Bro The Rev'd Canon J J Morrow
On November 25th, Bro Rev Canon J J Morrow entered the Grand Lodge of Scotland Hall of Fame when he became The Most Worshipful The Grand Master Mason of Scotland at the Installation in George Street, Edinburgh.
When'Joe' joined Lodge Camperdown almost 25 years ago, it was immediately clear that he was destined for stardom. Some brethren even felt he may eventually become 317's first Provincial Grand Master. Little did we expect all those years ago, that our 'Joe' would ascend to the highest station in Scottish Freemasonry.
The Rev’d Canon Joseph John Morrow, J.P., O.St.J., joined Lodge Camperdown in 1981. During the course of his early Masonic career, Joe became very popular throughout the Province, being invited regularly to speak at various Installations and Burns Suppers. I remember sitting at a Lodge committee meeting at Lodge Camperdown, then in Dura Street, back in 1987 when Joe asked the permission of the Lodge to affiliate to Lodge Caledonian no. 254 where he would eventually become Master. Joe humbly said that, although he could do it without the ‘permission’ of the Lodge, he would not do so if it would upset the brethren in any way. The committee had no hesitation in granting Joe this wish and promptly wished him well in his Masonic Career.
Joe affiliated to Lodge Caledonian No. 254 in 1988 and became Master thereof from 1988 to 1989.
Although Joe had been a member of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Forfarshire since 1985 in the capacity of Senior Grand Chaplain, he would have had to be a Past Master to fuel his undoubted desire to progress further within the Craft. The great honour conferred on him by Lodge Caledonian allowed him to take his undoubted talents to the Grand Lodge of Scotland and for this, we at Lodge Camperdown will be eternally grateful. Joe held the position of Provincial Grand Chaplain until 2002.
Joe was elected to Grand Committee in 1990, a position he would hold until 1993. He was re-elected to that Committee in 1996. Joe was also a member of the Petitions, Complaints and Appeals Committee, the Masonic Homes Committee and the Benevolence and Care Committee. Joe was also a Representative from the Danish Order of Freemasons, Grand Lodge of Denmark.
During his career, Joe was instrumental in forming the Robert Burns Lodge of Dundee No 1788. He had noted that many cities and towns throughout the World had Lodges named after our National Bard and felt that it was about time that we in Dundee formed our own Lodge dedicated to his memory. I remember Joe approaching me one night to discuss the subject, suggesting that he would like PM Ally Gowans Senior to be its first RWM.
After many months attending Steering Committee meetings at Joe’s house in Dudhope Street in Dundee and with Joe’s assistance at Grand Lodge, his dream came to fruition at the Lodge’s Consecration in the Bonar Hall, Dundee on November 10th 1990, when the Gavel of the Robert Burns Lodge of Dundee was presented to Bro Ally Gowans Senior, Past Master of Lodge Camperdown No. 317 by the Most Worshipful The Grand Master Mason Bro, Sir Gregor McGregor of McGregor. It must be noted that Bro Joe was the undoubted inspiration behind the formation of the Lodge. The Lodge’s Charter was granted on 2nd August, 1990. The Lodge Sponsors were Lodge Camperdown No. 317, Lodge Thistle Operative No. 158, and Lodge Forfar & Kincardine No. 225.
Bro Joe is also an affiliate member of Sir Robert Moray, No. 1641 and of Lodge Discovery, No. 1789.
Bro Rev’d Canon Joseph John Morrow reached the pinnacle of his Masonic Career on the 25th November 2004, when he was installed as the Most Worshipful The Grand Master Mason of Scotland at the Installation Ceremony in Freemasons’ Hall,
96 George Street, Edinburgh.
At the Installation Dinner in the Sheraton Hotel, Dundee’s Lord Provost, Bro John Letford, also a Master Mason of Lodge Camperdown 317, accompanied Joe at the top table. It was also fitting that Joe honored Past Master Ally Gowans Sen. the 1st Master of the Burns Lodge of Dundee and Past Master of Lodge Camperdown 317, by inviting him to Address the Haggis prior to the meal.
Joe’s first visit as The Most Worshipful The Grand Master Mason was to attend the Installation Ceremony at Lodge Camperdown where he witnessed Bro Albert Clark being installed into the Chair of King Solomon for the 2nd time. During the course of the day, Bro Joe spent a great deal of time mixing with the Brethren being photographed in proportions usually associated with Royalty. The brethren were most appreciative. Click here to see some of these shots.
On behalf of all at Lodge Camperdown, may we offer you our sincere congratulations on your accession to the high station you now fill. We at Lodge Camperdown are very proud to have one of our own in such an exalted position.
Good Luck and Best Wishes from all at Lodge Camperdown.
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8 comments:
Perhaps worth mentioning that it was Joe Morrow's resignation as a Dundee councillor following his appointment to the tribunal that necessitated the Maryfield by-election earlier this year.
The SNP won that, of course, paving the way for a Nationalist administration running Dundee.
Thus Dr Morrow did the SNP a favour. It's an ill wind....
Incidentally, he also resigned from the Labour party following his resignation as councillor, although that may have been related to his appointment to the tribunal as well rather than being of purely political signficance.
Ah ha! – all is becoming clear!
All this is actually the plot of Dan Brown’s next book – secret societies; mystic symbolism; quasi-judicial panels.
Should be a good read, but think I’ll wait for it to come out on DVD.
Ach, he'll come in handy when we rebuild Hadrian's wall to keep the Tories out.
Ach - politics.
Thanks for that Stuart - I knew I'd heard his name recently but I couldn't recall where.
JRB I heard a review of it on radio and it wasn't rated too highly. But then books are a matter of personal taste I think.
Don't get what you mean Brownlie, he's a solicitor I think not a builder. :)
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