Historical Notes On Scotch Lodges.—No I

HISTORICAL NOTES ON SCOTCH LODGES . —No I

BY D MURRAY LYON * . GLASGOW KILWINNING , NO . 4 . It has hitherto been very much the custom to ascribe to Alother Kilwinning the paternity of all the Lodges which were found in last century to have adopted its name . To have "Kilwinning "

incorporated in the designation of a lodge was regarded as a mark of antiquity , just as "Royal Arch" was meant lo inply the possession of degrees hig her than those of Craft Masonry . In the establishment of the few Scotch Lodges that

were in existence apart from bodies of operative masons in the third decade of the iSth century , as a rule , thc sanction of no authority higher than themselves was sought . Some , indeed , had asked and obtained from Kilwinninsr confirmation

of their position , but the majority were seifconstituted and independent . GLASGOW KILWINNING belonged to this class . It was erected at a communication under the presidency of John Anderson , master of the " Lodge of Kilwinning held att Edinburgh" ( Scots Arms , ) at the sign

ofthe Globe , in the Gallowgate of Glasgow , ist April , 1 7 , 35 . The sederunt bears the names of three master masons and five apprentices . The brethren of the lower grade having been passed fellow crafts and raised masters , and a new member admitted , " the lodge was constitute . " Honoured with the privilege of nominating the

master of the new lodge for the current year , the presiding brother named John Clerk , merchant , and afterwards "installed and congratulated" him . I'he wardens—Robert Alollison , ' supervisor of excise , and J . Alentogirerie , merchant—were chosen and installed by the master . The minute from which this

information is derived is notable as containing the earliest record of the Third Degree being worked in the west country . And it is only one day later than the first occasion of the degree being conferred in Scotland , of which there is documentary evidence , viz ., in Canongate Kilwinning ,

March 31 , 1735 . The earliest mention of a master ' s reception in Ayrshire is contained in the Kilwinning minute of iith July , J 7 . 5 j . where it is reported hy the master that " at a lodge held at Irvine the fifth of April last Ctininghame of Collennan an 1

Forbes of AA ' atertoun were received and admitted fellows of craft ami masters . " One of the brethren who weie raised at the iirst communication of the Glasgow Kilwinning , was present in Canongate Kilwinning as a " gentleman visitor "

in December of the same year , ami "sufficientl y acquitted himself in a trial of his qualifications as a master mason . ' Another visitor , somewhat boastful of his being a master mason , was after examination declared to be a " verry weak entered prentice . '

Shortly after his election . o the wardenshi p of Glasgow Kilwinning , Air . Alollison removed to Ayrshire . He joined the . Lodge of Kilwinning , and became one of its leading members . As a collector of excise , he was frequently in the district of Carrick , and on one of his journeys

thither , in J 7 3 /; , we find him , in terms of a commission from Alother Kilwinning , inquiring into the allairs of certain Alasons in Alaybole and Girvan , charged with admitting members to the lodge without accounting for or making payment of their entry-money . He was master ' of the

lodge in 1741 , and was succeeded by AVilliam , Earl of Kilmarnock , wdio on the day of his installation aud proclamation , 20 th January , 1 742 , admitted , pas'd and rais'd Alexander , Earl of Eglingtoii . Air . Alollison was deputy Alaster of Alother Kilwinning , when , in 1747 , he was

appointed to the Provincial Grand Mastership of Glasgow province , and tor several years discharged the duties of both oilices . There were two candidates for the Grand Alastershi p at the institution of the Grand Lodge of Scotland , viz ., AVilliam St . Clair , of Roslin ,

and the Earl ot Home . Like Alary s Chapel , Glasgow Kilwinning instructed its representative to vote for Lord Home . No division took place , and St . Clair was chosen by the unanimous voice of the brethren . He visited the lodge in ¦ ^ ay > l 1 ?> 9- 'Fho Earl of Home was at the institution of the Grand Lodge Alaster of Kilwinn-

Historical Notes On Scotch Lodges.—No I

ing Scots Arms . He held a cornet ' s commission in the id regiment of dragoon guards in 17 , 3 . 5 , and got a troop of Churchill ' s dragoons in 1740-He rose to the rank of lieutenant-general in the army . He was in Scotland in 1745 , when the Rebellion broke out , joined Sir John Cope at

Dunbar in September , and was at the battle of Prestonpans . He joined the Royal army at Stirling in December , at the head of the Glasgow regiment of 600 men . At his death , in 1761 , he was governor of Gibraltar . Although a self-constituted body , Glasgow

Kilwinning professed to be a branch of the Kilwinning fraternity . In the minute of a meeting which it held at Port Glasgow in August 17 , 35 , the master and six other brethren well mett arc represented as having made a surgeon and a custom-house clerk free and accepted

masons ofthe Alother Lodge of Kilwinning , who forthwith paid to the poor box ofthe said lodge held at Glasgow five shillings ster . each . A forghtnight afterwards a select lodge was held at the Old Corfehouse in Glasgow , at which Harry Lord Grey was made , the Earl of Kilmarnock , then master of Kilmarnock Kilwinning ,

being present as a visitor . In December following the lodge , went to the house of a lutisicianer , in the Salt Mercatt , and there initiated himprobably for the sake of the host ' s professional services , although he is credited with the sum of five shillings paid to the poor ' s box . About this time and long after , Glasgow Kilwinninsr was accustomed to visit with the

highest penalty members " refusing to give attendance eith r at monthly or quarterly meettings . " Brethren making respectful application "to be dismiss M the lodge , and no longer to be reputed mem ! rs , " had their request complied with , but were nremitt ' ed to attend as visitors

In the absence 1 . ' . ' dip lomas it was customary for brethren from :: listanee to be introduced on letters of recon : mlation . From a copy of one such document e . igrossed in the books of Glasgow Kilwinning under date 2 nd November , 17 . 3 6 , information is obtained of perhaps the earliest

regularly-organised Lodge m America : " . . . () ur lodge was constituted at Boston in New England , by our Right Worshipful Alaster , Henry Prince , Provincial Grand Alaster , on the , 3 ist day of August , \ . M . , 57 . 3 . 3 , and is held at the Royal Exchange Tavern , in King ' s

Street , the second ami fourth AVednesday of every month , —and is adorn'd with the ::. . . g . inent gentlemen of this great l .-v . 'ii , and keept up to it ' s primitive benty and pu . ity ... Henry Price , G . M . ; James Gordon , D . P . G . M .: Robt . Tomlinson , M . ; Hugh

Al'Daniell , S . W . ; Jno . Osborn , J . AV . ; F . Breterth , Secretary . " The establishment of a lodge of free ami accepted masons in the then colony of Massachusetts Bay followed upon Mr . Price ' s appointment to the Provincial Grand Alastership of new England , under the Grand

Lodge at London . His commission was subsequently made to embrace " all North America . " This however did not prevent the introduction of Scotch charters , the first of which there is any record being that issued by the Grand

Lodge to St . Andrew , Boston , Alassachusetts , in 175 6 ; although Washington is undi : tood to have been initiated in a Alrginian lodge . mder a Scotch charter in 1752 . The Tappahannock ( Essex County , A'irginia ) , chartered in 17 , 58 , was the first American Kilwinning Lodge .

In its earlier years the bulk of the lodge s members were merchants , with a sprinkling of writers , physicians , university students , and excisemen—master mariners and " merchant sailors . " One of this class , the master and owner of the ship "Freemason , " was in 17 . 3 S presented by the lodge with "a badge of Masonry

to be placed on the stem of the said ship . The roll was swelled also by ollicers of the regiments that from time to time were quartered in Glasoow . There is a hiatus in these recoids from December , 1742 , to January , 17 , 5 . 3 . AVe are thus left in ignorance of the effect of the rebellion of 1 745 upon the lodge .

, The " solemnities" ofthe St . John ' s Day communication embraced a dinner , toasts , songs , instrumental music , and a torchlig ht procession , the llambeaus being carried b y boys from the poor ' s-hospital . AVhile , as the minutes record , the brethren were on such occasions accustomed

Historical Notes On Scotch Lodges.—No I

to enjoy themselves with " music , wine , and mirth , in that innocence peculiar to the noble institution , " they were not unmindful of the claims of charity . On St . John ' s Day , 1740 ,

the lodge gave a concert to a " genteel company in the Alerchants' Hall for the benefit of the poor . Alason songs sungs by the brethren , with organ accompaniments , were a leading feature of the entertainment .

A charity ball was given in 1742 . The fascinations of music were in those days largely employed to attract attendance at lodge communications— -the " mason songs being sung and played on musical instruments , " at all stated meetings . In September , 1742 , the

brethren resolved to purchase an organ for the benefit of the lodge , at a cost not to exceed , £ 30 . This resolution was shortly afterwards given efleet to— -good brother Deans being paid , with a glass of thanks , twenty pounds eight shillings

sterling , the price of that musical instrument which now adorns our lodge . " Ladies and stranger masons" had the privilege of hearing the organ , which could only be used apart from masonic meetings at the request of at least three contributing members of the lodge .

These records contain what is perhaps the earliest notice of a Scotch provincial grand visitation , viz ., that made to Glasgow Kilwinning in March , 17 , 39 , by the Provincial Grand Master of Argyle , Cly desdale , Dumbarton , Renfrew , and Stirling . In the course of this and

subsequent visits the brethren were catechised on " the propper questions of masonry "—a custom which has long since become obsolete ; although the twin practice of " drinking the usual healths" has been retained in all its integrity , There are . no mason marks , or any mention of a mark degree , in these old minute-books . ( To be continued . )

Response To" A Masonic Parting.'

RESPONSE TO" A MASONIC PARTING . '

BY BRO . AVILLIAM CARPENTER , P . AL and P . Z . True Friendship ' s indeed the elixir of life , For where it is found , there ' s an absence of strife ; But beware of the friendship that tempts you to

roam , And prize above all things the friendship of home . In the Craft are formed friendships on which you rely ,

For therein you re bound by that strange rays ; tic tie ; But , if after parting , you ' re tempted to roam , Remember you ' re anxiously looked for at home .

At home there is one whose friendship , be sure ; Though oftentimes tried , will ever endure ; But be not exacting , nor given to roam , And cherish , 'bove all things , the friendship of home

AMERICAN IRON IN THE E NGLUUJ MARKET . —The Lifer pool Daily Post states that 100 tons of American bar iron , guaranteed equal to Staffordshire , have been sold to a Liverpool firm at £ 11 ios . deliveredin Liverpool , thus underselling the English iron market .

Professor Williamson , in opening the meeting of the British Association , at Bradford , entered into an elaborate review of chemical science , dealintr especially with the present position of

the atomic theory in relation to Dalton ' s law of definite and constant proportions . In closing his inaugural address , the president vindicated , for chemical study and science in general , the claim to a higher place in our national

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