Mark Coleman Wallace PhD Thesis - University of St Andrews

Scotland had chartered or sanctioned the formation of 176 lodges. 79 After the
same period of approximately thirty years in existence, Scottish lodges were
more numerous than those in England. 80
The expansion of Scottish lodges can be attributed to the important
presence of operative and the gradual development of speculative freemasonry.
Despite such growth, a problem contributing to the relative isolation of lodges
and lack of masonic communication was the paucity of promotion through the
newly established Grand Lodge. Clark writes that the underlying themes of
masonic literature were “improvement and enlightenment, with a stress on merit
as the measure of men, education, and the joys of fraternal association; in sum a
utopian world detached from political, religious or ascribed social status.” 81
Although the Grand Lodge of England was particularly successful in its
marketing and endorsement of such themes, George Draffen argues that
“Scotland seems to have been singularly unsuccessful in attempts at masonic
journalism,” making only “fourteen attempts to produce a masonic periodical
since the year 1797.” 82 As Clark argues, English masonic literature was an
effective means of education for freemasons, serving as a conduit for such
Enlightenment ideas as self-improvement and education. Yet in Scotland, this
same process was lacking, even though it has been claimed by Kahler that
79
Lodge totals reflect military lodges, dormant lodges, amalgamations, and lodges chartered by
Kilwinning.
80
Grand Lodge of Scotland, Consolidated List, 1-6. See John Money, “Freemasonry and
Loyalism in England,” 255-260 for a description of the growth rate of freemasonry in England
during the eighteenth century.
81
Clark, British Clubs, 335-336.
82
George Draffen, “Scottish Masonic Periodicals,” AQC, 92(1979), 191-198.
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