Freemasonry In Kelso.

can claim a greater antiquity than Melrose , Mary ' s Chapel , or Mothei Kilwinning . Our records unfortunately only go back to 1701 , but as they mention " former seclerents , " ancl as- they mention acts or laws of which there is no record , we may safely conclude that our Lodge was in full working order long before 1701 . So much for its antiquity . Let us now rapidly review the pi-ogress of Freemasonry in Kelso from the above authentic date clown to the

present time . From the earliest record extant—27 th December , 1701—we find the Worshipful Masters of this Lodge to have been men of position . On the death of the W . M . Deacon Faa , in 1702 , Sir George Pringle , of Stitehill , was elected Master , ancl in succession after him the next four Masters were landed proprietorswith estates in the neighbourhoodwhile some of them were

, , representatives of the lesser barons , or commissioners for the shire of Roxburgh in the Scottish Parliament . Throughout the history of the Lodge occur the names of several gentlemen of influence and position who occupied the position of R . W . Masters of the Lodge , notably in 1750-51 , when Dr . Win . Ormston (?) , of Hendersyde , held that office , to which he was again elected in 1757-58-59 ; in 1764-65 William Kerrof Chattswas Masterand during the

, , , years 1766-67-68-69-70-71 James Dixon , of Eclnam , a native of Kelso , and Past Senior Grand Warden of England , was R . W . Master of the Lodge . Nearly all of the names of the other Masters are those of the leading merchants or professional men belonging to the town . About the beginning

of the present century the Lodge appears to have reached the acme of prosperity , as we find in the year 1804 that his grace William , Duke of Roxburgh , a Master from the Prince of Wales Lodge , London , applied to be assumed a member , " and proper trial having been made of his knowledge in Masonry , he was accordingly assumed amidst the unbounded applause of the Lodge . " About this time we find several other gentlemen of the count y joining . In 1807 the fees were raised so as to keep the Lodge more selectand the

, consequence was that a few years afterwards one or two Masons thought there was room for another and less aristocratic Lodge , where the fees and dues would be lighter . Five Brethren therefore started a Lodge , which they denominated the "Kelso Tweed Lodge , " and , without leave—asked of or granted b y Grand Lodge—began on the 16 th of May , 1816 , " to make Masons on purpose to raise money to defray the expense of a Charter for the Lodge : "

rather an irregular mode of proceeding . At this meeting four a 2 _ prentices were entered , and from this date to the 25 th of June inclusive , they held nine meetings , ancl initiated altogether twenty members into the craft . On the recommendation of the Kelso Lodge and St . John ' s Lodge , Jedburgh , Grand Lodge granted a Charter on the 5 th of August , 1816 . There was in connection with this Lodge a benefit societwhich existed till the 12 th of April

y , , 1841 , when it was dissolved and the funds divided . The total funds amounted to £ 378 9 s . 8 d , of which one-fourth ( £ 93 6 s . 3 jd . ) went to the Lodge , and each member received a dividend of £ 1 4 s . 3 d . per pound , according to the amount he hacl paid in of quarter dues . The benefit societ y scheme was never again attempted by the Lodge .

To revert to the old Lodge , we find the number of members on the roll in 1705 to be 40 , ancl in 1741 , 47 . The meetings were well attended , as , out of a total of 47 members , it is recorded that 44 voted upon a certain question . In 1747 the Lodge recommended that the off-going Master in time-coming make an oration to the " Lodge upon the science of Masonry , not only for the instruction of the weak , but for the conduct of the more experienced , and that the Master in office do the same at the end of his first : " a sensible

year very recommendation . There old Brethren had the true spirit of Masonry in them : we find them at one time giving 50 guineas towards building a bridge over the Tweed at Kelso , and at a later period , when the work was not progressing for lack of funds , getting a subscription of 20 pounds from Grand Lodge for