One question that has always puzzled me was the name chosen for the Lodge, why "Dalhousie". If one examines the roll of Scottish Lodges you find that although there are numerous lodges with the titles of St.John or St.Andrew there is only one other Lodge Dalhousie, I refer to Lodge 720, which meets in Bonnyrigg in the province of Midlothian, which celebrated its centenary on the 5th. November 1985.

The ancient and noble Earls of Dalhousie can be traced back as far as 1140 in the reign of David the First, and have always had a strong link with the counties of Forfarshire, Angus and the Lothians.

The family took part in many historic events of national importance and to their credit and ours they took a keen interest in Freemasonry.

George 8th. Earl of Dalhousie was elected 26th. Grand Master of Scotland in 1767-1769.

George Ramsay 9th. Earl was Depute Grand Master 1802-1804 and Grand Master 1804-1805 and acting Grand Master 1805-1806, while his uncle John Ramsay was Junior Grand Warden 1807-1810.

William Maule Ramsay, second son of George the 8th. Earl was Senior Grand Warden 1804-1805, Depute Grand Master 1806-1807 and acting Grand Master 1808-1810.

In 1839 the tenants on his estate built a monument on Downie Hill, Monikie named the "Live and Let Live Testimonial" in his honour. The name derived from his habit of repeating this phrase during the many public speeches he gave during his lifetime.

He also held the office of Provincial Grand Master of Forfarshire for a mammoth period of 51 years. He having been appointed on 4th. May 1801 and held that office until his death on 20th. April 1852, when his son was appointed in his stead.

The next Earl of Dalhousie to fill the chair of G.L. was James Andrew Ramsay 10th. Earl. He was elected Depute Grand Master 1835, and Grand Master 1836-1838.

It is from him that we find incontrovertible proof of the correct pronunciation of the name Dalhousie. On his being created the "Marquess of Dalhousie Castle and the Punjab", on the 25th. August 1849 he wrote of his new title to a friend, and he stated, "Let us have the old Scots sound back again and let me be Dalhousie (not in spelling, but in sound) like my forebearers, and as to the local designation, let it be the Punjab.....a gentleman ought to have a well made coat and why not a well sounding title." In a letter as though to emphasise the fact he wrote "the pronunciation always was Dalhoosie my father changed it and even my mother always pronounced it so." The existence of these letters should once and for all bring to an end the long standing argument as to the correct pronunciation of Dalhousie versus Dalhoosie.

This Earl was in turn succeeded by his cousin Fox Maule as the 11th. Earl who was elected 69th. Grand Master in 1867. He proved to be a very active member of the Craft and his death in 1877 was a great loss to Scottish Masonry.

Malmesbury in his memoirs of an ex-minister gives us a great insight into the serious side of his character, it seems that on occasions the Earl could be quite lacking in humour. Malmesbury writes "We went to see the presentation of the medals to the officers and to the men who have served in the Crimea and are wounded........

Mrs. Norton talking to Lord Panmure ( secretary for war ) asked "Was the Queen touched ?". "Bless my soul no !" was the reply, "she had a brass railing before her and no one could touch her," Mrs.Norton then said "I mean was she moved ?" "Moved" answered Lord Panmure, "she had no occasion to move." Mrs.Norton then gave up in despair and who could blame her.

In bringing this address to a close it only remains for me to make brief mention of two other members of this noble family who held high office in Freemasonry. John William Ramsay 13th. Earl occupied the chair of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Forfarshire for many years while Charles Maule Ramsay son of the 12th. Earl was Grand Master for Scotland 1904-1907.

Finally I would like to say that the founder members in choosing Dalhousie as the title of the Lodge indeed choose well. They have not only honoured those eminent and noble members of the craft which I have mentioned, but also themselves.

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