Mother Kilwinning.

MOTHER KILWINNING .

LONDON , SATURDAY , JXTLY 16 , 1864 .

Br BRO . D . MURRAY LTOX , K . T ., PROV . . T . G-. AV ., of AYRSHIRE . No . xnr . On the forenoon of the 25 th January of the year ' 20 , the Doric column of Mother Kilwinning

was erected within the King ' s Anns Hotel , Ayr , whither the lodge jewels and implements had that morning been conveyed per "horse and cart ;" and with a band of music at their head the ancient fraternity sallied forth to join the other lodges

already assembled at the general rendezvous , the Race-course , a field situated on the low road to the Doon , and about one mile distant from town . That point reached , the procession being marshalled , the Mother Lodge , accompanied hy twenty-three

lodges , represented by nearly 900 brethren , moved in Masonic order towards the scene of the deeply interesting labour of the day . Arrived at the site of the Monument the brethren encircled the spot , and the Depute Master of Mother Kilwinning ,

assisted by the Wardens and Operatives of that lodge , proceeded to lay the foundation-stone , according to the ancient usages of Masonry , and afterwards addressed the assembled lodo-es in the following words , which are said to have been delivered "with the utmost dignity and grace" : —

"BRETHREN , —May corn , wine , and oil abound ; may all that is useful and ornamental be cultivated amongst us ; and may all that can invigorate the body , or elevate the soul , shed their best iniluence on our native land .

" We have at length assembled to pay a grateful , although a tardy tribute to the genius of Robert Burns , our Ayrshire poet , and the bard of Ooila . There surely lives not the man so dull , so flinty , or phlegmatic , who could witness this

eveut without emotion . But to those whose heartstrings have thrilled responsive to the chords of the poet's lyre—Avhose bosoms have swelled like his , with love and friendship , with tenderness and sympathy , have glowed with patriotism , or panted

for glory—this hour must be an hour of exultation . Whether we consider the time , the place , or the circumstances , there is enough to interest in each ; but these combined and at once in operation on our feelings and our fancies—his muse alas ! is mute , who could alone have dared to paint the

proud breathings of such an assemblage at such a moment ? " When we consider the time , we cannot forg'et that this day is the anniversary of that which gave our poet to the light of heaven . Bleak is

prospect around us—the wood , the hawthorn , and ' the birken shaw' arc leafless ; not a thrush has yet assayed to clear the fniTowed brow of winter ; but this , we know , shall pass away , give place , and be succeeded by the buds of spring and the

blossoms of summer . Chill and cheerless was our poet ' s natal day ; but soon the wild fiowei's of poesy spraug , as it were , beneath his boyish tread ;

they opened as he advanced , expanded as he matured , until he revelled in all the richness of luxuriance . Poverty and disappointment hung frowning- around him and haunted his path ; but soothed and charmed by the fitful visits of his

native muse , and crowned , as in a vision , with the holly wreath , he wantoned in a fairy land , the bright creation of his own vivid and enwrapt imagination . His musing-s have been our delight . Men of the loftiest talents , and of taste the most

refined , have praised them ; men of strong and sterling , but untutored intellect , have admired them ; the poet of the heart is the poet of mankind .

" When Ave consider fhe place , let us remember that these very scenes which Ave now look upon , aAvakened in his youthful breast that animating spark which burst upon the AA orld with a blaze of inspiration . In yonder cottage he first dreAvbreath ;

in that depository of the loAvly dead sleeps the once humble , now immortal , model of the cottage life—there rests his pious father—and there it Avas his fond and anxious wish that his dust should

have been mingled with the beloved and kindred ashes . Below us AOAVS the Doon , the classic Doon , but made classic by his harmony ; there , gliding through the woods , and laving his banks and braes , he rolls his clear and c far-fetched waters ' to the ocean . Before us stand the ruins of Kirk

Alloway , shrouded in all the mystic imagery with which it is enveloped by his magic spells—Kirk AlloAvay ! to name it is enough . " If , then , the time and place are so congenial Avith our fond impressions , the circumstances Avhich

have enabled us to carry into effect this commemoration of our bard must give delight to every enthusiastic mind . In every region Avhere our language is heard , the song of Burns gives rapture , and from every region , and from climes