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FOUNDING
     A home for the new Lodge was found in St. Enoch's Hogganfield Parish Church Hall.      Many of the furnishings of the Lodge were gifted by brethren, thus saving much of the initial expense. As donors thereof, we think it better not to hurt any feelings by some very important omissions, and so the little we are sure of is not set down here.      May we, however refer to the most important gift of all. Bro. Charles B. Philip made the present of a very beautiful copy of the Volume of the Sacred Law - The Holy Bible. As these chronicles may at some time be read by someone on the outside of our Order it might be as well to state that we cannot hold our Meetings unless we have a Volume of the Sacred Law open upon our Alter.      We know the word Alter signifies the place where sacrifices are made to the Gods of the officiating priest, and it is more than probable that our ancient brethren did use their alter in this fashion, but in these days, in Masonic Lodges the word "Alter" is wrongly used and merely signifies the place where the Volume of the Sacred Law is set and around which oaths of fidelity are taken.      The Volume of the Sacred Law is the greatest light in Masonry. It contains all the rules and regulations for the conduct of the brethren and therein is to be found a great deal of the ritual used. Our Order takes it's origin from the building of the Temple of King Solomon at Jerusalem and anyone interested has only to search the Scriptures to find out about the Three Grand Masters and the erection of the Sacred Edifice.      Other items gifted were : Master's and Wardens Chairs, Deacons' Wands and Stands, Complete set of Tools in Solid Silver, Ballot Box, Carpet, Alter, Charter Case, and three Mallets from old oak taken from the roof of Glasgow Cathedral      The meeting for the election of the initial Office Bearers was held on 25th August, 1925, when the following Brethren were duly elected:
     Bro. Purves named as his Depute, Bro. William Service, P.M., Lodge Thistle, Stewarton, No.127.      It was decided that Regular Meetings be held on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month, except May and June, when only one meeting would be held on the second Wednesday ; and July and August, when no meeting would take place.      The colour of Lodge Clothing to be Royal Blue and Gold; and the following fees were decided upon :      Initiation, £8 8/- ;      Test Fee, 7/6d ;      Affiliation, £2 2/- ;      Life Membership, £2 2/-      Bro. W. Stevenson Cochran, P.G. Secretary, was thanked for all the trouble he had taken in keeping everything in good order during the initial proceedings and, as he had decided to become a founder member, he was asked to take first place on the roll.      In the year 1879 the Stevenson Cochran family took up residence in Riddrie in the house known as "Garrowbank." That house is no longer in existence but St. Enoch's Hogganfield Church and Halls are built on the site, and it must have given Bro. Stevenson Cochran gratification to be signing the founder's roll perhaps on the very spot where ha had climbed the apple tree in the days of his youth.      Unfortunately, the Lodge Secretary wrote in the names of other founder members, and already some of these brethren are no longer with us, and their signatures cannot be obtained. |