Appendix Three
Laying the Foundation Stone of the Parish Church
The account of this event in the centenary brochure is bowdlerised and also incomplete. The following version is taken partly from the minute book and partly from manuscript.On 18th May 1830 "The Lodge met and agreed to have a Procession to lay the Foundation Stone of the New Parish Church and after consulting there worthy pasture the Revd. William. Mclntosh it was agreed the should meet in the old Church, when the house was crowded, and all the Friendly Societies in attendance, when a most able and suitable Exortation was delivered by Mr.Mclntosh on the cause of this meeting And after being dismissed the different Friendly Societies preceding the Lodge, walk two and two, headed by the Minister and Chief Magistrate Bailie Wilson, the Lodge taking up the rear in Masonic order, according to ancient usage, until they arrived on the ground, when the different Friendly Societies formed themselves round the site of the intended building. The Heritors, Minr, Magistrate's, Town Council,& Lodge in the centre. The Master, of the Lodge then received from the Chief Magistrate, and some of the Heritors the different coin currencies of the day which were deposited in a niche made in stone for there reception The Worshipful. Master .with the concurrence of the Brethren then invited Capt. D.Henderson of Brabsterdorran the representative of the principal Heritor to assist in laying down the foundation Stone which he agreed to under the direction of the Worshipful. Master. when said stone was with the Assistance of two operative brethren put in its place making three regular stops in its progress. The Deputy Master. then presented to Capt.Henderson as acting under the direction of the Worshipful. Master. The Square, Plumb, Level & the Mallet, which were successively applied in there order The Mallet. being the finishing part of the ceremony, by three knocks. When the Worshipful. Master. spoke to the assemblage as follows. Viz. May the Grand Architect of the Universe grant a blessing on this Foundation Stone, which we have now laid,& by his providence may he enable to finish this & every other work which may be undertaken in this Town & Parish for the advancement of his glory & the good of immortal souls, Amen. Three hurra's from the assemblage which finished this part of the ceremony.
The Worshipful. Master. then addressed the Magistrates Town Council & Heritors as follows: Gentlemen we have had the "honour in the capacity of Masons,to lend our aid towards laying that stone on which it is your intention to erect a house unto God. We even consider it as one of the fortunate events of our lives that the Craft of Free & Accepted Masons, should be called forth to assist at an undertaking so laudable & so glorious. Permit me in name of the Craft to implore the protection of the Supreme Architect of the Universe on each of you Gentlemen & may you long continue here the Ornaments of Civil Society & may you hereafter be received into"........"those Mansions, those Lodges prepared in Heaven for the blessed. Three cheers being given the Worshipful. Master. proceeded to address the Minister as follows.
Revd. Sir, permit me to congratulate you as Pastor of this Parish on the work on which we have been this day engaged, any panageric that I can pronounce must fall so far short of what is due to you Sir. And your honourable and learned Brethren of the Clergy, That it would be presumption in me to attempt to express my sense of your deserts, Suffice it to say that the Lodge of which I am a member are most happy in having this opportunity of assisting at and witnessing the laying of the foundation, Whence it is there earnest wish a building may arise which in future ages may be as renowned as in the present day, for the excellence of its Minister. And respected for the propriety of Conduct manifested by its adherents, May the Almighty Architect, the sovereign disposer of all events grant that you may long continue to deliver instruction, And your parishioners receive in such a manner as may redound to the glory of God and the extention of religious knowledge.
The Revd. Gentleman thus addressed was pleased to express his approbation by a bow. When three cheers as formerly was given. The Worshipful Master then proceeded lastly as follows to address the Architect.
Mr.Gordon Sir The foundation stone of the House planned by an able and ingenious Architect being now laid and those implements in our hands having been applied to it, by the Worshipful Master, they ore recommitted to you with full confidence(giving him the Compasses and Square)That as a skilful and faithful workman you will use them in such a manner that the building may rise in order harmony and beauty, And being perfected in strength will answer every purpose for which it is intended to your credit as a Craftsman and to the honour of our Antient Fraternity, After three cheers the Lodge reversing its order proceeded to there usual place" of Meeting, when it was proposed by some of the Brethren present that the order of procession acted upon on this Occasion be inserted and engrossed in the Lodge Books was accordingly agreed to and is in substance as follows. Viz.
Ceremony at laying the Foundation stone of the New Church of Thurso, by St Peters Lodge of Operative Mason's with the Mode of Procession practised by them on that Occasion, and according to ancient useage. Two Tylers with swords
Music Brethren not Members of the Lodge Two & two
Architect or Builder with the Mallet
Superintendent of the Work with the Plan
Director of Ceremonies
Deacons
Secretary with the Book of Constitution
Treasurer with a rod
Chaplin
Wardens
Master
Deputy Master
Junior Warden with Plumb
Senior Warden with Level
Volume of the Sacred Law with Square & Compasses
carried by a Brother
An Operative Brother with a Square
Magistrates Town Council and Heritors
Two Stewards with Rods
Tyler with a Sword Friendly Society's in there order, Juniors going first"
Music Brethren not Members of the Lodge Two & two
Architect or Builder with the Mallet
Superintendent of the Work with the Plan
Director of Ceremonies
Deacons
Secretary with the Book of Constitution
Treasurer with a rod
Chaplin
Wardens
Master
Deputy Master
Junior Warden with Plumb
Senior Warden with Level
Volume of the Sacred Law with Square & Compasses
carried by a Brother
An Operative Brother with a Square
Magistrates Town Council and Heritors
Two Stewards with Rods
Tyler with a Sword Friendly Society's in there order, Juniors going first"
Appendix Four
Principal Office-Bearers 1867-1940
Masters
Wardens
| 1867 | James Manson | 1869 | John Coghill |
| 1871 | George Swanson | 1873 | George.M.Carnaby |
| 1874 | George Swanson (again) | 1877 | William McIntosh |
| 1880 | George Dunnet | 1881 | John Craven |
| 1886 | Daniel Dunnet | 1888 | George Sorrie |
| 1890 | John Craven (again) | 1891 | George Sinclair |
| 1894 | Sinclair MacDonald | 1898 | David Durran |
| 1902 | William Alexander Gunn | 1904 | John Gow |
| 1906 | John Sinclair Swnson | 1908 | John Swanson Gunn |
| 1910 | William Manson Brims | 1914 | John Swanson Gunn (again) |
| 1918 | John Munro | 1921 | Donald Ryrie |
| 1922 | Alexander Neil MacDonald | 1925 | John MacLennan |
| 1929 | William Coghill | 1931 | John George Munro |
| 1933 | John Sinclair | 1935 | George Hood |
| 1937 | David Forsyth | 1939 | Thomas Collier Findlay |
| 1940 | George Hood (again) |
Wardens
| SENIOR | JUNIOR | SENIOR | JUNIOR | ||
| 1867 | William Swanson | John Coghill | 1868 | John Coghill | George Swanson |
| 1869 | George Swanson | John Hunter | 1871 | John Hunter | Andrew Manson |
| 1873 | John Swanson | John Coghill | 1874 | John Coghill | Alexander Henderson |
| 1875 | John Trotter | George Sorrie | 1876 | George Sorrie | William MacIntosh |
| 1877 | William Swanson | George Dunnet | 1879 | George Dunnet | James Swanson |
| 1880 | George Manson | Donald MacKay | 1881 | George.C.E.Taylor | John MacDonald |
| 1882 | George.C.E.Taylor | Daniel Dunnet | 1883 | William Swanson | Daniel Dunnet |
| 1884 | Daniel Dunnet | George Manson | 1885 | Daniel Dunnet | James Davidson |
| 1886 | James Davidson | David Swanson | 1887 | James Davidson | George Sinclair |
| 1888 | George Sinclair | John Tait | 1890 | John Tait | Alexander Stark |
| 1891 | Alexander Stark | Peter Forbes | 1893 | William.A.Gunn | Sinclair MacDonald |
| 1894 | William.A.Gunn | George.S.Logan | 1896 | George.S.Logan | John.S.MacKay |
| 1897 | John.S.MacKay | Francis Allen | 1898 | Francis Allen | David Anderson |
| 1901 | David Anderson | William Waters | 1902 | John.S.Swanson | Alexander McKidd |
| 1904 | Alexander McKidd | John.H.H.Turnbull | 1905 | Alexander McKidd | John.S.Gunn |
| 1906 | John.S.Gunn | George Waters | 1907 | John.S.Gunn | George Sutherland |
| 1908 | Robert Richardson | Walter Dickenson | 1909 | Robert Richardson | James Miller |
| 1910 | James Miller | Donald Ryrie | 1911 | Donald Ryrie | James.M.MacDonald |
| 1912 | James.M.MacDonald | John Munro | 1914 | John Munro | Donald Swanson |
| 1916 | John Munro | George Manson | 1918 | George Manson | Henry Jones |
| 1919 | Henry Jones | Donald Murray | 1920 | Donald Swanson | Donald Murray |
| 1921 | George Manson | Donald Murray | 1922 | Donald Murray | William Coghill |
| 1923 | John McLennan | William Coghill | 1924 | William Coghill | Donald Shearer |
| 1926 | Donald Shearer | John.G.Munro | 1927 | John.G.Munro | John Sinclair |
| 1930 | John Sinclair | John Jack | 1932 | John Jack | George Hood |
| 1933 | George Hood | David.D.Bruce | 1934 | George Hood | William Thomson |
| 1935 | David Forsyth | David Laird | 1937 | Thomas.C.Findlay | Angus Munro |
| 1938 | Angus Munro | David Sutherland | 1939 | David Sutherland | Hugh.S.MacDonald |
Tylers
| 1867 | Alexander Sinclair | 1869 | William Nicol |
| 1880 | Donald Sutherland | 1883 | Robert Sutherland |
| 1887 | J. Reid | 1888 | J. Sutherland |
| 1889 | David Swanson | 1895 | Malcolm Brock |
| 1937 | George Swanson | 1938 | George Swanson MacLeod |
| 1839 | Robert Mercer |
This list is incomplete because the minutes do not always record an appointment
Depute Masters
| 1875 | William Swanson | 1877 | John Manson | 1879 | William Swanson |
| 1880 | John Manson | 1883 | George.C.E.Taylor | 1886 | |
| 1893 | Alexander Stark | 1897 | David Durran | 1898 | Alexander Dick |
| 1900 | William Ferguson | 1901 | John Gow | 1902 | Francis Allan |
| 1903 | George Calder | 1904 | John.S.Swanson | 1906 | John McLennan (1) |
| 1908 | 1909 | Donald Munro | 1910 | Alexander McKidd | |
| 1911 | William Langley | 1914 | Donald Ryrie | 1920 | John MacLennan |
| 1921 | Donald Swanson | 1922 | 1923 | John MacLennan (1) | |
| 1925 | John MacLennan (2) | 1926 | Donald Anderson | 1927 | William Coghill |
| 1929 | Donald Anderson | 1932 | John Sinclair | 1935 | William Munro |
| 1937 | James Lindsay | 1939 | Robert Cairnie | 1940 | John.W.D.Millar |
Treasurers Secretaries
| 1867 | John Lochrin | 1867 | John Budge |
| 1869 | George.M.Carnaby | 1869 | John Trotter |
| 1874 | Andrew Manson | 1870 | William Shearer |
| 1879 | James Manson (again) | 1873 | Andrew Manson |
| 1880 | William MacIntosh | 1874 | James Christian |
| 1887 | Robert MacKenzie | 1875 | John Manson |
| 1894 | William Ferguson | 1877 | George Sorrie |
| 1897 | John Gow | 1888 | John.G.Munro |
| 1901 | Donald Sinclair | 1891 | George Sorrie |
| 1906 | William.M.Brims | 1893 | William.S.Harrison |
| 1907 | Joseph.G.Brown | 1896 | Frederick Andrew |
| 1908 | William.M.Brims | 1901 | William Langley |
| 1910 | William.B.Waters | 1910 | George Waters |
| 1913 | Alexander.W.Black | 1916 | John.G.Munro |
| 1914 | Alexander.N.MacDonald | 1919 | John MacLennan (2) |
| 1916 | William Manson | 1920 | John.G.Munro |
| 1919 | Donald Manson | 1926 | Adam Johnston |
| 1920 | Hugh.M.MacDonald | 1928 | Samuel Reid |
| 1924 | Joseph.J.Gunn | 1930 | Murdo.J.Macpherson |
| 1929 | John.B.Gunn | 1934 | George.G.Miller |
| 1932 | David Forsyth | ||
| 1935 | John.W.D.Millar | ||
| 1940 | George Custer |
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