Freemasonry in Scotland in lodges chartered by the

Grand Lodge of Scotland The Grand Lodge of Antient Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland is the governing body of Freemasonry in Scotland. It was founded in 1736. About one third of Scotland's lodges were represented at the foundation meeting of the Grand Lodge. Hist ...

comprises the ''Scottish Masonic Constitution'' as regular Masonic jurisdiction for the majority of

freemasons Freemasonry or Masonry refers to fraternal organisations that trace their origins to the local guilds of stonemasons that, from the end of the 13th century, regulated the qualifications of stonemasons and their interaction with authorities ...

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to ...

. There are also lodges operating under the Scottish Masonic Constitution in countries outside of Scotland. Many of these are countries linked to Scotland and the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and ...

through the

Commonwealth of Nations The Commonwealth of Nations, simply referred to as the Commonwealth, is a political association of 56 member states, the vast majority of which are former territories of the British Empire. The chief institutions of the organisation are the C ...

and prior colonies and other settlements of the

British Empire The British Empire was composed of the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states. It began with the overseas possessions and trading posts e ...

although there are several lodges in countries such as Lebanon, Belgium, Chile and Peru, which do not have such connections. The

Grand Lodge A Grand Lodge (or Grand Orient or other similar title) is the overarching governing body of a fraternal or other similarly organized group in a given area, usually a city, state, or country. In Freemasonry A Grand Lodge or Grand Orient is the us ...

of Scotland is independent of, though '' in amity'' with, both of the other Grand Lodges established in the UK and Ireland, the

United Grand Lodge of England The United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) is the governing Masonic lodge for the majority of freemasons in England, Wales and the Commonwealth of Nations. Claiming descent from the Masonic grand lodge formed 24 June 1717 at the Goose & Gridiron ...

and the

Grand Lodge of Ireland The Grand Lodge of Ireland is the second most senior Grand Lodge of Freemasons in the world, and the oldest in continuous existence. Since no specific record of its foundation exists, 1725 is the year celebrated in Grand Lodge anniversaries, a ...

. As of 2018, it consists of 32 provincial grand lodges in Scotland and 26 district grand lodges beyond the boundary of Scotland.

History

It has been argued that regulated Freemasonry in Scotland is older than in any other part of the British Isles. The connection between the craft of

stonemasonry Stonemasonry or stonecraft is the creation of buildings, structures, and sculpture using stone as the primary material. It is one of the oldest activities and professions in human history. Many of the long-lasting, ancient shelters, temples, ...

and modern Freemasonry can be readily established in Scotland. This direct connection can be traced from the oldest Masonic written records in the world, which are the property of the

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...

. The oldest records held by the Grand Lodge of Scotland are minutes of Lodge Aitcheson's Haven which commence on 9 January 1599. The

meeting minutes Minutes, also known as minutes of meeting (abbreviation MoM), protocols or, informally, notes, are the instant written record of a meeting or hearing. They typically describe the events of the meeting and may include a list of attendees, a state ...

of the Lodge of Edinburgh (Mary's Chapel) No.1 also date from 1599.

Lodge Mother Kilwinning Lodge Mother Kilwinning is a Masonic Lodge in Kilwinning, Scotland, under the auspices of the Grand Lodge of Scotland. It is number 0 (referred to as "nothing" and not zero) on the Roll, and is reputed to be the oldest Lodge not only in Scotlan ...

is number 0 on the Roll of the Grand Lodge of Scotland, and is reputed to be the oldest lodge not only in Scotland, but the world. It is styled ''Mother Lodge of Scotland'', attributing its origins to the 12th century, and is often called ''Mother Kilwinning''. The Lodge of Dunfermline, no. 26 on the Roll of the Grand Lodge of Scotland, and formally ''Lodge St John'' claims that it is one of the most ancient masonic lodges in Scotland. It connects directly with "the Ludge of Masons of Dunfermling" which held St. Clair Charters in 1598 and 1628. It doubtless existed prior to these dates, which gives a fair assumption that it played a part in the addition to, Dunfermline Palace (1540). The earliest record in possession of the lodge is dated 1698. At the meeting in Edinburgh on 30 November 1736, when Grand Lodge was formed, the lodge had three representatives, Captain Arthur Forbes of Pittencrieff (master), Bailie Charles Chalmers, and Henry Finlay (wardens), and was of course, in the original province of Fife, when formed in 1745. Interesting notes bearing on its antiquity are contained in a booklet issued in connection with the opening, of their new hall in Priory Lane (a lodgeroom in excellent taste) which was consecrated by the P.G.M., the Earl of Elgin and Kincardine, on 17 December 1920, The hall is at present in use for national purposes making it difficult to gain access to old records. From the information available, the secretary informs us that the date of the present charter is 1766; that an early meeting place was the Spire Tavern c. 1814, and that the first R.W.M. was Lieut. Charles Durie. In 1717, four lodges in London agreed to form the Grand Lodge of England, which many Scots joined; the

Earl of Crawford Earl of Crawford is one of the most ancient extant titles in Great Britain, having been created in the Peerage of Scotland for Sir David Lindsay in 1398. It is the premier earldom recorded on the Union Roll. Early history Sir David Lindsay, who ...

was grandmaster in 1734. Its Scottish counterpart was established in 1736, in a conscious effort to match the status of the English rite. When in the second quarter of the 18th century the Grand Lodge of England made changes to their ritual, this not only caused frictions between Grand Lodge and many unaffiliated lodges in England, but also took Freemasonry as practised in England and Wales out of step with the new Grand Lodges in Scotland and Ireland.Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon
The Formation of the Grand Lodge of the Antients, I. R. Clarke, ''Ars Quatuor Coronatorum'', vol. 79 (1966), pp. 270-73, retrieved 28 June 2012 In 1751, a group of unaffiliated lodges of mainly Irish membership formed the '' Antient Grand Lodge of England'', which grew in number of lodges and individual membership rapidly and also benefited from early recognition by the Grand Lodges of Scotland and Ireland.Douglas Knoop, ''The Genesis of Freemasonry'', Manchester University Press, 1947 In the ensuing competition for authenticity and historical accuracy of ritual, the newer English grand lodge became known for short as the "Antients", while the older English grand lodge was referred to as the "Moderns". In 1799, the Grand Lodge of Scotland supported the

Duke of Atholl Duke of Atholl, named for Atholl in Scotland, is a title in the Peerage of Scotland held by the head of Clan Murray. It was created by Queen Anne in 1703 for John Murray, 2nd Marquess of Atholl, with a special remainder to the heir male of ...

(grand master of the "Antients") and the Earl of Moira (acting grand master of the "Moderns") to keep Freemasonry in the British Isles from being outlawed by British government legislation against

secret societies A secret society is a club or an organization whose activities, events, inner functioning, or membership are concealed. The society may or may not attempt to conceal its existence. The term usually excludes covert groups, such as intelligence ...

. In 1809 the "Moderns" started revising their ritual to a point where it was in step with the Antients, the Scots and the Irish.Pietre-Stones
Lodges of Instruction, Yasha Beresiner, retrieved 17 July 2012 It was not until 1813 that the "Antients" and "Moderns" agreed on an ''Act of Union'' and formed the ''

''. While the conflict between the "Antients" and "Moderns" was to have a profound impact on Freemasonry as practised in England and Wales, it had comparatively little influence on Freemasonry in Ireland and Scotland. At the same time, Freemasonry in Scotland was able to maintain its distinct and unique character.

Character

Freemasonry Freemasonry or Masonry refers to fraternal organisations that trace their origins to the local guilds of stonemasons that, from the end of the 13th century, regulated the qualifications of stonemasons and their interaction with authorities ...

in Scotland has a character distinct from that practised in other parts of the British Isles. When the Grand Lodge of Scotland was founded in 1736, the majority of Masonic lodges then in existence in Scotland did not engage with the new body. By their absence from the initial discussions to which these lodges had been invited, 79% did not support the creation of a new, centralised Masonic system as already existed in

England and Wales England and Wales () is one of the three legal jurisdictions of the United Kingdom. It covers the constituent countries England and Wales and was formed by the Laws in Wales Acts 1535 and 1542. The substantive law of the jurisdiction is En ...

and in

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel, the Irish Sea, and St George's Channel. Ireland is the s ...

.Robert L. Cooper, 'Foreword', in: William R. Harvey, ''The Emblems of Freemasonry'', Glasgow 2010, p. v-vi. In addition, because all of the lodges in Scotland pre-existed the new Grand Lodge at the time of its proposed formation, these had developed traditions and practices that they were reluctant to give up. As a result, the new Grand Lodge of Scotland had to trade off any attempt at standardisation of ritual for the prospect of attracting the independent lodges to join the centralised system. In essence, Grand Lodge agreed not to interfere with local custom and practice as long as the lodges were willing to join the new Scottish Masonic Constitution. Having guaranteed the principle of independence to those lodges founded before 1736, it was considered impossible to deny lodges founded after 1736 the same privilege. These were permitted to devise their own procedures, regalia, and distinctive rituals. This and subsequent developments ensured that Freemasonry in Scotland is far less standardised than in any other masonic jurisdiction.

Organization

Lodges under the Scottish Masonic Constitution are

sovereign ''Sovereign'' is a title which can be applied to the highest leader in various categories. The word is borrowed from Old French , which is ultimately derived from the Latin , meaning 'above'. The roles of a sovereign vary from monarch, ruler or ...

bodies in their own right, with a considerable degree of control of their own affairs. There is no single, standard Scottish ritual, and every lodge under the Scottish Masonic Constitution has the right to devise its own ritual should it so wish. The operating principle is that a lodge ritual must contain the principal points of each Masonic degree and be subject to scrutiny by Grand Lodge. The various rituals in current use adhere to this principle, but the scope for variation and elaboration is considerable, with numerous interesting additions. Lodges under the Scottish Masonic Constitution also have the right to choose the colours of the lodge

regalia Regalia is a Latin plurale tantum word that has different definitions. In one rare definition, it refers to the exclusive privileges of a sovereign. The word originally referred to the elaborate formal dress and dress accessories of a sovereig ...

, which may include one or more colours or incorporate traditional

tartan Tartan ( gd, breacan ) is a patterned cloth consisting of criss-crossed, horizontal and vertical bands in multiple colours. Tartans originated in woven wool, but now they are made in other materials. Tartan is particularly associated with Sc ...

patterns. The colours reserved for provincial grand lodges and Grand Lodge itself are green and gold, although some older lodges also have these colours. Craft lodges under the Scottish Masonic Constitution offer the three traditional

Masonic degrees Freemasonry or Masonry refers to fraternal organisations that trace their origins to the local guilds of stonemasons that, from the end of the 13th century, regulated the qualifications of stonemasons and their interaction with authorities ...

as well as the rank of past (or installed) master. As in many other Masonic constitutions, brethren in Scotland who have attained the degree of a ''master mason'' can choose to, or be invited to, extend their Masonic experience by taking further degrees in approved appendant bodies.

Other recognised masonic bodies

Most Freemasons in Scotland choose to be advanced as '' Mark Master Masons'' after completing the three degrees of Craft Freemasonry, and the Mark degree is considered to be a part of the second of these degrees. However, a smaller number of Freemasons in Scotland subsequently apply to join the Holy Royal Arch and take their Mark degree in that body. Under the Scottish Masonic Constitution, the Mark master's degree can be taken either within a Craft Lodge after having attained the degree of ''Master Mason'', or within a Royal Arch Chapter, before taking the degree of ''Excellent Master''. No one under the Scottish Masonic Constitution can be exalted as a ''Royal Arch Mason'' without previously having been advanced as a ''Mark Master Mason''. Under the terms of etiquette about inter-visitation between masonic Constitutions, English Royal Arch Masons are unable to attend a Royal Arch Chapter in Scotland during a Mark working unless they also hold that degree. In the English Masonic Constitution, the Mark degree is administered by a separate " Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons" and it is not necessary for this degree to be held before joining the Royal Arch. The ''Excellent Master'' degree does not exist in England, and English Royal Arch Masons are not permitted to attend these workings in Scotland. They may also be unable to be present at a part of the Royal Arch working in Scotland which is no longer part of English Royal Arch ritual, although this is at the discretion of individual Chapters. There are several other masonic orders, including; * The

Knights Templar , colors = White mantle with a red cross , colors_label = Attire , march = , mascot = Two knights riding a single horse , equipment ...

* The

Red Cross of Constantine The Red Cross of Constantine, or more formally the Masonic and Military Order of the Red Cross of Constantine and the Appendant Orders of the Holy Sepulchre and of St John the Evangelist, is a Christian fraternal order of Freemasonry. Candidates ...

* The

Royal Order of Scotland The Royal Order of Scotland is an appendant order within the structures of Freemasonry. Membership is an honour extended to Freemasons by invitation. The Grand Lodge of the Royal Order of Scotland is headquartered in Edinburgh, with a total of 8 ...

* The

Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry (the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction in the United States often omits the ''and'', while the English Constitution in the United Kingdom omits the ''Scottish''), commonly known as simply the Sco ...

Bodies of the

Order of Knight Masons The Order of Knight Masons is a chivalric Masonic order, open to all Master Masons who are also members of a Mark Lodge and a Royal Arch Chapter Members of the order meet in Councils of Knight Masons which are governed by the Grand Council o ...

, the

Allied Masonic Degrees The Allied Masonic Degrees (AMD) are a series of Masonic degrees conferred by ''Councils of the Allied Masonic Degrees''. The Allied Masonic Degrees form an appendant order of Freemasonry that exists in some Masonic jurisdictions; its degrees are ...

and the Order of the Secret Monitor also exist in Scotland. The Order of the Eastern Star, is a fraternal organisation for women who are related to a Freemason which also requires Masonic office bearers. It has declined in both Chapters and overall membership from its peak, but is still present in several areas of Scotland.

Current Grand Office Bearers

The current Grand Master Mason is Brother William Ramsay McGhee, a former Police Chief Superintendent, who was first installed in November 2018. The current Grand Secretary is the Provincial Grand Master of Perthsire West, Brother William M. S. Semple, a retired senior police officer and business consultant.{{Cite web, title=Provincial Grand Lodge of Perthshire West, url=https://www.grandlodgescotland.com/structure/provincial-grand-lodges/provincial-grand-lodge-of-perthshire-west/, access-date=2021-08-03, website=The Grand Lodge of Scotland, language=en-GB

References

Freemasonry in the United Kingdom