A SHORT HISTORY OF THE GLENLYON LODGE NO. 346 S.C.
by Worshipful Bro. F. W. Seal Coon and Bro. Cecil Wint, Past Mas,ter – No 346 S.C.)
The Glenlyon Lodge was warranted 1st December, 1845 as No 417 on the roll of the Grand Lodge of Scotland and later given No. 346. It was warranted while George Augustus, Lord Glenlyon, 6th Duke of Athele, was Grand Master Mason (1843-1864). The Lodge was named in his honour, and as a consequence, has the distinctive name “The Glenlyon Lodge”.
The Petitioners were: William J. Rutherford, Right Worshipful Master; Alfred E. Robbins, Senior Warden; Arthur Chevolleau, Junior Warden; Jasper Anderson, Treasurer; and John A Cator, Secretary. The Petitioners and other members were of the Royal Lodge No. 207 E.C.
From about 1850, times were hard for Scottish Lodges and Glenlyon became dormant from 1861 until it was resuscitated on 30th November, 1868 when Samuel Constantine Burke (who was to become Provincial Grand Master three years later) was installed as Master. The records indicate however that H. W. DaCosta (1861-1863) and P. J. Feron (1864-1867) were listed as Masters of the Lodge. The resuscitation meeting must have been held under dispensation, as the Charter was missing and did not return until March of the next year. For various reasons Masters were not installed in 1880, 1891 and 1895, but the previous Masters carried on.
The Glenlyon Lodge was one of two Scottish Lodges operating in Kingston and it is not surprising that they used Sussex Hall, a Masonic Temple owned by English Lodges. In 1872, The Glenlyon Lodge commenced plans for a Temple to be known as Glenlyon Hall. This Temple was completed in 1856 and was consecrated by the Provincial Grand Master at 56 Hanover Street, Kingston. Unfortunately, the Brethren did not provide their promised support and despite the ingenuity and enthusiasm of the Right Worshipful Master (Bro. S. J. Streadwick) the debt rose steadily and the building was finally put up for auction in August 1890. The Glenlyon Lodge returned to Sussex Hall. It is interesting to note that several Spanish-speaking members were admitted into the Lodge during the latter part of the 19th Century and the “Ritual” had to be translated for their benefit.
Eighty years after Glenlyon’s individual attempt to secure a Scottish Temple, the District Grand Lodge of Jamaica made another attempt. This started as a joint venture with the English District Grand Lodge but subsequently each district decided to build its own Temple. Spearheading this new Scottish venture was Bro. Jackson McL. Wint, a Past Master of Glenlyon, and in 1968, during his term as District Grand Master, the building was consecrated at McGregor Square, Kingston. The consecration on 15th February, 1968 was performed by the Grand Master Mason, Bro. Major Sir Ronald Orr Ewing, Bt., B.L., J.P., and it marked the first occasion in the history of Caribbean Freemasonry that a Temple was consecrated by the Grand Master Mason. This new Temple stands on land donated by the late Bro. R. E. McGregor, himself a member of Glenlyon. It serves as the Headquarters of the District Grand Lodge and its communities.