As Stated in the Society's Charter:
'... the Grand Antiquity Society of Glasgow was established in the year 1756 in the City of Glasgow with the object of uniting the old Burgess families of that City and or preserving the continuity of Burgess-ship amongst them for encouraging non-Burgess Citizens to qualify for those benefits which Burgesses and Guild Brethren alone can enjoy and for affording relief to the members of the Society in old age and to their widows when in indigent circumstances.'
History of the Society
The Society is one of the Seventeen Burgess Associations of the City, the members of which must be Burgesses and Guild Brethren of Glasgow. The other organisations are: The Trades House, the fourteen Incorporations and the Deacons' Association.
The Grand Antiquity Society was instituted on 16th November 1756, by a number of persons, all Burgesses, for the purpose of uniting the old Burgess families of the City, preserving the continuity of Burgess-ship amongst them from generation to generation, and of affording relief to each other and their widows.
The qualification for membership goes beyond the simple Burgess and Guild Brother qualification required for the Incorporated Trades. Each applicant for enrolment must be a third generation Burgess and Guild Brother or Guild Sister in direct line or the husband or wife of such a third generation Burgess. Some of the existing members have a Burgess connection which extends through seventeen generations.
After the abolition of the exclusive privileges of Craft Guilds (in 1846), the Society was registered as a Friendly Society, the fear being that the fourteen Incorporations (the chief feeder of membership) might gradually die out. This actually occurred in some other Burghs, but in Glasgow all the Incorporations continue to flourish as charitable and social associations.
In course of years Friendly Society status was thought to be inappropriate for the Society whose funds were used in charity but in such a way that no members could make a demand for assistance and it was abandoned when a new Royal Charter was obtained in 1899.
The sentiment that brought the Society into existence, love and pride in this City, is still strongly in evidence with many grandparents enrolling their grandchildren, presenting them with their Diploma as a suitable birthday present.
On 4 September 1992 the Society was honoured when HRH The Princess Royal followed family tradition by joining as Royal Patron and honorary member.
Other members of the Royal Family who have enrolled include King Edward VIII, King George VI, The Queen Mother, Princess Margaret and the late Dukes of Gloucester and Kent.
The funds of the Society amount to approximately half a million pounds with the revenue from investments used for grants to members and their families in need.
In addition to the historic aims of the Society, it looks to promote the history and culture of Glasgow including the architecture.
Further information of the Society, its aims and objectives can be obtained from the Clerk details in the website footer.