Cross Keys September 2014

Cross Keys Sept. 2014

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

September 2014 Number 177

In 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


Freemasonry & the Military—Ambiguities in Allegiance Part 1

Introduction

This paper explores ambiguities in military allegiance and masonic obligation from an historical perspec-

tive. 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 18th, 19th and fi-

nally 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 as-

sistance 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 express-

ly forbids seeking favours from others; being a freemason is not a passport enabling deviation or subver-

sion 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 unremark-

able, 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 Na-

poleonic 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 dur-

ing 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 is-

sued 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 predomi-

nantly 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


rivalry with each grand lodge trying to outdo the other in expanding their preferred style of English free-

masonry. 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 freema-

sonry 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 23rd Foot from Wales. A warrant

from a Grand Lodge enabled military lodges work to be considered ‘regular’ adhering to established ten-

ets. 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 be-

comes not only King but Grand Master of all of Kafiristan, with Carnehan as his Senior Warden. The de-

piction 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 initia-

tion. 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 18th century

At the time the first Irish Warrants were being issued to British regiments, Grand Lodges were endeavour-

ing 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 opportuni-

ties 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 treat-

ed. 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 treat-

ment 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 cosmopoli-

tan nature of Freemasonry to the test. It was not unusual for a regiment overseas working under a travel-

ling 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 19th century

The following examples of masonic favours present two narratives concerning prisoners of war in captiv-

ity. 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

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 Rus-

sians, 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 sol-

diers, led his newly-found brother to the rear, and treated him with the kindness of a Mason.”

Gould records an anecdote from the early 19th 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 prison-

er, 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 some-

times 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 coun-

try like Portugal, torn by opposing armies, where father was divided against son, and brother against brother, I con-

sider 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 19th 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 exam-

ples 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 identi-

ty 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.

Freemasonry & the Military—Ambiguities in Allegiance (ctd)


Old Military Certificate


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 dis-

tressed 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 educa-

tion 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 something 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.

The Education Officer


Surprise! Surprise! Freemasons love to talk about the craft But that stuff is still pretty pas-

sive. 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 in-

teresting 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 port-

able white board is handy to have for keeping score; if you’re doing individual competi-

tion 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/

The Education Officer (ctd)

http://www.oldcorky.com/


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 wait-

ing 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 fol-

lowing 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 be-

quest 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 Corky’s newsletter.


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 exer-

cise 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 relation-

ship 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.‛

Brotherly Love


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.

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

[email protected]

Request for Info

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 Certifi-

cate. 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 mas-

ter and then DoC. As he concluded, Bro. Pe-

ter is a good and faithful servant to the lodge.

mailto:[email protected]


The Widows’ Sons Bik-

ers present a cheque to

Bro. David Reid as Chair-

man of the MHH in Du-

noon 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.

PGL News

GL News

Recent Figures from UGLE

(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.


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 11th—EA by OBs

Thursday 25th—FC by OBs


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:

[email protected]

The top nine countries from Issuu are shown in

the table to the left.



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 possi-

bly 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 ambi-

tion 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 exami-

nation as regular exposure to the lessons of the first three degrees slowly but surely per-

meated 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


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 ‚A Lodge called after the premier City of the greatest

Empire that history has ever know-an Empire which brought not domination, but free-

dom and justice to all within its bounds-must needs and its high vocation , to be worthy of

the name it bears.‛ 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


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 30th,

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 service-

men fighting in France. Jeanne D’Arc Lodge No.5, France, under the Grand Lodge Na-

tional, 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 1st 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 bom-

bardment 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.


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 16th 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 10th De-

cember 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 de-

stroyed 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. Fortu-

nately 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 27th 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 member-

ship who are connected with both Shipping in all is facets and the Insurance industry in general.


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 re-

dedication 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 Ser-

vice 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, lay-

ing 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 – Archibald Pearston – was shot and

killed by a German sniper after the cease fire on 11th 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.


Bro. Charles Pennell PM

Many brethren will wonder who Bro. Charles Frederick Pen-

nell is—well he is mentioned in the obituary not as a member

of 242, but as a brother connected to 242. His wife’s grandfa-

ther 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 Vic-

toria, 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.


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 hu-

man 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

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 re-

tire into the multitude because he did the good act, not for himself, but for the cause of

good.

Re-Dedication of War Memorial in Craigends


Thanks to Bro. Allan Stobo RWM for proof reading.

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Documents

Cross Keys September 2014