Old Records Of The Lodge Of Peebles.

The Master Wardens and other office-bearers were then duly qualified . b y taking the oath defideli , & c , & c . [ The next minute has reference to the then prevailing custom of receiving entrants into the lodge without the fees being paid at the time . This had frequently eome up before the lodge , and similar action had been taken thereon , but evidently the brethren had not kept to their previous resolutions . —R . S . ]

Peebles , 28 th December , 1799 . In consequence of previous warning given to the Brethren , the Lodge met this evening , as there had hitherto arisen some inconvenience , and even loss , from entering members who did not at the time pay the ordinary dues . In order to remedy the same , and to prevent any loss on this account , It was moved and duly secondedthat hereafter no person appling to be made a

, y Masson shall be admitted unless he instantly and at the time pay the accustomed dues , as established by the regulations of the Lodge . And the motion having been taken into consideration , and having duly deliberated thereon , the meeting unanimously resolve that no person shall be admitted on credit—in other words , that the dues payable for entering , with the Lodge , and the dues of the Grand Lodge , shall be paid ready money .

THOS . GRIEVE , Master . Thereafter Robert Chapman , paintez' , presently residing in Peebles , and George Scott , Schoolmaster at Stobo , applied to be admitted members of the Lodge , and , after using the due and ordinary solemnities required , they were duly and regularly admitted apprentices of said Lodge . Composition Twenty , shillings Sterling each , and 2 / 9 each for entering with the Grand Lodge . And the Master choose for their intenders Brothers John Thomson and Andrew

Ritchie , and these members and the Master subscribe this same . THOMAS GRIEVE , Mr . GEORSE SCOTT . ROBERT CHAPMAN . [ Follows recei pt from Grand Lodge for the fees of fifteen members , and certifying that their names were duly enrolled in Grand Lodge ] We have next recorded a somewhat threatening letter from Alexander

Williamson , tenant of the house belonging to the Lodge : — Peebles , 24 th July , 1800 . The Ri ght Worshipful the Mr . Mason of Peebles Lodge , —I have always been exceedingly reluctant to put your societ y to any expense in repairs for the house possessed by me from them . I have even laid out considerable expense in making repairs which I understood the proprietors bound to do

; and for these I never charged one penny , but paid the rents without the smallest deduction . I have long , however , complained of the state of the roof of the house , and has spoke to several of the members on that subject , but without the smallest effect . I therefore take this opportunity of beging you will intimate to the Society my determined resolution of immediately taking necessary steps to have these repairs performed—and if in fourteen days from

this date the society does not begin in earnest to have it accomplished legal measures will then be taken for that purpose . I have sustained very considerable damage for these several years past , from the wet and snow that comes in at the roof , and I will no longer tamely submit to it . Sir , your Obedient Servant , ( Signed ) ALEXR . WILLIAMSON . The Right Worshipful Master laid said letter before the Lodge on the twenty-eighth current , and having considered it , it was agreed that the repairs complained on should be sett about and done with ( without ) loss of time .

At the next quarterly meeting , held on the 27 th September , 1800 , the letting of the house and stable belonging to the Lodge was brought up as follows .- —The Right Worshipful Master made a motion that the Lodge , and the house and stable thereto belonging , ought to be sett ( leased ) before the taking