Chapter Two
The Founder Members
Alexander Carnaby was the principal founder of St. Peter's Operative Lodge and served as Master from the first meeting in December 1818 until his death in May 1821. He was born in 1747/8 and came to Thurso about 1780. For a number of years he was Supervisor of the Salmon Fisheries but he was, perhaps better known as a merchant.He affiliated to St.John's Lodge on 27th December 1781 from Stirling Royal Arch Lodge, now No.76,and was a regular supporter of the Thurso lodge. In 1811 he was a Trustee and in 1812 a member of the Management Committee. It may be that he was Depute Master for a term. It is worth noting in this connection that ,when the division is made of "gentlemen" and "operatives",Carnaby could claim to belong to the former because he had been an ensign in the Rothesay and Caithness Fencibles during the brief existence of that corps at the end of the 18th century. It will be the uniform of that rank that he wears in the portrait of him that has survived.
When the "operatives" seceded, however, he was their leader and his determination played an important part in bringing the enterprise to a successful conclusion. He died in May 1821.
Two of his sons - William, who was a surgeon, and Benjamin, who was a shipmaster - also joined in the founding of St.Peter's Operative Lodge. When William died, not very long after his father, the lodge resolved "to attend the funeral...not in a Masonic order but in a clean and decent manner". William had presented the lodge with his father's sword but this was carried off a little later by another son and may never have been recovered.
The standard work on Scottish surnames says the name Carnaby is derived from a place in Yorkshire. This will be the root of the now famous Carnaby Street. The Scottish name may be derived from Carnbee near Pittenweem in Fife.
The first Depute Master and second Master was John Campbell, a tailor in Thurso. He was initiated in St.John's Lodge in December 1784- when he would be about twenty years of age but we have no record that he took any active part in the running of that lodge. He occupied the chair of St.Peter's Operative Lodge again in 1825 and 1829 and was a member of the benefit fund - latterly as a superannuated member - until his death in 1843. Two of his sons, who were also tailors, became Master.
The first Wardens were William Taylor, mason, and Donald Dunnet, innkeeper. Donald Dunnet must have retained his connection with both Thurso lodges because there is a decanter in the museum of the Grand Lodge of Scotland with his name and the number of St.John's Lodge inscribed on it. His inn was in Shore Street and he would be interested in the patronage of both lodges. Dunnet became the third Master in 1822 and was re-elected for 1826. He died in 1842/3.
The first Secretary was William Maclver, merchant, Castletown, whose qualifications had been queried before the Wick lodge signed the petition. Maclver soon ceased to attend the lodge. The first Treasurer was Donald MacGregor, Chelsea pensioner, who also disappeared early from the records. The first Tyler was John Swanson, seaman, later weaver, who served until 1823 and was in the fund until his death in 1837/8.
Twelve other brethren attended the inaugural meeting in December 1818. Alexander Davidson had entered St.John's Lodge in 1795 as a sergeant in the 85th Foot(Bucks Volunteers). He took no active part in the affairs of either lodge but he survived to enter the second benefit fund and he was superannuated before he died in 1859 at the age of 88 years. He was an innkeeper occupying successively the Plough in Shore Street and the Wheatsheaf in Duke Street.
Daniel Taylor, mason, entered St.John's Lodge at an unknown date but had not progressed beyond the Second Degree. He was raised at the first meeting of St.Peter's Operative Lodge after receipt of the charter. He became a staunch supporter. After a year as Treasurer he became the fourth Master in 1823 and served for three later sessions. He was also Secretary from 1849 until he died in 1858 at 74 years.
William Polson, mason, entered St.John's Lodge before 1815 and was passed and raised in the new lodge. After serving as Warden, he became the fifth Master and was again in the chair when the foundation stone of the Parish Church was laid in 1830 as is reported in Appendix Three.
The others on the first list of founders were James Mclver, joiner, Alexander Swanson, mason, Scrabster, Donald McLeod, messenger, Lieutenant Arthur Sinclair of the Ross & Cromarty Militia, William Mackay, messenger, William Swanson, farmer, Scrabster, later Todholes, William Manson, farmer, Scrabster, John Sinclair, cooper, Wick, and Francis Sinclair, writer. The only one of these to hold office was Alexander Swanson, who was a Warden for a few years. One of his sons became Master in 1865 and another son was a member for 77 years.
At the end of March 1819 the founders were joined by William Allen, Chelsea pensioner. He was a member of the military lodge in the 4th Battalion of the Royal Artillery which had been chartered in the U.S.A. by the Antients' Grand Lodge of England in 1783. This lodge is now settled in Quebec as Albion Lodge No.2 of that province.
In September they were joined by David MaCadie David McCadie was his own style - the customhouse boatman. He was Tyler for five years from 1824 and was in the first fund until it broke up.
A final group of six founders were enrolled in December 1819. It included two of the Master's sons as noted above. John Williamson, pilot, Orkney, had been passed and raised in St.John's Lodge in 1812 and Arthur Davidson, clerk in the Commercial Bank, later accountant, was a member of that lodge by 1815. The others were Donald Clyne, mason, Sordale, and John Mackay, merchant.
Alexander Carnaby at 72,William Taylor at 64 and John Campbell at 54 were considerably older than the other principal founders who were in their thirties.
Chapter Three
The Early Years (1820-1830)
On 15th February 1820,immediately upon receipt of the letter quoted in Chapter One, the lodge proceeded to business without ceremony."The Lodge being duly opened upon the third Degree of Masonry proceeded to the instalment of the following Brethren as office bearers of Saint Peter's Operative Lodge No.287 Thurso viz."...."when they raised Brother Daniel Taylor to the Sublime degree of Master Mason, and past and raised to the said Sublime degree Brothers William Poison, William Swanson William Manson and John Mackay and Entered as an Apprentice Sutherland Ryrie, when the fee thereof was collected amounted to Five Pounds three shillings and sixpence sterling which with the former Collections amounts to Fourteen pounds one shilling and five-pence sterling, The Lodge thereafter being closed in love and Harmony."
The number 287 was that allocated to the lodge by Grand Lodge at the time the charter was issued but it was a temporary one. As Grand Secretary said: "It would not be wise to put this number on anything permanent as every time the Grand Roll is purged the number will be altered." In the next few years the numbers 277, 288 and 284 were used, but the roll was, fortunately, stabilised in 1826 and 284 has persisted.
We know very little about the ceremonies worked at this time but we can be sure that they were much briefer than those we are accustomed to today. Otherwise it would not have been usual - as it was all during last century - for lodges to work three degrees at one sitting. The essentials would. no doubt, be familiar but most of the set lectures would be missing.
The ending,"closed in love and harmony",was used in the minutes for many years during last century - whether it was appropriate or not. It was only the first two meetings that were opened on the Third Degree. After that the usual method was followed.
The First Year
In the early correspondence with Grand Secretary, he had been asked to be Proxy Master or to recommend someone for the post. He proposed John Norie(or Norrie), Master Mason of Lodge Roman Eagle No.160, Edinburgh, and that brother acted until his death some 25 years later.A set of lodge jewels was purchased from M&P. Cunningham, the jewellers to Grand Lodge, at a cost of £7/15/- which was considered an excessive price by the lodge and by its Edinburgh agent.
On St.John's Day - which, in the story of St.Peter's Operative Lodge, always means 27th December or next lawful day - the lodge dined at the Assembly Rooms but we do not know whether there was any public demonstration. Where the lodge normally met in the early days is not revealed by the minutes and the few later references do not justify speculation on this subject.
In its first year the lodge entered 16 apprentices and received one affiliate. These included James Banks, shoemaker, who was four times Master, William Maclean, blacksmith, who was twice Master, and William Sutherland, cooper, who was Tyler for 50 years from 1829. The latter was one of the pipers employed for St.John's Day in 1828 and it is likely that he was out most years thereafter. It will be seen that, between founders and initiates, the lodge had collected a solid nucleus of members by the end of 1820. With a few later initiates these members kept the lodge going many years.
Master Past The Chair
On 6th December 1820, after raising a candidate, the lodge went on to commit a masonic offence which was, at that time, not unusual in Scotland. The minute says:-"Thereafter their past the Chair the following Master Masons Alexander Carnaby Merchant Thurso John Campbell Taylor there, William Swanson Tenant in Scrabster William Manson Tenant there, Daniel Taylor Mason in Thurso Joseph F.Mackie Writer there John Mackay Merchant there Arthur Davidson Clerk there Sergt. Marcus Gunn 78th Regt. William Poison Mason there and William Mackay writer there, Thereafter the Lodge Closed in Love and Harmony."
Some rough notes which have survived show that John Swanson. the Tyler, was in the chair for this ceremony. The origin of the degree known as Past Master or Master Past The Chair is uncertain. It may, at one time, have been conferred on actual Masters in English and Irish lodges. It existed because at one time it was necessary to be an actual Past Master to receive the Royal Arch degree. A shortage of candidates brought the custom of granting the qualification to others. The degree was never really popular in Scotland or England and it has been dropped as a prerequisite for the Royal Arch. But it is still part of the U.S. system.
It was dropped in Scotland when Grand Lodge took over the English degree(or ceremonial)of Installed Master with which it might have been confused. This is referred to in Chapter Seven. The old degree was, however, later brought back as the degree of Installed Mark Master which is given to First Principals.
Just about the same time, Francis Sinclair was charged with "being present at the making of Clandestine Masons and further witnessing a fee being taken for same". He admitted the offense, of which we have no further details, and was excluded for a year.
The Second Year
Although the lodge had a good core of valuable members it was not strong in numbers and the benefit fund was, perhaps, never a sound investment. In March 1821 it was decided that "members within one mile of town who are absent for yearly or stated meetings quarterly to be fined 6d per time unless reasonable excuse given." In April it was resolved that all petitions must be accompanied by a deposit of 5/-.The statement of accounts for this year shows that the funds were treated as one. The total income was about £26 and the outlays about £10,of which £6 was for burials. It shows that a seal had been purchased and also locks for the lodge chest. There was "Music" and a procession on St. John's Day and a dinner was held at the "house" of Donald Dunnet. the new Master.
(1822-1830)
On 7th January 1823 were entered Donald and George Swanson. sons of Alexander Swanson, mason, Scrabster. Donald became Master in 1865 and George was a member for 77 years.
It was agreed in 1824 to get a mortcloth "for the accommodation of the respective members, their wives, widows and such of their families as are under their tuition". It was four years later before the mortcloth was obtained and it was then ruled that it must not be hired out nor lent gratuitously. The church authorities were displeased. The Thurso Session records at this time declare that the use of their own mortcloths by St.Peter's Operative Lodge and the other friendly societies was a means of robbing the poor.
In December 1824 William Budge, shoemaker and drummer, was entered. He was for a long time town crier, in which post he succeeded his father. William was regularly out on St.John's Day.
There is an interesting minute for 26th June 1826 when George McAddie was being received:-
"I George McAddie in consequence of some demur being made respecting a cut made in one of my legs about twenty years ago from which I never felt any inconvenience in my ordinary vocation further than the skin of that leg being discoloured, do hereby bind myself not to become chargeable on the Society for any trouble that can be proven to arise from said cut."
In 1830 it was resolved "that every brother" who lived within 15 miles of Thurso "shall be bound to attend the Procession regularly upon St.John's Day until they are free members of the Lodge, Say Nine Years". The fine was raised to 2/6d.
During the whole period of the two benefit funds the accounts were considered on Old St.John's Day, which was assumed to occur on 7th January.
Chapter Four
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