"The Gael" Installation

At the Installation ceremony of Lodge "The Gael" the Highland Masonic Lodge in Glasgow, Bro. Finlay MacLennan, eldest son of the late Mr and Mrs Angus MacLennan, Harbour View, Scalpay, Harris, was installed as R.W.M.

Installing masters were both past masters of Lodge "The Gael," Bro. Murdo Cameron MacGregor, from Lochewe, and Bro. William D. MacLeod, secretary, from Carloway, Isle of Lewis.

Senior warden was Iain Henderson from Ardnamurchan, and junior warden was Bro. George MacLeod, from Tolsta, Isle of Lewis.

Harris was represented by the Inner guard, Bro. Norman MacLennan, from Corig, Harris. Deputy master was Roderick Mackenzie, past master, from Glendale, Skye.

The Grand Lodge of Scotland and the Provincial Grand Lodge of Glasgow was represented by Bro. Ernest Noakes, immediate past master of the Provincial Grand Lodge and jeweller to the Grand Lodge.

Telegrams of greeting were received from all over the country, and from California, U.S.A.

Among the special guests were: John A. MacPherson (of the BBC, and a cousin of the R.W.M.), of Lodge Eval, North Uist; Angus Martin past principal of Royal Arch (No. 69), office bearer of Provincial Grand Chapter and Bro. of Lodge Clyde (408); and John Morrison (bard), of St Clements, and founder member of Lodge Eval. All come from Scalpay.

Mr Finlay MacLennan is the first one from Scalpay, Harris to hold the chair of R.W.M., and the first from Harris to be R.W.M. of Lodge "The Gael."

R.W.M. Bro. Finlay MacLennan

This article also appeared in the Stornoway Gazette in 1981, regarding the visit of the Lodge to Lodge Fortrose No. 108, whilst Bro Raymond C. Darroch PM was in the chair of "The Gael."

A Masonic visitation

Stornoway Isle of Lewis

MV Suilven at Stornoway

Recently Lodge Fortrose, Stornoway, No. 108 on the Roll of the Grand Lodge of Scotland of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, were hosts to a visitation of Freemasons from widely scattered areas of Scotland.

The Brethren of Lodge Fortrose, which is the oldest existing organisation in the island (Constituted in 1767), were honoured to receive the large deputation of 56 visitors, representing some 18 lodges, among whom were 17 Reigning and Past Masters.

Twenty seven visitors were members of Lodge "The Gael," of no fewer than six were Reigning or Past Masters. Lodge "The Gael" has long had an association with the Highlands and Islands, since in the last quarter of the last century it was constituted with the sole purpose of providing for the among expatriate Gaelic-speaking Highlanders in Glasgow. Ceremonies were often carried out in the ancient tongue and they have proudly upheld and blended the culture of their Highland Heritage and the Masonic tradition ever since.

Lodge Fortrose was one of their major supporters in their petition for a Charter from Grand Lodge, and Bro. Angus Nicolson of Stornoway, a member of Fortrose was their first Master from 1877 to 1889.

The visitors who were led of the MV Suilven by the pipers of Lodge "The Gael," were cordially welcomed on the pier by the Lodge Fortrose Right Worshipful Master, Bro. Douglas J. Laird and Brethren.

In the evening, witnessed by almost 100 Brethren, a most impressive ceremony was carried out with great sincerity and dignity by the Immediate Past Master of Lodge "The Gael," Bro John G. MacLennan (Glasgow and Scalpay), ably assisted by his office bearers, Bros. Peter MacLachlan, Norman Morrison, Donald Finlayson, Keith Bowes, Donald Kennedy and Finlay M. MacLennan with Right Worshipful Master Raymond C. Darroch in the Chair.

Gifts, felicitations and fraternal greetings were exchanged at the close of the ceremony and thereafter the assembled Brethren sat down to a most enjoyable meal and harmony.

The visitors departed on the Suilven at 5.30 am on Saturday, doubtless tired  but hopefully having enjoyed their visit to Stornoway and Lodge Fortrose, and for some a short return to their native island.

The Lodges represented were:

No. 31, St. Mary, Coltness, Lanarkshire; No. 63 St. Michael's Kilwinning, Dumfries; No. 116, Rutherglen Royal Arch; No. 385, Minto, Lochgelly, Fife; No. 408, Clyde, Glasgow; No 429, St. Kentigern, Penicuik; No. 512, Thorntree, Thornliebank, Glasgow; No. 553, St. Vincent Sandyford, Glasgow; No 606, Rosslyn St. Clair, Roslin; No. 609, "The Gael," Glasgow; No. 781, Thane of Fife, Cowdenbeath; No. 815, Breadalbane St. Fillans, Killin, No. 881, St. Kilda, Portree; No. 1102, Spiers of Elderslie, Glasgow; No 1414, The Royal Stuart, Glasgow; No. 1436, Ruchill, Glasgow; No. 1590, Sandwood, Glasgow, and No. 1626, Strathclyde,

This article appeared in the Stornoway Gazette in October 2002, regarding the trip by the lodge to St Clements in Harris, whilst Bro. Bannatyne Shaw was in the chair of the lodge.

An Historic visit to Lodge St Clements, Harris, by Lodge "The Gael" (Glasgow)

A large deputation, in excess of 30 brethren left Glasgow by bus early in the morning to travel to Uig on Skye to catch the 2pm ferry for Tarbert, Harris on September 27.

The ferry was met at the pier in Tarbert by a large turnout of welcoming brethren and friends, where it was most heartwarming - if not somewhat nostalgic - to hear the haunting sound of highland airs played on a well tuned bagpipe by PM Donnie Finlayson in full highland dress on the outermost bollardsof the pier to welcome the 'MV Hebrides'.

Several Tourists outwith the brethren were heard to remark on the splendour of the welcome as the ship berthed to that magnificent spectacle.

At 7.30pm that evening, Lodge St Clements opened their regular meeting and shortly afterwards received the first group of the evening, who were from Lodge Fortrose No 108 Stornoway. Almost 30 brethren crossed over the border to Harris to be present at what was to turn out to be one of the finest masonic meetings ever recorded on these islands. A sizeable number from various other lodges from in and around the province then followed.

At 8.10pm members of Lodge The Gael, and accompanying brethren, were piped into Tarbert Community Hall, to where the evening's proceedings had been transferred owing to the numbers in attendance. The pipers on this occasion were Bros Hamish MacLachlan and Donnie Finlayson, both Past Masters of Lodge The Gael and Bro Calum MacDougal, Lodge piper.

After a very hearty welcome from RWM Roddy Ferguson, Bro Calum retired to pipe in a provincial deputation comprising of the Provincial Grand Master of Invernesshire, Bro Charles Taylor, together with Bro Donald MacLean, who represented a Province of the Grand Lodge of England.

A short welcome address was given by the Provincial Grand Master, during which he made mention of the fact that he believed this was the largest attendance at a meeting of St Clements, if not ever, certainly in many a long year.

Without further ado, the 'Gavel' was presented to the RWM of Lodge 'The Gael', Bro Bannatyne Shaw, himself very closely connected to Harris. Bro Shaw then most competently took over the meeting and set his degree team to work.

A stunned silence embraced the meeting for the next hour and a half as PM Donnie Finlayson and his team comprising, RWM Bro Shaw, PM Gilbert Hill, PM James Hamilton-Smith and PM Alex Philip, with PM Kenneth MacDonald and Bro Donald MacDonald acting Senior and Junior Wardens respectively, whilst Bros Archie MacGilvray and Kevin MacDonald acted as Senior and Junior Deacons,

Such was the quality of the work, the brethren present shwed their obvious appreciation and satisfaction by affording Bro Donnie Finlayson a rapturous applause on completionof his delivery of the lecture of the 'Glimmering Ray'. The whole team was then afforded a virtual standing ovation at the conclusion of their work.

An entertaining, if not unusual display of bagpipe playing took place later, with the players showing their prowess at not only playing the instrument to perfection, but in performing a most unusual perambulation to various corners of the hall, whilst always remaining in unison no matter the distance between the three players.

Bro Bannatyne Shaw, RWM of Lodge 'The Gael' presented Lodge St Clements with a one gallon bottle of whisky to be raffled on the night in aid of Lodge funds and a magnificent sum in excess of £400 was raised towards sustaining this fine old Lodge for the future.

RWM Roddy Ferguson and PM Bro Donald MacKay are to be thanked and congratulated on their sterling work to bring this evening to fruition and Lodge 'The Gael' for making it such a success.

At noon the following day the brethren of Lodge 'The Gael' and accompanying brethren from other lodges were piped onboard the 'Hebrides' to such tunes as 'Scotland the Brave' and 'We're no awa tae bide awa', as they continued on their journey to Skye and then onto Glasgow.

Tarbert, Isle of Harris

PM Donnie Finlayson, RWM Bannie Shaw, RWM 1102 Tommy Thompson and PM Walter Rankin