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A HISTORY of Lodge St John No 192 Muthill.

{Muthill is Pronounced MEW-THILL,and means the Hill of Meeting}

This is the Charter, Granted to Lodge St John, Muthill, in 1795, by the then Grand Lodge of Scotland. In the top Left hand Corner,the No 256 is Barely Recognisable, but this was indeed the Original Number allocated to the Lodge in Muthill. It was not until the early eighteen hundreds, in a Major Reshuffle by The ever Progressing Grand Lodge, that the Lodge was Replaced with the now familiar 192.

But Freemasonry was being practised in Muthill long before 1795, as indeed it Was throughout the length of the Strathearn Valley, which includes the Townships Of Comrie, Crieff, Auchterarder, and Dunning. Today there is a Thriving Masonic Lodge and Community in each of these small Towns, all of which Nestle on the Banks of the River Earn, From its Source at St Fillans, at the South end of Loch Earn, to Newburgh, Where The Earn merges with the mighty Tay, and onwards to the North Sea.The Masonic History of each of these townships, is a much prized record, proudly retained, and Recounted in Jovial Banter at Masonic Harmonies throughout Perthshire, both East and West, but the Original Beginnings Of Each individual Lodge is inexorably linked to one another, and, in order to provide an accurate account of the History of the Masonic Lodge at Muthill, Recorded history from the aforementioned lodges has to be accessed.The First, and Probably the most important, indefensible, and warrantable Declaration of Masonry being Practised, in Strathearn, is the insertion in the inaugural Minute of the Lodge of Criefe, Better known today as Lodge St Michael No 38.That Minute States THE LODGE OF CRIEFE WAS INAUGURATED ON THE 27TH OF DECEMBER 1737 BY A COMPANY OF MASONS; DULY QUALIFIED FOR THE PURPOSE, WHO WHERE MEMBERS OF A MASON LODGE IN MUTHILL

The Same Minute goes on;

CRIEFE MASON LODGE,

WAS ERECTED ON THE 27TH DAY OF DECEMBER 1737, WHEN AFTER THOSE PERSONS, WHO’S NAMES ARE RECORDED IN THIS BOOK WERE ENTERED

MEMBERS OF THE SAME, AS APPRENTICES, BY A COMPANY OF MASONS, DULY QUALIFIED FOR THE PURPOSE, WHO HAD FORMALLY PERTAINED TO A MASON LODGE AT MUTHILL

Thus Operative/speculative Masonry was being practised in Strathearn long before 1737, and the Brethren of 192 are eternally grateful to the Ancient Crieff Masons who had the Foresight and integrity to record the Occasion, in writing, for Posterity. Yet amid all the conflict and turmoil, culminating at Culloden, in 1746, the Crieff Masons were still able to sponsor a Charter, establishing Lodge St John No 46, at Auchterarder in that same Year Freemasonry was spreading rapidly. The Lodge of Dunblane No 9, had been practising Freemasonry, since before 1695. With the amalgamation of the Modern and the Ancient Lodges at Dunkeld, forming the United Lodge of Dunkeld No 14. in 1737. Lodge Scoon & Perth No3 ,Lodge St Andrew No 74, and Perth Royal Arch No 122, All thriving in Perth. Lodge Lindores No 106, Being Chartered at Newburgh in 1767,And a Charter being granted to Lodge St John No 174, Dunning, in1790.The time had come for change in Muthill.so it was, that on the 2nd February 1795, Lodge St John No 46 Auchterarder,and Lodge St John No 174, Dunning, Successfully Petitioned the Grand Lodge of Scotland to Grant a Charter to the mason Lodge at Muthill , to be Known as Lodge St John.No 256, Muthill. Lodges would later be formed in Comrie, Abernethy, and Bridge of Earn, Another three towns Which the River Earn Embraces.

Above is the Crest and Logo of the Lodge, It was adopted as the Lodge Crest, and is modelled on the 9th Century Parish Church, which Dominates the Centre of the Village. and at the foot of the Photo, on the right, can be seen part of the Graveyard, where many of our late Brethren lie peacefully interred. Its recorded history Dates back to the ninth century, when,at that site, there was a house of “the Servants of God “ These were Culdees;

Celtic Monks, who didn’t leave Muthill, for three Centuries. Its Romanesque Belfry, is the oldest part, dating from around 1100, the Nave and Choir being added later by Bishop Michael Ochiltree of Dunblane around 1430.

The Original Charter is a Much Valued Document, It cost the Lodge the Princely sum of four Guineas.containing the signature Of the Grand Master Mason of the time, vis William, Earl of Ancram, afterwards, 6th, Marquis of Lothian. The Charter still has to be

presented at any meeting of the Lodge today, for in its absence, the Lodge,cannot be opened. The Signatures of the Founding Masons are as Follows

James Gauld. Mason. Muthill. R.WM

Benjamin Morrison Wright Muthill D.M

James Robertson S.M

James Nish. Mason. Muthill. S.W.

Alexander Gauld. Mason. Muthill. J.W.

William Moir. Treasurer.

James Brewster Labourer. Muthill. Treasurer.

James Taylor. Secretary.

Alexander Bain Steward.

John Adie Steward

Lewis McOrist. Mason. Muthill. Tyler.

It was the custom at the time to appoint two Treasurers {key holders},so that the Money box could not be opened by any one man. Robertson, Moir, and Taylor, may have been Masons, from either Auchterarder or Dunning, As there is no record of them on the Lodge Roll.The discerning Mason will notice that there are no Deacons. The Lodge Roll from 1795 to 1906, reads as follows;1795 to 1832; 349 members were registered, of the first 15, 14 were operative, John Bennnet the Steward, being odd man out. 1833 to 1850; 377, members were registered.1851 to 1865; 242, members were registered.1866 to 1881; 139, members were registered.1882 to 1906; 130, members were registered. In 1795 it cost 15/shillings Sterling, to be entered as an Apprentice.And 7/shillings Sterling to be Raised. The First record of the Fellowcraft, Degree being worked was not until 1851. Of all those recorded there no Soldiers

or Seamen and only one DykeBuilder. {cowan}

On Joining the lodge, a member paid 2/-shillings a year, which was increased to 3/-shillings a year in 1826. A member who fell into arrears after two years had his" Rights Forfeit ". A Brothers Rights were Sick Pay, Unemployment Benefit, Funeral Expenses, Widows Annuities and a form of Retirement Pension for the Aged. ThesePayments are recorded in the Lodges Books as " Aliment ". When a sick Brother applied for Aliment, he had to get two Brethren to vouch that he was sick, and present the claim, in Writing to the Lodge, Hence the term " Voucher ". The Lodge still retains many of these Vouchers, the majority being tendered in 1826 due to Fever, when Muthill must have suffered a Serious Infection. co-incidently, that was the year the Annual Fees were raised.After the Charter was issued ,there were numerous Enterings and Raisings, but the Lodge has no minutes of these, as it seems that it was only Masonic Degrees that were carried out, no Business being Discussed. The Lodges Business was solely carried out by a Committee Comprising, the Office Bearers and another 13 members making a Total of 26. The Office Bearers and Committee members were elected at the Festival of St John held every year on th 27th December. That was also the "Settling "Night when all arrears and Debts were Cleared. Each entry in the Committee Book, starts with the date of Meeting, who is Present, and their Place of Residence.There is no true date when the Lodge acquired their own Property, but by 1823, they did have property, as well as the Lodge rooms, as there was rent payments from three individuals, being received , and 7/6-s each from the Muthill Weavers Society, and the Muthill Highland Society for the use of the Lodgerooms.

{ Now Follows Extracts from the Comittee Book, word for word, which I as the author find Interesting and Humourous,I shall dispense with who is present , just date and Minute. But it must be noted that the Secretary at that time, William Gentle, an Operative Wright to trade, has to be commended for his neatness of Handwriting and Grammer,especially as his records would have been done by Quill and Candlelight, at a time when It could assumed that most Tradesmen would have been Illiterate}

Dec 29th 1823;

And the General Meeting of this Night fix and appoint the 14 th January 1824 for Committee Meeting precisely at 5 o-clock noon vis Likewise said General Meeting do highly approve of the Resolution of the Committee Bearing date the 20th of March 1823, Relative to the

Allowance of Sickly Members belonging this Lodge. Order and do direct their Committe to continue the said Allowance till next General Meeting. The Meeting direct that the bonded property on William Whites House be insured against the Loss by Fire, in some of the insurance Offices that may be approved of, so as the lodge may sustain no loss by any Casual Event that may Happen. ye ye yeI The General Meeting Likewise agreed, that the Sabbath Evening School, should be allowed for one day, free of expense, to assemble this Hall with their Teachers and Children and Parents and Otherswho may choose to come to hear such examination. I ye ye ye

Jan 14th 1824.

The Committee thereof accordingly proceeded to examine the state of accounts belonging the society and found them perfectly correct; see cash book, The committee expressly Ordered that Both Principal and Cautioner shall be prosecuted in the Justice of Peace Court in Crieff first Monday of March 1824.Likewise the Two Pounds of the late Peter Millars arrears. But none shall either be written to or Prosecuted, that are within a years due this Lodge. Likewise the Committee direct that John Ritchie shall return what Copies of the Laws he has on hand & whatever may be the deficiency he must pay for into the Treasurers Hands.

{ it appears that at that time, a candidate for masonry was called a cautioner, and his proposer known as a Principal, who was liable for his candidates fees, thus the impending court case, John Ritchie was an Operative Wright from Muthill who was the Entrant Master,

whose sole function was to initiate candidates. James Gauld was back as Grand Master, it being the Grand Master who chaired Business and Committee Meetings. }

April 17th 1824.

When there was laid before them the Resolution of General Meeting & of last Committee bearing date14th Jan vis that at first Justiceof the Peace Court, it was judged proper to summon both principal and Cautioner & all in arrears Good or Bad in Order that the Lodge may know the best or worst of it. The which was accordingly Executed and Fairly Tried, and the Justices all in one voice, Declared that no Cautioner for any members or members thereof;were not in the least entitled for any Entry money that he or they may be bound for,

Previous to the date of the Printing of the Laws and Regulations of said Laws; Therefore it follows that the Lodge can have no claim or the Least Resource, against any such Cautioner or Cautioners; Previous to the above mentioned date. ye ye ye There was laid before said Committee the case relative to Alexander McNeil,Weaver Muthill, and the said case appearing to them of a Doubtful Nature;Were of the opinion that application should be made to the Managers of the Glasgow Lunatic Asylum. Likewise the Opinions of Surgeons Mess'rs Ure and McIntyre on Soul and Conscience, ere he can be in the least entitled to

any benefits from this Society.Likewise the case of Bro Andrew Faichney, and although

not entitled to any benefit, Yet out of Commisiration of his Distress,the Committee were unamimously disposed to give him £1..0..0s out of the funds, referring said Brothers

situation to the Superior Judgement of the General Meeting, ye ye y

Aug 21st 1824.

And the purpose of the meeting was concerning the case ofAlexander McNeil, Muthill, Now confined in the Glasgow Lunatic Asylum as Insane. A voucher being given the treasurers viz Mess'rs John Hutton & Peter McCulloch by Rob't McHeron; Crieff, to that effect signed by a J's Balmain & a P.H.D. Glasgow Lunatic Asylum viz But as doubts on the latter clause of said line; as expressed by these gentlemen, as also in the minds of said Committee, They were Therefore all of the Opinion to refer said case to the Superior Wisdom of the Ensuing General Committee Meeting.

{Alexander McNeils wife received £5-15-6d in aliment from the lodge and on 30th may 1825, she received £1-0-0d to pay for his Funeral }

December 10th 1824

They accordingly proceeded to appoint the the Musicians for the ensuing St Johns Day viz John McGibbon as Leader of the Band, with Peter Rodgie Crieff,& Robert McDonald Muthill

These three to play within the hall throughout the night;; and for Street Music Colin McAinsh Monzie,David Malcolm Muthill ,William Ferguson for Bass Drum & for the two Fifers & small drum, must be applied in course who can be got for such.They appoint Lewis McOrist, Tyler, to procure the same, with the necessary, Coals and Candles.The Committe direct that the Lodge Hall Tables & Forms thereof within Stewards Room and Closet, be also all properly washed and cleaned and if the Highland Society hold their Ball on the Friday previous to the General Meeting, they must wash & clean it all over & leave it in the same manner they got it; & allows Lewis McOrist to get the same properly done

That the Brethren may find all things in proper clean order at the Meeting. There was laid before said Committee, said night, by the treasurers, Mess'rs John Hutton and Peter

McCulloch, the distressed state of the Funds They also stated and made it appear by document's produced, that the Lodge funds at the foregoing date was in their debt to the

sum of £2-7-0d, by Widows Annuities Sick bed, and Funeral Charges. ye ye ye. Therefore your Committee General Meeting of the Brethren of the Lodge, on the ensuing General Meeting of the 27th Dec 1824, The Following Resolutions viz

That from this date in Future;The Widow of a Master shall recieve Annually the sum of £1-5-0d and that of an Apprentice Widow the sum of £1-0-0d. and Funeral Charges of a Master Mason £1-0-0d.and of an Apprentice £0 17-0d. and the Widows of both Master and Apprentice alike the sum of £0-12-0d Likewise your Committe propose that any Member being a master Mason of this Lodge, and he being confined to bed by sickness, should in future receive £0-3-0d per week, and Walking about allowance £0-2-0d per week, and if his

troubles continue beyond the period of Three Months, he will receive £0-1-6d per week aye and until he be recovered.and if an Apprentice, he shall receive if confined to sick bed, £0-2-6dper week, and of walking about allowance, the sum of £0-1-9d per week and if his trouble continue beyond the period of three months, he shall receive the sum of £0-1-6d per week aye and until he be recovered.The Aged Brethren to have the same allowance as formally viz £0-1-6d per week. Your Committee further recommend that two visiting Brethren should be appointed along with the treasurer, to visit such sick members as may apply for aid of the funds of this Lodge & report from time to time, to the Treasurers and Committee, the Convalescent State of Such Applicants. The above and foregoing Resolutions of your They beg Leave to Lay before the General Meeting for their Serious Consideration,referring always to the Superior Wisdom of viz and are with much respect your obedient Servants.

{" Walking about " was the term used when a mason was unemployed and Looking for Work. The only way to get work was by either word of mouth, or travel round the Castles and Estates of the Gentry, as apart from the Military, they were the only employers .

Continued from 10th December to august 1825.the brethren were mainly concerned with repairs to their lodge premises and the property which they owned Thus: 24th august 1825

Continued on History page 2