Ancient Masonic Lodges, No. 1.

The first minute preserved reads thus : —¦ " Att Brechine the twenty-seventh day of December 1727 years Avhich day being convened the Honourable Fraternity of the Measons of the Lodge of Brechine for commemorating the anniversary of the

Holy Apostle St . John , then- Patron and Tutelar Saint and for electing then Master of the Lodge , Warden and Treasurer . They did and hereby doe of neAV choise and continue John Spence , Cleric of Brechine , then Master , David

Aickenhead , their Warden , John Hunter , Meason , their Treasurer . And thereafter the Master forsd nominat the members of councell folloAving , viz .: James Doig , James Smith , John Aickenhead , Andiw Webster and James Galloway , all to servo

for the ensuing year . Who all Avith the Master , Wardens and Treasurer compeared and accepted upon them their several offices , and gave their oaths of faithfull administration and ordained Thomas Lyndesay to continue officer . The Treasurer

to have Ms aceompts clear and ready agains Candlemas , 1728 years . By order and in presence of the Fraternity . " Signed by JOHN SPENCE . "

As the numerous anniversary festivals are chronicled in a similar strain to the above , Ave need not reproduce any more of them , but simply premise that the re-election of a speculative Mason as Master in 1728 is significant of the gradual elimination of

the purely operative constitution of the old lodges . The Bro . John Spence Avas reelected Master until 1753 ( two years only excepted ) . Some subsequent minutes of the annual festival exhibit the fact of an

audit committee being appointed to " revise the accounts . " " The said day ( 1729 anniversaiy ) , also Alexander Wood Avas passed . Alexander Black Avas admitted and James Wood and

John Toimg entered Prentices . " A few years later arrangements Avere made for the " augmentation of the

Publick Stock , " and the granting of annuities to Avorthy members . It Avas enacted 27 th December , 1734 , that " Every person in the lodge shall he oblidged to instruct the parties entered

gratis . And the persons refuseing to instruct the entered parties shall be fyned and ammerciat in the sum of twelve shillings Scots mor . " Dec . 1737 . "Day above John Allen , James Webster and John Purvess Avere

passed and made free Masters . " Jany . 1738 . " John Bodger admitted Prentice as Lord of the Chapmen pro tempore . " ( i . e . Pedlars . ) On January 20 th , 1738 it Avas resolved

" And hereby statute enact and ordain that in all time hereafter it shall not be kwfull for any member of this Lodge to Avitness the entry or passing of any persons or person unless the same be done hi ane regular manner Avithin the Burgh of Brechin , " & c .

On the 22 nd March , of the same year , AVO find that " in presence of John Spence , Commisory of Brechin , Master of the Lodge , and Major of the Councill convened compeared John Stevenson and Brother Mason , Avho being examined by

the Warden and some other members , after report given in by them Avas found to be ane sufficient brother and Avas and hereby is passed ane free Master Mason , this Lodge , " & e . ; and on the 15 th February , 1739 , "Harry Galloway , Officer of His

Majestye ' s excise Avas admitted a free Master Man of this Lodge after due examination . "

The minutes became a little grandiloquent on the 28 th day of February , 1740 , when there Avere present the Master and Deput Master of the "Eight Worshipful the United Lodges of the Holy Apostle , St . John ; Brechin and Eorden , who by the

powers given him by the honourable and renewed and Ei ght WorshipMl Lodge of Brechin and their Grand Master had