Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Irish Daughter Lodge Of Mother Kilwinning.
" In the name of the body , I beg leave to subscribe myself your much obliged humble servt . aud brother , "WlLLM . RAINSFORD . "Sth April 1779 . " "To the Grand Master and Brethren of the Mother Lodge of
Kilwinning . " Brethren , —Studious to follow Free Masonry on the jistest principles of the Ancient Craft , and willing to derive an authority from the First Source , a regular Lodge of Free and Ace ipted Masons , held in Dublin , have been long desirous to obtain a char voter
from their esteemed Brethren the Ancient Lodge of Kilwinning , as they are fully satisfied of their just title of primogeniture . Anxi > usly solicitous after the attainment of this much desired object , but at a loss to whom to turn for advice or where to apply , they connr , it a fortunate _ ora their meeting with their much beloved Brother
George Cunningham , Esq ., whose friendship has pointed out a clue to lead them out of their labrynth of doubt . Under his auspices therefore they apply for a Charter from you to hold a Lodge t > be called the H'g h Knight Templars Lodge of Ireland , and hope over
to walk worthy of their vocation and the high favour you will coifer on them by granting it . "We remain with the greatest respect , wishing you the salutation of peace , love , and harmony , your truly affect . Brethren , " HENRY WHEEI - , Master . "PETER GRANT , Senr . Wdu . "ROBT . COLTILLE , Jun . W .
"R ICHD . GAUDRY , Secy . " Dublin , April 1779 . " The petitioners , not satisfied with taking the title o _ a mere Dublin Lodge , arrogated to themselves a national character and title , and this they wished to get confirmed
in their charter ; for their request to be constitut 3 d " Provincial or Deputy" no doubt indicates that even at that early stage they contemplated the assumption of the prerogatives of a Supreme body . The petition and accompanying documents were laid before the Committee of 1 he
Mother Lodge on 10 th May 1779 . While there was bat one opinion as to tbe power of the Committee to issue t ie charter , it was ruled to be " incompetent for the Lodge fco delegate to any other the power of granting charters without the sense of the brethren at a general meeting , "
and the point was never afterwards raised . In order to give eclat to the erection of a daughter Lodge in Ireland , the brethren appointed two years previously to procure a suitable seal for Mother Kilwinning were urged to have ifc finished in time to allow of its first impression being affixed
to the Dublin charter . The anxiety of the Committee to have the warrant executed in a superior style was no doubt increased by fche promised donation of five guineas by the
petitioners in addition to the ordinary fees . When completed , the Charter was produced and confirmed at a communication of the Lodge on 27 th October 1799 , of which the following is the minute : —
This day a regular meeting of the Mother Lodge having met to consider a Petition presented by certain Masons in the Kingdom of Ireland praying for a Charter of Constitution from our Ancient Mother Lodge of Kilwinning , that they may meet with authority and erect themselves into a regular Lodge and Society under the
designation of fche High Knight Templars Lodge of Ireland . ; and the Brethren present , representing the Mother Lodge , grant the request upon payment of the usual fees , and half a guinea for the Seal as a precedent in future , and subjecting themselves to the rules and regulations of the Mother Lodge . Tenor and copy of the Charter as follows : —
'" We , Archibald Earl of Eglintoune , Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Mother Lodge of Kilwinning , having taken into consideration the request of certain Masons in the City of Dnblin in Ireland , praying oar authority to be formed into a regnlar Lodge or Society—being well assured of their moral character and of their
inclination to promote the good of Masonry—we , with consent of our Wardens and other Brethren , do constitute and erect them into a regular Lodge by the name of the High Knight Templars of Ireland Kilwinning Lodge . And we grant them all powers and privileges which now are or for any time past may have been legally enjoyed
hy any other Lodge of onr creating ; the same to be always holden of the Most Worshipfnl Grand Master of the Mother Lodge of Kilwinning and his successors in office , upon tbe yearly payment of
one merk Scots money [ 13 | d sterling ] afc the Anniversary Meeting of the Mother Lodgo in December , and upon the attendance of one of their members if required afc said meeting . "' Given at Kilwinning the 8 th of October 1779 .
•• 'ROBT . LAUGHLEN . " . The following letters accompanied the transmission of the Charter to Ireland , care being taken , it will be observed , to impress the Brethren with the pains that had been bestowed on its embellishment , and with the beauty ,
antique design , and appropriateness of the seal . The statement in regard to Lord Buchan having been Master of the Mother Lodge in the fourteenth century cannot , it is scarcely necessary to say , be supported by any authentic evidence : —
The Irish Daughter Lodge Of Mother Kilwinning.
" Dr . Geo . Augustus Cunningham . " Dear Sir and Brother , —I have industriously obtained the Charter for the Society of Gentlemen you recommended , and as we have extinguished all fche money in our funds , besides large donations
raised by subscription , I am obliged to exert every laudable means to raise more money . I beg you will obtain the Charter dues , and five guineas promised . I have ordered the bearer to deliver this and fche Charter ( enclosed firsfc in a tin box and lastly into brown paper ) to yon , and to receive from you the money . . . .
" The Charter was written in the Herald Office in Edinburgh , nnder Bro . Hadow ' s inspection . The Seal has cost me much pains , having ransacked many curious Antiques , whioh lay buried in obscurity for many years . It has been costly , too , for which we have been obliged to raise the Charter dues .
' That you may be prepared to speak upon and explain the Seal , — which I prefer to laying down in writing—to our new created Daughter , and that you may satisfy their good opinion of each our member's capacity in antiquity . " The general field is charged with fche Masons' Arms , viz ., 3
Castles ( only ours are nearly rectangular ) , placed angular—with the Square and Compass . Betwixt the legs of the Compass , and near the top of them ia the Arms of the Monastery attached to ifc , at thafc remote period when a third son of Robert the 2 d ( Earl of Buchan ) married a daughter of the Lyle family , and were principal contributors
to building the Monastery and towers ; and the Earl of Bnohan was then Master of the Mother Lodge , afc that time in some repute . Iu the middle is an Eye , looking to the Eglintoune Coat—they being patrons in every _ 3 _! ra to the Society ; and from the present Earl
bestowing so generous donations , he is appointed Grand Master for Life . I make no doubt , bufc you'll blazon these things to good purpose . . . . " Yours , & 0 .,
" ROBT . LAUGHLEN , Seo . " " To the Right Worshipfnl Grand Master , Wardens , & c , and Brethren of the High Knight Templars of Ireland ( now ) Mother Kilwinning Lodge . " Brethren , —Having considered your petition transmitted to us by
our Worthy Brother George Augustus Cunningham , Esq ., whereon we have granted you a Charter of Constitution , erecting you as a legitimate daughter of the Mother Kilwinning Lodge , under the name and title of the High Knight Templars of Ireland Kilwinning Lodge , and with it accept the blessing of the Mother vested in our
affection of maternal love . Wishing you eminent in the exercise of the social virtues , even as the Mother is pre-eminent in primogeniture , and being an antient source of Masonry , we have taken great pains in embellishing your Charter ; and the Seal appended to it was engraven by the first artist in this kingdom , who has copied and
enlarged it with accuracy from a small original , aud is allowed to be the most antique Masonic Seal extant . As our funds are now exhausted by erecting and finishing a new Mother Lodge [ Hall ] on an elegant and expensive design , as well as by supporting a number of distressed brethren , we earnestly request that you would be
pleased to return by the bearer ( who has care of this and the Charter ) a guinea and a half as Charter clues ; and as yon were so kind as proffer us five guineas on receiving your Charter , as a donation to the Mother Lodge , the dues , and whatever you are pleased to
contribute , will be gratefully received , aud for which you will be honoured in being placed with those daughters who have contributed to rear fche mouldering ruins of her antient head , ancl whose names are to be recorded and written in letters of gold , to decorate the walls I of the hoary Matron .
" Wishing you Brotherly love , unanimity , peace , and harmony , " I remain , Brethren , " Yours affectionately , "ROBT . LAUGHLEN , Sec .
" By order , and in presence of the " ) Depute-Grand Master , Wardens , f & c , met at Kilwinning , 27 th \ October 1779 . " ) ( To le continued ) .
We owe our esteemed Brother the Rev . H . W . Rugg , Editor of the Freemasons' Bepository , an apology . We quoted an article from his journal in our issue of the 27 th August—viz ., " Progress in Masonry "—which we did not give him credit for . We trust he will excuse this apparent lack of courtesy , and accept this our expression of regret at the omission .
At the Southampton Lodge Wo . 394 , over which Bro . Tilling presides , on Thursday , the 15 th inst ., the sum of five guineas was voted to the lloyal Masonic Institution for
Girls , and a vote of condolence was passed to fche friends of the late Worshipful Bro . Cooper , who was the oldest Past Master of the Lodge . Deceased bequeathed a legacy of £ 200 to the Lodge .
The Metropolitan Chapter of Improvement will resume its meetings , afc the "White Hart , " corner of Abchurch Lane and Cannon Street , E . G ., ou Tuesday , 4 th October , afc half-past six o'clock . This Chapter of Improvement will continue to meet every Tuesday evening until the end of May .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Irish Daughter Lodge Of Mother Kilwinning.
" In the name of the body , I beg leave to subscribe myself your much obliged humble servt . aud brother , "WlLLM . RAINSFORD . "Sth April 1779 . " "To the Grand Master and Brethren of the Mother Lodge of
Kilwinning . " Brethren , —Studious to follow Free Masonry on the jistest principles of the Ancient Craft , and willing to derive an authority from the First Source , a regular Lodge of Free and Ace ipted Masons , held in Dublin , have been long desirous to obtain a char voter
from their esteemed Brethren the Ancient Lodge of Kilwinning , as they are fully satisfied of their just title of primogeniture . Anxi > usly solicitous after the attainment of this much desired object , but at a loss to whom to turn for advice or where to apply , they connr , it a fortunate _ ora their meeting with their much beloved Brother
George Cunningham , Esq ., whose friendship has pointed out a clue to lead them out of their labrynth of doubt . Under his auspices therefore they apply for a Charter from you to hold a Lodge t > be called the H'g h Knight Templars Lodge of Ireland , and hope over
to walk worthy of their vocation and the high favour you will coifer on them by granting it . "We remain with the greatest respect , wishing you the salutation of peace , love , and harmony , your truly affect . Brethren , " HENRY WHEEI - , Master . "PETER GRANT , Senr . Wdu . "ROBT . COLTILLE , Jun . W .
"R ICHD . GAUDRY , Secy . " Dublin , April 1779 . " The petitioners , not satisfied with taking the title o _ a mere Dublin Lodge , arrogated to themselves a national character and title , and this they wished to get confirmed
in their charter ; for their request to be constitut 3 d " Provincial or Deputy" no doubt indicates that even at that early stage they contemplated the assumption of the prerogatives of a Supreme body . The petition and accompanying documents were laid before the Committee of 1 he
Mother Lodge on 10 th May 1779 . While there was bat one opinion as to tbe power of the Committee to issue t ie charter , it was ruled to be " incompetent for the Lodge fco delegate to any other the power of granting charters without the sense of the brethren at a general meeting , "
and the point was never afterwards raised . In order to give eclat to the erection of a daughter Lodge in Ireland , the brethren appointed two years previously to procure a suitable seal for Mother Kilwinning were urged to have ifc finished in time to allow of its first impression being affixed
to the Dublin charter . The anxiety of the Committee to have the warrant executed in a superior style was no doubt increased by fche promised donation of five guineas by the
petitioners in addition to the ordinary fees . When completed , the Charter was produced and confirmed at a communication of the Lodge on 27 th October 1799 , of which the following is the minute : —
This day a regular meeting of the Mother Lodge having met to consider a Petition presented by certain Masons in the Kingdom of Ireland praying for a Charter of Constitution from our Ancient Mother Lodge of Kilwinning , that they may meet with authority and erect themselves into a regular Lodge and Society under the
designation of fche High Knight Templars Lodge of Ireland . ; and the Brethren present , representing the Mother Lodge , grant the request upon payment of the usual fees , and half a guinea for the Seal as a precedent in future , and subjecting themselves to the rules and regulations of the Mother Lodge . Tenor and copy of the Charter as follows : —
'" We , Archibald Earl of Eglintoune , Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Mother Lodge of Kilwinning , having taken into consideration the request of certain Masons in the City of Dnblin in Ireland , praying oar authority to be formed into a regnlar Lodge or Society—being well assured of their moral character and of their
inclination to promote the good of Masonry—we , with consent of our Wardens and other Brethren , do constitute and erect them into a regular Lodge by the name of the High Knight Templars of Ireland Kilwinning Lodge . And we grant them all powers and privileges which now are or for any time past may have been legally enjoyed
hy any other Lodge of onr creating ; the same to be always holden of the Most Worshipfnl Grand Master of the Mother Lodge of Kilwinning and his successors in office , upon tbe yearly payment of
one merk Scots money [ 13 | d sterling ] afc the Anniversary Meeting of the Mother Lodgo in December , and upon the attendance of one of their members if required afc said meeting . "' Given at Kilwinning the 8 th of October 1779 .
•• 'ROBT . LAUGHLEN . " . The following letters accompanied the transmission of the Charter to Ireland , care being taken , it will be observed , to impress the Brethren with the pains that had been bestowed on its embellishment , and with the beauty ,
antique design , and appropriateness of the seal . The statement in regard to Lord Buchan having been Master of the Mother Lodge in the fourteenth century cannot , it is scarcely necessary to say , be supported by any authentic evidence : —
The Irish Daughter Lodge Of Mother Kilwinning.
" Dr . Geo . Augustus Cunningham . " Dear Sir and Brother , —I have industriously obtained the Charter for the Society of Gentlemen you recommended , and as we have extinguished all fche money in our funds , besides large donations
raised by subscription , I am obliged to exert every laudable means to raise more money . I beg you will obtain the Charter dues , and five guineas promised . I have ordered the bearer to deliver this and fche Charter ( enclosed firsfc in a tin box and lastly into brown paper ) to yon , and to receive from you the money . . . .
" The Charter was written in the Herald Office in Edinburgh , nnder Bro . Hadow ' s inspection . The Seal has cost me much pains , having ransacked many curious Antiques , whioh lay buried in obscurity for many years . It has been costly , too , for which we have been obliged to raise the Charter dues .
' That you may be prepared to speak upon and explain the Seal , — which I prefer to laying down in writing—to our new created Daughter , and that you may satisfy their good opinion of each our member's capacity in antiquity . " The general field is charged with fche Masons' Arms , viz ., 3
Castles ( only ours are nearly rectangular ) , placed angular—with the Square and Compass . Betwixt the legs of the Compass , and near the top of them ia the Arms of the Monastery attached to ifc , at thafc remote period when a third son of Robert the 2 d ( Earl of Buchan ) married a daughter of the Lyle family , and were principal contributors
to building the Monastery and towers ; and the Earl of Bnohan was then Master of the Mother Lodge , afc that time in some repute . Iu the middle is an Eye , looking to the Eglintoune Coat—they being patrons in every _ 3 _! ra to the Society ; and from the present Earl
bestowing so generous donations , he is appointed Grand Master for Life . I make no doubt , bufc you'll blazon these things to good purpose . . . . " Yours , & 0 .,
" ROBT . LAUGHLEN , Seo . " " To the Right Worshipfnl Grand Master , Wardens , & c , and Brethren of the High Knight Templars of Ireland ( now ) Mother Kilwinning Lodge . " Brethren , —Having considered your petition transmitted to us by
our Worthy Brother George Augustus Cunningham , Esq ., whereon we have granted you a Charter of Constitution , erecting you as a legitimate daughter of the Mother Kilwinning Lodge , under the name and title of the High Knight Templars of Ireland Kilwinning Lodge , and with it accept the blessing of the Mother vested in our
affection of maternal love . Wishing you eminent in the exercise of the social virtues , even as the Mother is pre-eminent in primogeniture , and being an antient source of Masonry , we have taken great pains in embellishing your Charter ; and the Seal appended to it was engraven by the first artist in this kingdom , who has copied and
enlarged it with accuracy from a small original , aud is allowed to be the most antique Masonic Seal extant . As our funds are now exhausted by erecting and finishing a new Mother Lodge [ Hall ] on an elegant and expensive design , as well as by supporting a number of distressed brethren , we earnestly request that you would be
pleased to return by the bearer ( who has care of this and the Charter ) a guinea and a half as Charter clues ; and as yon were so kind as proffer us five guineas on receiving your Charter , as a donation to the Mother Lodge , the dues , and whatever you are pleased to
contribute , will be gratefully received , aud for which you will be honoured in being placed with those daughters who have contributed to rear fche mouldering ruins of her antient head , ancl whose names are to be recorded and written in letters of gold , to decorate the walls I of the hoary Matron .
" Wishing you Brotherly love , unanimity , peace , and harmony , " I remain , Brethren , " Yours affectionately , "ROBT . LAUGHLEN , Sec .
" By order , and in presence of the " ) Depute-Grand Master , Wardens , f & c , met at Kilwinning , 27 th \ October 1779 . " ) ( To le continued ) .
We owe our esteemed Brother the Rev . H . W . Rugg , Editor of the Freemasons' Bepository , an apology . We quoted an article from his journal in our issue of the 27 th August—viz ., " Progress in Masonry "—which we did not give him credit for . We trust he will excuse this apparent lack of courtesy , and accept this our expression of regret at the omission .
At the Southampton Lodge Wo . 394 , over which Bro . Tilling presides , on Thursday , the 15 th inst ., the sum of five guineas was voted to the lloyal Masonic Institution for
Girls , and a vote of condolence was passed to fche friends of the late Worshipful Bro . Cooper , who was the oldest Past Master of the Lodge . Deceased bequeathed a legacy of £ 200 to the Lodge .
The Metropolitan Chapter of Improvement will resume its meetings , afc the "White Hart , " corner of Abchurch Lane and Cannon Street , E . G ., ou Tuesday , 4 th October , afc half-past six o'clock . This Chapter of Improvement will continue to meet every Tuesday evening until the end of May .