The Early Years Up To the First World War.
The first minute book takes us from the very beginning of the Lodge to the time of the hostilities of the First World War. Much of the history then as now records ordinary routine businesses, however it is my intention to highlight the salient points, and hopefully provide an insight into the conditions which prevailed at this part in our history.
It would be fitting at this time to express gratitude to the Pastmasters, Office Bearers, and Brethren who have passed through the portals of Lodge Ben Cleuch there to work for the good of the Lodge, and having done so earned themselves a place in our Immortal History with the heartfelt thanks of the later generation of the Brethren.
Our first RWM Brother D. Drysdale must deserve a special thought in our minds, in being the first Master of the Lodge and being Instrumental in obtaining a Petition praying for our acceptance to be constituted as a Lodge within the framework of the Grand Lodge of Scotland.
Also our collective thanks must go to the Lodges that supported the establishing of our Lodge, with special regard to the Lodge of Alloa No. 69, and Lodge Ancient Stirling No. 30 who were the sponsoring Lodges for our Application.
After the excitement of the Consecration Ceremony the Lodge soon set down to a sense of regularity, during our first year of existence the Tillicoultry News was used as a Media of advertising the Meetings. Brother Roxburgh our first WJW., was employed by this newspaper.
Had Andrew Roxburgh been alive today I’m sure he would be more than happy to share his name with his very famous namesake.
The Provincial Grand Lodge of Stirlingshire carried on their good work, in the first year of Lodge Ben Cleuch, by laying the foundation stone at the South Aisle of the Falkirk Parish Church on its being restored. The Grand Lodge of Scotland and the Provincial Grand Lodges were often used in these days to bring the Operative side of Freemasonry to the fore which also had the result of letting the public see how Freemasonry would work for the good of the community.
There was a proposal that the Meeting nights be changed from a Thursday to a Saturday night, but, this motion was defeated
Brother Drysdale RWM presented the Lodge with Wardens Pedestals and Buttons.
Interesting to note that an Application from John Crawford, engineer, who had stated that he was emigrating to New Zealand on the 25th November, he was initiated, passed and raised on the evening of the 24th November, prior to his departure.
The year came to a fitting close on the 29th December 1892, at the first Annual Meeting and Installation.
In 1893 it was reported that the attendances were falling, the Brother Secretary was instructed to write to all Members asking for their support.
Also in this year a Set of Gauntlets was purchased for the use of the RWM at a cost of £2.2/- plus Jewels for the Office Bearers which cost £15.9.6d, the price of these items are only included so that reference can be made to monetary values in those days.
The activity on the social side had been firmly established with the first Annual Dinner Dance of the Lodge in 1895, the Dance was reported as having been very successful and a quote stated that ” it may be here mentioned that the Masonic Ball on the 29 March was without flattery the best ever held in Tillicoultry and a great amount of its success is attributed to Brother Cowan and the Ladies Committee , Mrs Cowan, Mrs Maltman and Mrs Hendry.
The Test Fees at this time were £3/6d.
Another of the high points of this year was a Church Service held in the Tillicoultry Parish Church and conducted by the Rev. Brother Scudamore Forbes, Minister of Alloa and Tullibody and ably assisted by Brother Rev. John Scott Provincial Grand Chaplain.
At this Service it is interesting to note that the sum of £2/6d was paid to the two policemen who assisted with the crowd control.
© LODGE BEN CLEUCH. 2025