IN 1768 SEVEN MASTER MASONS IN ABERDEEN PETITIONED THE THEN GRAND MASTER MASON OF SCOTLAND, GEORGE RAMSAY 8™ EARL OF DALHOUSIE TO CONSTITUTE A LODGE OF FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OPERATING UNDER THE TITLE "THE ST ANDREW LODGE OF ABERDEEN". THEIR PETITION WAS SUCCESSFUL AND ON 18™ MARCH THAT YEAR BROTHER JAMES CUMMING WAS ISSUED WITH A CHARTER NAMING HIM AS THE FIRST MASTER OF THE LODGE.
UNFORTUNATELY THE FIRST EXTANT MINUTE BOOKS OF THE LODGE IS FROM 1876 BUT IT IS KNOWN THAT PRIOR TO THAT YEAR THE LODGE PURCHASED (FOR £505) AND MET IN A THREE STOREY BUILDING ON WHAT IS NOW MARKET STREET/TRINITY QUAY. THE BUILDING WHICH WAS USED BY VARIOUS ORGANISATIONS WAS KNOWN AS "ST ANDREWS LODGE*. DURING THESE FORMATIVE YEARS THE LODGE NUMBER CHANGED FROM 140 TO 107 THEN 108 AND FINALLY 110; THE LODGE COLOUR CHANGED FROM ROYAL STEWART TARTAN TO LIGHT BLUE. THE LODGE ALSO ADOPTED THE ENGLISH EMULATION RITUAL, THE FIRST LODGE TO SO DO IN ABERDEEN.
BY 1876 THE LODGE HAD MOVED TO THE NEW MASONIC HALL IN EXCHANGE STREET. ABERDEEN, HOWEVER MEMBERSHIP WAS LOW AND ON 27TH OCTOBER THAT YEAR FOURTEEN BRETHREN WERE AFFILIATED TO BOOST NUMBERS. A HARMONIUM WAS ALSO PURCHASED TO ENHANCE THE DEGREE WORKINGS AND, TO THE PRESENT DAY, MUSIC CONSTITUTES AN IMPORTANT PART OF LODGE CEREMONIALS.
IN 1911 THE LODGE MOVED TO ITS PRESENT LOCATION, NOW CALLED 'FREEMASONS' HALL' IN CROWN STREET, ABERDEEN, WHERE, SINCE THEN THE BRETHREN HAVE MET AT 7.30PM ON THE FIRST AND THIRD THURSDAYS OF THE MONTHS OCTOBER TO APRIL, EXCEPT JANUARY WHEN IT MEETS ON THE THIRD THURSDAY ONLY.
OVER THE YEARS STRONG TIES AND BONDS HAVE BEEN FORMED BETWEEN BRETHREN FROM VARIOUS LODGES WITHIN AND OUTWITH THE PROVINCE OF ABERDEEN CITY WHICH CONTINUE TO THIS DAY.
