Lodge St Serf No 327 was founded on 2nd February 1829 in Kinross, Kinross-shire in a small county town measuring some 135 square miles, on the shores of Loch Leven. Loch Leven Castle (Lodge St Serf No 327's home page) is where Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned in June 1567, from where she escaped in May 1568. The M90 motorway which was opened in 1971, now bypasses the old county town, which has become a commuter town with excellent links to the whole of central Scotland.
The oldest Minute Book records which Lodge St Serf No 327 have are from the Regular meeting held in the Upper Town Hall, High Street, Kinross held on Tuesday 2nd February 1926 when the Master Brother James Stedman opened the meeting. Also present Past Master Brother RL Braid, Immediate Past Master Brother Archie Renton, Senior Warden Brother J Thompson, Junior Warden Brother P Lees, Secretary Brother William Wilson and Treasurer Brother A Templeman. Meetings were held on a fortnightly basis at 7.15pm.
St Serf Island on Loch Leven
At a Special meeting held on Tuesday 1st June 1926, Plans of the proposed new Hall were exhibited on the table and inspected by the Brethren. After a short discussion, the Plan recommended by the Building Committee was chosen. A Management and Building Committee met on Tuesday 10th August when the estimates for proposed new Hall were opened and considered. The following were recommended as Contractors for the work in hand-
Building Work- A & E Hutchison & Sons.
Joiner Work- W & R Philp.
Plumbers- Mr J Westwater.
Plaster & Slater Work- A & E Hutchison.
Brother Secretary was instructed to write to successful Tradesmen. Brother William Philp was appointed as Master of Works. In today's money it cost the grand sum of £1,174.76 pence to build the current day hall. It cost almost double this amount in 1993 to replace the windows only.
Lodge St Serf No 327`s new hall was Consecrated on Saturday 30th July 1927 at 4.00pm., by the Right Honourable the Earl of Elgin and Kincardine, C.M.G., Provincial Grand Master of Fife and Kinross, past Grand Master Mason of Scotland.
The Right Worshipful the Provincial Grand Master opened the Provincial Grand Lodge in the First or Entered Apprentice Degree, and thereafter Passed it to the Second Square or Fellow Craft Degree, and Raised it to the High and Sublime Degree of Master Mason.
The Worshipful the Provincial Grand Chaplain then offered up the following Prayer:-
O God, who art the Maker of all things and Judge of all men, regard, we humbly beseech Thee, with Thy special favour, this our present undertaking; grant that the work now begun in dependence on Thine aid may be for the temporal and eternal welfare of Thy people and to the glory of Thy Holy name. impress those upon whom the privileges of initiation will be conferred with the solemn character of their obligation, so that, abounding in al holy conversation and godliness, they may become true and worthy members of our venerable Order, as well as wise and faithful servants in Thy heavenly kingdom.
Grand Honours.
The Brethren then sang:-
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty,
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty,
God in Three persons, blessed Trinity!
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty!
All Thy works shall praise Thy name in earth and sky and sea:
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty,
God in Three Persons, blessed Trinity!
The Worshipful the Provincial Grand Chaplain will read Psalm CXXXIII. He then gave an oration on the “Nature and Objects of Freemasonry”
The Brethren then sang the Consecration Hymn No 466:-
Christ is made the sure foundation,
Christ the head and Corner Stone,
Chosen of the Lord and precious,
Blending all the craft in One,
Holy Zion` s help for ever,
All her confidence alone.
To this temple where we call Thee,
Come, oh Lord of hosts today,
With Thy wonted loving kindness.
Hear Thy servants as they pray;
And Thy fullest benediction,
Shed within its walls always.
Here vouchsafe to all Thy Brethren,
What they ask of you to gain,
With the blessed to retain,
And hereafter in Thy Glory,
Evermore with Thee to reign.
The Worshipful the Provincial Grand Chaplain will read Psalm XCV., verses 1 to 8. He will then offer up the following Prayer:-
Great Architect of the Universe, Maker and Ruler of all worlds, assist us with Thy gracious favour in all purposes of our present assembly. Grant us, we beseech Thee, wisdom in all our liberations, fortitude in all our difficulties, and concord in all our actions. O Thou who art the centre
of light and life, of joy and love, without whose aid all our efforts are in vain, vouchsafe that this
Lodge, erected to Thine honour, and consecrated to Thy service, may extend the blessing of our
Order, and so further the interests of Thy Kingdom, to the glory of Thy holy name. Amen.
The Right Worshipful the Provincial Grand Master responded:-
“Glory be to God on High”
The Brethren present responded:-
“As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.”
Amen.
The Office-Bearers of Provincial Grand Lodge gathered in procession and went once round the Lodge, whilst the Brethren sang Psalm 100.
All people that on earth do dwell,
Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice.
Him serve with mirth, His praise forth tell.
Come ye before Him and rejoice;
O enter then His gates with praise,
Approach with joy His courts unto;
Praise, laid and bless His name always,
For it is seemly so to do.
The Junior Provincial Grand Warden here hand s the Cornucopia to the Presiding Brother, saying:- “Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master, in the dedication of Masonic Halls it has been of immemorial custom to pour corn upon the Lodge in token of divine goodness exhibited in the liberal provision made for all our wants, spiritual and temporal. I, therefore, present to you this vessel of corn, to be employed by you according to use and wont.”
The Provincial Grand Master then pronounced the Benediction, saying:- “In the name of the Great Jehovah, to whom be all glory, I do solemnly dedicate this Lodge to Freemasonry.”
The Office-Bearers of Provincial Grand Lodge make a second perambulation, and the Brethren sing:-
God is present and doth shine
Through each scene beneath the sky;
Kindling with a light divine
Every form that meets the eye.
If the mind would nature see,
Let her cherish virtue more;
Goodness bears the Golden Key
That unlocks the temple door.
The Senior Provincial Grand Warden hands the Vase with the Wine to the Presiding Brother, saying:- “Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master, Wine, the symbol of strength and gladness, having according to ancient custom, been used by our Brethren in the dedication ad consecration of their Lodges, I present to you this vessel of Wine, to be used on the present occasion according to established Masonic form.”
The Provincial Grand Master then pronounced the second Benediction, saying:- “In the name of the Holy St John, I do solemnly dedicate this Lodge to Virtue.”
The Office-Bearers of Provincial Grand Lodge make a third perambulation, and the Brethren sing:-
Come, let us sound her praise abroad
Sweet Charity-the child of God:
Hers, on whose kind maternal breast
The sheltered babes of misery rest.
Who, when she sees the sufferer bleed
Reckless of name or sect or creed,
Comes with prompt hand and look benign
To bathe his wounds in oil and wine.
The Substitute Provincial Grand Master hands the Vase with the oil to the Presiding Brother, saying:-“Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master, I present to you, to be used according to ancient custom, this vessel of oil, an emblem of that joy and peace which should animate every bosom on the completion of every important undertaking.
The Provincial Grand Master then pronounced the third Benediction, saying “In the name of the whole Fraternity, I do solemnly dedicate this Lodge to Universal Benevolence.”
Grand Honours.
The Office-Bearers of Provincial Grand Lodge resume their places.
The Worshipful the Provincial Grand Chaplain again offers up prayer:-
Grant, o Lord our God, that those invested with the government of this Lodge may be endued with the wisdom and fidelity necessary for the successful and harmonious direction of its affairs. May Brotherly love prevail among its wall` s, and in every Lodge throughout the world. We pray for the future of our Brethren in every clime and under every condition. In Thy mercy grant speedy relief to them in any affliction or strife. Let Thy blessing rest on the whole family of mankind. May they come to know Thee whom to know is life eternal, and so persevere in the practice of every virtue, that when their work is finished in this world they may, with us, receive an
abundant entrance into Thy Kingdom and Glory. Amen.
( Click on image )
Presented to the Lodge By I.P.M Bro. T McGregor on The 21st Of December 2007
Minutes of the Special Meeting of Lodge St Serf held in the Masonic Hall on Friday 2nd February 1979 at 7.00pm
Page 221 of the Minute Book
The Right Worshipful Master Bro. William Davidson opened the Lodge in the Entered Apprentice Degree also present were immediate Past Master Bro. Andrew Smith, Past Masters Bro's George Young, Archibald Renton, Archibald H McKinnon, William Reid, Robert Meiklem & Arthur M Wardrope. Worshipful Senior Warden Bro. Peter Cumming, Worshipful Junior Warden Bro. Alexander McLean, Secretary Bro .Campbell G Thomson, Treasurer Bro. David Colliar, Senior Deacon Bro James Herkes, Junior Deacon Bro. Walter Smith, Inside Guard Bro. James Fraser and all other office bearers and Brethren as per the Attendance book.
The Master greeted the brethren and asked the brethren of Lodge St Serf to accord a warm welcome to the visitors.
Acting Director of ceremonies Past Master Andrew Smith introduced a deputation from the Provincial Grand Lodge of Fife & Kinross headed by the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master the Right Honourable the Earl of Elgin & Kincardine. Lord Elgin in turn introduced the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master of Perthshire East Bro. David McGregor and the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master of Stirlingshire Bro. Angus Campbell. Lord Elgin was escorted to the East, The Master passed the Gavel, the Emblem of Authority in Lodge St Serf No327 to Lord Elgin, Lord Elgin thanked the Master for his welcome and returned the Gavel. Grand Director of Ceremonies Bro. Alexander B Young introduced a deputation from the Grand Lodge of Scotland headed by the Most Worshipful Grand Master Mason Bro. Captain Robert Woolridge Gordon of Esslemont; Bro. Young further introduced The Past Substitute Grand Master Bro. Robert Smith both of whom were escorted to the East. The Master passed the Gavel to the Grand Master Mason who asked the Office Bearers of Lodge St Serf to vacate their Offices in favour of the Office Bearers of the Grand Lodge of Scotland.
The Grand Master Mason began the Re-Dedication Ceremony.
Grand Chaplain Bro. The Reverend Albert P Bogie called upon the Right Worshipful Master Bro. William Davidson to take the Obligation on behalf of Lodge St Serf No327. On completion of the ceremony The Grand Master Mason returned the Gavel to the Master who asked the Grand lodge Office Bearers to vacate their offices in favour of the office bearer's of Lodge St Serf.
The Grand Master Mason was asked to present PM Bro. Archie Renton with a portrait of himself. He also unveiled a portrait of Bro. Renton. PM Bro. Renton thanked the brethren most sincerely for the portraits. The Grand Master Mason and his Deputation retired from the Lodge. Lord Elgin and his Office Bearers retired from the Lodge. There being no further business the Master closed the Lodge in Due and Ancient Form.
Signed, William J Davidson Master.
Signed, Campbell G Thomson Secretary.
© 2007 - Lodge St. Serf 327