Mark Coleman Wallace PhD Thesis - University of St Andrews

Under this statute, Gibson’s actions were illegal. Unfortunately for
Mitchell, the Grand Lodge and Gibson were of one mind regarding the situation.
Even so, the Grand Lodge held a meeting on 5 January 1808 to consider the
reasons for Mitchell’s suspension. Significantly, the charges were made by
Gibson, who alleged that Mitchell had proposed the secession of the Caledonian
Lodge from the Grand Lodge of Scotland and had published a pamphlet which
was insulting to the Grand Officers and all Scottish freemasons. Roman Eagle
Lodge, claiming that the Caledonian Lodge held its monthly meeting on its
stated night, chronicled the correspondence between the two lodges (Appendix
11). The members of Roman Eagle sought reconciliation: although disappointed
with the actions of Lodge Caledonian, certainly Roman Eagle wanted to avoid
further conflict. Brother Black, then the acting Master of Roman Eagle,
personally visited Brother Mitchell and asked for an explanation of his actions.
Despite such overtures, the lodges could not achieve a peaceful resolution.
Clearly, the Grand Lodge and Gibson wanted to pursue the matter
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further. 66 It appears that the Grand Lodge may have worked in conjunction with
66 Lindsay writes that “unfortunately, Dr. Mitchell nor Gibson could leave well alone, and their
differences were followed up outside Grand Lodge until 5 th January, when Gibson laid before
Grand Lodge a Petition against Dr. Mitchell, in which he alleged: (1) That Dr. Mitchell persisted
in holding his Monthly Meetings on a date already expressly forbidden to him as belonging to
Lodge Roman Eagle; (2) That at one of the Meetings he had suggested secession from Grand
Lodge; (3) That when on the way to the annual Masonic Service in the Tron Church on St
Andrew’s Day, 1807, he had prevailed on his Lodge to leave the procession and to adjourn to
Oman’s Tavern, and further, though expected by the Acting Grand Master [Hon. William
Ramsay Maule], he had sent neither apology nor Deputation to the Grand Festival, showing by
these actions contempt for the religious Service in which his Brethren were engaged, disrespect
to the Acting Grand Master, and, to the world, that there was a schism in the Fraternity; (4) That
contrary to Masonic custom, he had, on 28 th December 1807, refused to receive a Deputation
from Lodge St David, Edinburgh, of which the Petitioner was Past Master,” Holyrood House,
300-301. The actual petition was received by the Grand Lodge of Scotland on 1 January 1808.
The petition and complaint asserted that “Brother Mitchell has done every thing in his power to
disturb the peace of the Grand Lodge, and of the craft, by printing a libelous pamphlet, and by