Mother Kilwinning And Her Rights.

MOTHER KILWINNING AND HER RIGHTS .

( From the North British Daily Mail . ) SIB , —Much misapprehension exists with regard to the position Mother Kilwinning holds in relation to its sister subordinate Lodges and to Grand Lodge itself . Tho rights and privileges secured to Mother Kilwinning are set forth in the agreement between Grand Lodge and tne ancient Lodge of Kilwinning ratified in November 1807 , and in the commission issued at the time

by-Grand Lodge in favour of tho Mastor of Mother Kilwinning as Provincial Grand Master of Ayrshire . After somo preliminary correspondence the commissioned representatives of both bodies met in the Star Inn , Glasgow , on 14 th October 1807 , and , after a lengthened conference , agreed to and signed a minute of terms of agreement subject to the approval of their respective Lodges . To quote from my unpublished " Notes on Mother Kilwinning " : —

" At Glasgow , the 14 th day of October 1807 . " At a meeting of the Committees appointed by the Grand Lodge of Scotland and the Mother Lodge of Kilwinning , vested by their respective constituents with full powers for the adjustment of their Masonic differences .

" Present on the part of the Grand Lodge—William Inglis , Esq ., Substitute Grand Master , Sir John Stewart , Bart ., of Allanbank , Alexander Laurie , Esq ., Wm . Guthrie , Esq ., Grand Secretary , aijd , James Bartram , Esq ., Grand Clerk . ' "And on . the part of Mother Lodge Kilwinning—William Blair ,

Esq ., of Blair , Master , Robert Davidson , Esq ., of Drumlay , Depute Master , Alex . M'Gown , Esq ., of Smithstone , Senior Warden , Alexander Hamilton , Esq ., of Grange , Robt . Montgomerie , Esq ., of Craighouse , and James Crichton , Esq ., Collector of his Majesty ' s Customs , Irvine .

" The Committee having exhibited and exchanged their respective powers , and carefully considered the matters in dispute , reciprocally agree as follows : — " 1 st . That the Mother Lodge Kilwinning shall renounce all right of granting Charters , and come in along with all the Lodges holding under her , to the bosom of the Grand Lodge .

" 2 dly . That all the Lodges holding of Mother Kilwinning shall be obliged to obtain from the Grand Lodge confirmations of their respective Charters , for which a fee of three guineas only shall be exigible . " 3 dly . That the Mother Kilwinning shall be p laced at the head of the Roll of the Grand Lodge , under the denomination of Mother

Kilwinning ; and her Daughter Lodges shall , in the meantime , be placed at the end of the said Roll , and as they shall apply for confirmations ; but under this express declaration , that so soon as the Roll shall be arranged and corrected , which is in present contemplation , the Lodges holding of Mother Kilwinning shall be entitled to be ranked according to the date of their original Charters , and of those granted by the Grand Lodge .

" 4 thly . That Mother Kilwinning and her Daughter Lodges shall have the same interest in and management of the funds of the Grand Lodge as the other Lodges now holding of her—Mother Kilwinning contributing annually to the said funds a sum not less than two shillings and sixpense for each intrant , and her Daughter Lodges contributing in the same manner as the present Lodges holding of the Grand Lodge .

" 5 thly . That the Master of the Mother Lodge Kilwinning , for the time , shall be ipso facto Provincial Grand Master for the Ayrshire district . And , " Lastly . While both Committees are satisfied that the preceding arrangement will be highly conducive to the honour and interest of Scottish Masonry , and though vested with the fullest powers to make a final adjustment , the Committee do only respectfully recommend its adoption to their respective constituents .

" William Inglis S . G . M . " Will . Blair , Jo . Stewart , Robt . Davidson , Alex . Laurie , Robt . Montgomerie . Wm . Guthrie Gd . Secy . Alex . M'Gown . Ja . Bartram Gd . Clk . Alex . Hamilton . James Crichton . "

This minute was submitted to an extraordinary meeting of the Mother Lodge , held on 6 th November 1807 , at which were present some 20 members , composed , with one or two exceptions , of the same Brothers by whom the reporters had been appointed . The Grand Master of Kilwinning having on behalf of the committee reported the result of . their negotiations with Grand Lodge , and

produced a copy of minute of agreement , the following resolution was adopted : — " The agreement come to by the committees of the Grand Lodge and the Mother Lodge having been taken into consideration by the meeting , they unanimously did , and hereby do , ratify and approve of the same in all respects . " The minute proceeds : — " It was afterwards moved by the Acting Senior Warden that the thanks of the Mother Lodge be given to the members of

the committee for the great trouble and attention they have taken in bringing the matter in dispute between the two Lodges to such an honourable conclusion for all parties concerned , and so much for the good of Masonry in general . And the health of the committee was drunk standing . It was further motioned by our Most Worshipful Grand Master that the members of the Committee of Grand . Lodge be admitted members of the Mother Lodge . "

Here is a copy of the commission to the Master of Mother Kilwinning , constituting him , ipso iacto , Provincial Grand Master of Ayrshire : — " George Prince of Wales Grand Master Mason and Patron of the Order in Scotland ; The Right Honourable and Most Worshipful Francis , Earl of Moira , Acting Grand Master of the most Ancient and Honourable Society of Freemasons in Scotland . " Qretting , — " Whereas , at a meeting of the Grand Lodge oi

Mother Kilwinning And Her Rights.

Scotland , it has been resolved for further promoting tho interest of the Craft , and prosperity and advancement of Masonry , that Provincial Grand Masters should be appointed to visit tho several Lodges which being at too great a distance from the seat of tho Grand Lodgo to bo visited by the Grand Master in person : Know ye therefore that we , in the prosecution of the foresaid resolution ,

with advice ancl consent of tho Officers of the Grand Lodge , havo constituted and appointed , and hereby constitute and appoint our Right Worshipful Brother W . Blair of Blair , Esquire , present Master of Mother Kilwinning Lodge ( of whoso zeal for tho prosperity of Masonry we are well informed ) , and his successor in office in all time coming , Provincial Grand Master over thc following

Lodges—( here follows list of names and numbers ) . With full power to the said William Blair , Esquire , and his successors in offico , in our name , to visit the said Lodges and preside therein ; choose proper persons to act as Grand Wardens , and to inquire into the state and condidion of tho said Lodges , receive from them such proposals and requests as they shall desire to be offered to us for tho welfare and

prosperity of Masonry , or for tho particular advantage of said Lodges respectively ; and in general to do , execute , and perform everything which by tho rules of Masonry is known to belong to the duty and office of a Provincial Grand Master . Requiring our said Prov . G . M . to obey all such instructions as he shall receive

from us , and to report to the Grand Lodge from time to timo his whole actings and proceedings in virtue of this commission . And we will and require the foresaid Lodges to pay all due obedience to our Provincial Grand Master , and the Wardens to be by him appointed .

In testimony whereof these presents are given under the hand of our Secretary and Clerk , and the Seal of the Grand Lodge hereunto appended . At Edinburgh , the second day of November , in the year of our Lord Eighteen Hundred and Seven , and of Masonry 5807 . "By command of the Most Worshipful Grand Master of Scotland .

" WILLIAM GUTHEIE Grand Secretary . " JAS . BARTRAM Grand Clerk . " It is under the conditions set down in the above documents that

the Lodgo of Kilwinning holds of the Grand Lodge of Scotland . An attempt on the part of Grand Lodge in 18 C 9 to claim the power in certain cases to veto the appointment of the Prov . Grand Master of Ayrshire was promptly met by Kilwinning . On Colonel Blair retiring from the chair of the Mother Lodge , a Provincial Grand

Master s commission was issued in favour of his successor , Davidson of Drumlay , in which was inserted a qualifying clause in regard to the Prov . Grand Mastership of Ayrshire being held by the Master of Mother Kilwinning for the time— " So long only as such Masters

are approved of by the Grand Lodgo . " So palpable an infraction of the agreement entered into by Edinburgh and Kilwinning excited the indignation of the Mother Lodge , and on being remonstrated with Grand Lodge was glad to cancel the objectionable clause . —I am , & c ,

D . MURRAY LYON , Grand Secretary . Freemasons' Hall , Edinburgh , 13 th February 1894 .

A number of brethren in Motherwell have joined together , says the " Glasgow Echo , " for the purpose of forming a Masonic club , having for its object the diffusing of Masonic knowledge by the reading of essays

occasionally and discussion thereon . The club would also be provided with games , such as draughts , chess , & c . They think something of this sort should be instituted

in every town , so as to help to raise the interest of every brother in Masonry , and at the same time educate each on matters Masonic ;

o o o The recent North London Masonic Ball was a great success , the surplus funds allowing of no less than £ 73 10 s being contributed to the Institutions . The

Committee held their final meeting at the Agricultural Hall , when the fourteen Life Subscriberships were balloted for , and a hearty vote of thanks accorded to Bro . Captain Lurcott , the Hon . Secretary , and others who lent their aid to the good work .

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