freedom of St Mary's chapel, and, during that time, to furnish him with clothes and other necessaries. It was agreed also, that, if any similar applications were made, the same action should be performed every three years. THE managers of the Royal Infirmary requested the company of the Grand Lodge, together with those of the city lodges, at the laying of the foundation stone of the western wing of the Infirmary, on the 14th May 1740; which was unanimously agreed to. WHEN that day arrived, the Right Honourable the Grand-Master, attended by his Grand-Wardens, treasurer and secretary, and by the officebearers of the other lodges, and several brethren of distinction, went in procession from Mary's chapel, to the Royal Infirmary, preceded by trumpets and other instruments of music, where the foundation stone of the western part of the building was laid with the usual solemnities. IN the course of this year, a present of ten pounds Sterling was paid into the charity fund of the Grand Lodge, by the Earl of Kintore. V. GRAND V. GRAND ELECTION, Dec. 1. 1740. Thomas Earl of Strathmore, Grand-Master. Captain A. Forbes of Pittencrief, Senior Grand-Warden. John Macdougall, Esq. Grand-Secretary. DURING this year it was proposed, and unanimously agreed to, that a correspondence should be opened between the Grand Lodge of Scotland and England, and that the assistance of the latter, in building the Royal Infirmary, should be particularly requested. A DONATION of ten guineas, each, was given by the Earls of Cromarty and Morton, late GrandMasters of Scotland, into the charity fund of the Grand Lodge. It is but justice to those illustrious characters who have honoured Free Masonry with their patronage, to show to the world that their pretensions to charity have not evaporated in empty professions. VI. GRAND VI. GRAND ELECTION, Nov. 30. 1741. Alexander Earl of Leven, Grand-Master. In the course of this year, nothing of consequence occurred. Many charters and constitutions were granted; and distressed brethren of all descriptions were relieved from the fund of charity. A PRESENT of ten pounds was given by the Earl of Strathmore, late Grand-Master for the relief of indigent brethren. VII. GRAND ELECTION, Nov. 30. 1742. William Earl of Kilmarnock, Grand-Master. John Douglas, Esq. Substitute Grand-Master. Sir Robert Dickson of Carberry, Senior Grand-Warden. Sir John Scott of Ancrum, Junior Grand-Warden. Thomas Mylne, Esq. Grand-Treasurer. John Macdougall, Esq. Grand-Secretary. No events of importance occurred during this year. X VIII. GRAND VIII. GRAND ELECTION, Nov. 30. 1743. James Earl of Wemyss, Grand-Master. John Douglas, Esq. Substitute Grand-Master. William Nisbet of Dirleton, Esq. Senior Grand-Warden. John Macdougall, Esq. Grand-Secretary. A LETTER was read from the lodge of Kilwinning, complaining, that they were only second on the roll, while, as the mother lodge of Scotland, they were entitled to the first place. The Grand Lodge decreed, that as the lodge of Kilwinning had produced no documents to show that they were the oldest lodge in Scotland, and as the lodge of Mary's Chapel had shown their records as far back as 1598, the latter had an undoubted right to continue first on the roll. THE Conduct of the Grand Lodge in this affair, by no means contradicts what has been said in the general history, respecting the antiquity of the Kilwinning lodge. It was well known, and universally admitted, that Kilwinning was the birth place of Scotish masonry. But as the records of the original lodge were lost, the present lodge at Kilwinning could not prove that theirs was was the identical lodge which had first practised Free Masonry in Scotland. IX. GRAND ELECTION, Nov. 30. 1744. James Earl of Moray, Grand-Master. John Douglas, Esq. Substitute Grand-Master. John Robertson of Earnock, Esq. Senior Grand-Warden, NOTHING Worthy of notice occurred during this year. A donation of twelve guineas was given by the Earl of Moray, present Grand-Master; and the same sum by the Earl of Wemyss into the charity fund. X. GRAND ELECTION, Nov. 30. 1745. Henry David Earl of Buchan, Grand-Master. |