St.Peter's Operative Lodge No.284

In the period covered by this chapter - 1881 to 1909 - we can see the lodge change to something very similar to its modern form. The Mark Degree and the ceremonial of Installed Master were introduced. A provincial Grand Lodge was established and, as a result, standard methods were now adopted. Also the lodge obtained a home of its own. We shall touch on some of these topics below.
1881
This year was the first in which Dr. John Craven occupied the chair. He was a native of North Berwick but had been initiated in St. Michael Lodge No.38, Crieff. In 1873 he affiliated to St.Peter's Operative Lodge. Until he died in 1893 he was the principal inspiration of the lodge. During 1881 he and several other members made gifts of furnishings.
1882
In this year an attendance book was used for the first time. Also a box for voluntary contributions to charity was placed on the table at all meetings. At this time the lodge had no other funds exclusively for benevolence. It was 1909 before a benevolent fund was instituted.
1883
The lodge now started to make a real effort to get a building of their own. A committee was set up and a fund was established. Grand Committee agreed to an appeal being directed to Scottish Freemasons generally. It is of interest to note that the number paying test fees at this time was a little over 30 and there was no life membership.
At the beginning of August 1883,a deputation from Grand Lodge erected and consecrated Viking Lodge No.67(now defunct)at Lerwick. John Craven attended and received the ceremonial of Installed Master which Grand Lodge had introduced in 1872 but which had not reached Caithness.
In 1884 with the assistance of two Past Masters from the South, he conferred the "degree" on William Mclntosh and George Dunnet. It has normally been conferred at installations since then. In 1887 the degree was conferred on James H.Henderson, then Master of St.Fergus No.466,and the introduction to Caithness was complete.
1884
The inauguration of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Orkney, Caithness and Zetland brought the Grand Master Mason, Walter Henry Erskine, 11th Earl of Mar and 13th Earl of Kellie, to Kirkwall. The lodge held a meeting on 21st August to greet him on his way back. Donald Leed was in the chair at the opening because the Master had been delayed. Two brethren objected to the presence of a brother in Highland dress. The minute says the brother was asked to retire until the Master should arrive and give a ruling. The upshot is not recorded but Grand Lodge's proceedings show that the question was later referred to Edinburgh. The ruling was that "kilt, doublet, white tie and gloves" would qualify as "properly clothed". Meantime the lodge had also considered the matter. Its decision that "black clothes and white neck-ties" were necessary was superseded.
Donald Leed - or Daniel Leeds as he was known in Glasgow Masonic circles - was a native of Thurso who had been initiated in Lodge Athole No.415 and was Master of that lodge about 1877. He returned to Thurso and set up as an architect. He did not hold office in St.Peter's Operative Lodge but he was a useful member.
1885
About £180 WAS now available in the building fund and it was decided to purchase premises in MacDonald(now Sir John)Square. This is now part of Donald Shearer's shop. The lower storey was let and the upper served as the lodge-room. The room was consecrated on 1st October by Sheriff G.H.M Thorns, the Provincial Grand Master. Six brethren, led by the Earl of Caithness; affiliated, on that occasion.
1886
Although the Mark Degree was worked in Scottish lodges before the end of the Eighteenth Century, it was not in general use. Grand Lodge tried to suppress it, but found this was not possible. In 1860 Grand Lodge agreed that all Scottish lodges could work the degree. Despite this it was not worked regularly until the present century. Because of this confused situation, lodges worked the degree without minuting the event even after 1860. This was done in St. Peter's Operative Lodge and we can only guess when. The first minute is for May 1888 but there was a meeting at the end of 1886 in which the lodge was taken to the Second Degree but no business was minuted. The Treasurer's books, moreover, show that 32 mark fees were received in 1886. Dr. Craven was a Mark Master Mason of Lodge Scoon & Perth No.3 and it seems likely from the Mark Register that he first worked the Mark Degree on 12th January 1886. In 1887 the degree was conferred on the Master of St.Fergus Lodge.
The Master at this time was Daniel Dunnet, jeweller, brother of George. He had been entered by his brother in 1880,was Junior Warden in 1882 and 1883 and Senior Warden in 1884 and 1885. He was Senior Grand Warden in the province before 1912 and was Provincial Grand Jeweller when the new province was formed.
1887
The provincial Grand Master laid the foundation stone of the new Thurso Bridge in May 1887 when 125 brethren were present.
1888
The next Master was George Sorrie, a native of Aberdeenshire, who had come to Thurso as sergeant instructor to the Rifle Volunteers. He was a member of Lodge Scoon A Perth No.3 and of Lodge Ancient Stirling No.30. In 1874 he affiliated to St.Peter's Operative Lodge. He was Junior Warden in 1875,Senior Warden in 1876 and Secretary until he became Master.
1891
On 27th August 1891 the foundation stone of the new harbour at Thurso was laid by the Duke of Portland, Lord Lieutenant of Caithness, with the lodge's assistance. He was an English Constitution Freemason but the lodge seized the opportunity to make him an honorary member on his way down from the railway station to the harbour. The minute refers to "gratuitous affiliation" but this is not permitted and the sense is that of honorary membership.
The Master was George Sinclair .merchant. He was initiated in November 1885,was Junior Warden in 1887 and Senior Warden in 1888 and 1889. When he took over the chair he was still under thirty years of age. He died in October 1893 while still Master. As Dr.Craven died three weeks later it will be realised that the lodge was severely hit.
1894
The new Master was Sinclair MacDonald, architect, a native of Sutherland. He was initiated in December 1890 and had served as Junior Deacon and Junior Warden. He later held office in the old and the new provinces.
1897
On the occasion of the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria, the lodge met and formed a procession to Sir George's Park, where Bro.George S.Logan addressed them. In the evening the Master gave a cake & wine banquet in the Royal Hotel when toasts were drunk to the Queen, the Master and the Oldest Mason. The brethren then returned to the hall and the lodge was closed.
The "Oldest Mason" was George Swanson, son of one of the founder members, who had joined the lodge in 1823. George was now 94 years of age and had been a member of the lodge for 75 years. This was not a world record nor was it a British one but it was, perhaps, a Scottish one and no older member was known in Scotland at that time.
1898
The lodge was finding its premises too small even for ordinary meetings. It had always been necessary to go out for any special event. This year the Christian Institute and the Rose Street School were examined.
It was about this time that the first Tuesday from October to April became the established meeting date. The exact evolution is not clear.
The Master now was Dr.David Durran. He had served for a time as a ship's physician and had been initiated in Lodge Doric Kilwinning No.68,Port Glasgow, in 1881. He affiliated in October 1885 and was Depute Master in 1897. He was Provincial Senior Grand Warden in 1912.
1902
The next Master was William Alexander Gunn, who was elected by a majority over John Gow. He was entered in 1886, was Inner Guard in 1890} and then served two terms as Senior Deacon and three as Senior Warden. From 1897 to 1900 he was Substitute Master. This election can be seen as a test of whether the chair was to be open to every able member of the lodge or whether it was to be reserved for an elite. The more democratic policy prevailed.
1904
John Gow was the next Master. He had come to Thurso as manager of the flagstones works and was a member of Lodge Zetland No.56ls Guisborough, in the North Riding of Yorkshire. He was affiliated in August 1891,was Substitute Master from 1894 to 1896 ..Treasurer from 1897 to 1900 and Depute Master in 1901.
1906
Another contest led to the election of John Sinclair Swanson, master painter, at the end of 1905. He had been initiated in January 1893,served for three years as Inner Guard, one as Junior Deacon, four as Senior Deacon, two as, Senior Warden and two as Depute Master. He was at one time the proprietor of the local picture house.
During, this year property became available in Sinclair Street adjacent to the Territorial Hall and consisting of Dr.Craven's stables which the lodge thought could be turned into a suitable hall. This was purchased for £70.
1908
The lodge was now anxious to get on with the building and set a limit of £700 on the cost but there were difficulties. The principal one - and it persisted for many years - was that they could not get the price they wanted for the MacDonald Square property. This price fluctuated between £250 and £500.
The Master was John Swanson Gunn, master tailor, brother of William A. Gunn. He was initiated in March 1901 and had served as Junior Warden for part of 1904 and the whole of 1905 and Senior Warden during 1906 and 1907. He had a second period as Master from 1914 to 1917.
In September the foundation stone of the new Public Library was laid by Sir Leicester Harmsworth, then M.P. for Caithness and Sutherland. He was an English Constitution Freemason who had affiliated to St.Peter's Operative Lodge in 1904. The lodge assisted in the proceedings and joined in the banquet given by the Town Council that evening.
1909
In January 1909 life membership was introduced at 1 guinea.
A snap decision to transfer the bank account to the Bank of Scotland from the British Linen Bank to suit the Treasurer led to a major row. At one stage both the Master and the Secretary resigned but the former was persuaded to change his mind.
In February the lodge's old meeting place, the Rifle Drill Hall, became available and an offer of £600 was accepted by the Army Council. The recommendation of the. local President of the Territorial Association, Sir John R. G.Sinclair of Dunbeath, himself a member of the lodge, was useful. The Sinclair Street property was sold for £76 and £400 was borrowed at 3.25%.
It was decided to use the upper storey as the Masonic Temple and to make two dwelling-houses on the lower. The temple was consecrated by the Provincial Grand Master, Colonel J.H.Henderson, and his office-bearers on 6th August 1909.

Chapter Eight