Freemasonry In Kelso.

hotel . Against this decision the minorit y protested , andm order to come to an amicable settlement , it was arranged that the same amount which had been paid by Tweed Lodge for the old goods should be paid back to that lodge by the members of the resuscitated loclge . The resuscitation took place on the 8 th of May , 1878 , when the three surviving members of the old loclge resident in Kelso called a meeting , ancl invited such of the brethren of Tweed Lodge as wished to affiliate . . Bro . Robert Swanwho was initiated in the Kelso

, Lodge in 1827 , occupied the chair , while Bro . George Craig , who affiliated into the loclge in 1825 , having been made in 1819 , acted as S . Warden , and Bro . George Purves , who was initiated in 1831 , acted as J . Warden . Fourteen brethren , including ail the office-bearers of Tweed Loclge , were affiliated that evening , ancl Bro . Swan , who made a very touching speech upon the occasion , was nominated for the office of R . W . M .

This Lodge , which is No . 58 on the roll of Scottish Lodges , bids fair in its rejuvenescence' to rival the prosperit y of its former days . The brethren since the resuscitation have met on an average once a fortnight , in a beautiful hall they have leased , the furnishing ancl embellishing of which have cost them over one hundred pounds . Since the 8 th of May , 1878 , when there were only three surviving members , there have been twent y initiations , which with ,

affiliations brings the membership up to fifty-four . On the anniversary of St . John the Baptist , the 24 th of June , this year , the Masonic hall was solemnly consecrated by the R . W . Bro . R . F . Shaw-Stewart , Junior Grand Warden and R . W . M . of the Loclge of Edinburgh ( Mary ' s Chapel ) , No . 1 , assisted by the V . W . Bro . the Rev . T . N . Wannop , Grand Chaplain , ' and D . P . G . M . of East Lothian , and other office-bearers of the Grand Loclge of Scotland ( the Provincial Grand Master elect , Bro . the Ri ght Hon . the Earl of Haddington , not having been installed as yet ) , in the presence of a large assemblage of brethren from the various Border lodges .

With this demonstration I might fitly conclude this sketch of Freemasonry in Kelso , but that no account of Freemasonry in Kelso will be complete without a special reference to Bros . R . Swan and J . Steel , to whom I have only casually alluded . Bro . Robert Swan , who officiated at the resuscitation of the old loclge , and who was made the R . W . Master b y the unanimous votes of the brethren , is a true connecting-link between the past and the present , his

uncle , Henry Swan , having been the R . W . M . of the Lodge in the years 1798-99 . He himself is a Mason of no recent date , as we have already mentioned , having first seen the light of Masonry in the year 1827 , exactly fifty-two years ago . But time has by no means quenched his enthusiasm for the Craft , in which he continues to take a deep interest . To his assistance the lodge in a great measure owes its present vitalityand he is always readto counsel

; y , advise , and support any movement calculated to advance the Order . Of Bro . James Steel it may be said that , although his connection with Masonry is comparatively recent , he has done so much for the Craft in Kelso that his name is thoroughly identified with it all over the Borders . But for his zeal and energy , and the unselfish love he has for Masonry and Masons , Freemasonry in Kelso would long ago have been a dead letter . As we mentioned beforehe

, was the champion who boldly stood up against the abuses which characterised the meetings of the lodge wherein he was made ; and it was he who took such an active part in the revival of the old loclge as to make it ah accomplished fact . No meeting of the loclge seems complete without him , and he is always ready to assist in the work of the loclge , and many a young Mason has had reason to thank Bro . Steel for his assistanceencouragementand

, , advice . As an instance of how inseparable his name is from Masonry , I may give the following anecdote : —A few years ago he erected at the end of his premises a large flag-staff , surmounted by a gilded salmon , to indicate the direction of the wind . Instead of the usual cardinal points of the compass , Bro . Steel had his initials " J . S . " and the letters " F . M . " to indicate his busi-