Mother Kilwinning.

MOTHER KILWINNING .

LONDON , SATURDAY , FEBRUARY 6 , 1864 .

Br BEO . D . MUERAY LYOA , KT ., OSE OE THE GltA ^ TD STEWAESS IS TEE GRAJSD LoilGE OE SCOTLAKD . ] N 0 . X . As " coming events cast their shadows before , "

so the widely-circulated and pretty generallybelieved report that the Lodge of Kilwinning had " sold to Mary's Chappel their right of granting charters , " heralded the approach of the long and earnestly-desired abdication of the Grand Lodge of Kilwinning and formal union of the daughters of the two rival Constitutions . That the Mother

Lodge " had sold or ever would sell any of their ancient rights or privileges to Mary ' s Chappel , Edinr ., or any other body or society of Massons whatever /"' was authoritatively repudiated by the office-bearers of Mother Kilwinning in a letter addressed to their daughtersbut in .

whichhow-, , ever , was hinted the near probability of a " settlement of all disputes and differences betwixt the Grand Lodge and the Lodge of Kilwinning , on terms which would secure the interest and rank

in Masonry of the Mother Lodge and oc all the daughter lodges holdins * of her / " The Scottish metropolis having at the period of which we speak been much frequented by the Scottish aristocracy , many of whom made it the place of their winter abode , the Most Worshipful the Master and other

leading members of the Kilwinning Lodge , gentlemen of standing- in their native county , were during these prolonged visits to Edinburgh brought into personal contact with office-bearers and members of Grand Lodge mingling in the same society with themselves , and what more natural than that in these hours of social intercourse the lodge would come in for a share of attention : ib was so—ancl

through this channel was brought about an event which neither threat nor persuasion coming from the Masonic powers in Edinburgh was at all likely ever to have effected , viz ., the recognition by Mother Kilwinning of the " Grand Lodge at Edinburgh , " as the head of the Scottish Fraternity .

Ool . Blair of Blair was the Master of Mother Kilwinning in 1806-7 , and it was to the favourable impression made upon his mind by the advocates for the union of the two existing grand bodies , and to the influence possessed by him with his colleagues iu office that the Craft were indebted

for the permanent and honourable adjustment of differences which for the better part of a century had kept estranged from each other two important sections of the brotherhood . Encouraged , then , by the favour with which the proposal for bringing the Scottish Craft under one Supreme Head had been received by the more influential of the members of Mother Kilwinnin g ,

Grand Lodge thus formally re-opened the question of Masonic union : —¦ " To the R . W . the Secy , of the Kilwinning Lodge . " Grand Lodge of Scotland , Edinburgh , 21 st February , 1807 .

" R . W . SIE , —It has been the subject of much regret that the misunderstanding so long subsisting between the Grand Lodge of Scotland and the Kilwinning Lodge should not ere now have been accommodated . It does not from our Records appear very clearly what was the reasons which

induced your Lodge to leave the bosom and protection of the Grand Lodge . But whatever was the reason , it must now be obvious that it will tend greatly to the interest , honour , and respectability of the Craft in general , were Masonry in Scotland to be practised onlin the bosom ofand under

y , the protection of the Grand Lodge , whereby she , as the only head of the Masonic body in Scotland , would feel herself responsible for the regularity and good conduct of every Lodge enjoying the

privilege of meeting as a Masonic body under her Charters . In order to bring about this most desirable object , the matter has been confidentially mentioned by some of the members of Grand Lodge to some of your members , and in consequence of what passed on these occasions , the

subject was brought before the Grand Lodge of Scotland , when a committee were appointed , who , agreeably to the powers vested in them , have submitted this business to the following Brethren , viz ., —William Inglis , Esq ., Sub . G . M . Sir John Stewart of AllanbankBart . Bro . Alex . Laurie ;

, ; Mr . William Guthrie , Grand Secretary and Mr . James Bartram , Grand Clerk , with full and ample powers to meet with a Committee of Kilwinning Lodge at Edinburgh , or any jilace to be mutually agreed upon , and finally to arrange and settle all disputes presently subsisting between the Grand

Lodge and the Kilwinning Lodge , in the way and manner their respective Committees may judge meet for the honour , interest , and advantage of both Lodges .

" Should this measure meet the approbation of your Lodge , which I have no doubt it will , I shall be glad to hear that your Lodge has named a Committee of your members , with similar powers , and when and where it will be agreeable to the Committee to meet .

" I have the honour to be , "R . W . Sir , ** Tour obedt . servfc ., "WM . GUTHEIE , G . C . " The Grand Master having returned to Ayrshire , a special meeting of the Grand Lodge was

summoned for the consideration of the above letter . This meeting , held at Kilwinning , April 6 th , 1807 , was attended by twenty-three members , the major portion of whom being " gentlemen Masons "Bros . Blair of Blair , Montgomerie of Craighouse , M'Gown of Smithston , Davidson of Drumley ,