The village of Newton on the outskirts of Cambuslang was a thriving mining community employing over 600 miners working underground together with over 100 at the pit head. There were also many farms.

Another source of employment was a large engineering factory in Westburn and a major steelworks in Hallside where the lodge's first office-bearers’ jewels were made.

It was in this village that the foundation stone was laid in the building of Lodge Buchanan No. 1499 in 1954.

Discussions took place with brethren from nearby Westburn and a meeting was arranged for Friday, 15th March, 1954, in Newton Church hall to look at the necessary procedures that would have to be followed.

Such was the confidence of the brethren they had invited representatives from the Provincial Grand Lodge of Lanarkshire Middle Ward to their meeting.

In view of the enthusiasm from the brethren a committee was formed to conduct any business in the early stages.

This consisted of Bro. Andrew O’Hara, chairman; Bro. Henry Mills, secretary; Bro. John Waugh, treasurer; Bro. Peter Anderson and Bro. James Boyd.

It was agreed with Provincial Grand Lodge that Newton Miners’ Welfare Hall would be suitable premises for the lodge to meet.

Approaches were then made to Cambuslang Royal Arch Lodge No. 114 and Lodge Livingstone Stonefield No. 599 to ask them to act as sponsors.

The lodge was using the name “Newton Masonic Club” and during the months of March and April, 1954, meetings were held to report on various financial matters and also to record the donations that had been received.

In mid-April, 1954, approval was received from our two sponsor lodges and a few weeks later a formal application was made to the Grand Lodge of Scotland for a Charter.

The installation took place on Saturday, 23rd April, 1955, in Newton Miners’ Welfare Hall where Provincial Grand Master of Lanarkshire Middle Ward Bro. Captain J. Christie Stewart of Murdostoun installed Bro. Andrew O’Hara as Right Worshipful Master. Depute Provincial Grand Master Bro. Archibald Mutch installed the other office-bearers.

The lodge continued to meet in Newton for the first six years and then in 1961 moved to the Co-operative Hall in Halfway. This was because of the closure of the pits and the residents moving away from the village.

In 1963 there was some consideration given to buying the Co-operative Hall but it was decided to continue to lease the premises.

The lodge moved to its current location, the Masonic Temple in Tabernacle Lane, Cambuslang, in 1972.

A project to look at the possibility of building our own premises began in 1985.

Initial funds came from the brethren who made one-off donations or interest free loans as well as donations from other lodges.

Fund-raising continued and enquiries were made about various sites in the Cambuslang area where the new premises could be built.

However, in 1986, it was felt that due to initial costings to progress architect’s drawings and to obtain the necessary planning permission from the local authority as well as the uncertainty of being able to rent out the premises when it was not being used for lodge business the brethren felt that it was not a viable proposition and the project ceased and donations were returned which, on reflection, was a prudent decision.

The Grand Lodge of Scotland celebrated its 250th anniversary in 1986.

To mark the event the three local lodges 114, 1230 and 1499 held a special commemorative meeting when the three reigning masters conferred the Fellow Craft Degree. The other offices were filled by brethren from the lodges.

Bro. William Rae, PM, was presented with the jewel and certificate of Honorary Provincial Grand Almoner at the quarterly communication of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Lanarkshire Middle Ward on Friday, 2nd June, 2017.

As well as being involved in the social committee of Lodge Buchanan he was Lodge Almoner for over 20 years.

Bro. Joseph O'Connell, PM, was conferred with the rank of Honorary Grand Director of Ceremonies in 2021.

Joe joined Lodge Buchanan in 1970 and five years later moved to Fort William due to work commitments.

He affiliated to Lodge Lochiel No. 1200 in 1984 and was Right Worshipful Master for three terms beginning in 1988 then 2011 and also in 2016.

Joe is also an office-bearer in the Provincial Grand Lodge of Inverness-shire.

He received his Jubilee Certificate to mark 50 years' service to Freemasonry in November, 2022.

Bro. Robert T. Tait, PM, was conferred with the rank of Honorary Provincial Grand Bard by Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master Bro. Andrew D. Millar at the quarterly communication of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Lanarkshire Middle Ward on 3rd June, 2022.

Bobby joined Lodge Buchanan in 1969 and was Right Worshipful Master in 2001. He received his Jubilee Certificate in recognition of 50 years' service to Freemasonry in 2019.

Bro. Robert Edwards, PM, has played the organ in the lodge since 1967.

He received his Jubilee Certificate in 2015 to mark 50 years' service to Freemasonry.

In 2017 he was awarded the Diploma of Distinguished Service Membership.

The Provincial Grand Master of Perthshire West Bro. William Semple conferred Bobby with the Rank of Honorary Provincial Grand Director of Music at their quarterly communication on Saturday, 29th April, 2023.

The award was in recognition of providing the music at many installations and celebrations throughout the Province over a number of years.

He also acts as Lodge Historian.

The first time a father installed his son into the chair of Lodge Buchanan was in 1974 when Bro. Robert Edwards was installed by Bro. Robert H. Edwards, PM, Lodge Oatlands, No. 1005. 

Another first was in 2008 when Bro. William Kerr, a Past Master of Lodge Buchanan installed his son, Paul, into the chair of their mother lodge.

A very special and unique occasion at the installation in 2011 when Bro. Paul Kerr, PM, installed his father, William.

The installation in 2014 added yet another item to our history when Bro. Paul Kerr installed the RWM and his father, William, installed the office-bearers. The first time a father and son have been installing masters at Lodge Buchanan’s installation.

The family trend continued at our 2016 installation when Bro. Archie Fotheringham, P.M., installed his son, Stuart.

Bro. Robert T. Tait, P.M., was a referee with the Scottish Football Association for more than 18 years, 10 of which were at Grade 1. He officiated at games both nationally and internationally.

He sat the SFA Referee exams when he was running a boys’ team in East Kilbride where the home team coach refereed the game.

He had the honour of refereeing Ally McCoist’s testimonial game at Ibrox when Rangers played Newcastle United.

Bobby is in great demand as an after-dinner speaker.

He received his Jubilee Certificate in 2019 to mark 50 years' service to Freemasonry.

In 2022 he was conferred with the rank of Honorary  Provincial Grand Bard.

Bro. Robert Russell has had a varied career in football having played in goal for Aberdeen, Stenhousemuir and Morton.

He also played in Third Lanark’s last game when the club went into liquidation in 1967. The team were paid their wages from the money taken at the turnstiles, much of it in coins.

His main success came with Cambuslang Rangers where he won two Scottish Junior Cup Winners’ Medals.

Bobby is also a keen bowler and was President of Halfway Bowling Club in 2004.

He was the lodge’s Substitute Master in 2015.

Bro. Hugh Gebbie was installed as Right Worshipful Master in December, 1972, but died during his term of office on 23rd  August, 1973.

Bro. Neil McIntosh was the first initiate to become Right Worshipful Master in 1962.

His Past Master's Jewel is worn by all masters as part of their regalia.

Bro. Robert Lightbody  became the lodge's youngest master when he was installed in 1988 aged 28 years and 4 months

Bro. Jim Munro was Right Worshipful Master during the lodge's 25th annivesary celebrations in 1980.

Bro. Graeme Macklin was Right Worshipful Master when the lodge celebrated its Golden Jubilee in 2005.

Bro. James Boyd was the last surviving member of the committee of five brethren who were appointed to oversee the formation of the lodge and was the lodge's first Architect.

As he approached his 84th year in January, 2005, he was invited by the Right Worshipful Master to act as Substitute Master during the Golden Jubilee year. 

The installation of Bro. Euan Hunter scheduled for December, 2010, had to be postponed as the whole of Scotland was at a standstill due to heavy snow. Euan was not installed until January, 2011.

Bro. Hugh Twaddle, PM, was Lodge Secretary from 2006-2018.

Hugh was awarded the Diploma of Distinguished Service Membership in 2017.

He was installed as Provincial Grand Senior Warden of Lanarkshire Middle Ward in 2022.

Bro. Andrew Carruthers, PM, was awarded the Diploma of Distinguished Service Membership in 2020 but was not presented with the Diploma until 2021 due to the lockdown restrictions because of Covid-19. Andy has been Tyler of the lodge since 2002.

He received his Jubilee Certificate to mark 50 years' service to Freemasonry in November,  2022.

Bro. James P. Swinburne began his political career in 1968 and served as a councillor in various local government bodies culminating in Hamilton District Council. He was elected unanimously as Provost of Hamilton in 1980.

His mother lodge was Major Ness No. 948 and he affiliated to Lodge Buchanan in 1968.

At the installation of the Provincial Grand Master of Lanarkshire Middle Ward in 1981 Jimmy presented the PGM with a charity medallion in recognition of the contribution made by Provincial Grand Lodge to charity work throughout the Hamilton district.

Jimmy was held in high esteem by those he served and it is significant that a day care centre in his constituency of High Blantyre bears his name.

Bro. Russell Clearie, MBE, has devoted much of his life serving not only the local community as a councillor but also being involved in national organisations.

He joined Lodge Buchanan in 1967 and was presented with his Jubilee Certificate in 2017 to mark 50 years' service to Freemasonry.

In 1998 he received an MBE from The Queen for his services to the community .

Russell had the privilege of representing South Lanarkshire Council as Depute Provost from 2002 to 2007.

He was proud and honoured to serve as Provost of South Lanarkshire from 2007 to 2012.

In 2010 he was presented with the Polish Golden Cross of Merit by Dr Tomasz Trafas, the Consul General of the Republic of Poland, for his services to the Polish community in Scotland over many years. 

Bro. Derick Stibbs, PM, is pictured presenting a cheque for £500 from Lodge Buchanan to Ms Maisie McCormick of the Beatson Cancer Charity. The donation was in memory of our Right Worshipful Master Bro. Andrew Robinson, PM, who passed away earlier this year. Also in the picture are Lodge Almoner Bro. Russell Clearie, MBE, and Bro. Robert Ferguson.

The Elliot Dobie Trophy was held at Cambuslang Bowling Club on Sunday, 20th August, 2023.

The competition was contested by two teams from each of the following lodges: Buchanan 1499, Cambuslang Royal Arch No. 114, St. Maurs No. 1398 Kilmaurs, St. John No. 22 Kilwinning Kilmarnock and Burns St. Mary No. 505 Hurlford.

Pictured are both Buchanan teams of Derick Stibbs PM, Alan Lorimer, Graham Mitchell, Steven McGuire IPM, Bobby Tait PM, Alan Fellows, William Graham PM, Fred Stibbs PM and James McGall PM.

The winners were team B of Fred Stibbs, Alan Fellows, Bobby Tait and James McGall skip.

Bro. Frank Elliot Dobie was a Past Substitute Grand Master and represented Grand Lodge at our annual installation every year from 1967 to 1982.