Scotland.

marnock Kilwinning St . John , No . 22 , led by Bros . Brown , P . M . ; Irvine , St . Andrew , No . 149 ; Dick , D . M . ; Beith , St . John , So . 157 , R . W . M . ; M . Cochrane ; Stevenston , Thistle and Rose , No . 169 ; Lockhart . R . W . M . ; Maybole Royal Arch , No . 198 , West ; Blair Dairy , No . 290 , Stirrat , R . W . M . ; Ardrossan St . John ' s Royal Arch , No . 320 , M'Leod , R . W . M .

The presence of the Maybole Royal Arch re-called to ourmind what we heard drop from the lips of the brother who represented the Mother Lodge , at the festival of the Maybole Lodge on Friday night , when acknowledging the courtesy with which he was welcomed by Bro . Muir , the R . W . M . of No . 11 . We have , it is true , to thank the Masons of Carrick for having , in the person of Bro . Sir James Ferguson , given a Master to Mother Kilwinningand a Grand Master to the province of

, Ayr ; but , more than two centuries ago , a similar . service was rendered by the men of Carrick to the venerable Mother when their " king , " John Kenncdie , Earl of Cassillis , the friend and contemporary of Bro . Gray Steele , of the Montgomeries , and the husband of the heroine of the popular old ballad entitled " Johnny Faa , "—ruled the courts of " ye Massounes of ye Lodge of Kilwinning . " An adept at wielding the mallet , the then

" Deaeoune " of the mother lodge could also handle the sword , for nobly did our ancient brother fight on the side of Charles at the battle of Marston Moor when that unfortunate monarch was beaten by the Parliamentary forces . These were associations strong enough in themsolves to knit the Fraternity in Carrick to Mother Kilwinning ; but as if to strengthen the tie , the venerable Chaplain of the mother lodge in the course of some remarks evoked from him during the evening , supplied

another link to the chain of rich associations connecting Maybole with Kilwinning , by recalling to remembrance the name of another Carrick Mason , James Ferguson , of the Kilkerran family , who held in the middle of the 17 th century , the same

office m the parish which he ( Bro . Dr . Campbell ) now filled , who was a prominent member and office bearer of the mother lodge , was esteemed by his contemporaries as a man of great piety and learning , whose works have in our clay been reproduced for their intrinsic worth , and whose honoured name may yet be traced on the broken fragments of the stone marking his resting-place in the grave-yard of Kilwinning . With these associations crowding upon our memorieswhile leased to recognise a

, p Carrick Lodge , among those visiting the mother lodge on Monday , 23 rd ult ., we much regretted the absence of Bro . Main , and a deputation from the ancient Lodge of Maybole , St . John ' s ( No . 11 ) . We deem it needless to enumerate the various toasts which brought to perpendicular the several brethren more immediately interested in the observations by which they were prefaced ; but one or two features with proprietbe traced .

may y The chief design shown upon the Master's trestle-board was one worthy the study of every fellow-craft . Having exhibited the plan of the temple , in the rearing of which all speculative Masons are engaged , he urged upon the brethren the propriety for selecting sound and healthy blocks , free from seam or flaw , and warned them against the use of untempered mortar in the construction of the walls of that edifice . Instead of bringing a

Masonic lodge down to the level of a pothouse club , as he regretted to say was too much the case with Freemasons in this country , all true craftsmen should endeavour to realise the true mission of our most excellent institution , and do all in their power to fulfil their duty as builders upon a work whose architect is the D . eity

himself—To know each office , each endering tie Of soft-eyed heaven , descended CHAEITY . " The " Masonic Press'" was proposed by Bro . CONS ' , D . G . M . ; and the warmth and eloquence with which tiie R . W . Masters of Blair Dairy and Maybole Royal Arch indorsed the encomiums bestowed upon one of the Scottish correspondents of the London FEEEKASONS' MAGAZINE , who was then present , showed how

groundless were the fears expressed by some that the arcana of the Order was in danger of being exposed through the press notices of Masonic meetings . The fraternity have nothing to fear from the press being employed as a vehicle for conveying Masonic instruction . The more light and knowledge we can throw over the Order , the more its principles are explained and its theories elucidated , the more will it recommend itself to the worth and intelligence of the uninitiated , from which class

alone the ranks of the brotherhood should be recruited . Passing from the press to the pulpit , it was indeed refreshing to one's heart to hear the Rev . Chaplain of Mother Kilwinning , in his own earnest manner , designate Masonry as the handmaid of

religion , aud hail Craftsmen as fellow-workers with the ministers of religion iu teaching love to God and our neighbour , and the practice of every moral and social virtue . Our reverend brother's delineation of some of the more prominent sj'mbols of Masonry , and his eloquent allusions to its virtues , could not fail favourably to impress his hearers .

The R . W . MASIEE , having , m name of the Mother Lodge , expressed the pleasure they felt in receiving a deputation from Maybole , made a feeling allusion to the peculiar circumstances in which the head of the deputation from the Lodge No . 198 had visited them ; and spoke in the most kindly terms of that worthy brother in whom he had a personal interest , and who , he was sorry to hear , was about to emigrate , from his native land to the shores of another hemisphere .

Bro . WEST made a very touching response . The visit he had that night paid to the venerable hall of Mother Kilwinning , as it was his first , was in every probability also the last he would ever be privileged to make . It was with no little perturbation he had crossed the tessalated border of the mosaic pavement at the fountain-head of Scottish Masonry ; he had formed somewhat exalted conceptions of that venerable lodge , and from what he had heard and seen of her his expectations were full

y realised . He had found her like a graceful cypress rearing her head among the willows , and dispensing light and joy to her numerous daughters ; and he would carry with him to his home in New Zealand glowing recollections of Mother Kilwinning ' s greatness , and of the fraternal greetings lie had been permitted within its venerable walls to exchange with so many of the worthy brethren of his native county .

The R . W . M . of the Mother Lodge having to leave for Eglinton Castle before the termination of the proceedings , the Depute Master assumed the insignia of the Orient , and as mirth , with his sturdy brother , good fellow ship , are sure tohe wherever Bro . Hugh Conn ' s always happy face presents itself , the hilarity of the meeting under the rule of the D . M . was not allowed to evaporate . Bro . Conn inaugurated his temporary reign in the E . by letting the brethren know that those of them who ignored

the erection of the pillar that adorns the south , performed but half their duty—the social intercourse of the lodge at refreshment produced genial feeling and generous sentiment , and filled with happy memories the hearts of all who participated there .

Overflowing himself with wit and humour , Bro . Conn's extemporaneous efforts at speech-making had an electric effect upon the meeting , and provoked such an ebullition of the spirit of brotherly love as did not cease for a couple of hours . Of the complimentary toasts we must not omit the mention of " The Secretary of Mother Kilwinning . " Having pointed out the importance to Scottish . Masons of having the records of the Mother Lodge properly prepared and preservedBroWest

, . passed a well-merited eulogium upon the abilities for the discharge of the onerous duties of its Secretary , possessed by Bro . Wylie , thanked him for his courtesv to transient brethren visiting the birthplace of the Order , and assured him of the love and steadfast esteem of every true craftsman within the province of Ayr . What followed by way of speeeh-making was replete with masonic sentimentand need not here be farther

ad-, verted to . As is usually the case at all celebrations at Kilwinning of St . Thomas ' s Day , the songsters accompanying the various deputations were both numerous and worth listening to ; but the Mother Lodge herself , through the kindness of a few of her own sons , was enabled to contribute a fair quota towards the vocalism of the evening . As a companion to Dibdin ' s beautiful

song , " The Death of Nelson , " most effectively and with great taste rendered by Bro . William Gemmell , of the band , Bro . Brie very spiritedly sang "The Marseillaise" in his native tongue , and was encored " till roof and rafters a' did dirl "—a reception which our respected French brother seemed to appreciate very highly . In the orchestra the brethren of the Kilwinning band officiated , much to the gratification of the guests . This fine old

band has recently been much improved—it now numbers about sixteen performers , and bids fair , under the leadership of Bro . John Conn , to regain the high position it formerly held in the county . The thanks of the brethren are due to Mr . Sharpe , of Egliuton Gardens , for his very tasteful decoration of the lodgeroom . To conclude : the night was spent in a manner only to be experienced in a Mason ' s home . " Where hearts are warm with kindred fire , And love beams free from answering eyes ;" and as the bell in St . Winning ' s tower chimed the hour which