The War Years

 

On December, 1939, a Notice of Motion was read proposing the transfer of £150 from the Benevolent Fund for investment in National Savings Certificates. At this meeting, too, it was agreed that all meetings should start at 7. p.m., no • doubt due to 'black-out' and transport difficulties.

Another example of emergency measures was the revival of the custom of holding more than one Degree on the same night, for on 18th January, 1940, it is recorded that the First and Second Degrees were conferred on that evening. This had been a fairly common practice in the nineteen-twenties but during the past ten years or so (due perhaps in large measure to the lack of entrants) the custom had been abandoned.

By February, 1940, the brethren felt impelled to invest a further sum in National Savings and voted that £75 be taken from the Benevolent Fund for this purpose.

When the lodge re-assembled after the recess on 12th September, 1940, Bro. Caskie was once more at his desk and was accorded a hearty welcome by the brethren. However, just over a month later The R.W.M. had to inform the Lodge with profound regret that Bro. Caskie had passed away. Bro. Caskie had been Secretary for fourteen years, during which time he had given full and faithful service to Possilpark, and the brethren placed on record their deep sympathy at his passing and their keen appreciation of his work.
Three other Founder Members died during 1940 - Bros. Kenneth McLeod, Alexander Gourlay and George Croll, that same Bro. Croll who had been of such invaluable assistance to the Founder Members at the formation of the Lodge sixteen years before. The time had at last come for him to pass on the torch of his enthusiasm and learning to other hands, and fortunately these hands are with us still, guiding the present generation through difficulties and perplexities as Bro. Croll in his time had guided them.

When Bro. William Neilson was installed in December, 1940, there was installed with him, as his Secretary and Treasurer, a team which was to serve Lodge Possilpark well for the next ten years or so, in the persons of Bro. James Candlish, P.M. and Bro. Thomas Patrick.

The thoughts of the brethren were, not surprisingly, focussed on the war and its impact on the Lodge.  On the 27th February, 1941, for instance, we find an account given regarding the arrangements for fire watching and the watchers were granted the use of the Lodge kitchen during their tour of duty.

It is worthy of note that when the blitz came to Glasgow in those terrible March nights of 1941 when Clydebank was set ablaze by German Bombers, Bro. Daniel R. Munro, P.M. conferred a full Third Degree one evening while bombers roared overhead and anti-aircraft fire arced into the threatening sky.

Although members were finding it increasingly difficult to attend meetings regularly they were giving wonderful support to the Lodge's 'Jock's Box', the minutes of every meeting making reference to donations both large and small. Indeed, the matter soon became sufficiently important to justify the appointment of an honorary Treasurer of this Fund. Bro. Horace Lowes accepted this extra office and during the remainder of the war he was tireless in his efforts to stimulate interest in the welfare of those brethren who were serving in H.M.Forces; many of whom kept up an intimate correspondence with him long after hostilities ceased.

In 1941/42 the Building Fund was considered to be in need of help and various gift schemes were started which proved highly successful and resulted in several very useful sums being donated. Indeed, so much progress was made that it was eventually decided to repay, with appropriate interest, certain private loans which had been made to the Fund by a few of the more affluent brethren.

During November, 1942, the initiation took place of William Boyd Marshall, who was later to become Master of the Lodge and who, over the years was to make several handsome donations to the Lodge, not least of these being our present Lodge furniture and electric organ. Unfortunately, it must be recorded that this initiation coincided with the announcement of the death of Bro. William McCallum, Senior Deacon of the Lodge.

Although Bro. George H.D. Robertson who succeeded Bro. Hepburn took office at a time when our energies were mainly concerned with the war effort, the fortunes of Lodge Possilpark were now progressing in a satisfactory manner. Attendances were consistently good, collections were improving and the numerous references to donations towards the Building Fund were most encouraging.

Another landmark was the initiation on 4th February, 1942, of our 500th member. This being something of an occasion, special reference was made to the event in the official minutes. A few weeks later, Bro. James Robertson, P.M., presented to the Lodge on behalf of his good lady a new mallet and trowel which were most gratefully received by the brethren.

During the period when Bro. William Brown occupied the Chair our thoughts were not unnaturally focused on the war which was now beginning to swing in favour of the Allies. There was a feeling of great optimism which pervaded the Lodge.

The atmosphere at attendances were perhaps on the low side as many of the brethren were either on active service or engaged on work essential to the war effort, but undoubtedly we were progressing in the right direction..

The installation of Bro. Robert R. C. Dobbie on 16th December, 1944, marked the commencement of another eventful year in the history of Lodge Possilpark.

The first highlight of the year was the dedication of the new Alter and Lodge furniture on Saturday, 10th February, 1945, in the presence of the Provincial Grand Master, Bro. J. Osborne Martin and his Office-bearers. The ceremony was

carried out by Bro. G. Kerr McKay, Substitute Provincial Grand Master. Much of the furniture was gifted to the Lodge and we here reproduce a tribute printed on the circular calling the brethren to that meeting: -

The Committee on behalf of the Right Worshipful Master and Brethren of Lodge Possilpark desire to express their appreciation to the undernoted brethren for their generous gifts of Lodge Furniture as detailed:-

R.W.M.'s and Wardens' Chairs and Wardens' Pedestals. Bro. W. Marshall, J.D.
V.S.L, ............................ Bro. R.R.C. Dobbie, R.W.M.
Oak Reading Desk.................... Bro. D. Gordon, P.M.
R.W.M.'s and Wardens' Mallets and Wardens' Batons.Bro. J. Candlish, P.M.

An interesting sidelight is the story of how Bro. Marshall came to choose the design of the furniture which he donated to the Lodge. Some time before, Bro. Marshall had visited a Lodge in South Wales, and had been impressed by the work­manship and ornamentation of the Master's and Wardens' Chairs and Pedestals. Later, when he decided to make a presentation of furniture to his Mother Lodge, he had them made to the design which he had admired on that evening. Thus our Lodge furniture as we have it today is in itself a link with a Sister Lodge of another Constitution hundreds of miles away in South" Wales.

Some three months later on 10th May, 1945, Bro. Dobbie had the welcome duty of conducting a short thanksgiving service for the victory of the Allies in Europe. His theme was the building of a Temple of Peace and Brotherhood and he charged the brethren to work towards that end. The service concluded with the offering up of thanks for our deliverance and the mercy shown to us during the dark days of war.

On 16th August, 1945, Bro. Dobbie held a thanksgiving service, this time on the successful conclusion of the War in the Far East, prayers were offered that this victory would result in a lasting peace throughout the world.

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