The Lodge Of Glasgow St. John

THE LODGE OF GLASGOW ST . JOHN

By Bro . W . P . BUCHAN , P . S . W . No . 3 bis , and Grand Steward , Grand Lodge of Scotland . ( No . 5 . —Continued from page 25 ) . " Your petitioners would therefore respectfully

urge that justice would be done to all parties by granting to the Lodge of Glasgow St . John said name and the number " One " of the West , with the right of precedence , next to the Grand Lodge , in the Masonic Provinces of Glasgow , Lanarkshire

Middle Ward , Renfrewshire East , and Dumbartonshire , and to the Mother Kilwinning and Mary's Chapel in all other places . The prayer of this petition being granted , or such modification of it as you may wisely and justly ordain as satisfactory

to all parties concerned , we , your petitioners , for ourselves and our successors in office , promise strict and faithful obedience to the Laws and Constitutions of the Graud Lodge of Scotland , and to uphold its influence and the interests of the Craft to the utmost of our ability .

( Signed ) William York , Grand Master ( Signed ) Robert . Cruickskank , Depute Master ( Signed ) Thos . M'Guffie , Senr . Warden ( Signed ) Robt . Craig , Junr . Warden . ( Signed ) Geo . Young , Secretary . "

The next minute records a meeting of date " 7 th August , 1849 , " after which there is a copy of a long correspondence with the Grand Lodge officials . The Grand Lodge decided to give St . John ' s the status of " No . 3 bis , " but that "

without admitting tho antiquity of the charter of 1051 . " The St . John's , however , also wanted the privilege of precedence in the west , but the Grand Lodge would not agree to this , so the Lodge of Glasgow St . John accepted the Grand Lodge's terms .

"At Glasgow , 7 th August , 1849 . At a general meeting of the Freemen St . John's Lodge of Glasgow — Convened : The Worshipful Grand Master and other Office Bearers , " The following parties were admitted members

of the lodge , having each paid to the Treasurer , Mr . Andrew Philip , the usual entry money of fifteen shillings : —James York , 15 s . ; William Waddell , 15 s . ; Alexander Young , 15 s . "The following parties being proved to be brethren from other lodges were initiated ( i . e . affiliated ) as members of this lodge , having paid

the usual fee of seven shillings and sixpence ;—David Man well , 7 s . 6 d . ; Thomas Braid , 7 s . 6 d , " The following Office Bearers were then chosen : — William York , Grand Master .

Thomas Buchanan , Past Master . Robert Cruickshanks , Depute Master . Thomas M'Guffie , Senior Warden . Robert Craig , Junior Warden . George Young , Secretary .

Alexander Young , Depute Secretary . Robert Philip , Treasurer . John Christie , Grand Steward . James Cruickshank , Senior Steward . William Waddell , Junior Steward .

William Neilson , ") . . , , „ . T T - ^ , ' > Assistant Stewards . James York , J James Gowans , Tyler . Then , as I stated , follows the correspondence with Grand Lodge , the upshot of which the following minute formally states : —

" At Glasgow , and within the Secretary ' s office there , the fourth day of September , 1850 . At a generel meeting of St . John ' s Lodge—Convened Brother Cruickshank , Depute Master , and several other Office Bearers and members . The meeting

took up the consideration of the last communication from Mr . Woodman in reference to the proposed connection with the Grand Lodge of Scotland and the draft charter prepared with the vietf of establishing that connection , and after mature

deliberation it was unanimously agreed to accept of the charter in terms of the draft furnished by the Secretary of the Grand Lodge . The Secretary is accordingly authorised to intimate this to Mr . Woodman , the Secretary of the Grand Lodge , and to request that the charter may be expede as soon as convenient *

" R . Cruickshank . " Then follows copy of Grand Lodge charter , after which , minute dated 27 th Deer ., 1850 , " Brother William York , R . W . M ., in the chair , " inter alia it says the G . L . charter " was approved of and

accepted in addition to the previous charters ^ as constituting this lodge . " The election also takes place—William York , Grand Master ; Bobert Cruickshank , Depute Master ; Thomas Brownlie , Past Master ; Robert Craig , Senior Warden ; Jas . Cruickshank , Junior Warden ; G . Young ,