Mark Coleman Wallace PhD Thesis - University of St Andrews

for inspecting…houses reported that they had inspected the Said houses” and
they agreed “that the first flat above the Shops and brewseat will make a very
handsome and Commodious Lodge and preparing Rooms the next of which is
eight pounds Stirling, The Lodge is of opinion that it would Sink their Stock to
purchase the Said flat.” 8 Similarly, on 27 December 1767, No. 6 moved to have
“a Lodge Erected and Built…as such a Building would not only be a necessary
and beneficial ornament, But contribute much to the increase of Masonry.” No.
30 Stirling also bemoaned its itinerant state, as it met in the houses of its
members. Discussing this issue on 29 January 1751, the lodge resolved to begin
plans on a new lodge:
being mett in the house of Brother Hicksons and having taken into
Consideration that the said Lodge had hitherto got no proper Lodge or
meeting place of their own, And it having been by some of the members
present represented to them, That the Seven Incorporated trades of the
Burgh of Stirling under the Direction of their Conveener Court, were
about to erect a house or fabrick at the head of the nether Hospital
Garden, Which house the Lodge thought would be very convenient and
remote place for Holding their Lodge or meetings. 9
Occasionally, lodges recorded the redecoration of its rooms. For
example, No. 1(3) Aberdeen Lodge listed extensive restorations which were to
occur, employing the talents of a local painter and utilizing many colours to
aesthetically improve the lodge:
…It was Unanimously Agreed to Paint the Chair…of a Stone Colour in
Oil with Chacilite Base, to paint the Plaster of the Walls a Light bleu in
Size, To paint the Architrave of a Syrean or Redish Marble Colour, The
Frize a plain white, of the Cornish a Dove Colour all three in Oil, The
East Window Pelasters Architrave of a white veined Marble, The Gallery
of the Cartuses Mahogany Colour Architrave Frise and Cornish of
8 No. 3 Scoon & Perth Lodge Minutes, 15 December 1760.
9 No. 30 Stirling Lodge Minutes, 29 January 1751.
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