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Article FREEMASONRY IN GLASGOW. ← Page 6 of 10 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasonry In Glasgow.
King of Scotland , and in the thirteenth year of his reign , was present on the auspicious occasion , and commemorated the event by a free gift of the rich lands of '" ' Perdyck "—the Particle of modern days . There is no reason to doubt that the masonic fraternity was employed in the construction of the new church , both because , as we before observed , such was the practice of the time—and because the Lodge of Glasgow had obtained a charter from Malcolm the Thirdmore than half a
cen-, tury before it was begun , and had long before been engaged on its predecessor . This ancient charter is still in possession of the lodge , called also the " Freemen . St . John ' s . " It had been missing fcr some time , but was fortunately discovered about the beginning of the present century , among a quantity of old parchments and papers of little importance , in a neglected charter chest belonging to the incorporation of Masons . Although
a good deal injured and defaced by time and rough usage , on being submitted to the inspection of a competent person familiar with the deciphering of antiquarian writings , its entire meaning was clearly made out , and a translation furnished ; not , as is much to be regretted , in precise and literal terms , but with perfect fidelity as to the spirit . One or two mistakes there are , either of the original translator , or not less probably of subsequent transcriberswhich we had an opportunity of
, correcting by reference to the original . It is dated the year 1057—the very year of Malcolm Canmore ' s return to Scotland , and after the usual introductory greeting sets forth that " Whereas our trusty and wellbeloveu friends , the operative masons of the city of Glasgow , hath by their petition humbly represented to us , that the inhabitants of that city
have been imposed upon by a number of unskilled and insufficient workmen , that have come to work at our cathedral and other parts of the city , and also have erected lodges contrary to the rules of Masonry -. and being desirous of putting a stop to such unskilled and irregular brothers , most humbly prays us to grant them our royal licence and protection for stopping such irregular disorders , and we , being willing to give all due encouragement to so reasonable a petition , are graciously pleased to
condescend to their request , " & c . Besides certain clauses conveying exclusive incorporated privileges , it contains the following " Item—that the Free Incorporated Masons of Glasgow shall have a lodge for ever at the city of Glasgow , and none in my dominions shall erect a lodge until they make application to St . John ' s Lodge , and they considering their petition , and examine their character and behaviour , grant them a charter , conform to their regulations , " concluding with a strict charge and command
— " that none take in hand any way to disturb the free operative masons from being Incorporated Freemen , or to have a free lodge , to take away their good name or possession , or to harass or do any injury to any Freemasons and practitioners , under the pain of my highest displeasure , " & c . To what extent the Lodge of Glasgow may have exercised their privileges beyond their own immediate district , we have now no means of ascertaining , but we learn from the terms of the application made by the
" Wrights" about the close of the sixteenth century for distinct letters of deaconry within the Burgh of Glasgow , that previous to that time all or at least most of the crafts were under the jurisdiction of the masons . The word " Wright , " it may not be unnecessary to observe , is a generic term applied to workers in wood , in Scotland , as carpenters , joiners , boatwrights , sawyers , bowyers , & c . From the time of David the First , the see of Glasgow rose rapidly in
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasonry In Glasgow.
King of Scotland , and in the thirteenth year of his reign , was present on the auspicious occasion , and commemorated the event by a free gift of the rich lands of '" ' Perdyck "—the Particle of modern days . There is no reason to doubt that the masonic fraternity was employed in the construction of the new church , both because , as we before observed , such was the practice of the time—and because the Lodge of Glasgow had obtained a charter from Malcolm the Thirdmore than half a
cen-, tury before it was begun , and had long before been engaged on its predecessor . This ancient charter is still in possession of the lodge , called also the " Freemen . St . John ' s . " It had been missing fcr some time , but was fortunately discovered about the beginning of the present century , among a quantity of old parchments and papers of little importance , in a neglected charter chest belonging to the incorporation of Masons . Although
a good deal injured and defaced by time and rough usage , on being submitted to the inspection of a competent person familiar with the deciphering of antiquarian writings , its entire meaning was clearly made out , and a translation furnished ; not , as is much to be regretted , in precise and literal terms , but with perfect fidelity as to the spirit . One or two mistakes there are , either of the original translator , or not less probably of subsequent transcriberswhich we had an opportunity of
, correcting by reference to the original . It is dated the year 1057—the very year of Malcolm Canmore ' s return to Scotland , and after the usual introductory greeting sets forth that " Whereas our trusty and wellbeloveu friends , the operative masons of the city of Glasgow , hath by their petition humbly represented to us , that the inhabitants of that city
have been imposed upon by a number of unskilled and insufficient workmen , that have come to work at our cathedral and other parts of the city , and also have erected lodges contrary to the rules of Masonry -. and being desirous of putting a stop to such unskilled and irregular brothers , most humbly prays us to grant them our royal licence and protection for stopping such irregular disorders , and we , being willing to give all due encouragement to so reasonable a petition , are graciously pleased to
condescend to their request , " & c . Besides certain clauses conveying exclusive incorporated privileges , it contains the following " Item—that the Free Incorporated Masons of Glasgow shall have a lodge for ever at the city of Glasgow , and none in my dominions shall erect a lodge until they make application to St . John ' s Lodge , and they considering their petition , and examine their character and behaviour , grant them a charter , conform to their regulations , " concluding with a strict charge and command
— " that none take in hand any way to disturb the free operative masons from being Incorporated Freemen , or to have a free lodge , to take away their good name or possession , or to harass or do any injury to any Freemasons and practitioners , under the pain of my highest displeasure , " & c . To what extent the Lodge of Glasgow may have exercised their privileges beyond their own immediate district , we have now no means of ascertaining , but we learn from the terms of the application made by the
" Wrights" about the close of the sixteenth century for distinct letters of deaconry within the Burgh of Glasgow , that previous to that time all or at least most of the crafts were under the jurisdiction of the masons . The word " Wright , " it may not be unnecessary to observe , is a generic term applied to workers in wood , in Scotland , as carpenters , joiners , boatwrights , sawyers , bowyers , & c . From the time of David the First , the see of Glasgow rose rapidly in