What is a Late Deacon Convener?
The convention of deacons came into existence in the 1500’s, which consisted of one man (the deacon) from each craft or trade. These men formed a court, which held meetings and created bylaws and regulations for the good of the crafters in their town. Later on the court also added boxmasters (treasurers), late deacons (the deacon from the previous year) and first masters (the lead craftsman) of each trade.
Although the Convener Court was recognized as a superior court by the craftsmen, it seldom exercised any jurisdiction over the affairs of the individual trades. When disputes or difficulties arose, it acted more as a consultative than as an administrative board.
In 1705 the trades who had a deacon on the court were hammermen, bakers, wrights and coopers (builders), tailors, shoemakers, weavers and fleshers (butchers).
[If our amendments to the constitution were created in the order of the issues our founding fathers considered most important, then it’s interesting to also look at the rules for the Deacons of the Conveners Court and what they thought as most important over the years. Scottish Deacons were bound with strict religious rules, such as requiring them to keep the Sabbath, to open their meetings with prayers, and even outlines their attire when attending mandatory meetings and burials. Most of the Deacons' rules pertain to Church policy. It’s not surprising then that our founding fathers tried to get away from governmental lordship with the Amendments, such as freedom of speech, limitation of federal government powers, and their desire for a separation between church and state.]
Although the Convener Court was recognized as a superior court by the craftsmen, it seldom exercised any jurisdiction over the affairs of the individual trades. When disputes or difficulties arose, it acted more as a consultative than as an administrative board.
In 1705 the trades who had a deacon on the court were hammermen, bakers, wrights and coopers (builders), tailors, shoemakers, weavers and fleshers (butchers).
[If our amendments to the constitution were created in the order of the issues our founding fathers considered most important, then it’s interesting to also look at the rules for the Deacons of the Conveners Court and what they thought as most important over the years. Scottish Deacons were bound with strict religious rules, such as requiring them to keep the Sabbath, to open their meetings with prayers, and even outlines their attire when attending mandatory meetings and burials. Most of the Deacons' rules pertain to Church policy. It’s not surprising then that our founding fathers tried to get away from governmental lordship with the Amendments, such as freedom of speech, limitation of federal government powers, and their desire for a separation between church and state.]
