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Mark Coleman Wallace PhD Thesis - University of St Andrews

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123<br />

unknown to other nations, is a reproach upon the manners and policy <strong>of</strong><br />

this country, has a manifest tendency to corrupt the morals <strong>of</strong> servants, to<br />

obstruct the exercise <strong>of</strong> hospitality, and to destroy all social intercourse<br />

between families; the members did unanimously agree to exert<br />

themselves the utmost, in order to remove this publick nuisance. 158<br />

Resolutions from other societies and organizations followed, including<br />

the Company <strong>of</strong> Hunters, Clerks to the Signet, Heritors <strong>of</strong> Mid-Lothian, Society<br />

<strong>of</strong> Advocates, and the Grand Lodge <strong>of</strong> Scotland on behalf <strong>of</strong> Scottish masons.<br />

Emulating the Select Society, the Grand Lodge recorded on 4 February 1760<br />

that<br />

It having been thereafter Represented to the Grand Lodge That as an<br />

Honourable Body <strong>of</strong> Gentlemen in this Country had Entered into a<br />

determined Resolution against Giving Vails to Servants which being a<br />

pernicious practice and Detrimental to Society the Grand Lodge would<br />

Consider <strong>of</strong> the Same Whereupon the Grand Master and Grand Lodge<br />

Recommended to the Committee to make up a Scroll <strong>of</strong> a Resolution<br />

against this Practice and Report the same to the Grand Master. 159<br />

Consequently, the following “Scroll <strong>of</strong> Advertisement” was prepared by<br />

the Grand Secretary and approved by the Grand Master, and at “his desire<br />

published in all the Edinburgh News Papers for Notification to the General<br />

Lodges”:<br />

A Quarterly Communication <strong>of</strong> the Grand Lodge <strong>of</strong> Scotland,<br />

lately held in Mary’s Chapel, having taken into their consideration, the<br />

prevailing practice <strong>of</strong> giving vails, or drink money to servants, did<br />

unanimously resolve, to do everything in their power to remove the<br />

same.<br />

The zeal <strong>of</strong> Free masons for the welfare <strong>of</strong> the publick, and their<br />

readiness to promote every laudable purpose, will easily prevail on them<br />

to endeavour to discourage this practice, as by it the virtues <strong>of</strong> many<br />

servants have been destroyed and their pride and licentiousness<br />

increased; and, besides, as it has a tendency to obstruct that kind<br />

158<br />

Originally printed in Scots Magazine, January 1760, 42-43; reprinted in McElroy, Scottish<br />

Clubs, 163-164.<br />

159<br />

Grand Lodge <strong>of</strong> Scotland Minutes, 4 February 1760.

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