The Records Of An Ancient Lodge.

to have been the c ustom for the " prentices " to select their marks , as at the end oE the book there are lists of "pi-entises entered , " with their marks , for the years 1719 , 1720 , 1722 , 1724 , 1725 , 1726 up to 1734 . We give all the various marks to be found in the book . Several Masons appear to have adopted the same mark , which we do not , of course , repeat , but simpl y g ive the variety . None

of these marks were adhibited to the signatures prior to the beginning of tho eig hteenth century . In the following minute we observe that the st y le and title of the Master is g iven as " Grand Master , " ancl that the brethren walked in procession on St . John ' s Day , a custom still kept np by this Lodge , as we have already seen in foot note , page 325 . "Melrose Dece 27 th 1745

It was proposed that all the members of this Lodge doe atend the Grand IP on St . John ' s day to walk in procession from their meeting to their generall place of Randovouz and the vote being but it being carried by a great majority and and that each in the company walk with tho Grand M with clean aprons and gloves or in case of disobedience to pay on mark scotts Each fellow . And likewise it being proposed for the good of the Box ancl the ease of prentises and fellow Crafts that tliey shall pay in to the Box five shillings sterling each prentice and follow Craft in Leu of Gloves that they wore in use to give to the members of tho Lodge and the same way carried by a majority of vots that the above metioned sum shall be paid in Stead of the gloves in time comeing . "

These old brethren were not unmindful of one of the principal characteristics of a true Mason—charity—ancl we find frequent entries in the minutes similar to the following : — " The company this day have agreed to give Margaret Hislop widow in Selkirk 3 pound scots and to give to Andrew mein elder 6 pound scots . " Again ,

" The company this day have agreed to forgive widow ovens in Lessudden her interest and to take the priucipall at three years . The first Terme at Whitsonday next . The company also have agreed to give Andrew mein elder in Newstend three pounds scots this day and half a crown at candlemas next Also to give to the widow of John Stavort half a crown . ' The following , in reference to the relief of travelling brethren , is in keeping with the ancient charges ; it is under date 1764 : —

"Also agrees that Thomas mecer have deposited in his hand Ten shillings sterling to be given out for travelling Distrcst Brothers if they come in the way before next meeting which Ten shillings is given for that effect as witness the subscription Thomas Marr . " To which Brother Mecer has added this note : — " The above 10 sh is payd by Tho Mecer , " and then cancelled the paragraph . Under the same date we

find" The company This day has agreed and given to the widow of John Stavert Three shillings . " To return to the chronological order of these minutes , we find , under date " December 27 th , 1749 , The company this day have agreed this day to sett * the two back seats in the Loffc . f each seat to hold six persons and the foremost of the two to be set at each person paying sixpence and the backmost at fourpence each person . "

These were not very extravagant terms for sittings in the church , and we find the names of the persons availing themselves of the p rivilege thus recorded"The foremost of the Two sett for the enshewing year at 6 ] ience viz—To Bailie Scot . . . . . p <> & continued To John Scot p ' & cont Andrew Hart

To p'l & cont To William Reidfoord younger . . p U & cont To William Mercer . p'l & cont To John Cochrane . . . . pd & cont