Aberdeen, Lodge of No. 1.ter This Lodge, although once
No. 34 on the roll of the Grand Lodge of Scotland, is one of the oldest in that
country, the actual date of its origin being unknown. Public records of the
Burgh of Aberdeen are among the most complete of all towns in Scotland and
extend back to the year 1399. As of 1483, reference is found therein to an oath
taken by the masownys of the luge. In 1486, Burgh rules
were adopted governing Masons. In 1544, there is reference to the lodge
building, apparently the permanent meeting place. In 1527, the Masons of
Aberdeen were incorporated. It is said that there was a Provost of Masons in
Aberdeen in 1264. The present cathedral there was erected in 1357, an earlier
one which had stood for about 200 years being razed to make room for it.
Masons’ marks are found on the stones in the present edifice from the
foundations upward.
It has been established that the first Freemason
known to have been in America was John Skene, whose name appears on the roll of
Lodge of Aberdeen and who settled at Burlington, New Jersey in 1682.
The preserved records of Lodge of Aberdeen date from
December 26, 1670, but the Lodge claims an origin May 6, 1541, when its Seal of
Cause was confirmed by the Burgh of Aberdeen. The reason for assigning No. 34
to this lodge, to which it protested, is unknown, but, as in other instances,
reappraisal gave the lodge a lower number. It is now fourth on the list and, in
order not to disturb the numbering of the whole list, it was made No. 1 ter
or third. the list now begins as follows: Kilwinning No. 0, Edinburgh No. 1,
Melrose No. 1 bis, Aberdeen No. 1 ter.
Among the most informative of Scots records are The
Laws and Statutes of the Lodge of Aberdeen, made in 1670, which differ
materially from other regulations of that period. They refer to the Mason
Word; authorize the Master, with the advice of the Company, to act
as judge in all disputes and to impound the tools of malcontent members. Annual
election was held on St. John’s Day. No lodge was to be held in an inhabited
house, except in bad weather and then only with close guard, otherwise, it must
be held in the open field. The Mason’s Box was an important article,
being the depository of charitable funds. Every apprentice was required to pay
four rix dollars at his admission and to present each member a linen apron and
pair of gloves. This was called clothing the lodge and continued to be
so called and practiced in many lodges for more than a century afterward. The
apprentice also paid for a dinner, including wine, and a fee for the Mark
which he selected. For making a Master of one who had been entered in another
lodge the fee was two dollars, or more in the case of a ”gentleman Mason” (non
operative). St. John’s Day was a time of rejoicing and feasting and, thereon,
the apprentices and fellow crafts were to pay the Master 12 shillings or have
their tools seized. These rules were to be read at the entry of each entered
apprentice.
Intenders were appointed to instruct apprentices,
and the latter were fined for failure to learn and remember. All were enjoined
to love one another as brothers born, and each was to have a good report behind
his brother’s back. The Lord’s Day was to be kept holy, and Sabbath breakers,
habitual swearers, unclean persons, and drunkards were severely punished. The
lodge record box could be opened only by three different keys, one held by each
of three key masters, as was the custom among the German Steinmetzen.
These records show, not only that non-operatives
were admitted to the lodge, but that, in 1670, that class preponderated. The
Laws were subscribed by all members. They referred to themselves as Authoires
off this Book, and after all, but two or three of the names, were given the
occupations and marks. The marks consisted of all sorts of curious crosses,
stars, triangles, angles, and other designs. Of the 49 names subscribed, 12
were those of operative masons; 1, a tutor and collector of customs; 9
merchants; 5 noblemen or gentlemen; 4 wrights; 3 ministers; 3 skalaiters
(slaters); 2 glassiers; 2 piriuig (peruke) makers; 2 chyrurgeons (surgeons); 1
smith; 1 armorer; 1 advocate; 1 cardmaker; 1 hook maker; and 1 professor of
mathematics.
With few exceptions, the Masters of Aberdeen Lodge,
from 1760, were non-operative members. In 1781, the bulk of the operatives left
Aberdeen Lodge, taking with them their Mark Book, and formed an
operative Lodge No. 150 on the roll of the Grand Lodge. Only two classes of
members are mentioned in the Laws of 1670, Master Masons and apprentices, the
former sometimes described as fellow crafts, but both terms including those who
had served a term as apprentices. It is apparent that the grade of Master Mason
was attained without any secret mode of recognition or esoteric distinction
from the apprentices. As applied to gentlemen or non-operatives, it was purely
an honorary or complimentary title.
The Laws or Statutes of 1670 close with the following
passage:
”So ends the names of all who are authoires off this
Book and the Mason’s box in order according to our ages as we were made fellow
crafts (from which we reckon our age), so we entreat all our good successors in
the Mason craft to follow our rule as your pattern and not to strive for place,
for here you may see above warden and amongst the rest of our names persons of
mean degree inserted before great persons of quality.”
Appended to the Laws was the Measson Charter, which, together with the Laws, was to be read at the entry of each entered apprentice. This was a copy of one of the old English manuscripts, Ancient Charges or Gothic Constitutions (q.v.).
