Mother Kilwinning.—No. I.

enterprising publishers of the one here referred to , they will adopt effectual means for securing , as far as practicable , perfect accuracy in the matters treated of in its pages . The class of readers among whom the Lexicon is likely to circulate , will not rest satisfied with a revision of any Masonic work so palpably

superficial as that to which the one under the hand of its Glasgow editor has heen subjected . We hope soon to see a revised edition worthy of the literary acquirements of a English Craftsman . In response to the kindly expressed aud

encouraging imitation of " A" conveyed to us through the MAGAZINE of the 9 th ult ., and also with the view of rectifying the errors which , in his notice of Kilwinning , Bro Mackey has unwittingly propagated , and which have most unaccountably been perpetuated by his Scottish reviser , we purpose contributing a few

running notes on the subject of Mother Kilwinning . We have not time to devote to the writing of a history of that famous lodge , nor are we in possession of Masonic knowledge superior to that within reach of every inquiring brother , but from our close

connection with the Mother Lodge , and the frequent opportunities we have enjoyed for consulting the records preserved in its archives , we may possibly be enabled to communicate some scraps of information which , if not of any great importance in themselves , may , when taken in conjunction with what others have drawn

from ancient Masonic minute books , be useful in aiding the student of Masonic history in his researches after the ancient land-marks of the Order , which are being rapidly obliterated through the ignorance or apathy of many of those who ought to be the conservators of our lodge records .

A Roman Catholic's Notion Of Freemasonry.

A ROMAN CATHOLIC'S NOTION OF FREEMASONRY .

( Continued from page Wo . ) Mr . Kohertson having concluded his historical sketch of our Order , proceeds to enquire how such au institution , which he is forced to admit is , " apparently so praiseworthy , " could have drawn down the censures of the Church and the hostility of so many

different governments ? And then adds : — " Let us investigate the matter calmly and with care . In the first place , the Catholic Church condemns all societies which , like that of tho Freemasons , impose secret oaths . The Scripture tells us , that " oar speech should be yea , yea , and nay , na }'; and that it is not lawful to swear . " The Church , which brings a message

from God , and speaks to us in the name of God , can exact an oath of its ; and so can the civil power ; for it has received from God the sword of justice , and , for the ends of justice , it bids us invoke the name of tho Supreme Author of all right . " Secondly , the oaths of the Freemasons arc not only secret , but , at the best , unnecessary ; for , should we even he unable to prove that in very many countries the ultimate objects of Freemasonry are most culpable , yet all admit that the matters sworn to in the minor grades are

most frivolous and . puerile . But a frivolous or unnecessary oath is in the eyes of the Church a guilty oath . " Next to secret oaths , there is another offence chargeable 021 tho Masonic , as on all other secret societies . This is , that it destroys human freedom , as it removes all individual responsibility . The mason of one grade knows not the projects of the brothers of a higher degree , nor

the lodges of one country , tho schemes , the principles , and tho workings of those of another . The individual is the blind , passive instrument of au Order , whose ultimate aims are wrapped up in secrecy . He is like a man who without a lamp enters into a dark cavern , whose length and breadth he knows not , nor the tortuous pasthat cross the main path . Where the ends of an

sages institution are kept secret , aud tho means only are avowed , judgment is at fault , and the individual cannot estimate the ex-tent of the responsibility he incurs for the errors of his Order . " But , in the third place , a more serious charge yet attaches to Freemasonry . There are some secret societies whose professed aim is the removal of certain local

grievances , or a violent overthrow of some particular Government . But the Masonic Order pretends to be in possession of a secret to make man better and happier than Christ , His Apostles , and His Church have made , or can make them . Monstrous pretension ! How is this esoteric teaching consistent with the full aud final revelation of divine truths ? If in the deep midnight ol

heathenism , the sago had been justified m seeking in the Itlysteries of Eleusis for a keener apprehension of the truths of primitive religion , how does this justify the Mason in tho mid-day effulgence of Christianity , to tell mankind that he has a wonderful secret for advancing thorn , iu virtue and in happiness—a secret unknown to the Incarnate God , and to the Church with which , as He

promised , the Paraclete should abide for ever ? And even the Protestant , who rejects the teaching of that unerring Church , if bo admits Christianity to be a final PkCveAation , must scout the pretensions of a society , that claims the possession of moral truths unknown to the Christian religion . ' ' The very pretensions of the Mason are thus impious

and absurb . lie stands condemned on his own showing ; and any inquiry into the doctrines and the workings of his Order becomes utterly superfluous . But when , further , ho obstinately withholds from the knowledge of the competent authority his marvellous remedies for tho moral and social maladies of men , what is he but and charlatan who refuses to submit to the examination of a

medical board his pretended wonderful cures ?" If the P . oinish Church has chosen to condemn all societies that impose secret oaths , by what power has it dons so ? The mere Bull of a Pope , without being confirmed by a council , is not to be taken as an act of the church , and this Mr . Eobertson knows better than we do .

The matters sworn to m wnat Mr . Robertson pleases to term " the minor grades" are neither frivolous nor puerile . Preemnsonry distinguishes her children by the knowledge and possession of certain signs ancl words , which are used all over the world as keys to our privileges , and that these signs and words shall not be divulged to relatives or friendsan oath

, to keep them secret is demanded . Their importance in being confined to those who have properly come by them , i . e ., by initiation , is of the utmost consequence to every Freemason in the universe , aud to keep them secure , we use the most binding form which can he applied to a man ' s conscienceand call him ,

, upon when he has those secrets entrusted to him , to promise , in the most solemn manner , by oath , that he will not reveal them . The words and the signs , ol themselves , are of no very particular importance hi "