Antient Free and Accepted Masons?
How antient?
It was probably about the 12th century that Freemasonry was introduced into England, but, whether the English received it from the Scots Masons at Kilwinning or from other brethren who arrived from the Continent there is no definite means of determining. After the establishing of Kilwinning and York Lodges, the principles of Freemasonry were rapidly diffused throughout the Kingdom.
In the reign of James II (of Scotland - he was crowned in 1437), the office of Grand Master was granted by the Crown to William St. Clair, Earl of Orkney and Caithness, Baron of Roslin, founder of the much admired Chapel of Roslin. On account of the attention which this nobleman paid to the interests of the Order, and the rapid propagation of the royal art under his administration, the King made the office of Grand Master hereditary to his heirs and successors in the Barony of Roslin, in which family it continued till the institution of the Grand Lodge of Scotland in 1736.
The Barons of Roslin as hereditary Grand Masters of Scotland, held their principal annual meetings at Kilwinning, the birthplace of Scottish Masonry; while the lodge of that village granted constitutions and Charters of erections to those brethren who were anxious that regular lodges should be formed in different parts of the kingdom. All these lodges held of the Lodge of Kilwinning and in token of their respect and submission, joined to their own name that of their Mother Lodge, from whom they derived their existence as a corporation.
That King James presided in Kilwinning Lodge is presented in the following statement in the Accounts of the Lord High Treasurer of Scotland, published by authority of the Lord's Commissioners of the Treasury (Edinburgh) 1877,p. 172 there is the following entry:
"On Frida.xiij, Novembria (1491), in Kilwynnyng to the King before the Super and efter, xx vnicornis-xviiji."
This was before Columbus discovered America. Note that the unicorn was a gold coin valued abut 18d (Scots) at the time. The sum here mentioned was a very considerable amount in those days.
It was probably that this was a Masonic entertainment given at the expense of the King when holding high festival in Kilwinning.
The following note referring to Kilwinning Lodge is appended to a poem published in Paris, in 1820, entitled "La Maçonnerie" is more evidence of the antiquity of the Mother Lodge:
"James, Lord Stewart, received in his Lodge at Kilwinning in Scotland, in 1286, the Lords of Gloucester and Ulster, the one English and the other Irish."
This took place 719 years ago. This shows how the fraternity of all nations mingled as true masons in harmony where ever they may go, and also affirms that sovereigns laid down their sceptres and took up the gavel.