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Article MASONRY IN SCOTLAND. Page 1 of 1 Article MASONRY IN SCOTLAND. Page 1 of 1 Article MASONRY IN SCOTLAND. Page 1 of 1 Article THE PARIS FREEMASONS. Page 1 of 2 →
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Masonry In Scotland.
MASONRY IN SCOTLAND .
Since my last communication I have been engaged looking over the Grand Lodge Laws of Scotland for the years 18 3 6 and 1848 , copies of which , I believe , are rather scarce . The one of 1836 gives the laws and regulations pretty much as they are at present ; that of 1848 not only
gives a lengthy introduction , but a copious appendix , containing , among others , copies of charters granted to Sir William St . Clair , of Roslin , by the Masons of Scotland about 1628 , and by William Schaw , Master of Works to King James VI ., from 1584 to 1602 . As I do
not remember ever to have seen any detailed account of him in THE FREEMASON , and as his name is so intimately connected with the Freemasonry of Scotland , a few particulars regarding him may not be out of place , taking it as I do without any comment from Appendix 2 , No . 2 .
William Schaw was born in the year 1550 , and was probably a son of Schaw of Sauchie , in the shire of Clackmannon . He appears from an early period of life to have been connected with the Royal household . In proof of this we may refer to his signature attached to the original
parchment deed ofthe National Covenant , which was signed by King James VI . and his household at the Palace of Holyrood , 28 th of January , i £ 8 o-i . In 1584 Schaw became successor to Sir Robert Drummond , of Carnock , as Master of Works . This high appointment placed
under his superintendence all the royal buildings and palaces in Scotland ; and in the Treasurer's accounts of a subsequent period various sums are entered as having been paid to him in connection with these buildings for improvements , repairs , and additions . Thus , in September
, 1585 , the sum of ^ 315 was paid "to William Schaw , his Mafastie ' s Maister of Wark , for the reparation and mending of the Castell of Stinerling , " and in May , 1590 , . £ 400 , by his Majesty's precept , was " delyverit to William Schaw , the Maister of Wark , for reparation of the hous of
Dumfemling , befoir the Queen ' s Majestic passing thairto . " Sir James Melville , in his memoirs , mentions that , being appointed to receive the three Danish Ambassadors who came to the country in 1585 ( with overtures for an alliance with one of the daughters of
Frederick IL ) , he requested the king that two other persons might be joined with him , and for this purpose he named Schaw and James Meldrum of Seggie , one of the Lords of Session . It further appears that Schaw had been employed in various missions to France . We know also
that he accompanied James VI . to Denmark in the winter of 1589 , previous to the King's marriage with the Princess Anna of Denmark . The marriage was celebrated by David Lyndesay , Minister of Leith , at Upslo in Norway , on the 23 rd of November , and on the following morning
the King , as " a morrowing gift , " granted to the Queen ' s Grace the Lordship of Dumfermline and other lands in Scotland . The King and his attendants remained during the winter season in Denmark . Schaw returned to this country on the 16 th of March , 1589-90 , for the purpose of
making the necessary arrangements for the reception of the wedding party . This we learn from David Moysic , one of the clerks of Privy Council , whose memoirs furnish some minute and interesting particulars of occurrences at that time . He says : " About the 16 th day of March
William Schaw , Maister of Wark , came from the King out of Denmark with direction to cause the schippis the Burrowis had appoynted mak out for bringing his majestic homeward to outred ( prepare ) the Abbey ( of Holyroodhouse ) , and to have all thingis in readiness for his majestie's
hame-cumming quhilk sulci be in Apryle nixt , schewing also that the Queue was with bairne , and that the King and his company had been Weill entertained . " Schaw brought with him a paper subscribed by the King , containing the " Ordour set down be his Majestic to be effectual be his
Hienes Secreit Counsall , and preparit agane his Majestie ' s retume in Scotland , " dated in February , 1589-90 . The King and his royal bride arrived in Leith on the 1 st of May , and remained there six days in a building called " The King ' s Work , " until the Palace of Holy-
Masonry In Scotland.
rood was prepared for their reception . Extensive alterations had evidently been made at this time at Holyrood as a warrant was issued by the Provost and Council of Edinburgh to deliver to William Schaw , Maister of Wark , the sum of ; £ i , ooo , " rest and of the last taxation of
^ 20 , 000 " granted by the lloyal Buroughs in Scotland , the sum to be expended " in biggin and repairing of his Hienes Palice of Halyrudhouse , " 14 th March , 1589-90 . Subsequent payments to Schaw occur in the Treasurer's accounts for broad scarlet cloth and other stuff , for " burde
claythes and coverings to forms and windows layth in the Kirk and Palace of Halyrudhouse . " On this occasion various sums were also paid by a precept from the King for dresses , & c , to the ministers and others connected with the royal household " to buy thame cleithing the tyme of
his darrest bed-fellowis marrage and coronation . " On this occasion we find William Schaw Maister of Wark , received ^ 133 6 s . 8 d . The Queen was crowned on the 17 th of May , and two days following she made her first public entrance into Edinburgh . The inscription on Schaw's
monument states that he was , in addition to his office of Master of the Works , " Sacris ceremoniis propositus" and "Reginse Quaestor , " which Monteith has translated " Sacrist and Queen's Chamberlain . " This appointment of
Chamberlain evinces the high regard in which the Queen held him ; but there can be no doubt that the former words relate to his holding the distinguished office of General Warden of the ceremonies of the Masonic Craft , an office analogous to that of Substitute Grand Master as now
existing . It may also be proper to state that we must not confound him with his namesake , William Schaw , his Majesty ' s Master Stabler , who , along with his brother , Mr . Peter Schaw , was slain in the tumult , in the Palace of Holyrood , occasioned by Francis , Earl of Bothwell
on the 27 th of December , 1591 . The King , we are told , made an oration the following day in St . Giles' Kirk " anent the fray and William Schaw ' s slaughter . " Neither is he to be indentified with another person of the same name who was struck through the body with a rapier by
Francis Mowbray , son of the Lord of Barnbough , in April , 1596 . William Schaw died at the age of 52 in 1602 , and was buried in the Abbey Church of Dumfermline , where a handsome monument was erected to his memory by Queen Anna with the following inscription ( his name and monogram cut in a marble slab , which ,
tradition says , was executed by his own hand , and containing his mason's mark , is shown on the work this is taken from ) in Latin , by Alexander Seton , afterwards Earl of Dumfermling and Lord Chancellor of Scotland , who died in April , 1627 , aged 67 . A translation by Robert Monteith , Edinburgh , in " The Theatre of Mortality , " in 1713 , is as follows : —
" To His Most Intimate Friend , ' WILLIAM SCHAW . " Live with the Gods , thou worthy , live for ever , From this laborious life death now doth thee deliver . ALEXANDER SETON , D . F . " This small structure of stone covers a man of excellent skill , notable probity , singular integrity of life , adorned with greatest virtues , William Schaw ,
Master of the King ' s Works , Sacrist , and the Queen ' s Chamberlain . He died as above . Among the living he dwelt 52 years ; he had travelled France and many other kingdoms for improvement of his mind . He wanted no liberal art or science j was most skilful in architecture . He was early
recommended to great persons for the singular gifts of his mind . He was not only unwearied with labours and business , and insuperable , but daily strenuous and strong . He was most dear to every good man who knew him ; he was born to do good offices , and thereby to gain the hearts of men , now
he lives eternally with God . " Queen Anna caused this monument to be erected to the memory of this most excellent and most upright man , lest his virtues , which deserve eternal commendation , should fail or decay by the death or mortality of his body . "
I intend , as soon as time permits , to give a verb , et lit . copy of "The Statutis and Ordinances to obseruit by all Maister Massounis within this Realme , " as prepared by William Schaw in the year 1598 , Master of the Works to King Tames the VI ., which curious document
Masonry In Scotland.
has been printed from the original , bearing William Schaw ' s signature , contained in the records of the Lodge , of Edinburgh , . now called the Lodge of Edinburgh Mary ' s Chapel . I am not aware that it has ever been given at length
before ; if such should be the case , perhaps some brother will kindly inform , for although a good story cannot be too often told , still it is not necessary when the space can be better filled in the pages of THE FREEMASON .
C . J . FORSYTH . Dunoon , May 12 th , 1871 .
The Paris Freemasons.
THE PARIS FREEMASONS .
The following letter recently appeared in the columns ofthe Gloucester journal ;—( To the Editor of the Gloucester Journal !) " Dear Sir , —I enjoyed the friendship of the late Rev . Canon Calderbank , of this city , and had a long evening with him on the night of his lamented
decease . Some of the more pleasant hours of my life have been spent in the society of Catholic priests , and six years ago , when on a holiday visit to Paris , I saw and conversed with ecclesiastics of that church . A facetious Catholic invariably introduced me as ' a heretic and a Freemason . '
Avoiding religious discussion , and indeed , which was never courted on either side , I found other and congenial subjects on which to agree . My Arminian belief was never in danger from such intercourse , nor do I give credence to that oft-repeated allegation against Catholics that they ' will compass land
and sea to make one proselyte . ' I had to submit certainly to some very hard hits against Freemasonry , and to quotations from the famous Allocution of the present Pope that the Craft is 'leagued together for the common ruin of religion and of human society . ' In France it was said that the
Catholic priesthood had not greater enemies than were to be found in the ranks of Freemasons . I could only reply that whatever the Craft might be in other countries , in England we knew naught of disaffection to legally constituted authority , and that the Catholics had not greater friends than were
to be found amongst English Freemasons , who taught and practised toleration to the fullest extent for all religious denominations so long as they did not run counter to the law of the realm . " That it was upon record that when , but a few years ago , a nobleman , at a Masonic assembly in
Ireland , took advantage of his position as president of the meeting to speak against the Catholic hierarchy , Masonic law and usage were pleaded against him , and the Grand Lodge in which he heldofficerequircdhim to make a public retractation . " It was alike honourable to the Craft and to his
Order that the noble delinquent candidly acknowledged the error of his ways , and promised not to repeat the offence . In my interviews with Catholic priests , it was known that I originated the' memorial to Bishop Hooper in this city , who suffered martyrdom at the hands of the Catholic church , and
that I was instrumental in the Freemasons laying the foundation-stone of the monument . I could but affirm that the Freemasons did not do this from any hostile feeling to the Roman Catholics , but as a protest against the cruelties of bygone times , and to testify in these days of toleration , in
the words of Goethe , that ' kindness is the golden chain by which the world is held together ; ' directing to persecute and condemn no one , but to love , succour , console and improve all . " Protestants have their ' Book of Martyrs , ' but if the history of nations were impartially written ,
all religions would be found blamcable . ' Let him that is without offence cast the first stone . ' Mary persecuted and put to death Protestants . Elizabeth was an intolerant bigot , and as a learned historian with no Catholic leanings , says , ' malignant' in her persecution of her Catholic and Protestant subjects .
The barbarities practised during the reign of the Virgin Queen were a dishonour to our common humanity . But I have been very recently reminded of old arguments adduced by me in defence of the Craft to which I belong , and I have been goodhumouredly taunted with the action taken by the
Freemasons in Paris , and of the assertion of Citoyen Allix , a member of the Commune , that ' the Commune of Paris puts in practice that which Freemasonry has long since affirmed , that the reconstruction ofthe Temple was certainly of this epoch—the re-organisation of labour . ' To this bathos I appeal to Masonic law , which inculcates ,
' A Mason is a peaceable subject to the civil powers wherever he resides or works , and is never to be concerned in plots and conspiracies against the peace and welfare of the nation . He is cheerfully to conform to every lawful authority , to uphold on every occasion the interests of the community , and zealously promoter the prosperity of his own country .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonry In Scotland.
MASONRY IN SCOTLAND .
Since my last communication I have been engaged looking over the Grand Lodge Laws of Scotland for the years 18 3 6 and 1848 , copies of which , I believe , are rather scarce . The one of 1836 gives the laws and regulations pretty much as they are at present ; that of 1848 not only
gives a lengthy introduction , but a copious appendix , containing , among others , copies of charters granted to Sir William St . Clair , of Roslin , by the Masons of Scotland about 1628 , and by William Schaw , Master of Works to King James VI ., from 1584 to 1602 . As I do
not remember ever to have seen any detailed account of him in THE FREEMASON , and as his name is so intimately connected with the Freemasonry of Scotland , a few particulars regarding him may not be out of place , taking it as I do without any comment from Appendix 2 , No . 2 .
William Schaw was born in the year 1550 , and was probably a son of Schaw of Sauchie , in the shire of Clackmannon . He appears from an early period of life to have been connected with the Royal household . In proof of this we may refer to his signature attached to the original
parchment deed ofthe National Covenant , which was signed by King James VI . and his household at the Palace of Holyrood , 28 th of January , i £ 8 o-i . In 1584 Schaw became successor to Sir Robert Drummond , of Carnock , as Master of Works . This high appointment placed
under his superintendence all the royal buildings and palaces in Scotland ; and in the Treasurer's accounts of a subsequent period various sums are entered as having been paid to him in connection with these buildings for improvements , repairs , and additions . Thus , in September
, 1585 , the sum of ^ 315 was paid "to William Schaw , his Mafastie ' s Maister of Wark , for the reparation and mending of the Castell of Stinerling , " and in May , 1590 , . £ 400 , by his Majesty's precept , was " delyverit to William Schaw , the Maister of Wark , for reparation of the hous of
Dumfemling , befoir the Queen ' s Majestic passing thairto . " Sir James Melville , in his memoirs , mentions that , being appointed to receive the three Danish Ambassadors who came to the country in 1585 ( with overtures for an alliance with one of the daughters of
Frederick IL ) , he requested the king that two other persons might be joined with him , and for this purpose he named Schaw and James Meldrum of Seggie , one of the Lords of Session . It further appears that Schaw had been employed in various missions to France . We know also
that he accompanied James VI . to Denmark in the winter of 1589 , previous to the King's marriage with the Princess Anna of Denmark . The marriage was celebrated by David Lyndesay , Minister of Leith , at Upslo in Norway , on the 23 rd of November , and on the following morning
the King , as " a morrowing gift , " granted to the Queen ' s Grace the Lordship of Dumfermline and other lands in Scotland . The King and his attendants remained during the winter season in Denmark . Schaw returned to this country on the 16 th of March , 1589-90 , for the purpose of
making the necessary arrangements for the reception of the wedding party . This we learn from David Moysic , one of the clerks of Privy Council , whose memoirs furnish some minute and interesting particulars of occurrences at that time . He says : " About the 16 th day of March
William Schaw , Maister of Wark , came from the King out of Denmark with direction to cause the schippis the Burrowis had appoynted mak out for bringing his majestic homeward to outred ( prepare ) the Abbey ( of Holyroodhouse ) , and to have all thingis in readiness for his majestie's
hame-cumming quhilk sulci be in Apryle nixt , schewing also that the Queue was with bairne , and that the King and his company had been Weill entertained . " Schaw brought with him a paper subscribed by the King , containing the " Ordour set down be his Majestic to be effectual be his
Hienes Secreit Counsall , and preparit agane his Majestie ' s retume in Scotland , " dated in February , 1589-90 . The King and his royal bride arrived in Leith on the 1 st of May , and remained there six days in a building called " The King ' s Work , " until the Palace of Holy-
Masonry In Scotland.
rood was prepared for their reception . Extensive alterations had evidently been made at this time at Holyrood as a warrant was issued by the Provost and Council of Edinburgh to deliver to William Schaw , Maister of Wark , the sum of ; £ i , ooo , " rest and of the last taxation of
^ 20 , 000 " granted by the lloyal Buroughs in Scotland , the sum to be expended " in biggin and repairing of his Hienes Palice of Halyrudhouse , " 14 th March , 1589-90 . Subsequent payments to Schaw occur in the Treasurer's accounts for broad scarlet cloth and other stuff , for " burde
claythes and coverings to forms and windows layth in the Kirk and Palace of Halyrudhouse . " On this occasion various sums were also paid by a precept from the King for dresses , & c , to the ministers and others connected with the royal household " to buy thame cleithing the tyme of
his darrest bed-fellowis marrage and coronation . " On this occasion we find William Schaw Maister of Wark , received ^ 133 6 s . 8 d . The Queen was crowned on the 17 th of May , and two days following she made her first public entrance into Edinburgh . The inscription on Schaw's
monument states that he was , in addition to his office of Master of the Works , " Sacris ceremoniis propositus" and "Reginse Quaestor , " which Monteith has translated " Sacrist and Queen's Chamberlain . " This appointment of
Chamberlain evinces the high regard in which the Queen held him ; but there can be no doubt that the former words relate to his holding the distinguished office of General Warden of the ceremonies of the Masonic Craft , an office analogous to that of Substitute Grand Master as now
existing . It may also be proper to state that we must not confound him with his namesake , William Schaw , his Majesty ' s Master Stabler , who , along with his brother , Mr . Peter Schaw , was slain in the tumult , in the Palace of Holyrood , occasioned by Francis , Earl of Bothwell
on the 27 th of December , 1591 . The King , we are told , made an oration the following day in St . Giles' Kirk " anent the fray and William Schaw ' s slaughter . " Neither is he to be indentified with another person of the same name who was struck through the body with a rapier by
Francis Mowbray , son of the Lord of Barnbough , in April , 1596 . William Schaw died at the age of 52 in 1602 , and was buried in the Abbey Church of Dumfermline , where a handsome monument was erected to his memory by Queen Anna with the following inscription ( his name and monogram cut in a marble slab , which ,
tradition says , was executed by his own hand , and containing his mason's mark , is shown on the work this is taken from ) in Latin , by Alexander Seton , afterwards Earl of Dumfermling and Lord Chancellor of Scotland , who died in April , 1627 , aged 67 . A translation by Robert Monteith , Edinburgh , in " The Theatre of Mortality , " in 1713 , is as follows : —
" To His Most Intimate Friend , ' WILLIAM SCHAW . " Live with the Gods , thou worthy , live for ever , From this laborious life death now doth thee deliver . ALEXANDER SETON , D . F . " This small structure of stone covers a man of excellent skill , notable probity , singular integrity of life , adorned with greatest virtues , William Schaw ,
Master of the King ' s Works , Sacrist , and the Queen ' s Chamberlain . He died as above . Among the living he dwelt 52 years ; he had travelled France and many other kingdoms for improvement of his mind . He wanted no liberal art or science j was most skilful in architecture . He was early
recommended to great persons for the singular gifts of his mind . He was not only unwearied with labours and business , and insuperable , but daily strenuous and strong . He was most dear to every good man who knew him ; he was born to do good offices , and thereby to gain the hearts of men , now
he lives eternally with God . " Queen Anna caused this monument to be erected to the memory of this most excellent and most upright man , lest his virtues , which deserve eternal commendation , should fail or decay by the death or mortality of his body . "
I intend , as soon as time permits , to give a verb , et lit . copy of "The Statutis and Ordinances to obseruit by all Maister Massounis within this Realme , " as prepared by William Schaw in the year 1598 , Master of the Works to King Tames the VI ., which curious document
Masonry In Scotland.
has been printed from the original , bearing William Schaw ' s signature , contained in the records of the Lodge , of Edinburgh , . now called the Lodge of Edinburgh Mary ' s Chapel . I am not aware that it has ever been given at length
before ; if such should be the case , perhaps some brother will kindly inform , for although a good story cannot be too often told , still it is not necessary when the space can be better filled in the pages of THE FREEMASON .
C . J . FORSYTH . Dunoon , May 12 th , 1871 .
The Paris Freemasons.
THE PARIS FREEMASONS .
The following letter recently appeared in the columns ofthe Gloucester journal ;—( To the Editor of the Gloucester Journal !) " Dear Sir , —I enjoyed the friendship of the late Rev . Canon Calderbank , of this city , and had a long evening with him on the night of his lamented
decease . Some of the more pleasant hours of my life have been spent in the society of Catholic priests , and six years ago , when on a holiday visit to Paris , I saw and conversed with ecclesiastics of that church . A facetious Catholic invariably introduced me as ' a heretic and a Freemason . '
Avoiding religious discussion , and indeed , which was never courted on either side , I found other and congenial subjects on which to agree . My Arminian belief was never in danger from such intercourse , nor do I give credence to that oft-repeated allegation against Catholics that they ' will compass land
and sea to make one proselyte . ' I had to submit certainly to some very hard hits against Freemasonry , and to quotations from the famous Allocution of the present Pope that the Craft is 'leagued together for the common ruin of religion and of human society . ' In France it was said that the
Catholic priesthood had not greater enemies than were to be found in the ranks of Freemasons . I could only reply that whatever the Craft might be in other countries , in England we knew naught of disaffection to legally constituted authority , and that the Catholics had not greater friends than were
to be found amongst English Freemasons , who taught and practised toleration to the fullest extent for all religious denominations so long as they did not run counter to the law of the realm . " That it was upon record that when , but a few years ago , a nobleman , at a Masonic assembly in
Ireland , took advantage of his position as president of the meeting to speak against the Catholic hierarchy , Masonic law and usage were pleaded against him , and the Grand Lodge in which he heldofficerequircdhim to make a public retractation . " It was alike honourable to the Craft and to his
Order that the noble delinquent candidly acknowledged the error of his ways , and promised not to repeat the offence . In my interviews with Catholic priests , it was known that I originated the' memorial to Bishop Hooper in this city , who suffered martyrdom at the hands of the Catholic church , and
that I was instrumental in the Freemasons laying the foundation-stone of the monument . I could but affirm that the Freemasons did not do this from any hostile feeling to the Roman Catholics , but as a protest against the cruelties of bygone times , and to testify in these days of toleration , in
the words of Goethe , that ' kindness is the golden chain by which the world is held together ; ' directing to persecute and condemn no one , but to love , succour , console and improve all . " Protestants have their ' Book of Martyrs , ' but if the history of nations were impartially written ,
all religions would be found blamcable . ' Let him that is without offence cast the first stone . ' Mary persecuted and put to death Protestants . Elizabeth was an intolerant bigot , and as a learned historian with no Catholic leanings , says , ' malignant' in her persecution of her Catholic and Protestant subjects .
The barbarities practised during the reign of the Virgin Queen were a dishonour to our common humanity . But I have been very recently reminded of old arguments adduced by me in defence of the Craft to which I belong , and I have been goodhumouredly taunted with the action taken by the
Freemasons in Paris , and of the assertion of Citoyen Allix , a member of the Commune , that ' the Commune of Paris puts in practice that which Freemasonry has long since affirmed , that the reconstruction ofthe Temple was certainly of this epoch—the re-organisation of labour . ' To this bathos I appeal to Masonic law , which inculcates ,
' A Mason is a peaceable subject to the civil powers wherever he resides or works , and is never to be concerned in plots and conspiracies against the peace and welfare of the nation . He is cheerfully to conform to every lawful authority , to uphold on every occasion the interests of the community , and zealously promoter the prosperity of his own country .