The fist Lodge Lord Bruce Office Bearers before the Installation on 16th November 1963
Seated in the centre is the Provincial Grand Master of Linlithgowshire Bro Alex Pennycook and to the right 1601 First Master Bro. W Pilmer
Seated in the centre is the Provincial Grand Master of Linlithgowshire Bro Alex Pennycook and to the right 1601 First Master Bro. W Pilmer
Lodge Office Bearers after they were installed into office 1963
HOW IT ALL STARTED
In December 1942, a group of Freemasons had a meeting to discuss the forming of a Masonic Lodge in Blackburn West Lothian. Several freemasons attended the meeting, but as there was no sign of the Second World War coming to a close it was decided to wait until after the war before having further discussions. There is no history of a further meeting having taken place. In 1962 some 20 years later there were plenty of Freemasons around the Seafield and Blackburn area and it was not until the B.M.C. factory and the Glasgow overspill housing scheme came together and the village of Blackburn grew considerably that Bro. William Pilmer a young freemason from Tranent called on a few brethren in the factory to discuss if they could get enough brethren interested to form a lodge in Blackburn To say brethren were interested was an understatement. After considerable discussions, it was agreed by the brethren to start a Masonic club in preparation for a Lodge in Seafield and Blackburn district.
A committee was set up to start proceedings and they became the original Founder Members of 1601.
Bro. William Pilmer Lodge Nisbett 1112, Bro. Thomas Falconer Lodge Tollcross 1194, Bro. David Corbett Lodge St. George 617 and Bro. George Park Lodge Corkerhill 1426. These four names may well be long remembered in the history of 1601
Notes of the Masonic Club are very interesting reading, a short resume of same was running functions and of course all other arrangements in forming a Lodge which was quite extensive, this could only be accomplished with great dedication and this the Founder Members had and were really encouraged by help given by all other freemasons. The work continued until they made representation to Provincial Grand Lodge of Linlithgowshire and through them to the Grand Lodge of Scotland. The Provincial Grand Master of Linlithgowshire at that time was Bro. Alex Pennycook
The name of the Lodge as you can imagine, was after great consultation with the Brethren, Provincial Grand Lodge and Grand Lodge. Finally the name was chosen Lodge Lord Bruce. The brethren required permission from the Grand Lodge of Scotland to use the name Lord Bruce ( now the Earl of Elgin) who duly gave the brethren permission to use his title and of course the use of the Bruce tartan to be used on the Masonic aprons.
A communication of the Grand Lodge of Scotland held on the 1st August 1963 that the brethren assembled saw the Grand Master Mason of the time Lord Bruce invite the Immediate Past Grand Master to deal with the next item on the agenda. The immanent business was that Grand Lodge accept a committee recommendation that a charter be given to Lodge Lord Bruce and to be given the number sixteen hundred and one on the roll of lodges The application was supported by the Provincial Grand Lodge of Linlithgowshire Lodge St John Crofhead 374 and Lodge HopebridgeCastle 827.
The request as expected was given unanimous approval, a decision that was greeted with loud applause since the brethren assembled that day were happy to see the development of another lodge- but approved the fact that it was to be named after an especially popular and capable Grand Master
A great amount of work still had to be done and having been granted their charter the brethren at last began to see their efforts come to fruition. Preparation for the installation began in earnest and it was decided, in order not to clash with any other lodge in the province, the Installation Ceremony and Festival of St John would be held on the 3rd Saturday in November.
After the enquiry meeting held on the 2nd December 1963 five gentlemen's names were put forward for ballot.
On the Monday 9th December 1963, the lodge was opened but with no degree (the brethren did not want to open with a mock degree) a ballot was held and all five gentlemen were cleared. The lodge was now complete and eager excitement among the brethren to confer their first degree in Seafield awaited.
On the 13th December 1963 Bro. William Pilmer headed a very large deputation form Lodge Lord Bruce 1601 to Lodge Blackridge 1145 to confer a First Degree. This was quite a unique occasion for a Lodge to confer a degree in a visiting lodge before they had conferred a degree in their own lodge.
An excellent degree was carried out and R.W.M. Bro. William Tait 1145 congratulated and thanked the brethren of 1601 for making this a very memorable occasion. ( note the collection for that evening was: £3 pound 2 shillings and one penny)
On Monday 23rd December 1963 Lodge Lord Bruce conferred their first degree at home in the Seafield Hall
The Entered Apprentice Degree was then initiated on five gentlemen Namely: Bro. J Walker (1) Bro. A. McLachlan (2) Bro. C. Mackie (3) Bro. R. Wallace (4) Bro. W. Ewing (5)
The hall was full to capacity with literally standing room only, such was enthusiasm from brethren throughout Scotland to witness this first degree. While there were many very nervous office bearers, by all accounts an excellent degree was conferred. Lodge Lord Bruce was now on the map of freemasonry and the secretary biggest challenge was to control the list of applications of gentlemen who wished to become members of Lodge Lord Bruce
Listed below are the various lodges and brethren who supplied Masonic articles to form a lodge.
Some off the items are still used to this day.
Lodge Torphichen Kilwinning 13, Lodge Thistle 270, Lodge St Margaret 548, Lodge Crofthead St John 374, Lodge Buchan St John 636, Lodge Hope Bridge Castle 827, Lodge Nisbet 1112, Lodge Blackridge 1145, Lodge Hopetoun St John 1232, Lodge St Andrew 1587, Lodge Kirkliston Maitland 482 and the following brethren made their contributions Bro J. Girdwood 270, Bro D. Girdwood 270, Bro. H Docherty 636, Bro. J Mathieson 793 Bro J. Montgomery 1145, Bro A Livingston 482, Bro C. Low 391, and the following from 1601 Bro W. McCulloch,
Bro. R Kerr, Bro W. Rhind, Bro. J Reston, Bro. W Duncan.
Research by Charlie Rogerson P.M.
In December 1942, a group of Freemasons had a meeting to discuss the forming of a Masonic Lodge in Blackburn West Lothian. Several freemasons attended the meeting, but as there was no sign of the Second World War coming to a close it was decided to wait until after the war before having further discussions. There is no history of a further meeting having taken place. In 1962 some 20 years later there were plenty of Freemasons around the Seafield and Blackburn area and it was not until the B.M.C. factory and the Glasgow overspill housing scheme came together and the village of Blackburn grew considerably that Bro. William Pilmer a young freemason from Tranent called on a few brethren in the factory to discuss if they could get enough brethren interested to form a lodge in Blackburn To say brethren were interested was an understatement. After considerable discussions, it was agreed by the brethren to start a Masonic club in preparation for a Lodge in Seafield and Blackburn district.
A committee was set up to start proceedings and they became the original Founder Members of 1601.
Bro. William Pilmer Lodge Nisbett 1112, Bro. Thomas Falconer Lodge Tollcross 1194, Bro. David Corbett Lodge St. George 617 and Bro. George Park Lodge Corkerhill 1426. These four names may well be long remembered in the history of 1601
Notes of the Masonic Club are very interesting reading, a short resume of same was running functions and of course all other arrangements in forming a Lodge which was quite extensive, this could only be accomplished with great dedication and this the Founder Members had and were really encouraged by help given by all other freemasons. The work continued until they made representation to Provincial Grand Lodge of Linlithgowshire and through them to the Grand Lodge of Scotland. The Provincial Grand Master of Linlithgowshire at that time was Bro. Alex Pennycook
The name of the Lodge as you can imagine, was after great consultation with the Brethren, Provincial Grand Lodge and Grand Lodge. Finally the name was chosen Lodge Lord Bruce. The brethren required permission from the Grand Lodge of Scotland to use the name Lord Bruce ( now the Earl of Elgin) who duly gave the brethren permission to use his title and of course the use of the Bruce tartan to be used on the Masonic aprons.
A communication of the Grand Lodge of Scotland held on the 1st August 1963 that the brethren assembled saw the Grand Master Mason of the time Lord Bruce invite the Immediate Past Grand Master to deal with the next item on the agenda. The immanent business was that Grand Lodge accept a committee recommendation that a charter be given to Lodge Lord Bruce and to be given the number sixteen hundred and one on the roll of lodges The application was supported by the Provincial Grand Lodge of Linlithgowshire Lodge St John Crofhead 374 and Lodge HopebridgeCastle 827.
The request as expected was given unanimous approval, a decision that was greeted with loud applause since the brethren assembled that day were happy to see the development of another lodge- but approved the fact that it was to be named after an especially popular and capable Grand Master
A great amount of work still had to be done and having been granted their charter the brethren at last began to see their efforts come to fruition. Preparation for the installation began in earnest and it was decided, in order not to clash with any other lodge in the province, the Installation Ceremony and Festival of St John would be held on the 3rd Saturday in November.
After the enquiry meeting held on the 2nd December 1963 five gentlemen's names were put forward for ballot.
On the Monday 9th December 1963, the lodge was opened but with no degree (the brethren did not want to open with a mock degree) a ballot was held and all five gentlemen were cleared. The lodge was now complete and eager excitement among the brethren to confer their first degree in Seafield awaited.
On the 13th December 1963 Bro. William Pilmer headed a very large deputation form Lodge Lord Bruce 1601 to Lodge Blackridge 1145 to confer a First Degree. This was quite a unique occasion for a Lodge to confer a degree in a visiting lodge before they had conferred a degree in their own lodge.
An excellent degree was carried out and R.W.M. Bro. William Tait 1145 congratulated and thanked the brethren of 1601 for making this a very memorable occasion. ( note the collection for that evening was: £3 pound 2 shillings and one penny)
On Monday 23rd December 1963 Lodge Lord Bruce conferred their first degree at home in the Seafield Hall
The Entered Apprentice Degree was then initiated on five gentlemen Namely: Bro. J Walker (1) Bro. A. McLachlan (2) Bro. C. Mackie (3) Bro. R. Wallace (4) Bro. W. Ewing (5)
The hall was full to capacity with literally standing room only, such was enthusiasm from brethren throughout Scotland to witness this first degree. While there were many very nervous office bearers, by all accounts an excellent degree was conferred. Lodge Lord Bruce was now on the map of freemasonry and the secretary biggest challenge was to control the list of applications of gentlemen who wished to become members of Lodge Lord Bruce
Listed below are the various lodges and brethren who supplied Masonic articles to form a lodge.
Some off the items are still used to this day.
Lodge Torphichen Kilwinning 13, Lodge Thistle 270, Lodge St Margaret 548, Lodge Crofthead St John 374, Lodge Buchan St John 636, Lodge Hope Bridge Castle 827, Lodge Nisbet 1112, Lodge Blackridge 1145, Lodge Hopetoun St John 1232, Lodge St Andrew 1587, Lodge Kirkliston Maitland 482 and the following brethren made their contributions Bro J. Girdwood 270, Bro D. Girdwood 270, Bro. H Docherty 636, Bro. J Mathieson 793 Bro J. Montgomery 1145, Bro A Livingston 482, Bro C. Low 391, and the following from 1601 Bro W. McCulloch,
Bro. R Kerr, Bro W. Rhind, Bro. J Reston, Bro. W Duncan.
Research by Charlie Rogerson P.M.
Lodge Lord Bruce 1601
FOUNDER MEMBERS
William Pilmer
James Stevenson Purves
John Francis
James Martin Girdwood
Peter Allan
Matthew Ryan
David Dobbie Ure
Thomas Liddell
Alexander Russell
Charles Frederick Low
Andrew Ferguson Park
David Benzie
Douglas Paterson McLachlan
Thomas Falconer
James Hindman Renton
David Corbett
John Duncan
William Hannen
Thomas Brown Hay
George McCracken Park
James Elliott
Archibald Sillars McKay
Andrew Johnstone William Wallace
William Duncan
Harold Lochrie
Malcolm McLean
Robert James Kerr
John Paterson Robertson
Walter Thomson Diver McCulloch
Thomas Hay (Snr)
Hugh Walker Kinniburgh
John Bruce
Robert Ward Sommerville
John Adams Hunter
Alexander Dale
James Peebles Donald
Harry Drennan
William Veitch Tait
William Lewis Wilson
Robert Daly Ewing
David Swan
Thomas Speirs
James Mc Donald
John Fleming Withers
Malcolm Black
Robert Hutton Muir
John Kennedy
John Begbie
William John McNab Rhind
William James McKay
Ronald Kerr
John Watson Bell
John Brown
Lawrence Murray Girdwood
Donald McLeod
Alexander McDonald
Albert James Leitch
Jesse Gordon Bennett
Gordon Paterson
Alexander Greig Philip
Charles Collinson
Hugh Haston
William Young Smith
Walter Thomas Thompson Cowan
Iain Carnegie
Alexander Pennycook
William Sneddon
Robert Purdie
James Dougall
Daniel Hepburn Howieson
George Alexander Smith
George Scott
David Prentice
Adam Dickson
Archibald Simpson
Robert Miller
Lawrence Gibson
William Goldie
George Denholm Gray
James Mitchell
John Loughridge
Oliver McLeish Reekie
James Forrest
Thomas Baird
Thomas James Hubert Smyth
George Russell
Alexander Speedie
William Hanlon
David McDermid Easton
John Harrison
Thomas Johnstone
James Stevenson Purves
John Francis
James Martin Girdwood
Peter Allan
Matthew Ryan
David Dobbie Ure
Thomas Liddell
Alexander Russell
Charles Frederick Low
Andrew Ferguson Park
David Benzie
Douglas Paterson McLachlan
Thomas Falconer
James Hindman Renton
David Corbett
John Duncan
William Hannen
Thomas Brown Hay
George McCracken Park
James Elliott
Archibald Sillars McKay
Andrew Johnstone William Wallace
William Duncan
Harold Lochrie
Malcolm McLean
Robert James Kerr
John Paterson Robertson
Walter Thomson Diver McCulloch
Thomas Hay (Snr)
Hugh Walker Kinniburgh
John Bruce
Robert Ward Sommerville
John Adams Hunter
Alexander Dale
James Peebles Donald
Harry Drennan
William Veitch Tait
William Lewis Wilson
Robert Daly Ewing
David Swan
Thomas Speirs
James Mc Donald
John Fleming Withers
Malcolm Black
Robert Hutton Muir
John Kennedy
John Begbie
William John McNab Rhind
William James McKay
Ronald Kerr
John Watson Bell
John Brown
Lawrence Murray Girdwood
Donald McLeod
Alexander McDonald
Albert James Leitch
Jesse Gordon Bennett
Gordon Paterson
Alexander Greig Philip
Charles Collinson
Hugh Haston
William Young Smith
Walter Thomas Thompson Cowan
Iain Carnegie
Alexander Pennycook
William Sneddon
Robert Purdie
James Dougall
Daniel Hepburn Howieson
George Alexander Smith
George Scott
David Prentice
Adam Dickson
Archibald Simpson
Robert Miller
Lawrence Gibson
William Goldie
George Denholm Gray
James Mitchell
John Loughridge
Oliver McLeish Reekie
James Forrest
Thomas Baird
Thomas James Hubert Smyth
George Russell
Alexander Speedie
William Hanlon
David McDermid Easton
John Harrison
Thomas Johnstone
