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Historical Note about
Renfrewshire East prepared by Bro Frank Johnstone PPGM
Following Parliaments approval of the Statute 39 George III
c1779, it was necessary for the Grand Lodge of Scotland to introduce
a more formal system of supervision of her Daughter Lodges.
Therefore in 1801 the Lodges of Renfrewshire were formed into a
Province under the supervision of William MacDowall of Garthland.
This Provincial Grand Master was a Past Master of a Paisley Lodge.
In 1826 there were 24 Lodges in that Province mainly in the East and
West, thus to facilitate the ease of supervision the Province was
adjusted into Renfrewshire East with 16 Lodges and Renfrewshire West
with 8 Lodges. The year 2001 marked the bi-centenary of the founding
of that original province and the 175th anniversary of the Province
as we know know it. The first Provincial Grand Master of
Renfrewshire East was Sir John Maxwell who transferred from
Glasgow where he had been PGM from 1812.
Anniversary
This Province has been to date celebrated two anniversary's, the
Centenary and the Sesqui-Centenary. During my commission (1997-2002) I became aware that 2001 marked two unique events in the
history of the Province. I felt the occasion should be marked in a
suitable way. The Brethren of the Province gave me excellent
co-operation in the initiation of new members, and the bonding
process that is required if we are to develop those initiates into
active members of our Lodges. Recent Grand Lodge decisions have
given us our Education Guidance Document, whilst dramatised versions
of various Historical Ceremonies have raised the interest of the
Brethren, giving us a further educational aid. Foremost among these
new aids is the dramatisation of the Fellowcraft Ceremonial of circa
1824 worked by Lodge Union and Crown 307 and the enactment of circa
1695 Initiation in Kilwinning which utilises the research of Bro
Stephen Foster PM of Lodge The Kings Park 1386, our research Lodge.
Method
Seeking to find a way to mark these important occasions, research
showed that of the 16 original Lodges which formed the 1801
Province, 8 of them were either daughters or directly influenced by
Kilwinning, whilst by 1826, there was then 24 Lodges, half of them
had similar relationships with Kilwinning. Within this Province the
areas of Kilbarchan, East Kilbride, Eaglesham, Paisley and Erskine
have been directly associated with Kilwinning Freemasonry. The first
PGM of the 1801 Province was a member and Master of Renfrew County a
Daughter Lodge of Kilwinning Lodge, he was No 145 on the roll and
Master in 1787/88. The successful relationship between Provincial
and the new members of the Daughter Lodges offers a real opportunity
to further their education in Masonic matters.
175th
Anniversary
During our
175 Celebrations in 2001, the then PGM Bro Frank Johnstone
launched an appeal on behalf of the
Beatson Oncology Unit
Glasgow a regional Centre which can deal with patients from
every part of our Provincial area. At the Provincial Grand
Lodge meeting on the 27th January 2001, the PGM spoke about
his desire that we should be "Thinking of Others",
as Free and Accepted Masons do as part of their Masonic
life, but specifically during 2001. Cancer is no longer the
untalked about subject. Sadly many of our members, their
families, friends and associates are still touched by that
illness. The final event took place on the 23rd February
2002 in Paisley Town Hall at 7.30pm when a concert was given
by the
Glasgow Phoenix
Choir. On the 16th March 2002 we were
delighted to present a cheque for £7,000 to Dr Reid of the
Beatson Oncology Unit. |
