Robert Burns and Masonry in Dumfries under scrutiny

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A restored Masonic apron belonging to national bard Robert Burns, holds pride of place over the fireplace of the museum of the Grand Lodge of Antient Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland in Edinburgh.A dedicated Freemason throughout his adult life, the poet – who is buried in Dumfries – served as Senior Warden of Lodge St Andrew No 179 Dumfries, until his death in the town in 1796.Now, The University of Glasgow’s Centre for Robert Burns Studies has appointed a PhD scholar for a ground-breaking research project which will examine his connections with Freemasonry including his time living and working in Dumfries.And the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland – which was founded in 1736 and has a global presence, is provided full funding for the three-year scholarship.The project aims to explore how Freemasonry’s principles of liberty, fraternity and equality influenced Burns' writing and his contribution to Scottish cultural nationalism.The celebrated poet’s Masonic life flourished alongside his literary career.

It also provided Burns with crucial support and patronage.The three-year PhD will culminate in both scholarly outcomes and public engagement activities, including exhibition curation and public presentations on Burns and Masonry.Evidence of Burns’ Masonic life is preserved at the Grand Lodge and he also had earlier masonic connections also in Edinburgh and Ayrshire.On July 4, 1781, he was initiated as an Entered Apprentice in Lodge St David, Tarbolton at the age of 23 and was elected Depute Master of Lodge St James at just 25, demonstrating the high regard in which he was held by his fellow Masons.When his first Kilmarnock edition was published in 1786, 350 members of St John’s Lodge,