Mark Coleman Wallace PhD Thesis - University of St Andrews

“did not incline to the trade he was bound to, neither had his business to give
him.” 136 Allegedly, “the boy was not well guided, who is now lying in his
masters Home with a swelled face and a hurt to his gut on the north loch.” 137
Towards the end of the eighteenth century, St Andrews Lodge No. 25 also
adopted a wider variety of philanthropic efforts, voting to support “the
Voluntary Subscription [for the French Revolution] that is presently going on
for the defence of the country,” 138 and voted several guineas towards the
construction of “a Hall for the Masons of Scotland,” stating that “as the funds of
this Lodge [are] but small they agreed that five Guineas would be as much as
they could possibly give from the funds. 139
Charity was also a major function of the Grand Lodge and, like other
associations and lodges, its philanthropic concerns extended into many areas of
the community. For instance, on 19 June 1758, the Right Worshipful Master of
No. 1 Mary’s Chapel Lodge in Edinburgh asserted that
118
The Right Worshipful Master Represented to the Lodge That the
Edinburgh Society for improving of Arts, Agriculture, and
Manufacturing has already been of great Service to this Country in
general; and if properly supported will still be of more. That this has
induced all true Lovers of their Country to Contribute accordingly to the
best of their abilities towards the Support of this Society. That as there is
at present a General Contribution for this purpose among all the Lodges
in Town by order of the Grand Lodge, She hoped that the Antient Lodge
of Marys Chapel would not be behind hand in this matter but show to the
world That freemasons are always as ready to Join in every laudable
measure for the Service of their Country and to Contribute thereto
according to the best of their abilities, as they are to relieve and support
one another. That for his part he was willing to Contribute a Guinea out
of his own private pocket over and above what the Lodge should give.
136
Ibid, 18 December 1759.
137
Ibid.
138
No. 25 St Andrews Lodge Minutes, 24 March 1798.
139
Ibid, 27 December 1798.