The Charter of the Lodge

 

Brethren . On August 5^th 1811 the Grand Lodge of Scotland issued a Charter to the nine founder members of Lodge Houstoun St Johnstone. During the passage of time (The lodge is now approaching its bi-centenary)  it has passed through  the hands of many talented and worthy Brethren., so much so that the charter has become a very fragile document to such an extent  that nowadays it is kept in a glass case.

 

Indeed there are very few present members of the lodge who have actually read it in its entirety. Therefore as a historical record for the Brethren of the Lodge, a comprehensive  reproduction  is  now presented for your perusal.

 

At out annual installation the Charter is formally placed in to the care of the newly Installed R.W.M. He is instructed to take care of it , in a manner in which he will be able to pass it on to his successor  in office “ pure and unsullied as he himself has just received it”

 

Brethren ,the Charter is the lodge’s most valuable asset ,  its characters may indeed be dim with age ,but its Masonic lustre shines forth like a beacon.

 

 

 No. 318*

 

Charter of Constitution & Erection

 

BY THE

 

Grand Lodge of Scotland

 

IN FAVOUR OF

 

Houstoun St. Johnstone Lodge,

 

5^th August 1811.

 

To all and sundry to whose knowledge these presents shall come Greeting In God Everlasting.  Whereas upon application to the Grand Lodge of Scotland on the fifth day of August, 1811, the date hereof by Robert Hodgart, George Webster, Alex. Stewart, and others residing in and about the Town of Johnstone, craving a Charter of Constitution and Erection to hold a Lodge at Johnstone, under the name and title of the Houstoun St. Johnstone Lodge, and they having proposed William Houstoun, Esq., to be Master, Robert Hodgart, Depute Master, Campbell Snodgrass, Senr. Warden, Alex. Stewart. Junr. Warden, Neil Snodgrass, Secretary, George Webster, Treasurer, Wm. Black and John Robb, Deacons, and the Rev. Alex. Telfer, Chaplain. Which application with ample certificates having been considered by the Grand Lodge of Scotland, they granted the desire thereof and ordered a Charter accordingly.  Know Ye therefore that the Most Worshipful, the Grand Master Mason of Scotland, and the Grand Lodge thereof, have Assigned, Transferred and Made over and hereby Assign, Transfer and Make Over the Charter, No 318 on the Registry of the Grand Lodge of Scotland, which has been for some time dormant, to and in favour of the Houstoun St. Johnstone Lodge, with all the rights and Privileges thereto belonging, and have Constituted Erected and Appointed the Master, Wardens and Brethren above named, together with the whole Constituent Member of said Lodge, and there successors to be, now, and in all time coming, a true and regular Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, the Name, Style, and Title of the Houstoun St. Johnstone Lodge, No. 318 and Appoint and Ordain all regular Lodges to hold and respect them as such, Giving, Granting and Committing to them and their Successors, full power and authority to meet, assemble and convene as a Regular Lodge, and to admit Apprentices, pass Fellowcrafts, and raise Master Masons, upon payment of such composition not less then one Guinea for support of their Lodge, as they shall see Convenient.  And to Elect and choose Masters, wardens and other Office-Bearers Annually or otherwise as they have occasion.  Recommending to the Brethren aforesaid to reverence and obey their superiors in all things lawful and honest, as becomes the honour and harmony of Masonry.  The said Brethren by accepting this present Charter becoming faithfully bound in allegiance to the Grand Lodge as head of the Grand Masonic Body in Scotland, and at the same time on no account to desert their own Lodge so Constituted, nor upon any pretext whatever to make any separate or schismatical Meetings, independent of Grand Lodge and of the Master of Wardens for the time of their own Lodge, nor to collect money or other funds separate from the common stock of their Lodge, to the prejudice of the poor thereof.  They and their successors in all time coming being also obliged to obey and pay due regard to all Acts, Statutes and Regulations of the Grand Lodge already made or hereafter to be made, for the utility, welfare and prosperity of Masonry, and to pay and perform whatever is stipulated or demanded from them for the support and dignity of the Grand Lodge.  And in Particular that they do account and pat into funds of the Grand Lodge at least half-a-crown for each Intrant and Member made in their Lodge from the date hereof, and the names of such Members be annually transmitted to the Grand Clerk at Edinburgh, to be recorded in the Books of the Grand Lodge, with the usual fee of three pence for each name to the Grand Clerk, and that they Record in their Books which they are hereby authorised and enjoined to keep this present Charter with their own Regulations and Bye-laws and their procedure from time to time to the end, the same may be more easily seen and observed by the Brethren, subject always to the review and control of the Grand Lodge.  And also the Brethren aforesaid, and their successors, are hereby required to attend the whole General Meetings and Quarterly Communications of the Grand Lodge by their representatives, being their Master and Wardens for the time, or by lawful proxies in their names, provided such proxy be a Master Mason of some established Lodge, holding of the Grand Lodge, so that they may act and vote in the Grand Lodge, and be duly certiorated of the proceedings thereof.  Declaring always their precedency in the Grand Lodge to be from the date hereof.  And that these presents may be more effectually kept and preserved, the same are hereby appointed to be recorded in the Books of the Grand Lodge.

 

Given at the Grand Lodge of Scotland, held in the Free Masons Hall in the City of Edinburgh, this Fifth Day of August, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Eleven Years, and of Light 5811 by his Royal Highness, George Prince of Wales, prince Regent of Great Britain, Grand Master Mason and Patron of the Order for Scotland; the Right Hon. and Most Worshipful James, Earl of Roslyn, Acting Grand Master under His Royal Highness, the Right Hon. and Right Worshipful Robert, Lord Viscount Duncan, Acting Depute Grand Master, under His Royal Highness, the Right Worshipful William Inglis of Middletoun, Esquire, Acting Substitute Grand Master under His Royal Highness, the Right Worshipful Sir James Gardner Baird of Saughton Hall, Bart., Senior Grand Warden, the right Worshipful Richard Wharton Duff of Ortoun. Esquire, Junior Grand Warden, the Rt Worshipful Sir John Hay of Smithfield, Haystoun, Bart., Grand Treasurer, and the Seal of the Grand Lodge is hereto appended by and in presence of William Guthrie and Alexander Lawrie, Joint Grand Secretaries, and James Bartram, Grand Clerk.

 

            Signed,

 

William Guthrie, Gd. Secy.                                     

 Alex. Lawrie, Joint Grand Secy.

James Bartram, Grand Clerk.                                              

Roslyn. A.G.M.

William Inglis. A.S.G.M.                                        

John Hay, G.T.

William Murray, S.G.W.

William Murray, Jr. J.G.W.

 

*318 being our Original Number *