Mother Kilwinning.

County of Ayr : —" .... Had the Legislature thought it proper , for the good of the country , to have suppressed all societies of Freemasons together , we should have submitted without remark to that Act ; but-when we see two Grand Lodges exempted from the operations of this bill , and another more ancient and equally respectableand remarkable for its

attach-, ment to the laws aud constitutions of the country ( the Mother Lodge Kilwinning ) taken no notice of , Ave presume it has only proceeded from Mr . Pitt ' s not knowing that there , was sv \ ch a lodge in Scotland , — and therefore as officebearers of this loclge , of which the late Earl of Eglintoun died Grand Master , and

many honourable and respectable men in tin ' s neighbourhood are still members , among which number we have the satisfaction of seeing your name—a lodge also , from which ( we can with truth assert and prove if necessary ) many respectable lodges both in this countryiu Americaand tlie "West Indies hold their

, , charters , —we consider it our duty to represent these facts to you , ancl to request the favour of your making the necessary application , ancl thro' tlie proper channel , to have the Mother Loclge Kilwinning and those holding charters from her , likewise exempted from the operations of this bill , which otherwise must

annihilate our existence as an independent ] oage . " The clause iu the Secret Societies Act in favour of Masonic meetings having been framed so as to embrace as participants in its immunities all lodges of Freemasons comply ing with the requirements of the Act , the fears of Mother Kilwinning and her daughters were allayed , aud an application from a

" number of respectable Masons in Laglcsame for a charter of erection having within a year of the passing of the Bill been received at Kilwinning the hope was encouraged that the Mother Loclge Kilwinning would still retrieve what of her position , as an independent grand body , she had lost through tlie welldirected attacks made that independence hthe

upou y accredited representatives of Grand Lodge - , —and the jurisdiction of Mother Kilwinning was further widened by the constitution of East Kilbride , the last of her numerous progeny . The non-recognition , by Grand Lodge daughters , of lodges under the Kilwinning constitution was the source of much

annoyance to the Mother Lodge ; and it soon became apparent , from the tenor of the complaints upon that score sent in by many of her daughters , that the bond which connected them with Mother Kilwinning was in danger of being severed ; but the old spirit of independence burned strong as ever in the bosom of

the Mother Loclge , who , as often as they were prooffered , rejected all overtures for union with the modern Grand Lodge . The following communication addressed to Mother Kilwinning by one of the most dutiful and attached of her daughterswith the reply which it evoked

, , reveal the unfrendliness with which the head courts of the rival constitutions viewed each other , afford an inkling of the means employed by the partisans of Grand Lodge to subvert the Masonic authority of the Mother Lodge , and exhibit also the determination of tho latter to maintain their ancient

independence : — " Mr . J . Cunningham , or Secretary to tho Lodge Kilwinning . ' ¦ ' Sir , —The Lodge of St . Bride ' s Douglas

Kilwinning being advised that the neighbouring lodges , Avho hold of the Grand Lodge of Scotland , are directed by the Provincial Inspectors or Superintendents to hold no intercourse with any of the Kilwinning Lodges , and are threatening to get them dissolved as illegal meetings , I am directed by the Right Worshipful Master ancl Wardens of this lodgeto submit

, the following questions to the Mother Lodge at their anniversary meeting : — " 1 st . Whether it is the intention of the Mother Lodge to continue to separate from the Grand Loclge of Scotland , aud to grant chapters of erection as before ?

" 2 nd . Whether the Mother Lodge has taken any steps to exempt herself and Daughters from the penalties of the late Act of Parliament , against Seditious Meetings , & c . " Whether the Grand Lodge have a right to interfere with us in any way ? The answers of the

Mother Loclge to the above , to be laid before the brethren on the 2 Sth inst ., is earnestly requested . " By order of the Right Worshipful , " Jolts LS ' GLIS , Secretary . " Loclge of St . Bride ' s Douglas Kilwinning , " Douglas , 14 th Dec ., 1802 , "

To this was returned the following spirited and dignified reply : — "To Mr . John Iuglis , Seetry ., to St . Bride ' s Lodge , Douglass . " "VERA : DEAU BROTHER , —In answer to yours of the 14 th Currt ., tlie Mother Lodge Kilwinning , has

hitherto rejected every proposal from the Grand Lodge of Eclinr ., for any Junction or "Union with her which would effect the Independence of the Mother Lodge , she , therefore , will continue to exercise her Just prerogative of Granting Charters as formerly . " The Mother Lodge stands upon the same footing as the Grand Lodge of Edinburghor any other

, loclge in the Kingdom , respecting the operation of the Act to restrain Seditious Meetings . She , as well as they and all other regular lodges iu this Kingdom , are required by that Act to send a list of their ordinary members to ihe Justice of Teace Clerk of the County where the lodge is situatedon or before

, the 25 th day of March , annually , which list must previously be attested by two members of the lodge before a Justice of Peace . If you have not hitherto done this , it is proper to attend to it in future . " The Grand Lodge has no business whatever to interfere with you , or any other lodge holding of the

Mother Loclge Kilwinning , We well know that the Grand Lodge has long had in view to make all the lodges in Scotland subordinate to her—an object she finds not likely to succeed with the Mother Lodge Kilwinning , as their repeated proposals to her upon that subject have hithertoand we hope always will

, be treated in that manner , which every attempt to destroy our just claim to superiorit y aud antiquity so justly deserve . —Wishing the St . Bride ' s Douglas Lodge Kilwinning much harmony , prosperity , and uuauimimity , I am , A'ery Dear Brother , your very Humble Servant .

"RORT . CRAAVIORD , Sec . " Kilwinning , Dec . 22 nd , 1802 , " In acknowledging receipt of this letter , the Secretary of St . Bride ' s remarks that " its contents gave universal satisfaction , removing every doubt respect-