HistoryChapter 7                           579St Bryde 

Many Brethren reading this book need no reminder of the Second World War. Every family in the country was, and many still are, affected by its horror. The Lodge had experienced the catastrophe of the Great War 1914 when so many of the Lodge members were called up to serve their country and now after only twenty years of peace, war again raised its ugly head. 

Through days of restrictions and emergency provisions, the Lodge continued to function and great credit must be given to the Brethren of those days who maintained the high standards which their predecessors had set.

The effects of the War were felt quickly by the Lodge. The Home Guard were granted the use of the hall on Friday nights for meetings and drill. Simultaneously the Ministry of Labour requested to let the hall on a yearly basis to provide a base for a Labour Exchange, as there were no existing premises in Uddingston. This meant that the halls would be in use by the Ministry five days a week. Consequently the Halls Committee persuaded them that the premises would not be suitable for the purposes required.

Charity was near to everyones heart in those days of difficulty and the Lodge did not fail to assist. Local hospitals such as St.Dunstans , Glasgow Royal, Victoria and Western Infirmaries, Royal Samaritan, the Eye Infirmary and the Sick Children's Hospital as well as the local Red Cross Branch were regular benefactors, not to mention the Grand Lodge Distress Fund and the Provincial Grand Lodge Hospital Fund. 

Funds were required to finance these needs and the Lodge moved quickly to utilise the Lodge Social Fund. Indeed the Social Committee, under the Chairmanship of Bro. Joseph Poison organised numerous dances and other social events, the proceeds of which went to deserving causes. The members of the lodge who were serving with the forces were not forgotten either, and various sums were sent to all serving members whenever possible.

A typical Statement from the Lodge Minute Book of that time reads

In the early years of the war the R.W.M. on two occasions held office for two years, Bro. N.S. Waldron in 1940-41 and Bro. David Paterson P.M. in 1942-43. Indeed Bro. D. Paterson was only the second Past Master in the history of the Lodge to be installed for a second term as R.W.M. His installing Masters were Bro. James Greive, R.W.Substitute Grand Master Mason (an affiliate member of 579) and Bro. G. Raaford, W. Grand Director of Ceremonies. 

It is also interesting to note that Bro. D. Paterson was elected as President of the Board of Grand Stewards in the same year. The Lodge was further honoured when Bro. Rev. William Taylor (a member of 579) was installed as V.W. Grand Chaplain of the Grand Lodge, Bro. Rev. Taylor also held the high office of Right Reverend the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland at the same time. In 1944 the M.W. Grand Master Mason of Scotland, Bro. Capt. Christie Stewart installed him as R.W. Substitute Grand Master.

The various committees of the Lodge were very active at this time, more so the Halls Committee due to the fact that the Hall was let almost continuously throughout the war years. Included in these lets was Lodge Bothwell Brig No. 1229 whose meeting place in Bothwell had been taken over by the Military Authorities. The Halls Committee agreed to let the Hall for meeting nights at the rate of 15/-.

The Committee were of course responsible for the upkeep of the premises and it is interesting to note that shortages of soap and cleaning material were a constant worry, in fact the Committee recommended the purchase of a vacuum cleaner but after searching diligently in Glasgow the Secretary had to report that "these machines are impossible to obtain". 

Similarly, the Management Committee who had recommended that a bar be fixed to Bro. D. Paterson's Past Master's Jewel had to admit that it was not possible to have this done because of the shortage of gold. Liquid refreshments were apparently available as the Halls Factor was requested by the Committee to purchase and fix two bottle openers to prevent further damage being done to the woodwork by people opening bottles!