The simple story of Lodge Pythagoric is a small chapter
of Masonic history within central Scotland, at the often forgotten port
of Bo'ness. It also delves deeper into the origins of the craft and the
historic significance of Pythagoras.
The bold step of
establishing The Grand Lodge of Scotland in 1736 witnessed the reaching
out to the already established lodges in the country; encouraging the
uniformity and promotion of freemasonry, widely recognised as laying the
foundation for structured freemasonry across the globe.
Less well
known is that structured freemasonry was established in Bo’ness in 1759,
the date that Lodge Pythagoric numbering 90 on the role of The Grand
Lodge of Scotland was chartered.
It is argued that Lodge
Pythagoric represents one of the most challenging and influential phases
in the growth of Scottish freemasonry, prompting The Grand Lodge of
Scotland to recognise the diversity associated with the port of Bo'ness
and its Masonic transience.
At that time Bo'ness represented a
multi-cultural and eclectic mix, less common to these shores at that
time; when Edinburgh, under the guidance of Bro. George Drummond was
still perceived to be finding it’s feet internationally (relatively
speaking).
With strong Pan-European connections and many brethren
embracing our shores, it has been mooted that the freemasonry network
emanating from Greece, France, Italy, Germany and Holland did not sit
comfortably with the aims of the newly formed Grand Lodge of Scotland.
When indeed the brethren of Bo’ness presented the name 'Pythagoric'
to The Grand Lodge of Scotland it was significant enough to raise a
number of questions surrounding the Greek foundation, and why it should
sit within the Scottish framework.
We can only speculate about
the choice of name and discussions at the time. But simple Masonic
research positions the value associated with the choice of the Bo'ness
brethren.
Pythagoras
Pythagoras of Samos was born between
580 and 570 BC, and was positioned as an Ionian Greek mathematician and
founder of the religious movement called Pythagoreanism.
Pythagoras started a secret society called the Pythagorean brotherhood
devoted to the study of mathematics. This had a great effect on future
esoteric traditions, such as Rosicrucianism and Freemasonry.
In
1640 AD John Reuchlin provided an anchored commentary of The Pythagoric
Doctrine, outlining his ways of teaching by silence and symbols.
The difficult and abstruse tradition of Mysteries and Symbols is not to
be investigated by human wit, but rather requires ample strength of
thinking and character, and above all things, faith and taciturnity.
Whence Pythagoras taught nothing to his disciples before silence; it
being the first rudiment of contemplative wisdom to learn to meditate
and to unlearn to talk.
This kind of learning brought forth the
Pythagoric philosophy which concerns divine things, expressed by enigmas
and symbols. The ancients used to deliver wisdom by allegories; all
their philosophers and poets were full of riddles, avoiding by this
obscurity contempt of the. ignorant; for the most apt interpreter of
things not perceptible by human mindlessness, is Fable. What is easily
found is negligently pursued.
Among Pythagoreans, the symbols and
enigmas of their priceless study were a chain of indissoluble love. All
became desirous of them to be known as Pythagoreans. They were also
serviceable as memory notes; for in treating of all things divine and
human, the vastness of the subjects required short symbols, as conducing
to memory.
Lodge Pythagoric
Between 1759 and 1799
Pythagoric Lodge that was numbered 90 on the Roll of the Grand Lodge of
Scotland existed in the hearts of the Bo’ness brethren.
Early
records show that freemasonry in Bo’ness was affluent at that time; in
that:
…"from and after the 17th of July 1760 every brother upon
being made a Royal Arch Mason in the Pythagoric Lodge shall pay dues
thereto – five shillings".
The information alluded to earlier
showed that some of the practices did not sit with The Grand Lodge of
Scotland, and the Lodge was declared dormant in 1799. Some ten years
later it was erased from the Roll of the Grand Lodge of Scotland.
The gap between this time and 1856-1860 sits within the current
province of Linlithgowshire but shows freemasonry still active within
Bo'ness.
When The Grand Lodge of Scotland was approached between
1856 and 1859 to re-instate Lodge Pythagoric, a unanimous 'No' was
communicated, thus sending Pythagoric to the history books.
A
group of Bo'nessian Masons applied to resurrect the "Pythagoric" Lodge
in Bo'ness in 1860, but were refused permission by the Grand Lodge of
Scotland. However permission was granted on 5th November 1860 to open a
new Lodge, which gave birth to the Douglas Lodge, probably named after
the Hamilton-Douglas family.
Douglas Lodge No. 409
On
Thursday 10th January 1861 the first meeting of the Douglas Lodge took
place at 7.30 p.m. in the Freemasons Tavern for the purpose of Entering
Apprentices.
Significantly 13 Entered Apprentices were initiated
on this date, the first of 80 to be admitted that year.
The
Douglas Lodge was indeed swelling its ranks; however it was not until
23rd May 1861 that the Douglas Lodge received its official Charter from
the Grand Lodge of Scotland.
Brother William Spence (officially
appointed as the RWM) and office bearers were duly elected at a meeting
on 28th May that year.
In the first 50 years of its existence the
Douglas Lodge had no less that ten different meeting places, therefore
in 1908 a sub-committee was formed to find a more permanent building or
site suitable to build a Temple.
The Lodge had a healthy cash
reserve, and the current temple was built on land purchased from Brother
Kilpatrick. Plans were quickly drawn up for the construction of the
Temple for an estimated cost of £1,200.
The temple was designed
by one of the most prominent architects of the time (Matthew Steele) for
a fee of £60 17s 0d.
The foundation stone for the 409 Douglas
Lodge Temple sited in Stewart Avenue was laid on 14th August 1909 by
Provincial Grand Master Brother Robert Kirk. Since that date, many a
recognised freemason has graduated from 409, with The Grand Lodge of
Scotland benefiting its ranks.
The Douglas Lodge celebrated 100
years of the building of the current temple on Friday 14th August 2009,
rededicated by the Provincial Grand Master of Linlithgowshire, Brother
Kenneth L. Lindsay.
In 2010 The Douglas Lodge will celebrate its
150 years, and will quietly recognise the 251 year history associated
with Lodge Pythagoric, numbering 90 on the roll of The Grand Lodge of
Scotland.
Editor's footnote from Masonic history:
During
the 1700s, the Grand Lodge of Scotland strongly felt that Craft Lodges
should focus on the first three degrees, not on higher degrees such as
Royal Arch. In this they were aided by the promulgation of new laws in
Great Britain requiring private societies such as Freemasonry to have
their Grand Lodge or equivalent body vouch for the national loyalty of
each member lodge. Any lodge not receiving that vouchsafe from Grand
Lodge would be forced to disband or suffer the penalties of law. Since
Lodge of Pythagoric No. 90 was working the Royal Arch degree, that could
have been a significant factor in the disbanding of the lodge in 1799. A
good source for further reading on these loyalty laws -- the Unlawful
Oaths Act of 1797, and the Unlawful Societies Act of 1799 -- can be
found in The Rosslyn Hoax? by Robert L.D. Cooper, on pages 70-72.
See also:
• Bearden Lodge
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