Is the Speculative Society a force for good or bad?
There is some suggestion that Speculative Society members were active in promoting the American Rebellion – better known as the American War of Independence.
Elsewhere on this site you will see that an early member Dugald Stewart occupied Edenside, Kelso – from whence I am currently writing this note. Indeed local folk law has it that a number of the first meetings of the Speculative Society were held in this very house.
Again there is substantial evidence to suggest that ‘Spec’ Society members were at the forefront in promoting the ‘Scottish Enlightenment’ along with new ideas in economics, law and philosophy.
Currently there is great debate over a pervasive influence by ‘Spec’ members. Some influence, I believe may be true – other I know is not. Over the forthcoming months not only will such be examined but membership details and cross links will be given in the unfolding Who’s Who being published on this site.
Only today I was asked if John Parkes was the victim of a ‘Spec’ Plot – given that the Inner House Court of Session Bench of the 17th May 2006 consisted of two recognised ‘Spec’ members along with their solicitors Shepherd & Wedderburn – I prudently answered that I think not but it is unfortunate that the question needs to be asked.
Below I provide some further Speculative Society details:
On 17 November 1764 the Speculative Society of Edinburgh was founded by six men including Edinburgh's most established publisher of the day, WILLIAM CREECH, acknowledged as the prime instigator, and ALLAN MACONOCHIE, LORD MEADOWBANK.
In the next three years the following persons had been admitted by majority ballot to the "Spec" and their names are recorded as Members of the Society in 1814, AND THEY ARE ALL MEMBERS OF THE SAME MASONIC LODGE.
HEW DALRYMPLE (LORD DRUNMORE)
WILLIAM KEITH
CHARLES HAY
JAMES GREGORY
JOHN RUTHERFORD
JAMES TYTLER
ANDREW DUNCAN
LORD BINNING
SIR JOHN SINCLAIR
DUGALD STEWART
PRINCE DASCHKOW OF POLAND
ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL
CHARLES HOPE
The names of the above fifteen persons are recorded in the Roll of Members of Canongate Kilwinning Lodge No 2, a Masonic temple in Edinburgh's St John's Street.
Canongate Kilwinning is arguably the most prestigious Masonic Lodge in Scotland and is still active today, having Knights Templar and Royal Arch Chapters within its walls.
To View The Original Article at source CLICK HERE
The Page Above is from an external site and we are unable to stand by it in our own name, either its data or its opinions, however we have no reason to believe it is in any way inaccurate or we would not have included it on this site.
No comments:
Post a Comment