Mother Kilwinning.

precise date of its adoption , and in the absence of such knowledge , were inclined to think the authorisation of sectional meetings of members of subordinate lodges to have been introduced for the purpose of facilitatiDg evasion of those clauses

of the legislative enactment of 1799 ( Suppression of Secret Societies Bill ) , which for several years were held as preventing the erection of new lodges ; but as militating against this view , we have it on indubitable authority , that when twitted

with the illegality of their proceedings , the lodges in Ayrshire granting waiTants of the nature descn ' bed defended their ri g ht to do so upon the ground of long-established use and wont of the district , and that the Act of 1799 , while

prohibitive of the issue of charters to new lodges , did not at all interfere with the - privileges of the then existing lodges . So popular did these " dispensations " become among the Craftsmen of Kyle , that in 1807 the villages of Monkton and Prestwick could boast , the one of two , the other of

one , such branch lodges , each having its staff of officials apart from those of its mother lodge . Tai'bolton St . James Kilwinning , Tarbolton St . David , and Ayr and Eenfrew Militia St . Paul , were the lodges upon whose authority these

branch-erecting warrants had been issued—the last-named having also about the same period granted a dispensation to certain of its members serving in the Ayrshire Militia , in which regiment it remained in active operation for the space of

eig ht yeai's—with results so beneficial to the lodg e as to justify the holders of it being , at the lodge ' s expense , " treated to two bowls of toddy " on the occasion of their sui'rendering it . Having failed to procure a copy of any of these

charters , we beg to offer the following extract of " Letter sent by Ayr St . Paul's to her brethren in the Ayrshire Militia , upon their request to have a dispensation granted them , " as throwing light upon the terms on which such waiTants were held , and of the powers formerly assumed by daughter lodges under the Edinburgh Constitution .

" At a meeting of Ayr St . Paul's Lodge ( No . 271 ) , Dec . 16 , 1808 , there was produced a letter from the confidential agent of this lodge in the Ayrshire Militia , -requesting that our members in that regiment might be granted a dispensation , which , being taken into consideration , they were unanimously of opinion that the foresaid request should bo lied with ; but before

comp the dispensation could be sent , it was indispensably necessary that the lodge should be made acquainted with the names of the persons whom our brethren in that foresaid regiment might make choice of for officebearers , and for that purpose , and in order to give the said brethren an opportunity of celebrating the Festival

of St . John the Divine , they authorise the Secretary to draw up a Letter of Power , authorising them to hold Masonic meetings at such place as should be most convenient , and as often as they should find it necessary ; but in no shape or point of view do Ayr St . Paul ' s consider this indulgence as an authority to make Masons , and on no account would they grant them that privilege ,

until empowered by their dispensation ; The meeting also instructed the Secretary to transmit to the foresaid brethren the following code of laws , by which the sentiments of the lodge with regard to the general rule of their conduct might be the more fully understood , and they bind their members in the Ayrshire Militia to observe the same in every clause , point , and particular ,

of which laws the following is the tenor : — " 1 . That the confidential agent in the Ayrshire Militia for Ayr St . Paul shall forthwith , upon receipt of this letter , call a meeting of her members in that regiment , and such other brethren as are iu use to attend their meetings although belonging to other lodges ; and Ayr StPaul grants full to the said agentas soon as

. power , the brethren are assembled , to take the chair , name two Wardens , and immediately open a Master Mason Lodge , and read this authority for them to meet as a Masonic body , and thereafter to proceed to the election of officebearers , who , upon their appointment , shall instantly take their respective stations , enter upon their several offices , aud exercise the functions thereof .

" 3 . That no Mason can be initiate or become a member of the dispensation , nor no man can be made a Mason under it , who has been found guilty of any of the following crimes by a general or regimental court-martial , viz ., cowardice , theft , mutiny , or desertion . " 4 Ayr St . Paul recommends to the brethren in the Ayrshire Militia to hold as little correspondence as possible with those people who hold Masouic meetings under the title of Knight Templars , * as they are not acknowledged by any regular lodge .