County: Forfarshire
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 04/07/1901
Number issued: 1
Mark Mason's jewel, to:
20th (Fife & Forfarshire Light Horse) Company, 6th Bn. Imperial Yeomanry –
9181 Trooper Robert MATHIESON
Presentation made by Bro. John Harrow, on behalf of fellow brethren of the Lodge of St Ayles, at a social meeting held in Brother Morris's refreshment rooms, Anstruther.
Trooper Mathieson received a second medal from Anstruther.
Dundee Evening Post, 05/07/1901 (includes drawing of Mathieson)
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Dundee Evening Post, 5th July 1901
MASONIC PRESENTATION TO A YEOMAN.
At a social meeting of Lodge St Ayles in Brother Morris’ refreshment rooms, Anstruther, on Thursday evening Trooper Robt. MATHIESON was the guest of the evening. Brother Harrow, R.W.M., in proposing his health, referred to the honour the Lodge felt in being so worthily represented by one of the Imperial Yeomanry. Their appreciation of the patriotic conduct of Trooper MATHIESON was marked by the gift of a Mark Mason’s jewel. After a few soldierly words of thanks from Trooper MATHIESON a programme of song and other toasts followed.
East of Fife Record, 12th July 1901
MASONIC WELCOME HOME AND PRESENTATION.
The brethren of St Ayle Lodge, who were represented at the seat of war by Trooper MATHESON [sic] of the Fife Light Horse, recognised the services rendered by him to his country by welcoming him home in a true masonic manner. The meeting, which was held last Thursday, took the form of a smoker and presentation.
During the day the outside of the Masonic Hall was tastefully decorated by the local staff of Coastguards, and in the evening there was a large muster of the craft assembled under the presidency of Brother John Harrow, R.W.M. After a slight repast, the King and Craft was given from the chair, and loyally responded to. The R.W.M. then gave the toast of the evening, and in doing so said in this South African War, Fife had done its duty. Anstruther had done its duty. Brother MATHIESON had been a credit to their Lodge. He then on behalf of the brethren presented Brother MATHEWSON [sic] with a handsome gold appendant, into which were wrought the various emblems of the craft, and trusted that now he had returned from the front safe and sound he would accept same and be long spared to wear it. (Applause). Brother MATHIESON suitably replied, expressing the agreeable surprise it had given him that his brethren of St Ayle had recognised his small services to his country, and assuring them that their token of respect would be highly treasured. At a later stage of the proceedings, Brother MATHISEON gave a short account of his experiences in which he emphatically denied the charges of inhumanity against Tommy Atkins which are made by some parties. A pleasant evening was afterwards spent in song and sentiment, the following contributing to the programme – Brothers Anderson, Cruickshanks, Davie, Donaldson, John Johnston, and Sergeant Johnston, Morris, and Paton. The meeting which after the singing of “Auld Lang Syne,” broke up a little after eleven, was of a most enjoyable nature.
