Mark Coleman Wallace PhD Thesis - University of St Andrews

the Minutes of the Grand Lodge relative to an application to Parliament for an
alteration of the late Act regarding Mason Lodges – The Right Honorable and
Most Worshipful The Grand Master approved of the Steps that had already been
taken on points so interesting to the Craft, and informed the Committee that he
intended to be in London by the first of next month, when he would…take the
earliest opportunity of Communicating with the Duke of Athole Grand Master
of the Ancient Fraternity of Free Masons in England, with whom it was his
Lordships opinion the Grand Lodge here should by all means endeavour to
cooperate in the application to Parliament and that he should likewise make it
his business to lay the matter before His Majesties Ministers. In the mean time
His Lordship requested to be put in possession of extracts of the whole
proceedings of the Grand Lodge relative to the above business which the
Committee appointed to the Grand Clerk to transmit to the Grand Master with
all convenient dispatch.
3 April 1801
Thereafter the Grand Clerk stated that he had taken it upon him to write to the
Grand Master reminding him of his promise to Communicate with his Majesties
Ministers regarding the Application to Parliament for an Extension of the
Powers of the Grand Lodge with regard to granting Charters and that His
Lordship had been pleased to return the following answer:
“Great George Street April 9 th 1801 – Sir I have never lost sight of the business
relative to the application to Parliament to grant more extensive powers to the
Grand Lodge of Scotland. But I beg to observe to you that for some time after
my arrival in Town it was not very clear who were and who were not his
Majesties Ministers and I did not know to whom with propriety to apply. After
that period a stop was put to all public business in consequence of the Kings
Illness. Until I heard that his Majesty had considerably regained his strength I
did not Judge it proper to add any thing to the business that was of necessity to
come before him, and I do not think any Minister at liberty to give any Answer
to an application of the importance of mine without taking his commands on the
subject. I shall now lose no time in bringing the business foreward
I am your obedient servant
[Signed] Dalkeith
3 August 1801
Thereafter a letter was read from the Right Honourable and Most Worshipful
The Earl of Dalkeith Grand Master Mason of Scotland which is of the following
Tenor Viz.
Dear Sir,
I have received an Answer from Government relative to the
Granting further powers to the Grand Lodge of Scotland to this effect ‘that it is
not expedient to allow more Lodges to be established at the present moment.’
Have the goodness to communicate this information to the person so that it may
be laid before the Grand Lodge.
Yours Sincerely,
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