Mark Coleman Wallace PhD Thesis - University of St Andrews

Fellow Crafts, and a sum equal to both to a Master Mason.” 124 To replenish its
coffers, No. 1(3) occasionally required members who had broken various rules
and regulations to contribute to the poor box, 125 while petitions were
infrequently “paid from a Collection made by the Brethren from their private
pockets in order to Save the publick Funds.” 126
Although beneficiaries included the sick and, as Clark lists, “those
adversely affected by bad weather, brethren imprisoned for debt, and others
suffering from losses from fires,” operative lodge charity was frequently given
to members who were physically incapacitated due to work-related accidents.
Such beneficiaries included Brother David of No. 8 Journeymen, who “mett
with the misfortune of a brokin arm which has rendered him incapable of
working for himself and family;” 127 “James Brown present Depute Master [of
No. 8] having a considerable time ago mett with the misfortune of a Broken legg
and much crushed in Boddy;” 128 and Brother James Mack of No. 1 Mary’s
Chapel, “an operative Craving the Charity of the Lodge In respect he was
disabled from work by a fall from a house.” 129
Lodges also provided for members unable to work as a result of old-age
and disease. Aberdeen No. 1(3) records a vivid entry detailing the
circumstances of Brother Peter Forsyth, “who is now an old man, uncapable of
124
Ibid.
125
Ibid, 10 January 1749. No. 1(3) recorded that “Alexander Fraser not only drunk but gave
very good offense to the Lodge by opprobrious Language and after being him ordered out,
Contrair to the good rules and decent decorum of the Lodge broke open the door thereof and
entered in the same in a very rude and unmannerly way for which he was fined in five shillings
sterling to be put into the poor box.”
126
No. 1(3) Aberdeen Lodge Minutes, 27 December 1770.
127
No. 8 Journeymen Lodge Minutes, 10 November 1746.
128
Ibid, 5 November 1771.
129
No. 1 Mary’s Chapel Lodge Minutes, 15 December 1760.
116