This is the Charter issued to the Lodge in 1859 for its reopening. The Grand Lodge Seal on it is dated 1820 and it is annoted at the bottom as follows :- "Extracted from the Records of the Grand Lodge of Scotland Alex Stewart Clerk." He was Clerk of Grand Lodge for the period 1859-69. It also bears our current number "31", this however was given to us in 1826, between 1816 and 1826 we were numbered as "30" and prior to 1816 we had the number "34"

The following is not a full transcription - Work is still ongoing

To All and Sundry to whom these present may come, Greetings, That I John Douglas Chirurgion in Edinburgh, Grand Master Substitute of the Grand Lodge of True and Accepted Masons of Scotland, as having commission from the Right Worshipful Master St. Clair of Rosline, present Grand Master there of and Captain John Young his Deputy, dated the first day of July last. Whereas upon Application to the said Grand Lodge by the Worshipful Thomas Baird present Master, William Brownlie and Thomas Nesbit, Senior and Junior Warden for themselves and in name of the brethren belonging to the Lodge of Free Masons, kept at Coltness in the Shire of Lanark, it was evidently made apparent to me and the brethren of the Grand Lodge by proper documents. That upwards of these thirty years past they have been Constitute and Erected a Free Masons Lodge by the name and assignation aforesaid as depending from the Masson Lodge of Maries Chappell in Edinburgh, since which time, they have been in use to keep regular meetings, In which they received and Entered Apprentices Past Fellow Crafts and Raised Master Masons and for that purpose have kept regular books wherein they have recorded their proceedings in the way and manner practiced by other well governed Masson Lodges, and as such stand recorded on the books of the said Grand Lodge, and wherein by themselves and ye representatives the have been in use to vote in all the proceeding of the same since the revival thereof on the Thirtieth of November One Thousand Seven Hundred and Thirty Six and the brethren aforesaid being now desirous to have their foresaid erection and constitution certified and Confirmed by the Grand Lodge. Therefore wist ye by me by the advice and consent of the Brethren of the said Grand Lodge to have certified, approven and confirmed and by the tenor hereof ratify, approve and perpetually confirm the aforesaid erection and constitution in favour of the said worshipful brethren of Coltness Lodge and their successors as descended from the said Lodge Maries Chappell in Edinburgh and of now to have constituted, erected and appointed and hereby with consent foresaid constitute, erect and appoint them and their successors to be a true and regular mason lodge of Free and Accepted Masons under the title and signature a mentioned in all time coming and do hereby give and grant to them and their successors full and ample power to receive and enter Apprentices, pay fellows of Craft and raise Master Masons upon payment of regular and reasonable compositions in support of their poor decayed brethren, widows and orphans agreeable to their portions. And to elect and make choice of Masters, Wardens, Treasurers and ye Office Bearers annual or ???? as they have occasion.

Click the link to the section you want to go to next:
Freemasonry Index >> Apron & GL Cert >> Charter >> Canes >> Jewels & Sword >>
Brass Candlesticks >> Scrolls

If you wish to view the picture on the right hand side in higher quality click on the image. or click here