The Foundation Stone of Lodge St John Operative No. 37 was laid, figuratively, in 1726, and, as the name implies, the lodge was operative at its constitution. For many years no regular meeting place was recorded, and much credit is due to our early Brethren who, though much inconvenience was encountered by continually seeking suitable accommodation, surmounted these objects, convened their meetings, constituted their Lodge, and preserved the continuity of which we are justly proud. A deep sense of regret must, however, find vent in those jubilant celebrations at the loss of our earliest records, without which we roam in the dark for thirteen years. Our oldest Minute Book opens with Lodge meeting, dated 28th December 1726 and reads:
“Convened at James Muierson’s house in fforress in general meeting of the Massons Lodg therof upon the twentie eight Day of December Jubij and twentie Six. in which their Election of Members for the Insueing year came on, when David Mackulloch Masson was voted and Elected Master for the Insueing year. Alexander Torrie, Warden Senr; James Muierson, Warden Jun; John Sutten, Box Master; Robert Belmanoh, keeper of one Kie. Alexander Belmanoh of another, and James Mill of the third Kie, and Thomas Boyd Continued Clark to Sd Lodge for the Insueing year. All other publick matters Referrd to their next meeting appointed to be at James Muierson’s the twentie eight of December next”.
The following minute is of special interest, as it contains the basis on which the age of our Lodge rests; and as it records the existence of the Grand Lodge of Scotland, we don’t hesitate to quote in full:
“At Forress the twentie third day of February Jubij and thirtie nine years, convened at James Muierson’s house here David Mackulloch Deput Master the two wardens Boxmaster Robert Mackie and Severall other members of the Massons Lodg of fforress as a Committee thereof. At which time Robert Mackie then Clark to the Sd Lodg was apoynted to take from their records a List of all present members there of and a minute of their Standing Since June Jubij & Six years at which time appears this Lodg was Constitut & Erected. And to transmit the Said Minuted wt a List of the present members of the said Lodge thereto Subjoyned in Cours of post to Mr James Russell writer at Edinbro’ with a full proxie or power to him to address the grand Lodg of this Nation for a Charter of Erection in favours of the Lodge of Forress in order to obtain which with all convenient Speed apoynted the Said Robert Mackie to order fourtie Shillins Strg with the for sd minute to Mr Russell for defraying the nexessarie Charges in obtaining the Charter above Mentd and ordered the Trasurer or Box Master to pay out the Said Sume & Six Shillins fords for the present entertainment and Robert Mackie to report Mr Russells ansr to a Committee of Sd Lodge apoyned to meet at James Muierson’s house the Sixteenth of March next.”
The minutes reflect little of the troubled times of the ’45 Rebellion but, in 1743 Thomas Wedderburn, Collector of Excise and a member of Lodge St Andrew, Inverness, was made Master of Forres Lodge. He gifted a new minute book to the Lodge and in the first entry there are “Regulations for the free & accepted masons of the Lodge of Forress”, whic make interesting reading:
“1. The Right Worshipful Master can congregate the Lodge when and where he pleases within the Town of Forress.”
“10. The Lodge Fund is designed for the Relief of an member of the Lodge (who is intitled as asid is) who me be misfortune become in need.”
“13. If any Brother come drunk to the Lodge he shall be rebuked and directly extruded for that time. And if any members swears in the Lodge he shall pay two pence starling for each oath.”
Most of the early minutes are very brief, in many instances two or three sentences cover the whole meeting. The minutes are laden with the business problems in connection with properties belonging to the Lodge, building, re-building, tenants repairs, rents and so on. There doesn’t seem to have been any stipulated interval between degrees and it was common for Brethren to have two degrees conferred in one evening and on some occasions all three.
1806 was a busy year, Admitting, Passing and Raising and evidently so pre-engaged were they at Forres that quorums were formed and repaired to such places at Kintessack, Aulearn, and even Inverness, but there is not a single word of celebrating the centenary of the Lodge (1706-1806).
On Jun 2nd 1807, the minute is of more than Masonic interest:
“It was taken into consideration by several of the members upon St John’s Day that it being a great inconvenience to have the Clerk residing out of Forres in order to remedy which, Mr Alex Milne, English School Master in Forres, being represented a Proper Candidate and well qualified to take charge of our business, which being put to a general vote, he was elected accordingly.” This is the only occasion where the title MR being given to any Brother, perhaps the reason being he was the English School Master! This Alex Milne came to Forres, and from 1806-1811 he was English Master of the Burgh. He filled his office with great credit. Milne’s Wynd is named after him. The Brethren met many times during the year and any Brother absenting himself from a quarterly meeting forfeited sixpence. The highlight of the year was always St John’s Day when at 10 am they marched in procession to Church, the Minister having been told to preach an appropriate sermon. In 1870 a clarinet player from Banff was engaged to lead the Brethren. Of more general interest is an entry dated March 21st 1838:
“A Joint meeting was held by the Committee of St John and St Lawrence Lodges when in consequence of the absence of the Provincial Grand Master, Sir Thomas Dick Lauder, John Hoyes Esq of Granada was unanimously recommended to officiate in his place in Laying the Foundation Stone of the new Public Buildings on the 30th inst.” “On the Day of the Procession, Hugh Ross was appointed to bear the wine, John Sinclair, corn and John Anderson the oil, Charles Smith to carry the coins.”
Foundation stones were laid regularly, and included:
1791 Building of Lodge by St Lawrence – St John’s playing a prominent part with a very “Liberal subscription”.
1823 Foundation stone of Anderson’s school with full Masonic Honours at the request of the Burgh Provost.
1832 Foundation stone of the Findhorn Bridge was laid on Feb 28th by the Provincial Grand Master, Brodie of Brodie. Brethren from Dyke, Forres and Trinity Lodges attending along with approximately 5,000 citizens – a memorable day for Forres.
Life and conditions were hard around the middle of the 19th century, depression had set in, and in 1866 the Lodge became dormant, re-opening in Feb 1878.
Although various properties were owned by the Lodge, there was no definite meeting place until St Lawrence Lodge built and offered accommodation in their new Hall which they had to sell in 1853 to one of their Tenants – Forres Mechanics Institute. During the 1914-18 War, meetings were held in the Castle Hotel and during that period 30 members of the Canadian Forestry Corps, stationed at Sluie, joined the Lodge and when leaving at the end of hostilities presented the Lodge was a beautiful Ballot Box, suitably inscribed, and which is still in use today. In 1926, the Foundation Stone of our Present Temple was laid by the Earl of Elgin, the Right Worshipful Immediate Past Grand Master of Scotland. This was an historic occasion for the Lodge and the erection of such a beautiful Temple has proved very beneficial. The Bi-Centenary of the Lodge was held on 9th August 1939, Sir Norman A Orr Ewing Bart, DSO, ADVC, VL the Most Worshipful Grand Master Mason of Scotland and Deputation being in attendance.
During the War years 1939-45, the Brethren met in the People’s Hall, the Military having taking over the Temple. Compensation received for the use of the Temple amounted to £35 per annum, £75 had been requested.
In 1941, Past Master Bro Duncan Campbell was appointed Provincial Grand Master of Moray and Nairn. This was the first occasion the honour had come to Lodge No. 37.
In 1971, Bro Tom Buist Past Master also attained the high office of Provincial Grand Master of Moray and Nairn with Bro Joseph Taggart Past Master as Provincial Grand Secretary.
Further honours came to the Lodge was Bro Andy Cowie in 1972 was awarded Honorary Grand Rank, also (in 1973) Bro John A Cameron for long and faithful service. In 1985 PM Bro Robt McIntosh received the Honorary Grand Rank of Director of Ceremonies for distinguished services to the Lodge and Provincial Grand Lodge.
The cost of maintenance and upkeep of the Lodge began to soar in the 1960s, rates especially becoming exorbitant and in 1975 a licence was obtained and a Social Club formed. This venture has proved very successful both financially and socially.
A number of notable events took place in 2011, including the appointment of Brother Allan Lawrence Past Master as Provincial Grand Master of Moray and Nairn, and the conversion of the Lodge Temple attic space as storage
Lodge St John (Operative) No 37 