The Universal Language of Freemasonry - ArchiMeD - Johannes ...

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Chapter 2 – Historical Background
Norman architecture was in vogue in Scotland. The medieval Scottish
architecture shows a tendency to be archaic, and the structures are smaller than
the pretentious English and French cathedrals. 119 The sources of operative
masonry in Scotland were presumably English, however, the wars fought
between these countries during the 13 th and 16 th centuries caused Scottish trade
masons to look to the Continent for inspiration, and several Scottish buildings of
those times show French influence. The political conflict with England placed
Scotland in a certain isolation that was initiative in the upcoming of trade
organizations:
The wars themselves tended to lead Scotland as a nation into becoming
somewhat insular in many fields of endeavour. In terms of masonry, this
insularity and the uncertainty of the times would appear to have been
the main impetus behind the emergence of lodges and trade
organisations. 120
Operative lodges undoubtedly existed in Scotland during the Gothic era, but
the first preserved minutes of lodge meetings were only found at the close of the
16 th century. The earliest Scottish lodge minute book stems from the lodge at
Aitchison's-Haven from the year 1598. Similar to the English operative masons
who had their Gothic Constitutions, the Scottish trade masons also had their laws
and regulations, the Schaw Statutes. These are two sets of regulations issued by
William Schaw, Master of Work to King James VI of Scotland, who was
General Warden of the Masons of Scotland. 121 The First Schaw Statutes from
1598 required the masons to be obedient to the ordinances of the craft and their
officers. The Second Schaw Statutes from 1599 were enacted in response to a
petition of Kilwinning Lodge for royal recognition, which was partly granted and
partly denied. This second set of regulations declared the lodge at Kilwinning as
the "head and second lodge in Scotland," whereas Edinburgh was rated as the
"first and principal lodge in Scotland."
All in all, the Scottish regulations resemble the Gothic Constitutions of
England, but they are more specific and set fines for violations. Before this time,
the masons in Scotland had been regulated under the authority of the
incorporations of the building trades in the burghs, including other trades such as
carpenters, tilers, etc. William Schaw is considered the man who introduced the
speculative aspect into masonry, for "[t]hese regulations, though clearly referring
to operative masons, place a heavy emphasis on matters of morality." 122 The
Wardens were responsible to the officers of the church for their members'
behavior and were authorized to expel disobedient members. Every year, the
119 Cf. CME, p. 593.
120 Henderson and Pope, vol. II, p. 133.
121 Cf. CME, p. 593.
122 Ibid, p. 594.