Cross Keys October 2022 (Freemasonry)

The Cross Keys The Monthly Newsletter of Lodge Houstoun St. Johnstone No.242

October 2022

Cross Keys October 2022

Number 248

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From the Editor A very sad month with the passing of HM Queen Elizabeth II. I cannot put into words how much she has done for our country and how much she will be missed. To many she was simply The Boss.

Thank you, Ma’am.

Test fees £45 due by 1st November by cash, cheque, bank transfer or just to donate then send email to: 242treasurer@gmail.com for details.

In this issue: 3 4 5 6 6 9 11 12 13 14 16 17 19 20 22 23 24 26 28 29 30

Thoughts for the new MM Scots Master & Hiram Edinburgh 1843 Oldest Lodge in the US Historical RA Aspects Part 2 Early Taverns George & Vulture King Arthur’s Great Halls Masonic Miscellany Amity Lodge No.137 (EC) Kilwinning Edinburgh Manuscript Dr Cameron of Locheil Richard Cooper Politics & The Craft Part 2 Erskine Homes Talks Grand Lodge News Anno Lucis 1819 Certificate Getting Faither to the Lodge Bits & Pieces Spiritual Alchemy

Cover—Amity No.137 front page of ByeLaws (see P.14) The Cross Keys is a free magazine distributed across the many countries in order to spread the good (and sometimes not so good) qualities of the Craft. All views are of individual brothers and not any organised body.

Editor: Bro. N. Grant Macleod PM of Lodge Houstoun St. Johnstone No. 242 PM of The Anchor Lodge of Research No.1814 Past Provincial Grand Secretary of the Province of Renfrewshire East Provincial Grand Scribe E of the Province of Renfrewshire.

Proof Reader: Bro. Allan Stobo PM of Lodge Houstoun St. Johnstone No. 242 Treasurer 242

October Meetings Thursday 13th EA Degree by OBs

Thursday 27th AGM 7.30pm start

All Scottish Constitution.

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Thoughts for the New Master Mason One of the greatest honours that can upon your decision at this point. Should come to any man is to be raised to the you sit and assume the attitude of judgesublime degree of a Master Mason. This ment you will soon find that the “human honour has now been conferred upon you, equation” is present, and that the brothers and the high position will be exactly what around you are only “men” with all the you make out of it.

faults, or at best, come of the faults of or-

There is nothing forced upon any dinary manhood. As you become more man in Freemasonry. Everything you have involved, you will see the finer points in the done in your initiation, passing and raising men around you. has been done of your own volition. Your

You have reached a period in life

future Masonic career will depend entirely when you are expected to and should exupon yourself. If you “ask” you shall ercise discrimination regarding all you see “receive”. If you “seek” you shall “find”. If and hear, but the Ancient Mysteries taught you “knock” is shall be “opened” unto you.

their initiates “to see and hear and be si-

Some brother has been selected to lent”. If all Freemasonry exists for today is teach you in your “work” and from this to confer degrees, then has it reached the brother you have learned the letter of the time when, like a “sounding brass or a tinritual. If you have had a teacher that has kling cymbal” it “has a name to live but is led you on to the letter and past that to dead.” the meaning of that letter and its spirit as

You are urged, therefore, to decide

seen today in the potentiality of Freema- for yourself that you will seek to know what sonry, you will have much to be thankful this Craft means in its life its virility and its for.

spirit. Doing this, you will become a part A new world has now been opened to and parcel of the great body of Freema-

you. You will find everything moving right sonry and it will have assimilated you. along, and the first question you will be called upon to decide is this: will you sit on the side line and judge what you see and hear, or will you become a part and parcel I have included this is in full—a talk given of the activity and become assimilated by to the newly raised MM under the Grand the new world and life? Much will depend Lodge of Texas.

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Scots Master and Hiram The legend of the discovery of the Word in the hidden vault that now forms the basis of the exaltation ceremony of the Royal Arch was, in the 1730s, the centrepiece of the degree of Scots Master. This is made clear in the evidence the accused Freemason John Coustos gave in 1743 to the Holy Inquisition in Spain. Coustos’s inquisitors were fascinated by the importance of the Gospel of St John in eighteenth-century Freemasonry, and that Masonic obligations were taken on that book. They asked Coustos to explain further: ‘Why on the Gospel of John?’ they asked.

Coustos’s answer given on 26 March 1743 is interesting and important: That the reason and foundation that the Masters of this Fraternity have for causing those who newly join to take the Oath upon the Bible, or Book of the Gospels, at the place of that of St. John, is the following:– that when the destruction of the famous Temple of Solomon took place there was found below the First Stone a tablet of bronze upon which was engraved the following word, JEHOVAH, which means GOD, giving thereby to understand that that fabric and Temple was instituted and erected in the name of the same God to whom it was dedicated that same Lord being the beginning and end of such a magnificent work; and as in the Gospel of St John there are found the same words and doctrine they, for this reason cause the Oath to be taken at that place, thus to show that the whole institution of this Fraternity is founded on the same doctrine which Solomon observed in his sumptuous work; and the reason he [Coustos] has for saying this is that he had heard it so declared by some of the French and English Masters, though he does not know from whence they obtained this doctrine for its propounding.

of Solomon, when labourers employed by the Roman Emperor Julian were preparing the ground to rebuild the famous temple for the fourth time. In the cave placed on top of a pillar they discover a copy of St John’s Gospel. This is now the centrepiece of the RA degree (and also one of the grades within the conclave).

Desaguliers (instrumental in forming the first Grand Lodge in London and became its third Grand Master in 1719) needed an account of how the Mason Word was lost. This was probably his inspiration for the creation of the Hiramic legend, which is a story that accounts for the loss of the Word. As was noted above, certain parts of the old Fellow Craft degree were moved into the two new degrees: the Five Points of Fellowship to the third degree and the original Mason Word to the Royal Arch as the genuine secrets of a Master Mason.

The fundamental difference between the degree of Scots Master in the 1730s and the Supreme Order of the Holy Royal Arch in the 1760s is that the Scots Masters’ lodges had the usual lodge arrangement of a Master and two Wardens, whereas Royal Arch chapters had and still have three co-equal Principals.

Whilst Scots Masters’ lodges existed in the 1730s in London, Bath, and Bristol, the earliest known Royal Arch chapters in their present form date from the 1760s in London and York.

It is clear the third degree was written separately – the first two degrees having a biblical narrative whereas the third is based on Biblical characters.

Much of this has been taken from a recent article in QC Lodge where the author believes that Desaguliers was the author of the HirThe legend now associated with the Royal amic legend. Many disagree; perhaps it’s Arch was conceived in the fourth century AD best to not know and keep the alure of maby a Greek writer called Philostorgius. It tells sonry alive. of the discovery of a cave under the Temple

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Edinburgh 1843 Several prominent freemasons were present at Edinburgh RAC No.1 for the meeting of 29th November 1843. Brothers Lord Glenlyon (below left) of Lodge Dunkeld and John Whyte Melville (below right) of Lodge St Luke, both of whom became 1st Grand Principals of Supreme Chapter (1847 – 50 and 1850 – 56 respectively). The former was Grand Master Mason of Grand Lodge in 1843 – 64, Grand Master of the Temple 1845 – 63 and Sovereign Grand Commander of the Supreme Council for Scotland 1850 – 64. The latter Grand Master Mason 1864 – 67 and

Sovereign Grand Commander 1865 – 84.

Companions Sir John Ogilvy, Major Walter Ogilvy and Colonel John Kinloch were admitted full Members of the Chapter and " Sir David Dundas of Dunarie, Bt., and the Hon. George Drummond, Master of Strathallen received the obligation as Royal Arch Masons previous to going through the Knights Templars Degree.''

Clearly, a who’s who of freemasonry at the time.

Unique Jewel Interesting members’ jewel from Lodge St. George No.333. It is dated approximately 1860 (although it now has a new ribbon). The lodge was consecrated in 1833 and meets in the Masonic Hall, 42 Priory Road, Glasgow on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday, September to May and 2nd Wednesday in June, at 7.30 p.m.

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Oldest Lodge in the US The Premier Grand Lodge of England in the early 18th C (later to merge with the Ancient Grand Lodge of England to make the United Grand Lodge of England) was established.

Freemasonry was gaining momentum throughout England, and this body was formed to oversee Freemasonry in London.

Even in the British colonies in America, the craft was surging in popularity, and colonists desired formal permission to create local Masonic lodges.

In Massachusetts, Masons were eager to receive a dispensation to form lodges around Boston. Brothers in the colony urged Brother Henry Price (right) to visit London and petition the Grand Lodge for a Warrant to establish lodges in America. Price heeded the pleas of his brethren and went to England, returning in the spring of 1733.

His visit proved a rousing success. He not only returned home with a Warrant for an individual lodge but a new title as well. While in England, Price was made the “Provincial Grand Master of New England and Dominions and Territories thereunto belonging” by the Grand Master, The Right Honourable and Right Worshipful Anthony Browne, 6th Viscount Montagu. Upon his return, the newly appointed Grand Master quickly established the Provincial Grand Lodge in Massachusetts, becoming known as St. John’s Grand Lodge.

a Grand Lodge, he introduced traditions and values that would influence the lives of men and families across the continent for centuries to come.

Talking of Price in Moore’s Freemason’s Monthly Vol. XXXII, No. 2, February 1873, Page 33: But his fame does not belong to Massachusetts alone. That he laid the foundation of it here, was one of those fortunate accidents by which men of humble pretensions are often exalted to places of honour and distinction. It was a necessity of the time; and that he successfully availed himself of its advantages proves, if it prove anything, his fidelity to duty and clear appreciation of the beneficent influences of an institution which, from its marvellous adaptation to the needs of a young and growing country, he foresaw would, with the blessing of Providence, and under the careful guidance of those to whom its future should be entrusted, grow up and become an important instrumentality in giving a healthful tone and direction to the normal character of the rapidly increasing population of his adopted home.

His first charter was in 1733 for a lodge in Boston that became known as First Lodge. It went formally by this moniker until 1783, when it merged with “Second Lodge,” the first recorded lodge merger in the Americas.

As a local Bostonian, Henry Price held no distinguished positions in the community at large. However, his effort to bring Masonry to colonial America earned him a special place in the pages of Masonic history. When he held a meeting in Boston’s Bunch of Grapes (shown right) on July 30th , 1733, to establish Cross Keys October 2022

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Historical Aspects of The Royal Arch Part 2 Following on from last month, this completes exiles started to rebuild the Temple, refusing the article. His motives seems to have been help from the Samaritans because they were threefold: impure, hence the reference in our ritual to allowing no strangers to partake in the work.  Religious: Cyrus worshipped Zoroaster, But it was slow going and they were soon disa god who allowed other gods to be his heartened. The Samaritans also tried to stop helpers in the world, so when he talks in the Hebrews rebuilding the walls, hence the his edict of ‘The Lord God of Heaven’ it reference in our ritual to the sword and trowis doubtful that he meant the Jewish el.

God Jahweh, even though the writer of the Old Testament Book of Ezra adds In 522 BCE, the Samaritans sent word to the the extra words: ‘Who is in Jerusalem’. new King of Persia to say that the returned Nevertheless, Cyrus was remarkably exiles were plotting against him, which they tolerant of other religions in his empire. weren't, and he ordered the work to stop.

However, when King Darius the Great of Per Political: Cyrus believed that he could sia assumed power two years later, he austabilise his empire in the long term thorised the return of a much larger group of through loyalty rather Hebrew exiles, led by than fear, an idea Zerubbabel, the grandson much ahead of his of King Jehoichin, assisted time. By allowing capby Joshua the High Priest tured peoples to reand the prophets Haggai turn to their homeand Zechariah. lands and follow their own customs he Once back in Jerusalem, hoped to win their afHaggai seems to have been fection. Indeed, some the driving force behind reof the Jewish writers starting the work on resaw him as doing their building the Temple, which God’s work.

King Cyrus was finally completed in 515 BCE. The early years of  Geographical: Cyrus needed Judah to be King Darius's reign were a period of uncera strong point in his empire as it was on tainty as to whether he would be able to keep its Southern border with Egypt, which his empire together, and factions in Jerusaremained a major threat. lem, encouraged by Haggai and Zechariah, thought that the Messiah’s coming was immiThe first group of returning exiles left Baby- nent and that they should join in the unrest. lon in 536 BCE, probably led by Sheshbezzar, However, Zerubbabel resisted these presyoungest son of King Jehoichin (who presum- sures, much to the dismay of Haggai and ably had died by then). There were probably Zechariah. Nevertheless, once Darius had reabout 1,000 people in all, mostly connected established his position, the news of the unwith the building work on the Temple, but rest in Jerusalem reached him and he diswith only four priestly families. They received missed Zerubbabel and appointed a new gova very hostile reception from the inhabitants ernor to administer Judah. of Jerusalem, especially the Samaritans who had been put in charge of the city. There was Zerubabbel was thus the last King of Judah, also famine and drought to contend with, and despite having four or five sons, and his ultiit is probably not surprising that more of the mate fate is unknown. From then on, the High exiles did not return, given that they were Priest became the leader of the Jewish nation doing rather nicely in Babylon. The returned and the final arbiter of all religious and civil Cross Keys October 2022

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Historical Aspects of The Royal Arch Part 2(ctd) matters. Hence the importance of his position in the time of Jesus. Joshua was now effectively in charge and his descendants filled that office for the next 200 years. Haggai returned with Zerubbabel to Jerusalem and, according to one record, his mission lasted just four months. If this is correct, it must have been pretty intense!

Nehemiah was a remarkable man. He rose from relatively humble origins to be the cupbearer to King Artaxerxes I Longimanus of Persia. In 444 BCE, he was sent to Jerusalem as Governor of the Persian Province of Judah.

He was immediately struck by the poor condition of the city and its inhabitants and set about making improvements. The city walls were rebuilt in 52 days, though rebuilding the fortifications and towers took another twoand-a-half years. He then set about serious social reforms, including cancelling the debts of the poor, enforcing observance of the Sabbath and restoring the Sacred Law. He also induced many prominent members of the community to move into the city to improve its security and he tried to bring about a rapprochement with the Samaritans, though this particular effort was short-lived. After twelve years as Governor, Nehemiah returned to the Persian Emperor’s court at Susa.

he came to Jerusalem ‘in the seventh year of the reign of Artaxerxes’ , but it is not clear whether this means Artaxerxes I (i.e. 457 BCE) or Artaxerxes II (i.e. 398 BCE). The Jewish tradition is that it was the earlier date, that he was accompanied by another large group of returning exiles and that he and Nehemiah worked together, but modern scholarship has cast doubt on this. Certainly, he was a Priest of the line of Zadok and a Scribe in the Jewish sense (i.e. a legal scholar). His Persian title was ‘Scribe’ (i.e. royal secretary).

Irrespective of when he lived, he worked hard to restore the purity of Torah Law, beginning with persuading all the Jewish men who had married foreign wives to divorce them and marry Jewish women. During this time, the Torah was edited into more-or-less its present form, the square characters of Hebrew text were introduced and the KnessethGedolah (great assembly of the people) was established.

Whether Ezra and Nehemiah are the authors of the books in the Bible bearing their names is still debated, most probably they wrote parts of them, but they were then edited by the author of the Books of Chronicles sometime later.

Thanks for information from Solomon under UGLE

Finally, we come to Ezra. The Bible says that

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I

Early Taverns

t will be remembered that the four lodges which constituted the Grand Lodge of England in 1717 were held at public houses which at that date were generally called ‘taverns’ or ‘inns’ and for at least 150 years subsequent to that date Masonic lodges continued to be held on licensed premises, very few prior to 1860 having acquired their own buildings and temples.

Hanoverian dynasty in this country, the reigns of the first three Georges covering the entire period. After the serious and sober governments of William and Mary and Queen Anne there was a remarkable revulsion of public feeling, and to put it mildly the courts of George I and George II were noted for loose living and licentiousness and their example was reflected in the mode of living of all classes of the people, more particularly of course of the leisured and wealthy classes.

From the year 1869 or thereabouts the erection of ‘Masonic Halls’ began to be frequent Club life involving much ‘dining’ and ‘wining’ and at the present time (1935 – ed) those became the rage and societies and associalodges meeting at hotels are in the minority. tions having headquarters at taverns came into existence by the score, some having Objections by prejudiced people have been some object or purpose to justify them but made that Modern Freemasonry originated in most being merely an excuse for frequent taverns and inns but such objections are banqueting and festivity and members of the manifestly absurd when it is remembered fair sex were not by any means in all cases that for a century or more after the formation rigidly excluded. of Grand Lodge not only Masonic bodies but all kinds of societies – social, religious and Masonry was of course influenced by the educational - held their meetings in taverns spirit of the time and many practices existed for the simple reason that very few other which would not now be tolerated but it is suitable public places were available or in exgratifying to note that on the whole the actual istence. lodge meetings were conducted with decoIt is related of a worthy seventeenth century rum and dignity. bishop that he said, “taverns are the busy However, while even at this time there were man’s recreation, the idle man’s business, the many serious and earnest Masons it is unmelancholy man’s sanctuary, and the questionable that there were also many of stranger’s welcome.” whom the lodges existed merely for the social Two or three hundred years ago the lives of the people – not merely the lower orders, who to a great extent were too poor to patronise them, but the middle and higher classes to a far greater extent than obtains today, centred their social life there. Theatres and music halls even in London were few and far between and were practically unknown in the provinces, there were no cheap newspapers, and the taverns with their homely atmosphere were the meeting places where the gossip and news of the day were disseminated.

side and the ceremonies were regarded as just a prelude to the night’s festivities – a state of mind which I am afraid exists to a large extent today.

Heavy drinking was as fashionable in some Masonic circles as it was outside in the ‘uninitiated and popular’ world.

The principal liquid refreshments consisted of beer and wine (meaning port or burgundy) and those who could afford it sparkling wines from France. 200 years ago, rum was practically the only spirit in use – gin was beginning to be distilled, but whisky had not yet found its way over the Border.

The 100 years following the founding of Grand Lodge also saw the founding of the The records and Minutes of the old lodges

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Early Taverns (ctd) throughout the country have many hundreds of references to fines and penalties which were inflicted on the brethren for offences and misdemeanours in and during lodge hours, these offences of very varied character, perhaps the most frequent being an appearance while under the influence of alcohol or as most Minutes record it in the quaint phraseology of the time, “disguised in liquor”, the fines on such occasions being usually cheerfully paid. Swearing and bad language or quarrelsome behaviour were also subject to penalties.

of the lodge and its members, the general average being sixpence (2.5p) to one shilling (5p).

In some lodges a member could be fined half a crown (12.5p) for “an escape in point of decent language”, up to half a guinea for “insobriety”. In other lodges a member could come into the lodge “disguised in liquor” and swear as well for sixpence. Other fines were for divulging the secrets (2.5p) and drinking unclothed (6p).

In the early days smoking in lodge was freely indulged in but was later strictly forbidden Taken from a paper by Bro. Frederick Fleeman while the lodge was ‘at labour’ and such pro- PPGJW and delivered to Howe & Charnwood Lodge of Instruction, Leicestershire & Rutland No. 1007 hibition was enforced by fines on offenders.

(EC) in 1935.

It should be borne in mind that in most cases the lodge remained open till the close of the evening – about 10 o’clock, the first part being devoted to Masonic ceremonies and afterwards the Brethren indulged in supper and refreshments until it was time to ‘close the lodge’.

It was only on ‘feast’ days and special anniversaries that anything of the nature of a dinner was partaken of, the ordinary lodge suppers generally consisting of cold meats or bread and cheese accompanied by a generous allowance of ‘ale’. As I have previously mentioned the period during which Grand Lodge was formed and for a century afterwards was one which saw heavy drinking which was customary amongst both the highest and the lowest and the indulgence in profane language was very frequent. Indeed, it was quite fashionable or considered not at all unusual to introduce it in ordinary conversation.

William Hogarth’s, Night 1738 showing a master going home the worse for wear.

Determined endeavours to check both these extremes in lodge were made, the fines or penalties ranging from three pence (1.5p) to Full explanation of the above can bee seen in Cross half a guinea (52.5p) according to the status Keys October 2018 (Freemasonry) by Neil Grant Macleod - Issuu

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George and Vulture Tavern

T

by Mr. Pickwick (Charles Dickens’s Pickwick he " The George and Vulture," a fa- Papers). mous Masonic House, is described as "near Balls Alley was Of Taverns of lesser note the George Inn since the we have the " Edinburgh Great Fire built with very Castle Inn " "which stood good Houses, well inhabiton the site of the Castle" ed and warehouses being mentioned by Stow, and a large open Yard called the Albion Lodge No. 9 George Yard the further found a home there in end of which is the George 1774. " The Cock and Lion and Vulture which is a Tavern " where the Royal large House, and of a good Kent Lodge of Antiquity trade having a passage No. 20 met in 1740, was into St. Michael's Alley." entirely destroyed in the The Tavern was much fire of 1748. " The Sun bedamaged in the fire of the hind the Royal Exchange" 25th March, 1748, for we was in the reign of Charles read in the London MagaII. kept by John Wadlow, zine of that date that the sometime land- lord of " back premises were burnt The Devil Tavern," Fleet down, and other houses in Street. Pepys relates on the Yard entii'ely destroyed. The Inn was re- the 28th June, 1667, "Mr. Lowther tells me stored and enlarged, and from about 1810 to the Duke of Buckingham do dine at Wadlow's 1848 many distinguished Lodges met there. at the Sun Tavern." A Lodge was meeting here We find the St. George's Lodge (now St. in 1743, but lapsed in 1761.

George and Corner Stone No. 5) there in 1839, but it seems to have taken its name It is a grade II listed building. What is amazfrom " The George Tavern," Commercial ing is that there has been an in on the site Road, Stepney, when it met in 1820. Amongst since 1142 and was the home to the notoriother Lodges, the Old Dundee Lodge No. 18 ous Hell Fire Club. met there in 1821, and the Emulation Lodge No. 21 in 1815. It will be remembered that the " George and Vulture " was much beloved

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King Arthur’s Great Halls, Cornwall Tintagel is the natural centre from which all things in connection with King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table should radiate. King Arthur is a worldwide asset and it is fitting that at Tintagel, his birth place, something should be in existence which acts as the point to which thoughts of people can turn, and where the necessary inspiration can be disseminated to enable King Arthur's ideals to be a living force for all time.

To many, Tintagel is a hallowed spot, and the increasing number of people who visit it each year solely because of its association with this wonderful early King, testify to a desire to keep his ideals before them. The story is portrayed in 72 amazing stained glass windows and is possibly the largest collection on King Arthur.

Building on the halls commenced in 1929, completed in 1933 and officially opened at Pentecost the same year. It is possible to show within the building in a dramatic way, scenes which have been prepared and which refer to the principle symbolic events in the story of King Arthur, such as the choosing of Arthur to be King - the gift to

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him of the great Sword Excalibur - the presentation to him of the Round Table - the achievement of the Sangreal - the passing of King Arthur, etc.

It is also the home to King Arthur Lodge No. 7134. In 1962 a Royal Arch Chapter was formed by the Lodge, and the building is used by some other lodges to hold their installation meetings. The hall is now as home to three other bodies: St Enodoc Lodge No. 9226, King Arthur Royal Arch Chapter No. 7134 and Tintagel Castle Lodge of Mark Master Masons No. 1800.

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Answer from last month about the clock: UGLE in London

The following is an except from a masonic newspaper.

THE FREEMASON, MARCH 6, 1875 On Friday the 19th inst, in St. Mark's Hall, Buchanan-street, an emergency meeting took place at which a Board of Installed Master Masons was formed, consisting of Bros.

Thomas Halket PM 102; Arch. McTaggart PM 27 and John Fraser PM 87 for the purpose of conferring the Installed Masters' degree upon three brethren from Lanark. Those were Bros. Wm. McLehose, RWM Lodge 21 Old St. John, Lanark; John Currie PM of same lodge and John Annan RWM Lodge 326 Clydesdale, Lanark. The ceremony was efficiently performed by Bro. Halket.

On Friday the 19th inst, in St. Mark's Hall, Buchanan-street, an emergency meeting took place at which a Board of Installed Master Masons was formed, consisting of Bros.

Thomas Halket PM 102; Arch. McTaggart PM 27 and John Fraser PM 87 for the purpose of conferring the Installed Masters' degree upon three brethren from Lanark. Those were Bros. Wm. McLehose, RWM Lodge 21 Old St. John, Lanark; John Currie PM of same lodge and John Annan RWM Lodge 326 Clydesdale, Lanark. The ceremony was efficiently performed by Bro. Halket.

With the new ceremony of Installed Master as this time, only some masters would have been through it and most PMs would not. Hence these emergency meetings of ‘Installed Master Lodges’ for the sole purpose of giving masters and PMs the w. and g.

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Amity Lodge No.137 (EC) A lodge at Poole was warranted in 1765 at the Lion & Lamb Inn (shown) in the Old Town. The lodge was originally numbered 338 but after renumbering exercises

by Grand Lodge, it became 137 in 1863.

The name ‘Amity’ only came into being in 1779. profane language used by some brethren.

In 1772, the lodge moved to the Old Antelope Examples in the minutes mention the use of Inn in the High Street (below) probably due fines for such language and eventually expulto its size and the upstairs banqueting room sion for repeated misdemeanours. which was used by the Provincial Grand Lodge in 1780.

One thing the lodge is well known for is the Amity Biscuit—yes an actual biscuit dated from 1813. Although in fragments now, it is still housed in the original frame and is a testament to the Napoleonic wars and a warm hearted French privateer from St. Malo, Bro. Captain Jacques de Bon. Discovering he was a freemason, he was released with a dog which belonged to a recently captured freemason.

Around its neck was a biscuit signifying he would not keep a brother’s dog in bondage nor see it want for food—in other words, he Like many lodges at the time, private mem- wouldn’t do a ‘runner.’ bership certificates were issued by lodge.

Grand Lodge obviously realised this was a good way to generate money and also improve registration of candidates. A great example from Amity is shown above right.

The original 15 Bye-Laws were written in 1778 to ensure brotherly love because of the

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Amity Lodge No.137—Bits & Pieces

Above—the lodge room today in 4 Market Close, Poole, the original warrant, the lodge seal in 1780 and the master’s chair. The lodge meets once a month, on the third Wednesday, at 18.15

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Kilwinning Edinburgh Manuscript

This manuscript derives its name from its being written in a small quarto book, belonging to the celebrated Mother Kilwinning Lodge of Scotland; it was probably written in 1665. The Anglican phraseology, and the fact that one of the Charges requires that Freemasons should be "ledgeman to the King of England," conclusively show that the manuscript was written in England and introduced into Scotland.

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Bro. Archibald Cameron of Locheil Although the Cross Keys in February 2021 had an article about this brother, I thought it was worth including another from Scottish Field in May 2019.

Archie Cameron was born in 1707, the year of the Treaty of Union. The fourth son of John Cameron of Lochiel (member of The Lodge of Dunblane), he was raised as the son of a Highland chief. Wearing the old fashioned kilt and plaid (then all in one), going barefoot during the summer, he learnt the skills of the mountains and, most importantly, how to use a sword.

His father, having led the clan at Sheriffmuir fighting for the exiled Stuart king, fled to France, leaving his wife and young family in the care of their eldest son, Donald, 19th chief of Lochiel.

Donald, despairing of Archie, wrote: ‘My brother Archie has capacity enough but no application.’

Nonetheless, ready to help him when, having finished his education in France he had determined to become a doctor, he gave him the tack as it was known, or lease, of Glen Kingie, lying to the south of Loch Arkaig, where he ran a herd of cattle. It was a profitable business, thanks to trade with the southern markets at that time.

Firmly established in his practice, with a family of young children to provide for, Archie was horrified at the idea of another rising to restore the Jacobite king. Sent by his brother to meet Prince Charles Edward Stuart when he sailed into Loch nan Uamh from France, he gave him unequivocal answers before begging his brother not to rise in arms.

‘It could only bring disaster,’ he told him, but Lochiel, inspired by loyalty, succumbed to the prince’s charm. Refusing at first to join him, Archie eventually agreed on the condition that he came as a doctor, refusing to bear arms. At the capture of the city of Edinburgh, when the Camerons stormed the Netherbow Port, Prince Charles made Doctor Archie his aide-decamp. Most notably following the Battle of Prestonpans, although sleepless for 48 hours, he attended to the wounded of both sides.

Later, at the Battle of Falkirk, when staunching his brother’s wound, Archie himself was struck in the chest by a bullet, which – proving impossible to remove – gave him pain for the rest of his life. He again saved Lochiel at Culloden, when, wounded by grapeshot in both ankles, he was carried by his clansmen from the field. Reaching Achnacarry, they were hiding in the forest by Loch Arkaig, when word came of French ships bringing gold for Prince Charles, by then in the Outer Isles. Archie was amongst those who buried the treasure, the knowledge of where it was hidden proving fatal in later years.

Doctor Archie married his cousin, Jean Cameron of Dungallon. They may have lived sporadically in Glen Kingie, but their main home was Batchelor’s Hall at Strontian, where Archie was employed as a doctor by the York Building Company, caring for the workforce in its mines. The only doctor in the whole of the Ardnamurchan peninsula, he was much loved by the local people, speaking to them in Gaelic.

Together with his brother and other Jacobites, he hid in remote places from the Redcoats, who had He travelled great distances, often on a Highland ordered by the Duke of Cumberland to hunt out pony with his medical bag strapped to his saddle, the rebels and destroy all they possessed. On at night with a ghillie with a lantern leading the hearing that Prince Charles had reached the mainway, to his patients far off amongst the hills. land, Archie was sent to find him and take him to Clunie MacPherson’s famous cave on Ben Alder.

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Bro. Archibald Cameron of Locheil (ctd) Here, on 13 September, they heard that ships sent Archie Cameron and MacDonald of Lochgarry to from France to rescue him were lying in Loch nan meet him at Menin. There he gave them ‘mony Uamh. and sent them to Scotland so as to meet several Highland gentlemen at the Crieff market for black Archie sailed with Prince Charles on the L’Heu- cattel’. reux, taking down his memoirs of the campaign.

In France they were greatly entertained by King ‘The Elibank Plot’, a fantastic scheme to blow up Louis XV, who made Donald the colonel and the Tower of London and kill or capture King Archie a captain of the Albany Regiment.

George and his family, fell through. But Archie was left in Scotland, knowing only that he was to Disappointingly, however, King Louis would not bring back some of the money buried at Loch finance another rising so Prince Charles, with Arkaig to King James in Rome, but otherwise in Archie Cameron, rode across the Pyrenees into ignorance of all that was taking place.

Spain to try to win King Ferdinand to his cause.

Again he was unsuccessful but Ferdinand did He should have been more careful. But whom promise to give Archie the command of a Spanish should he have trusted when asking for a safe regiment, but this would prove to be a promise house in which to stay, if not his cousin, Samuel that was never fulfilled.

Cameron, known as Crookshanks thanks to his bandy legs. Samuel, also in the pay of the British Returning to France he was joined by his wife government, suggested Brenachoile, a house in Jean, who had suffered badly during his absence, the Trossachs on Loch Katrine. Arrested there by losing two of their children from exposure as they soldiers from the nearby barracks, he was taken hid in caves and on the hills. For a time they lived to the Tower of London to stand trial as a traitor in Lille, from where Archie was sent back to Scot- to the king. Convicted, he died a martyr, last in land in 1749. the cause of the Jacobites, for which, at the urge of his brother, he had so unwillingly gone to war.

He returned safely but Prince Charles – expelled from France by King Louis as part of the Treaty of Doctor Archie did have one biography, written by Aix la Chapelle, which ended the Seven Years War Alexander Henderson, which sold for the price of – was trying to plan an invasion of Scotland with one shilling in 1753. Since then he has been largethe help of the King of Prussia, who was at odds ly forgotten, but the man whose last action was to with his nephew George II, and a Swedish army send his steel shoe buckles to his son – because commanded by General James Keith, the Earl this was the strongest metal, enduring as his own Marischal’s brother. resolve – deserves to be remembered if only for the courage, self-sacrifice and loyalty given by this Unbeknown to him, Charles’ plans were betrayed country doctor to what he knew to be a hopeless

by Alexander MacDonell of Glengarry, alias ‘Pickle cause. the Spy’, a man embittered by fighting for the Jacobites, whom he blamed for causing his ruin.

His actual initiation is proving an enigma and although it is common knowledge he attended meetWriting to Henry Pelham, the Prime Minister, on 4 ings, his mother lodge has not been identified.

November 1742, Glengarry told him that the prince had sent Mr Murray (of Elibank) for Doctor Any ideas?

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Richard Cooper Bro. Richard Cooper was born in London on 26 October 1701 and was brought by the influential brewer, Sir Felix Feast who died in 1724. Sir Felix, alderman and briefly Sheriff of London, lived in a smart house in Marine Square, an edgy, cosmopolitan area of the Tower Liberty, close to the thriving docks at Wapping. The other residents included, until 1715, the Swedish scientist and esoteric Masonic philosopher, Emanuel Swedenborg (1688-1772) who must have had some influence of Cooper.

In December 1717 Richard was apprenticed for seven years as an engraver to the writing master John Clarke. Cooper was a very influential freemason, instrumental in building the Canongate Kilwinning Lodge, beside his new house, in 1736. This building has been associated with the architect, William Adam, for whom Cooper engraved the plates of his Vitruvius Scoticus (Edinburgh 1812) but with a father and a brother in the building trade, Cooper was probably well equipped to design his own house and the lodge. He can be positively associated with Masonic meetings at the Blue Boar in Fleet Street in 1723 where the master was the map engraver Emanuel Bowen (1693-1767) and the membership included the painter Richard Collins (d.1732) and John Clark, possibly his master, the Scottish stationer.

Significantly, 'Mr. Thomas Coke Esq.' is noted as a member in 1721. These lodges were very fluid in their meeting places and Cooper signed the minute book at the Lodge that met in the Goose and Gridiron tavern, close to St. Paul’s cathedral, on 15 March 1725; the same evening the seal engraver John Claus and William Dugood (See Cross Keys September 2022), scientist, print collector, Jacobite

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spy and jeweller to the Old Pretender, became masons. The Master there in the previous two years had been John Theophilus Desaguliers (1683-1744) and in 1723 he had served as Deputy Grand Master to Francis, Earl of Dalkeith. This is the earliest evidence that Cooper was a proselytising freemason and some of the preliminary meetings of Canongate Kilwinning were held in his house.

Significantly, the meeting to install William St. Clair of Roslin as a prelude to his election as the first Grand Master for Scotland in 1736 was held there. Cooper was joined in the Lodge by other members of the St. Luke’s academy; Andrew Hay, James Norie, William Robertson and David Clelland along with Alexander Lindsay (who would become father in law to the young Ramsay in 1752) and the surgeon George Lauder who would serve with the Jacobite army. John Murray of Broughton, later Secretary to Prince Charles Edward became a member in 1738; his name vigorously crossed from the roll when he turned King’s evidence following Culloden.

Allan Ramsay senior was not a member of Canongate Kilwinning but had been active in Scottish freemasonry before Cooper’s arrival, writing a poem in honour of the visit of Desaguliers to Edinburgh in 1721.

Canongate Kilwinning would eventually include influential merchants, lawyers and gentry and a host of medical students from the University, many of them American. Clearly the lodge, like the Academy of St Luke before it, had a significant Jacobite membership. Cooper would eventually serve as JW of Canongate Kilwinning No.2 in 1735 and 1748—50.

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Politics & The Craft Part 2 The Whig presence within the Grand Lodge had forced the union with Kilwinning and had effectively guaranteed that any Tory candidate nominated for the office of Grand Master would be defeated. Thus counterpoised—an overconfident Grand Lodge and embittered Tory minority—the impending explosion within Scottish freemasonry was finally triggered by a request made to the Grand Lodge of Scotland by Dr Mitchell, Master of Caledonian Lodge in Edinburgh, to express the fraternity’s appreciation for the king’s support of the British people and constitution. Although it is a misrepresentation to describe masonic political allegiances at this time as hostile to loyalism, it is likely that some masons retained a suspicion of the uncritical, slavish adherence to every aspect of the constitution characteristic of the Tories.

Cunningham’s nomination and Mitchell’s proposed address, although occurring on the same day and during a time of heightened political tension in the Grand Lodge, do not necessarily suggest a Tory conspiracy to undermine Whig sentiments. Masonic addresses to the king were not uncommon and often sent to congratulate the ruling monarch on a variety of issues. However, Mitchell was seen as ‘attempting to slap the Whig establishment of the Grand Lodge’, and his motion nothing more than a ‘flagrant piece of politics, which, if passed, would bring the Grand Lodge into line with other bodies—Tory orientated, who had applauded the King’s bigotry’. Mitchell’s address also signalled the first rumblings of discontent among the Tories. If the Whigs were to maintain control of the Grand Lodge, any challenges which threatened the balance of power had to be quickly suppressed. Given that the initial proposal was defeated by a narrow margin of twenty-eight to twentyseven, a re-vote was demanded. On 19 June

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1807, the Grand Lodge of Scotland convened to address the issue, stating that it had received a letter from Dr Mitchell of Caledonian Lodge in Edinburgh requesting a re-vote. Despite strong objections from Inglis, the Grand Lodge approved Mitchell’s request. Led by James Gibson, a zealous Scottish Whig, the motion to address the King was soundly defeated by a margin of ninety-five to fortyseven. Clearly, political manoeuvring and manipulation had prevented the approval of Mitchell’s address to the King. Mitchell was suspended from all masonic privileges.

The situation had begun to spiral out of control. By May 1808, Dr Mitchell and his supporters were not adhering to the stipulations of the initial suspension, and as a consequence Mitchell was ultimately expelled from Scottish freemasonry for openly seceding from the Grand Lodge of Scotland. Additionally, members of several Edinburgh lodges were suspended for communicating with Mitchell. Although it had no constitutional authority to hand down punishments of expulsion and could not legally bar freemasons from communicating with one another, the Grand Lodge was intent on forcing lodges to comply with its demands.

Scottish lodges responded differently to the actions of the Grand Lodge. No. 25 St Andrew, for example, recorded on 27th June 1808 that ‘from all Circumstances of the case taken together, this meeting cannot help regretting much that ever this Strife and Contention should have been meddled with or that it had been checked effectually in its Origin. It would have saved the waste of a considerable sum of the public money and it would have tended to the peace and harmony of all the Lodges in Scotland’. Notwithstanding such objections and censure, on 13th June 1808,

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Politics & The Craft Part 2 (ctd) the Grand Lodge of Scotland expelled all freemasons involved or associated in any manner with Dr Mitchell. As a result, these marginalized masons—led by No. 1 Mary’s Chapel— officially seceded from the Grand Lodge and formed the Associated Lodges Seceding from the Present Grand Lodge of Scotland. The establishment of the Associated Lodges effectively signalled the end of Grand Lodge’s pursuit of complete constitutional and masonic authority over all freemasons in Scotland.

Grand Lodge. In a politically charged address on 14th February 1809, the Grand Secretary of the Associated Lodges addressed the lodges, stating that: It has fallen to our lot to live in eventful times—times as eventful in the annals of Masonry, as they are in the history of Modern Europe. We have lived to see a despotism newly akin to the system of a neighbouring Tyrant, attempted to be established among the British Masons. But we have resisted the odious usurpation with a Spirit the Masons of future ages will commemorate. They sought to enslave us, by debarring individual Masons from the privilege of going where they pleased. We spurned the ignoble bondage [... and] most just, my friends, is the punishment which has overtaken the destroyers of the order.

Intent on upholding the sentences of expulsion and punishing the Seceders, the Grand Lodge of Scotland warned that masonic meetings were permitted only in legally constituted lodges, in accordance with the Secret Societies Act and the laws of the Grand Lodge of Scotland. Furthermore, it threatened to withdraw the charter of any lodge that contravened Grand Lodge rulings, and any unlawful It is clear that the Seceders felt that the Grand meetings would be sniffed out and forcefully Lodge had overstepped its authority. Altdisbanded by the local magistrate. hough all expulsions were eventually revoked on 31st March 1813, with the exception of Dr On 30th November 1808, the Grand Lodge of Mitchell’s, the Associated Lodges achieved Scotland submitted an application for an in- their goal of preventing the Grand Lodge of terdict and a Bill of Suspension against the Scotland from gaining complete masonic aumeetings of the Associated Lodges. The Bill of thority over Scottish lodges.

Suspension also stated the intentions of the Grand Lodge to establish itself as the ‘only legal, in its fullest meaning, body in Freemasonry in Scotland.’ In December 1808, the My thanks to Mark Wallace who wrote his PhD Courts granted the interdicts. on freemasonry. This article will appear in full The Associated Lodges appealed to the Sec- in the Book of the Old Edinburgh Club, for ond Division of the Court of Session on 11th which it was accepted prior to presentation at February 1809, and on 7 July, 1810, the court the Modern Language Association Conference. overturned the Bill of Suspension. The success of the Associated Lodges was due in Click here for details. large part to their common resentment of the

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Erskine Homes’ Talks On Wednesday 7th September The Lodge of GMM and his team do not only in Scotland, Erskine No. 1566 held their Special Erskine but throughout the world.

Home Meeting at the Masonic hall in LuckinsThe night was a great success and the lodge ford Rd, Inchinnan. raised the sum of £1000. PM Bro. Ian Wood PM Bro. Ian Wood from 1566 - who gave a is seen here presenting a cheque from the lodge to Erskine Homes’ representative Craig fascinating talk on his life as a submariner: “A Life Below the Ocean Wave – Submariner Berry (see photo).

Memories” which The lodge also went down very presented The well. The brethren thoroughly GMM Bro. enjoyed this inRamsay with a formative and £100 cheque unique insight for his Make it into what life is a Million fundlike as a naval raiser on besubmariner on a half of Prosnuclear submatate Scotland rine. and donated £50 to the The second PGM Bro. Ronspeaker was the nie for his upMost Worshipful th Grand Master Mason, Bro. William Ramsay coming Zip Slide challenge on 16 SeptemMcGhee – who’s talk on “Around the World ber. with Scottish Freemasonry” – gave the assem- The RWM Bro. Robert Bell and the brethren bled brethren an idea of the huge task of trav- from The Lodge of Erskine No. 1566 would eling around all the various Districts and like to thank everyone for Provinces under the Scottish their continued support Constitution to carry out Reand we are hopeful that dedications and Installations. the event will be held Grand Lodge are now almost within the Home in 20th up to date with the backlog September 2023. of special events throughout the world following the pandemic.

My thanks to Bro. Robert

The Grand Master Mason’s talk shows the amount of work carried out by The Grand Lodge of Scotland and it was certainly an eye opener to the assembled brethren - giving them a glimpse into the enormity of the work the

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McPhee PM for the article.

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Interesting Page of Education Resources from ‘a’ Grand Lodge

Below is a page showing a number of resources for brethren including a calculator to help set annual dues taking into account age of building, number of members, etc.

PGL Renfrewshire East I hope everyone had a pleasant and restful recess.

During the recess PGL had the pleasure of rededicating Lodge St Andrew No 524 and Lodge Kil Bryd No 1667. Unfortunately we were unable to complete the rededication of Lodge Inchinnan No 1405 due to the closure of Masonic activity during the period of national mourning.

As we look forward to the start of a new Masonic year and the Lodge Installations, we all hope that Lodges across the Province will be in a better position to deal with the issues left by the pandemic.

I’m sure that working together we’ll overcome these issues as we have done in the past.

Ronnie

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Anno Lucis (A.L. 6026) Anno Lucis (in the Year of Light) was adopted

by Freemasonry sometime in the 18th century. It was taken from the Anno Mundi or "In the Year of the World", which was first implemented in the 17th century by Bishop James Ussher. The masonic date is found by adding 4004 (or the rounded form 4000) onto the current year and this is seen on certificates.

Other orders use their own dating system such as the RCC (Anno Ordinis -The Year of our Order (subtracting 312) or the KT (subtracting 1118) as both dates are AD).

What was his background and should we still use this woefully in correct figure?

Bishop Ussher lived through momentous times, having been born during the reign of Elizabeth and dying, in 1656, under Cromwell. He was a talented fast-track scholar who entered Trinity College in Dublin at the early age of thirteen, became an ordained priest by the age of twenty, and a professor at Trinity by twenty-seven. In 1625, Ussher became the head of the AngloIrish Church in Ireland.

As a Protestant bishop in a Catholic land, Ussher’s obsession with providing an accurate Biblical history stemmed from a desire to establish the superiority of the scholarship practiced by the clergy of his reformed faith over that of the Jesuits, the resolutely intellectual Roman Catholic order. (Ussher had absolutely nothing good to say about “papists” and their “superstitious” faith and “erroneous” doctrine.) Ussher committed himself to establishing a date for Creation that could withstand any challenge. He located and studied thousands of ancient books and manuscripts, written in many different languages. By the time of his death, he had amassed a library of over 10,000 volumes.

The date forever tied to Bishop Ussher appears in the first paragraph of the first page of The Annals. Ussher wrote “In the beginning, God created heaven and earth, which beginning of time, according to this chronology, occurred at the beginning of the night

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which preceded the 23rd of October in the year 710 of the Julian period.” In the right margin of the page, Ussher computes the date in “Christian” time as 4004 B.C. Although Ussher brought stunning precision to his chronology, Christians for centuries had assumed a history roughly corresponding to his. The Bible itself provides all the information necessary to conclude that Creation occurred less than 5,000 years before the birth of Christ. Shakespeare, in As You Like It, has his character Rosalind say, “The poor world is almost six thousand years old.” Martin Luther, the great reformer, favoured (liking the round number) 4000 B.C. as a date for creation. Astronomer Johannes Kepler concluded that 3992 B.C. was the probable date.

As palaeontologist Stephen Jay Gould points out in an essay on Ussher, the bishop’s calculation of the date of Creation fuelled much ridicule from scientists who pointed to him as “a symbol of ancient and benighted authoritarianism.” Few geology textbook writers resisted taking a satirical swing at Ussher in their introductions. How foolish, the authors suggested, to believe that the earth’s geologic and fossil history could be crammed into 6,000 years. Gould, while not defending the bishop’s chronology, notes that judged by the research traditions and assumptions of his time, Ussher deserves not criticism, but praise for his meticulousness. The questionable premise underlying Ussher’s work, of course, is that the Bible is inerrant.

Ussher began his calculation by adding the ages of the twenty-one generations of people of the Hebrew-derived Old Testament, beginning with Adam and Eve. If the Bible is to be believed, they were an exceptionally longlived lot. Genesis, for example, tells us that “Adam lived 930 years and he died.” Adam’s great-great-great-great-great-grandson, Methuselah, claimed the longevity record, coming in at 969 years. Healthier living conditions contributed, or so it was believed, to the

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Anno Lucis (ctd) long life spans of the early generations of the Bible. Josephus, a Jewish theologian writing in the first century, explained it this way “Their food was fitter for the prolongation of life… and besides, God afforded them a longer lifespan on account of their virtue.”

To calculate the length of time since Creation, knowledge of more than the ages of death of the twenty-one generations was required; one also needed to know the ages of people of each generation at the time the next generation began. Fortunately, the Bible provided that information as well. For example, Genesis says that at the time Adam gave birth to his first son, Seth, he had “lived 130 years.” Augustine (as might a lot of people) wondered how a 130-year-old man could sire a child. He concluded that “the earth then produced mightier men” and that they reached puberty much later than did people of his own generation.

The Old Testament’s genealogy took Ussher up to the first destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem during the reign of Persian king Nebuchadnezzar. Ussher’s key to precisely dating Creation came from pinning down, by references in non-Christian sources, the precise dates of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign. He finally found the answer in a list of Babylonian kings produced by the Greek astronomer Ptolemy in the second century. By connecting Greek events to Roman history, Ussher tied the date of Nebuchanezzar’s death (562 B.C.) to the modern Julian calendar. Once the date of 562 B.C. was calculated, there remained only the simple matter of adding 562 years to the 3,442 years represented by the generations of the Old Testament up to that time: 4004.

date that corresponded with the sun being at one of its four cardinal points—either the winter or summer solstice or the vernal or autumnal equinox. This view sprang from the belief that God had a special interest in mathematical and astronomical harmony. The deciding factor for Ussher came from Genesis. When Adam and Eve found themselves in the Garden of Eden, the fruit was invitingly ripe. Ussher reasoned, therefore, that it must have been harvest time, which corresponded with the autumnal equinox: “I have observed that the Sunday, which in the year [4004 B.C.] aforesaid, came nearest the Autumnal Equinox, by Astronomical Tables, happened upon the 23rd day of the Julian October.”

It is now generally agreed that the earth is 4.54 billion years old which is significant different from Ussher’s estimate. Therefore, should the Craft continue to use this dating system which is wrong or keep it as part tradition?

The year of Light represents the symbolic moment that light came into the world at its creation. As found in Genesis 1:3 KJV, “And God Said,” Let there be light: and there was light.” In the early days of the Grand Lodge of England, when they started using Anno Lucis it was sometimes referred to as in the year of Masonry and so perhaps it makes sense from that point, but the error should be explained to any brother who enquires.

Ussher next turned his attention to identifying the precise date of Creation. Like many of his contemporary scholars, he assumed that God would choose to create the world on a

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Certificate from 1819

Paper certificate of membership into the Order of the Temple (Knights Templar) issued to John Coulter by Laughaughery Lodge No. 109, Ireland, 1819. As was a frequent custom of the times (and by design), attached to the Craft lodges were Royal Arch chapters and Knights Templar preceptories.

The certificate is decorated with depictions of a royal arch, square and compasses, skull and crossed bones, plumb, level, and other Masonic symbols. Three seals corresponding to the Craft lodge, Royal Arch degree, and Knights Templar are stamped with ink upon the certificate. Three ribbons of blue (Craft), red (Holy Royal Arch), and black (Knights Templar) are woven into the certificate on the left side. What is left of a wax seal covers a portion of the three ribbons.

Thanks to the Henry Coil Library & Museum in San Francisco.

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Lodge Crawfordsburn No.1121

A brief history of the lodge can be read on the link. Sadly the building was vacated and the lodge moved to Lodge 175 and now meet in the Masonic Club in Kelly Street on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays (ex May to August).

Where is this?

This lovely mural from last month can be viewed in Lodge St. George No.503 in Helensburgh.

The mural displays some of Helensburgh's churches with the winding stair leading from the lodge building and apparently it was painted by a PM. The lodge meets every 2nd and 4th Monday (except the summer) and visitors are always welcome.

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“Getting Faither to the Lodge” He doesn’t visit the Lodge as much as he’d like to these days but having given my sister and me (who he still considers as his children despite our having reached middle-age) an undertaking that he wouldn’t drive after dark following an unfortunate accident where he’d written off his car on the way to a Royal Arch Meeting, he has to depend on others to get him there.

When we arrive, he is warmly welcomed by the Office-Bearers in charge of the booksigning. He is acknowledged by name by several Brethren (some of whom he doesn’t recognise and asks me ‘who wis that’? when they’ve moved on.)

Some of the older brethren are well known to him, one or two from his schooldays, others from his working life. He adjusts his hearing It hasn’t been easy: my having a busy work aid to the background sound levels and then schedule, and duties in other Orders, but to- has to grab at it when the round of applause day, circumstances have created the oppor- for the visitors suddenly deafens him. tunity for me to take him to our Mother Lodge.

He pays due attention to the floor work, nudging me in the ribs and smiling when he’s It starts at lunch-time with the phone call particularly pleased with the Office-Bearer ‘when will you be pickin’ me up tonight? It delivering the ritual, and ‘tuts’ quietly when will be very busy see-in’ it’s a Third. You a visiting Brother makes what he thinks is an know I like to sit on the back benches and over-long oration when the floor has been we need to get down there in plenty of time.’ left open. When the collection is announced, he draws a handful of change from his pockI assure him that unless there’s an emergen- et and asks me ‘whit wan is the pound?’ (his cy at work, I’ll be at his house with enough glasses are still in his jaicket pocket.) time to spare. When I arrive, he’s ready, with the classic apparel of an octogenarian wid- After the meeting is over, we go upstairs for ower: the clip-on tie, and the shoes with the a cup of tea and a sandwich. His night is Velcro fasteners. Before he can leave, he has made when a Past Master takes the time to to ensure that every light in the house is come over to speak to him. Soon after he switched off and the blinds are drawn. says ‘it’s time we went hame: you’ve yer work in the mornin’.

It’s around four years since he was presented with his 50 year Membership Certificate. I drive him home and see he’s safely enHe is immensely proud of it but was delight- sconced. His first move is to dial 1471 in ed when the RWM readily agreed to present case anybody important has phoned while him with it privately in the Committee he was out. I say my goodbyes and his partRooms rather than in open Lodge. He worked ing words are ‘tell Jean I wis asking for her. hard at a manual job all his life until his early Will ye be up here for the fitba on Saturday?’

70s when a slight stroke meant him having to give up his self-employed contracting It’s nearly two decades since he passed to business. He will proudly tell anybody who Grand Lodge above but I still feel his hand asks that the only benefit he’s ever had from on my shoulder most days. being in the Craft all these years is Fellowship, Friendship, Harmony and good compa- My thanks to Bro. JFC ny. These rewards have been more than enough for him. He has never sought, nor PS Faither is a Scottish dialect for father! wanted an Office in our Lodge.

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Bits & Pieces A set of miniatures for a Chapter & Cryptic Council as well as a Lodge & Council. The cryptic jewel is for a PTIM, the red on the Excellent Master suggests a PZ but then why not a red ribbon on the RA jewel? The Lodge & Council seems to be a member & not through a chair.

Below are the token and jewel from the Black Watch Degree team which travels about in BW tartan conferring a Scottish degree.

Freemasons’ Hall in London on Great Queen Street has an image depicting Enoch. The casket sits beneath a stained glass window and contains the Roll of Honour for the brethren who died in the First World War. The rae is known as the ‘shrine’ and sits at the heart of this art deco landmark that began life as the Masonic Peace Memorial.

Above right, the gates from a Disney Park—clearly showing some kind of link. Although not a mason, Disney was a de Molay.

Right is an old photo of procession of brethren from Lodge Albert Lochee No. 448 in Dundee about the early 20th C.

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Spiritual Alchemy The second book in the series by Bro. Chris denly take on a new meaning.

Earnshaw is now reviewed.

At the same time as Freemasonry was growThe second degree of Freemasonry is essen- ing in England, so was the Royal Society, and tially an alchemical degree, which is intro- there was much cross-pollination between the duced in this book “Freemasonry: Spiritual two. Many of the first Grand Masters were Alchemy.” Alchemy had been discovered by presidents of the Royal Society, and vicethe Chinese around 500BC, and they quickly versa, and because the Royal Society did not realized that transmuting lead into gold was have premises large enough to hold lectures, impossible, however they also discovered that the Society’s lectures were often held in Lodgit was possible to affect a spiritual transfor- es. However, there was friction as scientists mation in man. This story travwere thought to be atheists, and elled along the Silk Road to Euin the same way in the early days rope and also by Arab traders into Freemasons were also thought to the Middle East, where people be Deists. The growth of the Royal continued to try to make gold.

Society and the organization of With the Moorish invasion of Natural Philosophy into orgaSpain followed by the Reconquista nized sciences led to the demise in 1492, after 700 years of Moorof the practice of alchemy, which ish rule, the secrets of alchemy was then thought to be a disciarrived in northern Europe and pline inhabited by “mystics and eventually England. superstitious fools.” At the same time, Freemasonry rewrote the The secrets of alchemy were rituals of Operative Masons to indeemed to be too valuable for the corporate alchemical secrets for a hoi polloi so they were encrypted, often using certain reason. This is explained in this book, steganography. In this second book in the se- which follows on from the “initiation by light,” ries, the second degree is analyzed for its al- and the Mason takes a further step forward in chemical input, especially in relation to three his ultimate perfection. important alchemical texts. This book explains that the monitor, cipher, which is used Twenty-five Signposts show that there is even in lodge is in fact a more complicated cipher more for the Mason to discover than “a peculithan meets the eye, with important alchemical ar system of morality,” and discovering these lessons hidden in it. The symbolism used in is the start of the quest, that is completed in the degree and even on the aprons of the de- the Third Degree. gree when analyzed in terms of alchemy sudChristopher J. Earnshaw PhD 33° is a British Citizen living in Tokyo and author of the “Spiritual Freemasonry” books. He is a Past Grand Historian, Grand Lodge of Japan, Past Master of the Research Lodge, Grand Lodge of Japan, Scottish Rite 33° IGH, Past-Chairman of Education Committee, recipient of the Order of Merit, Grand Lodge of Japan, for educational activities and a Past Master of Sinim Lodge, Grand Lodge of Massachusetts.

Social Media Links: Spiritual Freemasonry videos: http://youtube.com/c/spiritualfreemasonry Twitter: @AuthorEarnshaw: https://twitter.com/AuthorEarnshaw Podcasts: Freemasonry in 7 Minutes or Less: https://anchor.fm/earnshaw-christopher Website: http://chris-earnshaw.com

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The Masonic Journey Why did you become a Freemason, from the very start?

Did you hear good reports, and wished to take a part?

Like joining in the fellowship and to help with Lodge charity.

There’s nothing like the Craft, to embrace solidarity.

We need honest men to act as mentors today, To guide the new initiates, and lead them on the way.

To lead by example, that’s the only way to go.

With the mentors’ guidance, watch the new member grow.

When he finally reaches that coveted Chair, He won’t be ruling on a wing and a prayer.

He’ll rule with confidence, and moral determination, And maintain that attitude throughout his tenure duration.

One year in the Chair, sometimes, is not long enough, To get through all of the degree stuff, that’s been learned and planned for weeks on end, but it really hasn’t been a waste of time to spend, because it won’t be long when the opportunity arises, to take that Chair again; Masonry is full of surprises.

A proclamation may occur, you never know.

Then he must carry on and go with the flow.

When he finally moves aside to the PM’s chair, proudly achieving his goals, well knowing; he’s on the square. ~ Cactus 2021 Thanks to Bro. Al Williams PM Continuity Lodge No.242 in Australia.

Valletta Masonic Hall Comparatively little is known about previous occupants of the hall, but according to the rent books it was let from 1767 to 1754 to the Commander Fra. Alberto Mirelli and from 1784 to 1798 to Conventual Chaplain Fra. Giovanni Domenico Barbaro.

The Maltese Government rent books show that from 1879 to 1901 the house was the Malta Headquarters of the Eastern Telegraphy Co. After remaining vacant for six years it was leased in 1907 by Bro. A.M. Macfarlane Grand Master for 25 years as a Masonic Hall, and has been in use as such ever since. Except for a short period during World War II when it was badly damaged by enemy action.

By a Deed signed on 16th July 1952 the Masonic Hall Committee now holds 6 - 7 Marsamxett Street for 99 years.

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Obituary in Glasgow’s Masonic News, 1873

To submit an article or want added to the mail list or Facebook group, contact the Editor, Grant Macleod: E-Mail:

sec242pm@yahoo.co.uk

Website: http://lodge242.bravesites.com/

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God Save the King

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