Andrew "enlisted under the banner of the Pretender, and was an ensign in his army." He "came to this country in the year 1717, and brought with him the colors belonging to his company." Whether or not the two accounts refer to the same flag, I am unable to determine. A discrepency in dates exists; but this might occur in statesments derived from traditional and not published sources.
Masonry honors St. Andrew; records his name in her calendar and observes St. Andrew's day. Many lodges bear his appellation, and none more worthy than the "Lodge of St. Andrew," of Boston, Mass., which obtained its charter from the Grand Lodge of Masons in Scotland, November 30, 1756, and is noted for its excellency of membership, munificence in charity, and proficiency in Masonry. Enrolled upon its scroll of membership are the names of many men of renown, Joseph Warren and Paul Revere being conspicuous. The twenty-ninth degree in the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Free Masonry, is known as the order of "Grand Scottish Knight of St. Andrew." The banner of the order is white, fringed with gold, with a St. Andrew's cross in green on each side. The dress of the knights, in part, is a crimson robe, having embroidered on the left breast a large white St. Andrew's cross; the jewels, a St. Andrew's cross of gold, with a large emerald in the centre, surmounted by the helmet of a knight, and with a thistle of gold between the arms at the bottom. The lessons of the order teach humility, patience and self-denial as essential virtues; also, charity, clemency and generosity, as well as virtue, truth and honor, as most excellent qualities which should characterize all so distinguished in Masonry as the "Grand Scottish Knights of St. Andrew." The order was established by King Robert Bruce, in 13 14, and was first composed of persecuted brethren of the order of the "House of the Temple at Jerusalem," "The Knighthood of the Temple of Solomon" or of "The Knights of the Temple," was established in 1118, and declared heretical by Pope Clement V, at the instance of Philip the Fair of France, in 1307. The members of the order in that country, were imprisoned, many executed, more tortured and all impoverished. In most of the European States their property had been confiscated, and their leaders incarcerated, which caused the persecuted brethren to leave their homes and lay aside the garb of the "Temple." In England, King Edward proscribed them, unless they entered the Perfectories of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem or of the Hospital. In Scotland, however, they found protection, and joined the army with which King Robert Bruce resisted the invasion of Scotland by Edward II, of England. The battle of Bannockburn was fought on the 24th of June, 1314. In recognition of the heroic aid of the Templars on that memorable day, Bruce created, and then received them into, the Order of St. Andrew-du-chardon (of the thistle), of Scotland, which was afterwards annexed to the degree of the Rite of Herodum, which concealed the real name of the order "The Holy House of the Temple at Jerusalem." When the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite was finally organized by those in possession of the degree of the Rites of Herodum and Perfection and other Rites, and detached degrees that had been from time to time established in Scotland, France, Germany and elsewhere, the order of "Grand Scottish Knights of St. Andrew," became the twenty-ninth of the new Rite formed by selecting from the different rites and observances, seven degrees in addition to the twenty-five of Perfection, and created the thirty-third as the supreme and last degree to rule the whole.
The Standard of Great Britain is formed by the union of the three crosses of St. George, St. Andrew and St. Patrick. It is called the great Union Flag of the Empire of Great Britain. It is recorded that the flag called the Great Union, raised by Washington at Cambridge, Mass., January 2, 1776, consisted