Queer goings-on in Scotland

The Strathspey and Badenoch Herald earlier this month reported about some odd activities involving a church, paganism and Freemasonry.

It would seem that an oddball is on the prowl.

Here is the report...

"The congregation of a Grantown church has been alarmed by a year-long series of "pagan" attacks culminating in an incident in which a dead animal was used to deliver a message.

The strath's most senior policeman has pledged that he and his officers will hunt those responsible to end the nightmare for the congregation at Grantown Baptist Church.

Over the past 12 months, members of the church on High Street have arrived on several occasions to find notes written in red ink pinned to the main door.

But events took an even more sinister turn with the discovery of two notes tied to the the limbs of a dead rabbit fastened to the front door of the church.

The grim find was made by church deacon Bob Fishwick when he arrived at the church.

Like previous notes, the latest contained verses written in red felt tip and a drawing of an "all-seeing eye" symbol commonly seen in mystical and masonic use – comprising an eye above a pyramid.

Northern Constabulary were informed about the new twist to the campaign, and that evening members of the congregation met in the church hall to discuss the latest development.

As some members left, they found another noted pinned to the door of the building with a warning for the group.

"There have been a series of pagan-style notes over the past year," said Mr Fishwick, who has been deacon of the church for the past 20 years.

"We had a meeting after the rabbit was found, and people were leaving two or three at a time. There was 10 minutes between different groups going, so we know the note appeared while we were in the hall.

"That makes us think that someone was watching the hall and could see when to come up to the door."

He added: "The last one was a warning that we shouldn't bring in the authorities. It had a drawing of the all-seeing eye and said: 'We are always watching you'.

"It seems to be the work of a bit of a crackpot. They only ever pick out our church; none of the others have had this, but we don't know why.

"The notes are heathen quotations: things like 'Your days are numbered', 'Wrongs remain unrectified' and 'Judgement has been passed'."

The notes have usually been found with red wool, and this has been one of the lines of inquiry that Northern Constabulary has been following.

A force spokesman confirmed that their enquiries were continuing.

He said: "The investigating officer has carried out exhaustive enquiries into the handwriting on the notes, the wool used and the significance of the all-seeing eye symbol."

The Baptist church in Grantown has been without a minister since the death of Rev Peter Pinder two years ago.

The all-seeing eye, or the Eye of Providence, as it is also known, is sometimes interpreted as representing the eye of God keeping watch on humankind, and can be traced back to Egyptian mythology.

Today, it is more commonly associated with Freemasonry. The eye first appeared as part of the iconography of the Freemasons in 1797, with the publication of Thomas Smith Webb's 'Freemasons Monitor'.

It is a reminder that a Mason's thoughts and deeds are always observed by God, who is referred to in Freemasonry as the Grand Architect of the Universe.

Northern Constabulary has appealed for anyone who can help shed any light on the crimes to come forward."