Lodge Laxford No 1380

Masonic Hall, Balnakeil Craft Village, Durness - (Click for Map)

Meetings:-2nd Saturday, September to April inclusive:-7:30pm

Annual Installation:-2nd Saturday in January    Provincial Visitation:-2nd Saturday in April

Lodge History

A meeting was held in Scourie on the 1^st November 1929 at which the following Brethren were present;

Bro D.C Morrison                Bro N. Macleod

 Bro G. Ross                Bro H.A Mackay

 Bro H. Macleod                Bro A. Mackay

Bro W. Mackenzie                Bro H. MacKay

Bro G. Campbell                Bro H. Campbell

Bro G. Mackay                Bro E. Macleod

Bro G. Thompson

It was unanimously resolved to approach the Provincial Grand Lodge of Sutherland to invoke their sympathy for the formation of a Lodge in Scourie. Bro D.C Morrison was appointed to correspond with Provincial Grand Lodge on the subject.

Much correspondence was exchanged, mainly regarding the suitability of the Scourie Hall and whether sufficient numbers of candidates could be guaranteed. These points were eventually resolved.

The petition for the Charter was recommended by Lodge Loch Shin No 1352 and Lodge St Devenic No1277 (now dormant) Provincial Grand Lodge  viewed the petition with favour. The erection and consecration took place on Friday 6^th May 1932 in the Village Hall, Scourie. The ceremony was preformed by Brother Major W.M Roberts R.W Provincial Grand Master of Sutherland assisted by his office bearers.

The following were the first office bearers,and founder members of Lodge Laxford No 1380

       R.W.M Bro D.C Morrison

W.D.M Bro H.A Morrison                               W.S.M Bro N. Macleod

W.S.W Bro G. Thomson                                  W.J.W Bro G. Campbell

Secretary Bro G.B Mackay                              Treasurer Bro H. Macleod

S.D Bro A Mackay                                          J.D Bro H. Campbell

I.G Bro G. Mackay                                          Tyler Bro G. Ross

A meeting of the owners of the hall set the rent of the hall at £5 per year for a period of at least ten years.

It was a tragic loss to the Lodge with the sudden death of R.W.M Bro D.C Morrison after only three meetings of the Lodge. At this meeting on Tuesday 13^th December 1932 the following office bearers were elected.

R.W/M Bro H.A Morrison                               W.D.M Bro N. Macleod

W.S.M Bro G Ross                                          W.S.W Bro G. Thomson

W.J.W Bro G Campbell                                   Secretary Bro G.B Mackay

Treasurer Bro H. Macleod                                S.D Bro A. Mackay

J.D Bro H. Campbell                                        D. of C Bro W. Mackenzie

I.G Bro G. Mackay                                          Tyler Bro A. Macleod

The above office bearers were installed by P.M Bro A.W. Mackie and his board of installed masters from Lodge Loch Shin No 1352 on 24^th December 1932.

The Lodge moved to Durness School , first meeting on 7^th December 1943 after admitting 39 Brethren into the craft in Scourie. This decision was made, as many of the Brethren were from Durness and were unable to attend in Scourie owing to transport difficulties during the war time.  Quite a number of service personnel were admitted into the craft as they were stationed at RAF Sango in Durness.

The Lodge again moved back to Scourie on 3^rd January 1947 after hostilities ceased and things got back to normal, there were 38 entrants whilst in Durness.

 Again the Lodge moved this time to Rhiconich Hotel, the first meeting was held on the 23^rd October 1962.There were 48 entrants whilst in Scourie.

 After nearly a year a figure of £1 per meeting plus light and heat was agreed with the proprietor of the Hotel, also a change of Lodge meetings from 2^nd Tuesdays to 2^nd Saturdays of each month. 

The Lodge was once again moved this time to a permanent home in Balnakiel Craft Village Durness, there were 36 entrants whilst in Rhiconoch Hotel.

The Lodge took approximately a year to convert the empty ex-Helicopter fuel store into the now well known Masonic Lodge. The Rededication Ceremony took place on Saturday 14^th April 1979, the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master of Sutherland Bro.A.Ross and the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Chaplain of Sutherland Bro.Geo.Dingwall conducted the ceremony.  There being 66 Brethren attending this meeting, to date there have been 37 entrants (Feb 2007).

Over the years there have been a lot of improvements to the building mainly inside but some outside, the main conversion from gas lighting and heating to electricity. Many thanks are due to the Brethren both past and present who gave up their time and some money for all the work completed to date.

The final purchase of the building from the Highland Regional Council took place on the 8^th November 1980 for a total of £259.50, the title deeds being lodged with Bank of Scotland (Lairg) November1981 for safe keeping, they have since been transferred to the Royal Bank of Scotland in Ullapool. 

(Lodge History supplied by Brothers W. Mackay and Gordon Clarke)

Roll of Past Masters

Office Bearers 2006 - 07

R.W.M.:-     Brother Alex Morrison

Telephone:-01971 511265

Secretary:-    Brother Gordon Clarke

Whiteheather, Smoo, Durness, Sutherland, IV27 4QA. Telephone:-01971 511251

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