|
THE people of Biggar and its
neighbourhood have not been inattentive to the advantage?, of associating
themselves for the purpose of social intercourse, and mutual relief in case
of accidcnt or sickness.. Efforts of this kind are meritorious, as they
encourage prudent and, economical conduct, promote good fellowship, and
provide a security against destitution, when, by some stroke of calamity,
the usual sources of income are dried up. Thirty years ago, Biggar could
boast of possessing four benefit societies, with a conjoined membership of
733 persons. These were the Masons’, the Friendly, the Whipmen’e, and the
Weavers’ Societies.
The oldest Society in Biggar
is the Masons. Like, many Masons’ Societies in Scotland, it has lost its
oldest records, and therefore its early history is shrouded in an obscurity
never likely to be dispelled. When we first become acquainted with it, we
find it in active working order; but we obtain no information regarding the
way in which the members acquired their masonic knowledge, or the time at >vhich
they first associated themselves together. It is perhaps not going too far
to say, that a masons’ lodge of one kind or another has existed in Biggar
from the commencement of the building of Biggar Kirk, in 1545. The men who
erected that edifice were evidently, from the marks left on their work,
Freemasons; a little doubt can exist that they practised their rites during
the time that they carried it on. The Lodge then formed would be frequented
by the operative masons in the district; and these men would continue the
organization long after the builders of the Kirk had taken their departure.
This is so far confirmed by the fact, that the Freemasons of Biggar
continued, to a recent period, to practise mark-maaonry, and to use marks
similar to those found on the stones of Biggar Kirk. A record of the Lodge
marks for a number of years is still preserved, and possesses no small
interest to the student of the principles of .masonic scienoe. The law of
the Lodge in regard to marks, as expressed in a minute dated 27th December
1797, was, ‘that every brother, in all time coming, using any mark, for any
purpose whatever in masonry, shall have the same registered by the Mark
Masters, for which he shall pay the sum of one mark Scots, which shall go to
the funds of the Lodge, and that any mark that is not so registered, cannot
serve him for any purpose in masonry;
and further, that no brother
can, on any pretext whatever, use a mark employed by another brother after
it is registered.
The first entry in the
records of the Lodge of Biggar Free Operatives that has been preserved, is
dated 12th January 1726, and states that William Ireland and George Young
were then entered apprentices, and Alexander Crichton was passed
fellow-craft. A reference is made in one of the minutes to an Act, passed in
1725, against absentees from the meetings of the Lodge; and this is the
earliest date that we can find regarding its operations. The Biggar Society
of Freemasons was, strictly speaking, what is called an Operative Lodge;
that is, a large portion of its members were operative masons. It apparently
practised at first only two degrees of St John’s masonry—the entered
apprentice and fellow-craft. It is not till the year 1765, that special
notice is taken of the raising of entrants to the sublime degree of Matter
Mason. The Lodge, at first, was presided over by a deacon, who was assisted
by a warden, a box-master, a treasurer, a clerk, and several managers; but
after the formation of the Grand Lodge of Scotland, in 1736, the present
order of officials,—viz., a master, two wardens, two deacons, two stewards,
a treasurer, secretary, etc.,—was adopted. On St John’s day 1726, the
principal office-bearers chosen were—Robert Scott, deacon; Alexander
Baillie, warden; and Andrew Aikman, box-master; and the most active members,
at that time, were Thomas Cosh, John Tod, Daniel Aitken, James Vallange,
John Gladstones, George Bertram, and William Baillie.
At a meeting of the members
of the Lodge, on the 27th May 1727, it was resolved to petition the Lodge of
Linlithgow to be incorporated with that Lodge—4 to be made,’ as was stated,
a part and pendicle of it, and to obtain the rights, powers, and privileges
thereof.’ Accordingly, the Lodge of Linlithgow, at a meeting held at
Queensferry on the 11th of July following, was pleased to grant the prayer
of the petition, and to present a charter on stamped paper to a deputation
from the Biggar Lodge, that were in attendance. The expenses incurred in
carrying through this transaction, amounted to L.58, 17s. Scots, and the
Biggar Lodge became bound to pay to the Linlithgow Lodge one pound Scots
yearly. On the 27th of May 1734, the Biggar Lodge received a visit from the
deacon and warden of the Linlithgow Lodge, and spent L.12 Scots in giving
them a treat.
It was the practice of the
Lodge at that time, as it still is, to have an annual procession on the
anniversary of St John the Evangelist, viz., the 27th of December. On the
24th December 1736, the members resolved to have a new flag for their annual
display. Accordingly, they bought a piece of silk cloth from William
Johnston, and ‘yellow wattens from Janet Wilson to munt the said flag,’—the
price of the whole being L.4, 2s. Scots. On St John’s day following, they
chose Alexander Crichton ensign, and Daniel Aitken adjutant, and marched
through the town five men deep, all with blue bonnets, white aprons, white
gloves, yellow cockades, and hand-rules. On these occasions, it was the
custom of the brethren to ascend the Cross-knowe, and while encircling the
ancient Cross, to drink the usual loyal toasts in whisky, brandy, or ale.
This was done with great acclaim on the 27th December 1745, during the time
of the rebellion; but whether the toasts on that occasion referred to Prince
Charlie or George II., the record saith not We are told, however, that the
brethren got a present of a pint of whisky from John Laidlaw, merchant, and
that, in the exuberance of their generous feelings, they invited to dinner
the following townsmen, viz.:—Andrew Vallange, John Gibson, Bailie
Carmichael, William Forrest, Robert Craig, John Laidlaw, George Bertram, and
4 ye Drummer,’ and defrayed the whole expense out of the funds of the box.
It is certain that the Biggar Masons were intensely loyal to the House of
Hanover during the early part of the reign of George IH. On the King’s
birthday—the 4th of June—the brethren were wont to assemble, and, clothed in
the paraphernalia of their order, to proceed to the Cross, and there drink
his Majesty’s health amid loud huzzas and volleys of musketry.
The order of procession on St
John’s day was fixed, in 1796, as follows:—
Music, preceded by three
Halbertmen.
Tyler in uniform.
Stewards with white rods.
Brethren out of office, two
and two.
Treasurer and Secretary, with
the badges of their offices.
The Bible, with Square and
Compass, borne on a crimson cushion, and supported by the two Deacons, with
black rods.
The Chaplain.
The Wardens.
The Past Master.
The R. W. Master, supported
by the Depute and Substitute Masters.
It was the practice, for a
number of years, to have a sermon preached on St John’s day in the Parish
Church. In 1794, the sermon was preached by the Rev. William Strachan of
Coulter; in 1795, by the Rev. James Gardner of Tweedsmuir; in 1796, by the
Rev. Robert Anderson, preacher of the Gospel at Symington; in 1797, by the
Rev. John Ritchie of Dunsyre; in 1798, by the Rev. Bryce Little of
Covington; and in 1799, by the Rev. Patrick Mollison of Walston.
In 1736, Biggar Lodge sent a
representative to Edinburgh, when William St Clair of Roslin resigned his
office as hereditary Grand Master, and the Grand Lodge of Scotland was
constituted in its present form. The name of the representative is
unfortunately obliterated in the old record, from exposure to damp, but it
is supposed to have been Sir William Baillie of Lamington. A
misunderstanding, it appears, arose between Sir William and the Lodge, which
he was indisposed to take any steps to dear up. When the Grand Lodge sent a
cowmipication to the Biggar Masons, in March 1737, requesting a delegation
at the Quarterly Communication on the. 13th of April, the brethren set Sir
William aside, and elected, in his place Brother Thomas Simson. They
furnished this brother with a copy of their charter from the Lodge of
Linlithgow, and the names of the entrants since the formation of the Grand
Lodge; and they instructed him to ascertain if they were recognised as a
regularly constituted Lodge, and, if this was the case, to pay the
stipulated fee of half-a-crown for the enrolment of each of their entrants
since November last. It may be conjectured that there was either some
hesitation on the part of the .Grand Lodge to admit the Biggar brethren, or
that these brethren themselves were slow in complying with some of the Grand
Lodge regulations. At all events, the Lodge of Biggar was not placed on the
roll, and the brethren very soon began to cool towards the governing body.
In 1738, they therefore came to the decision, that, as they had many widows
and orphans to support, it would be better to keep their half-crowns at home
than to send them to the Grand Lodge. The Lodge continued its connection
with the Lodge of Linlithgow, although that Lodge had set the example of
resigning its independent powers, and giving its adherence to the supreme
ruling body established in Edinburgh; and it was not till the year 1785 that
the Biggar brethren resolved to obtain a charter from the Grand Lodge. This
accordingly was granted them on the 6th of November 1786, and cost the sum
of L.7, 19s. 2d. The Biggar Lodge was placed on the roll as number 222,
which was afterwards changed to its present number, 167; but had it
persevered in its original design of joining the Grand Lodge at its
formation, it would have taken its place among the oldest lodges in the
country. The charter, which it thus obtained, is preserved with great care ;
it is always read at the annual meetings on St John’s day, and during
processions is carried in an ornamental box by the Tyler.
The meeting* of the Lodge
were at first held in the inns and private houses of the town. Those most
frequently mentioned are the houses of Thomas Cosh, dyer; John Cree,.
gardener; John Gladstones, maltr-man.; Andrew Brown, Silveivknowes; and John
Jardine and Thomas Wilson, vintners. A lodge was occasionally opened in the
country for making masons. Among other places in the neighbourhood, may be
mentioned Elsrickle, Bogsbank, and Cormiston ; and on one occasion a
dispensation was granted to make masons for the Biggar Lodge in England. In
1793, the members purchased a house in the centre of the town from Mathew
Cree and Andrew Nicol, and converted one of its apartments into a
lodge-room; but it was far from being suitable or commodious. The brethren
at different times held deliberations regarding the propriety of erecting a
proper hall. In 1796, Lord Elphinstone, superior of the barony, proposed to
erect a new Mealhouse and a Tolbooth; and, therefore, the brethren put
themselves in communication with his Lordship to get liberty to put an
additional storey on the top of this projected building, to be used for the
purpose of a hall; but his Lordship's design does not appear to have been
tarried into execution. In 1808, a committee, composed of three delegates
from each of the Benefit Societies of Biggar, held several meetings to
decide on the erection of a common hall. To this committee a report was
given in, that a hall, 55 feet long and 28£ feet wide, could be? erected for
L.450. This project also failed, and the consequence was, that the Masons
erected a new hall for themselves, in 1814, adjoining their own tenement. It
is plain but commodious, and on great festive days is ornamented by the
Master’s chair, made in 1794, and by a portrait of Robert Bums, painted for
the Lodge by a townsman and brother mason, the late John Pairman. This
portrait was presented to the Lodge in December 1821, along with the
following letter addressed to the Right Worshipful Master:—
‘ R. W. Master,—As an humble
but sincere mark of respect to you and the brethren of Biggar Free
Operatives, St John's Lodge, I beg to present for your acceptance a portrait
of the late Robert Burns, the Ayrshire poet. In fixing on him for your hall,
1 do not wish to hold him up as a faultless character, but I may be allowed
to say that, with all his faults, Bums will merit a place in the affections
of every brother. When living, he was ardently devoted to masonry; and since
his death, his songs have, in an eminent degree, contributed to the innocdnt
pleasures of masonry. With best wishes to you and the brethren whom you have
the honour to represent, —I am, etc., ...
John Paikman.
As a small return for Mr
Pairman’s kindness, the Lodge elected him an honorary member, and presented
him with a diploma.
At the meeting on St John’s
day 1796, some Knight-Templars who were present, insisted on taking
precedence of the other brethren, who were only Blue Masons. This led to a
keen discussion. The Lodge itself was not disposed to give any deliverance
on the subject, but Brother George Inglis protested against the conduct and
pretensions: of the Templars, and appealed to the Grand Lodge. That body, on
the 1st of May 1797, gave the following decision —‘A petition and oomplaint
was read from sundry brethren of the Lodge Biggar Free Operatives,'
respecting certain brethren of the Order of Knight-Templars, insisting that,
in consequence of their possessing that degree in masonry, they are entitled
to precedency above Master Masons of said Lodge. The Grand Lodge declare in
the negative, tend that 'the present office-bearers of every regular Lodge
shall, according to their respective offices, as expressed in their charter,
take precedency of every other member of said Lodge; and that no other
distinction shall be known in a Lodge of the brethren thereof, but that
which rises from superior knowledge in masonry and exemplary behaviour.
A number of the French
prisoners stationed at Biggar on their parole of honour, towards the close
of the war with France, were freemasons. In the beginning of 1813, they
applied to the members of the Biggar Lodge for the use of their hall, the
master’s chair, the warden’s tools, etc., in order that they might
constitute a lodge of their own. This application was acceded to, and
Brothers Elias Berger and Francis Renaudy became security for any damage
that might be done. The French masons were here wont to practise their
rites, which were somewhat different from those of the Scottish brethren.
One of their number, resident in the Westraw, having died, was interred with
masonic honours, and a funeral lodge was held out of respect to his memory.
The Biggar Lodge had the honour of enrolling in its ranks one of these
prisoners, a distinguished Polish nobleman and a freemason named Francois
Mayskie, and received from him a fee of one guinea.
The Lodge of Biggar has taken
part in various public ceremonials of the craft. It was well represented at
laying the foundation-stones of the Lodge Hall of Lockhart St John, Carnwath;
the National Monument at Edinburgh; the Bridge over the Mouse at Cartlane;
the County Buildings, Lanark; the Freemasons’ Hall, Edinburgh, etc.; and it
turned out in great force at the demonstration at laying the
foundation-stone of the Corn Exchange, Biggar.
Members are admitted into the
Lodge between the ages of sixteen and thirty-two years. On being entered
apprentices they pay L.1, 6s. 6d., and 10s. 6d. additional on being raised
to the sublime degree of Master Mason. The quarterly payment is Is. 3d.
Members, when sick, are entitled to 6s. weekly for the space of seventeen
weeks; and if they continue longer in a bad state of health, they receive
4s. weekly till the expiration of a year. After this period, they are
allowed such a sum as the managers think proper. On the death of a member,
the Lodge pays L.2 in name of funeral expenses. The annual income of the
Society has been somewhat fluctuating. In 1837, it was as low as L.93, Is.
4d.j while in 1849 it was as high as L.172, 5s. 6d; and in 1860, it was
L.132, 3s. 2d. The expenditure has varied in the same way. In 1836, it was
L.70, 12s. 6d.; and in 1855, it was L.159. The Society is at present in a
flourishing condition, and the number of members on the roll is 245. The
amount of good which this Society has done is, no doubt, very great. It has
not only aided hundreds of poor men when in distress, and after their death
caused their funeral obsequies to be observed with decent solemnities, but
it has relieved the wants of many a poor wanderer. The entries in the books
are numerous of small sums disbursed to travelling brethren, to assist them
on their journey.
A benefit society,
established in 1787, was called the ‘Friendly Society.’ In 1835, it had one
hundred and fourteen members, with a capital of L.250. It continued after
this period gradually to decline.
Few new members joined it,
and tbe demand on it9 funds increased from year to year. It was therefore
dissolved.
Another benefit society was
established at Biggar in 1806, and is called the 'Biggar Whipmen’s Society.’
During the first year of its existence, it enrolled 190 members. At its
first annual procession, which took place on the 17th of July 1807, no fewer
than 164 members appeared on horses, gaily caparisoned with ribbons,
flowers, etc. The privilege of carrying the colours or flag was rouped, and
brought the sum of four guineas. The members then proceeded to
Coulter-mains, the seat of John Brown, Esq., and afterwards to Hartree
House, the residence of Colonel Alexander Dickson. The annual processions at
first were fixed to take place on the day after Biggar Midsummer Fair, but
they have been changed to the day after Skirling Fair, in June; and on this
day the Biggar gymnastic sports are also held. The Whipmen’s Society allows
its sick members 5s. per week for twelve weeks, 3s. a-week for twenty-four
weeks, and then one guinea quarterly so long as sickness continues.
The fourth benefit society
was instituted on the 3d of December 1806, and was called the Weavers’
Society. Its annual meeting and procession took place on the first Friday of
July. On this occasion the. members paraded the town clothed with white
aprons, sashes, and other insignia. The Weavers’ parade was a gala day at
Biggar. The music for many years consisted of a drum and a fife,
supplemented with one or two fiddles. The allowance to sick members was
somewhat similar to that of the Masons’ Society, and the funeral money was
the same. The Weavers’ Society, from being founded on erroneous
calculations, from having too many very poor and infirm members, or
receiving no adequate accessions of young men to its roll, began to give
symptoms of decay. It lingered on for some years; and though it was a law
that any member who should propose that the Society should be dissolved, or
its funds divided, should instantly and for ever be expelled, yet this idea
was not only propounded, but entertained, and this once flourishing
institution was brought to a dose in 1841. The colours or flag of the
Society, which waved in the breeze on every annual procession, are preserved
by Mr George Johnston, merchant, Biggar. They are adorned with the Weavers’
arms, and the motto—
‘Imperial thrones
Our art adorns,
But to the poor
Here is our alms.’ |
