Mark Coleman Wallace PhD Thesis - University of St Andrews

extent of its power and wished to establish an advantageous link with its English
counterpart. Not only would this prove beneficial in any disputes, but a mutual
correspondence with England would advance the cause of freemasonry
throughout Britain.
On 4 November 1772, Grand Secretary of England William Dickey sent
a letter to the Grand Lodge of Scotland stating that he would be
very Punctual in All Matters between Our two Grand Lodge, and doubt not
of the same Care on your Side, for notwithstanding the wise Regulations
laid down for the Government of the Craft in general, at times there may be
Occasion to Expel unruly Members, in that case it is Absolutely Necessary
that we should give each other Compleat Notice, in order to render them
Incapable of Imposing on the Worthy Brethren of the Fraternity; the good
Consequences Attending it, the Antient Craft would soon Experience. 189
Seemingly preparing for the conflict that would embroil Scottish and
English masons during the Secret Societies Act controversy of 1799 and the
Masonic Secession of 1808, both Grand Lodges agreed to defend the principles
of freemasonry and prohibit or check any disturbances that would threaten the
stability of the fraternity. As a symbolic gesture, the Grand Lodge of Scotland
resolved on the annual St Andrews Day Feast that “it was of Opinion that the
Motherly intercourse and Correspondence which the Right Worshipful the
Grand Lodge of England was desirous to Establish would be serviceable to both
Grand Lodges, and productive of Honour and Advantage to the Fraternity in
General.” 190
The expansion of control was reinforced by three additional
organisational developments within the Grand Lodge. First, there was a
189 Ibid, 4 November 1772.
190 Ibid, 30 November 1772.
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