Mother Kilwinning.

writings that regard the Mother Lodge—the cost of the seel , and expenses of obtaining a charter , very finely written , and embellished ( with the first impression of the seel appended ) , for the High Knight Templars of Ireland Kilwinning Lodge , being 6 pound stg ., for which the Society stands indebted to Bro .

James Haddow , . . . . it is resolved and appointed that all charters granted by this our Mother Lodge , in future , may have our seel appended ; and that One Pound , lis . Qd . be charged as charter fee , as has been done with the H . K . T . of Mother Kilwinning Lodge ; and for each Diloma granted to

p Gentlemen Masons 5 s . to be paid to the Box , and 2 s . 6 d . for each Operative Mason , reserving privilege for the lodge to compliment any brother they find worthy Avith a diploma , with the seel appended , as a mark of honorary distinction and your esteem . " We now present a fae-simile of what is

supposed to be the first and only seal of the Mother Lodge—referring the reader to one of the letters embraced in this communication for a description of it .

That the Royal Arch and Knights Templar degrees should have been conferred in virtue of a , charter issued by Mother Kilwinning may seem less strange when it is considered that , towards the end of the last century , a similar practice obtained among lodges holding of Grand Lodge of Scotland , to such an extent

as to cause that body to interpose their authority to prevent the continuance of that practice as being ¦ contrary to the constitution of a body recognising none other than the three Craft degrees of St . John ' s Masonry . But the fact that the charter granted by the Lodge of Kilwinning in 1779 to certain brethren

in Dublin—possession of which in 1 S 38 entitled the office-hearers and members under it to be recognised as Knights Templar — should , as "the oldest K . T . warrant in Ireland , " be reckoned Avorthy of preservation in the archives of the Grand Conclave of High Knights Templar of Ireland , does in this respect

really distinguish it above all other Blue charters emanating from Scotland . The petitioners for the charter in question appear to have been introduced to the Kilwinning Fraternity by Dr . Augustus Cunningham , a member and ex-Avarden of the Mother Lodge - —the brother who in 1765 presented to the lodge " a beautiful embroidered apron" to be Avorn by their Grand Master , and for which he received the thanks of the lodge . A perusal of the three folloAving letters

may suggest the motives by which the Dublin brethren were actuated in ignoring the Grand Lodge of Ireland , within whose legitimate Masonic jurisdiction their residence undoubtedly placed them . Indeed the purport of Bro . Rainford's letter strengthens the presumption that his co-petitioners in their desire in the first instance to be commissioned as a " Provincial

or Deputy contemplated the assumption of the prerogatives of a Supreme Body ; and this it is asserted they ultimately did—in which act some brethren who have devoted considerable attention to the subject , recognise the establishment of the Early Grand Encampment of Ireland . Dr . Cunninghamin transmitting to Scotland the

, documents connected with the application for the charter to the Dublin brethren , thus addressed his friend Bro . Arthur of Irvine , by whom the petition , & c , were laid before the Kilwinning Lodge : — " DEAR SIR , —I send to your care the two inclosed lettersbeing strongly solicited by a very respectable

, and worthy sett of Breetherin , who , several years ago , formed themselves into a lodge , by the name of the High Knights' Templars , as every lodge in this city is known by some particular denomination . Upon finding I was a member of our ancient Mother Lodge Kilwinning , they told me they had long been desierous of

holding their Origin and a Charter from Kilwinning , as they had always heard and lookt upon it to be the reall and only Antient Lodge , at least in Britain . " They therefore wish that through my application they may obtain there inclosed request , and they promise me , upon the Avord of Breetherin , to put into my hands five Guineas , over and above all expenses , upon there receiveing said Charter , and which I , upon

the faith of a brother , will transmit to Scotland for the use of the Kilwinning Lodge . If the request is granted , may I desire of you as a brother , that you Avill take care to have it done in as Elegant and Hansome manner as possible , and properly signed by Our Grand Master and Wardens , & c . " I think if our Brother Haddowin Edinr . was

, , applied to , he would gett it done in the best manner , with a proper Seale appended thereto . Tou will see I am anxious to have every honour done to the lodge , as Avell as to my Scotch Breetherin . " Mr . Rainsford ' s letter wishes only that in case that any other lodgeknowing that this one holds of

Kil-, winning , and application coming from this place , or from Ireland—as many of the members of this may fix in different parts of this kingdom—this lodge may have the honour of applying to you for any future Charters , for which they will at all times be answerable for payment to Kilwinning for said Charter . .

" I am , respeetfull , Dear Sir , your sincere friend and afeconate Brother , "GEO . ATJGT . C TINNING HAM . "Dublin , Aprl . 26 , 1779 . " P . S . —I have left the Letter of Application unaddressed , as delivered to me , and open for your parusall , as I Avas at a loss to knoAV how was your Grand Master or Wardens , or whome to address it to .

" Excuse this Trouble . " G . A . 0 . " . Bro . Rainsford to Bro . Dr . Cunningham : — " SIE & BEOB ., —I take the Liberty of at length enclosing to you our Letter to the Lodge of Kilwinning , Avhich a particular hurry prevented my doing