Freemasonry In Kelso.

" TO THE SHADE or THOMSON THE POET . " While Winter rages , girt with icy chains , And shakes his dril ' ty locks o'or moor and dale ; Whilo cheering Spring shall decorate our plains , And opening buds adorn the lovely vale ; "While Summer flings hor odours all around ,

And Nature's choirs pour forth their tuneful voice j While yellow Autumn loads the fertile grouud , Ancl makes the thankless sons of men rejoice , — So long , departed Bard ! thy page will shine ; So long thy name to Scotia shall be dear ; So long shall genius at thy sacred shrine Pay to thy urn the tribute of a tear . The weight of years this monument will stain , None from the spoils of Time can it secure ; But Thomson ' s name immortal will remain , While Seasons roll and sun aud moon endure .

Concerning Tweed Loclge we find in the minutes nothing of any importance beyond the attendance of the brethren at the various meetings , ancl the resolutions passed thereat . There seems , however , to have sprung up a feeling of jealousy amongst these brethren towards the brethren of the old lodge , as we find , the following recorded in the minute for December 27 th , 1821 : — " The motion for a ball was again brought forward , when it was agreed by a great majority that a ball amongst the brethren take placeancl that in case

, of a Masonic procession taking place to lay the foundation of a stand at the new Race Course , Berry Moss , to be held on the evening of that day , and that the management of the same be invested in the committee or office-bearers of the lodge . It was also agreed that our loclge take no part in the procession unless invited on equal terms , ancl enjoy the same privileges with the brethren of the Kelso St . John ' s Lodge . "

This feeling may have been engendered by the older ancl more aristocratic lodge taking precedency , as it was justly entitled , in any public ceremony , and in being very exclusive , as we find by the minute for December 27 th , 1824 , which says " Several of the brethren having made a complaint that they were refused admission into the Kelso St . John ' s Lodge , it was resolved that an enquiry be made into the reason why they were refused . " On the matter

being again brought before the loclge in February , 1825 , we find "it was carried by a majorit y that no enquiry should be made upon the subject . " If the conduct of some of the brethren at this meeting was a sample of their general behaviour , we cannot wonder at their being refused admittance to the other lodge . We note in the minute that two members were fined for swearing , and one for interrupting a member while speaking , their conduct

being described as " very disorderly , " two brethren " swearing and insulting the Chair and office-bearers , that the Wardens were obliged , from the insults they had got , to leave the lodge before it was shut . " For the credit of the loclge it must also be recorded here that at a meeting the following week three of the brethren were expelled by a majority of twenty-seven to three . The secretary has been too careful to preserve the offensive ancl disgraceful language in the minutes , an altogether unnecessary proceeding , as we could readily believe , with such a majority against them , that they richly merited their severe punishment .

Last month reference was made to the breaking up of "Tweed Lodge Society " and the distribution of the funds in 1841 , but it was not till the year 1850 that these funds , or , rather , what was left of them , were invested ; for during the nine years the sum of £ 90 seems to have dwindled considerably , as the comparatively small sum of nineteen pounds sterling only was invested then in shares in the Kelso Gas Company . I may add that these shares are still the property of the lodge , and that the interest accruing from them is now the principal source of regular income of this lodge . With the exception