Installation of Brother Ex-Provost David Stewart of Monifieth

as Provincial Grand Master of Forfarshire - 3rd March 1919

Minute of Special Meeting and of Proceedings of P.G. Lodge at the installation of Brother Ex-Provost Stewart of Monifieth

As Provincial Grand Master of Forfarshire

Within the Hall of Lodge St. David,

86 Nethergate, Dundee on Thursday 3rd March 1910 at 4 pm

In terms of the following circular addressed to each Office bearer and member of P.G. Lodge

Provincial Grand Lodge of Forfarshire
21 Market Place
Arbroath
19th Feb 1910

RW Dear Sir and Brother,

I beg to advise you that at a quarterly communication of Grand Lodge, held on 3rd inst, Brother ex-Provost David Stewart of Monifieth was appointed Provincial Grand Master of Forfarshire, and that I have received information from Grand Secretary that 3rd prox, will be a convenient day for the Right Worshipful Grand Master Depute, accompanied by a deputation of Grand Lodge, to visit the Province for the purpose of installing Brother Stewart.
I beg to intimate to you that a special meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Forfarshire will be held within the hall of Lodge St David No. 86, Nethergate, Dundee, on Thursday 3rd March 1910 at 4 p.m. prompt: -

Brethren are requested to be in their places in the hall at least fifteen minutes before the above mentioned hour of meeting, so that the Provincial Lodge may be opened and ready for the reception of the Right Worshipful Grand Master Depute.

Thereafter a banquet, at which the Right Worshipful Grand Master Depute and deputation from Grand Lodge will be present and will be entertained by Provincial Grand Lodge, will be held at 5 p.m. Tickets 5/- each.
Master of Lodges will oblige by intimating to me, not later than Monday, 28th February, the number of tickets required for brethren intending to be present at the Banquet. Owing to the limited space, applications for tickets cannot be entertained after that date.
Brethren are requested to appear in full Masonic clothing, and the ceremony will be conducted in the First Degree.

I am
Yours Faithfully and Fraternally
A.C. Anderson
Provincial Grand Secretary of Forfarshire.

The chair was taken by Brother ex-Provost Anderson, P.G. Depute Master, and P.G. Lodge was opened, passed and raised to the Third Degree.
Brother Anderson, on the entry of the Deputation from Grand Lodge, extended a hearty welcome to the Grand Master Depute, Colonel R. King Stewart, who then assumed the chair.

The following members of Grand Lodge were present: - Brothers H.H. Brown, P.G. Master Fife & Kinross; D. Reid, Grand Secretary; E.A. Chisolm, Grand Treasurer; Rev G. S. Anderson Acting Grand Chaplain; A. J. Ramsay, Past Grand Jeweller; J. Inglis, Grand Bible Bearer; D.G. Shiell, Grand Director of Ceremonies; R. Clark, A.S. Edmiston and J.B. Morrison, Grand Stewards; W.S. Cochrane, Grand Marshall and W. Brownlee, Grand Inner Guard.
P.G. Lodge was represented by Brothers J. R. Wilson, Substitute P.G. Master; G. Gibson, Senior P.G. Warden; R.D.L. Keith, Past Senior P.G. Warden; Peter Gray, Past P.G. Senior Warden; J. Ruxton, Junior P.G. Warden; I.P. Dyer, Past P.G. Junior Warden; A.C. Anderson, P.G. Secretary; D. Dundas, P.G. Treasurer; Rev A. Douglas, Senior P.G. Chaplain; Rev C. Gardyne, Junior P.G. Chaplain; W. Hynd, P.G. Senior Deacon; J. M. Webster, P.G. Junior Deacon; and others, while among other brethren present were, Brothers D. C. Blair, Dunblane; W.B. Dickie, Broughty Ferry; J. T. Gordon, P.G. Secretary of Fife & Kinross, Cupar, Fife; J. McNaughton, Ex-P.G. Treasurer Perthshire West, Dundee; J. Mitchell, Editor, ‘Courier’, Dundee and R. Sim, Monifieth. For full sederunt, see Tyler’s Book.

Apologies for absence were received from Brothers  P.W. Anderson, Arbroath; Lord Dean of Guild Dickie, Dundee; G.B. Macpherson Grant, Craigo;  Ex-Lord Provost Hunter, Dundee; R.E. Wallace James, Edinburgh; Colonel Luis, Dundee; J.B. Mair, Elgin; C. Murray Stewart, Dunblane, Lord Provost Urquhart, Dundee; and Alexander Wilson, Aberdeen.

The Grand Master Depute on taking the chair called upon Brother David Reid, Grand Secretary, to read the commission issued by Grand Lodge in favour of Brother Stewart, which having been done, Brother Stewart was introduced to the meeting and the installation ceremony was carried through by the Grand Master Depute who invested Brother Stewart with the insignia of his office and placed him I the chair.
Brother shiell, Grand Director of Ceremonies, then proclaimed Brother Stewart as Provincial Grand Master. 

The following Office bearers who have been commissioned by the P.G. Master were then installed by the Grand Master Depute.

Brother A.D. Anderson as P.G. Master Depute.
Brother John R. Wilson as P.G. Master Substitute.
Brother A.C. Anderson as P.G. Secretary.
Brother the Rev Andrew Douglas as Senior P.G. Chaplain.
Brother the Rev Charles Gardyne as Junior P.G. Chaplain.

The Grand Master Depute, in addressing the newly installed P.G. Master, said Brother ex-Provost Stewart had succeeded to a long line of good men, all of them well known in Freemasonry, and amonst the number was the Hon Charles Maule Ramsay, who had long been a most popular mason, while his predecessor, the late Brother James Berry had served faithfully of Grand Committee.
He was sure that Brother Stewart would keep up the credit of the chair and he asked his office bearers to stand loyally by him. An army was no good without efficient general officers. The Province was a large one, and it depended on Provincial Grand Lodge whether the daughter Lodges would work keenly.
He wished the new Provincial Grand Master long life, a long term in office, and he cordially saluted him.

The P.G. Master in reply thanked the Grand Lodge deputation for their attendance, and said that the beauty of the Ceremony was enhanced by the way the Grand Master Depute had carried it through. Had he not been absolutely confident of the loyalty and ability of the office bearers he would not have undertaken the duties in such an important Province as that of Forfarshire.
He had absolute confidence in the zeal, loyalty, and ability of these brethren, and they looked forward to the future with confidence. Interest in the Craft was extending and Freemasonry was being appreciated in the district. Yet he had some diffidence in following the distinguished men who had preceded him. They would be interested to know that he spent three hours with Brother Ramsay in London on Monday, and, taking over the affairs of the Province, Brother Ramsay desired him to convey his most cordial salutations and best wishes for the continued prosperity of the Province.

On the Grand Lodge retiring, The P.G. Master thanked the members of the P.G. Lodge for the honour they had conferred upon him. The office was a responsible one, and he promised to do his best to promote the interests of the Craft.

P.G. Lodge was therefore closed in due form.

A Banquet was therefore held in the Royal Hotel at which P.G. Lodge entertained the Grand Master Depute and Grand Lodge Deputation, and a pleasant and harmonious evening was spent.

Signed – David Stewart. P.G. M. and A.C. Anderson. P.G. Secretary.

©Transcribed by Iain D. McIntosh, 2014