The Way Ahead

 

The 'reign' of Bro. William Strachan was not without much pleasurable incident. On 8th March 1951, for instance, the Lodge decided to purchase an invalid chair for a disabled brother. During his year of office Members were kept busy with the many visitations which were all well attended by the Brethren.

Bro. Strachan is to be commended for his untiring efforts in introducing young members into ceremonial work. A sadder note was struck on 23rd August, however, for at that meeting Bro. Strachan intimated the death of yet another Past-Master, Bro. William Brown.

At the installation of Bro. John Taylor on 13th December 1951, the Master had the painful duty of informing the brethren of the death of Bro. William Laird, who only three weeks before had been elected to the office of Director of Ceremonies, and who was to have been installed that evening. It was on this sad note that Bro. Taylor's year began, and on 14th February 1952 the Lodge went into mourning for three months - in common with all other Lodges - on the death of His Majesty King George VI, who as Duke of York had occupied the Chair of the Grand Master Mason of Scotland. Bro. Taylor's meetings were conducted with the affable and extremely apt geniality to be expected from Bro. Taylor, and he led the Lodge on several pleasant visitations to sister Lodges.

As we draw nearer to the present day in our history, it becomes more and more difficult to view the passing years in their proper perspective, and to recognise the truly outstanding events as they occur. It may be left to some future historian to pick out occurrences whose significance can only be measured in thelight of future developments. Meanwhile, we pass on to the year 1952/53, when the Lodge was ruled over by Bro. Thomas Beattie.

During the Spring of 1953, the toll of the years was once more apparent when the deaths of two more founder members were announced. Almost thirty years had now gone since those first eager meetings of Masonic Brethren were held in the Church Halls. Steadily, the survivors of that list of 113 brethren who had signed the Petition were growing fewer.   May these survivors who are left, long be spared to afford instruction and assistance to the younger brethren who come after them.
1953 was of course Coronation Year, and in contrast to the sombre mourning of twelve months before, the subject under discussion at the meeting of 14th May was the decoration of the Hall to celebrate the coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. It was of course agreed that the Hall be decorated.

Brother Beatties' year was a very happy one, and his enthusiasm for free Masonry was an example to all the Brethren.
Bro. Thomas Patrick, who succeeded Bro. Beattie as Master, had served for thirteen years as Treasurer - the longest-serving Treasurer that Lodge Possilpark had ever had. While on the subject of long service, it must be recorded that it was now that Bro. James Patrick left the office of Tyler, alter twenty seven years, and joined his son on the dais as his Depute Master.

On 26th August the brethren were informed of the death of Bro. James Colquhoun, P.M., and Bro. Henry McKerlie, a young member who fell ill shortly after receiving his Second Degree.

Bro. Robert E. Gunnell began his term of office on 9th December 1954. He brought his own brand of humour to enliven his meetings, and soon the brethren were looking forward to his apt rejoinders.

On 10th March 1955, The Provincial Grand Master Bro. Dr. A. Anderson McMillan received honorary membership.
A month later Bro. Gunnell accepted, on behalf of the Lodge, gifts of a Director of Ceremonies staff from Bro. Charles Windle and a set of collection plates from Bro. David McLean. Both gifts were much appreciated by the brethren, and Bros. Windle and McLean were warmly thanked by the Master. Shortly afterwards Bro. Gunnell had to announce the death of Bro. John H. Brownlie, the first Secretary of the Lodge.

On 9th June, Bro. David McLean was presented with a dress apron, Bro. Gunnell stressing, in making the presentation, that this gift was a token from the brethren of the Lodge of the esteem in which Bro. McLean was held, and of their gratitude for the years of faithful service given by him to Lodge Possilpark.
It was during Bro. GunnelFs year that the Hall floor was relaid at a cost of some £300, and when he vacated the Chair on 8th December 1955 he could look back with satisfaction to a happy and eventful twelve months in the history of Lodge Possilpark.

Bro. John G. Whannell, who succeeded Bro. Gunnell, soon had the sad duty of informing the brethren of the death of one of our Pastmasters, Bro. Horace Lowes.
On 12th April, 1956, David S. McLean was presented with his Distinguished Service Membership diploma. The occasion was the Provincial Grand Lodge Visitation, and the presentation was made by Bro. Ernest Noakes, Depute Provincial Grand Master, who expressed his satisfaction at being asked to perform this happy ceremony.

Later in the year Possilpark became a sponsor Lodge for a new Lodge being formed in Milton, and on 1 Oth May Bro. Whannell informed the Lodge that he and his Wardens had interviewed the Founder Members and were satisfied that Possilpark should support the new venture.

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