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
Although there were plenty of Freemasons around the Seafield and Blackburn area, it was not until the B.M.C. factory and the Glasgow overspill housing scheme came together that Bro. William Pilmer called on a few brethren in the factory to discuss if they could get enough brethren interested to form a lodge in the area. 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 who consisted of Bro. W. Pilmer Bro. T Falconer Bro. D. Corbett and Bro. G Park
Notes of the Masonic Club are very interseting reading, a short resume of same was running functions and of course all other arrangements in forming a Lodge which is 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 chosen to be Lodge Lord Bruce. The brethren required permission from Grand Lodge to use the name Lord Bruce ( now the Earl of Elgin) who duly gave the brethren permisson to use his title and of course the use of the Bruce tartan to be used on the masonic aprons.
A great amount of work still had to be done and at last they began to see their efforts come to fruition when on the 1st day of August 1963 the Lodge was given their charter form the Grand Lodge of Scotland
Prepration 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 5 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 5 gentlemen were cleared. The lodge was now complete and eager excitement among the brethren to confer their first degree awaited.
A 1st degree was then initiated on five gentleman on Monday 23rd Decemer 1963 in the Seafield Hall.
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 freemasonary 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 contribition Bro J. Girwood 270, Bro D. Girwood 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.
A committee was set up to start proceedings who consisted of Bro. W. Pilmer Bro. T Falconer Bro. D. Corbett and Bro. G Park
Notes of the Masonic Club are very interseting reading, a short resume of same was running functions and of course all other arrangements in forming a Lodge which is 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 chosen to be Lodge Lord Bruce. The brethren required permission from Grand Lodge to use the name Lord Bruce ( now the Earl of Elgin) who duly gave the brethren permisson to use his title and of course the use of the Bruce tartan to be used on the masonic aprons.
A great amount of work still had to be done and at last they began to see their efforts come to fruition when on the 1st day of August 1963 the Lodge was given their charter form the Grand Lodge of Scotland
Prepration 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 5 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 5 gentlemen were cleared. The lodge was now complete and eager excitement among the brethren to confer their first degree awaited.
A 1st degree was then initiated on five gentleman on Monday 23rd Decemer 1963 in the Seafield Hall.
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 freemasonary 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 contribition Bro J. Girwood 270, Bro D. Girwood 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.
