Grand Masters of Scotland - Onondaga and Oswego Masonic ...

From the date of its institution, Lodge St. David was prosperous, and meetings were held regulary with the exception of the
period dating from June, 1745 to December, 1746, when the R.W. Master considered it inadvisable to summon the members owing
to the Jacobite Rebellion. The height of prosperity was reached in the session of 1754. In that year 107 names were added to the
roll, and of that number 92 were initiated. Much of this prosperity was due to the influence of the R.W. Master Bro. Walter Ferguson,
a writer in Edinburgh, initiated in 1752. Bro. Ferguson was owner of portions of the land on which the new town of Edinburgh was
built, including the whole of St. James' Square. When the said Square was in process of building, the following incident is stated to
have taken place between Sir Walter Scott's father and the R.W. Master's son, Captain James Ferguson of the Royal Navy, initiated
in 1753 when a Midshipman on the "Success" Man-of-War. An attempt was being made to procure water by sinking wells for it,
despite the elevation of the ground. Mr. Scott happened one day to pass when Captain Ferguson was sinking a well of vast depth.
Upon Scott expressing doubt if water could be got there: "I will get it,' quoth the Captain, "though I sink to hell for it!" "A bad place for
water," was the dry remark of the doubter.
The Fergusons and the Scotts were connected by marriage through the border family of Swinton of Swinton. "A family," writes
Sir Walter," which produced many distinguished warriors during the middle ages, and which, for antiquity and honourable alliances,
may rank with any in Britain."
Of those who were made masons in 1754, thirty are designated "Writers," the profession to which the R.W. Master belonged,
and among them was Sir Walter Scott's father. He was initiated on the 4th of January, the first meeting held that session, and was
recommended by the R.W. Master, Bro. Walter Ferguson. The following is an extract from the minute.
"The Lodge being convened on an Emergency.... there was presented to the Lodge a Petition for Anthony Fergson, mercht. in
Edinburgh, Walter Scott & John Tait, Writers in Edinburgh, Craving to be made Masons & admitted Members of this Lodge, and
being recommended by the Right Worshipfull Master, their Petition was unanimously granted and they were accordingly made
Masons, and each paid his full Dues to the Treasurer...."
Bro. Scott was born on the 11th of May, 1729, and was the eldest son of Robert Scott, farmer at Sandy Knowe in the vicinity of
Smailholm Tower, Roxburghshire, a descendant of Sir Walter Scott, of Harden. The Scotts of Harden, again, came, in the fourteenth
century from the stock of the Buccleuchs. He was educated for the profession of Writer to the Signet, to which society he was
admitted in 1755. "Through his family connection he obtained a good practice, which partly owing to his punctilious manner,
subsequently decreased. Singularly conscientious, he would, according to Sir Walter, have sacrificed his own interest to that of his
client, and though economical to the verge of penury, would, in carrying out any duties entrusted to him have been content to suffer
loss." 2 His portrait is drawn for us by his son under the disguise of Saunders Fairford in "Redgauntlet."
Bro. Scott stepped quickly into prominence in the lodge, and before receiving the second degree acted as Junior Warden, in the
absence of that official, on the 25th and 30th of January, and also on the 4th of February. On the 20th of March he was passed F.C.,
and two days later was raised to the Degree of M.M. He again acted as Junior Warden, pro tempore, on 29th March and 3rd April,
and on 10th April as Depute Master. At the Festival of St. John the Evangelist, 27th December, 1754, within a year of his initiation
he was elected and installed Senior Warden. The minutes of the meetings at this period were signed by the R.W. Master and
Wardens, and Bro. Scott's signature, as Junior Warden, pro tem., 1754, and as Senior Warden in 1755, appears in the Minute Book
nineteen times.
For many years after the institution of the lodge it was customary to select what was termed a "leet" of three brethren for the
office of R.W. Master, their names being submitted and a vote taken, if necessary, at the Annual Festival on winter St. John's day.
Scott was nominated one of the leet for the Mastership, at a meeting held on 10th December, 1755. The minute states that:
"... The Rt. Worshipfull" (Bro. James Ewart, Accountant, Royal Bank) proposed the Worshipfull Br. James Walker Dt. Mr. for
one" (of the leet) "which the Lodge unanimously agreed to. The Wardens" (Bros. Walter Scott and John Gray) "proposed the Rt.
Worshipfull himself for another And the Bretheren of the Lodge named the Worshipfull Brother Walter Scott Senior Warden for the
third. All the three being unanimously approved of by the Members...."
At the annual Festival on 27th December the brethren unanimously agreed to the election of the R.W. Master's nominee, and
the Depute Master, Bro. James Walker, physician, was installed, in the chair.
The next record of interest in connection with Sir Walter Scott's father occurs fifty years afterwards, on 7th December, 1785,
when, in the absence of the R.W. Master he occupied the chair.
The Brethren being conveened, Br. Walter Scott Esqr. took the Chair & the Lodge being regularly opened & constituted, a
petition was presented for Messrs. Robert Scott, Chicherter Cheyne (both sailors) and John Johnston Craving to be made Masons &
Members of this Lodge; and the two former, viz., Messrs. Scott & Cheyne being recommended by the R.W. Br. Scott & Mr. Johnston
by Br. Wm. Allan the desire of the petition was unanimous1y granted, and by direction from the Chair the Ceremony was performed
by Br. Paterson...."
This minute is signed " Walter Scott."
The two sailors recommended by Bro. Scott would, in all probability, be of some social standing and it is quite, possible that the
Robert Scott referred to was Sir Walter's elder brother. He retired from the naval service after the peace of Paris (Versailles, 1783)
and would likely be staying at home at this period. It is quite possible this meeting was held specially at the request of Bro. Scott for
the purpose of initiating his son and Mr. Cheyne.
Sir Walter Scott, in a memoir of his early life, written in 1808, gives an interesting sketch of his brother Robert:
My eldest brother (that is, the eldest whom, I remember to have seen) was Robert Scott, ... He was bred in the King's service, under
Admiral, then Captain William Dickson, and was in most of Rodney's battles. His temper was bold and haughty, and to me was often
checkered with what I felt to be capricious tyranny. In other respects I loved him much, for he had a strong turn for literature, read
poetry with taste and judgement, and composed verses himself which had gained him great applause among his messmates.
Witness the following elegy upon the supposed loss of the vessel, composed the night before Rodney's celebrated battle of April the
12th, 1782. It alludes to the various amusements of his mess.
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