| Citation |
BG.753.036
27 Nov 1753:11,12,21 (48)
Edinburgh, September 25. Thursday last being appointed for
laying the foundation stone of the new exchange of this city
by the grand master mason of Scotland, early in the morning
the Society of Free and Accepted masons caused a very
magnificent triumphal arch, in the true Augustine style, to
be erected at the entry leading towards the place where the
stone was to be laid. . . [2 paras describing arch]
About two o'clock in the afternoon, a company of the city
guard, at the desire of the grand master, was placed at
Mary's Chapel, where he and his brethren were to meet, in
order to keep the entry to the Chapel clear;
the several lodges being ordered to convene by themselves,
each in some convenient place, for the better preventing
intruders from mixing with the society.
About three o'clock the several lodges, with their masters
at their head, unclothed, repaired to Mary's Chapel, but the
place not being large enough to contain them all, the large
room below was obtained for accommodating such as the Chapel
would not receive, till all things were got ready, and the
form of the procession was settled in the following manner.
I. A body of operative masons, not belonging to any lodge
present.
II. A band of French horns.
III. The lodges [12] present in the following order. . .
(all the brethren being new cloathed, and the masters and
wardens forming the last rank of each lodge in the proper
cloathing and jewels of their respective lodges, with their
other badges of dignity.)
IV. A body of gentlemen masons belonging to foreign lodges.
V. A band of hautbois. . ..
XI. A band of French horns. . .
[XVI divisions in all]
The whole uncovered, and amounting exactly to 672 Masons.
In this manner the procession begun from the Chapel, about
half an hour after three, the Company of the City Guards
covering the rear. At the head of Niddry's Wind, the whole
was received by a body of 150 of the military and a company
of grenadiers drawn up in two lines, under arms, by whom the
procession was escorted, one half of the grenadiers marching
in the front, and the other in the rear, with their bayonets
fixed. As the procession passed the City Guard, a company
was drawn out, with their proper officer at their head, who
paid the proper military honours, the drums beating, and
musick playing all the way as they marched to the Parliament
Close, where so soon as the troops had formed a line, with
the Masons in like manner within them, the Grand Master, and
officers of the Grand Lodge made a stop at the north west
corner of the Parliament Close, and dispatched a message to
the Council House, to the lord provost and magistrates, to
acquaint them, that he and his brethren waited to receive
them. . . [1 more para] (To be continued in our next.)
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