History

In the year 1770 the grand lodge of Scotland granted a charter to a lodge named The Oswald of dunnikier, which was allotted the number 161 on the roll.

Unfortunately lodge no 161 did not flourish as was anticipated because of financial difficulties in 1790 and ultimately it was declared dormant in the year 1816.

Then in the year 1867 bro Alex Muirhead Melville of the Lodge of Kirkcaldie no 72 and half of the office bearers and other members of that said lodge resigned and decided to form a new lodge.

This is a reference from the first minute book.

A petition for a charter for a lodge of free and accepted masons to be called

The Oswald of Dunnikier signed by 71 master masons in Kirkcaldy and neighbourhood was delivered to the Worshipful Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Scotland at the quarterly communication on 4th February 1867.

The Grand Lodge unanimously sanctioned the said petition and a charter was granted and allotted the number 468.

The first office bearers inscribed thereon are –

Right Worshipful Master Bro James Townsend Oswald

Depute Master Bro Alexander Muirhead Melville

Substitute Master Bro Frances Robert Earl of Rosslyn.

Other founder members are recorded from lodges 10,19,25 26 38,72,91,97,120,121,172,181, & 400

Forty-four members are recorded from lodge 72

The charter was delivered to Depute Master Bro A.M.Melville on 8th march 1867.

Unfortunately that we note from the minute book from the years 1867 – 1893 we have no account of the place of meetings but we do know that the festival of St John was always held in the George hotel (now defunct).

The only evidence in the minute book is the date time and name of the right worshipful master.

We can only presume that the meetings were held in the public buildings.

As of 1851 the lodge of Kirkcaldie no72 and the lodge St Bruce no 172 were Co-tenants there for 45 years.

On the 10th of April 1872 the RWM Bro A.M Melville and several brethren went to the town of Leslie to lay the foundation stone of the new town house.

Another worthy event of recording shows a petition from 16 members of Kirkcaldy trade band to become masons and form a Masonic band.

It was duly considered and on the 21st of July 1875 at a ceremony at Dunnikier house they were obligated as apprentice masons.

On 14th of November 1883 it was resolved to support bro James Townsend Oswald as nominee for the office of Provincial Grand Master of Fife and Kinross.

On the 3rd of march 1884 it is reported that 12 brethren along with the right worshipful master met at Dysart parish church hall and marched to the town house to join the procession to lay the foundation stone of the Normand memorial hall with full Masonic honours by the Provincial Grand Master Bro J T Oswald and supported by BroThe Earl of Rosslyn Past Grand Master Mason 23 fife lodges were represented.

In the year1887 the lodge became in financial difficulties and on the 9th January 1888 at a meeting held by R.W.M Bro M.W. Walker and supported by Bro Oswald called an emergency meeting to discuss the matter.
So on the 8th of February the brethren decided to assist the lodge with funds amounting to £6.16/- to keep the lodge afloat.

At this stage it is reported that the lodge was to settle down in hunters hall Kirk wynd.

The first meeting was held on the 16th of December 1888 and formally opened by

R.W.M Bro Walker and assisted by ro Oswald Provincial Grand Master of fife and kinross this was noted in the minute book.

On the 27th of December 1889 the lodge held its first festival of ST John at hunters hall.

Pm Bro Cochrane of Lodge 72 installed the elective office bearers thereafter he installed Bro Alexander Robertson as Right Worshipful Master.

On the 3rd of November a portrait of the late Bro The Earl of Rosslyn as Grand Master Mason was presented to the R.W.M.

He died 8th of September 1890 and was interred at Rosslyn chapel on 11th of September.

(it will be noted that the late earl signed our petition for a charter as sub master).

At a meeting of 19th October 1891 it was agree to confer with lodge no 72 and the Royal Arch. chapter no 97 to share premises.

A deputation from the lodge were present at the consecration of lodges king Robert the Bruce no 304 and lodge wemyss no 777 on 11th June 1892.

On the 5th June with great sorrow we hear of the death of Bro Major Oswald provincial Grand Master.

In tribute to the memory of the late Grand Master the Provincial Grand Lodge of Fife and Kinross held a funeral lodge in Kirkcaldy on 24th November 1893.

On 14th April 1894 we hear of the first visitation of Provincial Grand Lodge headed by Bro James H Balfour Melville Provincial Grand Master.

On 19th November1894 at a meeting we are to remove from the public building to Philips school thistle street (which was later to become our premises) at a cost of 5/- a night.

On the 2nd of march 1896 the Royal Arch Chapter no 97 had purchased the old corn exchange for the purpose of a lodge room and offered Lodge 72 and Lodge 468 a chance to assist offered investment of 3­­­1/2% debenture bonds which was accepted.

The first meeting held in the freemasons hall is recorded in the minute book of 9th November 1896 we now have a place of our own and a period of prosperity

On 20th January 1910 Bro H.H. Brown Prov Grand Master appointed bro Alexander Robertson P.M Lodge 468 as Prov Grand Depute Master.

On 28th April 1911 a deputation from Lodge 468 headed by R.W.M William Wright and past masters McLeod and Hastie attended the laying of the memorial stone of the freemasons hall Edinburgh.

At a meeting o the Lodge on 7th April 1913 it was agreed to recommend Bro Lord Bruce now the Earl of Elgin) as Prov Grand Master of Fife and Kinross.

The installation took place on the 7th July 1913 Bro T.C Robertson R.W.M Lodge 468 was in attendance.

On 6th September 1915 BroHenry.H.Brown I.P.Prov Grand Master and Bro Tenant Gordon Past Grand Secretary were conferred honorary membership.

During the war years masonry was at low ebb as many office bearers were called to the colours but as the war ended and peace returned the Oswald of Dunnikier Lodge shared in the flowing tide of entrants.

In the years 1919-1920 the then R.W.M Bro H Carron. Initiated into the lodge 336 Intrants of which 302 were advanced to the mark.

The minutes recorded that during these two years the total meetings held were 131.

And more interesting to note that at 61 meetings two degrees were worked at each.

In the coming years the lodge prospered another 144 intranets were initiated 136

Advancing to the mark

On the 4th January 1926 the trustees of the three owing bodies agreed to purchase the

Unionist club premises (originally philips school thistle st) for the sum of £2300.

At a meeting on the 22nd October 1927 at 2.30 pm bro R.T Hon The Earl of Elgin along with 13 distinguished brethren from Provincial Grand Lodge opened the lodge.

Then a deputation from the Grand Lodge of Scotland headed by Most Worshipful Grand Master Mason Bro Lord Blythswood along with 14 distinguished brethren adjourned the Prov Grand Lodge and Grand Lodge was opened and the temple was consecrated for lodges 72 and the Oswald of Dunnikier 468.

In the 1930s the lodge was at a very low level and with world war ii looming things were very low so in 1940 the lodge approached past master Bro William.H.Carron to return with the view to rebuilding our former status in the years 1941-42 this worked very well and the lodge once again prospered during these two years the ministry of works took possession of our premises and we moved to coal wynd and then to Oswald wynd,

After the war we returned to our premises and with compensation from the ministry of works we decorated throughout.

This part of our history was compiled by Bro Secretary Thomas Simpson who was.

recognised by the lodge for his sterling work in the years 1940-58 and was presented.

With a secretary’s gold jewel at a meeting held on 11th February 1963 by then Prov Grand Master of Fife and Kinross and Grand Master Mason of Scotland Bro Lord Bruce and also the distinguished service diploma.

On the 1st June 1964 a funeral lodge was held for past treasurer bro Walter.G.F.Watt

Who held the office for ten years

On the 4th day of February 1967 the lodge held a service of re-dedication in honour of our centenary and the consecration of our new regalia

The Right Worshipful Master Bro Ian Mackenzie thanks Bro Thomas Simpson who spent a lot of time and effort to scribe this history of our lodge for our first one hundred years.