Old Records Of The Lodge Of Peebles.

Minute of 28 th November , 1800 , refers to the leasing of the stable belonging to the Lodge , which was remitted to St . John ' s Day meeting to decide . At said meeting it was unanimously agreed to have a dinner on St . John ' s Day , " and Brother-Morton being present agrees to furnish the Dinner at one shilling a headand there is hereby warranted to him the number of forty , and

, the present Stewards are requested to provide the Rum and Sugar for the Punch that evening , and to charge the Brcthen for the same in proportion to the expense it costs . The Secretary is requested to write cards to tho country members as usual . "

Tho next minute is that of St . John ' s Day , 27 th December , 1800 , when Bro . Thos . Grieve is re-elected Master . January 10 th , 1801 , is the annual meeting for examining the Treasurer ' s accounts , which shows : Income , £ 50 5 s . lfd . ; Expenditure , £ 26 lis . 9 | d . ; Balance in Treasurer ' s hands of £ 23 13 s . 3 | -d . April 28 th , 1801 . The following minute has reference to an application to

Grand Lodge on behalf of the widow of Thomas Stoddart , a deceased Brother , when Grand Lodgo , in compliance with said petition , allowed her one guinea , which was duly acknowledged in receipt signed by " Isabel Stodart . " Peebles , 28 th December , 1801 . The usual St . John ' s Day meeting . Bro . John Veitch is elected Master . January 23 rd , 1802 . After taking an inventory of the articles belonging

to the lodge , but which are not enumerated , the books , etc ., are examined , and the funds are as follows : Income , £ 55 10 s 4 § d . ; Expenditure , £ 12 17 s . Ojd . '; Balance in hand , £ 42 13 s . 4 | d . At this meeting " It was moved by Brother Alex . Murray Bartram , seconded and agreed to , that in future the whole office Bearers should appear at all meetings with their sashes and medals or badge of office , and take their respective situations in the Lodge accordingly . "

The next is a long mmuto of proceedings of the Lodge in connection with other corporations in Peebles towards the providing of mortcloaths to be used ' in covering the coffins at funerals .. These coverings were in use in Scotland even at an earlier date . The custodiers of them were generally the corporations and Kirk Sessions . In D . Murray Lyon ' s " History of Freemasonry , " page 408 , we find reference to this subject taken from the Atcheson ' s Haven Records , where it is said the Masones of that lodge " bought from the seamen of

Fisherrow , Robert Gardner and William Hempferd , the sellers , ane velvett mortcloath with ane j > ock ( bag ) for the use of sds Masons and their successors , & c . & c . " We notice also that the brethren now stylo themselves the Members of Peebles Kilwinning Lodge and Friendly Society . The minute is as follows : —•

" 30 th August , 1802—We , the under subscribers , Members of Peebles Kilwinning Lodge and Friendly Society thereof anxious to join the other Corporations and Societys in Peebles for providing a mortcloath or mortcloaths for the use and behoof of said Societys are willing to contribute and pay for the purchase of said mortcloaths under such rules and regulations as the other Corporations and Societies shall think most meet and proper . "JOHN VEITCH , Mr . "

Follows a list of nineteen names each subscribing 3 s ., and the Master , James Bartram , Sec , and James Grieve were appointed a Committee to wait upon the Committees and Societys in the town of Peebles on Friday next the third day of September and report . The other corporations and societies were the " Weavers , the Hammermen , the Tailors and the Shoemakers . " The following are the minutes of the

Committee of Delegates : — " Peebles , 3 d Sepr ., 1802 . " The Committee being mett , along with Messrs . James Bartram , John Veitch , and James Grieve , delegates from the Masson Society , when by the