St.Peter's Operative Lodge No.284

( 1817-1834 )

 In January of 1817 the Lodge received a letter from St.John's Lodge,No.45 Thurso asking for a loan from their funds. However this was not granted, the reason being that the people in Wick were impoverished and were unable to procure for themselves due to the scarcity of meal, and that the money should be used to buy meal from the south, and would be sold on by someone appointed by the Lodge for that purpose.
The secretary was then instructed to write to St John's their willingness to have assisted them had they not found it to be absolutely necessary to apply their money in the manner above proposed.

The secretary was then directed to order from Mr Thomas Thomson, Leith. Fifty-Bolls of the best Oat-Meal and Twenty-Bolls of the best Barley-Meal and advise Mr Thomson to draw on them in the name of the Lodge for that amount.( A Boll is an old measure of two to six bushels or 140lbs.)

It was decided at the next meeting of the Lodge, held on the 18th. Feb. 1817, that the price per Boll of Oat-Meal would be Thirty-six-shillings and for the Barley-Meal Twenty-five-shillings.
The meeting also agreed that such of the brethren who attend at the Vessel when the meal is being landed, shall receive a Boll each at the above price upon paying cash down and 2/6 to be lodged for deposit of each cask, which would be repaid upon the return of the cask within twenty four hours from the time of their receiving it.
The remainder of the meal not taken away from the ships side shall be sold to the public on a first come first served basis, after being brought to Wick in quantities not exceeding Two-Pecks at the same price as the Wick Friendly Society charge for Meal of the same quality.
The total cost to the Lodge for the meal was One Hundred and Eight Pounds Twelve Shillings and Sixpence Sterling.

In March 1817 further Bolls of Oats and Barley-Meal was purchased from Mr Thomson of Leith, this was sold to the members for Twenty Four Shillings and One Penny per Boll of Barley-Meal, and Thirty Five Shillings and Sevenpence per Boll of Oat-Meal.
The meal not sold to the members was sold to the public at a rate of One Shilling and Eightpence per peck of Barley-Meal and Two Shillings and Fourpence per Peck of Oat-Meal. This was to be weighed at the Customs weigh-house.

At a meeting held in November 1817 we find the members authorizing the Right Worshipful Master Harry Bain to order on their account with Alex Oag of Pulteney, to order from his agent in Newry Ireland, Ten Tons of best Oat-Meal which binds himself to Wick, from thence in his Sloop the Bonny Lass of Wick at One Shilling per Boll of Eight and One Half Stones, ( One Hundred and Nineteen Pounds weight. )
At the meeting on November 24th, the account for the meal which arrived in the Vessels,        ( Rose and Favorite in March ) was given to the Lodge,  and after all expenses were paid the Lodge made a profit of Three Pounds, Two Shillings and Sixpence Sterling.

On the 19th Feb. 1818. The Sloop Bonny Lass arrived in Wick with meal which was ordered in November, and at a meeting called for the purpose of disposing the same. It was agreed that the meal be sold to the members at the ship for the sum of Twenty Seven Shillings per Boll of eight and one half stones per Boll, and that sold out of the store at Twenty Seven Shillings and Sixpence per Boll for ready money.

It would seem that the Lodge at that time took a very active part in the community, even after they looked after their own first.
On the 13th, May 1819 a petition was read out from the founder members of St Peter's Lodge in Thurso, requesting permission from St Fergus to form a Lodge in Thurso. This request was duly given after having given St Fergus the relevant information.
On the 20th May 1819 the Lodge met and proceeded in Grand Procession at three of the clock pm to Pulteney Town to lay the foundation stone of the new additional harbour. The stone was laid by the Right Worshipful Master after the manner and with all the solemnity usual on such occasions.

In April 1820 we find the Lodge playing host to the members once again, this time it is for coal, this was duly ordered and was received in July. The price to the brethren was Two Shillings and One Halfpenny Stirling, per barrel. No weight is given for a barrel of coal.
All through the twenties and thirties, the Lodge played host to the brethren for coal and meal.
Also running into difficulties in collecting the out-standing balance of payments due.
The last minute for Lodge St Fergus, No.252 is dated 8th,December 1834. How long it lasted after this is not recorded.  ( But a new Lodge was instituted in 1867. )  

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