St.Peter's Operative Lodge No.284

 In 1830 we learn that Brethren who lived within 15 miles of Thurso were obliged to attend the procession on St John's Day unless they were free members ( those of nine years standing ) on pain of being fined a Half-Crown. Two years earlier Piper's are first mentioned being sent out to summon the Brethren to the Installation Meeting which is held on St John's Day. ie. 27th December . Should this fall on a Saturday or Sunday it is put off until the next 'working day.'

To this Day Piper's still do the rounds by calling on the Master Elect and the Past Masters in descending order from the Chair, and although the Piper's hours have been reduced these customs still prevail.
It was also in 1830 that the Lodge was present at the laying of the Foundation Stone of the new Parish Church.

Seemingly nothing of note happened until 1859 when the Lodge paraded to celebrate the centenary of the birth of Robert Burns, and the following year they were present when the Foundation Stone of the Miller Institution was laid. In January 1867 the Lodge supported an application from Wick Masons to form St Fergus Lodge and it was around this time that it became a 'Speculative Lodge'. Also that year every member was required to pay a Test Fee of One Shilling on St John's Day, failure to comply meant having no voice or vote on any matter in the Lodge.

The Foundation Stone of the Town Hall was laid with full Masonic Order in 1868.

As previously stated the early Meeting Place of the Lodge is uncertain. Although we do know Meetings were held in what is now Sutherlands Chemist in Traill Street, the duration of their stay there is uncertain. During 1873-4 Meetings were held in Bruce's Caledonian Hotel at a cost of £2 per annum.

The Thurso Rifle Volunteers Hall, which along with Thurso Castle, was designed by local Architect David Smith to resemble a small Fortress in the Baronial Style in vogue at that time was built in 1873, and the Lodge held Meetings there from 1874 until possibly 1885 at a cost  of £7 per annum.

Dr John Craven was the Master in 1881 and he presented the Masters Chair to the Lodge, the original Masters Chair is now in the Ante-Room . Other Members also presented furniture to the Lodge around about this period.

The Foundation Stone of Dunbar Hospital on the outskirts of the town was laid by the Duke of Edinburgh in 1880 but no indication given if the Lodge was involved.

The Lodge held a Meeting on the 21st August 1884 to greet the Grand Master Mason on his way back from Kirkwall where he had Inaugurated the Provincial Grand Lodge of Orkney Caithness and Zetland . What we would nowadays consider a trivial incident occurred. Two Brethren objected to a Brother wearing Highland Dress being present, the latter was asked to retire pending a ruling from the Chair. The matter was eventually referred to Edinburgh. Grand Lodge ruled that 'Kilt, Doublet, White Tie and Gloves' would qualify as 'properly clothed'.

There was £180 in the Building Fund in 1885 when the Lodge purchased premises in MacDonald Square now (Sir John's Square). The lower storey of the premises was let, and the upper storey was the Meeting Room. 

The Provincial Grand Master of Orkney, Caithness and Zetland laid the Memorial Stone of the new Thurso Bridge in May 1887 with a Deputation from the Lodge present among the 125 Brethren who attended. The Mark Master Degree was also being worked from about this time, certainly by 1890.

The Duke of Portland was made an Honorary Affiliate Member of the Lodge before proceeding to lay the Foundation Stone at Thurso Harbour on 27th August 1891. Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee was celebrated in 1897 with a Procession and by an evening Cake and Wine Banquet in the Royal Hotel.

The Lodge was on the lookout for premises which could accommodate them better, and Dr. Craven's stables in Sinclair Street were purchased for £70 in 1906 with the intention of converting the building into a suitable hall. During that same year the Lodge was in attendance at the laying of the Foundation Stone of the New Library.