Mark Coleman Wallace PhD Thesis - University of St Andrews

2 highlights the patterns of masonic activity and voluntarism in Scotland,
specifically examining the overlapping membership of masonic lodges and other
clubs and societies. Many freemasons were members of a variety of
organizations, including benefit, drinking, and debating societies. These
members comprised a large cross-section of Scottish society; although
tradesmen and artisans appear on the list, it is clear that many of the men
belonged to the professional class or were gentlemen, and numerous figures
were prominent political, religious, academic, and military leaders.
The register also reveals that the majority of the men were members of
Canongate Kilwinning, and from the names on the list, it is clear that the elite of
Edinburgh limited their membership to one or a select few lodges, namely
Canongate Kilwinning, St David’s, Drummond Kilwinning, Edinburgh St
James, Edinburgh Kilwinning, Vernon Kilwinning, 69 Holyrood House, 70
Kilwinning Scots Arms, Leith Kilwinning, and Thistle. Significantly, lodges
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that were predominantly operative – Mary’s Chapel and Journeymen – are rarely
mentioned, if not entirely absent from the directory. By far, Canongate
Kilwinning claimed the largest representation, as eighty-one of the members in
the preceding list belonged to or were affiliated with No. 2, including prominent
figures such as Dr. John Boswell, Robert Burns, George Drummond, Henry
Erskine, David Dalrymple, Lord Hailes, Sir James Adolphus Dickenson
Oughton, and Reverend William Robertson. William Smellie, noted printer,
editor, and publisher, was a member of Mary’s Chapel, and distinguished
69 Renamed Edinburgh St Giles 1741-1761, and joined Canongate Kilwinning in 1779
70 Renamed St Luke’s in 1761