Foundation and Charter
Lodge St Margaret No. 548 Founded: 2nd February, 1874 Sponsor Lodges: Ancient Brazen No. 17 & Kirknewton and Ratho No. 85
“On the second day of February in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Seventy Four, and of Light Five Thousand Eight Hundred and Seventy Eight, Lodge Saint Margaret Number 548 was granted a charter from the Grand Lodge of Scotland by Sir Michael Robert Shaw Stewart, Baronet, Most Worshipful Grand Master Mason of Scotland; the Right Honourable Lord James Charles Plantagenet Murray, Right Worshipful Depute Grand Master; Captain James Townsend Oswald of Dunikier, Right Worshipful Substitute Grand Master; William Mann, Esquire, Acting Right Worshipful Senior Grand Warden; Major Hamilton Ramsay of Garion, Right Worshipful Junior Grand Warden; and John Laurie, Esquire, Right Worshipful Grand Secretary.”
The First Meeting
The first meeting held by the Lodge, as recorded in the Minute Book, was on March 14th, 1874. The first Minute reads:
“Lodge opened in the First Degree, Worshipful Master T. Wilkie in the chair. Brother Hutton was proposed and balloted for. Affiliations for Lodge St Margaret No. 548 were balloted for. The Lodge proceeded to initiate Robert Henderson.
The Lodge proceeded to ballot for James Sanley proposed by Brother Steel, seconded by Brother Jones (carried). The Lodge proceeded to ballot for William Cheneworth which was carried. It was agreed that the subscription for the quarter ending 31st March should be paid on 20th March and the quarter ending 30th June to be paid the second Thursday in April and the next special meeting to be held on Friday, 20th March at 7pm.
(signed) N Clodd, Secretary
Approved: Thomas Wilkie, Worshipful Master”
Brother Robert Henderson, the first initiate into Lodge St. Margaret, apparently went on to Lodge Kelso, No. 58 where he served as Tyler from 1893 to 1924.
An extract from the Minutes for April 21st, 1874 shows that, for the consecration of the Lodge (which took place some time after the constitution of the Lodge), the correct dress would be white gloves, white ties, and black clothing. Tickets were initially to be 7/6d each which was afterwards reduced to 4/- on advice from the Grand Secretary, Brother Laurie.
Consecration and Early Milestones
On May 7th, 1874, the Minute Book shows that the Lodge was opened in the First Degree, Brother Wilkie in the Chair, for the consecration of the Lodge when deputations from Grand Lodge and Sister Lodges attended. A procession formed and proceeded to the School Room (the present Temple) for the Holy purpose of consecration. At the banquet which followed, the usual toast was given to the Queen, the Prince of Wales, all the Royal Family, and the Craft.
On June 5th, 1874, Lodge St Margaret received her first visitation, a deputation from Lodge No. 5 Leith. On July 14th, 1874, an extract from the Minutes shows that “it was agreed to record a vote of thanks to Wilsons Trustees and the School Board for their kindness in granting the use of the Library and the School Rooms for a Lodge.”
Lodge St Margaret acquired the present Temple premises late in 1874, with the minutes recording:
“The Secretary stated that he had received from the Clerk of Dalmeny and Queensferry School Board the following excerpt from the Minutes of said Board: ‘December 25th 1874 Dalmeny and Queensferry School Board. The Board did and thereby do authorise the Chairman to grant a disposition in favour of the Mason Lodge St Margaret for those acting for their behalf of those subjects, commonly called the Burgh School of Queensferry, and dwelling house adjacent thereto, all being the property of Dalmeny and Queensferry Board at the price of two hundred pounds sterling, payable at the date when the new school shall be ready for occupation. The expense to be mutually borne by both parties. Further authorise the Chairman to employ Mr Thomas Whyte, SSC, to carry out the transaction in legal form, and further authorise the Clerk to send an excerpt of this minute to the Secretary of the Masonic Lodge and request their acceptance or rejection of the offer on or before the 29th current’.”
The minutes show that on July 6th, 1875, a meeting was held in Newhalls Inn (now the Hawes Inn) at 4:00pm where a deputation from Grand Lodge was received. At this meeting, Grand Lodge conferred on Brother Glendinning what would appear to be the Installed Master degree. After a banquet at the Inn, the meeting adjourned to the Lodge Room at 6:00pm. At 7:00pm, the Lodge was opened with Brother Glendinning in the chair.
There has always been a close tie between Freemasonry in South Queensferry and the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. On the 14th October 1879, the Minute Book shows that it was agreed to give £1 from the funds of the Lodge towards the Infirmary and allow any member to subscribe what he pleased and remit the same to the Grand Secretary for the Masonic Ward.
Securing the Property and Local Support
On 3rd December 1881, Lodge St Margaret sent a deputation of ten members to assist in laying a memorial stone at Bo’ness Docks with Masonic honours.
On December 19th, 1882, the Minute Book shows that Brother Glendinning had purchased for the Lodge the lower part of the old school house at the price of £73 sterling which the Secretary had paid to the Provost and Treasurer of the Burgh. The money was raised on a loan at five percent from the following brothers of the Lodge:
- Brother Hugh MacKintosh (£20)
- Brother James Sandercombe (£20)
- Brother Daniel Stewart (£15)
- Brother William Munro (£18)
- Total: £73
In January 1883, a deputation from Lodge St Margaret visited Buchan St John Lodge, Broxburn, to assist in the laying of a foundation stone for a new Church.
The Minute Book for the 14th August 1882 shows that the members of Lodge St Margaret considered establishing a Limited Company in order to raise capital to build a new hall. Estimates were received from various contractors to the total amount of £232 18/-, and this amount was quickly subscribed by members of the Lodge.
The first recorded grant in respect of benevolence made by Lodge St. Margaret was on April 12th, 1887, to a visiting brother from Royal Arch Lodge, Cambuslang, when he was granted 2/- which was thankfully received.
At the St John’s Festival on December 27th, 1887, the Lodge met and adjourned for a procession, preceded by the Queensferry Brass Band, and marched with torchlight around the principal streets of the town. Having again entered the Lodge, the Worshipful Master took the chair and thanked the members for the honour conferred upon him.