Civic reception marks Thurso Freemasons' 200th anniversary
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THURSO Freemasons joined local councillors on Friday for a civic reception to mark the 200th anniversary of St Peter's Operative Lodge 284.
The event in the gallery at Thurso Library was held 200 years to the day after the lodge received its charter.
Councillors Struan Mackie, Donnie Mackay and Andrew Sinclair attended along with the civic leader, Councillor Willie Mackay, who hosted the reception. Councillor Mackie gave a speech about the role of St Peter's in the community over the years and its charitable work.
The lodge is now making plans for a day of celebrations in the town on June 6, which will feature a rededication dinner dance in the Weigh Inn hotel. It is expected that the celebrations will be attended by invited guests from throughout Scotland.
A remarkable achievement for St Peter’s Operative Lodge 284
Contributed by Caithness Courier columnist 'Thirsa Loon'
This month commemorates the remarkable achievement of a 200-year history for St Peter’s Operative Lodge No 284.
Freemasonry has had a long history in Caithness and nowhere in the county has had such a lengthy connection than the original capital of Thurso. It began with St John’s Lodge No 45 which dates back to approximately 1740 and chartered in 1741. The lodge members looked towards building a hall of their own. They had purchased ground in the Old Town of Thurso in 1793, but it was subsequently sold.
In 1806 it was decided that they should build in the gradually increasing New Town of Thurso and in April 1808 the foundation stone was laid. With the exterior of the new hall completed the following year, the building was opened in 1810. Described as the first modern building in the town, it still stands today.
St John’s Lodge would continue operating until at least 1827 until it was formally struck off the lodge roll in 1838. The lodge had suffered due to inadequate finances and a loss of members over the past few years.
Some of these members moved to the recently formed St Peter's Operative Lodge. The lodge over the years used various numbers, but 284 has been used since 1826.
Though the lodge was formed on December 28, 1818, with the principal founder Alexander Carnaby, it would not have its first meeting under the Grand Lodge until February 15, 1820. Carnaby, who was supervisor of the salmon fisheries, served as master of the lodge until his demise in May 1821, aged 75.
Along with Alexander, his two sons – William, a surgeon, and Benjamin, a shipmaster – also joined in the lodge's founding. Others included John Campbell, a tailor, as depute master. The senior and junior wardens were William Taylor, a mason, and Donald Dunnett, who owned an inn on Shore Street.
William MacIver, a merchant from Castletown, was the first secretary, though his tenure was short-lived as the Wick lodge queried his qualifications and he left shortly after. Donald MacGregor, a Chelsea Pensioner, was the treasurer, and John Swanson, seaman and later a weaver, served until 1823 as tyler. Twelve other members attended the first meeting.
The master in 1920 was John Munro, and it was through him that a lot of the responsibility to mark the centenary of the social club was placed.
Lasting over a week, the programme included entertainment for the members' children who numbered over 180 with a cinema exhibition. Each child received a bag of fruit, sweets and cakes and a threepenny bit. The following evening, a special church service was held at St Peter's Church.
The Monday evening saw a reception in the Masonic Hall. They left to go to the Territorial Hall for supper, with catering supplied by the Royal Hotel, and under the management of Miss Bell.
The last day of celebrations featured a Grand Ball and Assembly, again in the Territorial Hall, with nearly 100 couples present. The “lavish” catering was provided by James Wilson of the Station Hotel with temperance refreshments of every kind available, while music was laid on by the Thurso Quadrille Band and three pipers.
- To get in touch, contact thursoheritage1@gmail.com
