Recently Bro. Bob Cooper, Curator of the Grand Lodge of Scotland Museum and Library published an excellent book on the Order of Free Gardeners.
It gives an insight into a
Fraternity whose emblems and degrees were similar to that of Freemasonry,
although not so ancient as our Craft had existed for three hundred years before
it`s dramatic decline in the early part of the twentieth century.
The emblems of the Order which are reproduced in the centre of this page are very similar to the emblems of our own Order. In this case the square and compasses are in regular form, but instead of the letter `G`, the Gardeners emblems have an open pruning knife.
Locally, Hawthorn Lodge was founded
in Bothwell in 1796 and is one of the oldest Lodges of Free Gardeners, in
Uddingston, Bluebell Lodge was formed in 1874, two years before our own Lodge
St. Bryde, in Baillieston Adelphi Lodge was founded in 1863 and an Independant
Lodge (not affiliated to the Grand Lodge of Gardeners) was founded there in
1822, Livingstone Thistle Lodge was founded in Blantyre in 1877 and Daisy Lodge
in Bellshill in 1876.
It is certain that the ancient
Hawthorn Lodge which existed in Bothwell in 1796 was established by
the large number of `operative` gardeners who worked on the Bothwell
Castle estates. But what of the origins of this Order which was almost certainly
established in Scotland many years before England and Ireland and was it just a
fraternal organisation are did it in ancient times like our own Order had an `operative`beginning.
The earliest evidence of the
existence of the Order is from a minute book dated 16th. August 1676 which
begins `Interjunctions for ye Fraternitie of the Gairdners of East Lothian` and
consists of fifteen regulations.
In an entry dated 1 May 1677, 66
members sign a `Bond` which they pledge to keep good order and improve pride and
honour of local Free Gardeners. n
Scotland, the 17th. century was marked by considerable civil unrest due to the
Covenanting Wars, following the signing of the National Covenant in 1638, a
protest against Charles 1`s ecclesiastical innovations. After the Restoration of
the Stuart monarchy in 1660, Episcopalianism was reintroduced into Scotland in
1662 and the successors of the signatories
In 1672 in excess of fifty of his `dependants` (his servants, retainers and coachmen) were made Burgesses of the town at his insistence and again in 1678 yet more of his supporters were made Burgesses.
During 1679 the town was in turmoil.
The Duke of York, who became King James V11 (James 11 of England) in 1685 came
to Scotland as Royal Commissioner. Lauderdale was responsible for receiving him
in East Lothian and ordered that a banquet for 2000 people be provided by the
Haddington township as part of that reception. By 1688 the Covenanting Wars were
drawing to a close but in that year troops of John Graham
of Claverhouse (1648-1689) were quartered in the town, partly at the
town`s expence, in order to suppress the Covenanting tendencies of the
population. The period of 1670-99 was also marked by periods of
intermittent famine and may also help to explain the absence of full
minutes during that period.
The severe famines of 1674 and 1675
might well have prompted the initial decision to formalise the, then, existing
association of gardeners in the area. During the 17th. century the formal
gardens of the Crown
thoughts on `pleasure gardens` are
recorded in his book The Scots Gard`ner and repeats the formal designs of the
time.
The evidence available shows that one Lodge at Haddington existed in the late 17th. century and one early in the 18th. at Dunfermline.
Three others came into existence in
the late 18th. century at Bothwell,
On 6th. Nov. 1849 a meeting was held at Lasswade, Midlothian, to which all known Lodges had been invited to form a Grand Lodge. Following the meeting, many Lodges previously unknown to each other came into contact. Through the diligence of the first Grand Lodge Office Bearers more Lodges were identified throughout Scotland and made known to each other.
The mid-19th. century records an
explosion of new Lodges. By 1859 the need for better organisation became
apparent and a meeting of Lodges was called to be held in Edinburgh at which
"upwards of one hundred Lodges were represented". The principal
subject of debate was the form the Grand Lodge should take. The debate centred
round whether or not the Grand Lodge should be a single permanent body, have a
Provincial Provincial structure or to have a nomadic Grand Lodge as the Free
Gardeners had in England. The details are not clear but a compromise seems to
have been reached with the formation of an Eastern Grand Lodge and a Western
Grand Lodge. The Lodge at Dunfermline received an invitation to join `the` Grand
Lodge, an invitation which was declined. Twenty Gardeners Lodges were known to
exist before 1849 - before any central organisation. Following the formation of
the first Grand Lodge
in 1849, 69 Lodges were formed
including three in America and one in a local militia force. The last Lodges, so
far as can be ascertained, were formed in 1905.
It is also interesting to note that
as with Freemasonry, the Ancient Order of Gardeners admitted gentlemen at an
early stage in its development, at a higher fee than that of a gardener. From
the outset then , the Order accepts the admission of non-gardeners at a premium.
East Lothian was, and is an area of rich agricultural land and had, and has,
many large country houses. Haddington is the county town and having a Lodge
situated there was quite logical as this was the centre of country activity.
Other centres of population were relatively small and it was to Haddington that
local lairds would come, certainly on market days, to conduct business and
recruit workers, including gardeners.
The Lodge would have been the
central point of contact. In essence the Lairds had nothing to do with the
`craft of gardenery` but the mutual benefits of a closer association between the
two social groups was recognised by the Lodge, as indicated in the Constitution,
and the admission of `Noblemen, Gentlemen` was clearly of financial benefit to
the Lodge. It also is likely this involved an element of legitimising the Lodge
especially given the lack of any official status. It is more difficult to assess
what non gardeners
gained from joining. It is possible
that they satisfied their curiosity and/or sought advice. An element of
voyeurism cannot be discounted.
The minutes of the Lodge show that
it provided practical assistance to land owners particularly in supplying
produce. For example, in 1693 the Laird of Athelstoune bought two dozen `colliflowers`
and the Laird of Nunland bought one pound of leek seed. This record is during
the last great period of famine which lasted from that year until 1699. By 1704,
the supply and sale of plants and seeds had ceased or at least this activity is
no longer recorded in the minutes. This might indicate that immediate need to
have such a basic insurance against food shortage had receded. Further
regulations are concerned with the control of the gardening craft. For example,
no Brother shall, `intyse or seduce his Brothers Prentice or Servant or procure
ane service for him without his libertie first had and obtained` and `Brethren
admitted shall give his best council to his Brother for Levelling, Contryving,
Planting and Dressing of Ground.`
Display Cabinet. Bro. Bill Perry, P.M., Sec. Lodge Robert Burns No. 440 has kindly lent a Gardeners Apron which belonged to a member of his family. The Apron will be on display during April, in the display cabinet in the foyer as a supplement to this article.
Do you have any interesting items
We would especially like any
information on the Bothwell and Uddingston Lodges.
Bob Coopers book can be obtained from Grand Secretary priced £10.
Our thanks to Bob for his permission
to reproduce information from his book.