The Records Of An Ancient Lodge.

In connection with the mort cloth , mentioned previcnsly , we find the following resolution engrossed on page 53 , after the minutes for 1710 : — " . It is voted and consended that a mort cloth be gote and that the boxe masters he oblided to funish it at the compnnis plisor . Richard Mein John mein James mein Thomas Bunyie John Park David wnies John Bounyie John Mein J . Wilson John Halswall John Meser Robert Pringle

Thos Witharpe . " On page 61 there is the following , amongst other entries : — " Memorandum ther was a quart of aile payd out on Candlmase day when the gloues was gotten . " In order to put affairs on a more satisfactory basis , the following resolution concerning the entry money and fees was adopted in 1711 : —

" The company being mette on the twenty seven day of desember on thousand seven hundred and eleven years and votted and consended that the entrie of the prontises be dist and reported so many to go on a comety and consider what the entrie shall be , the comety is Richart Mein meson in Eldon John Meson , meson in Nc ' wstid , John mein meson in Selkirk , John mein meson in Elsudin and they have modified the entrie to be eight pond scots mony and reports all that have tickets in the boxe agan the terine of llaroes next to com that they bring the half of their tiekite again that day and they are to be alloued three pond off the half that remaine but if they bring not in those tticke shall Loos there part of that three

pond and likwis shall pay the halle contind in there thickit oxcpt those those that are meade this day and aponts all to subscribe this otherways los their three pond exeope niehol commeson in Eldon and James Ladle meson in newtoun and James bingy meson in newstid and that beeauso they com in easir than the rest niehol trnmel meson in hauik and they that have no tickts in the box are to have three pond alloned them .

Richard Mein John meser John pm-vis Thomas Bunye John bounyie William meser John mein James mein David Wnies Robert pringle William Aichison John Halwall Robert mein Williaam Robert Bunyie Andrew Mein — Scleater Andrew Mein John Bunyie Robert bnnyie James Willson Thomas Williamsone . " Upon page 69 , after the usual list of members whose tickets have been put into the box on the 27 th of December , 1715 , we find the following notes : — " All counts being cleired this year one thousand seven hundred and fiften the rests of

monie in the Box . the soume of four ponnd ten schelien and ten penies Item mor nein schelien ' put in the for said day . As also from Robert Turnbull six pound sevin shilling four pennies scotts money Item more for tallow on pound for shilling For sheeps skins seventein shiiling four pennies For the in meat of the sheep ten shilling Scotts

Depursments Item to James Meser three pound eighteen shilling As also on ponnd four shilling to Michell fisher As also eight shilling Scotts for stamped paper Item to John Meser seven pounds seotts for twa sheep Item for ale that day the twa men in bowden was hear eighteen shilling Scotts more for shilling for ale at the salting of the flesh . "

It would seem from the above minute that the brethren prepared for the feast of St John some time beforehand , purchasing sheep ancl salting the flesh for the purpose of keeping it ; the consumption of ale on the occasion seems a very natural one . There is nothing of any importance or interest recorded in the minutes for some time , and we do not find anything worth y of extraction till we come to the following : — " Newstecd Docemr the 27 day 1738

Andrew Pringle wairden senior John Mercer and Andrew Mein boxmaster , of the lodge of Melrose has enacted and hereby enacts that in al time comeing that every person that shall be entrid in our loodge or pass in our loodge shall pay in readie money the soume of eight pounds scotts for entry and four pounds ten shillings scotts money for passing . We or our succesors in office shall have it in our pom- succesors in office with concent of the pluralitie of the whole Members to take bills for the soums above cendecended on payable that day twelmonth they are granted and it shall be likewise in the power of the three above named persons their succesors in office with consent of the plurality of the Remanent Members of the said lodge to renew their bills as they shall think proper Andrew Pringle , John Mercer , Andrew Mein , "