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Article MASONIC EXeUESIOET TO BOSLIN GASTLE. ← Page 3 of 14 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Exeuesioet To Boslin Gastle.
clock to his Brethren of the Lodge Journeymen . Bro . Watherstone was a generous friend and benefactor to the poor members of the Lodge . At the commencement of the present century , when , in consequence of the failure of the crops , grain was sold at an exorbitantly high price , ; and many families were thereby reduced to a state of great suffering and pnvation , this benevolent Brother advanced £ 50 to assist the Journeymen to import grain from abroad . With this sum , and a large subsidy from the funds of the Lodge , some hundreds of bolls
of excellent flour and oatmeal were stored up in the premises of the Lodge , and sold at a moderate rate to the Brethren , and thus many of them were rescued from a state almost bordering on starvation . Por upwards of half a century the Journeymen have made an annual pilgrimage to the grave of Bro . Watherstone . They have cleared away the weeds from it ; they have seen that the enclosure around it was in a proper state of repair ; and , in one of the inns of the village , have partaken of what is called the et berry feast , " and quaffed a bumper to his memory . Peace to the manes of this good man and genuine Mason 1
To the south , looming amid plantations , are seen the towers of Craigmillar Castle , a fortress of unknown antiquity , and , with the exception of Edinburgh Castle , the strongest in this district . It is associated with the-names of several of our Scottish monarchs , who occasionallyresided .- ' within itswalls , —particularly with that of Queen Mary , who often retired to it to avoid the din and distraction of her stormy Capital . The zealous Mason and archaeologist will find much in its great hall , its harrow apartments , and gloomy dungeons to afford interest and instruction .
On the other hand is the modern burgh of Portobello . It is scarcely a hundred years since the first house in it was built , but it now contains upwards of 4 , 000 inhabitants . It has large manufactories of paper , glass , earthenware , bricks , & c , and is by far the most fashionable and best-frequented bathing quarters on the east coast of Scotland . It was almost entirely indebted for its early prosperity to Bro . Wm . Jamieson , a builder in Edinburgh , who fixed his residence here , and carried on an extensive manufacture of bricks , tiles , & c . Bro . Jamieson , in 1753 ,
when he was only eighteen years of age , was made a Freemason in the then operative Lodge of Edinburgh , Mary ' s Chapel , ETo . 1 , of which his father , Patrick Jamieson , a distinguished Mason , was at the time Master , in order that he might join in the Masonic proceedings which took place at laying the foundationstone of the Royal Exchange , Edinburgh , the first of the great improvements that have so remarkably characterized the northern capital during the past century . Bro . Jamieson afterwards became a zealous and distinguished Brother of the
Order , encouraging and patronizing the meetings of the Craft , and actively promoting the erection of works tending to confer benefit on the community , and embellishment on his native city . He was chosen , on four different occasions , to fill the office of Deacon , or President of the Incorporation of Masons , with which his mother Lodge " Mary ' s Chapel" was connected . He built the large house on the east side of St . Andrew ' s-square for Sir Laurence Dundas , w ^ hich , the historian Arnot states , was the most elegant city mansion that he ever beheld ,
and which is now occupied by the Royal Bank of Scotland ; and we believe that it was under his auspices that the harbour of Portobello was constructed , and near it a curious octagonal tower , composed of bricks and sculptured stones culled from old churches , castles , and monasteries . It is worthy of remark that the Lodge of Portobello is at present held in the drawing-room of the house built and occupied by Bro . Jamieson . This Lodge , long presided over by Bro . James Newlands , a most enthusiastic and successful Mason , is at present under the direction of R . W . Bro . Alexander Scott , and is in a very flourishing condition .
In a few minutes we arrive at Glenesk , a most lovely valley , through which flows the river Esk . It is richly wooded , and here and there a cottage or a mill peers delightfully out amid the thick foliage . At a short distance are seen the spires of the town of Dalkeith , famed for its grain markets . A Gothic church , which stands in the centre of the town , is the most interesting object to the Mason and archaeologist . It is of unknown antiquity , and was dedicated to St . Nicholas . A few years ago it underwent an extensive series of repairs , and the commencement of this laudable work was duly honoured by a large gathering
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Exeuesioet To Boslin Gastle.
clock to his Brethren of the Lodge Journeymen . Bro . Watherstone was a generous friend and benefactor to the poor members of the Lodge . At the commencement of the present century , when , in consequence of the failure of the crops , grain was sold at an exorbitantly high price , ; and many families were thereby reduced to a state of great suffering and pnvation , this benevolent Brother advanced £ 50 to assist the Journeymen to import grain from abroad . With this sum , and a large subsidy from the funds of the Lodge , some hundreds of bolls
of excellent flour and oatmeal were stored up in the premises of the Lodge , and sold at a moderate rate to the Brethren , and thus many of them were rescued from a state almost bordering on starvation . Por upwards of half a century the Journeymen have made an annual pilgrimage to the grave of Bro . Watherstone . They have cleared away the weeds from it ; they have seen that the enclosure around it was in a proper state of repair ; and , in one of the inns of the village , have partaken of what is called the et berry feast , " and quaffed a bumper to his memory . Peace to the manes of this good man and genuine Mason 1
To the south , looming amid plantations , are seen the towers of Craigmillar Castle , a fortress of unknown antiquity , and , with the exception of Edinburgh Castle , the strongest in this district . It is associated with the-names of several of our Scottish monarchs , who occasionallyresided .- ' within itswalls , —particularly with that of Queen Mary , who often retired to it to avoid the din and distraction of her stormy Capital . The zealous Mason and archaeologist will find much in its great hall , its harrow apartments , and gloomy dungeons to afford interest and instruction .
On the other hand is the modern burgh of Portobello . It is scarcely a hundred years since the first house in it was built , but it now contains upwards of 4 , 000 inhabitants . It has large manufactories of paper , glass , earthenware , bricks , & c , and is by far the most fashionable and best-frequented bathing quarters on the east coast of Scotland . It was almost entirely indebted for its early prosperity to Bro . Wm . Jamieson , a builder in Edinburgh , who fixed his residence here , and carried on an extensive manufacture of bricks , tiles , & c . Bro . Jamieson , in 1753 ,
when he was only eighteen years of age , was made a Freemason in the then operative Lodge of Edinburgh , Mary ' s Chapel , ETo . 1 , of which his father , Patrick Jamieson , a distinguished Mason , was at the time Master , in order that he might join in the Masonic proceedings which took place at laying the foundationstone of the Royal Exchange , Edinburgh , the first of the great improvements that have so remarkably characterized the northern capital during the past century . Bro . Jamieson afterwards became a zealous and distinguished Brother of the
Order , encouraging and patronizing the meetings of the Craft , and actively promoting the erection of works tending to confer benefit on the community , and embellishment on his native city . He was chosen , on four different occasions , to fill the office of Deacon , or President of the Incorporation of Masons , with which his mother Lodge " Mary ' s Chapel" was connected . He built the large house on the east side of St . Andrew ' s-square for Sir Laurence Dundas , w ^ hich , the historian Arnot states , was the most elegant city mansion that he ever beheld ,
and which is now occupied by the Royal Bank of Scotland ; and we believe that it was under his auspices that the harbour of Portobello was constructed , and near it a curious octagonal tower , composed of bricks and sculptured stones culled from old churches , castles , and monasteries . It is worthy of remark that the Lodge of Portobello is at present held in the drawing-room of the house built and occupied by Bro . Jamieson . This Lodge , long presided over by Bro . James Newlands , a most enthusiastic and successful Mason , is at present under the direction of R . W . Bro . Alexander Scott , and is in a very flourishing condition .
In a few minutes we arrive at Glenesk , a most lovely valley , through which flows the river Esk . It is richly wooded , and here and there a cottage or a mill peers delightfully out amid the thick foliage . At a short distance are seen the spires of the town of Dalkeith , famed for its grain markets . A Gothic church , which stands in the centre of the town , is the most interesting object to the Mason and archaeologist . It is of unknown antiquity , and was dedicated to St . Nicholas . A few years ago it underwent an extensive series of repairs , and the commencement of this laudable work was duly honoured by a large gathering