Freemasonry In Kelso.

FREEMASONRY IN KELSO .

BEING A HISTOBIOAL SKETCH 01 ? ST . JOHH 3 LOBGE , KELSO , No . 58 . , Transcribed from the Old Becords by Bro . W . Fred Vernon , B . W . M ., Tweed Lodge , No . 261 , and commwnicated 4 o the " Scottish Freemason . " TX ^ E come now to the " Acts ancl Resolves " so far as they have been preserved in this

'' old minute-book , but unfortunately these only refer to the resolutions contained in tbe minutes we have already published . That there were other siats or rules is plainly evident , for the reader will notice in the minute for the 27 th of December " that acordeinge to the ticks of our books ther be some time spent every Saint Johns clay by them in eximinitioun & those not found Qualified is not to be admitted to be passed . " Now , none of the acts following contain this rule , proving incontestably that there were former acts promulgated at a period anterior to the date of this book ( 1701 ) , ancl that they were likewise written in books which have , unfortunately , been lost or destroyed .

There is much that is interesting , however , in the fragmentary materials before us : for instance , while the Lodge was most particular about the observance of " Holy St . John ' s clay " on the 27 th of December , their " summer St . John ' s " was held near , but never upon , the day dedicated to St . John the Baptist . In England the latter Saint ' s day is more generally observed , the Scottish Masons religiously holding St . John the Evangelist ' s day , but this is by the way ; the following rules speak for themselves : — " A short abridgement of the most material ! Acts & Resolves of the honourable society of masons belonging the Lodge of Kelso , collected out of their former sederunts . " "Kelso 27 Deer . 1701 being Holy St . Johns day

J Resolved that , that sederunt ancl all following be registrat in a book to be keept by the Tresaurer ancl subscribed by the master or next officer in case of absence . 2 d That all entree ! apprentiss shall pay eight pounds scots with their gloves . 3 All the gentlemen who are the honouraiy members obleidged themselves to pay three pounds scots yearly on holy Saint Johns clay & all tradesmen to pay 12 p scots yearly on the said clay , v Appointed that the first tuesday of June shall be a day for general meeting of the said Lodge about the affairs of the same as wed as Saint Johns day to be held att Kelso .

v That all absents from the meetings either of the said days whither honourary members or otherways shall pay to his quoties three pounds scots unless he send a reasonable excuse as shall be sustained by the meeting and that to be contained in the clays sederunt . vi Enacted that when ane Entered apprentise is received as master and fellow of the craft he shall pay five shster to the companys stock and neu gloves to the

members . vii That all fines be received by the Tresaurer as funds which mony or any part of it , is to be disbursed att sight of master warden Tresaurer to indigent persons or on other occassions in which the honour or interest of the company is concerned they being ansuerable to the next meeting . v'ii Concluded that all former fines be remitted to the discretion of the lyable

persons for the intertainment of the company . St . Johns day Deer . 1702 . The company continued the further consideration of their resolve last sederunt