History of Lodge St Magdalene No 100

Lodge St Magdalene No 100 received it’s Charter from the Grand lodge of Scotland held at lodge St Geils, Edinburgh, on 3^rd February 1766. The number then allocated to the lodge was 127 but in 1816 the number was changed to 96 and in 1835 when the lodges under the Scottish constitution wee again renumbered St Magdalene became No 100.

There is no documentary evidence of the existence of a Masonic Lodge in Lochmaben before 1766. It is claimed however that there were irregular meetings of Masons there as far back as 1727 and, according to tradition passed down from the first members of the lodge, meetings, even before then were held in a large dug-out on Corsua Moor.

The Lodge’s Colours were originally Light Blue but a change was made in 1807 to Royal Blue with White edges and these have continued to be the Lodge’s Colours with the White being changed for Silver edging.

The first regular meeting of the Lodge was held on 13^th October 1766 when 38 brethren signed a copy of the Charter, which had been engrossed in the minute Book. The next meeting was held on 27^th December 1766 (St John‘s Day). George Gray was elected the first Master of the lodge, and the Senior and Junior Wardens were William Lindsay and James Ferguson. Regulations for the conduct of the lodge’s business were adopted. 

 Quarterly meetings were agreed to and the following Dues and Fees were fixed. Dues for Founder Members 3d, and for Future Members 1/- per quarter. Fees for Initiation- Mechanics 5/-, Others 7/6, Fee for Passing 1/-, and Fee for Raising 12/-. James Dryden was the first Candidate and he was initiated on 2^nd March 1767. 

No indication is given in the minutes as to the place of the lodge Meetings during the first 18 years of its history. In 1784 the lodge acquired a piece of ground “on the north end of the Schoolhouse” on which it erected a building and on 27^th December of that year the Master and Brethren marched in procession to the place and “took infeftment from the Provost and Bailies of the Burgh of Lochmaben”. This building was never properly completed but it was used as the Lodge Room for the next 10 years, when in 1785 owing to financial difficulties it had to be sold. The lodge thus lost its #lodge room and again it is not recorded where in Lochmaben the Lodge met during the next 15 years. More information however is vouchsafed thereafter.

According to the minute of 22^nd March 1810 it was decided “to remove the Lodge from brother Dickson’s house to Brother Smith’s”. The decision was carried into effect that night and the minute continues “ The Brethren spent the night in Masonic conviviality”. After 4 years the Lodge was removed to Brother Mitchell’s house, then in november1827 to Brother Harkness’ and in November 1838 to Brother Craig’s. The next meeting place would seem to have been the Kings Arms Inn but there is no record as to when the Lodge was removed or how long it was held there. However it is clear from the minute of the Quarterly Meeting of 6^th august 1849 that “The Lodge accompanied by Lochmaben Musical Band and amid great demonstration of joy removed from the Kings Arms inn to the town Hall and after regaling the Band most sumptuously it was dismissed with thanks”.

Thereafter the Lodge continued to meet the Town Hall until 12^th February 1877 when a let was obtained from Mr. Blacklock’s Office “until such time as a better place be prepared”. In December 1877 Mr. Blacklock offered to sell the “New Hall” to the lodge at the price of £240. A committee was appointed but the negotiations fell through, and in January 1883 the Lodge returned to the Town Hall. Six years later in February 1889, Mr. Blacklock let the Recreation Hall to the lodge, and this continued to be the Lodge room until 16^th May 1921 when the Lodge purchased the present premises from Mrs., Blacklock at the price of £250.

After so many wanderings the Lodge now had a place of it’s own and the Temple was consecrated by Brother J. Bryce Duncan, Provincial Grand Master of Dumfriesshire on 17^th November 1923, in the presence of around 100 brethren with every lodge in the Province being represented. 

For the first thirty years of its existence the lodge was almost continuously on the verge of bankruptcy. Money was tight in those years and bills by Initiates were accepted for future payment of their Initiation Fees. In many cases these bills were never redeemed. Annual dues also fell into arrears and the Lodge itself was often in arrear with its dues to Grand Lodge. On one occasion Grand lodge actually threatened suspension of the Charter. The fact that the Lodge was able to then surmount it’s financial and other difficulties and carry on is a tribute to the devotion, loyalty and courage of it’s harassed office bearers. The occasion often produces the man and at this anxious and crucial time in the history of the lodge St Magdalene the man that was found was in the person of doctor Robert Clapperton. There had been only one meeting of the Lodge in each of the years 1772 and 1773. no meetings are recorded as having been held during the next three years. Doctor Clapperton, who had then recently taken up residence in Lochmaben and who was a member of the Craft, was persuaded to join the Lodge and at the Annual Meeting on St John’s Day 27^th /December 1777, he was affiliated and at the same meeting was elected and installed as Master other the #lodge, an office he continued it hold until his death 20 years afterwards. He seemed to have been a forceful character and by his vigor and his high conception of Masonic principles and duties (there are two lengthy letters of his to Grand lodge engrossed in the minute Book) he must have instilled new life and enthusiasm into the lodge, and form that date the lodge, though having its occasional setbacks, has gone form strength to strength.

On 27th December in every year during the earlier years of the Lodge’s history the Brethren seem to have put aside their cares and worries in the celebration of St john’s Festival which was invariably celebrated by the Lodge often with visiting Brethren as it’s guests by a Procession followed by a Ball. To illustrate the form the celebration took, one minute might be quoted, “ The brethren 27 in number with 6 visiting brethren, after doing the business of the Lodge applicable to the occasion, walked in grand procession from the Lodge Room to the town Hall where they spent a few hours with concord and happiness by giving a Ball to a brilliant assembly of ladies invited on the occasion an where all was happiness and joy to the unanimous approbation of every brother and sister”. After a few hours thus agreeably spent with the sisterhood and brethren returned to the Lodge room, finished the business of the Lodge and the meeting concluded as it began in the greatest harmony and brotherly love after drinking a number of loyal and Masonic toasts- the “characteristic of the craft”.

There have been two Masonic offspring’s from lodge St Magdalene, Lodge St Peters Mouswald and Lodge Quhytewoollen Lockerbie. The charter was granted to St Peters Lodge in 1810 an a Petition by the members of lodge ST Magdalene resident in Mouswald and supported by the Lodge ST Peters however is now defunct. Lodge Quhytewoollen received its charter in 1815 on a Petition by the members of lodge St Magdalene who lived in Lockerbie.  This Petition was also cordially supported by the lodge, which had the gratification of joining in the celebration of its offspring’s 150^th Anniversary in 1965.

Prior to the First World War it was the custom for Masonic Lodges to lay the foundation Stones of important buildings and Lodge St Magdalene had its fair share in these ceremonies. The following area few of the local buildings at which the lodge performed or supported a neighbouring lodge in performing the laying of the foundation Stone,

 viz; - Bridge over the River Annan at Annan    1825

          Manse at Lochmaben                             1839

          Bank at Lochmaben                               1852

          Mechanics Hall at Lockerbie                 1865

          School at Lockerbie                               1874

          Pedestal of Robert the Bruce Statue at Lochmaben 1876

          Masonic Hall Dumfries                          1889

          Inauguration of Burn’s Statue Ayr           1891

          Public School at Annan                          1894

Owing to certain differences which had arisen with Lodge Quhytewoollen regarding the ceremonial procedure (which did not effect the inherent harmony that existed between the two lodges), Lodge St Magdalene did not attend the Laying of the Foundation Stone of the Shillahill Bridge over the River Anan in 1829, but 3 years later the Lodge did support Lodge Quhytewoollen at the Laying of the Foundation Stone over the River Milk.

The first reference in the minutes to a Divine Service organized by the lodge is in the minute of the Lodge Meeting on St John’s Day (27th December) 1777, when a sermon was preached by MR. Henderson, Schoolmaster in Lochmaben and a Preacher of the gospel. The next reference is in the minute of 27^th December (St John’s Day) 1796, where it is recorded that the brethren to the number of “70 marched in Procession in the church when a sermon was preached by the Rev. Mr. Henderson, of Dryfesdale, Lockerbie. Thereafter the brethren processed through different streets in the town, colour flying and music playing back to the lodge Room where they dined together and toasts were given and the proceedings concluded with a Ball in the evening”. There is no record of any other Divine Service until July 1915 when a service was held in the Parish Church, Lochmaben.  The Preacher was the Rev. John McColl, minister of the Church, and who a few years later was Right Worshipful Master of the Lodge. So successful was this Service that it might be said to have inaugurated the Lodge’s Annual church Service that has been held more or less regularly until quite recently.         

For over 200 years harmony has existed between Lodge St Magdalene and it’s sister Lodges within and without the Province. Visitations have often been exchanged with one another, with various degrees being conferred during these visits. Visiting brethren have never failed to receive a cordial welcome at Lochmaben, which included the entertainment of French officers on parole who were stationed in the neighbourhood during the Napoleonic War.

The Lodge does not appear to have celebrated its 100^th Anniversary in 1866 although there was a suggestion on one minute that something should have been done in the summer of that year. No further action however seems to have been taken. In 1916, notwithstanding that the First World War was then waging- the Lodge paid due recognition to its 150^th Anniversary. A special Meeting of the Lodge was held on 3^rd February 1916 followed by a Dinner where Deputation's were welcomed from the Provincial Grand lodge of Dumfriesshire and the sister Lodges within the Province. In all 60 brethren were present.

Throughout its long history the records bear out that the greatest harmony has prevailed in the Lodge. At the age of well over 200 years the Lodge is in good heart and still shows every sign of youthful vigor. Lodge St Magdalene has qualities, which will undoubtedly maintain its high standing.