A new millenium and a new future
Bro. Thomson's year was the year in which we would be celebrating the 75th anniversary of Grand Lodge granting our Charter in November 1924 and the Brethren were looking forward to this with great anticipation. However as the Rededication of the Lodge would riot take place until the 11th of November and the dance, which would also celebrate the Millennium, would not take place until the 3rd of March 2000, the everyday work of the Lodge had to go on as usual.
During the year we Initiated five Candidates and two Affiliates which, in comparison with other Lodges, was very good indeed. Sadly however, we were to lose a further two of our members, namely Bro. Archie Turtle, and Past Master Bro. A. H. King. Bro. Turtle who had joined the Lodge along with his twin brother Sammy had been hospitalised for many years, but recently had returned to the area'under the Care in the Community Scheme. Up until his illness Archie, along with Sammy, had been a regular at our meetings and although he preferred to remain in the background, he was always ready to do his bit for the Lodge when called upon.
Past Master Bro. Alexander Hamilton King, who had received his Jubilee Certificate just a few months earlier, affectionately known as Sanny to all and sundry, was held in very high esteem not only by Brethren of our own Lodge, but by others in Lodges within and outwith the Glasgow Province. He was an Honorary Member of Lodge Anima No. 1223, and Lodge Milton Glasgow No. 1520 in which his son David is a Past Master. He was a founder member of our Club and was involved in its management for upwards of twenty-five years, having held the Offices of President and Secretary at various times. He was also instrumental in the formation of St Andrews Ancient Cork Lodge, which has raised a tremendous amount of money for charity over the years and he remained closely associated with it up until the time of his death. He was also a mainstay of the work parties of the mid sixties and early seventies which did so much to put the Lodge back on its feet again. Being a painter to trade his knowledge and expertise were greatly appreciated. The Past Masters Roll of Honour Boards will always remain a testament to his deft skill with paint pot and brush. He was also in the forefront of the volunteers who manned the bar when we were going through a very sticky patch in the early eighties. The contribution that Sanny has made to this Lodge in particular and Freemasonry in general is incalculable. In his Passing we have lost one of the Pillars of the Lodge and we are all the poorer for it. During the year the Brethren continued to support the social and sporting events on the domestic front and those organised by Provincial. The Lodge made many visits to Sister Lodges within and outwith the Province.
There is no doubt that the main event of the year was the 75th Anniversary. All the plans had been made and, as previously recorded, on the night of November 11 th the Rededication Ceremony, followed by a Celebratory Dinner took place. On the night itself a total of one hundred and twenty-five Brethren from within and outwith the Province attended. The numbers included ten Brethren from Provincial Grand Lodge and fifty-eight visitors. The Lodge was opened in the normal manner and after the business had been attended to a Deputation of Reigning Masters from our Sponsor Lodges, Glasgow Kilwinning Lodge No.4, The Lodge of Glasgow St Mungo No.27, Lodge Maryhill No.510, and Lodge Kenmuir Springburn No.570 were admitted. The Lodge was then Raised to the Third and High and Sublime Degree and a Deputation from the Provincial Grand Lodge of Glasgow, headed by The RWPGM Bro. Robert R. Best, was admitted. Accompanying Bro. Best on this occasion were the following Brethren, Roy Scott Dep PGM, John Graham PGL Chaplain, Michael Wilson PSGW, David S. Nellis PJGW, Alistair Henderson PGL Sec, John McLean PDOC, James Robertson PGLSB, R. Callum Mathie PGL Org, and Allan Taylor PGLIG.
The Mallet was then presented to Bro. Best who then took over the Lodge. The Office Bearers of Possilpark then vacated their Offices in favour of the Brethren from Provincial and Bro. Best invited The Rev. John Graham PGL Chaplain to proceed with the Business in hand. Before the Rededication of the Lodge itself our new magnificent Volume of the Sacred Law, which had been donated by Past Master Bro. James D Mowatt and inscribed with the name of Past Master Bro. Hugh T. Kennedy was Dedicated by Bro. Graham who then proceeded with the Rededication of the Lodge. The Ceremony was opened by the Brethren singing the first and last verses of the 23rd Psalm. Thereafter Bro. Graham carried out the Rededication in a dignified and able manner and it was closed by the singing of the 5th verse of Paraphrase No.2 followed by a Benediction. The Mallet was then returned to RWM John Begg Thomson and the Office Bearers of the Lodge resumed their stations. The Deputation from the PG Lodge then made to retire, but before they did so, they were invited to return and spend some time with us in Harmony, an invitation which was readily accepted. There being no further business the Lodge was then closed in Due and Ancient Form.
At the harmony that followed, which commenced with a three- course dinner, the following toasts were observed. The Loyal Toast proposed by Bro. John B Thomson RWM, The Toast to the Provincial Grand Lodge proposed Bro. John W Wallis IPM, reply by Bro. Robert R. Best RWPGM, Lodge Possilpark proposed by Bro. Gavin Stewart PM 1223, reply by Bro. John McPherson PM 1330, to the Visiting Brethren proposed by Bro. James D. Mowatt PM 1330, reply by Alexander K. Watson PM 570.
Among the Brethren present that night were Bro. James R. Sinclair PM who had travelled from Canada to be with us and Bro. James Miller, younger brother of Bro. Len Miller PM. Bro. Sinclair, as recorded in previous Histories, was the driving force behind the work parties of the mid sixties and early seventies which refurbished our premises and made it possible for us to get our Club established which got us back on a sound financial footing. Bro. Miller was a stalwart of these work parties and like Bro. Sinclair was a founding member of the Club. It was good to see them again and revive memories of some of the events that had taken place and also those Brethren who had given so much of their time and labour to further the interests of the Lodge. It was a night which will live in the memory of those who were fortunate to attend and our thanks are due to all those who helped in organising it.
The celebrations were not finished yet for we still had the Dance to come in March 2000, which we were all very much looking forward to. Although not part of the Lodge History as such, in January that year at the Club AGM, after holding the Office for 27 years, Bro. J, McPherson PM. retired as Treasurer. To mark the service he had rendered he was presented with a suitably inscribed decanter and bottle of his favourite malt with which to fill it. His successor is Bro. G. N. Brown PM. and we wish him well for the future. Bro. Thomson's year had undoubtedly been a very busy one and he had discharged his duties as Master with great enthusiasm and in a dignified and able manner. As he prepared to hand over to his successor, Bro. Alfred A. Grimsey, he could do so in the knowledge of a job well done. Bro. Grimsey was Installed as RWM on the 11th of December for the term 1999/2000, by Past Masters Bro. John Knight and Bro. Brian Brown.
It goes without saying that the night of Installation in any Lodge is a special occasion, for this is the time when the Brethren look back at the achievements, or otherwise, of the past year and forward to the challenges that the new one might bring. This Installation however was extra special, in the respect that we had, just a few weeks earlier, been looking back over seventy-five years of achievement and now stood on the threshold of a New Millennium. In our Rituals it is said that our Craft has existed from time immemorial, which means, amongst other definitions, beyond memory or recorded history, that our Craft is descended from the great Mysteries practiced in Ancient Egypt, Greece, and Persia, and who's to say that this is not the case. There are many who believe however, that Freemasonry has its roots in the Order of The Knight Templars, which was founded in 1118 and whose history is very well recorded indeed. If we accept the latter to have some foundation in fact, then at the very least, we can claim that Freemasonry, or something akin to it, has been in existence for almost one thousand years. And as long as there are men who are prepared to conduct their lives in accordance with the Principles of the Square, the Level, the Plumb-rule and the Divine Precepts laid down for our guidance by the GAOTU.in the VSL, we have nothing to fear for the future, and that our Order will continue to flourish, no matter what obstacles are put in our path, and still be in existence at the end of another thousand years.
Bro. Grimsey's Installation was notable for another couple of reasons. He was the third Master who had originally hailed from over the Border, the others being the late Bro. Kenneth J. Skeggs who had been in the Chair some thirty-five years earlier during the year 1964/65, and Bro J. W. Wallis 1997/98.
On the night itself, a number of Brethren from his home patch were present to see him being Installed. They appeared to have enjoyed the occasion immensely and we certainly enjoyed their company. This was also the night when Bro. George N. Brown PM., having served in the Office of Secretary for ten years, retired from Office and handed over to his successor Bro. John Knight who Installed Bro. Grimsey into the Chair.
The opening meeting of the New Millennium held on January 13th was a First Degree, conferred in their unique style, by Past Masters Bro. J. D. Mowatt and Bro. F. McElhinney. The Candidate on this occasion being Mr Allan Giddings. Bro. Giddings subsequently went on to receive his Second Degree on the 27th of January at the hands of a Deputation from Lodge Barrhill Twecher No. 1444 headed by their RWM Bro. William Taylor. His Third degree was conferred on February 10th by a team of Past Masters of Lodge Possilpark headed by Bro. John W. Wallis. In total we had four Candidates that year which made it difficult to keep to the Syllabus and honour commitments made to Sister Lodges. However, with some astute management, this was achieved.
Sadly during the year we lost a further six of our members to the Grim Reaper among them were Bro. John. G. Whannell P.M., Bro. Henry Jeffrey PPGM, Thomas Henderson and John Cartwright Snr. Bro. Whannell who had been unwell for some time, as previously recorded, was too ill to travel to the Lodge to receive his Jubilee Certificate, which in the event, was presented to him in his own home in November 1998. John was Master for the session 1955/56 and gave the impression of being a very serious person and there is no doubt that he took his Freemasonry very seriously indeed. He was Proxy Master for an African Lodge, representing it at Grand Lodge Communications for many years. He was a constitutionalist, which in itself is no bad thing. On those occasions when rules are open to interpretation you have got to bend a little, a thing he would not do which led to, shall we say, some interesting debates over the years. He was the kind of member that every Lodge needs, for though, as often as not his opinion did not carry, he made others engage their brain before opening their mouths. Past Provincial Grand Master Bro. Henry Jeffrey an Honorary Member, whose Mother Lodge is Knightswood No. 1445 was the most popular occupant of that High Office in recent years. He was a very down to earth man who tried to dispel any mystique that surrounds Provincial and to get ordinary members interested in the important work that it does and to get the Province to punch its weight at Grand Lodge Assemblies and in its various Committees. He was an excellent ambassador for Freemasonry and will be greatly missed both within and outwith the Glasgow Province. His son Graham is a life member of Possilpark. Bro. Tommy Henderson at one time had been a regular attendee at the Lodge, but having moved from the area, had been absent for many years, had now returned to the area and was once again coming amongst us. Although he held several minor Offices over the years. He never expressed any desire to go further. Perhaps he will best be remembered for his exploits on the dance floor and was known to all and sundry as rubber legs. Bro. John (Jackie) Cartwright Snr. was an Affiliated member his Mother Lodge being Milton No. 1520. He was a stalwart of the Lodge for many years and held various Offices during that time. He was a founder member of the Club and served as doorman for some time and assisted the work parties in supplying the transport for uplifting and delivering materials etc. His sense of humour at times could be a bit over the top and he ruffled many feathers, some of which are still ruffled to this day. There are many Brethren in this and other Lodges whom he helped in various ways and his support for Possilpark is undeniable. In joining the Lodge, he followed in the footsteps of his father in law the late Bro. James Lennox. Although he hasn't attended for a long time the family connection continued through his son Jackie Jnr who is also a member.
Though the Brethren continued to support the various sporting and social activities with their usual enthusiasm there is no doubt that the main event in the social calendar was the Dance to celebrate our 75th Anniversary and the Millennium, which was held on the 3rd of March in the Hilton Grosvenor Hotel. The function was attended by a large number of the Brethren from our own and other Lodges accompanied by family and friends. Amongst the guests were Bro. James C. Peddie WSPGM and his good lady. Bro. Peddie on this occasion was representing Bro. Robert R. Best RWPGM and all present had a thoroughly enjoyable evening. Our thanks are due to all those involved in its organisation. With the Dance over and all outstanding accounts relating to the 75th Anniversary itself having been settled, as agreed at its outset, the Anniversary Fund was tb be wound up. It was proposed that the surplus of £1846.04 in this Fund be transferred to the Regalia Fund.
Quotations for the supply of new Office Bearers Regalia were sought and in due course the quote from Millennium Mark for £2665 was accepted and an order placed. On October 12th the Regalia was Dedicated by the Provincial Grand Chaplain The Reverend Bro. John Graham.
On the domestic front a number of events of interest took place. The first edition of our own Lodge magazine The Possilpark Jewel was published and proved to be a great success. Another first for the Lodge was a fraternal visit across the border to Lodge of Fortitude No.7188 (English .Constitution) at Stockton on Tees in the Province of Durham, some of whose Brethren had attended Bro. Grimsey's Installation and enjoyed the different Scottish Ritual and the renoun Possilpark hospitality. This of course was Alf s home territory and it was he who organised the trip. On the night itself the Brethren witnessed a Third Degree which was very enjoyable but vastly different to our own working. Our thanks are due to the Lodge of Fortitude and its Brethren for the hospitality given to us and for a very pleasant evening in every respect.
Due to the ever increasing fees charged by our present Accountant it was agreed to contact some others, to see if we could get a better deal. After several interviews had taken place it was agreed that Bro. Robert Provan, who is a member of Lodge Knightswood, be offered the position which we are pleased to say he accepted. Also, in an effort to cut costs, it was agreed to investigate the pros and cons of ceasing to advertise our meetings in the Evening Times, the costs of which were increasing year on year. As this would require an alteration to our Bye Laws, which can be a fairly drawn out process, any change could not take place immediately.
We also had a salutary lesson concerning dealings with Grand Lodge, or indeed anyone else if it comes to that, which came about as follows. A few years earlier we sent the Past Masters Jewel belonging to Bro. James Robertson, our first RWM, to Grand Lodge for display in their Museum. As we now have a Museum of our own we asked them to return it so that that we could display it in our own museum. Grand Lodge informed us that the Jewel, having been donated to them, was now their property and could not be returned. We then turned to Provincial for their advice on this matter and they told us exactly the same. So, the lesson learned is, don't give anything away without ensuring that it can be retrieved at some future time.
A report given on the condition of the floor of the Lodge Room, which was also used for dancing etc, made it clear that it was in poor state and verging on the dangerous. It was pointed out that the said floor, which had been laid in 1955, had been repaired on numerous occasions but was now getting beyond that stage. It was agreed to get estimates for its renewal with the cost to be borne by the Club. It was also agreed that, as Bro. Daniel R. Munro would be celebrating his 65th year as a Past Master in December, we write to Grand Lodge and Provincial Grand Lodge and ask them to mark this magnificent achievement in some manner. Subsequent to this, Provincial informed us that a letter from the Provincial Grand Master would be presented to Bro. Munro at the Installation.
On the list of Office Bearers for the coming year you will see that Bro. John B. Thomson PM. is there as Senior Deacon which means, if things go according lo plan, that he will be in the Chair again in 2002/03 and we thank him for filling this vacancy. Due to the fact that nothing like it would happen again for another thousand years this had been a unique year in the life of the Lodge. It also had been by any standards, a very busy, enjoyable, and successful one and our grateful thanks go to all those Brethren and friends of the Lodge who made it so. In particular our thanks and congratulations go to Bro. Grimsey on the manner in which he discharged his duties as RWM. When he handed over to his successor, Bro. Andrew Dragsnes, he could do so with a well-earned and well-deserved feeling of accomplishment. On December 16th Bro. Andrew Dragsnes was Installed as Master By Past Masters Bro. T. Rushford Bro, G. N. Brown.