DURING the succeeding reigns of the Scotish monarchs, Free Masonry still flourished, though very little information can be procured respecting the particular state of the fraternity. In the Privy Seal book of Scotland, however, there is a letter dated at Holyroodhouse, 25th September 1590, and granted by King James VI. " to Patrick Cop"land of Udaught, for using and exercising the office of Wardanrie over the art and craft of masonrie, over all the boundis of Aberdeen, Banff, "and Kincardine, to had wardan and justice courts within the said boundis, and there to minister justice*." This letter confirms what has already been said concerning the state of masonry in Scotland. It proves beyond dispute, that the Kings of Scotland nominated the office-bearers of the order; that these provincial masters, or wardens, as they were then called, administered justice in every dispute which concerned the "art and craft of masonrie;" that lodges were established in all parts of Scotland, even in those remote, and, at that time, uncivilized counties of Aberdeen, Banff, and Kincardine; and it completely overturns the unfounded assertion of Dr Robison, who maintains†, that the celebrated antiquary Elias Ashmole, who was initiated in 1646, is the only distinct and unequivocal instance of a person being admitted into the fraternity who was not an architect by profession. Privy Seal Book of Scotland, 61. F. 47. THE THE minutes of St Mary's chapel, which is the oldest lodge in Edinburgh, extend as far back as the year 1598; but as they contain only the ordinary proceedings of the lodge, we can derive from them no particular information respecting the customs and condition of the fraternity. It appears, however, from these minutes, that Thomas Boswell, Esq. of Auchinleck, was made a warden of the lodge in the year 1600; and that the Honourable Robert Moray, Quartermaster-General to the army in Scotland, was created a master mason in 1641. These facts are deserving of notice, as they show, in opposition to Dr Robison, that persons were early admitted into the order, who were not architects by profession. WHEN James VI. ascended the throne of England, he seems to have neglected his right of nominating the office-bearers of the craft. In Hay's Manuscript in the Advocates' Library, there are two charters granted by the Scotish masons, appointing the Sinclairs of Roslin their hereditary Grand-Masters. The first of these is without a date, but signed by several masons who appoint William St Clair of Roslin, his heirs and successors, their" patrons and judges*." The other is, in some measure, a ratification of the first, and dated 1630, in which they appoint Sir William St Clair of Roslin, his heirs and successors, to be their " pa"trons, protectors, and overseers, in all time com * See Appendix No I. ing." In the first of these deeds, which seems to have been written a little after the union of the crowns, it is stated, that the want of a protector, for some years, had engendered many corruptions among the masons, and had considerably retarded the progress of the craft; and that the appointment of William Sinclair, Esq. was, with the advice and consent of William Shaw, Master of Work to his Majesty. After presiding over the order for many years, William St Clair went to Ireland, where he continued a considerable time; and, in consequence of his departure, the second charter was granted to his son Sir William St Clair, investing him with the same powers which his father enjoyed. It deserves also to be remarked, that in both these deeds, the appointment of William Sinclair, Earl of Orkney and Caithness, to the office of Grand Master, by James II. of Scotland, is spoken of as a fact well known, and universally admit ted. These observations will set in a clear point of view what must hitherto have appeared a great inconsistency in the History of Scotish Masonry. In the deed by which William Sinclair, Esq. of Roslin, resigned the office of he reditary Grand-Master in 1736, it is stated that his ancestors, William and Sir William St Clair of Roslin, were constituted patrons of the fraternity by the Scotish Masons themselves; while it is well known, that the grant of hereditary Grand * See Appendix No II. This deed of resignation is inserted at full length in the second part of this work. Grand-Master was originally made by James II. of Scotland, to their ancestor, William Sinclair, Earl of Orkney and Caithness. But, when we consider that James VI. by not exercising his power, virtually transferred to the craft the right of electing their office-bearers, the inconsistency vanishes; for Mr Sinclair and his predecessors, as far back as the date of these charters, held their office by the appointment of the fraternity itself. Lest any of Mr Sinclair's posterity, however, might, after his resignation, lay claim to the office of Grand-Master, upon the pretence that this office was bequeathed to them by the grant of James II. to the Earl of Caithness and his heirs; he renounces not only the right to the office which he derived from the brethren, but any right also, which, as a descendant of the Earl of Caithness, he might claim from the grants of the Scotish monarchs. NOTWITHSTANDING those civil commotions which disturbed Britain in the seventeenth century, Free Masonry flourished in Scotland, under the auspices of the Sinclairs of Roslin. No particular event, however, which is worthy of notice, occurred during that time, or even during the remainder of the century. The annual assemblies of the fraternity, were still held at Kilwinning, and many charters and constitutions were granted by the lodge of that village, for the erection of lodges in different parts of the kingdom. IN In the year 1736, William St Clair of Roslin, Esq. who was then Grand-Master of Scotland, was under the necessity of disponing his estate, and, as he had no children of his own, he was anxious that the office of Grand-Master should not be vacant at his death. Having, therefore, assembled the Edinburgh and neighbouring lodges, he represented to them the utility that would accrue to the order, by having a gentleman or nobleman, of their own choice, as Grand-Master of Masonry in Scotland; and, at the same time, intimated his intention to resign into the hands of the brethren, every title to that office which he at present possessed, or which his successors might claim from the grants of the Scotish Kings, and the kindness of the fraternity. In consequence of this representation, circular letters were dispatched to all the lodges of Scotland, inviting them to appear, either by themselves or proxies, on next St Andrew's day, to concur and assist in the election of a GrandMaster. When that day arrived, about thirtytwo lodges appeared by themselves or proxies, and, after receiving the deed of resignation from William Sinclair, Esq. proceeded to the election of another Grand-Master; when, on account of the zeal which William Sinclair, Esq. of Roslin had always shown for the honour and prosperity of the order, he was unanimously elected to that high office, and proclaimed Grand-Master Mason of all Scotland. Thus was the Grand Lodge of Scot |