Kilmarnock Lodges

The following has been extracted from the book The History of Kilmarnock published in 1864.

“The oldest of our Masonic Lodges is the Kilmarnock Kilwinning S t John’s, No. 22. It is also one of the oldest existing lodges in Ayrshire originally holding of Mother Kilwinning. It was instituted in 1734. The unfortunate last Earl of Kilmarnock was one of its originators and was its first Right Worshipful Master.

BRETHREN, We return you humble and hearty thanks for the honour you have done us, in sending your Worshipful Master and Warden to constitute a lodge here dependent upon yours. We shall always acknowledge our Mother Lodge with all due realty and submission in after calls and assisting her poor’s box, as far as is due from a grateful daughter to so worshipful and ancient a mother. Meantime we have sent three pounds to your box by your Worshipful Master, as an acknowledgment of the favour you have done us, and the duty we owe you. KILMARNOCK, Master. Ro PATERSON, Senior Warden. Wm RANKIN, Junior Warden

Besides the Earl of Kilmarnock, a number of influential gentlemen were connected with the lodge in its early years. Among these were Sir D avid Cunningham of Corsehill, Thomas Boyd of Pitcon, Alexander Montgomery of Coilsfield, Peter Cunningham of Bourtreehill, Charles Dalrymple of Langlands, Robert Paterson, town- clerk, William Park, surgeon, and James Muir, Master of Arts. The Earl of Errol was Master of the lodge in 1761. Among the members at a later period were William Parker, banker, Thomas Samson, Gavin Turnbull, the poet and John Wilson, the printer of the first edition of Burns’s poems. Burns also was connected with the lodge having been enrolled an honorary member in the autumn of 1786. The St Andrew’s Lodge, No. 12 6, was instituted in 1771. Its first Right Worshipful Master was Mr Thomas Boston, who appears from the minutes of the lodge to have been frequently appointed to that office. The lodge has continued to prosper and to hold regular meetings from its formation to the present time.

In 1767 another Lodge was formed in the town and called the St Marnock but it does not now exist. Its last meeting was in 1818. The first Right Worshipful Master of St Marnock was William Park of Langlands, surgeon. In 1770 that office was held by William, Earl of Glencairn. The Rev. Mr Mutrie of the Low Church was chaplain and among the honorary members were the Honourable John Cunningham, brother to the Earl of Glencairn, James Dalrymple, Esq . of Orangefield.

There was, we may add, another Lodge in the town, called the St James Nethertonholm, Kilmarnock, but it has not existed for a number of years.”

Today St. John Kilwinning No.22, St. Marnock No.109 (reformed) , St. Andrew No.126 and Saint Clement Riccarton Kilwinning Kilmarnock No.202 exist in London Road Masonic Hall, Kilmarnock.