Burns and Freemasonry in Dumfriesshire

By R.T. Halliday

 

In previous dissertations I dealt in turn with the Masonic features of Burns’s life in Ayrshire and in Edinburgh. To complete the trilogy indicated therein there remains but the concluding stage, his eight years’ residence in Dumfriesshire. There, again a farmer and among Masonic confreres, he was back in his natural rural element. But his personal activities in Freemasonry do not bulk so prominently in this stage. For this there were several cogent reasons, each contributing its quota to the result.

In the first place there was a lack of opportunity. Masonic lodges in the eighteenth century had not the statutory dates and fixed places of meeting that are the rule today. Nor had Dumfries brethren the Masonic enthusiasm which Burns and his colleagues had helped to infuse into the Ayrshire circles around the Kilwinning centre. For example, the Lodge in which Burns became an office-bearer in Dumfries had no meeting between the St. John Festival in 1793 and that of 1794; and the senior local lodge had to pass a regulation in 1788 that “any member within the district of Masonry who does not dine annually with the Lodge upon St. John’s Day shall pay one shilling for his dinner or be expelled.” Again, there was in the earlier days of his residence in the county lack of time. During this period he was a married man with the responsibilities and anxieties of a household and the nearest lodge was six miles away. He was a very busy man. Not only had he virtually to rebuild his steading in addition to the routine work of his farm, but from the autumn of 1789 he was an officer of Excise with jurisdiction over ten rural parishes, travelling in this latter capacity over two hundred miles each week, mostly on horseback. Throughout a year’s loyal Volunteer service he never once missed the weekly training parade. In addition to those strenuous physical exertions his literary output was phenomenal. Finally, there was the health factor; he was a very sick man. His early hardships had by this time seriously undermined his constitution and the effects were beginning to make themselves apparent. But it is the Masonic element in his career which concerns us at present and despite these obvious handicaps the Dumfries epoch has much that is directly and indirectly of more than ordinary Masonic interest. But of that anon.

Burns’s first introduction to Dumfriesshire was during his Border tour in 1787 when he spent a week in the county town and received the Freedom of that Royal burgh. A similar honour was later conferred on him by two other Royal Burghs in the county, Lochmaben and Sanquhar. Those with Annan and the adjacent burgh of Kirkcudbright formed the constituency of Dumfries Burghs which conjointly returned a member to Parliament. Burns wrote the political sqib, “The Five Carlins” in connection with the election contest in 1789 which has an indirect Masonic association. In this skit he personified as the carlins the five burghs and parodied their differences over the candidates seeking their suffrage. One of those candidates was Capt. (later Major) Wm. Miller, the second son of Patrick Miller of Dalswinton, the Poet’s landlord, and he was portrayed in the lampoon as a “Sojer youth.” He won the 1799 election and became M.P. for the Burghs. He later joined St. Luke’s Lodge in Edinburgh and served as its Master from 1807 to 1811. He was a member of Grand Committee of the Grand Lodge of Scotland from 1809 till 1814 and in 1813 was appointed Provincial Grand Master of Dumfriesshire.

During this first visit to Dumfries above recorded Burns paid a visit to Patrick Miller by arrangement, he having purchased the estate of Dalswinton on the River Nith two years previously. They had foregathered in Edinburgh and Miller, aware of his predilection for an agricultural life, had offered a lease of a farm on his estate on advantageous terms. For throughout his brief heyday in the Metropolis. Burns cherished no illusions as to what his future course was likely to be, and such tentative plans as he had in his mind were, in the terms of his first Masonic minute, "'aid in accordingly," As early as March, 1787, he wrote to Mrs. Dunlop, "I intend to return to my old acquaintance, the plough, and if I can meet with a lease by which I can live, to commence farming" Three months later, however, he wrote to James Smith of Linlithgow, " I have yet fixed on nothing with respect to the serious business of life. I am just as usual a rhyming, mason-making, raking, aimless, idle fellow. However, somewhere I shall have a farm soon." He was doubtless referring here to his active work in St. James Lodge at this time but was doing himself flagrant injustice. This was very typical of him.

Although somewhat dubious as to the outlook Burns took the farm of Ellisland six miles north of Dumfries as from Whitsunday, 1789 It was described as a "poet's choice" so far as scenery was concerned, but a ramshackle place requiring as above indicated much masonic work of a more laborious type than he was accustomed to in order to render it habitable for his dependants. As another string to his bow he obtained the promise of an appointment in the Excise. Carlyle thought the combination a reasonable one, but how far it was a feasible proposition for one in his condition and circumstances was soon to be demonstrated. In accordance with his plans, however, he underwent the requisite six weeks course of training prior to moving to Ellisland. His instructor was the Tarbolton excise officer, James Findlay, who, incidentally, was to succeed him as Depute Master of St. James Lodge later in the year.

The prospect of the toil entailed by the Ellisland renovations served to damp the ardour of Burns. But once again he relied for consolation on his Masonic brethren for he wrote to Hugh Parker, Kilmarnock, soon after his entry;

Wi' a' this care and a' this grief, And sma' sma' prospect of relief, And nought but peat rook i' my head. How can I write what ye can read! Tarbolton, twenty-fourth o' June Ye'll find me in a better tune."

This anticipated date was the annual summer Masonic festival of St. John the Baptist and the Installation of Findlay as the new Depute Master of the Lodge to case the burden on his shoulders. Despite this effected change, however, and the assertion made by Dr. Robert Chambers in his " Land of Burns," the St. James minute-book shows that Burns presided at meetings held, at Mauchline—for the Lodge was empowered to meet in either place—on 21st. October and 11th November, although these minutes are not among those which bear his own signature. He was then living in a hut near his new homestead, described by him as “an old smokey spence far from every object I love or by whom I am beloved,” labouring each day on his farm and travelling each week-end forty-five miles to his old home at Mossgiel. For here his wife was undergoing instruction in farm management from his mother and sisters preparatory to joining him in December.

Although to Burns in his cheerless plight Dumfries was then “This strange land, this uncouth climb, A land unknown to prove or rhyme,” it had at this period the distinction of a fashionable resort; “a minor capital ruling in the South with nearly as much sway as Edinburgh rules the East. It is a place of snugness, of opulence, of tests and of pretension, as the residence and resort of genteel families, who form a comparatively large proportion of its population and give a very perceptible tone to its manners.” (Wilson's Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland; 1866) It was also rich in old Masonic lodges. Although its population was but 8000 it could boast of no less than five. The senior of these was 'Ye olde Lodge of Dumfries" claiming precedence from 1575. It still treasures records from 1687 and four copies of the “Ancient Charges " of much earlier date. Its charter from the Grand Lodge of Scotland itself constituted in 1736, dates from 1750 when it elected to throw in its lot with the new central governing body. It is now No. 53 on the roll as the "Dumfries Kilwinning " Lodge. This was not the lodge to which Burns gravitated although it has interesting associations with him. Here his eldest son, Robert, was initiated in August 1833 after his retiral from the Stamp Office in London with 29 years service and the minute records that “as a mark of respect to his illustrious descent it was agreed to elect him without payment of the usual fees." He later acted for some years as its Secretary and became Master in 1845. He died in 1857. It is also of passing interest to note that Dr. Blacklock, Burns's Masonic friend, was also initiated here prior to his translation to Edinburgh where he affiliated to Lodge St. Luke.

Whether because of its name or its early connection with the Customs and Excise service the Lodge patronised by Burns was Dumfries St. Andrew's, No. 179. It dated from 1774 and was colloquially known later as “Burns’s Lodge." Here he affiliated on 27th December, 1788, the palpable inaccuracies in the minute of the occasion being doubtless the sequel to the celebration recorded. “St. John's Day, 27th December, 1788. The Brethern having Selebrated the Anniversary of St. John in the usual manner and Brother Robt. Burns in Aelliesland of St. Davids Strabolton Lodge, No.178 being present the Lodge unanimously assumed him a member of the Lodge being a Master Masson he subscribed the regulations as a member. Thereafter the Lodge was shut. Tim Mackenzie.” Burns remained an active member of this Lodge until his death. The most notable of the relics of his connection with it is the apron presented to him by the Laird of Hoddam, Master of the Lodge and Provincial Grand Master of Dumfriesshire. It is described as of “Chamois leather, very fine, with figures of gold some of them relieved with green, others with a dark red colour. On the underside of the semicircular part which is turned down at the top is written in a bold fair hand, ‘Charles Sharpe of Hotham to Rabble Burns. Dumfries, Dec. 12, 1791.’ ” In those days there was no restriction on the embroidery or embellishment of the Masonic apron such as is in force today and artists were at liberty to adorn them with any designs which might appear to them appropriate. Hence the gold and green figures depicted on this presentation one. The part turned down at the top, the flap, has the semicircular shape peculiar to Scotland, those of England and Ireland and most others being triangular.

In August, 1791, the Lodge took part in an important Masonic function, the laying of the foundation stone of the new bridge over the River Nith. This bridge was to replace the old thirteenth century structure close by, which was justly reputed to be the finest specimen of this type of masonry in Scotland and second only to London Bridge in the British Isles. Although there is no known record extant of Burns’s presence at this ceremony it is highly improbable that he would miss such an outstanding Masonic event in his immediate vicinity in which his own lodge bore a share. The bridge was opened for traffic in 1794. The foundation stone had an elaborate Latin inscription which is translated thus : “By the will of Almighty God, in the reign of the most august prince, George 111, and in a most flourishing period of the British Empire, the foundation stone of the bridge over Nith, to be built, for public convenience and at the joint expense of the county and town of Dumfries and Stewarty of Kirkcudbright, was laid amid the acclamations of a numerous concourse of spectators by Alexander Forgueson of Craigdarroch Esq., Grand Master of the Mason Lodges constituted in the southern district of Scotland, accompanied by a respectable body of the Order, on the 19th. August of the Christian era 1791, from the institution of Masonry may the undertaking be fortunate and merit the approbation of the posterity.”

The inevitable crisis at Ellisland occurred in 1791 and in November of that year Burns gave up his lease, sold off his stock and effects at what he considered a good figure and prepared to devote his whole time and remaining energy to his new profession of gauger;

“Searching auld wives' barrels. Ochon, the day! That clarty barm should stain my laurels; But what'll ye say! These movin’ things ca'd wives an' weans Wad move the very hearts o' stanes”

He had secured a transfer to Dumfries town in December with increased emoluments and he moved to a small house in the Wee Vennel there, now Bank Street. From this time he was freer to attend the meetings of Lodge St. Andrew's and of sixteen meetings held from this time until his death he is recorded as attending eleven. The list of these is:

1791. 27 December 1792. 6 February 1792. 14 May 1792. 31 May 1792. 5 June 1792. 22 November 1792. 30 November 1793. 30 November 1794. 29 November 1796. 28 January 1796. 14 April

In May, 1793, he removed to a more commodious dwelling in “Millbrae Hole” or Mill Vennel, now renamed Burns Street. He was appointed a Steward of Lodge St. Andrew's in February, 1792, and on 30th. November was elected Senior Warden. In this office he was present on St. Andrew's day the following year and again in 1794, no meetings as already noted having taken place in the interval. At the meeting on 5th. June, 1792, the minute records, “Ed. Andrews of the Dragoons and John Syme, Esq., of Barncailzie, were admitted brethren without fees.” Syme was notorious for his hospitable board and Burns, one of his intimates, was a frequent visitor at his home. It was here that he inscribed on a tumbler the premonitory lines:

“There’s Death in the cup, so beware! Nay more--there is danger in touching; But who can avoid the fell snare, The man and his wine’s so betwitching."

Unfortunately Syme’s unenviable reputation as a left wing revolutionary was apt to compromise, and certainly did compromise Burns unduly, so frequently is a man judged by the company he keeps.

On 28th. January, 1796, “Mr. James Georgeson, merchant in Liverpool appeared and who being recommended by Bro. Burns was admitted apprentice.” It was also agreed at this meeting, as was frequently the practice, that the admission fees of the new apprentice be applied towards the expenses of the assemblage! The last meeting at which Burns was present was on 14th. April. He had given his promise to attend on that occasion to see his friend Capt. Adam Gordon initiated and out of loyalty to him he fulfilled his promise although he was then in the throes of his fatal malady. He died on 21st. July.

Like Burns's Mother Lodge, first registered as “Torbolton's St. David's” the Dumfries St. Andrew's Lodge met with adverse circumstances and became dormant. But while the infusion of fresh blood had a stimulating effect at Tarbolton ensuring revival under the more up-to-date title of “St. David, Tarbolton and Mauchline,” no such luck attended Dumfries St. Andrew's. Its meetings, few and irregular at best, ceased altogether in 1804 and in 1816 it was finally deleted from the roll of Grand Lodge. In 1879 Grand Secretary Murray Lyon noticed that some of its effects were advertised for sale by public roup and he promptly secured them. When he reported his purchase to Sir Michael Shaw Stewart, then Grand Master Mason, Sir Michael paid the purchase price and presented the relies to Grand Lodge where they now repose. They include the minute-book with the record of Burns's affiliation and attendances and his signature to the byelaws; the lodge gavel and one of its aprons.

In the Dumfries years the traducers of Burns were at their zenith. They were few but venomous for political, ecclesiastical and other reasons, as a revenge for his many biting satires, and Freemasonry bore the brunt of their heaviest artillery. Its convivial gatherings—and in those days many were undoubtedly bacchanalian—were adjudged responsible for his rapid physical deterioration. Nor were some of his brethren such as Syme and Heron, “companions of his social joys,” altogether guiltless in this respect. Early narrow-minded biographers accepted and unfortunately promulgated these propagandist calumnies and later ones re-echoed them without due investigation. “But it is the doctor and not the moralist who must answer this.” Modern research in scientific fields affords tip, more enlightened perception, and here I quote the expert opinion of the late Sir James Chrichton-Browne, an eminent physician and Vice-President of the Royal Institution: “Burns's death was not an accidental event but the natural consequence of a long series of events that had preceded it, though these events were not of the nature that Carlyle surmised. Burns died of endocarditis, a disease of the substance and lining membrane of the heart, with the origination of which alcohol has nothing to do. It was rheumatism that was the undoing of Burns. It attacked him in early life, damaged his heart, embittered his life and cut short his career.” Sir James, indeed, blames a faulty medical diagnosis due to imperfect knowledge and there is no question as to the truth of his conclusions. On his deathbed Burns said to his wife, “Don’t be afraid Jean; I’ll be more respected a hundred years after I’m dead than I am now.” The Dumfries Mausoleum and Trusts, the many Ayrshire memorials, and the multitude of Burns Associations throughout the Universe provide abundant fulfilment of that dying prophecy.

Footnotes :- i Ayrshire, Burns Chronicle, 1929’ Edinburgh, Burns Chronicle, 1947

ii Letter to Mrs Dunlop, 14th June 1788.

iii Epistle to Hugh Parker

iv Professor Hans Hecht of Gottingen in his "Robert Burns," 1936.

v "Burns from a New Point of View," by Sir James Crichton-Browne.

 

Article by R.T. Halliday Sourced from "The Burns Chronicle 1948 pages 26-33

This lecture was first used in the SRA76 Masonic Magazine for January 2019

This Article was extracted and transcribed in this format by Bro. J. Stewart Donaldson.

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