Mark Coleman Wallace PhD Thesis - University of St Andrews

Despite strong objections from Inglis, the Grand Lodge approved
Mitchell’s request for a revote. 56 Led by James Gibson, one of the most
“vehement of Scottish Whigs,” 57 the motion to address the King was soundly
defeated by a margin of 95-47. 58 Gibson was also the originator of the Bastille
Dinner and, as Cockburn wrote, one of the “principal leaders of the true Whig
party.” 59 Under a strong showing of solidarity, the “Whigs had done their
organizing well this time.” 60 It seems as if most freemasons in attendance, upon
“seeing the sense of the meeting so completely against the Scrutiny,” confirmed
their approval of the vote and maintained that they “would not agitate the
question further.” 61 The records of the initial vote and scrutiny reveal that the
Grand Lodge felt it had handled the situation with much aplomb and dignity.
The meeting eventually ended “with a vote of thanks from the victorious party
to Inglis for the handsome manner in which he had conducted himself in the
Chair throughout the business.” 62
Clearly, political manoeuvring and manipulation had prevented the
approval of Mitchell’s address to the King. The Grand Lodge must have been
246
56
In response to the letter from Dr. Mitchell, Inglis – on behalf of the Grand Lodge of Scotland
– replied: “Though I have great doubts of my right to call such a meeting as you require which I
rather think is vested in the Grand Master alone and though I continue decidedly of my former
opinion that the demand of a Scrutiny is unconstitutional, conceiving that the Grand Clerk as the
legal sworn officer of the Craft is the person who is regularly intitled to declare the state of any
vote in the Grand Lodge being of course held from his official situation as beyond all suspicion
of partiality. Yet notwithstanding the doubt I entertain and the opinion I have expressed the
respect which I bear to the subscribers of the letter which I have had the honor of receiving…
induces me to comply with your request of convening the Grand Lodge,” Grand Lodge of
Scotland Minutes, 19 June 1807.
57
Lindsay, Holyrood House, 253.
58
Cockburn, Memorials, 84. Other key figures in the Whig party affiliated with St Luke’s were
Adam Gillies, David Cathcart, and Malcolm Laing.
59
Ibid.
60
Wartski, “Secret Societies,” 46.
61
Ibid.
62
Lindsay, Holyrood House, 300. See also Appendix 10, 361.