Meeting on Tuesday 5th January 2016

The brethren present were treated to a comprehensive history of freemasonry in the Province of Renfrewshire West, delivered by Bro Alex Galbraith PM SM. We heard of the fact that Scotland is acknowledged to be the cradle of freemasonry all over the world with the exception of one country which shall remain nameless! While it is easy to take stories and myths as facts, The Lodge of Edinburgh (Mary’s Chapel) No 1 has the oldest minute in the world, dating from 1599.

Of course, freemasonry in this area began in 1728 with No XII and the growth started there. Alex explained how No XII was a self-constituted lodge and has had a variety of numbers: No 15 in 1757, was still No 15 in 1809, became 12 in 1816, 11 in 1822 and went back to 12 in 1826 where it has remained ever since. Alex delved deep into the Port Glasgow numbering controversy and raised a few discussion points especially for RWM Bro Willie Lawson of Lodge Doric Kilwinning No 68 who was present! We heard from Alex of Lodges now dormant like Lodge Mountstuart Kilwinning, Lodge St Andrew Crawfurdsdyke and, of recent memory, Lodge International.

In concluding the fascinating journey through freemasonry in this area, Bro Alex reminded us that it’s the future that counts now!
Such was the success of the presentation that many of the brethren present urged Bro Alex to publish his Lecture as a pamphlet. He was given a resounding Vote of Thanks.