1812 The Dundee Lunatic Asylum

Laying the Foundation Stone of The 1st Dundee Lunatic Asylum

4th Sep 1812

An extract from the Dundee, Perth and Cupar Advertiser of Friday 4th September 1812, reported the laying of the foundation stone of the Dundee Lunatic Asylum on the 3rd September by the Right Honourable Viscount Duncan, Grand Master elect for Scotland, attended by the Right Honourable Lord Kinnaird and the Honourable William Maule MP.

The Lunatic Asylum was situated in the Stobswell Area. This Asylum was replaced by new buildings at Liff in the 1880’s.

“Yesterday, the Foundation stone of the Dundee Lunatic Asylum was laid. The procession assembled in the Ward at 11 o’clock and proceeded in the following order to the building, about one mile north of the town:

“Upon arrival the band played God Save the Queen and an eloquent prayer was delivered by Rev Dr McLachlan at the conclusion of which the stone was laid by crane. “Lord Duncan placed a glass bottle in the cavity with the stone containing coins of the present reign, an almanac, two Dundee Newspapers and a parchment with the inscription – to restore the use of reason, to alleviate suffering and lessen peril where reason cannot be restored – The Dundee Asylum was erected by public subscription. “The brethren then gave three hearty cheers and the band played the Masonic Anthem and the procession returned in reverse order to the Ward.”

From the Minute Book of Lodge Ancient No. 49 - 3rd Sept 1812

“At a general meeting of the Ancient Lodge, The Rt. Worshipful Master James Small in the chair. When the Lodge went out in procession, and in Masonic order, along with the Operative Lodge, St. David’s Lodge & Thistle Lodge, Dundee. The Nine Trades & etc. Which all formed in procession, in the Ward of Dundee, and marched in a body to the place appointed for building the Lunatic asylum, when the foundation stone was laid by the Right Hon. Lord Duncan, Depute Grand Master for Scotland, with all Masonic order, after which the different Lodges & Trades & etc. returned in order of procession to their different Lodges.”

“At a general meeting of the Ancient Lodge, The Rt. Worshipful Master James Small in the chair. When the Lodge went out in procession, and in Masonic order, along with the Operative Lodge, St. David’s Lodge & Thistle Lodge, Dundee. The Nine Trades & etc. Which all formed in procession, in the Ward of Dundee, and marched in a body to the place appointed for building the Lunatic asylum, when the foundation stone was laid by the Right Hon. Lord Duncan, Depute Grand Master for Scotland, with all Masonic order, after which the different Lodges & Trades ∓ etc. returned in order of procession to their different Lodges.”

(Lord Duncan, Viscount Duncan afterwards 1st Earl of Camperdown, was the Son of Admiral Adam Duncan the victor of the Battle of Camperdown in 1797)

Another interesting fact which also emerged from the minutes of Lodge Ancient No 49 was contained in the minute of 28th May 1812 in that “A motion was made and agreed, to give from the funds of the Society in the meantime, Twenty Guineas towards building the Lunatic Asylum, and each member is to pay along with his quarterly accounts, 2 shillings each to go to the fund of the Lodge, it was also agreed to give two guineas yearly to the funds of the Infirmary, the above two guineas is to constitute the Lodge as a Governor.”

I am sure that this was also done by the other Lodges and only goes to show that the Lodges in the area gave financial help to the building of all these various good works and institutions for the benefit of the local people. (More on this Event)

From the Minute Book of The Operative Mason Lodge of Dundee No. 47 – 1800 to 1828 Minute Book.

At a General Meeting of the Operative Lodge held the first day of September 1812. There was read to the meeting a printed copy of the mode of procession to be observed by the different bodies on Thursday first at the Laying of the Foundation Stone of the Dundee Lunatic Asylum.

The meeting agreed that as the Right Honourable Robert, Viscount Lord Duncan, Grand Master elect for Scotland was to perform the Ceremony, supported by the Hon William Maule of Panmure (Provincial Grand Master for the County of Forfar) and the Right Hon, Charles, Lord Kinnaird, William Lindsay, Esq, & etc. That we should march from the Lodge in the following order, Viz: -

The R.W. Master begged the attendance of the brethren in the Lodge precisely at half past nine on Thursday first, thereafter the meeting adjourned.

The Day of the Ceremony - 3rd September 1812

Operative Lodge the Third day of September One Thousand Eight Hundred and Twelve years.

Which day a great number of the Brethren being assembled in the Lodge and being all properly clothed after waiting a considerable time the Right Honourable Lord Viscount Duncan and the Hon William Maule arrived , his Lordship then took the chair as R.W.M. and the Hon William Maule as W. Depute, supported by R.W. Bro Ferguson, W. Bro Anderson & Bro Lindsay as Grand Wardens, as the day was far advanced it was found necessary to proceed to join the other bodies assembled in the ward without waiting to enter our R. H. Bro, Honorary members of our Lodge. The which being notified to the Rt Hon Grand Master he gave orders to arrange the Lodge agreeable to the plan proposed last meeting and to march of without delay observing at the same time that we would proceed from the ward to the grounds of the Asylum, in an inverse direction to what we were now forming. The Lodge then marched of with the Band of Music of Col Kinloch’s Regiment of Forfar Militia in Front, having arrived on the ground of the Ward the Procession then moved off in the following order.

Which day a great number of the Brethren being assembled in the Lodge and being all properly clothed after waiting a considerable time the Right Honourable Lord Viscount Duncan and the Hon William Maule arrived , his Lordship then took the chair as R.W.M. and the Hon William Maule as W. Depute, supported by R.W. Bro Ferguson, W. Bro Anderson & Bro Lindsay as Grand Wardens, as the day was far advanced it was found necessary to proceed to join the other bodies assembled in the ward without waiting to enter our R. H. Bro, Honorary members of our Lodge. The which being notified to the Rt Hon Grand Master he gave orders to arrange the Lodge agreeable to the plan proposed last meeting and to march of without delay observing at the same time that we would proceed from the ward to the grounds of the Asylum, in an inverse direction to what we were now forming. The Lodge then marched of with the Band of Music of Col Kinloch’s Regiment of Forfar Militia in Front, having arrived on the ground of the Ward the Procession then moved off in the following order.

When the procession arrived at the ground; it ranged itself in a square within the enclosure, and having opened, The Rt Hon. Grand Master with his supporters, and the staff of the Operative Lodge, marched through the avenue thus formed, to the centre of the enclosure where the stone was to be laid as the corner of the foundation. He was joined, as he preceded, by the staff of the different Lodges and public bodies, and by the committee who enclosed the space where the ceremony was to be performed; the Band playing while “God Save the King”. An eloquent prayer was then delivered by the Rev Dr MacLauchlan; - at the conclusion of which the stone, by means of a crane, was deposited in its bed; and the Rt W. Lord Duncan, after placing in a cavity a glass bottle containing the coins of the present reign, an almanack, two Dundee newspapers, and a roll of parchment bearing appropriate inscriptions, laying the foundation stone of the Asylum; saying “May the Grand Architect of the Universe enable us successfully to carry on and finish the work of which we have now laid the foundation stone, and every other undertaking which may tend to the advantage of the Town of Dundee and its inhabitants; and may this building be long preserved from peril and decay.” On which the brethren gave three cheers, and the bands played the Mason’s Anthem.

The Wardens and Grand Steward of the Lodge then delivered to Lord Viscount Duncan the cornucopia, the wine and the oil; which he poured on the stone, according to the custom saying “May the bountiful hand of Heaven ever supply this town & country with an abundance of Corn, Wine ∓ oil, and all the necessaries and comforts of life.” At the conclusion of this prayer, the Brethren gave Three Cheers, and the Bands played the Masons Anthem, The Rev Dr Nicoll as chairman of the Governors next addressed, Lord Duncan, Lord Kinnaird and Mr Maule in a most animated speech; during which he paid a merited tribute to the memory of Lord Duncan’s father . He then successively addressed the Lodges, Corporations, Magistrates & etc returning to them all the warm thanks of the Governors; pointing out the advantages of the institution; and recommending it to the continual support of the benevolent. Lord Duncan made a short reply; and the procession returned in a reverse order with his Lordship and suit in front of the Operative Lodge until he arrived at the entry, then the Brethren opened and all the other Lodges and public bodies marched through to the ward where they dismissed.

After all the procession had passed the Lodge, the brethren reassembled in their Hall his Lordship in the chair, Lord Kinnaird on his right & Mr Maule on his left, William Lindsay Esq of St David’s Lodge of Dundee, Senior Warden, Worshipful Alexander Anderson Junior (Warden).

When after a suitable and seasonable refreshment being served in ample supply by our Grand Steward and a number of excellent toasts drunk, Worshipful Brother Ferguson proposed the Right Honourable & W. Bro Lord Viscount Duncan as an honorary member of the Lodge, which the brethren testified their approbation of with loud applause. His Lordship having accepted of the honour; signed the book and in a neat speech expressed the pleasure he felt from the way the Lodge had conducted themselves towards him that day and drank their health & prosperity in the true Masonic style.

W. Bro Ferguson next proposed the Hon Bro William Maule of Panmure as an Honorary member which also being received with applause, and he having accepted of the same and signed the Book, he then returned the Lodge his most hearty thanks for the mark of esteem they had been pleased to bestow upon him & declared he would not forget the manner they had conducted themselves towards him that day, and were he to be in the Country when any of the Festivals were to be held he would be proud to visit us.

W. Bro Ferguson then proposed the Rt Hon Bro Lord Kinnaird, which being unanimously agreed to and his Lordship having been pleased to accept of the same signed the book; and returned the Lodge thanks in a very eloquent speech.

Bro William Lindsay was then proposed and agreed to and having signed the book returned the brethren of the Lodge his warmest thanks both as individuals and as a body and expressed his pleasure at the manner the business of the day had been conducted particularly by the Operative Lodge and assured them he would be no stranger among them for the time to come if he were granted the opportunity.

After some time in spent in pleasing conversation the Right Hon Brethren retired amidst the repeated shouts and applause of the Brethren of the Lodge. The Lodge being previously shut the R.W. Bro Ferguson returned the brethren his hearty thanks for the support afforded him through the whole of this most arduous undertaking, the Lodge then adjourned.

Location of 1812 Asylum

©Transcribed by Iain D. McIntosh, 2014