History of Lodge Panmure 299

On the evening of the 19th July 1822, ten Master Masons assembled in Arbroath to draft a Petition to the Grand Lodge of Scotland. These Brethren, belonging to various Mother Lodges, found it would be for their mutual advantage to have a Regular Lodge in Arbroath under the sanction of the Grand Lodge of Scotland.

The petition was signed by:

• James Windrom - Lodge Forfar & Kincardine
• John Petrie - Lodge Forfar & Kincardine
• Peter Thomson - Lodge Forfar & Kincardine
• Geo. Robertson - Lodge Forfar & Kincardine
• Alex. Crighton - St. James Newton Ayr
• Alex. Caird - Mussleburgh & Kilwinning
• John Moffat - St. Andrews
• John Taylor - St. Thomas Arbroath
• David Dargie - No. 81 Gronard Ireland
• James Findlay - Falkirk Lodge 14 (N. America)

The petition was forwarded to Edinburgh by the Provincial Grand Secretary of Forfarshire, and a Charter was granted to Lodge Panmure from the Grand Lodge of Scotland dated 3rd February 1823, being No. 299 on the Roll of the Grand Lodge.

The first Master of Lodge Panmure, duly elected on 19th February, was Alexander Crighton.

At its inception, the Lodge possessed no hall in which to hold meetings. For many years, the Brethren usually met in the Guild Hall and later in Brother Cloudsley's White Hart Hotel.

The Lodge successfully secured the property on Hill Street for the sum of £300 from the Museum Society. The upper part was used by the Lodge while the lower was used as a flax warehouse. This property has remained in the possession of the Lodge to the present day.

The Brethren had the whole property altered, including the provision of a house for the hall-keeper, at a total cost of £300. By 1893, £100 had been repaid by diligent saving, but the Lodge felt unable to fulfill its charitable obligations so long as repayment of the loans were outstanding.

In April 1895, Lodge Panmure held a Grand Bazaar over three days (18th, 19th & 20th April) with the support of the Sister Lodges St. Thomas and St. Vigean. The Grand Master Mason, Brother Sir Charles Dalrymple of Newhailes, Bart., MP, honoured Lodge Panmure by travelling to Arbroath to open the bazaar.

The bazaar featured musical concerts and an original comedy in Four Acts, specially written for the occasion. The grand sum of £893-0-10 was realised, and after expenses were defrayed, the balance of £674-7-9 was more than enough to pay off the £500 outstanding on the property's bond. The Lodge was now highly solvent and able to carry out its obligations.

On Tuesday 22nd June 1897, Lodge Panmure along with the Sister Lodges took part in the Cavalcade and Procession that was part of Arbroath's Celebration of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. A photograph of "Panmure Lodge of Freemasons No 299 at the opening of Victoria Park, resplendent in full regalia, frockcoat, and top hats" appears in the Commemorative Book of Celebrations.

The Great War of 1914-18 did not leave the Lodge untouched. The Masonic Hall was requisitioned during the last few months of the war to accommodate a detachment of Queen Alexandra's Army Nursing Corps. The Lodge found temporary refuge in the Park Street Masonic Hall of Lodge St. Thomas.

The names of the Brothers who are known to have been killed in action during that great conflict are perpetuated on a Masonic Scroll in the Lodge Rooms.

The 8th April 1919 saw the Brethren resettled once more in Panmure Masonic Hall.

In February 1923, Lodge Panmure celebrated its centenary with a service in St. Margaret's Church and a rededication ceremony performed by a deputation from The Grand Lodge of Scotland, led by The Grand Master Mason, The Honourable The Earl of Elgin.

A celebration banquet was held in the Webster Memorial Hall at which more than 200 Brethren were present.

After the outbreak of the Second World War, Panmure Hall was once again requisitioned, on 24th October 1939, by the military authorities, this time to be used as a NAAFI. The Brethren, at very short notice, had to seek an alternative meeting place.

The Lodge found temporary premises in St. Mary's Church Hall where they remained for some time before moving to Knox's Church Hall in 1942. Unfortunately, difficulty was experienced in obtaining the regular use of this hall.

Considerable efforts were made to find more suitable premises, which were eventually obtained at No. 9b, Millgate. These became the regular Lodge Rooms from November 1943 until the Masonic Hall in Hill Street was vacated by H.M. Forces on 14th May 1946.

The war-time difficulties appeared to be over, but not before one last misfortune. A mine, washed ashore near the harbour, detonated causing widespread damage to many buildings, including Panmure Hall. The entire lodge roof was lifted and failed to resettle, resulting in considerable expense to the Lodge for repairs.

However, the tribulations of the war did have its compensations. It was during this period that the long-lasting ties with the personnel of H.M.S. Condor were established. Over the ensuing years, until the "air station" finally closed down, many naval Brethren have been admitted into Freemasonry by Lodge Panmure. So many, in fact, that for a time in the 1950s a team was formed entirely from Condor personnel for visitation purposes. They were deemed to be so accomplished in the rituals of the Craft that they were in constant demand throughout the Province.

Lodge Panmure celebrated its 150th anniversary and included in the celebrations was a dinner in the Seaforth Hotel.

Lodge Panmure was honoured when Bro. Angus Murray P.M. was commissioned as R.W. Provincial Grand Master of Forfarshire for a five year period and was installed in 2005 until 2010.