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Throughout the Masonic world Kilwinning’s Masonic Lodge
is known
as the Mother Lodge. Mother Kilwinning issued charters to new
Masonic lodges in Scotland and the American colonies prior
to the formation of the Grand Masonic Lodge of Scotland in 1736.
In 1744 the Grand Masonic Lodge decided to number
Scottish lodges in order of their seniority and gave Kilwinning the
number two position. This caused Kilwinning to separate
from the Grand Lodge and form a grand Masonic
lodge in its own right issuing charters.
However, in 1807 it was accepted that Kilwinning was
indeed the oldest Masonic Lodge. Rather than cause further disruption
through re-numbering, it was decided that all lodges would retain their
numbers while Kilwinning would be known as No. 0.
Mother Kilwinning possesses no charter since she,
herself, issued charters prior to the formation of the Grand Lodge. The
Mother Lodge's bond of Union with the Grand Lodge is in the following
agreement:
i.
That the Mother
Lodge Kilwinning shall renounce all right to granting Charters, and
come in along with all the Lodges holding under her, to the bosom of
the Grand Lodge.
ii. That all the Lodges
holding of the Mother Lodge shall be obliged to obtain from the Grand
Lodge, confirmation of their respective charters, for which a fee of
three guineas only shall be exigible.
iii. The Mother
Kilwinning shall be placed at the head of the Roll of the Grand Lodge
under the denomination of Mother Kilwinning; and her Daughter Lodges
shall, in the meantime, be placed at the end o the said Roll, and as
they shall apply for confirmation; but under this express declaration,
that so soon as the roll shall be arranged and corrected, which is in
present contemplation, the Lodges holding of Mother Kilwinning shall be
entitled to be ranked according to the dates of their original charters,
and of those granted by the Grand Lodge.
iv. That Mother
Kilwinning and her Daughter Lodges shall have the same interest in and
management of the funds of the Grand Lodge, as the other Lodges now
holding of her; the Mother Lodge, Kilwinning contributing annually to
the said funds a sum not less than two shillings and sixpence for each
entrant, and her Daughter Lodges contributing in the same manner as the
present Lodges holding of the Grand Lodge.
v. That the Master of
Mother Kilwinning Lodge, for the time, shall be, ipso facto, Provincial
Grand Master for the Ayrshire District.
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