Lodge Riddrie Glasgow No.1340

 ANGUS FIDDES CROW
(R.W.M. 1942 - 1943)

Bro. A. F. CROW was installed as Master on 25th November, 1942, by Past Masters James Purves and D. M. Kerr, both of Lodge Riddrie.
He was first installed into office in 1931, and with the exception of a break through illness, has been continuously in office, having held the offices of Junior Steward,  Bible Bearer, Sword Bearer, Inner Guard, Junior Deacon, Junior Warden, and Senior Warden.
Bro. Crow was born at Morningside, Edinburgh, in 1899, but at the age of five was brought to reside in Glasgow. Out on seventeen Masters who have ruled the Lodge he is the fourth who commenced his schooldays at Kent Road School in the west end of Glasgow.
When war broke out in 1914 Bro. Crow was still a schoolboy, but shortly afterwards he entered the service of the L.M. & S. Railway Company. He travels extensively in Scotland on railway business, but usually manages to be in Glasgow when the Lodge is at work.
In his eighteenth year he joined the Highland Light Infantry, and as a corporal served overseas till the end of hostilities.

At his installation Bro. Crow said ; “ I am keen on social work, particularly where it can be of service in easing the sum total of man’s difficulties and troubles during his ordinary life. Our Lodge provides a standard of social intercourse which to me is of great  importance. I have always looked upon it and made my opinion clear that the Lodge is a place where we should be able to lay aside our troubles and difficulties and enjoy the full benefits which our fraternity association should give to all.

Bro. Crow was a member of the Glasgow Eastern Swimming Club for many years ; he is also addicted to bowls, playing on the greens of the Riddrie Bowling Club.

Eighteen meetings were during the year, at which 33 intrants and 3 affiliates were received into the Lodge.

Each  of the three Degrees was worked by a brother of a visiting Lodge. The First, by Bro. W. McCulloch, J.W., of Lodge Union and Crown, No. 103 ; the Second, by Bro. A. Swan, P.M., Lodge Southern Cross, No. 1243 ; and the Third by Bro. Andrew Monteith, P.M., Lodge Glasgow, No. 441.
P.G.L. Visitation took place on 14th April, 1943, under the direction of Bro. Rev. G. Kerr McKay, S.P.G.M. Bro. McKay complimented the members on the healthy condition of the Lodge, especially in view of the strenuous year through which we had passed.

In May our Temple was taken over from the Air Ministry by the War Department. It lay unused for five months, but immediately we requested that it be derequisitioned it was reoccupied.

A concert, a whist drive, and a dance were held to augment the Servicemen’s Fund, and the very creditable sum of £72 9s. 9d was raised.

Bro. B. I. Thomas, who was serving with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, spent a leave in Jerusalem, and there purchased a mallet which he sent home as a present to his Mother Lodge.

Through the premature explosion in the breach of an anti-aircraft gun, Bro. T. D. Frank Patterson received a serious injury. The explosion killed his officer and four men, other four men being injured, but after a spell in hospital we are glad to state he was able to rejoin his battery.

Death took from us Bro. C. B. Phillip -- the chairman of the original committee which started proceedings prior to the founding of the Lodge –– Bro. D Doig, a very efficient office-bearer, and Bros. J. McGregor and A. D. Burns.

Before demitting office Bro. Crow presented to the Lodge three emblems for use in the Third Degree, viz., Spade, Sword and Incense Pot. Bro. A. Best Arthur made and presented a case to hold the Scythe, Spade and Sword. Both brethren were thanked for their kindness by Bro. James Purves, who, in accepting the gifts on behalf of the Lodge, trusted they would still be in use many hundred years hereafter.

The war was now going well for us, North Africa being cleared of the enemy.
Italy had surrendered unconditionally, and Mussolini he cleared out to make his excuses to his boss in Berlin.