Historical memoir of the family of Eglinton and Winton

22 THE FAMILY Or
assuredly the devotion and enthusiasm which it
evoked became most intense and universal, whilst,
it must be admitted, the architectural embodiments
realised through its medium only fell short of the
miraculous creations of classical antiquity.
The pretensions of Kilwinning, however, as
first in order of time in freemasonry in Scotland is
perhaps not sufficiently well founded ; but that she
has immemorially been admitted to take precedence
as head of the craft, would seem to be incontra-
vertable. That the order was first introduced into
this country by the church builders from the south
of Europe, no manner of doubt need be entertained.
But Kilwinning was far from being the earliest of
those wonderful gothic structures which ultimately
came to adorn almost every corner of the kingdom.
David the First, the "sore saint to the crown," bad all
but beggared himself by building cathedrals and con-
ventual kirks long before the foundation of Kilwin-
ning was laid, and much had been done in the same
way at a still earlier period ; it is not therefore to
be supposed but tbat " Freemasonry " must have
found its way to all of them. What shall be said,
time obliterates all, and
" Every thing has but a time,
As had the kings of Stuart line."
Among the Eglinton family papers is preserved a
copy of "The Statutis and Ordinances to be ob-
served be all the maister masons within this realm,
set doune be William Scbaw, maister of warki to
his majestie, and generall wardene of the said craft,