The Records Of An Ancient Lodge.

one page will sometimes contain entries of various dates , while again several pages contain entries under the same date . For instance , on the very first page , where one would naturally expect to find the first entry , there are several entries , or rather memoranda , but the most conspicuous is a line in large characters across the whole page

thusneufteid the 13 of Januarie 1678 .

This , of course , is misleading , but a glance at the page shows that it has been used for scribbling purposes , and for the casting up of sums , one memorandum bearing the date 1686 , the others being undated ; in fact , one of them , evidently much older than the date above given , runs thus : — " at melrois day of

ye reseived from W draw —— - nist ¦ — 04 — ii — 8 and for ye einglyshe monnie — 03 — 03 — 6 Souma 7 — 15 —02 and of that guven out to robert mein master and — 3 — 5 — 0 ( 4—9 — 0 "

On the following page ( 2 ) the entry is dated 1729 , and on page 3 there are two entries of the respective dates 1679 and 1682 ; but on page 4 , there is what is no doubt the earliest entry in this book , which runs as follows : — " 28 dor 1674 . — The s day it is ordained be the voyoe of the lodge y' no M should tak aprentice undr seven yeirs being bound , as also it was condecendet on , y * w any aprentise is entered they most ive aught—pund Scotts for meit & drink & fortie Shilling Scotts for

g the use of the box , by & allow y suficient gloves . " mair the forsd day it was coudescendet on y * w" ever a prentice is mad frie mason he must pay four pund Scotts w ch four pund Scotts is to be stowet at the pleasour of the lodge , by and allow y sufficient gloves , and it is also condescendet of by thes afordsds y' no preutise nor fellow craft shall be receved bot on . Saint Jon's day , heir after the forsd day . "

The opposite page ( 5 ) is occupied by a drawing representing two pairs of compasses interlaced upon a shield . As the ground is painted blue and the compasses yellow , they might be described as compasses or , saltier-wise upon a field azure . Three of the compartments thus formed are ornamented by a trefoil with irregular stem . The colour is laid on very thick and smudgy , and is not in keeping with the drawing , which is very carefull y executed . The back of this ( page 6 ) is blank . Page 7 contains entries for 1681 , but for the next in chronological order we must turn back to page 3 where , we find the following : —

Upon the tuentie siven day of dec r 1679 a serten number of Measons hath told siventin pund four shillen 8 penis scotts in the boxe be Longing to the measons witnessed be Robert Bunye Jo" Mein townheid , Allx Mein , Thomas Bunye mester And Eo Mein tounheid wit . ness y And ™ mein Boxe Iiaster acceptd under his hand viz " All this being found after the expense was taken out it being at night " Alex r - Mein witnes Andrew Mein accopfc Johne Mein witnes John Mein accopt Eobet Mein witnes Bob' Bunye witnes Thomas bunye wines " The minutes next in order we find at the end of the book , on page 236 ; they are as follows : —

" Neusteid ye 27 of December 1680 " John turnbull was entered ye forsd day James mein son to alex r was entered ye fors day be John mein osier his master John houlet In Dalkeith was entered ye fors 11 day be David mein . masson . ha Dalkeith his master " ( signed ) David mein " And on page 245 the following , of same date : —

" The 27 of decs ' 1680 " EPir the Boxmaistres accompts wer takine in . Ther was ffound , in the Box ffyftia marks Scotts as is declared be Androw mein m masone Alex r Mein wardine , wittnesses George Hall , Thomas Bunyie and John Men in Westersoftlaw W 2