Stand by for news about how Kilwinning Heritage will be commemorating the 200th anniversary of the laying of the Clock Tower foundation stone. Heres a transcript of a newspaper report of the original event, with thanks to Alan Hay of Eaglesham Masonic Lodge. Note - the ceremony wont involve artillery discharges or oxen! “On the 21st instant, being the anniversary meeting of the Mother Lodge, Kilwinning, the foundation stone of the new tower there was laid. The brethren of the Mother Lodge, attended by numerous deputations from the Stevenston, Beith, Irvine and Eaglesham Lodges, and also the archers in their uniforms, with bows and arrows, assembled by a discharge of the artillery at Eglinton and Ardrossan at 12 o’clock and proceeded from the town towards Eglinton, accompanied by two bands of music, the Eaglesham and Kilwinning, and met the Right Honourable Earl and a Committee of the Heritors of the Parish: the procession then returned to the spot, and the stone was laid with the usual solemnities by William Davidson Esq, Right Worshipful Master of the Mother Kilwinning Lodge, and Grand Master of the county of Ayr, in presence of the whole procession and an immense concourse of spectators assembled on the occasion. The Earl of Eglinton addressed the meeting in an elegant and appropriate speech, and the whole was concluded by an excellent prayer from the Rev. Mr Haldane, chaplain to the Mother Lodge. By a signal given at the moment the stone was laid, another discharge of artillery of Eglinton and Ardrossan was fired. The procession then conducted the Earl of Eglinton across the bridge, and returning to their prospective Lodges, dined, and spent the evening with much conviviality. To add to the dinner, the Earl of Eglinton, with his usual munificence, sent a large ox to the brethren. About sixty of the brethren of Eaglesham Lodge, including all the office bearers with their band of music, came from thence, a distance of twenty miles, to attend this ceremony, in compliment to the Noble Earl, their much revered landlord.” .
Posted on: Sun, 23 Nov 2014 22:30:38 +0000
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