579St Bryde

Research. While researching for my Civil War Homepage 

www.mycivilwaralbum.co.uk I came across the following interesting information about two famous Freemasons with a Scottish connection !

Colonel William F. Cody ( Buffalo Bill)

Buffalo Bill brought his wild west show to Dennistoun, Glasgow in October 1891 and it opened on 16th. November 1891 and closed on 27th. February 1892. The show played at the East End Exhibition Building off Duke St. as part of the West End Industrial Exhibition set up to raise funds for the Peoples Palace . A magnificent bronze statue was recently erected in his memory off Duke St . In 1863 aged 17 Bill Cody joined the Federal Army as a scout for the 7th. Kansas Cavalry Volunteers. He was also a very enthusiastic Freemason and was a member of Platte Valley Lodge No. 15, Nebraska .

The magnificent statue in Glasgow .

More research … While further investigating the   Masonic record of Bro. Alexander Ruthven, V.C. who was a member of Lodge St. Andrew Military No. 668.(see The Right Angle No. 96 December 2005) an interesting gravestone was discovered in the   Glasgow Necropolis, the  inscription reads “In this    Necropolis rests the remains of R.W. Brother Archibald St. Clair Ruthven who served The Grand Lodge of Masons in the Republic of Texas as Grand Master from 1846 to 1847 and as Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Texas from 1847 to 1858. He died here on a visit to his native country.” This raised questions whether he was related to Alexander Ruthven.

Bro. Peter Ball, Secretary of Lodge St. Andrew Military No. 668 is raising an interesting question with the author of a book which states that Alexander Ruthven is buried in Glasgow , it could be that the author has mistaken Archibald in his book.

I also contacted The Grand Lodge of Texas who were most interested in the photo of his memorial stone. However there again was an error in the inscription, The Grand Lodge of Texas confirm that Archibald Ruthven was Grand Secretary from 1847 to 1861 and not 1858 as on the headstone.

The Grand Lodge of Texas also confirm that he was Initiated into Holland Lodge No. 1 in Houston , Texas in 1841.

Prior to the Texas Revolution Holland Lodge was the only Lodge in Texas . It was Chartered by the Grand Lodge of Louisiana and named after The Grand Master of Masons in Louisiana , John Henry Holland.

Research is still being carried out on the interesting subject of the Ruthven`s, any further information discovered will be printed here.

Check out www.mycivilwaralbum.co.uk  for more information on Buffalo Bill Cody.