The History Of Freemasonry.

lodge . " Again , James Ritchie was accused of feeing a cowan , and in the record of tbe Incorporation , May 1 , 1622 , it is stated in his favour that 'he was entered with a Lodge , and had a discharge of a master in Paisley . '" Thus argues Bro . Gould , though " no old records of the

lodge have as yet been discovered , ' still " the foregoing proves its existence early in tbe seventeenth century , and as we know the Incorporation has continued to exist , from its separate constitution in 1600 to the present time , I think there need be no doubt thrown upon the continuity

of the lodge during the period covered from 1613 to the commencement of its existing minutes . That it was represented on the occasion of the second ' St . Clair Charter , ' ia unquestionable , for it was described as ' The Ludge of Glasgow , John Boyd , deakin ; Robt . Boyd , ane of the

Mestres . '" Bro . Gould adds the following as being likewise of interest : "The membership of the ' Lodge of Glasgow , ' unlike that of other pre-eightcenth century lodges , was exclusively operative , and ' although doubtless giving the Masonword to entered apprentices , none were

recognised as members till they had joined the Incorporation , which was composed of Mason burgesses . The erection of ' St . Mungo ' s ' in 1729 was the result of an unsuccessful attempt to introduce « o « -operatives into the St . John ' s Lodge , Glasgow , an object which was not attained until about the year 1842 .

The " Canongate and Leith , Leith and Canongate " Lodge , No . 5 , in its charter of confirmation of the 8 th of February 1738 , was recognised as a descendant "from the mason lodge of Mary ' s Chapel in Edinburgh , " and had its precedency allowed from 29 th May 1688 , " in respect

its booJe was produced which contains a minute of that date , and which was openly read in presence of the Grand Lodge . " It was formed by seceders from the parent Lodge , who were masons in Leith and the Canongate , and hence its title . It was mainly a speculative lodge , only eighteen of

the fifty-two names enrolled on 30 th November 1736 being those of operative masons . Nos . 6 and 7 on the roll of Grand Lodge date from 1678 and 1695 respectively . Tbe " Lodge of Journeymen , " Edinburgh , No . 8 , is officially entitled to precedence from 1709 , and had its origin in

a secession of journeymen from No . 1 , who separated from the parent Lodge in consequence of the overbearing treatment shown them by the Master of both Lodge and Incorporation , which , with , the introduction , of the speculative element into the former body kept the journeymen Masons

in a subordinate position . The separation was warmly opposed by No . 1 , which , with the Incorporation , went even to the extent of having two of the malcontent brethren apprehended and the books of the seceding society seized . But the journeymen stubbornly held to their

purpose , and their Lodge remains to this day an evidence of the gallant struggle they maintained . The " Lodge of Dunblane , " No . 9 , has precedence accorded to it only from 1709 , but its minutes begin from January 1696 . This Lodge appears to have been strongly Jacobite in its

political bias , though other Lodges showed an equally strong partisanship for the House of Hanover . John Cameron of Lochiel , who was a member in 1696 , served with the Earl of Mar in 1715 . He married Isabel Campbell , " sister of Sir Duncan Campbell , one of the four initiates of

Dr . Desaguliers in 1721 at Edinburgh , " and his eldest son , Donald , was one of the most influential supporters of Prince Charles Edward , being the first to obtain possession of Edinburgh on its investment by the Highlanders in 1745 . Lord Strathalane , Master in 1696 , and Lord John Drum

mond , brother of the Duke of Perth , who was initiated 13 th March 1740 and was Master 1743-5 , with other leading members of the lodge , were also prominent actors in the stirring events of 1715 and 1745 . As to the minutes of the 28 th January 1696 , which are the first in order of

time , and the business transacted , which " partook of the nature of a Masonic ' court' ( as it was termed ) and was certainly of a representative character , " Bro . Gould tells us that " the meeting was called ' The Lodge of Meassones in Dunblane , ' Lord Strathalane ( second viscount ) being

entitled ' master meassone ; ' Alexander Drnmmond of Balbadie , warden , an ' eldest fellow of craft' was also appointed ; aud a ' deput' ( deputy ) , a clerk , a treasurer , an officer , and a 'Pror . Fiscall . ' These constituted the

court , with other members also named . Each workman on his ' entry' was required to pay £ 6 , and half that sum on his ' passing , ' in addition to the ordinary dues . It was likewise agreed that no one present , or any one who had subsequently joined , should divulge any of the acts passed

The History Of Freemasonry.

by the Court to any person whatsoever who was not a member of the lodge , save the two rules as to entry and passing , ' under the breach of breaking of their oath . '" He further notes , in connection with laws passed on this and sabsequent occasions , that " commissions were issued by

' Dunblane' to authorise the entry elsewhere than in the lodgo , ' of gentlemen or other persons of entire credit or reputation living at a distance from the town , ' provided that the holders thereof obtain the co-operation ' of such members of this lodge as can be conveniently got , or , in

case of necessity , to borrow from another lodge as many as shall make a quorum . ' " He further notes : " Dunblane , the twenty-seventh day of 1720 years . Sederunt . Robert Duthy , deacon ; Wm . Wright , warden ; Wm . Muschet , eldest fellow of Craft .... Compeared John

Gillespie , writer in Dunblane , who was entered on the 24 instant , and after examination was duely passed from the Square to the Oompass ; and from an Entered Prentice to a Fellow of Craft of this Lodge , who present as said , is bound , obliged , and enacted himself to stand by ,

obey , and obtemper , and subject himself unto the heall acts and ordinances of this Lodge and Company . " Attention is likewise drawn to an entry on the 27 th December 1729 , two apprentices , of whom one was a merchant in Dumblane , having applied , from the Lodge of Kilwinning ,

" to be ' entered' as apprentices in the Lodge , and then ' passed ' as fellow-crafts , " when "James Muschet was instructed to examine them as to their qualifications and knowledge , and having reported to the lodge that they had a competent knowledge of the secrets of the Mason word ,

their petitions were duly attended to . " With reference to fche words in italics , Bro . Gould remarks " That the esoteric ceremony or ceremonies consisted of secrets is testified by fche records of two lodges—Dunblane and Haughfoofcwhich are more explicit than those of Nos . 1 and 8 . The

Lodge of Dunblane did not join the Grand Lodge until 1760-61 , therefore its proceedings are the more valuable , becanse they were uninfluenced by modern organisations . " After briefly noticing " Torpichen Kilwinning " Lodge , Bathgate , No . 13 , Bro . Gould passes on to " Peebles

Kilwinning , " No . 24 , and cites it as an example of an old lodge with a modern date , the lodge , " though at work in 1716 , " ranking only from 1736 . Respecting this , we are told that " the lodge , from 1716 to the end of last century , regularly observed the custom of holding an annual trial of

the apprentices and fellow crafts . In 1726 an inventory of its property was made in the minute book , consisting of ' Ane Bible , the Constitutions of the haill Lodges in London , the Square , and a piece of small tow . ' Next year the entry reads , ' Square , tow , and compass . ' Some of the

marks registered by its members are of an exceptional character , that of a captain of the King ' s Foot Guards being ' a V-shaped shield , bearing on each half a small cross , the whole being surmounted by a cross of a larger size . ' Amongst other varieties are a slater ' s hammer and a leather

cutter ' s knife ; whilst later on ( 1745 ) , the mark ' taken out' by a wigmaker was ' a human head with a wig and an ample beard / At the opening ceremony , the members

engaged in prayer , and the brethren were aworn to refrain from undue partiality in the consideration of the business , which , Lyon tells us , was called ' Fencing the Lodge , ' and was so observed at Peebles for very many years . "

The next Lodge we come to is that of Aberdeen , No . 34 , but as Bro . Gould begins his sketch of it by remarking that " the eventful history" of this ancient lodge " deserves a volume to itself , " and as his notice is of a length commensurate with its deservings , it will be as well , perhaps , that we should reserve our resume for the next paper . ( To be continued . )

The following Festivals were held at the Freemasons Tavern during the week ending 1 st March 1884 : — 25 th February—Westbourne Lodge Ball , Old King ' s Arms Lodge , Koyal Somerset Hoase Lodge Installation ; 26 th February—Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , Tuscan Lodge Ball , Royal

York Chapter , St . James ' s Union Chapter , Indnstry Lodge , Royal Savoy Lodge ; 27 th February—Dramatic Ball , Lodge of Antiquity , Smeatonian Society , Evening Star Lodge ; 28 th February—Linen and Woollen Drapers' Benevolent Institution , Grenadiers Lodge , Mount Moriah Lodge , Girls'School Clnb ; 29 th February—Magpie Rowing Club Ball : 1 st March—St . James ' s Soiree , Phoenix Chapter .

Ad00202

PUWBBALS .-Bros . * W . K . L . & G . A . HTTTTON * , Coffin Makers and "Undertakers , 17 Newcastle Street , Strand , "W . C . and 30 Forest Hill Road , Peokham Bye , S . E .