Mother Kilwinning.

ing the intentions of the Mother Lodge , ancl giving us authority to contradict the reports circulated to their prejudice hy some of the brethren belonging to lodges holding of the Grand Lodge at Edinburgh . I am desired by the Rt . Wor . Master of this lodge to advise you for the information of the Noble Master , Wardens , aifcl brethren of the Mother Lodge , that it is our intention to continue to adhere to her while

she shall continue independent . To our Mother Lodge we wish prosperity and perpetuity . " « - Besides the letter sent from St . Bride others were about this period , received at Kilw'inning from the Stranraer , Eaglesham , and Greenock Mountstewart daughters complaining that they " were never called upon to attend at any public occasion in the country

as other regular lodges are , " and wishing to he informed of the reason for such a course being observed towards them . The invariable reply to such complaints was in the stereotyped form : — " The Mother lodge is truly sorry to hear that so respectable a daughter as the .... lodge should be

neglected and not called upon by the neighbouring lodges to Masonick meetings , when such happen in the country . We presume the reason may be that the other lodges in your neighbourhood hold of the Grand Lodge , and 3 ou being not of their party are overlooked on that account . But the Mother Lodge

recommends to you a maxim of their own , never to offer a deputation to any lodge previous to receiving thatcompliment-from them ( except the Mother Lodge ) , or those of their creation antecedent to the date of

your lodge , for according to their seniority they hold their distinction , a conformity to their precepts , unanimity , and adherence to the maxims , and laws of their institution , will preserve them , collectively and individually , in the esteem of the Mother Lodge , who think A ery lightly of any neglect from modern institutions to allow it to affect their consequence or reputation . "

Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

Jons' VALENTINE AND '/ IE AS . 0 THE ORDERS OE THE HOSE CUOIX AND OP EREEMASONRY . The letter written from the Public Library , Cambridge , has come to hand . Tie letters of the two books , published about sixty years ago , were not transcribed by me . My note simply record , that their authors , " penchent pour l ' opinion qui rapporte , a J . V . Andre , si non

l'origine , au moins une nouvelle organisation , de l ' ordre des Rose Croix , affilie , ou identique , avec celni des Franc-Masons , dans lequel la memoire d'Amore a toujours < 5 te singulierement vencree . " According to my memorandum , Andre was a native of Wurtemburg , and was born early in the 17 th century . I once saw a work , in Germanfor tho general reform of the

worldcom-, , monly ascribed to him . —CHARLES PURTON COOPER . THE UNIVERSALITY OE EREEMASONRY . We often hear some of the brethren boast of the Universality of Freemasonry , that it recognises men of all creeds and shuts the door against none but atheists—if such beings there are . There has been a question raised which entirel

y subverts the doctrine , and rather than state it in my own words , I enclose the following from the Indian Freemasons' Friend , in order that those who so warmly uphold the Universality of Freemasonry may see that , in parfcseven of our own Empire , religion is held to be a valid excuse wh y men should not be admitted Freemasons . —Ex . Ex .

Whether Hindoos ought to be Initiated . " Notice has been given that , at the Quarterly Communication of the District Grand Lodge of Bengal , to be held on the 22 nd September ( instant ) , the following question will be put for discussion : viz ., —as to ' whether the admission of Hindoos into Freemasonry is in consonance with the princiles of the Orderas' inculcated

p , by the Grand Lodge of England . ' "This very subject engaged the attention of tho brethren in Calcutta about twenty years ago , and was discussed in all the lodges , as their records will probably show . An expression of the opinion of the Grand Master himself was elicited . AV . Bro . Sir Edward Ryan , the Chief Justice of this metropolishaving proceeded

, to England , had an interview with the Duke of Sussex at Kensington Palace , and consulted him on this and other Masonic questions . His Royal Highness was well disposed towards the admission of Asiatics into the Order ; but the Provincial Grand Master , Dr . John Grant , delivered a charge to the brethren , in which , in -very forcible language , he urged , many objections to tha

initiation of Hindoos . "At that time two of the sons of Russomoy Dutfc were proposed as candidates by Mr . J . U . Sandys ; but the application somehow fell to the ground . " AVe will not express our own views just now , but will fill up our space mere profitably with the opinions of such high authorities as the Duke of Sussex and Dr .

Grant . We only consider it fair to observe here , that the objections of the latter have probably lost much of their force , as twenty years have doubtless wrought a change in the state of Hindoo society .

" Opinion of the Duke of Sitssev . " With reference to the application of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Bengal to the Grand Lodge of England , relative to the initiation of Hindoos , stated to have been despatched on tho 8 th May , 1810 , the Grand Master is not aware of any such paper having been received . He is the more positive on this point as the question is one

which has occupied his attention for many years , and it has formed a part of his Masonic creed , that , provided a man believe in the existence of the Great Architect of the Universe and in futurity , and extends that belief likewise to a state of rewards and punishments hereafter , such a person is fully competent to be received as a brother . Previouslhoweverto swearing man

y , , any to secresy , it is necessary to ascertain what religion ho professes , in order to obligate him in the most formal and solemn manner possible ; but , when once admitted into the Fraternit } 1 , all questions of religion cease , because , by tbe rules of our Order , matters of religion and of state policy are strictly prohibited from foi-ming any part of discussion in a well regulated lodge .

" Upon this principle , Hindoos as well as Mahomedans can and ought to be received . _ " The Grand Master himself was present at the initiation of Mirza Abul , who was made by the late Marquis of Hastings . Three of the Persian Princes were made about six years since , as likewise the Moulavee under the King of Oude ; and about the year 1776 , Omdit ulOmrah .

Buhauder , eldest son of the Nabob of Arcot , was initiated in India , and received from the Grand Lodge a blue apron ; thus proving that the predecessors of the present Grand Master entertained notions similar to his own upon this point . " It is no doubt a great object to impress brotherly and friendly feelings between the Europeans and enlightened

Hindoos ; and no means can be so effectual as those employed by tbe Craft in promoting all noble , useful , and charitable purposes . Referring to the letter of the R . W . Provincial Grand Master , addressed to the Grand Secretary , under date the 15 th April , 1840 , it appears that the general principle is admitted , but the indiscriminate admission of Mahomedans and Hindoos is objected against .