Historical Notes of "The Glasgow Star Lodge" No. 219
The Glasgow Star Lodge No. 219 as we know it today began proper on 3rd August 1807, when a charter was granted by the Grand Lodge of Scotland to Lodge Star.
During the time the Lodge was chartered the Craft in Scotland was going through a difficult period. One of the reasons for this was the passing of Secret Societies Bill in 1799. Freemasonry was exempted from this Bill providing that Lodges declared upon oath, before a Justice of the Peace, that they were Freemasons. The wording of the clause legalising their continued existence however was in such a form as to apparently prohibit the setting up of new Lodges. The Grand Lodge of Scotland got round this difficulty by re-issuing the Charters of Lodges no longer active. Lodge Star was therefore given the Charter of dormant Lodge No. 164 and given the number 286 on Grand Lodge Roll.
In 1907 Lodge Mother Kilwinning rejoined Grand Lodge and the inclusion of Lodges Charted by Mother Kilwinning on Grand Lodge Roll caused considerable confusion. In 1816 a re-numbering of Lodges took place and Lodge Star was given the number 214. This was finally changed in 1822 to 219. George 111. Was reigning monarch, and his son George, Prince of Wales (later George 1V) was Grand Master of both Scotland and England. Francis, Earl of Moira, was acting Grand Master and Sir John Stewart, of Allanbank, was Provincial Grand Master of the Under Ward of Lanarkshire (which included Glasgow)
It is unfortunate that the early records of the Lodge were destroyed by fire and we only have the story of our beginning as handed down from Past Masters of bygone days. It would appear that the Lodge held its first meetings in an Inn in Anderston which in those days was a small village on the outskirts of Glasgow. Just how long the Lodge continued to meet there is unknown. The first and third Mondays of the month are known to have been the regular meeting nights since as far back as 1857 (the Lodge Jubilee year) in that year an agreement was made to rent the Lodge-rooms of The Glasgow Kilwinning Lodge No. 4 at 87 Main Street Anderson. The original letter from The Glasgow Kilwinning Lodge dated 4th May 1857 and signed by J. Flemington, Depute Master giving details of rental terms, is still in the Lodges possession. The terms were: Rent £10 annually, plus a portion of the bills, i.e. gas, water and coals. It is also worth noting that St. Andrews Chapter No.69 were to pay only £2 annually, plus a similar portion of overheads, on account of its connection with Lodge Star. Lodge Commercial No.360 were also tenants at 87 Main Street, but in 1862 decided to lease property from the City Union Railway Company at19 Croy Place, Glasgow. It would appear that both Lodge Commercial and Lodge Star had found difficulty in paying the rent to Lodge Glasgow Kilwinning, and Lodge Star agreed to sub-lease Lodge Commercials new premises, where it remained until about 1870. (Lodge Commercials lease from the Railway Company was not renewed in 1874 as Croy Place was to be removed to make way for the building of St. Enoch's Station) The oldest existing minute of the Lodge to hand is dated 14th April 1871, and was recorded at St. Marks Hall 213 Buchanan Street, which the Lodge rented for about 3 years. The brethren at that time, determined to have a Lodge-room of their own, formed a motion that suitable property should be sought and purchased. On 11th August 1873 Lodge Star met for the first time in premises of their own at 12 Trongate, on the first floor of the old Tolbooth building at Glasgow Cross. Surely an ideal historic landmark of the city in which to have our first premises. (Only the Tolbooth steeple now remains. The buildings were removed in 1911).
Bro. Joseph Wilson, (R.W.M. 1872-74) was one of the petitioners the Charter of Lodge Clydesdale No. 556, in 1874 along with some brethren of The Bridgeton and Glasgow Shamrock and Thistle Lodge No.275. Both these Lodges came to meet at Star Lodge-rooms and a friendship was formed with them that still exists today. Without doubt a period of prosperity began for the Lodge at Star Lodge-rooms Trongate. The Lodge-rooms were re-decorated in 1882 (presumably for the 75th Anniversary Celebration) and in 1891 fitted with new furniture. That same year a presentation of a Master Masons Jewel, Apron, Case and a Purse of Sovereigns was made to a Brother before he departed to Brisbane.
Until that point it can be seen that the Lodge had travelled eastwards on the North side of the Clyde and never strayed far from the great river of our city. On the night of 22nd May 1893 the R.W.M. Bro. Hugh Osborne said to the brethren "As this is the last meeting of the Lodge to be held by us here (i.e. 12 Trongate) having taken premises at 4 Carlton Place, I hope that the Star of the East will shine as bright with us in the South as it has done hitherto" Bro. Peter McDonald, an office bearer of the Lodge (R.W.M.1895-97) owned business premises at 4 Carlton Place and, by virtue of an agreement between him and the brethren, Lodge Star met in suitable accommodation there for the first time on 10th July 1893. It would appear that some difficulty arose in getting the use of a Committee Room at 4 Carlton Place, and many of these meetings were held next door at 6 Carlton Place. At that time the home of the Scottish Football Association and meeting place of Lodge Clydesdale. Further problems arose over payment of rent at No.4 and on 3rd June 1901 Lodge Star moved out and joined Lodge Clydesdale at No.6.
The association with Lodge Clydesdale was further cemented in 1902 during Bro. James Somerville's term as R.W.M. when an agreement was formed between both Lodges creating a joint concern known as the "Glasgow Southside Temple" Property was purchased at Nos. 26 and 30 Abbotsford Place, consisting of two large main door flats at a total cost of £2970. A hall was built on existing land behind Abbotsford Place by Bro. Wm. McNeil R.W.M. of Lodge Clydesdale (an Honorary Member of 219 under a joint committee. The new temple was consecrated on 19th December 1903 by Provincial Grand Lodge at a joint meeting opened by R.W.M. of 556 and closed by R.W.M. of 219. So began probably the most settled period in the Lodges history, as this was to be its home for 57 years. Many of the brethren today can recall with pride the many happy occasions enjoyed at Abbotsford Place. The décor of the temple and adjacent rooms and the Lodge furniture were admired by all who saw it.
The year 1907 heralded the Centenary celebrations of the Lodge and probably the longest lasting meeting in its history. The Lodge was opened on the evening of 2nd August: Provincial Grand Lodge were received and a Re-Dedication Ceremony took place. The Lodge was then called from Labour to Refreshment and a few hours of harmony prevailed. At 2am. On 3rd August the Lodge was recalled to Labour, when a considerable number of brethren were affiliated. The Lodge was closed about 3am. That year it was decided to change the name to "The Glasgow Star Lodge" and introduce a new Lodge crest (the one in current use)
The 125th Anniversary celebration took place in 1932, when Bro. George Lightfoot was R.W.M. and a dinner was held that year at the C'adora. The Lodges Sesquicentary (150th) Celebration was held in 1957 during Bro. William MacMillan's term as R.W.M. in the Freemasons Hall 100 West Regent Street, when the late Bro.The Right Honourable The Earl of Eglinton and Winton T.D. D.L. B.A. Depute Grand Master (Grand Master 1957-61) headed the Grand Lodge deputation and Re- Dedication Ceremony was conducted.
In 1960 the long standing partnership with Lodge Clydesdale was dissolved in the same friendly spirit as it had begun. The property at Abbotsford Place had become very run down and Lodge Clydesdale decided to purchase the vacant Victoria Place Baptist Church at 138 Butterbiggins Road. Soon afterwards the brethren of our Lodge decided to move to Lodge Clydesdale new halls as tenants.
The original Lodge Roll must also have
been destroyed in the fire, as No.1 on the present Roll is Bro.
James Campbell, who was Master in 1851 and gives his date of
initiation as 1839.
The next number assigned is 1.1/2, possibly to the Lodge Secretary
and brother responsible for compiling the new Roll (as the date
of the initiation is given pre. 1851) The Roll proper begins
with brethren initiated in 1851 at No.2 and continues un-interupted
until the present day. Bro. Thomas Halket (R.W.M. of Lodge St.
Marks No.102) has the distinction of being made the first known
Honorary Member of the Lodge on 11th June 1869. From 1872 until
1935 with a few exceptions, it was the custom on the occasion
of the annual Provincial Grand Lodge Visitation, to confer Honorary
Membership on all Provincial Grand Lodge office bearers in attendance.
During that period it was conferred on 177 brethren. Notable
among these in 1896, was Bro. Sir Hector Munro P.G.M. of Ross
& Cromarty. Since 1935 Honorary Membership has only been
conferred to nine brethren, viz. Sir A. B. Swan (P.G.M. of Glasgow)
Jas. S. M. Grieve (P.S.G.M.) Wm. King Gillies (Grand Secretary)
Leonard Melrose (Grand Treasurer) Dr. Douglas Radford (G.S.W.)
Alex F. Buchan (Grand Secretary) Charles J. Hume (S.W.1102) William
Love (P.M.1566) and Brian G. Brown (P.G.M. of Glasgow).
Many eminent men have occupied the Chair of the Lodge. Unfortunately, details of Masters from 1808 until 1840 (1833 excepted) are unknown. Bro. William Scobie was the longest serving Master, having occupied the Chair for six consecutive years from 1842 until 1848. An oil painting of Bro. John Spencer, Master in 1852 who was a well respected citizen and businessman in the City, hung proudly on the wall of Abbotsford Place. Bro. Hugh Osborne (R.W.M. from 1892-93) served the Lodge as a Past Master for over 50 years. The Master from 1911-13 Bro Matthew W. Montgomery, later became Lord Provost of the City of Glasgow (1924-25) Prior to the Great War (1914) it appears to have been customary for the Master to serve at least 2 years. Since that time only two Masters have served more than one year ---- Bro. Major Archibald Terris (1935-37) and Bro. Frank Moir (1964-65 and 1974-75) many are noted for their service to Grand Lodge and Provincial Grand Lodge. Notable among these were Brothers R. M. Battison as Grand Senior Warden and Harold A. Browne J.P. C.A. Substitute Provincial Grand Master. The oldest serving Past Master Bro. F. Elliot Dobie (R.W.M. 1946-47) celebrated his 95th birthday (1982) and has the distinction of being a Past Substitute Grand Master. Many are noted for their sterling service to the Lodge, Bro. William Buchanan (R.W.M. 1948-49) was by all accounts, a fine ritualist and served as Lodge Secretary for 16 years until his death in 1969. His Brother, Edward is the present day Treasurer and has been for the past 25 years. As a token of appreciation for Bro. Buchanan's outstanding service the brethren presented him with a commemorative jewel and carriage clock at the last Installation meeting. The youngest brother to occupy the Chair has been Bro. John McCabe (R.W.M. 1966-97 who was 24 years of age. The oldest living member of the Lodge Bro. M Grossman (97) was initiated during the Centenary Year (1907) and was a regular attender at Lodge Battlefield No.1258 of which he was a Founder Member Bro. Grossman celebrated 75 years as a member of the Craft in 1982 by being made an Honorary Member of Lodge Montefiore No.753.
The Glasgow Star Lodge has had the pleasure of being one of the Sponsor Lodges for the Charters of three Lodges, the oldest of which is Lodge Montefiore (1888) The other two being Lodge Langside No.955 (1903) and Lodge Oatlands No.1005 (1906) There are some other points of interest that should be included. The Lodge regalia has changed colour over the years. In 1848 it was orange and blue: in 1881 light blue and in 1896 changed to the present dark blue. A Masonic Apron that was found in the belly of a cod in the old fish market in 1847 by Bro. Torbet, then Lodge Tyler, is still in the Lodges possession. Of prime interest to the brethren is that the Lodge Minute dated 28th February 1881, refers to the 82nd Annual Festival of the Lodge. Should that have been the case, then the Lodge must have been working in 1799. An advertisement in the Glasgow Evening News of 1891 makes reference to Lodge Stars 92nd Annual Festival and would appear to support the previous assumption.
It is not possible to do justice to the many important events, or prominent brethren, that have gone before us, in such a short address. Therefore, failure to comment on any of these is due to the limited information available at the time of writing, the short time available to compile these notes, or oversight on the part of the writer. However, one thing is certain, our brethren of the past, whether having occupied the Chair, or held office, or simply attended our meetings, played their part in securing the future of our Lodge, and we can in all humility, be justifiably proud of their achievement.
Acknowledgement: Thanks to Past Master Bro. Bill McPherson for collating the history of our lodge. He was the Right Worshipful Master on the 175th Anniversary of the Lodge.
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Right Worshipful Master 'John George Craik' and Past Masters of The Glasgow Star Lodge on November 16th, 1908. click on the photo for a larger image |
Past Masters of 219
2005-06 Stuart E. Taylor
2004-05 Stuart E. Taylor
2003-04 Samuel K. Hodgson Jnr
2002-03 William B. Smith
2001-02 William B. Smith
2000-01 Samuel K. Hodgson Jnr
1999-00 James Martin
1998-99 Frederick McGregor
1997-98 Mark Trainer
1996-97 James T. McCallum
1995-96 David W. Glasgow
1994-95 Peter W. Murphy
1993-94 Peter W. Murphy
1992-93 David W. Glasgow
1991-92 Stewart M. Aitken
1990-91 Peter W. Murphy
1989-90 Neil Cunningham
1988-89 William D. Ross
1987-88 William D. Ross
1986-87 William M. Gow
1985-86 William Martin
1984-85 George Hodgson
1983-84 Samuel K. Hodgson Snr
1982-83 Joseph Caldwell
1981-82 William MacPherson
1980-81 Kenneth M. Graham
1979-80 George Stewart
1978-79 George Ramsay
1977-78 David C. Shillinglaw
1976-77 Andrew McArthur
1975-76 Robert S. M. Stewart
1974-75 Francis Moir
1973-74 Neil Cunningham
1972-73 Robert Elder
1971-72 Dennis Kersh
1970-71 James B. Murdoch
1969-70 William H. Gow
1968-69 Hugh Miller
1967-68 John Dempsey
1966-67 John McCabe
1965-66 Sylvestor Morgan
1964-65 Francis Moir
1963-64 John W. Haddow
1962-63 Richard McCulloch
1961-62 Alexander L. Forrest
1960-61 *John Gow
1959-60 John MacDonald
1958-59 George Meechan
1957-58 Alexander M. Caldwell
1956-57 William McMillan
1955-56 Donald P. Sturrock
1954-55
1953-54
1952-53
1951-52
1950-51
1949-50
1948-49
1947-48
1946-47
1945-46
1944-45
1943-44
1942-43
1941-42
1940-41
1939-40
1938-39
1937-38
1936-37
1935-36
1934-35
1933-34
1932-33
1931-32
1930-31
1929-30
1928-29
1927-28
1926-27
1925-26
1924-25
1923-24
1922-23
1921-22 *George Brown
1920-21 *William T. Tannar
1919-20 *William Law
1918-19 *John Murdoch
1917-18 *William Phoenix
1916-17 *Chaskel Gerson
1915-16 *James Stewart
1914-15 *Benjamin P. Macintosh
1913-14 *Matthew W. Montgomery
1912-13 *Matthew W. Montgomery
1911-12 *George F. Elliott
1910-11 *George F. Elliott
1909-10 *John George Craik
1908-09 *John George Craik
1907-08 *John George Craik
1906-07 *John Graham
1905-06 *James Weir
1904-05 *John Reid
1903-04 *John Reid
1902-03 *James Somerville
1901-02 *Walter Crichton
1900-01 *Walter Crichton
1899-00 *Thomas Yuill Paterson
1898-99 *Thomas Yuill Paterson
1897-98 *Peter McDonald
1896-97 *
1895-96 *Stewart McNicoll
1894-95 *Hugh Osborne
1893-94 *Hugh Osborne
1892-93 *Robert Henderson
1891-92 *Robert Henderson
1890-91 *Robert Henderson
1889-90 *George Dick Miller
1888-89 *George Dick Miller
1887-88 *George Dick Miller
1886-87 *John Ramsay
1885-86 *David Mearns
1884-85 *David Mearns
1883-84 * James Carson
1882-83 *John Morgan
1881-82 *John Brand
1880-81 *David Mearns
1879-80 *David Mearns
1878-79 *Jasper Martin
1877-78 *Jasper Martin
1876-77 *John Morgan
1875-76 *John Morgan
1874-75 *Joseph Wilson
1873-74 *Joseph Wilson
1872-73 *John M. Davidson
1871-72 *John M. Davidson
1870-71 *George Smith
1869-70 *Robert Livingston
1868-69 *Robert Livingston
1867-68 *Robert Livingston
1866-67 *Robert Livingston
1865-66 *George Aitken
1864-65 *George Aitken
1863-64 *Hugh Rankin
1862-63 *George Johnstone
1861-62 *George Johnstone
1860-61 *W. R. D. Gascoyne
1859-60 *W. R. D. Gascoyne
1858-59 *Hutcheson Campbell
1857-58 *Robert Black
1856-57 *William Wright
1855-56 *James Campbell
1854-55 *James Campbell
1853-54 *Robert Black
1852-53 *John Spencer
1851-52 *James Campbell
1850-51 *James Campbell
1849-50 *James Brown
1848-49 *William Scobie
1847-48 *William Scobie
1846-47 *William Scobie
1845-46 *William Scobie
1844-45 *William Scobie
1843-44 *William Scobie
1842-43 *James Russell
1841-42 *John Fairns
1807-1840 No Record