ADAM MONTGOMERIE WELSH
(R.W.M. - 1929 - 1930)
Ever happens on this globe, for good, at which
Some people did not have their fill of laughter.
(“ Christmas Carol ” (stave V) ––Charles Dickens)
Bro. WELSH was born in Glasgow on the 8th October, 1891,and served his time in the city of his birth to the clothing and outfitting trade. His Mother Lodge is Mother Kilwinning, No. 0, and he has occupied the presidential chair of the No. 0 Social Club. During the 1914-18 war Bro. Welsh fought as a gunner with the Royal Artillery.
He was installed Master of Lodge Riddrie on 27th November, 1929, by Bro. J. H. A. McIntyre, Pm., Lodge Dramatic, No. 571, and Bro. Fred W. Larter, P.M., Lodge Glasgow Kilwinning, No. 4
As Bro. D. M. Kerr had intimated his desire to accept the invitation of the brethren to occupy the Junior Warden’s Chair a new Secretary (Bro. W. R. Stark) was installed ; and as Bro. James Gray was transferred to Inverness during the year a new Treasurer (Bro. G. S. Dick) was, on 12th March, 1930, installed by Bro. David Hood, P.M., Lodge St. Andrew, East Kilbride, No. 524.
On the occasion of Bro. James Gray’s departure the brethren presented him with a clock to mark the esteem in which he was held and for the work he had done for the Lodge during his term in office.
The Lodge went into mourning for three months on the occasion of the death of the Grand Master Mason, Lord Blythswood, and no entertainment or harmonies were held during that time. Two of the founder members, Bro. A.M. Logan, the first Junior Steward, and Bro. J. Bennett were lost to the Lodge through death. Bro. J. Rankin Andrew, P.G.M. Depute, headed the Visitation from P.G. Lodge, and stated that everything was in order. He complimented Bro. Fotheringham on the way the Lodge had been run during his term of office, and wished Bro. Welsh success during his year.
Bro. Andrew accepted Honorary Membership of the Lodge and was presented with an Honorary Member’s Jewel.
The Mascot Café, Riddrie, was offered to the Lodge for £1,250, but as the property did not meet our requirements the offer was not entertained.
AS we still desirous of having a permanent home as soon as possible, Bro. James Fraser had a layout plan made of a proposed Temple, which he placed before the brethren, and while stressing that the plan was only a sketch giving ground for discussion, he spoke regarding the erection of such an edifice and the comfort that would entail in having a regular place for committee meetings instead of having to look for and use various odd corners. Bro. R. Murray MacGregor spoke on how such a building could be financed and thereafter the matter was thoroughly discussed.
The outcome was that Bro. Duncan Galbraith gave notice that he would move : “ That a hall be built at a cost not exceeding £2,200, this sum to include the purchase price of the ground and furniture, but excluding consecration expenses, and that the committee in charge be empowered to realise the securities of the Lodge as and when necessary at the best possible price to enable accounts to be met.”
This received the approbation of the brethren and the following committee was elected, with powers to carry out the decision : Bros. James Purves, James Fraser, G.S. Dick, M.M. McColl, A.M. Welsh, R.M. MacGregor, A.W. Ronald, D.M. Kerr, W.R. Stark, and James Gray. Unfortunately, Bro. Purves could not see his way to act on the committee, as the Lodge did not possess the necessary £2,200, and he was adverse to acting on any committee where the members were in favour of borrowing. Bro. Purves was wholeheartedly in favour of the project, but as a matter of principle, he could not be a part to borrowing money and thought we should get the money first and build thereafter. He was coaxed to change his mind, but remained adamant , and did not serve on the committee.
Negotiations were entered into with the Thaw Trust, and it was eventually agreed to feu “ All and whole that plot of ground extending to five hundred and twenty-one and one-third square yards or thereby, part of the lands of Muddle Riddrie of Provan, situated in the Barony Parish of Glasgow and County of Lanark, bounded on the north by the turnpike road leading from Glasgow to Cumbernauld, now known as Smithycroft Road, along which it extends 68 feet or thereby : on the east, on the south and on the west by other parts of the lands of the Thaw Trust along which it extends on the east 69 feet or thereby, on the south 68 feet or thereby, and on the west 69 feet or thereby.”
Messrs, Lennox & Macmath were appointed architects, Messrs, John Stewart & Son, measurers, and Bro. George Thaw, honorary master of works.
Plans of a stone fronted building, with a slated roof, were submitted by the architects, and with some minor alterations, approved by the committee ; and tenders were sent out to the various tradesmen concerned.
The tenders which were accepted were :
Mason Work - - - £885
Wright Work - - - £517
Slater Work - - - £146
Plumber Work - - £102
Plaster Work - - - £62
Electrical Work - - £106
Heating Work - - - £76
Painting Work - - - £50
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£1,945
Ground Say - - - - £150
-–––––
£2,095
This does not include the architect’s or measurers fees, or the cost of furnishing the hall, and as the committee left that the whole could not be undertaken for less than £2,500, they had to go back to the Lodge for further instructions as their remit was to expend up to the amount of £2,200.
The architect went into various items with the tradesmen and some savings were affected, but not enough to keep within the limit. After consideration the Lodge said “go ahead,” and agreed to the following motion :
That in order to carry out the authority given by the Lodge to the Building and Finance Committee to build a Temple, Bro. A. M. Welsh, Master; Bro. A. W. Ronald, Senior Warden ; Bro. D. M. Kerr, Junior Warden ; Bro. W.R. Stark, Secretary ; and Bro. G. S. Dick, Treasurer ; as Trustees for and on behalf of Lode Riddrie, Glasgow, No. 1340, be empowered and obliged –––
(1) To enter into a Minute of Agreement with the Trustees of the late Mrs. Thaw to purchase a piece of ground at Smithycroft Road, Riddrie, Glasgow, in consideration of a feu-duty of £9 10/-, with right to the said Trustees after a period of not less than three years and upon three months’ notice, to call upon the Lodge to redeem the said feu-duty at a purchase price of seven shillings per square yard ;
(2) To enter into a feu contract, or other deed, to give effect to the above Minute of Agreement ;
(3) To borrow from the Halifax Building Society the sum of £705 4/-, repayable by the Lodge over a period of 24 years and 4 months by lunar monthly payments of £4 4/- ;
(4) To grant an ex facie absolute Disposition of the ground at Smithycroft Road with all buildings thereon to the Halifax Building Society ; and
(5) To enter into a Minute of Agreement with the said Society to repay the said loan of £705 4/-, declaring in said Minute that while the Disposition of said subjects referred to above is ex facie absolute, it is actually in security of the loan granted by the said Society.
The foundations of the hall were laid and building grew apace but, unfortunately, the stone in that part of the quarry which was being worked ran out and for a period, until the machinery could be moved to another part of the quarry, work was at a standstill for want of stone Rain fell steadily during this period and the ground, much tramped upon, became a quagmire : it was not the only thing, as the spirits of the Building Committee were damped as time went on and the date they had set their minds on for the completion of the hall drew nearer.
We will leave the building in course of erection and pass on to other events in this eventful years.
Funds were still being sought and Bro. W. Hutton presented two gold watches for a “Stop Watch” Scheme, which realised the gratifying sum of £52 10/-.
The Master’s Chain was of silver gilt, and Bros. James Purves, James Fraser, and L. L. Fotheringham each replaced a silver gilt link with one of solid gold to mark their term in office as Master. In thanking those brethren for their gift, it was suggested that as each Master completed his term in the chair he would replace a link in like manner and in time the chain would be completely of gold and more valuable, both in reality and sentimentally.
Nineteen meetings were held during the tear, at which 16 intrants and 2 affiliates became members of the Lodge.
A supper to commemorate the founding of the Lodge was held in Slogans Café, and an enjoyable evening was spent by the brethren and their guests. The supper became an annual event, which conformed with the Bye-Law recommendations.
Visitations to the Lodge were received from the P.G. Lodge of Perthshire East, headed by Bro. the Rev. A. Wylie Smith, B.D., who spoke regarding the Church and the Craft ; from Lodge St. Conval, Giffnock, No. 1359, the Depute Master, Bro. S. R. Sutton, working a Third Degree ; the third was also worked by Bro. Robert Fyfe, P.M. and brethren of Lodge St. Vincent, No. 553.
We visited Lodge Scoon and Perth, No. 3, and while in Perth paid our respects in St. John’s Church, to the Perthshire War Memorial. Another visit was paid to Mother Kilwinning, were the brethren of Riddrie worked the Mark Ceremony. We also paid a visit to Lodge Buchlyvie, and spent an evening witnessing how a Third was worked in a small Country Lodge.
An extra social event was a combined evening cruise with members of the No. 0 Social Club, but the event was not well patronised as it might have been.
A golf outing was held at Troon on the second Saturday of May. We do not remember the composition of the handicap committee, but as the first two places were occupied by Bros. A. M. Welsh and L. L. Fotheringham, it must be understood that they were well up to their job.
Bro. D.M. Kerr arranged a visit to Wembley on the occasion of the England v. Scotland football match.
We had a special coach on the Friday night train and returned after the match on Saturday night. The morning and evening were spent according to individual desires, all meeting at the match. Even though Scotland were beaten (there were too many Rangers in the team), a good time was had by all.