committee was doubly grateful to the Lodge as the Temple, together with heating and so on, had been made available free of charge by the Lodge for the committee's carnival functions.
As the Lodge approached the eve of its golden jubilee Bro. William H. Smith was installed in the Master's Chair to preside over the momentous celebrations. But on the evening he was installed, on December 2, 1925 by Bro. Andrew Hunter, Past Master of Lodge St. John No. 16, Past Master Lodge Carron No. 139, and Past Provincial Grand Senior Warden, one of his first functions as Master was to invest his Installing Master with Honorary Membership of Lodge Callendar No. 588.
Three weeks later Lodge Callendar received a most unusual and historic Christmas present. The date was Christmas Day, the scene the Lodge Room, and the occasion the Festival of St. John.
During the course of the evening Bro. Hunter presented a Gavel to the Lodge, not an ordinary Gavel but one given to him by Bro. the Rev. R. A. Agnew, a Past Chaplain of Lodge Callendar.
Bro. Hunter then read an extract from a letter sent to him by Bro. Agnew, and it is here reproduced in full.
"The Gavel was used by the Junior Warden of the first Lodge any white people had the privilege of entering in the Old Temple of King Solomon. Under the great Altar-stone of the early Temple (stone 43 ft. by 25 ft.) there is a curious cove entered by stone steps. It is a rough square, partly natural and partly artificial. The New Zealanders thought they would like informally to have a Lodge Meeting there in the winter of 1917-18 when Jerusalem was captured. The mosque authorities were approached and agreed to the request.
"The Great Altar-stone is in the centre space of the Dome of the Rock (or Mosque of Omar). The date is January or February, 1918. They met then, about 18 of them, and opened the Lodge, and someone gave a little informal talk and then closed the Lodge.
"The Junior Warden used the Gavel for his part. It was not a la mode European but at another meeting they got one which was in our style. So he handed me this first more historic one. The wood is olive and was supposed to have grown on the Mount of Olives—certainly it grew about Jerusalem," wrote Bro. the Rev. R. A. Agnew.
The presentation plates fixed to the Gavel read - "Presented by Bro. R. A. Agnew, Chaplain No. 588, to Bro. Hunter, P.M. No. 16, 1918," and "Presented to Lodge Callendar No. 588, by Bro. Andrew Hunter, P.M. No. 16, 25th December, 1925."
By way of celebrating the completion of 50 years' active working the Lodge held a banquet on the evening of May 5, 1926 exactly half-a-century to the day after Grand Lodge accepted the petition for a Charter.
On the evening of May 7 the Town Hall was the venue for a celebration dance, and on the evening of Sunday, May 9, the Lodge attended a special service of Divine Worship in the Old Parish Church to commemorate the golden jubilee of the Lodge.
It is interesting to record that on that date the Lodge's two Honorary Life Members were Bro. Robert Dollar of San Francisco and Bro. Andrew Hunter, Past Master, Lodge St. John No. 16.
The Jubilee celebrations, which had been postponed on account of the General Strike, were made all the happier by the timely recovery, and subsequent presentation to the Lodge, of the very first Minute Book which had been missing for many years. The Minute Book was returned by Bro. Daniel Fowler, whose generosity to Lodge Callendar seemed boundless as he presented an oak stand for the Lodge Charter, only to find himself on the receiving end of a presentation at the time of the jubilee celebrations when he was presented with a Standard Bearer's Jewel for no less than 49 years' faithful and distinguished service to Lodge Callendar.
So the curtains closed on Lodge Callendar's first 50 years.
LODGE CALLENDAR No. 588
1926-1976
AS THE TOWN took stock of what was happening during the time of the Depression Lodge Callendar succeeded, through wise and careful stewardship, in making its mark both at home and abroad. At this time members of Lodge Callendar were certainly making their influence felt, their Masonic training in their mother lodge now being tested in diverse ways.
Take for example Bro. R. L. Robertson who was installed as Right Worshipful Master of Lodge St. Michael's Kilwinning No. 63, Dumfries. The year was 1927. Two years later Lodge Callendar honoured one of its most devoted office-bearers when a Jewel was presented to Bro. J. Ross, Director of Music.
In December, 1930 news of yet another honour for the Lodge was received when Bro. G. Anderson, first made a Freemason in Lodge Callendar, was installed as R.W.M. of Lodge Killarney No. 360, Capetown, South Africa, a Lodge operating under the Irish Constitution.
But the jubilation was tinged with sadness in November, 1930 when Bro. James Roberts, Lodge Tyler for 27 years, died. The same year Bro. Alex McQueen, another member of Lodge Callendar No. 588, was installed Right Worshipful Master of Lodge Star of the South, India, a Lodge operating under the Scottish Constitution.
That members of Lodge Callendar No. 588 were scattered around the globe, and apparently finding favour with their fellowmen, was a tribute to the Lodge, yet further honours nearer home were to come the way of Lodge Callendar in 1931 when Bro. Tom Copland and Bro. Tom Pitcairn were both made Honorary Members of Lodge No. 780, Balfron. The same year Lodge Polmont 793 similarly honoured Bro. Dan Fowler, Lodge Callendar's valiant Standard Bearer.
Long service to the Lodge was recognised in December, 1932 when Bro. James R. W. Ferguson was presented with a cheque for £25 to mark his 26th successive year in office as Lodge Treasurer. Money must have been a source of concern at this time because the Minute Book records that in December, 1933 the Lodge Ways and Means Committee presented the Lodge with a safe!
The 1930s appeared to be a comparatively quiet period during which, apart from successes on the bowling green and on the golf course in Masonic competitions, the Lodge consolidated itself. Perhaps it was just as well because when the Second World War started the Lodge had to vacate the Temple in Lint Riggs in favour of the military authorities. The back-handed compliment was in some respects an inconvenience to the Lodge but the reasons for its use, and the Lodge's willing compliance with the request for the premises, made the leaving that bit easier to bear.
The move didn't take place until 1940 by which time the Grand Lodge War Distress Fund had received a donation of £50 from Lodge Callendar. And when the move was made, leaving Lint Riggs for how long nobody knew, the question of a suitable alternative meeting place arose.
Once the Lodge met in the Church Hall of the Old Parish Church, but once only as Falkirk Town Council, realising the Lodge's distress on finding themselves without a home to call their own, sanctioned the holding of Lodge meetings in the demonstration room of the Gas Showrooms in High Street for as long as the war lasted.
In November, 1941 yet another high honour came the way of a member of the Lodge when Bro. John Jack received the British Empire Medal from the hands of King George VI at an investiture at Buckingham Palace. The medal was awarded by His Majesty for "secret work of national importance."
The war raged, the years passed, and Lodge Callendar stood resolute and firm despite the far-from-ideal circumstances under which it was meeting. And in January, 1943 yet another single honour was conferred on a Lodge member, an honour well deserved and one which met with unanimous acclamation within the Lodge.
Why? Because at a meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Stirlingshire Bro. James Ferguson, the Lodge Treasurer, was presented with a diploma conferring upon him the rank of Honorary Grand Bible Bearer in the Grand Lodge of Scotland, reward indeed for his 34 years' service as Lodge Treasurer.
The following month Bro. Ferguson was honoured yet again, this time by his Lodge, when on behalf of Lodge Callendar he was presented with an illuminated address, again suitably inscribed with the names of the Right Worshipful Master, Past Masters and Office-Bearers, to mark his service to Lodge Callendar No. 588 and his elevation to the rank of Honorary Grand Bible Bearer in Grand Lodge.
As the theatres of war were no longer confined to Europe, and supplies were shipped at tremendous risk from the United States, it wasn't altogether unusual to find a Brother's progress through the three Degrees being interrupted by war service.
And in March, 1943 Bro. Alex Marshall, who, as a Fellow Craft of Lodge Callendar No. 588, was raised to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason in Washington Lodge No. 21, New York, U.S.A.
In February, 1944 yet another member of Lodge Callendar received Grand Lodge preferment, this time Bro. William Murphy, Right Worshipful Master of Lodge Callendar as far back as 1901. He too was made Honorary Grand Bible Bearer.
That year appeared to be a vintage year for the Lodge as one of its Life Members, Bro. William Roberts, R.W.M. of Lodge St. Andrew No. 1318, Golspie, from 1924-26, demitted office after an eight-year spell as Provincial Grand Master of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Sutherland.
Long service was the norm in the Lodge, and in December, 1945 Bro. James Ross, the Lodge Organist, was presented with a cheque for £20 to mark his 22 years' service in that office.
If 1944 had been a good year for the Lodge, and 1945 a year of rejoicing when the war was over, 1946 was a memorable year. That's when Lodge Callendar returned yet again to its rightful, consecrated Temple in Lint Riggs, the return exactly seven years to the day war was declared.
Back on familiar territory much required to be done but. while priorities were decided, essential work went ahead, and in March, 1948 Lodge Callendar donated the magnificent sum of £l50 to the Grand Lodge Centenary Fund.
Members of Lodge Callendar No. 588 were held in high regard throughout the Province and beyond, and none more so at this time possibly than Bro. Tom Pitcairn, P.M. In 1949 he was installed Provincial Grand Master of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Stirlingshire, the first member of Lodge Callendar to reign over the Province, a distinction he held to the satisfaction of all daughter Lodges until he demitted Provincial office in 1957.
The memory of Bro. William Murphy, R.W.M. of Lodge Callendar 588 as
far back as 1901, was fresh in the minds of all who knew him, and when
in September, 1950 his nephew, Bro. Harry Johnston, presented Wardens'
Columns to the Lodge, the memory of a fine Freemason remained
The death of King George VI, Grand Master Mason of Scotland in 1936, was a notable feature of 1952 and two years elapsed before any other noteworthy event took place within the Lodge when Distinguished Service Diplomas were presented to Bro. John Christie, P.M. (on April 14) and the following week to Bro. Tom Pitcairn, P.M., P.P.G.M., and Bro. James Ferguson, Lodge Treasurer.
Further honour came the way of Bro. Pitcairn that year when at an impressive ceremony in Freemasons' Hall, Edinburgh, he was installed into the office of Substitute Grand Master of Scotland, an office he held until 1956.
For 47 years Bro. James Ferguson was a diligent and conscientious Treasurer and when he died in July, 1954 the Lodge lost more than a Brother; it lost one who had been in office during two World Wars and whose experience and contributions when asked for advice were unequalled. A special meeting of the Lodge was held at the time of Bro. Ferguson's death, and when the Lodge resumed its winter meetings a Lodge of Sorrow was held with due solemnity.
February, 1957 opened with the death of Bro. John Christie, Past Master. Then less than 12 months later the Lodge was plunged into mourning yet again with the death of yet another Past Master, Bro. Robert Lyon, for whom a Lodge of Sorrow was held in late February, 1958.
The years rolled on and by the death in April, 1962 of Bro. R. McNie, Lodge Callendar was robbed of yet another member whose long, faithful and exemplary service as Senior Steward for 30 years was undertaken willingly.
When a Past Master ascends to the Grand Lodge Above a link snaps in the history of a Lodge but when a reigning Master dies only a well-established Lodge can shake aside but not forget the shock and grief, and carry on.
Such happened in Lodge Callendar in June, 1967 when Bro. W. Marshall, Right Worshipful Master, died, the Service of Sorrow being conducted by the Provincial Grand Chaplain. Mrs. Marshall, widow of the late Master, later presented the Lodge with a chain of office to be used by the Right Worshipful Masters in perpetuity, and a jewel pendant. An in memory of their late Master the office-bearers, in October, 1967, presented a frame to hold the photographs of Past Masters, the frame being made by Bro. D. D. Laing.
Lodge Callendar was held in high regard elsewhere and so too were certain Brothers of other Lodges whose affection for, and service to, Lodge Callendar were marked in February, 1968 when Honorary Membership was conferred on Bro. Robert Paterson, Lodge Camelon 1456, and on Bro. Harry Freckleton, Past Master, Lodge Caldercruix St. John 1314. That same night, February 28, Bro. Paterson presented the Lodge with inscribed collection plates, and Bro. Freckleton presented the Lodge with an inscribed baton for the Director of Ceremonies.
Yet another distinguished Brother and good friend of the Lodge was honoured that year when in October Bro. William McKay Glegg, by this time Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Stirlingshire, was made an Honorary Member.
And 1968, a vintage year in many ways for the Lodge, closed with a proposal at the Property Committee to build a bar and lounge.
The faithful service to Lodge Callendar over a long number of years by Bro. Richard Parker, Past Master, was recognised in singular style in March, 1970 when he was presented with a silver salver, and later that year when Provincial Grand Lodge required new regalia Lodge Callendar donated £20 towards that end.
A few months later, on January 2, 1971, Scotland was stunned by the death toll in the Ibrox Disaster, and when an Appeal Fund was established Lodge Callendar donated £20.
Four worthy Masons, each with 50 years' membership of the Craft, were suitably honoured by the Lodge on November 24, 1971, when diplomas signifying their half-century of membership were presented to Bros. J. Main, T. Morrison, G. Heatlie, and J. Cowie.
And in December that year Bro. Peter Crawford, R.W.M. was the recipient of a most unusual presentation - that of a book on the installation of office-bearers. Unusual in that it was written and presented by Bro. Tom Pitcairn, Past Master, Past Provincial Grand Master, and Past Substitute Grand Master.
The Lodge itself was the recipient of a generous legacy in May, 1972 when Bro. Robert Galbraith, Substitute Master, died. He bequeathed no less than £250 to the lodge, the remainder of his estate going to Grand Lodge Homes. To mark his membership and generosity a Tracing Board was presented, with Bro. A. McKinnon, Lodge Architect, making the easel.
When renovations to the Temple were required (in order to comply with Building and Fire Regulations) in late 1972, the Lodge Trustees sanctioned the expenditure of the estimated cost which was £3,200. To assist the Lodge in alleviating this total, donations were received from Gildhead Shrine No. 43, £50; Order of the Eastern Star No. 35, £50; the Ladies Committee of Lodge Callendar, £l50 and the Entertainments Committee of the Lodge, £400.
An historic visit ushered in February that year when with the month only two days old Bro. David Liddell-Grainger of Ayton, Most Worshipful Grand Master Mason of Scotland, headed a deputation from Grand Lodge visited Lodge Callendar and witnessed a most solemn working of the Third Degree. That same month Jubilee Diplomas (50 years) were presented to five Members - Bro. J. Fearns, Bro. J. Tierney, Bro. W. Dalgleish, Bro. R. Hoggan and Bro. T. Miller.
In March the Ladies' Committee after many months of preparations and the assistance of the Office-Bearers, and with donations and goods in kind donated by the Members and Friends of the Lodge, held a Grand Sale of Work on Sat. the 3rd of March, which was opened by Bro. Bill Tennant, M.M. Lodge 614 when the magnificent sum of £900 was realised, and the ladies after purchasing and presenting 200 new chairs, donated the balance of £519 to the Lodge.
On November 2nd, 1973 Lodge Battlefield 1258 Glasgow, with whom Lodge Callendar have had an association for a number of years, presented the Lodge with a set of Masonic door knockers.
As the Lodge neared its Centenary the deaths in 1975 of our Worthy Treasurer Bro. Archibald Shirra, who died on the 13th of February after 21 faithful years in this important office, and of our Immediate Past Master, Bro. Peter Crawford, who died on the 12th July, was a sore blow to bear.
During the year the Ladies Committee presented tables for the lounge, and then towards the end of the year, donated no less a sum than £236 for the Lodge funds.
An additional amount of expenditure was incurred in September of that year, when eleven replacement windows were fitted at a cost of £947.
And so to the Centenary. On February, 1973 the General Committee decided to form a Sub-Committee to be responsible for all the Centenary Celebrations and the following Brethren were nominated, Bro. J. Sharp, D.M., Bro. D. D. Laing, S.M., Bro. J. Weir, S.W. Bro. D. Dobbie, J. W., and Bro. A. Baird, Secy. and the Committee was further augmented in 1975 when Bro. G. Young, and Bro. S. Hunter who would be the reigning Wardens respectively during the Centenary year, were invited to join the committee.
The Committee held their first meeting on the 30th of April, 1973 and financially had an excellent monetary foundation, as a centenary fund had already been inaugurated early in 1965 by Past Master Bro. A. H. Lyon, and in the thirty-six months that have elapsed since that first meeting, many Masonic miles and sojourns have been recorded. Many Brethren of past and present generations have been interviewed, many hours spent by the committee in their deliberations, preparations, organisation, collating of facts and figures, authenticating particular important points, programming and budgeting of costs, in short, time consuming investigation, but the committee sincerely hope that the Brethren of Lodge Callendar will consider that their efforts have produced the desired fruitful results, and that with the blessing of the Great Architect of the Universe we will all enjoy, we trust, the rewards of their labours and a memorable Centenary.
The money raised for our Centenary at this moment of recording stands at approximately £l,200, which is the balance left after having purchased a full set of Office-Bearers Regalia £710, Centenary Goblets £91.08 Centenary Ties £81.98 and Centenary Medallions £93, making a gross total of £2,268. A magnificent effort on the Brethren's behalf.
The Master of the Lodge Bro. David D. Laing, who was installed into the Chair on December 3, 1975 and will preside over the special Centenary Celebrations to mark the Lodge's unbroken 100 years of service to Freemasonry.
The Celebrations are as follows :-
Re-Dedication Service to be held in the Masonic Temple, Lint Riggs, on Thursday the 6th of May, 1976. Service to be conducted by the Most Worshipful Grand Master Mason, Bro. Captain R. Wolrige Gordon of Esslemont and Office-Bearers of Grand Lodge.
Centenary Dinner to be held in Falkirk Ice Rink, at 8 p.m. on the same evening, with some 250 Brethren present. Many Distinguished Masons from Stirlingshire and Sister Provinces in attendance.
Service of Thanksgiving to be held in Falkirk Old Parish Church on Sunday the 9th of May, at 3.00 p.m. Service to be conducted by Bro. Rev. George Gillan, M.A., C.F., J.P.
Centenary Dance to be held in the Cladhan Hotel, Falkirk, on Friday, 14th May.
The Centenary Committee would like to express their profound gratitude
to Bro. Colin Mailer, M.M. Lodge Polmont 793. for his expert advice and
professional assistance in editing our Centenary Souvenir Book.
LIST OF PRESENTATIONS TO LODGE
|
1877 |
Altar |
Bro. T. S. Thomson 333 |
|
1878 |
Carpet |
Bro. T. B. McFadzen 16. |
|
Emblems |
Bro. Findlay, R.W.M. 333. |
|
|
Ballot Box |
Bro. H. Donaldson. |
|
|
1879 |
Wardens' Batons |
Bro. W. Mitchell 16. |
|
1880 |
Present Master's Mallet |
Bro. W. Mitchell 16. |
|
1900 |
Square and Compasses |
Bro. W. Mann. |
|
1905 |
Working Tools |
Bro. R. Fleming. |
|
Jewels |
Bro. A. Grierson. |
|
|
1906 |
Volume of Sacred Law, and Cushion Rest |
Bro. W. W. Callander, Secy. |
|
1907 |
Emblems and Chest |
Bro. D. Fowler S.B. |
|
Oak Desk for Attendance Book |
Bro. W. W. Callander, Treas. |
|
|
1908 |
Globes for Pillars |
Bro. J. O'May. |
|
Album for P.M.'s Photographs |
Bro. W. Murphy. |
|
|
1910 |
Framed Scroll of Marks, etc |
Bro. M. Buchanan. |
|
1913 |
Parchment Certificate (Bro. R. Dollar) |
Bro. J. G. Russell. |
|
1922 |
Photograph of Temple |
Bro. J. G. Russell. |
|
1923 |
Deacons' Rods |
Bro. H. Fowler. |
|
D. of C. Baton, and 24' Gauge |
Bro. D. Fowler. |
|
|
1925 |
Mallet |
Bro. A. Hunter, P.M. 16. |
|
1926 |
Oak Stand for Charter |
Bro. D. Fowler. |
|
1950 |
Wardens' Columns |
Bro H. Johnstone. |
|
1962 |
Chaplain's Bible |
Bro. Thos. Pitcairn, P.M. |
|
1967 |
Master's Chain of Office, and Jewel |
Mrs. W. Marshall. |
|
Frame for P.M.'s Photographs. |
Bro. D. D. Laing. |
|
|
Installation Altar (for Master) |
Bro. D. D. Laing. |
|
|
1968 |
Collection Plates |
Bro. R. Paterson, H.M. 588. |
|
D. of C. Baton |
Bro. H. Freckleton, H.M. 588. |
|
|
1972 |
Donation from Estate of £250 |
Bro. R. Galbraith, S.M. 588. |
|
1973 |
Bible Markers |
Bro. Peter Crawford, P.M. |
| 1976 | Set of Working Tools - 1st, 2nd, 3rd Degree | Ladies' Committee, 588. |
| For the next 25 years click here | ||
