Masonic ritual link to Auld Lang Syne
The custom of linking arms while singing Auld Lang Syne at New Year has been linked to Freemasonry, according to articles published today in The Herald, Scotsman and Telegraph among others.
The revelations came from University of Edinburgh academic, Dr Morag Grant, who found documentary evidence linking masonic ritual to the song.
The custom originated after Robert Burns was Initiated into the St David Tarbolton Lodge on 4th July 1781 and was Passed and Raised on 1st October, 1781.
According to the history of Lodge St David (Tarbolton) Mauchline 133, the Mother Lodge of Robert Burns, published on their website, there were two Masonic authorities in Scotland with the powers to grant charters for Lodges to operate at that time.
Before the formation of The Grand Lodge of Scotland in 1736, Lodge Mother Kilwinning was issuing charters and warrants to Lodges wishing to enjoy the practice of Freemasonry.
On 17th May 1771 Lodge Mother Kilwinning No.0, granted a charter to form a Lodge in Tarbolton, namely Tarbolton Kilwinning Lodge.
Several members in Tarbolton then applied to Grand Lodge to form another Lodge in Tarbolton and on 5th February 1773 St. David Tarbolton Lodge No.174 was chartered.
The remaining members who were still attached to the original Kilwinning Lodge likewise later applied to Grand Lodge for recognition which resulted in establishing the St. James Tarbolton Kilwinning Lodge No.178 in 1774.
At one point there must have been a realisation that the village was too small to sustain the two and after discussions it was agreed to form a union of the two Lodges.
This happened on 25th June 1781, under the name of St. David Tarbolton Lodge No.174 since this Lodge held the oldest charter from The Grand Lodge of Scotland.
Robert Burns was Initiated into the St David Tarbolton Lodge on 4th July 1781 and was Passed and Raised on 1st October, 1781.
He was the only person ever to do so as the union of the Lodges was short lived.
By June 1782 the members were in disagreement about the union, and a disruption of the joint Lodge took place.
The former members of Lodge St. James re-constituted their Lodge in July 1782, and at the present time this Lodge appears on the Roll of the Grand Lodge of Scotland as Lodge St. James (Kilwinning) Tarbolton No.135.
Both Lodges operated separately again for a time, the stronger being Lodge St James, which now had the support of Robert Burns. He was appointed Depute Master of that Lodge on 27th July 1784.
In 1816 Lodge St. David Tarbolton No.174 was renumbered by Grand Lodge to No.131, and in 1826 was again renumbered to its current No.133.
Lodge St David eventually became dormant in 1843, the Minute Books and certain other articles passing into private hands, but fortunately the Charter was recovered by the then Provincial Grand Master and returned to the Grand Lodge of Scotland for safe-keeping.
In 1869 the Lodge was resurrected, this time in Mauchline, and the name updated accordingly to Lodge St David (Tarbolton) Mauchline No.133. It had several meeting places in Mauchline prior to acquiring its own premises in Loudoun St. on 10th October 1959.
Dr Grant was also interviewed on Radio Scotland and you can listen to her by following this link (the segment begins 1 hour and 17 mins into the broadcast):
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