Mother Kilwinning.

MOTHER KILWINNING .

LONDON , SATURDAY , APRIL 2 , 1804

Ex BEO . D . MT / EEAY LYON , K . T ., PEOV . J . G-. "W " ., of AYESHIEE . No . XI . We left Mother Kibvinning within the Royalty of Irvine harmonising in the light under the banner

of the Grand Lodge of Scotland : we now , oa the afternoon of St . Thomas ' s Day , 1807 , find her in her own hall under the shade of the ruinous Abbey of Kilwinning , deeply engrossed with business consequent upon her changed circumstances , and involving a question in the settlement of Avhich

there seems to have been considerable diversity of opinion among those having a voice in the management of the affairs of the " Royalle Cornpaney "; for it was only " after lengthened deliberation and . reasoning" that "the whole officebearers and a

number of very respectable brethren . " could agree upon an adjustment of the scale of entry-money Avhich should "in all time coming" be exacted from approved candidates from Masonic enlightenment on their becoming- members of the Mother Lodge . Gentlemen Avere to pay £ 1 14 s . ; squaremen , 18 s . ; Operative Masons , 13 s . : It was further enacted that affiliation fees should be- —" for

Gentlemen , 21 s . ; Squaremen , 10 s 6 d . ; Operatives , 7 s . 6 d ., besides a small fee to the Tyler for his attendance and trouble—reserving the right to admit Honorary Members at the Lodge's discretion . Also , each candidate's name to be six days before the Committee of the Lodge : if then found Avorthy

he may be admitted . " The caution exercised b y the Craftsmen of the Mother Lodge in the selection of material fitting to be placed in the grand superstructure of Speculative Masonry , is Avorthy of the closest imitation by those living in this the epoch of the Order ' s history when the tendency

on the part of lodges to degenerate into an indiscriminate admission to the mystic circle of all who choose to pay the statutory fees , threatens , if not checked , to obliterate one of the most ancient of our Masonic landmarks . Notwithstanding the

heavy expense to which Mother Kilwinning was subjected in altering the entrance to her hall , so as in 1800 to admit of the enclosure of the graveyard attached to the Abbey , at her amalgamation with Grand Lodge " the box" contained the sum of £ 40 , so Avell had her resources been husbanded ;

but with her newly-formed alliance with Edinburgh came enlarged ideas in regard to the furnishings of a lodge—floor-cloths for each degree having had to be provided at an expence of £ 9 ; double that sum was expended upon " three elbow chairs , of a higher elevation than ordinaryso as the Master

, and Wardens may appear in their proper stations when seated in the lodge "; an engraved plate of circular for convening the lodge meeting cost £ 9 ; new drinking glasses and tumblers increased the outlay by about £ 6 , and with characteristic care

for having the members will posted in everything relating to the hilarity of the craft , sevenpencehalfpenny was invested in the purchase of "half a yard of linen for pasting sheet of songs thereon . " These and other items of extraordinay expenditure not having been met by a corresponding increase

of income , an appeal to the members had to be made , but so liberal was the response that the officebearers were not only enable to liquidate all debts due by the lodge , but found themselves also in a position to forward to Edinburgh five guineas as Mother Kilwinning's subscrition towards

p defraying the expense Grand Lodge hacl incurred in connection with the purchase of the Niddery Street Hall ( St . Cecilia ' s ) , and its conversion into a Freemasons' Hall .

Shortly after the ratification of the treaty of union between the Edinburgh and Kilwinning " Grand Lodges , the latter issued letters to her daughters , apprising them of the " settlement of all her differences with Grand Lodge , " and of the terms upon which they could participate in the

privileges enjoyed by lodges holding under the Edinburgh Constitution : these were , payment of " three guineas for a new charter , 5 s . 6 d . for each neAV intrant , and 5 s . yearly for a certificate authorising them to hold their meetings , and also to conform to the rules and regulations of Grand

Lodge . " With few exceptions these terms were accepted by the lodges holding of Kilwinning at the time of the amalgamation ; but the adjustment of Grand Lodge rolF led to the mother being appealed to by certain of her recreant daughters Avho Avere dissatisfied with the number assigned to

them by their new head . The complaint , on this score , of Loudoun NeAvmilns Kilwinning provoked the following caustic reply by the then Secretary of the Mother Lodge : — " . . Surely you cannot imagine Mother Kilwinning Lodge as ignorant

that Loudoun Newmilns Lodge years ago , like a few others , became an undutiful daughter , deserted their Ancient Mother Lodge , and took out a new charter from the Grand Lodge . No . 296 [ now 51 ] meets and acts under the authority and patronage of that most respectable Masonic body , the Grand

Lodge of Scotland , consequently all parental affection and connection betwixt Mother KilAvinning and Loudoun Newmilns Lodge Avas dissolved . But it seems you are not satisfied Avith your number , and expect the Mother Lodge to furnish you Avith another number that -will be more

acceptable . ... I refer you to the Grand Lodge , who alone has it in their power to redress any grievances respecting your number or otherways . " An attempt on the part of Grand Lodge , in 1809 , to claim the power , in certain cases , to veto the appointment of the Provincial Grand Master

of Ayrshire was promptly met and defeated by Mother Kilwinning , in whose Master was vested the lieutenancy , so to speak , of the Masonic province of Ayr . On Colonel Blair retiring from the chair of the