Chapter 2
Resuscitation the Lodge 24th April 1860.
On 24th April 1860 the first recorded meeting of the Lodge was held after having been dormant for about 23 years, and on 6th June of the same year, a letter was received from the Grand Lodge intimating that the petition from the Hawick Lodge praying for the old charter to be returned, had been before the Grand committee and would come up for discussion before Grand Lodge in August, the letter gave the Lodge temporary permission (and interim dispensation) to work the degrees, and stated the number of the Lodge was 407.
An entry in the minute book dated 22nd July records that a brother was fined one shilling for neglecting to address the Master in the proper manner, one candidate was proposed but failed to get a seconder and another was unworthy.
A petition was sent to the Duke of Buccleuch, requesting use of the school in Orrock Place, which was due to become vacant. There is no record of a reply and on 18th February 1861, it was decided to hold all the meetings in the Industrial School (Ragged School), now Drumlanrig, kindly granted by the Reverend John McRae, where all the meetings were afterwards held until the brethren moved to the Masonic Hall in 1874.
The Reverend John Thompson, minister of St Mary’s received the first, second, and third degrees and afterwards elected an office bearer in one evening, the only instance of this ever happening.
On 16th July 1861, the meeting was held on a Friday night for the first time and it was decided for the future the meeting should be held on Friday nights instead of Tuesdays, as formerly. Candidates could be proposed by Fellow Crafts, which is rather unusual, and the celebration of St Johns Festival, the dinner was first, and the procession held afterwards.
An unusual occurrence is recorded in the minutes of 7th February 1862. It was proposed that a brother be re-entered owing to the irregularity, which had occurred on a former occasion, this brother enjoyed the unique distinction of receiving the degree for the second time.
It is recorded in the minute of 20th September 1861,that Brother Thompson reported reading in” The “Times” newspaper that during the present struggle in America (Civil War) no notice was taken of the sign of distress given by a prostrate brother soldier to another brother “but was killed after the sign was given” and remonstrance should he made to the authorities.
A donation of £1 was given to the Ragged School and 10 shillings to a brother (not Hawick) who had been in prison for forty-seven years.
A meeting was held on 3rd July 1860 to approve the rules briefly” no meetings to be held except 5 members being present and in a Lodge room”. Any person wishing to join had to be approved, the proposer to deposit 5 shillings and 16 shillings on the night of initiation plus 4/6 for passing and 4/6 for raising. Every member to pay 3d quarterly to lodge funds and shall attend the annual meeting in December or he fined 1/-.
A letter was sent to Galashiels Lodge intimating the Lodge was now holding regular meetings and Brother Davidson was fined 1/- for failing to give the sign.
Two swords engraved “St. John’s Hawick” were purchased for the Tyler and Inner Guard.
A proposal that an effort to make a fund for widows and orphans and to use the ballot box for applicants was made.
Grand Lodge was petitioned on 4th April 1862 to have the original number 111 returned.