Mark Coleman Wallace PhD Thesis - University of St Andrews

not been officially recognized by the Grand Lodge; 33 twelve were un-located,
extinct, dormant, had no official charter, or had withdrawn from the Grand
Lodge; 34 No. 1(2) Melrose remained independent until 1891, and thus was not
included on the Grand Roll. The remaining seven lodges excluded seem to have
been oversights. For example, it was reported in 1740 that Alexander
Drummond had visited Kilsyth; this lodge, however, was not listed among the
Districts. 35 Also, Clark’s assertion that lodges which had failed to pay annual
dues were struck from the Grand Roll may also account for the omissions. 36
Much like the Provincial System of England, the indistinct notions of
purpose and direction prevented the Scottish Provincial Districts from
accomplishing its main goals of creating a network of inter-lodge
communication and linking regional lodges more closely with the Grand Lodge
of Scotland. Seemingly more interested in establishing Scottish freemasonry
outside of Britain, the Grand Lodge encouraged overseas expansion more than
the creation and maintenance of a properly organized Provincial System. It
quickly acknowledged the request of Alexander Drummond who, having
recently moved to Turkey, wished to “propagate the art and science of masonry
in those parts of the world where he hath already erected some mason
33 Moortown of Garron (8 April 1734), No. 51 Loundon Kilwinning (14 March 1747)
34 A Lodge at Haughfoot (c. 1702), No. 14 United Lodge of Dunkeld (c. 1737, chartered 1
August 1757); No. 17 Ancient Brazen (30 November 1737), St. Bride’s Douglas (1736),
Strathaven (1736), Sanquhar (1736), Mariaburgh (1736), Kirkcaldy (1736), The Virgin Lodge
(1736), Aitcheson’s Haven (1736), New Tarbet (1738), Lesmahagow (1741), A Lodge in Isle of
Islay (19 May 1742), Lodge Pitterfrand (30 November 1743)
35 The remaining lodges were No. 20 St Machute (27 December 1736), No. 22 St John
Kilwinning at Kilmarnock (13 April 1737), No. 32 St John at Selkirk (27 December 1736), The
Lodge of Goollen (8 February 1738), No. 40 St Thomas at Arbroath (1 December 1740), and
No. 50 Inverary St John (23 February 1747).
36 Clark, British Clubs, 309.
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