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.