Cross Keys September 2014

The Cross Keys The Monthly Newsletter of Lodge Houstoun St. Johnstone

September 2014

n this issue:

Ambiguities in Allelgiance Part 1 Old Military Certificate The Education Officer Bro. Edwin Booth Brotherly Love USS New York City of London Lodge No.901 (EC) Lodge Craigends War Memorial

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Number 177

Freemasonry & the Military—Ambiguities in Allegiance Part 1 Introduction This paper explores ambiguities in military allegiance and masonic obligation from an historical perspective. Obligation as we use this term, describes an act of obligating one’s self arising from a sense of duty, or by custom, or law, and as something owed after receiving a favour. Allegiance, as we use the term will mean recognising the authority of one’s State or sovereign. We present examples from the 18 th, 19th and finally the 20th century exploring how such allegiances and obligation converge and diverge.

Allegiance and obligation Being altruistic is a defining characteristic of being a freemason and it has been acknowledged that masonic favours operate within complex parameters, ranging from charitable donations, to acts of kindness and assistance to another freemason. There are countless examples in the masonic literature of how Freemasonry has been regarded in the military. Favours are simply about agreeing to help others, however such acts and how they are construed constructs ambiguity in both definition and impact. Masonic doctrine expressly forbids seeking favours from others; being a freemason is not a passport enabling deviation or subversion from the rule of law. However by discussing examples of masonic ‘favours’ in various theatres of war, which may be regarded outside freemasonry as evidence of venality, and within freemasonry as unremarkable, we can explore ambiguities in allegiance and obligation.

Function of freemasonry in the military Soldiers in the British military during the 18th century faced war in a number of theatres throughout the European continent, the Americas and the colonies: the Seven Years' War (1756–63), the American War of Independence (1775–83), the French Revolutionary Wars (1792–1802) and in the early 19th century, the Napoleonic Wars 1803–15. When one considers the rapid spread of Freemasonry between the 18th and 19th century it is not surprising that Freemasons would on occasions meet on opposing sides in battle. Much has been written about the use of freemasonry in the expansion of the British Empire, however for the ‘poor common soldier’, experience of war would be hard, brutal and dangerous. At an individual level, serving in the British military impresses upon the combatant discipline during training creating a sense of self as part of a larger body, whether regiment, unit, or team. Becoming a freemason in like manner impresses upon the candidate obeisance of moral and social laws of the craft emphasising loyalty to another brother, regardless of creed or colour. Harland Jacobs notes that: '<the military lodge developed into the most important mechanism for the globalisation of the masonic network during the 18th century. Nearly every regiment had at least one lodge in its ranks; many had several' Freemasonry had by the mid-18th century fostered a reputation as an institution that offered its members benefits such as benevolence or greater security if captured, while at the same time, masonry supported an expanding imperial British empire. Therefore we now briefly examine how and in what way freemasonry and the military became compatible, and how this was facilitated.

The travelling, itinerant or ambulatory warrant In 1633, Sir Robert Moray joined the Garde Ecossaise, a regiment attached to the army of King Louis XIII. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and sent to join the Covenanters army in Edinburgh in 1638. As a soldier he was the first known speculative mason and it is the first record of a travelling warrant being issued to a regiment. The majority of masonic lodges in the British army were warranted under the Irish Constitution. As a result the form of masonry that the British Army spread in the colonies was predominantly Irish. This is due to several reasons. The most important was the rupture of the Grand Lodge of England in 1751 into two Grand Lodges– the ‘Antients’ and the ‘Moderns’, which initiated a period of bitter Cross Keys Sept. 2014

Freemasonry & the Military—Ambiguities in Allegiance (ctd) rivalry with each grand lodge trying to outdo the other in expanding their preferred style of English freemasonry. One practice that was ardently introduced by the Antients was the issuing of military Warrants to regiments serving overseas, who issued far more than the ‘Moderns’. In 1813 the United Grand Lodge of England was created and continued the ‘Antient’ practice of issuing warrants to the Armed Forces.

However by the early nineteenth century, most army regiments had established lodges warranted from Grand lodges in Ireland and Scotland. An excellent example to illustrate the diversity fostered by freemasonry in the military is demonstrated by Lodge 252 in 1754. This was a lodge warranted from the Grand Lodge of Ireland (GLoI), working in Paisley, Scotland attached to the 23 rd Foot from Wales. A warrant from a Grand Lodge enabled military lodges work to be considered ‘regular’ adhering to established tenets. Freemasonry army style made no pretence of democratic ideals which characterised stationary lodges in Scotland. In Rudyard Kipling’s short story, ‘The man who would be King’, the prestige of freemasonry is equated with that of royalty in the minds of Privates Daniel Dravot and Peachy Carnehan. Dravot becomes not only King but Grand Master of all of Kafiristan, with Carnehan as his Senior Warden. The depiction of these soldiers as freemasons is interesting in that both were privates. In the late 18th and early 19th century, it was almost impossible for anyone under the rank of Sergeant to become a Freemason in a military lodge. When anyone reached that rank, it was normal to seek out a sponsor for immediate initiation. Lodges working to the Scottish constitution were initiating men of more humble origins and of lower rank, and as a result could be considered to be less an exclusive white male protestant club than its English and Irish counterparts had become .

Freemasonry and the military in the 18 th century At the time the first Irish Warrants were being issued to British regiments, Grand Lodges were endeavouring to facilitate the impression of good conduct between Grand Lodges. In 1760 French prisoners-of-war in Belfast were able to prove themselves Masons to the satisfaction of the local brethren. Herron Lepper notes that: “It is very greatly to their credit that the recipients of this benevolence, in all cases, faithfully promised, if opportunities should occur, to perform equally kind offices towards their British brethren, prisoners in France” Despite being at war, freemasons developed an impassioned view of how enemy brethren should be treated. Assistance requested was often given, facilitated by the fraternal relations between Grand lodges of France, Ireland, England and Scotland. Many French officers imprisoned in Scotland were allowed the freedom of the towns where they were based; although a strict curfew was imposed. Many French officers visited local lodges and were warmly welcomed. There is evidence of a local man being initiated into the French POW lodge and being accepted as a regular mason in Callander, East of Scotland. The fair treatment of English soldiers and sailors by the French on the Islands of Bourbon is well documented. Despite the disputes surrounding the reasons for conflict in the 18th century, the war put the fraternal cosmopolitan nature of Freemasonry to the test. It was not unusual for a regiment overseas working under a travelling warrant to lose its chest (containing its warrant, records and regalia) to the enemy. If recovered it was often returned by freemasons from the opposing army.

Freemasonry and the military in the 19 th century The following examples of masonic favours present two narratives concerning prisoners of war in captivity. The Battle of Malakoff was a major battle during the Crimean War, fought between French-British forces against Russia in September 1855 as a part of the Siege of Sevastopol. The British attack on the Redan to the south of the Malakoff was resisted. Gould describes an anecdote from Sir Robert Wilson that

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Freemasonry & the Military—Ambiguities in Allegiance (ctd) concerned Lieutenant-Colonel Tytler, during his address to the brethren of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Glasgow in the late 19th century: "During that assault an English officer led a small party of soldiers up to one of the guns placed in a recess of the Redan, and most of the men fell before the fire with which they were received. The others were met by a body of Russians, and the English officer was about to be bayoneted when he chanced to catch the hand of the Russian officer, and had presence of mind enough to give him a Masonic grip. The Russian in a moment struck up the bayonets of his soldiers, led his newly-found brother to the rear, and treated him with the kindness of a Mason.”

Gould records an anecdote from the early 19 th century recounted by a freemason who had been shown kindness by an enemy brother during the Battle of Ponte Ferreira in 1832. He describes being taken prisoner, and had an opportunity of making himself known to the Provost Marshall, who, realising that several prisoners were freemasons, looked after their interests and comfort. This changed their lot considerably: “<he was always giving us the lightest work to do, and sometimes a little wine, a great luxury at times, and sometimes a little extra food, our allowance being a pound of course, black bread per day” He goes on indicating that many of them eventually succumbed to cholera, including the narrator who states that: “<I had an attack myself slightly, and attribute my recovery to the indulgence received as above alluded to. In a country like Portugal, torn by opposing armies, where father was divided against son, and brother against brother, I consider it as an unlooked-for mercy, that a man should, from principle, protect and shelter a foreigner fighting against him on his own native shore; and it shows at once the full advantage, as well as sound principle, of Freemasonry.”

While these narratives are faithfully reproduced from Gould’s work from the late 19 th century which attests to their authenticity, what is most interesting is the genesis of the idea that being a freemason could prove beneficial should one be captured by the enemy. In the first example, an officer grips the hand of an enemy officer, also a freemason, saving him from execution, while the latter example concerns the treatment of ordinary seamen, who were afforded favourable treatment by their enemy as prisoners of war. Such examples give the impression that masons at war could transcend their differences and adhere to the tenets of their craft. However by focusing on how Scottish soldiers serving in the British military were viewed, and how and in what way military masonic lodges in the eighteenth century aided in fostering a sense of identity that challenged the kinship system of the clan structure, we suggest that freemasonry could also aid an imperial Great Britain.

Part 2 in next month.

This modified paper was presented at the ICHF in 2013 by Bros Iain McPhee SPGM RE & Grant Macleod PG Sec RE.

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Old Military Certificate

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The Education Officer For many years education in the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon was kind of an add-on to most lodge meetings, something crammed in after all the other work of the evening had been done, and just before the inquiry about sick and distressed brethren or the good and welfare of the Order were brought up at the end of the meeting. If the evening was dragging, chances were good the education officer’s prepared program would be done away with ‚in the interest of time.‛ Needless to say, there was no surer way of killing an education officer’s enthusiasm for the job, and consequently most lodges had very little in the way of education.

Several years ago, the Grand Master of the day ordered that education be pushed up on the agenda of lodge business so that it would take place before all other activities in any given evening. Has it changed anything? Hard to say. At the very least, it’s allowed education officers to get a bit more time to do their thing. Which leads us to what exactly their ‚thing‛ should be. Or more precisely, how should that ‚thing‛ be presented? There’s nothing more disconcerting to an education officer (E.O.) than to see brethren nodding off during a presentation. On the flip side, there’s nothing more disconcerting to the brethren assembled than an education officer who pulls a sheaf of papers from his pocket to deliver a lengthy lecture. You can actually see the eyes glazing over. What to do? Think outside of the box.

Well, for starters, the education officer could start thinking outside the box and forget lengthy, prepared speeches. Harsh as it might sound, the bottom line is that few brethren really want to listen to that kind of stuff. It’s late in the day, they’re tired, and they won’t be focusing, plain and simple. So hit them with some- thing different. If you have any computer skills, and access to something like PowerPoint, try making presentations with lots of pictures. Give them something to look at. Or bring in music, or maybe even a video.

There are plenty of resources out there these days, and it only takes a bit of sleuthing to find something appropriate.

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The Education Officer (ctd) Surprise! Surprise! Freemasons love to talk about the craft But that stuff is still pretty passive. Better to try something interactive. Some of the best evenings my two lodges have had have involved discussions about subjects of interest to the brethren. These weren’t formal de- bates or anything close to it, just a chance to talk about Freemasonry. Imagine that! For the E.O. who has too much on his plate, and no time to prepare (and let’s face it, nobody wants to work hard every month), this is actually an awesome way to get an interesting meeting going, because the education officer simply has to introduce the topic and then act as moderator to ensure everyone has a chance to discuss the issue.

You’d be surprised how much the brethren want to talk about their Freemasonry. They are more than willing to discuss issues, and it provides for some lively interaction that leaves them feeling like they accomplished something worthwhile for a change while attending lodge. Introduce some fun activities, too! To paraphrase an old saying, all work and no play makes a brother a dull boy. So why not introduce a game into lodge? If you, as E.O., are the main attraction for the evening, it’s always nice to end the serious side of your presentation with something fun. A trivia battle is always a hoot, and it’s easy to pull together. There is plenty of Masonic trivia available on the web, and you can either divide the lodge into teams or they can go at it individually. If you’re doing teams, a portable white board is handy to have for keeping score; if you’re doing individual competition a simple an- swer sheet for multiple-choice answers is handy (make one in a word processing program). I always like to offer a small individual or team prize to the winner (s)... it doesn’t have to be expensive, but it is a competition, after all. These are just a few ideas to help education officers get up to speed for their duties as focal points in any lodge program. Hopefully you’ll be a hit, and if you have any great ideas for education programs, feel free to share as I’m always on the lookout for good stuff. As I like to say, why re-invent the wheel?

From a very good masonic magazine in Texas by Bro. Corky Daut : http://www.oldcorky.com/

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Bro. Edwin Booth Edwin Booth saved Abraham Lincoln's son, Robert, from serious injury or even death.

The incident occurred on a train platform in Jersey City, New Jersey. The exact date of the incident is uncertain, but it is believed to have taken place in late 1864 or early 1865, shortly before Edwin's brother, John Wilkes Booth, assassinated President Lincoln.

Robert Lincoln recalled the incident in a 1909 letter to Richard Watson Gilder, editor of The Century Magazine. The incident occurred while a group of passengers were late at night purchasing their sleeping car places from the conductor who stood on the station platform at the entrance of the car. The platform was about the height of the car floor, and there was of course a narrow space between the platform and the car body. There was some crowding, and I happened to be pressed by it against the car body while waiting my turn. In this situation the train began to move, and by the motion I was twisted off my feet, and had dropped somewhat, with feet downward, into the open space, and was personally helpless, when my coat collar was vigorously seized and I was quickly pulled up and out to a secure footing on the platform. Upon turning to thank my rescuer I saw it was Edwin Booth, whose face was of course well known to me, and I expressed my gratitude to him, and in doing so, called him by name.

Booth did not know the identity of the man whose life he had saved until some months later, when he received a letter from a friend, Colonel Adam Badeau, who was an officer on the staff of General Ulysses S. Grant. Badeau had heard the story from Robert Lincoln, who had since joined the Union Army and was also serving on Grant's staff. In the letter, Badeau gave his compliments to Booth for the heroic deed. The fact that he had saved the life of Abraham Lincoln's son was said to have been of some comfort to Edwin Booth following his brother's assassination of the president.

Edwin T. Booth (1833-1893) was a famous Shakespearean actor of the American stage.

Born in 1833 at Belair, Md., he was a member of a famous stage family, his father was Junius Brutus and his brother, John Wilkes, who assassinated Lincoln on April 14, 1865.

Edwin first appeared on the stage in 1849 and by 1855 was a well established actor. His later travels carried him throughout the world. He was initiated in New York Lodge No. 330 on Sept 11, 1857 and raised Sept. 23. His love of Freemasonry is attested by his bequest of five thousand dollars to the Hall and Asylum Fund, and his statement that ". . . to be worshipful master and to throw my whole soul in that work, with the candidate for my audience, and the lodge for my stage, would be greater personal distinction than to receive the plaudits of the people in the theatres of the world." He was an honorary member of the Masonic Veterans Association of New York, and on at least two occasions gave dramatic recitals in Independent Lodge. While visiting a lodge in Omaha, Nebr. he was called upon to give a short talk and when asked for his favourite prose, he called the members to stand and repeated The Lord's Prayer. In 1925, Booth was elected to the American Hall of Fame.

Submitted Bi W. Bro. Dwight D. Seals - Camden Lodge #159 - Camden, Ohio via Corkyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s newsletter.

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Brotherly Love What then, is Brotherly Love? Manifestly, it means that we place on another man the highest possible valuation as a friend, a companion, an associate, a neighbor. ‘By the exercise of Brotherly Love, we are taught to regard the whole human species as one family.’

We do not ask that, from our relationship, we shall achieve any selfish gain. Our relationship with a brother is its own justification, its own reward. Brotherly Love is one of the supreme values without which life is lonely, unhappy, and ugly. This is not a hope or dream, but a fact. Freemasonry builds on that fact, provides opportunity for us to have such fellowship, encourages us to understand and to practice it, and to make it one of the laws of our existence, one of our Principal Tenets.

In Judaism: ‚Whatever is hateful to you, do not do to your fellowman. This is the entire Law; all the rest is commentary.‛ In Christianity: ‚So in everything, do unto others what you would have them do unto you, for this sums up the Law and the prophets.‛ In Islam: ‚The Prophet said, ‘None of you will have faith till he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself.’‛ In Hinduism: ‚This is the sum of duty; do naught onto others what you would not have them do unto you.‛ In Buddhism: ‚Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.‛ In Confucianism: ‚Do not do to others what you would not like yourself. Then there will be no resentment against you, either in the family or in the state.‛

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From the Columns Bro. George Newans was admitted as an affiliate member and we wish him a happy time with the brethren of 242.

Mr Richard Kerr (uncle of Bro. Andy Kerr) was initiated into the mysteries of the Craft on 8th May by the brethren from Lodge Union & Crown No.307.

On Friday 23rd May, Bros. David Rae, Alistair Morrison, Alastair Griffiths and Robert Fisher were advanced to the degree of MMM by the brethren of Lodge St. Andrew Annan No.1443. A good harmony followed after both meetings to cement old friendships and create new.

Request for Info Now that the current lecture on Military Lodges—their Growth and Demise has reached three provinces, I’m looking to do another on the American War of Independence and military lodges involved at that period. If any brother has any information, it would be greatly appreciated. Please email me at sec242pm@yahoo.co.uk

Bro. Peter Smolarek PM DoC

At the regular meeting of the lodge on Friday 23rd May, just prior to the MMM, Bro. Peter Smolarek received his 50 year Jubilee Certificate. The master, Bro. Allan Stobo, gave an excellent resume of Bro. Peter’s time in the lodge from 1964 to his two year stint as master and then DoC. As he concluded, Bro. Peter is a good and faithful servant to the lodge.

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GL News (a) Lodge St Stephen, No. 161 and Lodge Caledonia No. 1307 have been declared dormant. (b) The name of Lodge St David, No. 36 has been changed to Lodge St. David (University Lodge) No. 36. (c) Recognition has been extended to the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Maryland and to the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Texas and Jurisdiction.

PGL News The Widows’ Sons Bikers present a cheque to Bro. David Reid as Chairman of the MHH in Dunoon after their dawn to dusk ride along the west of Scotland. It is expected that over £6000 will go towards the homes in Bridge of Weir.

Recent Figures from UGLE

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USS New York Although not a masonic article, it is of interest. When the Twin Towers in New York was attached, the lodge ran a couple of functions and sent money to the GL of NY Appeal. The letter of thanks from that GL hangs on the

wall to the left of the Robert the Bruce clock.

It was built with 24 tons of scrap steel from the World Trade Centre. It is the fifth in a new class of warship - designed for missions that include, quite appropriately, special operations against terrorists. This sums up the US (and the UK) attitude towards terrorists.

September Events in 242

Thursday 11thâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;EA by OBs Thursday 25thâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;FC by OBs

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20 Years of Cross Keys

June past witnessed the 20th year of the Cross Keys. In June 1994, the first edition was printed (not emailed!). From a two page A4 it developed into a colour A5 booklet and then the 20 page colour email version of today. In those days, colour printers were rare!

Many thanks to all brethren who have contributed in the past. Below is a map showing some readers of the CK that access it from Issuu rather than being sent directly. If they would like it emailed directly, just send me an email at: sec242pm@yahoo.co.uk

The top nine countries from Issuu are shown in the table to the left.

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Response to US Brother I read the Article in the May edition of the Cross Keys from the ‚Sad Young Member” with a mixture of sadness and perplexion. It’s not often I’m prompted to put my thoughts on record but I have a few on this particular occasion.

Whilst reading his letter it struck me as astonishing at his progress from the third to the thirty-second degree, a matter of just a few weeks if I’m not mistaken.? I recently met a Brother who is a lifelong Freemason, a Past Master, a Member of Provincial Grand Lodge and who had just been recently admitted to the 18th Degree. He was as proud as he possibly could be at this achievement and confided in me that he thought that the invitation might never come his way. This young man has surpassed the elder Man’s Masonic ambition in the relative blink of an eye, yet he seems to have no appreciation whatsoever of what has been entrusted to him.

Far too many People today expect instant gratification from life which is seen as too short to invest any lasting commitment in anything at all - lest it turn out not to be worthwhile in the long run. What a desperate shame that this Brother has become so disillusioned with Freemasonry in such a short time.

Freemasonry has been a very personal experience for me, a journey of intense self examination as regular exposure to the lessons of the first three degrees slowly but surely permeated my thick skull and eventually began to mean something more than a jumble of words I had learned over the years and which are regurgitated from time to time in the Lodge Room. I find it difficult to accept that in a few short weeks that this Brother feels that he has absorbed every lesson that has been imparted to him and in just as short a time abandoned the whole system in favour of a quick fix to be found elsewhere.

Certainly the experience of Freemasonry might differ in each part of the world or in his case from State to State but isn’t that what saves us from terminal boredom.? When we see the work of another Lodge, is it not that rich vein of variety which keeps us travelling amongst ourselves to experience as much as we possibly can?

I may never fully appreciate the lessons of the first three degrees let alone be man enough to practice the virtues which they are intended to impart but I will burn in hell before I throw in the towel and abandon the desire to aspire to the lessons which I promised I would, all those years ago.

Maybe the young Brother might want to catch his breath and have another look at the gift that has been bestowed upon him before he gives up on us altogether.

D.Garry Forbes PM 242

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A Good Friend of 242

Bro. Tony Campbell PM 5005 was installed as Master of the City of London & Baltic Lodge No. 901 last April as the new Master of the Amalgamated lodges of City of London No.901 and Baltic No. 3006 (that's The Baltic exchange the maritime trading company) two great names in London. Tony says â&#x20AC;&#x161;A Lodge called after the premier City of the greatest Empire that history has ever know-an Empire which brought not domination, but freedom and justice to all within its bounds-must needs and its high vocation , to be worthy of the name it bears.â&#x20AC;&#x203A; We look forward to welcoming him to 242 to explain his comments!!!!!

The Amalgamation team was lead by V/W/Bro Philip C Summers Assistant Metropolitan Grand Master (seated next to Bro. Tony).

The syllabus for the forthcoming year is: Monday 13th October 2014

Monday 9th December2014

Monday 9th February 2015

Monday 13th April 2015

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Breif Histories—City of London Lodge No.901 Our History begins during the year of 1861with our Mother Lodge, Temple Lodge No.101, and those Officers who were also members of a Club, known as ‘The City of London Freemasons Club’, situated at 23 Little Bell Alley, London EC, A modest Tea Grocers shop .

In 1861 they petitioned Grand Lodge for the formation of a new Lodge, and on December 2nd, 1861, a Warrant of Constitution was issued by the M.W. Grand Master, the Earl of Zetland. It was consecrated on January 30 th, 1862, in the modest surroundings of 23 Little Bell Alley, the City of London Lodge No.1203, as it was then known, came into being.

Following a letter from the United Grand Lodge of England, that all Lodge numbers were to be brought forward in regular succession, by filling up those who had become vacant, the City of London Lodge would now bear the No.901, on the Register of the Grand Lodge of England. In 1876, the Lodge moved to the Guild Hall Tavern, Gresham Street, where it remained for thirty six years. At the time the Lodge was reputed to have had a membership of around one hundred, its best year being 1879, when it Initiated, Passed and Raised, twenty nine new members.

During the First World War, in December of 1916, a new Lodge was formed by servicemen fighting in France. Jeanne D’Arc Lodge No.5, France, under the Grand Lodge National, France. With one hundred founding members, representing twenty two different countries. The First Worshipful Master was Staff Sergeant J.R.Walker, A Past Master of City of London Lodge.

Returning home, members of the Jeanne D’Arc Lodge formed a new Lodge in London, bearing the same name, and a warrant was issued on September 1 st 1920. Consequently, Jeanne D’Arc Lodge No.4168, our Daughter lodge, came into being. In time Jeanne D’Arc Lodge went on to form its own Chapter, which was consecrated on January 22nd, 1925.

During the Second World War, Grand Lodge issued a message that all Lodge meetings were to be temporarily suspended. This was later relaxed, and meetings resumed in late 1939. The City of London Lodge, however, prided itself, that despite the constant bombardment of the city, its Lodge of Instruction never closed. Every Thursday night, at the Three Nuns Hotel, members still met as a Lodge of Instruction. Possibly not in the true sense of the word, as there were times when the noise from the explosions around them were so intense, that they threw caution to the wind and dived under the nearest table.

After various venues, the Lodge moved to the City University Club, meeting there for the first time on eleventh December 2006. In 2012 the Lodge celebrated its 150th Anniversary.

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Brief History of Baltic Lodge No.3006 The Baltic Lodge was formed in 1903 shortly after the new Baltic Exchanged open in St Mary Axe. The Lodge was sponsored by the Lodge of Amity No 171 and the petition signed by 23 founders who were to meet at the Ship & Turtle Tavern, Leadenhall Street on the first Thursday in October, December, February and April. The Lodge was warranted accordingly on the 16 th October 1903 and was numbered 3006.

Even though the Minute book for the early years to 1919 has been lost during the Second World War it has been accepted that the Lodge was Consecrated at Great Queen Street on the 10 th December 1903, the Consecrating Officer being MW Bro Earl Amherst the then Pro-Grand Master, we also know that Sir Edward Letchworth, Grand Secretary also participated. The first WM was W Bro Newton Dunn PJGD who went onto be Chairman of the Baltic Exchange 1922-24.

The Baltic Lodge met at the Ship & Turtle in the early years, then at the Great Eastern Hotel until 1940. From 1940 to 1969 the Lodge met at Great Queen Street, after which it moved back to the City and the Queen’s Room on the Baltic Exchange.

The tragic events of the 10th April 1992 when the Baltic Exchange building was virtually destroyed by an IRA bomb was a severe blow to the Lodge and indeed to the Lodges most recent initiate Bro Jeffrey Blum who was caught by the blast in his office but thankfully after many months he recovered and was initiated by his father last year.

The bomb forced an emergency move to Shuttleworth’s Restaurant at the Aldwych until 1993 which coincidentally was the year in which a burst water tank above Shuttleworth’s caused the venue to be untenable and much damage was done to Lodge equipment stored therein. Fortunately the equipment was insured and was recouped by the hard work of W Bro Edgar Blum.

The Lodge resumed meeting at the Queens Room on a temporary basis until October 1994 when it moved to Corvino’s Restaurant in Middlesex Street, after the change of ownership at Corvino’s the Lodge moved to the City University Club in Cornhill where it has remained ever since and with the combined Lodge will still meeting at those premises.

At the time of leaving the Queens Room in 94 the Lodge furniture was sold to a new Lodge in Shropshire called the Albric Festival Lodge No 9576 and for some time there were inter Lodge visits. The Lodges high light was its Centenary Meeting on 27 th February 2004 in the Grecian Temple at the Great Eastern Hotel in the presence of RW Bro Gavin Purser Past Senior Grand Warden and other distinguished guests and Brethren totalling 78 this was a special occasion as the Temple had only recently been reopened and the festive board proved memorable.

The membership criteria has evolved over the years, having started as Baltic Exchange members of 5 years and upwards, which meant that a candidate was of the age of 26 years before being considered was relaxed to just being a member of the Exchange allowing younger men to join the Lodge. This was further eased in 75 to allow past members of the Exchange to join and in 92 to include employees of the Exchange. Eventually prospective candidates need to meet the high standards required by any Lodge and we are please to bring with us a multi-national membership who are connected with both Shipping in all is facets and the Insurance industry in general.

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Re-Dedication of War Memorial in Craigends A unique ceremony to pay tribute to the Brethren of Lodge Craigends No.1042 who served during the First World War took place on Thursday, 1st May Some 50 Brethren from within and outwith the Province of Renfrewshire East attended the rededication of the Memorial Tablet that stands in the entrance to the lodge.

The ceremony was designed to replicate as closely as possible the original unveiling and dedication of the Memorial Tablet by the then PGM of the Province, Bro. The Right Honourable Lord Blythswood, M.V.O. in 1923. The re-dedication was carried out by the present RWPGM, Bro. John S. Miller assisted

by PG Chaplain, Bro. Pastor William Shirlaw and Bro. Alan Graham RWM with the same Order of Service in terms of Hymns and Prayers.

The names of each of the 48 Brethren were read out by Lodge Secretary, Bro. Steven Muir, the Last Post and Reveille were sounded by bugler Bro. Neil Terras, Assistant PG Director of Ceremonies and the Floers O` the Forest played by Bro. George Paul, PG Piper. The master Bro. Alan Graham then invited RWPGM Bro. John S. Miller to join him in laying a wreath at the foot of the Memorial.

Then - in a moving final tribute - the Brethren paid their respects by filing past the Memorial, laying sprigs of Acacia alongside the wreath. Earlier in his address to the assembled Brethren Bro. John S. Miller PGM spoke of the bravery of the members of Lodge Craigends who had fought with such courage for the freedoms we enjoy today.

Bro. Alan Graham explained that the idea for the ceremony was born from a request from Grand Lodge last year for information on War Memorials throughout the country and it was decided to host the re-dedication of the Memorial Tablet on the first meeting in May as this was the closest to the anniversary of the Consecration of the Lodge on 7th May 1908. He also noted that one of those named on the memorial as having made the ultimate sacrifice â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Archibald Pearston â&#x20AC;&#x201C; was shot and killed by a German sniper after the cease fire on 11 th November 1918 along with his brother, John Pearston, who survived.

After the ceremony, Bro. N. Grant MacLeod, PG Secretary presented an informative paper on the subject of Military Freemasonry.

Cross Keys Sept. 2014

Bro. Charles Pennell PM Many brethren will wonder who Bro. Charles Frederick Pennell is—well he is mentioned in the obituary not as a member of 242, but as a brother connected to 242. His wife’s grandfather was Bro. William Bennie, a MM of 242, who left Scotland in 1888 for Australia. Sadly Bro. Charles died suddenly to a triple myeloma. Despite being an Australian freemason, he was a regular of the Cross Keys as well as being interested in the history of 242.

Charles was initiated in 1972 in Upwey Lodge No.556 in Victoria, Australia, a PM three times and was awarded the Grand Ranks of PGStdB and then PJGD.

Special Meeting On Thursday 12th June, 2014 the brethren of 242 visited The Lodge of Erskine No.1566 to confer the MM on the son of the master Bro. Ian Wood. The attendance was 106 which was superb considering the bowling season has started, the weather was sunny and most lodges are in recess. Bro. Ian’s son, Bro. Wood, is seen below with his grandfather and the masters of 242 and 1566.

Cross Keys Sept. 2014

Re-Dedication of War Memorial in Craigends

On Sunday 4th May Lodge Craigends No.1042 laid the wreath at the War Memorial in Houstoun Square in Johnstone. The lodge was accompanied by the PGM Bro. John Miller, Bro. Alan Graham master of 1042, Allan Stobo, master of 242, William Fleming SPGM, Grant Macleod PG Sec, Gavin Weir PSPGW and various brethren from 1042.

Thought of the Month The man who, without courting applause, is loved by all noble-minded men, respected by his superiors and revered by his subordinates; the man who never proclaims what he has done, can do, or will do, but where need is will lay hold with dispassionate courage, circumspect resolution, indefatigable exertion and a rare power of mind, and who will not cease until he has accomplished his work, and who then, without pretension, will retire into the multitude because he did the good act, not for himself, but for the cause of good.

In Memoriam The dead are like the stars by day … withdrawn from mortal eye… yet not extinct that hold their way In glory through the sky… .Spirits of bondage thus set free… .Vanish amidst immensity… While human thought… .Like human sight… .Fail to pursue…. Their trackless flight.

It is with deep sadness and much regret that we have to inform you of a loss sustained to the craft in Renfrewshire in the passing to the Grand Lodge above of the following Brother: Bros. John Kenny, Billy Bushe & Charles Pennell Cross Keys Sept. 2014

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Thanks to Bro. Allan Stobo RWM for proof reading.

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Cross Keys Sept. 2014