Earls of Moray

In 1734, James Stuart, 8th Earl of Moray (also The Rt. Hon. Lord Doune), married Grace Lockhart (1706-1738), grand daughter of the 9th Earl of Eglington and widow of 3rd Earl of Aboyne. Before her death in 1738, they had two children, Francis, (1737-1810), who succeeded as Earl of Moray, and Euphemia (1738-1771). He married again in 1740, this time to Margaret Wemyss, eldest daughter of the Earl of Wemyss; they had two sons, Lt-Colonel James Stuart (1741-1809), and Lieutenant (RN) David Stuart (1745-1784). He was initiated in the Lvdge of Dunfermling No 26, master 1743—58 and Grand Master Mason 1744— 45. In 1735, he was also the last noble Free Gardener to be initiated and in 1744 became master of the Dunfermline Free Gardener lodge. His grand son, Francis 10th Earl (left), lived at Drumsheugh House in Edinburgh, situated between Charlotte Square and the Water of Leith. In 1822 he commissionedJames Gillespie Grahamto lay out an estate of huge townhouses on what was known as the Moray Feu. The development, begun in 1825, is now known as the Moray Estate in the west of Edinburgh with street names after his family. He became Grand Master Mason 1796–98.

The Temple and the VSL

1st Kings 5, 1-18

And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto Solomon; for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: for Hiram was ever a lover of David. . . And, behold, I purpose to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD spake unto David my father, saying, Thy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room, he shall build an house unto my name. . .So (King) Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees and fir trees according to all his desire. . . Beside the chief of Solomon's officers which were over the work, three thousand and three hundred, which ruled over the people that wrought in the work. . . And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house. . . And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders did hew them, and the stone squarers: so they prepared timber and stones to build the house.