A brief history (part one)

Records for Freemasonry in Johnstone dates back to 1753 when Lodge Johnstone Kilwinning amalgamated with Glasgow Kilwinning (now No. 4).  The lodge must have existed before 1753, but there are no written records and everything must be pure speculation.  Briefly, Glasgow Kilwinning had a large number of merchants as members, some from the Houstoun family in the early 1700’s – it is possible that these brethren were also members in Johnstone.  The link with No. 4 is not too surprising since the ‘Brig O’Johnstone’ was the only route to the ports of Greenock and Port Glasgow.  The highest Masonic honour to the Houstoun family who founded both Johnstone and the lodge was that given to Sir George in 1790  - he was made Grand Master of Georgia.

The present lodge was chartered on 5th August, 1811 with the first RWM, William Houstoun, never attending a meeting – even when his father and brother were affiliated.  Like most lodges, they met in pubs and houses with most of the town’s innkeepers being admitted members (the first being the Cross Keys Public House – hence the name of the lodge newsletter).  The lodge flourished until 1855 when it nearly became dormant, but for one brother who continued to pass Grand Lodge dues.  I believe the reason for the lack of interest was due to many of the members being on the council  - in 1857, Johnstone became a burgh which was a great deal of work to get this through.  However, from 1863 the lodge went through a dramatic period with sometimes 8, 9 or more candidates receiving all three degrees – quite a thought now to have three on one night!

   A brief history (part 2)

In 1912, the lodge moved into the present building with 500 members.The Grand Master had sent a circular for inclusion in the Government of Ireland Bill to allow “Meetings of the Society of Freemasons” in Ireland to continue – this was backed by the lodge when the Secretary, Alex Caldwell, wrote to the Prime Minister supporting theclause.Perhaps we had more power in those days. The lodge continued from strength to strength and over the years quite rightly enjoyed a reputation for being one of the foremost lodges within the province of Renfrewshire East. this has been achieved,  not by accident but by the hard work and dedication of its members down through the years. In six years time the lodge will celebrate its bi –centenary ,an event in which all of its brethren are looking forward to with great anticipation who knows what the future will bring for 242and Freemasonry,but beassured the traditions and historyof this lodge which has been passed down through the generationsof its members will stand us in good stead to handle the challenges that lie ahead

Excerpts from the Minute Book

1811 - 1889

 

20^th November 1811      “Present, the Dep Master and the rest of the

 office bearers. Thomas Mills, vinter, was entered the first apprentice

and paid the fee as was also John Murdoch, weaver, free of expense

upon condition of his acting as Tyler to the lodge”

 

30^th November1811      “Robert Hodgart was elected as Grand Master”  

            (The term R.W.M. was not known in the minute book at this time)

 

7^th April 1813

                        (Appears to be the first affiliate from Largs Kilwinning)

 

21^st November1815   “Meeting held in Archibald Neilson’s house”

                            (Possibly because he was a wine merchant)

 

30^th November 1824   “Meeting held in Robert Hodgart’s Black Bull Inn

               (A very prominent establishment in Johnstone at the time)

 

16^th June  1824     “Meeting held in James Sloan’s Bucks Head In -14

high streetJohnstone ,where he was initiated in to the lodge that evening”

 

23^rd November1830   “One candidate is made an E.A. then two are

 passed as  F.C. at the same meeting”

 

27^th December 1832    “Office bearers not fulfilling duties are to be fined 5 shillings” (The First mention of an obligation )

 

1838 -  1846    (Only 16 meetings in total are held, however a couple

 appear to have been held illegally)

 

30^th  November1846    “John Campbell is given all three degrees in one

night and elected as R.W.M. on the same night”

 

8^th January1855    “ Met in the Black Bull Inn after having lain“dormant”

for 8 years. A deputation from St Barchan was received and 6 candidates

were initiated including John Thomson, owner of the Black Bull Inn”

 

22^nd December1863    “3 affiliates, 4 raised then 8 entered.The lodge

has completely turned round when it was so closeto returning its warrant”

 

13^th July 1864 “ Met in the Cross Keys Inn” (First mention of theCross keys)

 

7th April 1865       “ A certain Capt Fraser of the police had received the

E.A .word and M.M. grip and is not a Mason.  The R.W.M. asked every  brother to find the “offending brother” who gave away the secrets”

 

12^th April 1865   “Two brethren were appointed to speak to Capt Fraser 

and persuade him to join the lodge”

 

15^th December 1867 “The Installation was cancelled due to a small  attendance”

 

4^th June 1869  “One candidate receives the E.A .degree, two the F.C.

and then one of these the M.M. degree” (All in the one night )

 

7^th October 1870     “Communications were received about the foundation

stone at the Edinburgh royal infirmary and the installation of the grand master mason  (The Prince of Wales)

       (242 sent a protest due to G.L. charging 5/- entrance to the meeting)

 

5^th May 1876                           (Test fees first introduced)

 

4^th August 1876“The F.C .degree conferred by Bro -William Guy who

gave a lecture on the“Winding Stair”(Was this the Tracing Board lecture)

 

7^th October1881       “ No nominations for the office of R.W.M”

 

1^st December 1882  “No objections raised for conferring the Mark degree”

                                        (First mention of this degree in 242)

 

10th October 1883    “ The orange lodge and the odd fellows lodge are not

 agreeable to pay for the use of lodge furnishings”

      (The Orange lodge and Oddfellows lodge also met in the cross keys Inn)

 

18^th January 1888 “Opportunity to buy the cross keys Inn  for £400,

 but the owners terms (Bro- David Stevenson)were deemed unacceptable”

 

26^th September 1889    “ Proposed to have a social meeting in the

lodge room with the  wives and sweethearts”

      (Was the beginning of the Annual Balls the lodge held “one upon a time” )  

 

6^th December 1889     “After the ballot was found to be “pure” the lodge

was raised to make a master mason . Bro- Guy then installed the OB’s and then the brethren retired to allow Bro-Guy to install the  new R.W.M”

                              ( Prior to this, no one left the lodge room)  

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