Royal Order of Scotland can't pay its rent

America isn't the only place where Freemasonry has lost its "influence."

The provincial lodge of the Royal Order of Scotland is currently in last-minute negotiations with its Merchant City (a central district of Glasgow) landlord to keep its meeting place at the Trades Hall on Glassford Street, The Herald recently reported. Five Masonic lodges that previously also met there have already moved out of the building, which was built by stonemasons in 1791 and has provided meeting space for Masons and other union, guild and fraternal groups since 1824.

The Royal Order of Scotland is unable to pay the rent.

The Masonic organization dates back to at least 1741, and proclaims the King of Scots as its hereditary grand master. An empty chair is maintained at each meeting, awaiting the king's return.

Membership in the Royal Order of Scotland is by invitation only, and requires belief in Trinitarian Christianity. Most of the provincial grand lodges require that a candidate have been a Master Mason for at least five years, and to have shown outstanding service (e.g., held offices) to Freemasonry and/or the Church. Most lodges require as a prerequisite membership in the York or Scottish Rite as well as in at least one other Christian order, according to Wikipedia.

One member joked that Masonry certainly doesn't rule the world. "We don't even have influence over the place where we hold our meetings," he said.

Another unnamed Royal Order brother told a reporter that rising rents were an indication of "masonophobia."

Image: Breast star of a member of the Royal Order of Scotland

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Rosslyn Chapel to get much-needed facelift

Scotland's Rosslyn Chapel, made more famous than it already was by The Da Vinci Code, today received grants totaling £7.2 million toward the restoration of the 15th-century icon.

The impressive building, which dates back to 1446, has seen its yearly tourist pilgrimage increase from 30,000 people a year in 2000 to over 120,000 last year.

Some of the intricate carvings, with symbols of the Knights Templar, Christianity, Freemasonry and mythology, are deteriorating.

For the last ten years, a tin roof has been keeping the rain off the chapel, allowing the original roof and walls to dry out. The renovation will include removing the tin roof. Repairs will also include conserving and protecting the stonework, fixing the stained and leaded glass and restoring the Victorian baptistry.

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Man who believed Freemasons were spreading rumors about him convicted of attempted arson of lodge building

A man with a drinking problem has been sentenced for trying to burn down a Masonic lodge, the Evening Press of Edinburgh, Scotland reported.

Alan Halliday, 37, pushed two wheelie bins against the front door of the lodge in Dunbar, East Lothian, and set them on fire, causing $28,000 in damage to the building.

Halliday told police he did it because the Masons were a secret society and he thought they were spreading rumors about him.

Masons wouldn't do that, would they?

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