Royal Scots Greys The Royal North British Dragoons (better known as the Scots Greys due to the colour of their horses) had a lodge attached to the regiment in 1747 called Scotts Greys Kilwinning. Its charter was lost during the Seven Years’ War (mid 18th C) against France. The following newspaper article explains in detail: THE FREEMASONS' QUARTERLY REVIEW, MARCH 31, 1842 William, Lord Napier, was initiated December,1769 while the Hon. Colonel Napier. Soon afterwards, himself and several other officers of his regiment, the Scots Greys, presented a petition to Grand Lodge, for a charter of erection of a Military Lodge, and which was granted accordingly. On the 12th March, 1770, the formal constitution of the Lodge took place in the hall of St. John's Chapel (Edinburgh) at which ceremony his excellency General Adolphus Oughton presided in his capacity of Grand Master of Scotland. After a suitable address from that military and Masonic chief, the charter was delivered into the hands of Colonel Napier, as Worshipful Master thereof;
Captain Basil Heron being installed Depute Master; Sir John Nesbit, of Dean, as Senior Warden; John Nesbit, Esq., as Junior Warden; John Christie, Esq., as Treasurer; and Captain James Colquhoun, as Secretary of the New Lodge; which was duly formed and consecrated under the name and title of "The St. Andrew Royal Arch Lodge in the Scot's Greys, or Royal North British Dragoons (No.158). “Bro. Napier succeeded his father as Baron Napier, in 1773, but died about two years after, leaving his title to his eldest son, Francis, who became a Mason in the Canongate Kilwinning Lodge and was afterwards Grand Master of Scotland.
The lodge created a set of by-laws in 1770 which included having its installation on the first Monday after 14th March (reasoning was that it was expected that most brethren would be with the regiment and able to attend. Another law stated that no member of the N British Dragoons would be able to join any lodge other than St. Andrew Royal Arch Lodge in the Scot’s Greys. All decency was to be observed and no discussion of politics or singing bawdy songs were allowed. The list of candidates includes a Lt-Col, captains in the Royal Horse Guards, a surgeon, a clergyman and various civilians. In April, 1771, the lodge received a famous visitor— Bro. Thomas Dunkerley PGM of various provinces and hugely influential in the development of the Craft in England. Officially the lodge closed in 1816 although no meetings had been held for a number of years. In an article by Bro. David Murray Lyon, he states that the lodge charter is now in the possession of Mr F. White of Thornhill after receiving it from a great uncle, Captain Cowan Quarter Master, who served in the regiment for 43 years! Bro. Cowan was at that time the only freemason left in the regiment and when he retired, he took the charter and various relics of the lodge with him to Tarbolton. He died in 1824 and is buried in the Parish Graveyard—this is possibly the last brother of this old lodge. I wonder if this charter exists today?
Cross Keys May 2022
Page 21
