Mark Coleman Wallace PhD Thesis - University of St Andrews

Appendix 11:
Roman Eagle Lodge Minutes Regarding
the Masonic Secession
January 1807
The Lodge being regularly constituted agreeable to the rules of the Craft. The
Right Worshipful Master Brother Black was sorry to observe to the Lodge, that
the Right Worshipful Master Brother Mitchell of the Caledonian Lodge for
reasons but Known to himself had usurped our night of meeting he had not only
done so by Letting to the individual members of his Lodge, but also by Public
advertisement in the Edinburgh Newspapers, the Right Worshipful Master
therefore proposed, that the standing Committee of this Lodge which meets the
first Friday after every meeting, should draw up a Letter forthwith, send it to the
Right Worshipful Master of the Caledonian complaining of the unjustifiable and
unbrotherly conduct of their proceedings in holding their public monthly
meeting upon the fourth Friday of the month which was well known to be our
night for that purpose for the last Seven years and the Right Worshipful Master
had no right to, but the Master of the Caledonian and the Lodge under his
Charge upon this representation would see the folly and impropriety of their
Unmasonic Conduct…Altho the meeting of this Evening was not very numerous
not more than fifty being present owing as before stated to the Caledonians
meeting in the same Night, the Brethren were remarkably Genteel and spent the
Evening with that harmony and Conviviality which has always Characterised the
Roman Eagle Lodge when the R.W. Black was at their head.
February 1807
The Lodge being regularly constituted agreeable to the rules of the Craft the
Right Worshipful Brother Black rose to inform the Lodge that a Letter had been
sent to the Right Worshipful Brother Mitchell of the Caledonians complaining
of the conduct of that Lodge in usurping the night of meeting used by this night
of Roman Eagle, and that the Secretary Brother Drummond had received for
answer “That the Committee of the Caledonian Lodge having fixed upon that
Night for their meeting for certain obvious reasons Known to themselves, and
public notice of same having been given in the Edinburgh Newspapers they
could not now retract from it.” The Right Worshipful Brother Black therefore
proposed that a Memorial and Petition be drawn up by the Monthly Committee
of this Lodge and presented to the Grand Lodge of Scotland setting forth the
unmasonic conduct of the Caledonians and praying the Grand Lodge of Scotland
may give orders that the Caledonians shall alter their night of meeting. This met
with the hearty concurrence of all present and the Committee was desired to
prepair the Memorial and Petition accordingly.
March 1807
The Lodge being Regularly constituted according to the rules of the Craft Right
Worshipful Brother Black rose to inform the Brethren that he had personally
spoken to Right Worshipful Brother Mitchell of the Caledonians anent their