112 Magazine January 2022 Issue - No. 19

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Masonic Magazine for St. John Fisherrow No.112

Issue No.19 January 2022

From the Editor

Happy New Year to all our readers On behalf of the Right Worshipful Master and brethren of 112 we hope you and your families have all had a wonderful time over the festive season and wish you all a very Happy and Prosperous New Year 2022.

Brethren, any brother who cannot view the magazines on our website and would like to recieve a printed copy please contact Brother Derek Mather JD, who will drop off a copy or back issues of the magazine to you.

Got something you want to say about your Lodge, or just Freemasonry in general ~ Why not submit an article to “On The Level”and see it printed here? (The Editor reserves the right to refuse to publish any article deemed by himself to be offensive).

“Outside the home and the house of God there is nothing in this world more beautiful than the Spirit of Masonry. Gentle, gracious, and wise, its mission is to form mankind into a great redemptive brotherhood, a league of noble and free men enlisted in the radiant enterprise of working out in time the love and will of the Eternal.”

Bro. Joseph Ford Newton

Lodge St. John Fisherrow No. 112 Annual Ladies Night Friday 25th February 2022 Tickets £25pp or £45 for 2 7-7:30pm - Carriages 12:30 Tickets from Bro. Douglas Hoy P.M. D.S.M.

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The Right Worshipful Master

Hello Brethren, may I start by wishing you all a very Happy and Prosperous New Year to you and your families. I hope that you have all had a great time and stayed say during the festive period. As this is my first edition as R.W.M. I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who attended my installation back in December which was a great night. I have to admit that I did get a bit emotional when my dad was mentioned and realised that it was 45 years to the day when he was installed as Master on 11th December 1976. A first in 112 to have a father and son as Master of the Lodge.

A first time also for Bro. Brian Ritchie I.P.M. to become an Installing Master, who along with Brother Andrew Raeburn

P.M, D.S.M installed myself and the office bearers. I cannot thank them enough for making the night a very memorable one. Sadly on there was one notable absence in the person of Bro. Douglas Hoy P.M, D.S.M. who was again taken back into the hospital for some further treatment following his previous stint in the hospital. Another 112 stalwart Bro. John Thorburn P.M. has been under the weather too with heavy chest infection which also put him into the hospital for a few days. Although both Douglas and John are home and recovering, we all wish you both well.

Brethren as we are still in the middle of another variant of the pandemic we will of course keep in compliance with the necessary covid regulations but hopefully our 1st meeting of 2022 on Wednesday 19th January will go ahead as planned. Our secretary will be sending out lodge billets soon with intimations of our meetings. We can only wait and hope that lodge meetings will be able to go ahead and I look forward to visiting many lodges within and outwith our Province.

In this year ahead we hope to have in place a programme to begin the refurbishment of the lower half of the lodge premises, giving it a new, fresh and modern look.

After speaking to our Junior Deacon, Bro. Derek Mather D.S.M, he will be opening “The Cafe” in the very near future which again will be open to all. This again will be open with the usual covid regulations as per last year. I’m sure many of the brethren will be looking forward to banter again.

Brethren, until we meet again, stay safe and well.

Bro. Tom Edgar R.W.M.

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~ Our Lodge Our History ~

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"The Character of a Freemason"

The Origin Of The Four Tassels

These are seen in the four corners of the indented border of the lodge carpet. We are told they represent the four cardinal virtues, but this is a late gloss, probably invented towards the close of the 18th century, and there seems no particular reason why they should represent the four cardinal virtues any more than the four elements or any other particular four.

(From the Farmer's Almanac, 1823)

The real Freemason is distinguished from the rest of Mankind by the uniform unrestrained rectitude of his conduct. Other men are honest in fear of punishment which the law might inflect; they are religious in expectation of being rewarded, or in dread of the devil, in the next world.

We find the true origin of these tassels, as of many more obscure points in our ritual, if we study the medieval methods employed by operative masons when laying out the ground plan for a new building. The Master Mason, or architect, commenced his work by striking the centre of the piece of ground on which the building was to be erected, and from it he plotted out the square or rectangle on which the containing walls were subsequently to rise.

To do so, he extended ropes from the centre pin to the four corner angles, and pegged these down at the corners of the building; by the simple use of square and triangle he was able to check the four corners and ascertain if they were true.

As the walls rose, from time to time, a piece of wood was extended from the corner inwards, and a plumb line dropped down to make sure that the walls were perpendicular and the angle was true on its upper tiers as it was at the base. These corner plumb lines lingered on the wall into the middle of the 19th century in Speculative Masonry not merely woven tassels on the carpet, but actual tassels hanging in the four corners of the lodge room; and in the ritual used in the old days it is these hanging tassels to which the four cardinal virtues were attached implying, that these were guides to enable a man to maintain an upright life. Like many other old and interesting customs, these tassels seem to have disappeared, and we are left with a symbolic representation of the four ends of the rope in the corners of our lodge carpet.

A Freemason would be just if there were no laws, human or divine except those written in his heart by the finger of his Creator. In every climate, under every system of religion, he is the same. He kneels before the Universal Throne of God in gratitude for the blessings he has received and humble solicitation for his future protection.

He venerates the good men of all religions. He disturbs not the religion of others. He restrains his passions, because they cannot be indulged without injuring his neighbour or himself. He gives no offence, because he does not choose to be offended. He contracts no debts which he is certain he cannot discharge, because he is honest upon principle."

Degree

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The Latin gradus from which are derived grade, gradual, graduation, etc., meant a step, or set of steps, particularly of a stair; when united with the prefix, da, meaning "down," it became degradus, and referred to steps, degrees, progress by marked stages. From this came our "degree," which is a step, or grade, in the progress of a candidate toward the consummation of his membership. Our habit of picturing the degrees as proceeding from lower to higher, like climbing a stair, is thus very close to the ancient and original meaning of the word.

The Star, the Word and the Soul

star became the symbol of the race. His writings occupy a place of honour in their scriptures. His campaigns drove the invader from the land. His capture of Jerusalem made it the sacred place of Israel, and his diplomacy secured alliances his son was able to exploit.

In short, he laid a sure foundation for King Solomon to build upon.

Masonic ritual and usages have ever been associated with King Solomon, his wisdom and his building of the mighty Temple at Jerusalem. It is well known that his father David could not qualify to build the House of God, because he was a warrior with blood upon his hands and human weakness in his soul. But David had the touch of greatness too.

The shepherd boy who came to sit upon the throne achieved this end without resorting to the murder of his predecessor, when this might have been excused.

We too can build upon the Three Great Truths proclaimed within the Psalm–God in the Universe, God in the Volume of the Sacred Law and God within the Soul.

As speculative Masons we are able to appreciate the Grand Design of Him who has created and who still preserves our Universe.

The Star that brings peace and salvation to us, takes its light from the Great Architect Himself. We teach men that the Scripture holds His Laws which to obey is life and which to disregard is death. Our system holds that man is free to choose between the good and evil of the world, but with the certainty that he must bear the consequences of his choice. Where God controls the Soul, no danger can ensue.

Of all the works ascribed to David, we remember best the ‘Book of Psalms’, that great collection of his thoughts on God and man, on life and death, on sorrow, happiness and praise, on everything there is in heaven, earth or hell. These thoughts are multitudinous as the seas or single, clear and concentrated as a vision of the sun. By the help of God, being free and of good report. The nineteenth Psalm has particular significance to Masons as it touches on the three great subjects which concerns us most. These are the Universe, the Sacred Law and, most of all, the Soul of Man.

On such foundations we can raise ‘that House not made with hands’. Kind David did not build the Temple, but he did do much to set it on a sure and lasting base. He saw God in the Star, the Law and in his Soul, and if he erred, his sorrow and regret were genuine. No matter to what depths he sank, he rose again and made atonement for his sins. None but a great man could have offered up this prayer. ‘Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer’.

The Psalm commences with a manifesto of the glory and the power of God throughout the Universe, reminding us that He is present in the distant stars and in our own great sun whose influence controls our ways. It then refers us to the Word of God within the Volume of the Sacred Law, reminding us that here we find perfection, wisdom, purity, the truth and righteousness. Then finally, it turns to Man himself, the greatest of created things, reminding us that he should keep his soul from errors, secret faults and from presumptuous sins.

While David does not have the same importance to our Craft as Solomon, we must remember that his people owed him much. His

Sourced from Lodge Enterprise 400 by Bro. Raymond Pattinson.

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Enter!

How has your experience in Masonry – be it a few days or many years – affected the inquiry and the answer?

Upon first entering a lodge – not yet clothed with the title “Entered Apprentice” and still known only as “the candidate” – an individual is posed two fundamental questions that will define the rest of his Masonic journey. Indeed, the answers will determine in large part if the journey is to continue at all. The first question: “In whom do you place your trust?” Above all else, upon whom or what do you rely? What do you know for sure, are you willing to bet your life on, are you willing to take a beating for? In the final analysis, this question seeks to know upon what the candidate relies as ultimate truth, that upon which his life is grounded.

In the truest sense, the wisest among us always remain and retain with honor the status of “candidate.” We should forever be learning, growing, and discerning new truths and applying them against our life’s experiences as we progress in Masonry. Only in that way will our membership in lodge or appendant-bodies remain fresh, vital, and challenging. Only when we believe we have completed the initiatory experience, have arrived, and are “in,” do the twin dangers of sloth and self-sufficiency present themselves.

When did we last consider ourselves as “the candidate”?

The second question, closely related to the first:”What do you desire?” In the vernacular: What are you doing here? What are you looking for? What do you hope to find? Even though prompted by a faithful Brother, the returned answer is always the same – wisdom, truth, knowledge, metaphorically identified as Light. And thus having answered, the candidate, now a Brother, begins his Masonic journey. For many of us who have spent a lifetime in Masonry, the night we answered those questions so long ago is but a distant memory. For others, a more recent event is inscribed upon their memories. More importantly, perhaps, is when each of us last answered those same inquiries, so essential to maintaining our character and status of a Mason.

Have our life experiences or our Masonic experiences, both positive and negative, altered our perception and our answers to those inquiries? I sometimes wonder if the craft and each individual would better be served to periodically return to the lodge, dressed in the garb of the candidate, and again hear the questions propounded and be called upon to respond. In whom do you place your trust now? What do you most desire now?

May you continue to grow as a Mason, forever be a candidate, and always know in whom you place your trust. And knowing, may you find what you most desire.

Operative Art

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Freemasonry is divided by Masonic writers into two branches, an Operative Art and a Speculative Science. The Operative Art is that which was practiced by the Stone-Masons of the Middle Ages. The Speculative Science is that which is practiced by the Freemasons of the present day. The technicalities and usages of the former have been incorporated into and modified by the latter. Hence, Freemasonry is sometimes defined as a Speculative Science founded on an Operative Art.

Famous Freemasons:

Bro. Oliver Hardy (1892 - 1957) Oliver Hardy was born Norvell Hardy on January 18, 1892, in Harlem, Georgia, a town located just west of Augusta.

His father, Oliver Hardy, died ten months later, and his mother, Emily Norvell Hardy, supported her five children by managing a series of boarding houses, first in Madison, then in Covington and Athens, and finally in Milledgeville.

While quite young, Hardy developed a love for singing. He performed in local theatricals and, as a college student, in events at Georgia Military College and Young Harris College.

Returning to Milledgeville in 1910, Hardy worked behind the scenes at a local vaudeville house and a movie theatre. At some point during this period he adopted the name Oliver Norvell Hardy, although his friends often referred to him as "Babe." In 1913 he began working in the flourishing film industry in Jacksonville, Florida, occasionally traveling to New York to work on films there. In 1917, after acting in many short and feature films, he decided to pursue his career in California.

During the early 1920s, Hardy was initiated in Solomon Lodge No. 20, Jacksonville, Florida And remained an active Freemason throughout his life.

In Hollywood, as in Florida, Hardy worked steadily, specializing in the portrayal of a conventional character in silent films known as the "heavy," a large, physically intimidating villain. (Over six feet tall, Hardy weighed around 300 pounds for most of his adult life.)

In 1926, after appearing in some ninety Hollywood films, Hardy became a contract player for both comic and serious roles with Hal Roach Studios, one of the more important small studios of the era. The studio soon cast Hardy in several films with Stanley Laurel, with whom Hardy had occasionally worked before. Born Arthur Stanley Jefferson, Laurel was an English music-hall comedian who had come to America in a theatrical company as an understudy to Charlie Chaplin. At the time he was teamed with Hardy, Laurel was an up-and-coming film comedian, writer, and director.

Together Laurel and Hardy were so appealing that the studio launched a new series of short comedies advertised as "Laurel and Hardy" films. The first, The Second Hundred Years, appeared in 1927. In their subsequent films Laurel and Hardy gradually developed the characters they would play for the rest of their lives. As childlike adults destined to fail but ever hopeful of success, these characters fall within a "tradition of innocent fools in a dangerous world" that includes, according to film scholar Ted Sennett, the characters played by fellow silent comedians Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, and Harry Langdon. The duo's usual costumes were slightly seedy, old-fashioned suits with stand-up collars and derbies, suggesting characters who aspire to a dignity that they can never quite achieve. Hardy adopted the role of the self-assured but utterly incompetent leader, whose grandiose gestures gave exaggerated importance to the simplest acts.

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According to critic Gerald Mast, a "contempt for affectation and pretension" is a hallmark of the work of American comedians from Chaplin to Woody Allen. Many critics consider Laurel and Hardy, along with Chaplin, Keaton, and the Marx Brothers, to be among the finest practitioners of slapstick, a type of physical comedy aimed at mocking such aspirations to dignity.

From 1927 to 1940 Laurel and Hardy made sixty short comedies and sixteen feature films for Hal Roach Studios, including Big Business (1929), which is often cited as one of the finest short comedies of the silent era, and The Music Box, which won an Academy Award as the best short film of 1931-32. Outstanding among their feature films for Roach Studios are Sons of the Desert (1933) and Way Out West (1937). While some silent-film actors, like Keaton, saw their careers decline with the advent of sound, Laurel and Hardy's flourished, as Laurel's English accent and Hardy's southern accent and singing brought new dimensions to their characters. The team also proved skillful in their melding of visual and verbal humour, adding dialogue that served to enhance rather than replace their popular sight gags.

Because of creative disagreements with Hal Roach Studios, in 1941 the team left for Twentieth Century Fox and MGM. Although Laurel and Hardy believed their talents ideally suited to short films, these larger studios were losing interest in that less-profitable medium and cast the team in a series of modestly budgeted and poorly written features. Moreover, the studios did not allow the duo to engage in the improvisation that had been so vital to the success of their earlier work and insisted instead that the scripts be strictly followed. Discouraged once again, in 1945 Laurel and Hardy retired from films, returning only for the poorly received Atoll K in 1951.

In 1947 Laurel and Hardy began a year of concert appearances in Europe and toured again in 1952 and 1953-54. Hardy also took a supporting role in George Waggner's film The Fighting Kentuckian (1949) and made a cameo appearance in Frank Capra's Riding High (1950). Plans for a television series were shelved as the aging comedians suffered declining health. after a series of strokes,

Hardy died on 7 th August 1957, and was buried in the Masonic Garden of Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery in Burbank, California.

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Did Ye ken.....

Old Temple Kirk, Midlothian.

When Pope Clement V was to arise in 1305 Philip finally had an opportunity. The Pope you see was a Frenchman, and a childhood friend, so this would seal the fate of the Templars as the King finally made his move, seizing their lands, treasures and all associated in his path.

This was the principal seat of the Knights Templar in Scotland with a history going back to that of King David I (Reigned April or May 1124 – 24 May 1153) The earliest reference we have at hand is most likely in a charter of 1175-99. So we can clearly see an estimated timeline of creation with these dates.

We have various rumours of the Knights assisting Robert The Bruce at Bannockburn in the year 1314. This has been rubbished by some historians, however, as little more than an assertion by some that Scotland was incapable of defeating the English without foreign help by mostly French Templars.

In addition, we also find that in 1128, its alleged that the cousin of St Bernard of Clairvaux, Hugues de Payens, met King David I in Scotland. The Order thus established a seat at Balantrodoch, now Temple, Midlothian on the South Esk River.

The Book of Constitution and Laws

Friday 13 October 1307 – where we get our superstition of Friday the 13th – was a dark The Old Temple Kirk - Seat Of The Knights Templarsday for the Knights Templar. Philip IV, King of France, arrested hundreds of Templars for the rumoured reason of not financially backing his military aspirations.

The Book of Constitution and Law guarded by the Tyler's Sword, reminds us to be ever watchful and guarded over all our thoughts, words and actions especially on the subject of Free Masonry whilst in the presence of it's enemies, ever remembering those truly Masonic cardinal virtues of, Silence and Circumspection

As one of the richest organisations in Erope, the Templars had turned down a demand from Philip for a loan and thus, he began his campaign against the Order. He first began this campaign against the Order in the year 1302, this escalated to the kidnapping of Pope Boniface VIII in September 1303, and then he allegedly ordered the poisoning of his successor, Benedict XI in July 1304.

Q.1 Following a lodge meeting at which we had heard an explanation of the Second Degree Tracing Board, a discussion arose as to the story of Jephtha's battle and the death of 'forty and two thousand warriors. Some said the figure was 2,040 and others that it should be 42,000. Which is correct?

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Answer: the King James Authorized Version of the Bible (at Judge XII, 6) gives the number as 'forty and two thousand' and that is the source of some confusion, although it is a precise translation from the original Hebrew, with each word in its correct place. It is perhaps necessary to explain that it is not possible in Hebrew to say 'forty-two'; one could say 'two and forty' (as in German) or 'forty and two', but the 'and' must be there.

~ Our Lodge Our History ~ Part 8

Letter received on the 15th March 1901 from the Scottish Office, Whitehall following the death of Her Majesty Queen Victoria which reads:

Sir, I am commanded by the King to convey to The Right Worshipful Master, Wardens, Office Bearers and brethren of Saint Johns Lodge Fisherrow No.112. His Majesty’s thanks of expression of sympathy with the Royal Family on the occasion of the lamented death of Her late Majesty Queen Victoria and for the loyal and assurances on the occasion of His Majesty’s accession to the Throne contained in their address which I have had the honour to lay before His Majesty.

I am Sir Your Obedient Servant

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Special Meeting held on 29th December 1902 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Bro. James Robertson was installed as Right Worshipful Master for the year 1903. A Deputation from Provincial Grand Lodge headed by Bro. Col. R. Gordon Gilmour was received in due form and gave the Lodge a favourable report on the past year’s work.

Meeting on the 4th November 1903 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The was visited by Bro. A Chisholm, Depute Grand Master of Canada. Bro. Chisholm gave a very interesting address on Freemasonry .

Regular Meeting 18th November 1903 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A circular was read from Grand Lodge re Licensing Act, and a circular re the Annuity Fund. It was agreed that these circulars be engrossed in the Minutes.

At a Special Meeting held on 28th December 1903 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Bro. William Constable was installed as Right Worshipful Master for the year 1904.

At a Special Meeting held on 11th May 1904 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A Deputation from the Provincial Grand Lodge of Midlothian headed by Bro. Sir Thomas Gibson Carmichael, Bart. of Stirling, P.G.M. was received in due form. The Lodge received a favourable report on the past year’s work. The Lodge held an excursion to Lauder on 23rd June which was thoroughly enjoyed by all present. They had a lunch in the Temperance Hall.

Special Meeting held on 26th September 1904 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It was agreed to register as a Club and at the Lodge Committee Meeting of 3rd October 1904 a Special Committee was formed to meet the requirements of the Licensing Act.

Special Meeting held on 27th December 1904 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Bro. William Constable was installed as the Right Worshipful Master for the year 1905.

Regular Meeting held on 15th March 1905 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A Deputation from the Provincial Grand Lodge of Midlothian headed by Bro. Sir Thomas Gibson Carmichael, Bart. of Stirling, P.G.M. was received in due form. The Lodge received a favourable report on the past year’s work. The working was exemplified by the Second section of the Third Degree left over from the meeting of 13th instant.

At a Special Meeting held on 29th November 1905 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Bro. Ex. Judge White presented the Lodge with the Wardens Batons of that ancient and now defunct Lodge Musselburgh Kilwinning. Bro. John Dobbie also presented four books - one of them being the Lodge Minute Book of 1843.

At a Special Meeting held on 27th December 1905 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Bro. John Reynolds was installed as the Right Worshipful Master for the year 1906.

Bro. Peter Brown, Substitute Master was buried with full Masonic Honours on 21st February 1906.

Bro. Brown of North British Railway Lodge No. 597 (now Lodge Waverley) first visited the Lodge on the 28th March 1879 and after attending several times he affiliated on 24th March 1881.

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A Short History of Lodge Fingal 318 Dingwall In The Province of Ross and Cromarty

On the 22nd of November 1825, several Master Masons living in the locality of Dingwall, in the Province of Ross and Cromarty, met in the Mackenzie’s Head Hotel, then located just off the High Street in Inchvannie Court, to consider setting up a Masonic Lodge in the town. The Province had already been proud that George, the Earl of Cromarty, Lord Viscount of Tarbat, had been installed as the Grand Master Mason of the Grand Lodge of Scotland on St. Andrew’s Day 1737, and three lodges were active in the Province by then – Lodge St. Duthus No.82, Lodge Fortrose No. 108, and Lodge Robertson No. 134. The Old Lodge in Inverness was also in existence by then.

An extract from the Minutes of Lodge Old Inverness Kilwinning St. John’s No. VI. (The Old Inverness Lodge)

On St. John’s Day, December 27th, 1825, a petition was presented to the Old Inverness Lodge as it was commonly known at that time, from five Master Masons resident in Dingwall praying for a recommendation in their favour to the Grand Lodge of Scotland for a Charter for erecting a new lodge in Dingwall which was remitted to Bros. Thomson, Ferguson, Simpson, and Mackenzie to inquire into and examine the application and to report to the lodge in the afternoon. The brethren appointed to inquire into the application regarding a new lodge in Dingwall reported that they had studied the applicants and found them well acquainted with the principles of the craft and therefore recommended the lodge to grant the recommendation asked for which the brethren agreed to, and direct the Secretary to make out the letter, and get it certified and transmitted in due Masonic form.

The Lodge was granted its Charter from the Grand Lodge of Scotland on February 6th 1826 by the then Grand Master Mason Lord Glen Orchy.

On Lady’s Day (25th March) 1826, a letter was presented to the Old Lodge in Inverness from the brethren in Dingwall stating that the Grand Lodge of Scotland had been pleased them to grant a Charter for erecting the new lodge under the name of the Fingal Lodge, and that the 27th March of that year (1826) was the day fixed for the consecration of the Lodge, but as the ceremony could not take place without the aid of the neighbouring lodges, they respectfully craved this lodge (St. John’s) to lead a deputation for that purpose, which, having been considered by the brethren, they

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agreed to do, and on the motion of the Treasurer, the following brethren were appointed for that purpose to proceed to Dingwall – the Right Worshipful Master, Bro. R Smith of Delmore, Past Master Laughlane, Bro. D.F. Mackenzie Secretary, and Bros. Dickson, George Simpson, A. McTavish, and I. McTavish Jnr. They were directed to take with them the whole clothing and other paraphernalia requisite.

An extract from the Minutes of Lodge St. Duthus No 82 in the Province of Ross and Cromarty At Tain on the 21st March 1826

The Depute Master produced a letter from Brother Arthur Robertson, a cousin of his residing near Dingwall stating that several brethren of the Craft in that part of the country had resolved to institute a Mason Lodge in Dingwall, had obtained a dispensation from the Grand Lodge to that effect, and intended to hold the Solemnity of Consecrating their Lodge (to be named Fingal Lodge) on Tuesday the 28th of March. They add that the provincial Grand Master of the Province of Ross and Cromarty, Sir George Stuart Mackenzie has done them the honour to preside. That they request a deputation from us to attend at that Ceremony, and that they have solicited the aid of no other Lodge, but St. John’s Kilwinning of Inverness and St. Duthus of Tain.

The meeting consider this circumstance as very conducive to the interest of the Craft, and to the advancement of the Art and Knowledge of Free Masonry. At the same time they are gratified at having an opportunity of testifying their respect for the Most Worshipful, the Provincial Grand Master, unanimously agree to send a respectable Deputation consisting of the Depute Master, Past Master, Senior and Junior Wardens, Secretary and Treasurer with our own Head Tyler, to represent St Duthus Lodge, and if any of these office bearers find it impossible for him or them to go on this occasion, he or they shall have power, with the approbation and concurrence of the other members of the Deputation, to substitute another or other capable and respectable brethren in his or their stead. And the Lodge ordained Ten Pounds from the Funds to be placed at the disposal of this Deputation to defray their expenses.

Lodge Fingal history.

The first meeting of the lodge took place in the Mackenzie Head Inn on the 27th of March that year. The Founding Master was Bro. Arthur Robertson from Dingwall, and at the first AGM, Bro. G F MacKenzie of Allangrange was elected Right Worshipful Master. The other Founding Members were Kenneth MacKenzie (owner of the MacKenzie Head Inn), John Hay (a builder from Maryburgh, a village adjacent to Dingwall), John Mackenzie (a teacher from Dingwall), Samuel Munro (a Mason from Dingwall), John Calder (a Cabinet Maker from Dingwall), and Donald Ross (another Builder from Dingwall). By the end of the first year, the membership had increased to 31, including two ministers.

Again from the Minutes of Lodge St. Duthus No. 82

At Tain 9th May 1826.

The Treasurer presented an account to the expenses incurred by the Deputation to Dingwall, amounting in whole to £5/9/5p which he was instructed to pay to the deputation.

The meeting, from the report on the Deputation highly approve of the conduct of Andrew Grant, our Tyler, who showed himself skilful and alert, and therefore recommend to the next General Meeting on St. John’s Day, to allow him some consideration for his service on the above occasion.

At Tain on the 20th of December 1826.

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The Lodge having heard the report of the Deputation sent to Dingwall to assist at the Consecration of a new Institution named Fingals’ Lodge on the 28th March past, feel themselves much gratified by the conduct, the appearance and whole display exhibited by the Deputation on that occasion, and return them our hearty thanks for this distinction obtained by the Lodge, and the Treasurer is directed to settle with them for the expenses then incurred, which are found to be truly moderate.

At Tain on the 27th of December 1826 on the occasion of the General Annual Meeting.

The meeting ordained One Guinea to be paid to Andrew Grant, in consideration of his repairing to Dingwall in March last, and there officiating to great satisfaction in capacity as Tyler before the Provincial Grand Master and the Deputations of Lodges there assembled at the Consecration of Fingal Lodge. Back to Fingal…. From then until 1851, the Lodge met either in the Mackenzie’s Head Inn, or in the hotel on the High Street now known as the Caledonian Hotel, owned at that time by Kenneth Mackenzie Jr. From 1851 until 1859, the Lodge met in rooms in Park House in Park Street, then the Lodge moved again to rooms in Warden’s Lane until 1870.

In April 1870, plans were submitted for an extension to these rooms onto the High Street, and it is thought that the reason for the extension was that the Auction Mart (including a piggery) was in the vicinity of the doorway to the lodge rooms, and this was not considered to be a suitable entrance.

This would be the first public hall in the Burgh. On the 3rd October of that year, the Foundation Stone was laid by the Lodge, led by Bro. Frank Harper RWM, a farmer from Torgorm, by Dingwall.

The hall was officially opened on the 17th April 1871 and was consecrated by the then Provincial Grand Master, Sir Evan MacKenzie of Kilcoy. This Masonic Hall with the public entrance on the High Street, later became the Picture House. The building had the stone depicting Masonic symbols incorporated above the door which is still there to this day.

The building (except for the façade which has been retained and restored) has recently been demolished and rebuilt as retail units and flats, I understand.

This building cost £1,113 to build excluding the fittings, and at the end of the first World War, was sold to Lady Seaforth with the Lodge becoming tenants until new premises could be found. At this time, the reason for this is not known to me, but I would presume that the reasons were financial, as it was at the end of the War. The building was in a prime location, halfway down the High Street in Dingwall.

The Foundation Stone of the present Masonic Hall was laid by the then Provincial Grand Master, Brother Sir Alexander Gibb CBE of Gruinard on the 8th of October 1926, the same year as the centenary of the lodge. The Right Worshipful Master at that time was Bro. G. Waldergrave Hay, who was later to become the Provincial Grand Master. The ceremony was well reported in the local newspaper, the Ross-shire Journal, perhaps because the Editor was none other than Bro. D M Watt who was the Provincial Secretary at the time! Copies of the reports are still held in the Lodge archives. The cost of the land for this beautiful building (in the photo at the top of this article) was £75, and the constructions costs were £3,481/11/2p excluding the gates. This building has been maintained in beautiful condition throughout the years – testament to the Lodge members who have worked so hard to keep it in top condition.

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The Lodge has been requested to lay the foundation stones of many prominent buildings in the area, including the Dingwall Primary School in 1832, the Burgh and Parish Schoolhouse in 1869, the original County Buildings in 1843, and St. Anne’s Church in Strathpeffer, not far from Dingwall. Since the formation of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Ross and Cromarty, no less than five members of Lodge Fingal 318 have risen to the high office of Provincial Grand Master.

Today, the Lodge is going from strength to strength under the leadership of Bro. Donald Gunn PM RWM, ably assisted by his office bearers. Repairs and upgrades have been completed in the Lodge building and parking area. Plans to celebrate the Lodge Bicentenary in 2026 are well advanced and we eagerly await that historic day.

Bro. Alex. Craib PM Old Inverness No. 6 JD Lodge Fingal 318,

Hiram Abiff and the Scriptures

The name Hiram Abiff is not found in Scripture. Yet, the Masonic account of Hiram is often said to be based upon the Holy Bible. In the Master Mason degree, in that portion of the ritual known as the Legend of the Third Degree, there are three central characters. The story line is set around the building of Solomon’s temple. The characters, King Solomon, Hiram - the King of Tyre and Hiram Abiff are all taken from the Scriptural account of the temple building. King Solomon and Hiram King of Tyre are mentioned many times in the Scriptures, such as in 1 Kings 5.

About the closest the Scriptures come to Hiram Abiff is Huram-Abi which is found in 2 Chronicles 2:13 in the NAS and NIV translations. Huram is a variant of Hiram. In the KJV translation of the verse, the name Hiram is found. The KJV uses both Huram (2 Chron 2:3) and Hiram (1 Kings 5) to identify Hiram the King of Tyre. The KJV translation of 2 Chron 2:13 does not contain -abi, but rather "Huram my father’s." The Hebrew word from which the KJV "father’s" was translated is "‘ab," according to the Hebrew Dictionary found in Strong’s Concordance.

Strong’s entry for the word ‘ab (H1) indicates that it can also mean father-less, as the son of a widow would be.

The entry for H1 also mentions "Abi-." Studying the various translations along with a Hebrew dictionary allows us to see how Freemasonry may have settled on the name Hiram Abi-ff, also sometimes spelled Abif.

Hiram King of Tyre wrote a letter to King Solomon, advising him that he was sending Huram-Abi to work on the temple. That letter is documented in 2 Chron 2:11-14. The fact that Hiram-Abi was the son of a widow of the tribe of Naphtali is confirmed in Scripture:

King Solomon sent to Tyre and brought Huram, whose mother was a widow from the tribe of Naphtali and whose father was a man of Tyre and a craftsman in bronze. Huram was highly skilled and experienced in all kinds of bronze work. He came to King Solomon and did all the work assigned to him.

1 Kings 7:13-14

Although the most important element of Masonic symbolism deals with the death, burial and resurrection of Hiram Abiff, there is nothing in Scripture to support it. Masonic Grand Lodges have stated that the account is not based upon fact, but rather is an allegory, used to teach.

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