Old Lodge Records.

OLD LODGE RECORDS .

By Bro . R . S .

These Old Records arenoAV concluded ; in them we have traced the rise and progress of Masonry in the districts mentioned , over a period of sixty years . As the publication of the records was intended to g ive our brethren who have been

discussing the claims of Speculative Masonry prior to the 1717 reformation , any light they could afford , I Avill of course be g lad now to hear their verdicts . As far as my humble opinion goes , I am still inclined to think that the old lodge at

Haughfoot and Galashiels has stronger claims to the Speculative than the Operative theories . In support of which I adduce the following reasons . 1 st . It Avas not composed of Operative Masons chiefly , but candidates from all ranks , trades , & c ,

were admitted , and the brethren of note in the district , gentlemen of title and property Avere generally elected to the offices , such as they Avere , in the lodge ; the first mentioned Master Mason is Jolm Hoppringle , of y t ilk , the then Laird of

Torsonce . 2 nd . Although it had not a formula aud ritual of three degrees , yet it had a formula and certain Avorkings , embracing Apprentice and Fellow Craft ; also a word and grip Avhich the Master Mason gave to candidates at their admission , and the manner of admission Avas by petition as in tho .

present day . 3 rd . The fees , fines , & c , eligible from the brethren , Avere used for the purposes of Masonic benevolence , which duty we find exercised as far as funds would allow , and when the ho . v required strengthening , voluntary contributions , levies , etc ., Avere the means adopted to increase the funds . It Avas not an

operative sick or benefit society , such as Ave find mentioned in old gild or Craft minutes . 4 th . The meetings of the lodge were usually once a year , upon St . John ' s Day , as in Speculative lodges now ; also business meetings were held during the year as occasion demanded . 5 th . The annual meetings were evidently

conducted with all order , propriety , and soberness . From the general tone of the old records Ave can infer that there Avas little , if any , of the boisterous hilarity , com-ivialism , or apron-washings of the ei ghteenth century . We find the brethren not unfrequently

holding their annual meeting and festival at Haughfoot and afterwards holding meetings at Galashiels for initiations and other business . 6 th . These ancient brethren maintained tho diguity of the Craft , and punished Avith Masonic censure and fines , any violation of the same ; and 7 th . We

find that neither the 1717 , nor the 1736 periods made any difference in the order ancl Avorking of the lolge . Such continued the same till 1759 and

Old Lodge Records.

1763 , when we find Wardens , Stewards , and an officer added to other officebearers ; no reason is assigned in the minutes for this change , but it would simply be to promote uniformity with other lodges then existing . I regret that the records stop at this date , 1763 ,

ancl shall he happy at any future time , should I turn np any connecting links in the history of tho lodges in this province , between that date and the beginning of the present century , to forward them to the MAGAZINE . Meantime , my work in compiling these records is

finished , and if some little lig ht has thus been thrown over the Masonry of the past , my object will havebeen gained .

Masonic Jottings.—No. 33.

MASONIC JOTTINGS . —No . 33 .

BY A PAST PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER . ETHICAL AND SOCIAL FREEMASONRY . A Brother Avho , eliminating the Christian and reli gious element from our Freemasonry , Avould make it a great ethical and social institution only ,.

Avill find , if he looks into our records , that he must begin b y razing the noble edifice to the ground , and passing the plough share and dragging the harroAV over the existing foundations . AN ALLEGORY IN PLATO .

A correspondent makes inquiry after an allegory existing , as he has heard , in our Freemasonry ,, having an analogy to that in Plato ' s " Phcedorus , " where the soul is compared to a charioteer drawn by tAvo horses , one white and one black . A confession of entire ignorance is the only answer that I can g ive to my correspondent ' s inquiry .

GERMANY . In Germany , after the decay of the Roman Building Corporations , the li ght of Speculative Masonry Avas fitful and dubious , but occasionall y in the Middle Ages it shone forth Avith much bri ghtness . —See the appendix to these Jottings ,

COUNTRIES AVHICH OUR ENGLISH MASONRY TRAVERSED . Our Masonry is a native of the far East , and did not reach the British Isles until she had traversed India , Persia , Bab ylonia , Egypt , Avhence she turned aside and visited Phoenicia ancl Judaea ,. Greece , Italy , and Germany .

DENIALS . Denials that Masonry existed in ancient nations ,. Avhen carefully examined , will be found in great part to relate to organisation and ceremonies . TAVO STEPS OF CIVILISATION . Operative Masonry represents civilisation , first