St.Peter's Operative Lodge No.284

At this date it is difficult to state authoritatively what led up to the formation of the Lodge; but recognising that throughout all ages there has been a deep-seated desire in the heart of the individual to have the companionship and sympathetic friendship of his fellows, it is not difficult to surmise that those who laid the foundation stone of St.Peter's Lodge felt that the links in the chain of companionship formed by them could be welded into an unbreakable chain of loyal and faithful Brotherhood, by banding themselves together as members of an organization, the fundamental principles of which recognise the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man, and that through this they would be linked together in one invisible chain of sincere affection.
 Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth.

All honor is therefore, due and is now respectfully paid to the memory of those who were the pioneers in the movement which took definite shape on 28th December, 1818, the records of the Lodge disclosing the information that on that date the following met in order yo form themselves into a Lodge to be called Saint Peter's Operative Lodge, Thurso, viz. :-Messrs. 

Alex Carnaby,  Donald Dunnet, William Taylor,  John Campbell,  Daniel Taylor,
Donald M' Leod, William Murray, and  William Swanson.

Following thereupon, a Petition was presented to the Grand Lodge of Scotland praying the said Grand Lodge to grant a Charter of Constitution and Erection in the usual form, for holding a Lodge under the name and title of St.Peter's Operative Lodge, Thurso and proposing the persons after-mentioned to be the first Office-bearers thereof, viz:-

                                                                              Master........................Alexander Carnaby
                                                                              Depute Master....... John Campbell
                                                                              Senior Warden.......William Taylor
                                                                              Junior Warden.......Donald Dunnet
                                                                              Secretary.................William M'Iver
                                                                              Treasurer.................Donald MacGregor

the result of which was that, under date 9th February, 1820, a communication was received from the Grand Lodge to the effect that the Prayer of the Petition had been granted and intimating '' The Brethren may now commence their Masonic labors according to Ancient usage, '' and wishing the newly formed Lodge all success and prosperity.

So, as an acorn placed in the ground, the passing years saw springing therefrom a stately oak with roots deeply embedded and far-spreading branches reaching out to the remotest corners of the Universe, from which members of St.Peter's Lodge still remember with reverent affection their Mother Lodge.

The first Worshipful Master of the Lodge was Bro. Alexander Carnaby. Who held the position from the inception of the Lodge until his passing to the Grand Lodge Above, which took place in the beginning of 1821. To him and his successors in office the success of St.Peter's Lodge is no small measure due. They were indefatigable in their labours, and with earnest zeal sought by precept and example to inculcate in others the high principles of daily life and conduct, they themselves had learned as they advanced in Knowledge of the Mystic Sign and Symbol of Freemasonry which, bereft of the bewildering array of Rites and Ceremonies, stands revealed in its simple essentials as a Gospel of The Brotherhood of Man. 

Of those who have worthily occupied the Masters Chair of the Lodge, those who were still alive and attended the Celebration of its Centenary were as follows:-

All of whom have occupied the exalted position with Honor and Dignity, and rendered invaluable service to the Lodge. The R.W.M. serving at the time of the Celebrations was, Bro. John Munro whose interest in and devotion to the cause of Freemasonry is well known to all the members of the Craft, Passing through the subordinate offices of the Lodge, he was called by the Brethren to the highest place of honor they could confer on him.

Upon him devolved much of the responsibility and labour connected with the Lodge's Celebration of its Centenary, and the unqualified success which attended the various functions marking that event in the history of the Lodge is mainly due to the forethought and labour ungrudgingly given by him and in which he enjoyed the cordial and whole-hearted support of the Office-bearers of the Lodge.