LODGE GALLOWAY No951
A BRIEF HISTORY
On the 7th May 1903 a charter was granted by Grand Lodge for the formation of a Lodge in Wigtown called Lodge Galloway No 951.However, this was not the first Lodge in Wigtown as there was previously a Lodge called "Wigtown Kilwinning" that was granted a Charter in 1755 by Mother Kilwinning. Some of the Members of this former Lodge in Wigtown were in fact the ap
plicants for the charter for Lodge St Stephens in Gatehouse of Fleet on 7th November 1785. On Saturday 13th June 1903 the Provincial Grand Lodge met in the County Buildings, Wigtown for the er****on of Lodge Galloway. R.F.Welsh as Master of the newly formed Galloway Lodge. At this time the regular meetings were held mainly in the County Buildings with the Committee Meetings and the Harmony after meetings being held in the Galloway Arms Hotel. Regular meetings were initially held on the 2nd and 4th Fridays in each month but in 1906 the 2nd Friday changed to the 2nd Wednesday. Then in 1914 the meeting nights then change to 2nd & 4th Tuesdays. In later years the meeting night was changed to the first Wednesday of the month. The first regular meeting was held on the 19th June 1903 where the first proposals for initiates were heard. There were three proposals - Henry Johnston who was an Insurance Superintendent, John McKeachie who was a draper in Kirkinner and George Christie who was Station Master at Wigtown. Ballots for all three were found to be clear and the former two were the lodge's first candidates and were subsequently initiated on the 26th June 1903. The initiation fee at this time was set at £3-3s-Od and remained so until 1919 when it increased to £5-5s-Od. Test fees were 5 shillings and the Tyler was paid 30 shillings per year for his duties. At the formation of Lodge Galloway the neighboring Lodge in Port William (Myrton No539) had been dormant for 3 years so Lodge Galloway inherited its Lodge furniture on a temporary loan basis. Lodge Galloway also initially borrowed Lodge Myrtons regalia, which is probably why both Lodges have the same crimson colored regalia. The borrowed furniture and regalia was later handed back to Lodge Myrton when it re-opened in 1925 in as good a condition as it was when it was deposited with Grand Lodge in 1899. In 1926 Lodge Galloway moved to the premises in Agnew Crescent where it has remained ever since. The premises were actually purchased back in 1922 with a sitting tenant. When the tenant left in 1926, repairs and modifications were made to the building to convert it to a suitable Lodge Room. At this time only part of the premises were used for lodge purposes and the remainder of the house was let to the Lodge Tyler. The lodge was provided with mains water and drainage in 1930. Electricity followed in 1939 and was supplied through the tenant's meter for which he was reimbursed at sixpence per meeting. Lodge Galloway has always had a varied membership with men from all walks of life -Farmers, Innkeepers, Shopkeepers, Drapers, Station Master, Insurance Superintendent, Distillery Manager and even a Minister. In 1910 Lodge Galloway initiated its first Minister-the Rev Gavin Lawson who went on to be Lodge Chaplain and later to become Master in 1921. It is interesting to note that it is minuted on 13th Nov 1903, that after correspondence with Grand Lodge, a request to be-able to supply Liquor in the Lodge was refused. Times have certainly changed as Lodge Galloway now has its own bar and in it’s centenary year held it’s celebrations in the Distillery. It is also noted that over the years the majority of the Hotel and Innkeepers in and around Wigtown all joined the lodge including Mr A.F.Jordan the Bladnoch Distillery Owner in 1944. Over the first l00 years Lodge Galloway had 63 different masters. It was customary for the brethren to serve 2 years in office as master. This however was changed to one year in 1982 due to the number of officers progressing through the ranks. At Present Lodge Galloway has strong membership of 30 and is continuing to do good work in promoting Freemasonry in the Province of Galloway. Through-out the Lodges history many a good man has embraced the high principles on which the tradition of Freemasonry is founded. We sincerely wish it continues for many years to come.
