Bro. James. W. P McLaren. P.M I will herein give not only my own history of any events concerning myself but other events in the Lodge which comes to mind. The accuracy of such events can always be checked in the Lodge minute books, that is if they have been minuted some may well not have been. I was initiated in Lodge Anima 1223 0n the 15th day of June 1962 being proposed by my brother Robert Taylor Brown and seconded by my father Malcolm McLaren. This took place at 100 West Regent St Glasgow G2. A word about the RWM, Secretary, and Treasurer in the year of 1962. Bro William Warringham RWM 1961-62 during recess of the summer of 1962 Bro. Warringham took a stroke from which he recovered but the last part of that year the chair was taken over by Bro. Robert Houston I. P. M (RWM -1960-61) Bro. Warringham was the last RWM to have a direct link with the cinema trade being employed in it. There may be others in the future and I hope so but at present as I write this in 2009 the last. I do know that the late Bro. Bernard Mann RWM worked for Pearl & Dean cinema advertisers at one time but when he took the chair he had his own business. Bro. William Warringham was a very popular member of the Lodge and in Lodge harmony played the Ukulele and sang George Formby songs. A word about the then secretary Bro. James McKinnie having had access to Lodge minute books. I have to say that Bro. McKinnie was the neatest, clearest writing of the Lodge minute books that I have ever seen by any Lodge Secretary. No disrespect to any Lodge Secretary past or present. Bro. McKinnie was at one time employed by BBC Scotland TV in there Saturday night sports programme doing graphics, which would explain his neat and tidy writing of the Lodge minute books. Bro. McKinnie was to become RWM in 1965-66 and 1966-67 The then Treasurer Bro Emanuel Levitus PM D S M RWM 1930-31 was to be the first Anima member to receive the 50 certificate in 1971 having been initiated in 1921. He also received Honorary Grand Rank of what I do not know but it must be in the minute of that year book. These honours were presented by the then Provincial Grand Master of Glasgow Bro. Adam J Ferguson. I was also told by Mammy that the founder members jewel of Lodge Anima 421 New South Wales was presented to him during his year as R W M at the Adelphi hotel in Glasgow where that was in Glasgow I am not sure I can only guess it was at a Lodge harmony or even an installation dinner. This jewel is at present on the R W M chain of office. That particular Lodge Anima 421 came into existence in 6th June 1922. One very notable event that occurred about two or three weeks after my initiation in 1962 at which I was not present was the presentation of the present RWM jewel by Lodge Paisley St Mirrins 129. I do know around that time Bro. David Jordan PM 129 was a regular visitor to the Lodge and can only assume there is a connection somewhere there. Bro. Jordan supplied harmony at that time to the Lodge. I received my F C in September 1962 followed by M.M in October and Mark Master Mason in November by Lodge Dramatic 571. In 1962 Bro. Bertram B Levitus became RWM 1962-63 what was unique about this was that it was to be the first time a father and son had taken the chair of Lodge Anima. Bertram father Samuel Levitus having been RWM in 1932-33. Bro Samuel Levitus was deceased when his son took the chair. I also remember sometime in the 60s being at a meeting in Lodge Shalom 1600 where Bro. Philip Berger RWM 1943-44 conferred the E. A. degree conferring all parts of that degree including the Obligation. Bro. Berger was a founder member of Lodge Shalom 1600 as were a number of Anima members. I first took office in the Lodge in 1963-64 when Bro Harry S McMillan was RWM. I was Junior Chaplin the then Chaplin, Bro. William Warringham PM let me do all prayers opening and closing of the Lodge and in the varies degrees. My first important part of Lodge ritual was in the E A degree and doing the N. E. corner. The next year 1964-65 I was Architect in 1965-66 and 1966-67 Junior Deacon then 1967-68 Junior Warden 1968-69 Senior Warden Then on Thursday 4th December 1969 I was installed as RWM of Lodge Anima 1223 in Freemasons Hall, 100 West Regent Glasgow. My installing masters were Bro. Israel Golden PM (RWM 1967-68) and Bro. Raymond Epstein I.P.M (RWM 1968-69) It is an honour for any Brother to become Master of his mother Lodge but as far as I am concerned more so as 1970 was to be Lodge Anima's Jubilee year when we would celebrate our fifty years of existence later that year. Before going on to 1970 a mention of 1969 at the RWM get together with Provincial Grand Lodge of Glasgow (Which I think was in January 1969). Our RWM Bro. Raymond Epstein and the RWM of Lodge Possilpark 1330 Bro. Leonard M Miller met it started a forty (40) continues years exchange of degrees as I write this in 2009 the longest association Lodge Anima has had with any Lodge as far as exchange of degrees. Coming back to 1970 in September of that year Lodge Anima held a special meeting to mark our fifty year Jubilee. It was just an opening and closing of the Lodge then we went to Trades House for our anniversary dinner. The meeting in September was to be the last of our Lodge at 100 West Regent St Glasgow. For most of our first 50 years we had met there not all but I would think at least 95% or more of it. After that meeting we moved to Saltire House, 19 Ashley Street Glasgow which was owned by Lodge Queen Margaret 1440 (no longer in existence) where we were to be for 18 months before moving to the Masonic Halls 138 Butterbiggins Rd Glasgow G42. The temple was owned by Lodge Clydesdale 556 Glasgow. After that September meeting the Lodge had its Jubilee dinner that day in Trades Hall 85 Glassford St Glasgow C1 the Jubilee dinner programme is in possession of Brother Gavin Stewart. From memory the speech to Grand Lodge of Scotland was replied Bro. Francis Elliot Dobie Pat Substitute Grand Master and the reply to Provincial Grand Lodge of Glasgow Bro. John Mc Russell Immediate Past Provincial Grand Master. The Provincial Grand Master of Glasgow George F Fenwick had died in office that year. Speeches to Lodge Anima given by the RWM of our sponsor Lodges Lodge Athole 413 R W M Bro. Fredrick H Nicholls and Lodge Montefiore 753 RWM Bro. Morris Citrin, the reply was by Bro. Emanuel Levitus PM who at that time was our oldest surviving past master. I think what I have said about the toasts at the Jubilee dinner is right but the programme is in our possession. I have had the honour of being asked to be Installing Master on five occasions to RWMs first in 1970 to Bro. Stanley Orchant RWM 1970-71 then Bro. Alistair F Rennie R W M 1972-73 this was to be the second occasion a father and son obtained the chair of Lodge Anima Bro. Alistair father William Rennie being RWM in 1947-48 then Bro. John B Morrison RWM 1973-74, Bro.William Bell RWM. 1976-77 In 1974 I became Lodge Secretary that was in Bro. Bernard Mann term as RWM 1974--75 and was to remain Lodge Secretary till 1991 On a sporting front Lodge Anima reached the final of the Captain Speirs golf competition in 1975 which was played at the Glasgow golf club unfortunately we ended runners up losing to Lodge Cadder Freestone, Bishopbriggs 1591 our Lodge was represented by Bros. James K McAllister WSW (RWM 1975-76) and William Bell W J W (RWM 1976-77). I was there apart from those taking part the only Lodge Anima member there. I am told that Lodge Anima won the cup in the 1920s which year and by whom I do not know maybe someone can fill details in here. In 1976 which I think is the correct year a most unusual event occurred two past masters of our Lodge became Installing Masters at the Installation of Bro. Arthur G McGuigan RWM and Office Bearers of Lodge Innellan and Toward 1435 (Argyll and the Isles) these were Bros. John B Morrison (RWM 1973-74) and Bernard J Mann (RWM 1974-75) both were made honorary members of that Lodge. Our association with Lodge Innellan And Toward came about of Bro. John B Morrison father being a past master of that Lodge. Around that timed for a number of years we conferred varies degrees there. In 1978 the Provincial Grand Lodge of Glasgow started the Masonic Knowledge competition. This was the brainchild of Bro. Joseph Helenglass PM Lodge Montefiore 753. For the first three years Lodge Anima were to win this competition 1978-79-80 in 78-79 I had the honour of being captain of our team in 1980 Bro. Gavin Stewart PM (RWM 1978-79 and 2003-04) was our captain. Photos of the winning teams are in the minute book of these years and those who took part in our teams. We did also reach the final in a few years following this but were runners up. In other memories Bro. Bernard J Mann PM was a Provincial Grand Stewart a founder member of Lodge Newtown Mearns 1706. Bro. William D Nelson R W M 1979-80 was at one time Provincial Assistant Treasurer. And talking about Nelsons I do believe it was in James R Nelson year 1954-55 that the Lodge changed from a daylight Lodge to an evening Lodge this was with much discussion in the Lodge for and against. Both Bros. Nelson was not related and neither were Bros. Harry McMillan RWM 1964-65 and John Mc Millan RWM 1965-66 and Bros. John B Morrison RWM 1973-74 and Bro. John Morrison RWM 1988-89 known as Jackie except of course as Masonic brothers. One notable event that cannot be missed in the history of Lodge Anima being the highest office any initiate of Lodge Anima has ever achieved so far being Right Worshipful Substitute Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Scotland by Dr Eric Smith C. St J. D. Mus, F. R. C. O Eric Smith was our RWM in 1958-59, founder Master of Lodge Meridian 1609 and a host of other things Masonic. Of course Bro. Dr Eric will be better remembered as Grand Organist from 1955 to 1980. Dr Eric because of his other Masonic commitments could only make our Lodge Installations faithfully every year. A full report on Dr. Eric Arthur Smith can be found in his obituary in the minute book of 1985 as will the obituary of Emanuel Levitus. I am sure both are in that minute book as I wrote then as secretary at that time. I should mention here that the museum of the Grand Lodge of Scotland contains a Master Mason apron of Lodge Anima a most unusual apron it is made of lamb skin nothing unusual there and in black and silver Lodge colours. What is different the apron flap is in a triangle of the style of Grand Lodge of England and of many other Grand Lodges throughout the world. This apron was made by my Brother. Robert T Brown with help from my mother Jane (Wilkinson) McLaren long before I entered masonry. I have worn this apron in the Lodge and presented it to Grand Lodge in 2008. This leads me to the question what are Lodge Anima colours I was under the impression they were black and silver, but Grand Lodge say they are black and white as in a book listing Lodges in Scotland dated I think around 1950s what were they registered as when the Lodge received its charter in 1020. I should also mention here that the following Installation brochures are in the Grand Lodge Anima file if any brother wishes to see them. These were in my procession any Brother not there can give there brochures to Grand Lodge at any time. The brochures are as follows. 2007-2008 Bro. Andrew .C .Mc. Warnock RWM. 2006-2007/ Bro. Andrew J McGregor RWM 2004-2005 Bro. Gavin Stewart PM. RWM. 1998-1999/ Bro. Sid Simons RWM 1994-1995 Bro. Alexander R Robertson RWM. 1992-1993 Bro. John G McKay RWM 1991-1992 Bro. Ian D Brockett PM RWM. 1988-1989 Bro. Jackie Morrison RWM. 1987-1988 Bro. Daniel Curl RWM. 1086-1987 Bro. Dudley R Walker RWM 1985-1986 Bro. John Hunter RWM. 19883-1984 Bro. Ian D Brocket RWM. 1982-1983 Bro. Ian Gibson RWM 1981-1982 Bro. A Stewart Douglas RWM. 1979-1980 Bro. William D Nelson RWM 1978-1979 Bro. Gavin Stewart RWM. 1977-1978 Bro. Raymond Fowler RWM 1976-1977 Bro. William Bell RWM. 1974-1975 Bro. Bernard I Mann RWM 1973-1974 Bro. John B Morrison RWM. 1972-1973 Bro. Alistair Rennie RWM 1969-1970 Bro. James McLaren. RWM. It should also be noted that Bro. Gavin Stewart PM has an album of all Installation brochures from 2009 back to 1968-69 Bro. Raymond Epstein Installation beyond that there are a few Installation brochures but not all many are missing. The album also contains many newspaper cuttings referring to the cinema trade with Lodge Anima connections and other Masonic memorabilia. I am sure Bro. Stewart would welcome any thing with a Lodge Anima connection. That is all I can remember for now of course some of the events remembered here may well come in on other brothers write ins and differ the only accurate account will be in Lodge minute books. But many Brethern will have memory’s that are not in minute books.
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