Lodge St Andrew, Lochlee No.282.

Toast given at the 200th Anniversary of the Lodge and its early years
By Iain D. McIntosh, Past Substitute Provincial Grand Master
Honorary Member of the Lodge

It gives me great pleasure to give the toast to the Lodge on this memorable and auspicious occasion.
First of all, I thank the Lodge for giving me the opportunity to do research into the minute books, Roll books and other documents of the Lodge – it is enthralling, but there was such a lot to absorb and not enough time to undertake such a deep research, but that is ongoing.
So, how does one encompass the story of 200 years of a Lodge, Brethren I am not even going to try in one small toast, there is just too much. I am just going to focus on the beginnings of the Lodge, at this point in time 200 years ago, in the early part of the 19th Century and the conditions in this area at that time.
Suffice it to say, what I have seen so far gives an interesting story of life in the Glen at that time, a story of a closely-knit but scattered agricultural society.
It is interesting that a lodge did form – away up here in the middle of Glen Esk, in what was termed at that time - such a remote part of Scotland and at such an early time. – just 4 years after the Battle of Waterloo when roads were not so good.

Description from the Scottish Statistical Accounts of 1793 & 1845

According to the description in the 2 Statistical Accounts of Scotland compiled in 1793 and then in 1845 The Parish of Lochlee – which encompassed the entire area, says there were no villages in the glen, just small scattered farms trying to eak out a living from the poor thin, gravelly, stony land, - they grew crops in a 6 yearly cropping rotation, oats, potatoes and turnips, tended sheep, which was now becoming very numerous in the glens and also had the small black ‘Angus’ Cattle.
It was largely a wooded area with aspen, birch and rowan trees, plenty of fish in the rivers.
This was at a time when there were just wooden bridges over the river crossings coming up the glen, the government was only beginning to invest money into opening up the Highland Areas, not much had been done since General Wade had started after the 1715 uprising, after the disaster at Culloden road building had practically stopped, but now money was beginning to be invested to open up these areas however a proper road and proper stone bridges up to Tarfside from Brechin would not be established until 1830.
The population in 1821 was just 572 souls, in 120 families. The one and only Landowner of the parish at that time was William Maule, 1st Lord Panmure, - he and his family, and then the Earls of Dalhousie owned vast swathes of land even extending all the way down to the outskirts of Dundee.

William Maule, 1st Lord Panmure

He was also the Provincial Grand Master of Forfarshire and Kincardine, he had held that post since 1801 and would hold it to his death in 1852, he was Acting Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Scotland 1808-1810 when George, Prince of Wales the Prince Regent was Grand Master of Scotland.
Maule must have in some way agreed to the establishment of a Lodge at Tarfside. The first minute was written on the 11th November 1820, then on the 30th November 1820 the members held their AGM after which the marched in procession, with the deputation from St Georges, led by bagpipes, violins and clarionets from West Migvie to the new Lodge rooms where they sat down to an excellent dinner.
The members must have been in a good financial position to be able to quickly build a Lodge for themselves
An account of the costs of the building of the Lodge and a School are still in the records of the Lodge, A contract and bargain with David McDonald, Feus of Froick for the building of a Mason Lodge and School, east of the Bridge of Tarf for £173 – 3s – 4d. According to the Minutes the members sent out letters to other Lodges asking financial help for this project.
As to this new building it transpires that a proper, legal title and a Feu Charter for the Lodge building was not settled upon until 1912 and with the then Earl of Dalhousie. I had the pleasure of transcribing that document a few months ago and proved an interesting document.

Establishment of the Lodge

However, it is not surprising that a Lodge did form when we look at the situation of the Glen and its people. Tarfside was at the intersection of the drove roads coming down from Aberdeenshire - Ballater and Aboyne, and also tracks going over to Glen Clova, People would be passing up and down the tracks, going to the nearest main market town in the area, which at that time was Brechin, 22 miles away.
Brechin had 2 Lodges, Montrose, not that far away had 3 Lodges, even to the North there were the Aberdeenshire Lodges, some of the early visits to this Lodge, recorded in its minutes were from Lodges like St Georges in Aberdeenshire and St Laurence in Laurencekirk so by horse, foot and cart they were quite connected as per life in the early 19th Century. The Roll books of the Lodge for that period 1819 to 1822 gives a total of nearly 90 members, so a very good percentage of the male population in the Glen at that time. They were Farmers, local ministers, one of which was the Rev David Inglis, who was the author of the 1843 Statistical report of Lochlee, there were also farm servants, day-labourers, shepherds, cattle dealers, tailors, wrights, weavers and blacksmiths, and even a Fox Hunter.

The Consecration of the Lodge in 1821

Brethren, today you have experienced the 21st Century trip up the Glen, on the current modern road, consider what it must have been like 200 years ago in 1821 when the new Lodge and its building were consecrated by Lord Panmure who led a procession of horses and carriages up the then rough road from his home at Brechin Castle to Tarfside.
The story of this ceremony is contained in a very interesting minute and article of the consecration of the Lodge in 1821, it is a unique record, many other Lodges were starting off in those days in the Dundee & Angus area, (225, 254, 286, & 317), but this is the only Lodge that was formally consecrated by the PG Lodge and the ceremony fully documented in the Provincial Grand Lodge Minute Books. Probably it was because this Lodge was on his land and he had his main residence at Brechin Castle.
It is described as: -
“The novelty of a Masonic ceremony in that remote region, the beauty of the scenery, coupled with delightful weather, attracted a great concourse of the brethren and spectators to the Glen. It is interesting to recall some of the notabilities who figured in the days’ proceedings. The Grand Master was the Hon. William Maule of Panmure, M.P., and the Senior and Junior Grand Wardens respectively were Major Hunter of Carlogie, and James Carnegie of Balnamoon, while the Provincial Secretary was James Burnes of Montrose, cousin of the poet. After divine service in the new Episcopal Chapel, the brethren marched in procession to the new Lodge room, “encircling it three times, to ascertain that that the building was cardinally and masonically constructed, after which they took possession of it, and proceeded to celebrate the mysteries of the Order in ample form”.
James Burnes, who wrote the minute of the Ceremony, was at that time Master of St Peter’s Lodge in Montrose and was First cousin to Robert Burns.
After the installation and investment of Brother James Watt, Master of St. Andrew’s Lodge, Lochlee, and his worthy office bearers and brethren of the Provincial Grand Lodge to the number of 120, the whole company adjourned to an excellent dinner provided for them under canvas by the munificence of the Most Worshipful Grand Master, a gentleman who united in his own person the three fold character of a princely host, an excellent Mason, and the most beloved of landlords. “Seated on Nature’s carpet, in the midst of a delightful valley, surrounded by lofty mountains, and the sun’s heat fanned by the balmy breezes of heaven, in the ‘the glens and mountains of Lochlee.’”
At six o’clock the Provincial Grand Lodge was closed, and the Most Worshipful Grand Master was accompanied down the Glen by many carriages, the construction of some of which excited the curiosity of the natives in no small degree.

The next annual visit to the Lodge by Provincial Grand Lodge – 9th August 1883 – 62 years later.

I now turn to an extract from the Provincial Grand Lodge Minutes of the 9th August 1883,
The Provincial Grand Master, accompanied by P.G. Office Bearers, official visited Lodge St Andrew, Lochlee, No.282, on 9th August 1883. This Lodge meets at Tarfside, in Glenesk, about 15 miles from Brechin, and it has not been officially visited since the time of William, Lord Panmure, now a great many years ago. In fact, 62 years ago.
The Lodge was found to be in Capital working order, and its finances in very good condition. There is a Benevolent Fund of over £1200 belonging to this Lodge, which is carefully invested, and the income is of great benefit to poor brethren in Glenesk and their widows and children. The Lodge also owns its own Lodge Buildings.
Whether the memory of the route of the road up the glen had been forgotten or the road had disappeared, but the Lodge just went about its own business in the Glen.
I am sure the brethren are now thinking, 62 years without a visit from Provincial Grand Lodge, what a thought.

The Tower

This is probably the only Lodge to be associated with a monument on a hill, the Modloch Tower. The brethren of the Lodge know the story. It is an important part of the History, and the tower figures on its Mark Penny.
The original idea of the tower was that the founding of the Lodge should be commemorated by building such a monument. The brethren decided that the tower should have a commemorative as well as a useful purpose, a number of tragedies had already occurred when travellers had become lost in the mist. So, the tower was duly built on top of the Modloch. In January 1827, the year after the tower was built, the Reverend Jolly and a Miss Catherine Douglas went to a wedding celebration at the Mill of Aucheen, on the east side of Modloch Hill. A storm was brewing when they left the festivities, as they proceeded the snow which had only been slight, soon fell thick and fast, obliterating the path and the unfortunate couple became bewildered and lost.
The lady, suffering greatly from the cold soon fell senseless in the snow and before long died in the arms of her venerable friend. The Reverend Jolly who was found by those who went out to search for them would not have lasted much longer himself in the cold north blast.
Over the years the members of the Lodge have inspected the Tower and kept it in good repair and at times in the past had their ‘Picnics and Games’.

In Recent Times

Today in the 21st Century the Lodge and its members play an important part in the life of the Province, for many decades now, the last ‘Official Visitation’ to the Lodges in the Province from Provincial Grand Lodge, is to Lodge St Andrew No.282. It is looked upon as a ‘good day out’ – starting with a bar lunch in Edzell, then up to the Glen, and the ritual stopping off at the ‘Trough’ where the ‘Mobile Bar’ is opened up and the whisky mixed with the pure clean water running of the hills, thankfully the Lodge members check the ‘trough’ and the burn before the arrival of the Provincial members, just to make sure there are no dead sheep are in the water course. This ‘Custom’ has been observed since time immemorial.
Once upon a time we visited 2 Lodges on that day, St Andrews 282 at 3.30, then in the evening it was Lodge Edzell Castle No.870, however that Lodge is no more, but the trip up to 282 still is the highlight of the year for the Provincial Members.
Recently, since 2012 the Lodge has been host to the Provincial Grand Lodge ‘Sponsored Walk’ Event – called the ‘Wee Wander’ – and many thousands of pounds have being raised for distribution to local charities, and this is because the members of St Andrews Lochlee have welcomed us so warmly and for hosting the event. So, the Lodge in this remote Glen of Glen Esk still plays a central part in the life of the Province of Forfarshire and its activities.

Summing Up

The part that this Lodge played in the local social and economic life of the parish of Lochlee, Tarfside and the whole Glen Esk Community over the last 200 years is well documented in its minutes, Roll books and documents. It is proof that that this Lodge has for 200 years, contributed enormously to the life, welfare and fabric of this whole Glen community. It was the social hub where they had their dances, balls and even education of the young, it provided the help to the brethren with benevolence – the aliment – the monetary help when they were ill, disabled, and with the funeral help, long before the welfare state and the NHS.

The Social History in Masonic Records

Brethren, I have been reading, researching and transcribing Lodge record books for nigh on 35 years now, it never ceases to amaze me at the rich, deep and hidden source of information that Lodges, like St Andrews Lochlee have, its history and its connection and its deep involvement with the community, multiply that right across Scotland with all our Lodges, in cities, towns and up wee glens like this one, and of just how our Lodges over the centuries have contributed to the social and cultural fabric of not just local societies but also nationally, and helped to form the modern Scottish society that we have now have, that involvement and contribution is very seldom, if ever mentioned in the mainstream academic history books of the evolution of modern Scottish Society. That is a pity.
We have such an amazing genealogical reservoir of information. snapshots in time, with the entries in the Petition Books of when a man joined, what his occupation was, his age, and where he lived, also in the case of this Lodge, from 1820 to 1850’s there is even a wonderful genealogical record, something I have not seen before of the members, when they joined, who they married, the names and birth dates of their children, it’s amazing.
I will just pick two names from this book that might interest the brethren

The Name Dinnie is not common for Scotland, but I am sure some of the Brethren from Aberdeenshire will recognise the name from the ‘Dinnie Stones’, made famous by Donald Dinnie, who kept lifting these great muckle granite stones. Well these two men were his younger brothers – both well know wrestlers of the period as well.
I thank the Lodge for being able to research through its books and I will if they permit continue with that, sincere congratulations must be extended to the Lodge for an amazing 200 years of in Glen Esk at Tarfside and the many members that have passed through its doors and kept the Lodge active for such a long time, may that continue for many years yet.

Picture of the Lodge and its member circ 1900

©Research by Iain D. McIntosh, 30th Nov 2019