Lodge St Olaf played a formative role in the early Masonic life of Jimmy Stewart, whose initiation took place on 8 February 1968. At that time the lodge had not yet acquired permanent premises of its own, and meetings were still being held in the old Port Erroll Public Hall in Cruden Bay. The conditions under which the brethren met reflected the dedication and commitment of a small rural lodge determined to preserve its traditions despite limited resources.

Before every meeting, members gathered well in advance to transform the public hall into a suitable Masonic setting. Every item of lodge furniture, from the larger ceremonial furnishings to the smallest working tools and regalia, had to be carefully transported, unpacked, and arranged before proceedings could begin. Once the meeting concluded, the entire process was repeated in reverse, with all furnishings dismantled, packed away, and stored until the next gathering. This routine demanded considerable effort from the brethren and fostered a strong sense of shared responsibility and fellowship among members both young and old.

Jimmy Stewart entered Freemasonry during this important transitional period in the lodge’s history. Far from being a passive new initiate, he quickly became actively involved in the practical work surrounding the establishment of the lodge’s first permanent home in Serald Lane, Cruden Bay, which officially opened the following year. For a young mason, participation in such a project offered more than manual labour; it represented a tangible contribution to the future of the lodge and to the continuity of its traditions.

Jim devoted many hours alongside fellow brethren helping to prepare the new premises. The work included decorating, joinery, construction, and the countless smaller tasks required to convert the building into a dignified and functional lodge room. These efforts reflected the cooperative spirit that has long characterised Scottish Freemasonry, where members often take personal pride in building and maintaining their own meeting places.

Much of the fixed furniture installed within the new lodge rooms carried its own sense of history and symbolism. A considerable portion had been acquired from a former church that had recently been deconsecrated. Pews, fittings, and other wooden furnishings were carefully adapted for their new purpose, giving the lodge rooms an atmosphere of craftsmanship, continuity, and reverence. In this way, materials once used in one form of spiritual and communal life found renewed purpose within another.

For Jimmy Stewart, these early years at Lodge St Olaf were marked not only by his introduction to the principles and ceremonies of Freemasonry, but also by hard work, camaraderie, and a shared determination to create a permanent home for future generations of brethren. The experience undoubtedly helped to shape both his attachment to the lodge and his understanding of the practical and communal values that lie at the heart of Masonic life.