The History - The War Memorials in the Province

Information from the Minute Books of Lodge St Vigean No.101 regarding the establishment of the Masonic War Memorial in the Western Cemetery, Arbroath

14th January 1919

A Letter from P.G. Secretary Bro A.C. Anderson, intimating that the P.G. Lodge had under consideration the question of a fitting commemoration by the craft in Forfarshire of those Masonic brethren who had made the supreme sacrifice during the War, asking the Lodge to communicate the views of the brethren as early as possible to enable the question to be discussed at the P.G. Meeting on the 29th Jan The resolution of the Masters and Past Masters Association passed at the last meeting was.
A Resolution by the Arbroath and District Masonic Past Masters and Masters Association for submission to the Arbroath Lodges. “This Association recommends to the Lodges in the Town to approve of the Provincial Grand Masters suggestion that a memorial to those Masonic brethren who have fallen in action, should be raised by the united efforts of the Lodges in the Province of Forfarshire, but suggests that the details of the scheme, vitz., What shape of form the proposed memorial is to take should be submitted for approval by the different Lodges. In the Province and further recommend that in their view the memorial should take the form of a fund for the benefit of the dependants of those Masonic brethren who have fallen in the War.
The RWM spoke in favour of the Lodge supporting this resolution and Bro D. Littlejohn IPM moved that the Lodge adopt the suggestions made by the PM & Masters association, as he thought it was highly desirable that all the Lodges should have a common plan as to what form the memorial should take to commemorate the brethren who had fallen in the Great War. – The Lodge supported all this.

24th February 1920

A letter read out from the Past Master’s Association enclosing a subscription sheet intimating that it was proposed to erect a cenotaph in the Western Cemetery in memory of the brethren of the Lodges in the town who had made the supreme sacrifice in the War and inviting subscriptions for the laudable object.
The RWM stated that the Treasurer would be glad to receive subscriptions from any of the brethren.

9th March 1920

It was moved by Bro W.J. Rennie that a collector be instructed to call on the members of the Lodge for subscriptions towards the erection of a cenotaph in the Western Cemetery. This was seconded and agreed to, also a small renumeration would be given to the collector for his services.
Also agreed to a sum of five guineas (£5 – 5/-) given to a testimonial for Bro D. Dundas, Past P.G. Treasurer

16th March 1920

It was stated by the RW Master that the Collector was not willing to call on the members of the Lodge for subscriptions towards the erection of a Cenotaph so the sheets would be on the Secretary’s table for the brethren to come forward and give a donation, and the Treasurer would see that an opportunity was given to the members who had not attended the Lodge of late to subscribe.

25th May 1920.

At a Special meeting.
Acting Secretary read a letter from Mr William Beattie inviting the brethren to attend the unveiling of the St Vigean’s War Memorial. The R.W. Master said it was very kind of the Committee to send this invitation but as it was not to be a Masonic ceremony he thought it should be left to the individual brethren to attend if they wished to. This was unanimously agreed to.

9th November 1920

Intimated that subscriptions for the erection of a Cenotaph had been coming in very slowly, RWM urged the Brethren to contribute to the ‘laudable object.

11th December 1920

Bro Littlejohn PM Said he was at a meeting of the Past Masters Association where it was intimated that there was still a deficit of £60 on the cenotaph which was to be erected to the memory of the freemasons who fell in the Great War and he had been asked to this before the brethren of No.1010 in the hope that those who had not already subscribed would do so. He had seen a design and thought it would be a worthy memorial and deserved the support of the brethren. Bro Littlejohn therefore moved that a collection be taken at St John’s Festival and he hoped it would be a liberal one. Agreed to.

29th March 1921

The Secretary intimated that the unveiling of the Cenotaph was to take place in the Western Cemetery on Sunday 10th April 1921 and the brethren are requested to meet at the hall of Lodge Panmure No.299 at 1.45 pm. The RWM hoped there would be a large turnout of the brethren on that occasion

12th April 1921.

The RW Master thanked the brethren for turning out in such large numbers on Sunday past and he hoped that had enjoyed the proceedings.

17th May 1921

The Secretary read a letter from the Arbroath and District Past Masters and RWM’s Association intimating that there was still a deficit of £36 – 11s – 11d in connection with the Cenotaph and to meet same they had decided to ask the Lodges to give a grant allocated thus – Lodge St Thomas £15; Lodge St Vigean £7 and Lodge Panmure £15. Total of £37, the other Lodges had agreed to pay these amounts and he moved that Lodge St Vigean also give the grant of £7, this was agreed to.

That concludes the Information regarding the establishment of the Arbroath Masonic War Memorial.

IN MEMORY OF LOCAL MASONIC BRETHREN 1914 – 1918 THEY BATTLED FOR THE TRUE AND JUST AND NOW DO REST
ALSO IN MEMORY OF LOCAL MASONIC BRETHREN 1939 -1945

Photographs by Bro Maurice Cruickshank Lodge 101

Extracts from the Lodge Minutes by Iain D. McIntosh, 2020