St.Peter's Operative Lodge No.284

1910
The Master now was William Manson Brims, solicitor, who had been initiated in November 1904 and who had been Treasurer in 1906,part of 1908 and in 1909. He was later Substitute Provincial Grand Master in the old province and was first Provincial Grand Master in the new one. He was for two separate periods Provost of Thurso.
1911
In November the "Provincial Grand Master congratulated the lodge on its financial position. It was nearly £426 in debt but it had a fine hall and the property in Sir John Square to its credit.
1912
1912 was the year of the unreliable ballot box. Of two candidates considered in February} both were rejected on the first ballot and one was rejected at the second attempt. Eight days later it was agreed to ballot anew and, when this was done, the candidate who had been elected was re-elected. The other was not mentioned. In March another candidate was rejected on the first ballot but accepted on the second.
In April a candidate was rejected on two ballots. Thereupon it was proposed that a show of hands be taken and the candidate was elected. He was then introduced and the First Degree was conferred. At a meeting six days later the Master affirmed that a show of hands was an acceptable way of election and, after a further eight days} the Second Degree was conferred. We are next informed in June that solicitors were seeking the return of the candidate's fees but matters were now in the hands of Grand Lodge. Later in the same month a demit was refused because only Master Masons are eligible.
In August, Provincial Grand Lodge met in Thurso and pronounced judgement. Colonel Henderson expressed his surprise that the Master should have fallen into "so palpable an error". The excuse that the ballot box was unreliable was unacceptable. If it was so, then another box should be obtained. The Master was called upon "to frankly admit that" he did,, on that occasion, violate the Constitution"and to "unreservedly apologise for his action" and to "promise that in future he will abide strictly within the lines of the Constitution". The Master accepted the judgement. It was, moreover, stated by the Provincial Grand Master that the candidate concerned "bore a good character".
A two day bazaar held in September realised over £300 and donations brought the total up to nearly £350. The lodge's debt could almost have been cleared off.
1913
The Master was now agent of the Royal Bank of Scotland in Thurso. He introduced a motion to transfer the lodge's bank account to him in November 1913. After the motion had been defeated there were recriminations and eventually he closed the lodge without conferring the degree on the waiting candidates. Part of the trouble was the rarity of the Treasurer's appearances at this time.
Another bone of contention at this meeting was the composition of the selection committee charged with recommending the office-bearers annually. It consisted of the Immediate Past Master, two other Past Masters, three brethren who were not in office and the Secretary. It was not clear, however, whether the brethren out of office could include Past Masters or not. When the matter was referred to Grand Lodge, the ruling was that Past Masters were not included.
1915
The lodge room was renovated and refurnished and was then re-opened by Commander Philip Egerton, R.N. Master of St.Donan Lodge No.955, Helmsdale, Who spoke of the lodge's history.
1916
In this year an Enquiry Committee was set up for the first time in accordance with the requirements of Grand Lodge. It may be remarked that, more often than not, enquiry is ,a formality in a place like Thurso. The name of a candidate is alone enough to conjure up not only his own vices and virtues but those of his entire family tree.
1918
The next Master was John Munro, joiner contractor and undertaker, a native of Halkirk. He had been initiated in July 1909,had been Junior and Senior Deacon and Junior Warden and had just finished four years as Senior Warden. His occupancy of the chair was notable for the very great influx of new members and because it culminated in the centenary celebrations of 1920.
1919
The election at the end of 1919 was the last to be contested in this period. There were two names for the offices of Master. Senior Warden and Proxy Master. For the chair the candidates were John Munro and Donald Ryrie (the writer's father).
Donald Eyrie's apparent qualifications were that he had been Junior and Senior Deacon and Junior and Senior Warden between 1908 and 1911. Prom 1914 he had been Depute Master although absent on war service. John Munro had, of course, the qualification of two successful years as Master.
There were, I think, three lines of argument in this contest. It had been minuted in November 1915 that those who were on war service were not to lose their seniority. A second point was that there was a desire, noticeable since the beginning of the century among some members, that two years was an adequate term in the chair if a suitable successor was available. Thirdly, there was a feeling that the lodge could not take a chance with a new Master in the centenary year. A majority in the selection committee and in the lodge accepted the third argument.
1920
It is not proposed to say much about the centenary celebrations because the brochure produced at the time gives full details. A church service, a reception, a supper, a ball and a cinema, exhibition for the children made the occasion memorable. It cost the lodge about £100 and one can only say that the money was well spent.
At this time the lodge was presented with the V. S.L. and Tyler's sword of the defunct Mason Lodge of Thurso which had been in the possession of the Misses Gerry of Viewfirth.
1921
The next Master was Donald Ryrie, master plumber, who was mentioned above. He became Depute Provincial Grand Master and was made an Honorary Grand Bible-bearer by Grand Lodge in 1948. He was one of the first two recipients of Distinguished Service Membership of the lodge in 1956.
A church service was held again this year and an annual custom was established. About 80 brethren attended on this occasion.
1922
After one year Donald Ryrie retired from the chair. In January 1922 "On the suggestion of P.M. Bro. John Munro it was agreed that the Brethren of the Lodge record their appreciation of the capacity assiduity and courtesy (sic)way with which I.P.M. Bro. D.Ryrie has during his too short term of office as R.W.M. discharged all the duties attached to the chair. His appointment to that responsible office justified at the outset by his previous record as a devoted Brother & Office bearer has been further justified by his bearing and performance as Master and the Brethren express their great regret that the pressing claims of business have interfered with his continued tenure of office and desire to assure Brother Ryrie that their good wishes go with him in his retirement." This testimonial was forwarded to the I.P.M. who was not present.
The new Master was Alexander Neil MacDonald, solicitor. He was an initiate of Lodge St.Andrew No.110, Aberdeen, and had affiliated in August 1912. He was, for 1914 and part of 1915..Treasurer. He was Junior Provincial Grand Warden from 1928 to 1930.
The centenary brochure was published and a copy was sent to Grand Lodge. It was acknowledged with thanks but Grand Secretary had to point out that it was not permitted to elect separate office-bearers for the Mark. The brochure, incidentally, was prepared originally by Lewis Gordon Grant but, as he left Thurso, was finally edited by William J.S. Macpherson.
1923
Since 1920 Caithness had been directly under the rule of Grand Lodge because of the dissolution of the old province of Orkney, Caithness and Zetland. In June of this year a deputation consisting of Joseph Inglis, Past Senior Grand Warden and later Substitute Grand Master, William Munro Denholm and James Sime Waterston together with David Reid, Grand Secretary, came to Thurso. They were fairly happy with what they found and laid, no doubt, the foundations of the new province.
In October Sir Archibald H.M. Sinclair, Bart. of Ulbster, whose father had been a member and whose great- great great-grandfather had been a founder of the Mason Lodge of Thurso in 1741, affiliated to the lodge. He was then M.P. for Caithness and Sutherland and is now the 1st Viscount Thurso, K.T. His mother lodge was Household Brigade Lodge No.2614 which meets in London. He is the second Lord Lieutenant on the roll of the lodge.
1925
The third lodge in Caithness, John O’Groat Lodge No.1333 meeting at Castletown, was consecrated in January and this led to the establishment of the present Provincial Grand Lodge of Caithness two years later with William M. Brims as first occupant of its chair.
The Master was Dr.John Maclennan who had been initiated in February 1901 and had been Junior Deacon in 1902. He was Depute Master in 1906 and 1907 and again from 1922 to 1924. He later became Depute Provincial Grand Master from 1928 to 1932.
1926
In February a presentation was made to Andrew (Jackie)Thomson on the occasion of his golden wedding. He had been initiated in May 1875 and had been Inner Guard in 1908 and 1909 and from 1911 to 1919 but had refused higher office. From 1921 until his death in 1932 he was Bible-bearer.
1927
In February the lodge obtained permission from Grand Secretary to wear the regalia at their dance but Thomas G.Winning added a condition: that it was "under the express condition that it be treated with proper respect, and not used to adorn ladies and non Masons, as has been done in similar circumstances by some lodges in the past". Grand Secretary, as a Borderer, knew what he was talking about. The habits he deplored still continue on the Borders.
In this year the lodge room was rearranged. The door was shifted from the south-west to the north-west of the room and the platforms at the south and north walls were reduced in width.
1929
'The next Master was William Coghill, master baker, who had been initiated in January 1917. He had been Junior Deacon for one year, Senior Deacon for two, Junior Warden for three, Senior Warden for two, Substitute Master for one and Depute Master for TWO. He became Depute Provincial Grand Master from 1938 and 1942 and was made an Honorary Grand Marshal of Grand Lodge in 1961. The lodge conferred Distinguished Service Membership on him in 1956.
1931
He was succeeded by John George Munro, son of John Munro. He was entered in April 1915 and was Secretary from 1916 to 1925 with a break of two years for war service. He was Junior Warden in 1926, Senior Warden from 1927 to 1929 and Substitute Master in 1930. He was Provincial Grand Secretary from 1927 to 1947,was made an Honorary Grand Bible-bearer in 1944 and was a Grand Steward from 1944 to 1947. In 1947 he became Provincial Grand Master and. continued in that office until 1951.
1933
The next Master was John Sinclair, ironmonger and later ship's chandler, who had been initiated in September 1919. He was Junior Deacon from the middle of 1921 to 1923, Senior Deacon from 1924 to 1926,Junior Warden from 1927 to 1929,Senior Warden in 1930 and 1931 and Depute Master in 1932. He was Provincial Grand Master from 1961 to 1966. He was made an Honorary Grand Marshal in 1949. John Sinclair was "Provost of Thurso from 1948 to 1961, was made an M.B.E. and has been since 1965,
Lord Lieutenant of Caithness, the third on the lodge's roll.
1934
It was agreed at the end of this year to open the ante-room to the lodge each evening from Monday to Friday from 7.30 to 10.30 p.m. at a charge of 2d per evening.
1935
The next Master was George Hood, monumental sculptor, who had been initiated in 1924. He had served as Inner Guard, Junior Warden and Senior Warden. He became Senior Provincial Grand Warden and an Honorary Grand Bible-bearer.
Malcolm Brock, Tyler for forty years, died in this year. Initiated in 1884 he had filled the offices of Inner Guard, Junior Deacon and Senior Deacon before becoming Tyler at the end of 1894.
1937
David Forsyth, bank manager, who had affiliated in March 1930 from,
Lodge St.Peter No.120, Montrose,was the next Master. After three years as Treasurer, he occupied the chair of Senior Warden in 1935 and 1936. Later he was Provincial Senior Grand Warden.
In October - arising out of the nomination of a new Provincial Grand Master - the Master made what he called "a disciplinary statement" which led to the resignation of the Senior Warden. In March of the following year he withdrew his statement and apologised to the lodge and the retired Senior Warden. These were accepted.
1939
The last Master we shall notice here was Thomas Collier Findlay, physician, who was initiated in December 1935 and was Senior Warden in 1937. His war duties made it impossible for him to accept re-nomination at the end of the year.

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