Rob takes this on a bit further.
He said, “On October 13, 1911, Jack Johnson was initiated into Masonic Lodge, Forfar, and Kincardine 225 in Dundee — and then, furore!
“The Masonic fraternity (especially in the USA) strongly objected. Political pressure from Masonic lodges in the USA and Scotland was focused on 225 in Dundee to stop the initiation.
“In May 1912, Jack Johnson had his fees returned and all reference to him being an Entered Apprentice in Forfar and Kincardine Lodge 225 in Dundee was removed.
“The Grand Master Mason ruled that colour did not influence their decision.”
JOHN KEEMAN was also interested in the article as he had previously written quite an extensive piece on the subject for The Scots Magazine in May this year, titled “The Most Notorious African-American in the World”.
What follows is an early extract from The Scots Magazine article . . .
On a wet Monday afternoon in October 1911, two men sat at the bar of the Pavilion Theatre in Newcastle, one sipping a single malt whisky and the other an expensive champagne.
The smaller of the two, Sydney McLaglen, who managed an American music hall artiste known as “Annie Abbot, the Little Georgia Magnet,” had spent the last hour extolling the virtues of being a member of the Freemasons to his new acquaintance, an American from Texas.
Several glasses of champagne later, the American was so impressed by McLaglen’s tales of friendship and brotherhood that he expressed a desire to become a member of the Craft.
Before the afternoon ended, a telegram had wound its way to Scotland addressed to Mr Blues, the Right Worshipful Master of Forfar and Kincardine Lodge in Dundee, asking if the Texan could become a member.
A few days later, a favourable response arrived and, on Thursday, October 12, Texan Arthur John Johnson boarded a steam train for Scotland in Newcastle Central Station accompanied by his wife, socialite Etta Terry Duryea, and his new found friend.
When the trio alighted from the train in Tay Bridge Station in the early hours of the morning, they booked into the Royal Hotel.
After a short nap, they had breakfast and, just after 9 am, a taxi arrived to take them to Lodge 225 in the city’s Meadow Street.
News of Johnson’s arrival in Dundee and his forthcoming initiation into the Masons permeated the Masonic fraternity at a phenomenal speed and, before long, objections were raised by some members of the Lodge.
These, it was believed, would prevent Johnson’s initiation, set for noon, but, before leaving Newcastle on the Thursday evening, McLaglen and Johnson had sent a telegram to the Dundee Lodge asking if the ceremony could be brought forward to allow them to catch the noon train back to Newcastle.
On receipt of this request, supporters of Johnson’s initiation re-arranged the meeting for an earlier hour and, having heard rumours of a possible “blackballing” they were careful only to advise the change of the advertised time to those members who were likely to support the Texan’s application.
Taxis were arranged to ferry these members to the Lodge and, just before 10 am, Johnson was surrounded by well-wishers in one of the lower halls in the Lodge Building.
As he waited to be called to a room upstairs, tales of red-hot pokers, two edged swords, thumbscrews and other fictitious Masonic initiation rites abounded in a good natured fashion.
Undaunted, Johnson signed the nomination papers, giving his age as 33 and his address as 34 Wabash Avenue, Chicago.
Some minutes later, he was called upstairs by the Right Worshipful Master R. W. M. Blues, whom, it was later reported, conducted the initiation with “due solemnity and decorum”.
However, there was one little hitch.
Just before the end of the initiation, a telegram arrived from the Grand Lodge in Edinburgh ordering the proceedings to be stopped.
Impervious to this demand, the Master and his assistants continued with the initiation.
Following the conclusion of the ceremony, Mr Blues cautioned Johnson on “virtues and manly characteristics necessary in a good and true Mason,” and Johnson addressed his new brothers.
“I’m real proud and pleased to be here and to become a Mason under the auspices of such a fine Lodge and such a splendid band of brothers,” he told the assembly, who broke into applause, lifted him shoulder high and carried him from the building.
Outside in the street, a large cheering crowd had gathered and, as Johnson made his way back to his hotel to collect his luggage, many of them clambered aboard his taxi until the driver increased his speed on reaching the High Street.
A reporter from the Peoples’ Journal, himself a Mason, reported on the proceedings and described the scene at the Tay Bridge . . . “The throng filled the platform from side to side and overturned barrows laden with luggage in their impetuous rushes.”
From his compartment window, Johnson, clearly delighted with the enthusiastic cheering of the crowd, offered his diamond encrusted hand to those who could reach it and, as the train pulled out of the station, he waved his black felt bowler hat, blissfully unaware that he was leaving Scottish Freemasonry in turmoil.
CLUB NAME?
Ex-Cowdenbeath goalkeeper SANDY HENDERSON, of Rankin Street, Dundee, can’t remember the name of a boxing club at the top of the Hilltown.
“It was just a few yards up Hill Street, off Strathmartine Road, and up a pend,” said Sandy.
“It wasn’t a very big place and it had all the gear. My cousin used to take me in and I remember seeing JIM BRADY training there for a big fight in London.
“I also remember DAVIE and JIMMY CROLL training in there.
“Perhaps a reader can come up with the name.”
LEGENDS RETURN TO SUP-PORT HALL OF FAME DINNER
Preparations are continuing apace for the inaugural Tayport Football Club Hall of Fame dinner.
The event goes ahead at the Hilton Hotel in Dundee on Saturday, August 29, and, recently, The Canniepairt was again graced by many of the Tayport legends, who are showing their support for the event.
Several former players have agreed to come on board as ambassadors to work alongside the club’s commercial manager John Brown to ensure as many well-known faces as possible know about and, indeed, can attend the event.
“It’s a great idea, and something that’s probably long overdue” said Sean Wilkie, who captained the club during their greatest-ever trophy-laden spell.
“As soon as I heard what John was organising, I was keen to get involved, and I think it tells a story.
“By the stature of the players who are here to back this, it is going to be a fantastic night.
“It was great to catch up with many of the boys again and, as soon as we all arrived at The Canniepairt, the ball was out for a wee kick around.
“Here’s hoping many more ex-players will now get involved and make this a night that will be talked about for years to come.”
John is also pleased how preparations are going.
“Tickets are going well, and we’ve had people from Australia and the Middle East contacting us to say they are coming home for the event, which is quite overwhelming,” he said.
“I have to admit, though, I was a little humbled by the old players who came here to show support.
“As far as Tayport and Junior football goes, I was really in the company of legends, and I’m sure a couple of them will be up there when it comes to giving out the awards.”
Tickets can be obtained from John by calling 07725 850915 or emailing john@tayportfc.org, from any committee member, or, of course, contacting any of the legends pictured above.
See photo at foot of column.
LOCHEE PENTLAND 1975-76
JOHN ANDERSON, of Claypotts, Dundee, didn’t supply much information on this Sunday Welfare League side from 1975-76, but I think the photo (below) is self-explanatary.
It’s of the LOCHEE PENTLAND team of that era and, judging by the trophies on show, they had a pretty successful season.
Three players were missing when the photo was taken — Peter Donnelly, Billy O’Rourke and Jimmy Petrie.
