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Mark Coleman Wallace PhD Thesis - University of St Andrews

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geographically dispersed across Scotland; by 1750, Edinburgh and Midlothian,<br />

the Western Lodges, and the Highlands made up 51 per cent <strong>of</strong> all lodges.<br />

This pattern changed dramatically in 1765. The amount <strong>of</strong> new lodges<br />

dropped by 36 per cent, as all Districts with the exception <strong>of</strong> Fife and Aberdeen<br />

and Angus showed reductions in new charters (Figure 3.3).<br />

Number <strong>of</strong> Lodges<br />

14<br />

12<br />

10<br />

8<br />

6<br />

4<br />

2<br />

0<br />

Edinburgh<br />

Western<br />

Lodges<br />

Figure 3.3. New Lodges per District 1751-1765<br />

Perth &<br />

Kinross<br />

Dumfries<br />

&<br />

Galloway<br />

<strong>St</strong>irling<br />

Fife<br />

Districts<br />

Aberdeen<br />

& Angus<br />

Borders<br />

Highlands<br />

Orkney &<br />

Shetland<br />

Western<br />

Isles<br />

1751-1765<br />

The Edinburgh, Western, and Highland Districts also witnessed sharp<br />

falls in lodges, although smaller Districts were better represented. The Fife<br />

District reported eight new lodges, compared to only six for Edinburgh. From<br />

1766 until 1800, the results are strikingly similar to the findings in the first two<br />

periods. Although Scottish freemasonry endured a decline in new lodges, by<br />

1785 the number had again risen to eighty-one (Figure 3.4). However, the<br />

Edinburgh and Metropolitan District was again beset by a perpetual downturn,<br />

as new lodges dropped from six to five.<br />

87

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