Marquises of Ailsa

Most people in the west of Scotland have heard of Ailsa Craig and Culzean Castle. Is there any connection with the Craft. Actually yes!

Archibald Kennedy, 4th Marquess of Ailsa, was born on May 22nd, 1872 in London, England. He was born Earl of Cassilis. He attended Eton College and Trinity College before going on to Cambridge University and Edinburgh University. In 1897 he was admitted as an advocate, in the Scottish jurist system a lawyer of superior classification.

In 1900, Kennedy joined the British Army and was assigned as a captain to the Royal Scots Fusiliers, an infantry unit, in the 3rd (Militia) Battalion. He served during the Second Boer War from 1900 to 1902. During the war he won two medals and five clasps. After the war he returned to England where he was promoted to the rank of Major. He went on to serve in World War I.

In 1938, Kennedy succeeded his father as 4th Marquess of Ailsa. He held the position for only 5 years. Kennedy had no children so the title passed to his brother Charles Kennedy in 1943.

Kennedy was a past master of Mother Kilwinning (and therefore PGM of Ayrshire), Grand Superintendent of Ayrshire Royal Arch Chapters, First Grand Principal of the Supreme Grand RAC Scotland 1913—43 and Grand Sovereign of the Grand Imperial Council of Scotland in 1925—40.

Lord Charles Kennedy, 5th Marquess of Ailsa, was born in Scotland on April 10th, 1875. He was educated at Eton College. He also attended the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester, England.

On January 27th, 1894 Kennedy was commissioned a second lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Scots Fusiliers, a line infantry regiment of the British Army. He resigned his commission in May of that same year. During the Second Boer War, Kennedy fought as part of an Australian regiment called the Prince of Wales' Light Horse. He was a captain with the unit. During the war he received the Queen's South Africa Medal with three clasps which indicated the campaigns that they were awarded for.

In 1914, Kennedy returned to Scotland from the US to serve during World War I. Once in Scotland he enlisted with the Ayrshire Yeomanry, a Army Reserve unit of the British Army. In a correspondence he sent during World War I he indicated that he had been declared as unfit for overseas duty and that he had been made an area gas instruction officer. He also indicated that he was attached to the 18th Division in France on an instruction tour. He resigned from the Ayrshire Yeomanry in 1921.

Kennedy was a member of Acacia Lodge No. 11 in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He also joined the local York Rite, Chapter, Council and Commandery (Knights Templar). He demitted from the Acacia Lodge and the York Rite bodies in 1921.

In 1945 he presented the family seat, Culzean Castle, to the National Trust for Scotland under the Country House Scheme. He died without is-

Cassilis House, original family home above and Culzean Castle left.

Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania Crests

1—Adapted from the old Grand Lodge of England but with Philo AD added instead of London

2—Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania crest which was adopted in 1790

3—a more modern crest

It is actually interesting to see how grand lodge crests have adapted over the years. Possibly for no otjer reason than a Grand Master fancies a change rather than for any real masonic reason.

No.3