Some Notes Concerning A Dormant Lodge On The Scottish Border.

lOth Any one that is made a Mason , is to pay the Sum of Five shillings sterling for the use of Article the Lodge . 11 th If any stranger desires to be made a free Mason at any time the Master may con-Article veen as many as he pleases and enter any they paying the ordinary stated Sum , to be applyed for the use of the Lodge . 12 th These former Articles , We , the present Members of the Lodge , have all agreed too ,

Article to be rules for the government of the Lodge , and that ever article is to continue in force until tho Lodge finds it necessary for altering , or breaking , any , of them . It being aways in tho power of the Lodge to Dissolve , or enact , Laws , as they see fit , for the good of the Lodge and ordered them to be writen in the Book for the preservation , and subscribed by John Walker present Master of the Lodge , in the Year one Thousand Seven Hundred aud forty Six Years , written by him and Subscribed for Confirmation ( Signed ) JOHN WAIKER .

13 th The first quarterly payment falls Due on the last Wednesday of March . The Second Article quarterly payment falls due , the last Wednesday of June . The third quarterly payment falls Due the last Wednesday of September . The fourth or last quarterly payment on St . John ' s Day , which if not payed all , then , are fined according to the 6 th Article . 14 th According to the 12 th Act , it is left in the power of the Lodge , to enack , or break Article Laws , as they see proper , for the good of the Lodge , it is therefore understood that any Alterations , or Additions of the Laws , is to be offered or made , by the Brethren , that are in the H 0 of Masonry , none of the J —•—• D is to have a vote in anything , that makes an new act unless the S— - 0 sees

proper , but as in the Government of all Societys as well as in this the Laws that are at first Made for Government may be defective , or bear one or more Interpretations , the Brethren of an J 0 both aright to give their judment , on any act of the Laws , or in anything that is to make a new Act , or in the Altering of any Old Act , it not being in the power of the H 0 to make or alter Laws irifchont the knowledge of the whole Lodge . 15 th No Act of the Lodge is to be a stated Law till inserted in this Book , and this Book

Article with other utensils belonging to the Lodge , is to be Kept in the Masons Box , and whoever is Grand Master is to keep the Key of the Box , and to make the box and Key forthcoming to the Lodge when called for , and he who is chosen Collector to have the Key of the Inner box , and to be accountable to the Lodge for what Money he Collects , once a year if demanded by the Lodge . 16 th That in case the Master with the rest of the officers of the Lodge , should see fit to Article call the Lodge together at any time it is necessary to haveoneto warn all the

, , Lodge , if such a meeting be necessary , who is to be chosen by votes , as the other officers are , and must not refuse to officiate when duly chosen but in regard of his trouble , because of some of the members of the Lodge having at a distance , he is therefore to be free'd of his quarterly payment for his pains , upon his discharging his office peaceblely . 17 th It is appointed that Seven Members of the Lodge or any number above , but not Article below , must attend the quarfcely meeting which must meet on the last

Wednesday of the months , as in the 13 th Act whose office it is to inspect The Treasurers Books , and see that all Bills be right Drawn and' see whatever is for the good of the Lodge . They are to be chosen yearly on St . John ' s Day but not by votes . The G—M and W—S having the sole power of nominating , any they please , and if any of the number , of the Quarterly Meeting be absent from their days of meeting the presents has a power to fine them not exceeding threepence Sterling , but if the absent thinks , he has a lawfull excuse , and the meeting should still fine hhn , ho mav appeal to the first Grand meeting thereafter . "

At the very outset we find the lodge meeting with misfortune , for a little more than a year after its formation two of the ori g inal members died , as is quaintl y recorded in the following entry : —¦ " The Lodge having on St . John's Day 1745 chosen John Walker to be G . Master of the Lod ge . Likewise ordered Him to got a Book wherein He should write all the ActB and what else

was necessary for the use and government of the Lodge , as was agreed on that Day , and that this Book should be subscribed by every Fellow of the Lodge the next St . John ' s Day , which He did , and gave it into the Lodge but in tho Spring Quarter 1746 Dyed ( greatly Lamented by the Lodge )