Freemasonry In Kelso.

the Laird of Cliftoun master , Walter Scot warden & continued Andrew Don of Smailhohn Thesaurer . The absents fined according to the statutes of the Lodge . Robert Latie payed eight poim scots for which the company had his ticket & gave it up to him & discharged , there was Like ways 3 scots payed be William Lowrie which he owed the com . The members j . resent payd in their stents which came to sextein

pound ten shillings scots . Robert Young entered this clay & payd clew . What is received this clay with the money in the Thesaurers hands extends in all to 77 lb 3 19 s 8 8 ds ordered that the Thesaurer give out of the said sum to Mrs . Hall ten ss ster & to Janet Young relict of the deceast Robt . Wait 5 ss ster & to tbe officer 2 scots . Elect officer for the ensuing year William Laurie Elder . "

La the above minute it will be noticed that the secretary has called the treasurer Andrew Brown in one place and in another Andrew Don—this proves that the offices of secretary and treasurer were not held conjointly . The carelessness of the officebearers , of which this is a small specimen , seems to have culminated about this time , as there is no minute in the book until we come to one dated , " Att Kellso the 31 of Deeemb . 1716 . "

years The next minute is somewhat confusing in its dates , as the Lodge continues the officebearers for two years previous to the date of meeting . Here is the minute in extenso : " Att Kelso the 27 day of December 1717 The hoimerable sosity of masonse being mett acording to ther order and our hounerable Lodge have taking to ther consideration that the altersion of members yearly was

not nedfull so we continue them for the year 1715 & the year 1716 also the year af orsaid we have shosen Andrew Brown master & William Laidley wardin , James Mein Box master & James Lourie for to kepe the Me & the wholle members of the hoimerable Loge payed ther stents & entered prentisis geve ther tickites . So much for the year 1717 . " . . ' . The secretary has , in the above minute been trying evidently to make one minute do

for several ; however , things were improving , ancl on the next St . John's day an important resolution was passed , as will be seen by a perusal of the following minute which we have already alluded to : —• ' " Att Kelso ye 27 day of Deer 1718 Sederent for Saint Johns day according to the apoyntment & by the Lodge of Kelso met on the day af orsaid & that day is passed into the box the sum of siventine pounds

eliven pence scots money of which soume was payed that same clay for denner and Drink twilfe pound twilfe shil scots so ther is remaining in box four pound money & that same day the Lodge taking into ther couriouse consideration that some of our enttered prentises and some of our pased men also is not so dilligentt in proveing of ther lessons as could saitesfie the lodge therefor we with consent of our master and warding with a sertein number of our members that acordeinge to the acks of our

books ther be soum time spent every Saint Johns day by them in Eximinatioun & those that are not found Qualified is not to be admitted to be passed , it is also passed this day that all who hath Bonds or bdls or tikits is to renew the saime or find sufishentfe casionery this is all our sederent on holy Saint John's day in the year 1718 . "

We think that this resolution of the old Masons of one hundred and fifty years ago might well be adopted ancl acted upon by many Masonic Lodges in the present day . Too many Masons are passed and raised because they claim their degrees as a right , when it should be remembered they are given as a mark of proficiency and merit , or as these old Masons put it , they must be " so dilligentt in proveing of ther lessons as to saitesfie the lodge . "