Lodge Canongate Kilwinning.

... jts parent , and being accompanied with a present , appears to have touched heart of the dear old mother , for the request was granted to the fullest extent tllfi 'ble . The document is signed by the R . W . M ., officers , and others , 27 members ? , | an ( j , n that form was issued to the lodge , obtaining an official endorsement of 111 a ^ arter by the Grand Secretary of Scotland , dated 13 th April , 1737 . A repro"Vonof this ancient warrant forms one of the artistic triumphs of the volume ,

1 orig inal happily being well preserved to this day . U The first " swarm" from the lodge was the "Leith Kilwinning , " 24 th June , . j tne R . W , M . and other members " went this day to Leith and there conse' te and ordained a new lodge to be there held . " From this branched off No . 36 , c David ' s , which has its volumes of records intact , and on whose roll are many

•itastrious members , including Sir Walter Scott , Bart . ' No . 2 had as visitors on October 6 th , 173 6 , brethren from " Leith , the Lodge at 0 ris and the Lodge at Gateside , in Bishopprick of Durham . " On iSth December f the same year , the Masonic Hall was consecrated , in which the lodge still sembles . The Grand Master and other dignitaries attended .

When Lord Dunmore was admitted on 3 rd Janunary , 1737 , the Grand Master was resent , and also the third Earl of Kintore , J . G . W . ( who soon became G . M ., and also Lid same office in England for 1740 ) . The ninth Earl of Kintore is now Substitute r M . of Scotland , and is one instance out of many of . the Masonic tastes of certain oble families which have continued from early last century to this day .

George Frazer , on 30 th September , 1737 , was styled " Old Master , " which was then the equivalent for P . M . or l . P . M . Many are the curious and racy anecdotes , be found in the volume before us , pre-eminently Scottish in character and narra - tive which do much to relieve the heavier portion of the history , and make the work " entertaining as a novel , " yet withal substantial and invaluable as an

authentic record of the Craft for some two centuries . A few of the delicious morsels " we should like to cull for these pages , but really and truly a choice from such an extensive storehouse would be difficult indeed , so we give up the task of selection for someone better qualified . Bro . Mackenzie has given the exact minutes , whenever and wherever desirable ,

so that all the quaintness of verbiage and all the singular details are duly reproduced , which is much better than turning such excerpts into modern phraseology . The members were profuse in their charitable donations , even to purposes beyond the Craft , e . g ., the sum of three guineas was voted in 1739—in response to a petition—for the " Charity for the Relief of the indigent Episcopall Clergy ; " and

poor brethren were never neglected whatever might be the other claims on the funds . In June , 174 1 , mention is made of a " Quaker , " who , though a brother , " had been guilty of ane indignity to the lodge . " Possibly this is the earliest reference to the fact of a Friend being a member of the Craft , On 27 th December , 1742 , the lodge-exercised its right in voting for the "Call" of the Rev . Hew Blair to

supply the vacancy as one of the ministers of the Canongate . The eighth Viscount Kenmure was initiated on 7 th December , 1743 , whose father was beheaded on Tower Hill in 1715 . The rebellion of 1745-6 interfered a little with the meetings of the lodge , though not so much as we had anticipated . A charter was signed by the Grand Master for constitutinga lodge at Aleppo , in Turkey , but no

entry is made in the official records of Grand Lodge , the only reference to the transaction being in the minutes of No . 2 . On 21 st November , 1752 , the lodge subscribed £ 20 Stirling , and the members ten guineas to help the funds being raised

to beautify the City of Edinburgh . The hero of Aboukir Bay . ( Sir Ralph Abercrombie ) , was admitted on 25 th May , 1753 , and on 6 th June following the Rev . Peter Simpson was initiated freely " out of regard to the ministerial cloth and character . " Lord Aberdour , Grand Master , visited the lodge 14 th December .

' 755 . who was G . M . of England in 1757 . The visitati ons by Grand Masters are too numerous to mention , but we note the attendance of this nobleman because of his occupying the same position farther on in this country . " A galaxy of celebrated actors" belonged to the lodge in the seventh decade of the last century . The ei ghth Earl of Dalhousie was " entered , passed and raised" on 20 th March

1766 , and was present on the 3 rd of the following month as " Grand Master elect " of the Grand Lodge . This " Hop , Skip , and Jump " method of conferring Masonic Degrees almost equals the experience of the fourth Duke of Atholl , who received the three Degrees , was elected and installed Master of the lodge , and was elected Grand Master of the " Ancients" ( England ) , all in one day , viz ., March 1 st , 1775 .

An interesting minute is quoted in full respecting the consecration of a military l ( % in the Masonic Hall of No . 2 on 12 th March , 1770 . It was entitled " Lodge M St . Andrew ' s Royal Arch , in the Scots Greys , " & c . General Oughton , the wand Master , attended ( who was a member of Canongate Kilwinning , No . 2 ) , ™ a number of distinguished Craftsmen . The first R . W . M . was the Hon . Col .

William Napier ( aftewards Lord Napier ) , an initiate of No . 2 . On 2 nd February , ' 775 . the Grand Master visited the lodge officially , and testified his highest satisf action with its conduct , & c , as an initiate " within this lodge . " Alexander asm yth , the well-known artist , was " entered " on February 3 rd , 1778 , the same year that tJie premier Scottish Grand Master died .

4 th n 6 ngraver oi Nasmyth ' s portrait of Burns ( John Bengo ) ^ Yas initiated on ivh' 1 , ? Cem' 3 er ' 7 & 3 > so that both the artist and engraver were members of No . 2 , On'lr 6 affiliated the " Immortal Bard " as a member on February 1 st , 1787 , title f ISt ' ttle **¦•W-ftL of the lodge conferred on Robert Burns the then unique ( the M < f ° Laureate > The Master was the hero of the " Song of the Whistle " Dunk ° Which was sold last year for 2 3 ° guineas ) , and the S . W . was Wm .

Bro M ^ Sty by the p 0 et " 0 ne of tlle worlhiest fel'ows in the world . " ( Bro n nz ' S ' the correspondence between the Scottish Masonic Historian ship ., ' ^ urrav L yon ) and the Secretary of No . 2 respecting the Poet Laureatehnce C ; . in nis final letter recognising " the satisfactory nature of the evinutted . " We entirely concur in that verdict .

Hay , ? , followed in 1835 by the "Ettrick Shepherd , " in 18 36 by William Pran ' j 7 . ° of a large portion of the songs in " The Lintie O'Moray , " Dr . Lane , 'n due 0 l 1 ' J ames Marshall , M . J . Mausibines , and William Pringle following follow ^ ! " * 6- In I 8 D ~ ° . A . O'Neal Haye was the holder of the proud position , An drew qt l 8 ? 2 by Ca P tain Laurence Archer , in 1879 by Dr . Waller , in 1881 by the cente S ° ' aUth ° ° f the poem " The Laureate Wreath , " in celebration " of Ist Mar h ^ ° the inau guration of Robert Burns as Poet Laureate of the lodge , ^' f % h I , 7 " ~ Poetry worthy of the occasion—and this year Bro . Charles H . l 8 78 i has ° •^ coveted honour . Dr . Rob Morris , who visited No . 2 August 9 th , S 1 « ce been crowned ( with the approbation of the universal Craft ) " Poet

Lodge Canongate Kilwinning.

Laureate of Freemasonry . William Stewart Watson ( initiated in No . 2 March 6 th , 1828 ) , was the painter of the celebrated picture of the inauguration of Robert Burns as Poet Laureate of the Lodge , the engraving of which is now very scarce and valuable . The reproduction , inserted in the History , is of special interest , as also the accompanying key . Both are exceedingly well done .

With the greatest difficulty we have determined to close the volume and say no more . One glance through its subsequent pages was sufficient to assure us tha Bro . Mackenzie has " risen to the occasion " when dealing with the later records , and has proved most successful as author of the history of this old and distinguished lodge , but it is impossible for us to do justice to his labours unless we write

as much about the last one hundred years as we have for the previous period . This would scarcely be fair to the author , whose noble work is still for sale , so we have resolutely determined to stay our hand , and conclude by congratulating the members of the Canongate Kilwinning Lodge , No . 2 , on their proud heritage , and by especially and gratefully testifying to the able manner in which Bro . Allan Mackenzie

has discharged his duties as the historian of one of the oldest , one of the most illustrious , and one of the most benevolent lodges in the world , whose ancient records not only form a grand monument to the truly Masonic character of the early brethren , but doubtless act as a constant incentive to the present members to prove worthy of their time-honoured privileges and possessions .

The Maryland "Correspondence."

THE MARYLAND " CORRESPONDENCE . "

The "Report on Correspondence for 1888 , on behalf of the Grand Lodge of Maryland , is now before us . The author is the Masonic Historian of that State , Bro . E . T . Schultz , so it may be taken for granted that the work is readable , accurate , and comprehensive . The Reports are a feature of American Freemasonry , and whilst they

mainly have to do with purely local matters , of little value to the Craft generally , here and there are to be found choice morsels of great importance and of universal interest . Indeed we do not know of anything corresponding to the character of these weighty and ably compiled " Annuals , " save the occasional articles in papers like the Freemason , or in the proceedings of the "Quatuor Coronati" Lodge ,

We note that the " Masonic Board of Relief" of San Francisco expended during the year the sum of over 9 dollars . These funds are carefully distributed , due enquiry always preceding the exercise of Charity . Of this there is evidently great need , for under " Canada , " it is stated that Bro . J . Ross Robertson , V . P . of the National Board of Relief for the U . S . A ., declares that " over 200 frauds had been detected during last year

in the United States . We fancy this must mean in U . S . A . and Canada . One of the most remarkable methods of disposing of the Masonic offerings to the distressed and indigent brethren of all Nationalities , is the Relief Lodge of New Orleans , the lodge being chartered for that distinct purpose , and not for the ordinary duties .

Bro . Schultz devotes considerable space to the question of " Life Membership , " based upon an exhaustive report by Bro . Drummond , P . G . M . of Maine . The average length of lodge membership is 13 years in Maine . The average for twenty years is nearl y four per cent ., that is to say " the membership of four out of every one hundred members terminates

every year . " With interest at 4 per cent ., the membership fee for life subscription would be " ten dollars for each dollar of annual dues . " Bro . Drummond , however , favours a scale according to age , ranging from 15 dollars for each dollar at 25 , to 8 dollars for each dollar at 65 . These points are curious , but do not really affect us in England as the annual subscriptions to lodges cannot be thus commuted .

Bro . Schultz does not quite like the veteran , Bro . Parvin ' s , reference to the rights and prerogatives of Grand Masters . We entirely , however , agree with the latter brother , for clearly " Grand Masters are the creatures of the Constitution , and should claim no rights beyond those delegated to them in the fundamental law . This is true historically , legally , and Masonically . " It should never be forgotten that the right of the Grand Lodge to legislate

with respect to the duties , privileges , and conduct of the Grand Master was expressly reserved in 1723 . Rule xix reads " If the GRAND MASTER should abuse his Power , and render himself unworthy of the Obedience and Subjection of the Lodges , he shall be treated in a way and manner to be agreed upon in a new Regulation . " The duties of this exalted Officer are defined in the premier Book of Constitutions . His Title was then

" Grand Master of the Right Worshipful and Most Ancient Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons , " as the Regulations testify , but how there was a Grand Master before a Grand Lodge , we can neither discover nor imagine . The Grand Lodge elected Bro . Sayer to be the first Grand Master . We agree with Parvin that " Bro . Drummond may assert , but he cannot find

any proof to sustain his assertion , that there ever was a Grand Master of Masons , or a Grand Lodge of Masons prior to 1717 , when the first Grand Lodge was constituted , and the first Grand Master created . " Beyond question , Grand Lodges and Grand Masters are modern institutions , and must not be confounded with the Chief or High Masters of the Steinmeteen oi Germany . We appeal to the facts of Masonic History in support of Bro . Parvin ' s declaration .

Consecration Of The Tyssen-Amherst Lodge, No. 2242.

CONSECRATION OF THE TYSSEN-AMHERST LODGE , No . 2242 .

A strong petition having been presented to the M . W . G . M . for a new lodge to be formed at Hackney , a warrant was issued by H . R . H . the Grand Master , the consecration ceremony taking place at the Amherst Club , Rectory-road , on Saturday , the 9 th inst . The Tyssen-Amherst Lodge , No . 2242 , takes its title from the first W . M ., Bro . W . A . Tyssen-Amherst , M . P ., P . G . W ., a distinguished brother whose name is a household word in the district .

The Consecrating Officer , Bro . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , P . G . D ., G . Sec , was assisted by Bros , Sir Albert Woods , C . B ., Garter , P . G . W ., as S . W . ; Thomas Fenn , President of Board of General Purposes , as J . W . ; Rev . R . T . Simpson , P . G . Chap ., as Chap . ; Frank Richardson , P . G . D ., as D . C . ; and Henry Lovegrove , P . M ., P . Z ., P . P . G . S . of W ., as l . G .