The Lodge

Lodge Ailsa meets every 4th Thursday at Freemason's Hall Singapore. It has approximately 40 subscribing members and approximately 25 active members. It is one of two Lodges in Singapore belonging to the Scottish Constituion of Freemasonry and works the unique MacBride Ritual compiled by Bro. Andrew Sommerville MacBride, an instructor of Masonic teachings, a distinguished writer of masonic literature, and internationallly acclaimed for his written works. He was born in Renton Scotland and died at the age of eighty in 1923. Only six Lodges work this ritual at the present time: five in Scotland and Ailsa. The ritual is known for it's richness, beauty and unique eloquence of it's language.

Consecration

The Lodge was consecrated on the 30th March 1918 and Chartered on the 2nd May 1918 having been sponsored by Lodges Tullibardine in the East No 1118 S.C. and Scotia No 1003 S.C. The petition for the Charter and Constitution of Lodge Ailsa was signed by 118 bretheren whose records show an interesting mix of notable personalities at the turn-of-the-century Malaya.

Marquis of Ailsa

The first proxy Master of the Lodge was Archibald, the 12th Earl of Cassillis (who was created Baron Ailsa in 1806 and the Marquis of Ailsa in 1831). His tartan, the Kennedy Tartan was adopted as the Lodge Tartan.

The War Years

Particulars of the Lodge's history for this note have been gathered from minutes of meetings maintained from 31st July 1952 (first meeting after the war) to date, available issues of the Pentagram, the fading memries of ageing brethren and fresh minds of the younger brethren. The books and records of the Lodge from inception until 1941 and it's furniture and belogings were destroyed by enemy actionduring the war of 1942-1945. The last regular meeting before the surrender of Singapore to the Japanese forces was held on 31st January 1942, at the height of the bombardment and just 15 days prior to the fall.

A duplicate Charter, replacing the one destroyed, was formally presented by the Grand Lodge to the Master on 31st July 1946. The Minutes of the meeting on the 28th June 1947 records the dedication of a new alter donated by Bro.PB Purvis in memory of the bretheren of Ailsa, seven in number, who lost their lives in the war.

Activities of Interest

1. The name of the first initiate is on record - Bro GH Watts, initiated in 1918, Master in 1924/25 and again in 19929/30; he returned to the UK in 1948 having attained the ranks of PDDGM and Hon JGW.

2. Ailsa together with Lodge Scotia, sponsored the petition to constitute and erect Lodge St Andrew No.1437, concerated on 18th June 1949 in Singapore.

3. The first Asian, a Singaporean, Bro John Lim Siew Chuan was initiated on 30th March 1950.

4. It is interesting to note that in 1951 the Lodge voted in favour of changing the name of the "District Grand Lodge of the Middle East" to the "The District Grand Lodge of Malaysia" on the grounds that the District was not located in the Middle East and that the name was a mis-nomer. The idea evidently did not find much support in the District at large, however it is worth noting the canny foresight of the Brethren: it was mooted well before the formation of the Federation of Malaysia in 1957.

5. The first member of Ailsa to be elected DGM, so far as can be assertained, was Bro. HC Faxton for the term 1950-55

6. Bro Maurice Lee Ah Choon was the first Asian to be installed into the chair of the Lodge in 1968.

7. The Lodge has the distinction of having had an ordained clergyman as Master in 1988-89; his son travelled from Scotland especially to be raised at the hands of his father.

8. On 23rd September 1994 the Lodge prodly demonstrated it's Third Degree working to the Bretheren of Lodge Tullibardine at Dewan Freemason in KL and to the Bretheren of Lodge Scotia in Penang in January 1998.

Present Composition

The present composition of the Lodge deserves mention as it symbolises the faternal harmony of many races and nationalities - Americans, Australians, Dutch, English, Indian, Italian, Japanese, Malaysians, Scots and Singaporeans, Finnish, Russian.

Ailsa extends a cordial welcome

Ailsa extends a cordial welcome to all brethern to witness the working of the MacBride ritual (assuring that it will be a new and unique experience) and thereafter to join us at the Harmony and share a drop of Ailsa's famous brew "Master's Choice" in true Scots tradition.

 

Office-Bearers2008-2009

Right Worshipful Master - Bro.Julian Brown

Worshipful Immediate Past Master - Bro.Swithun Lowe (Deceased)

Depute Master - Bro. Bill Gartshore

Substitute Master - Bro. Alphons Ruiter

Worshipful Senior Warden - Bro.Vijayakumar Kannusamy