Annual Burns Supper, Open to non masons and all, Sat 11th Feb at 7pm. 
​Why not come and join in for a night of tradition. Immortal memory, Tam O Shanter and much more.
Menu: Scotch Lentil, Haggis wi’ a’ the honours Piped in by John Anderson “the piper” served with Tatties and Neeps, Biscuits and Cheese, Tea, Coffee and Refreshments Tickets £15.
PM Mark Nevin, Rab Stewart, Colin Grieve to reserve tickets. ​

What a night to remember, after some thirty one years as a member, office bearer and mason, Bro Robert (Rab) Stewart was well and truly installed into the chair of king Solomon in his mother lodge on 9th December 2022. The ceremony was exceptionally carried out by Bro Mark Nevin PM, first time as Installing Master and by stalwart Bro David Watt PM. The lodge room was filled to capacity and with happy smiling brethren, enjoying our fraternity once again. The speeches were very poignant, short and hit the spot every time, non more so than the reply to the office bearers and brethren by one of the younger office bearers Bro Ross Funston SD. Our latest member, Bro Gault took up the office of BB and shows much promise in our fraternity. Bro Artiste's filled the air with song, followed by the warmest of applause for their efforts. Bro Stewart was especially pleased with the attendance of many visitors from the airts and pairts of all over Scotland, some participating in the evenings proceedings, especially from Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Glasgow. The family connection was completed when Bro Stewart's wife Angie and Bro Watt's wife Joan took charge of the bar during the dinner, and served us all very efficiently throughout the evening. The festival of St John was brought to a close on the stroke of midnight, by the brethren signing Auld Lang Syne and the National Anthem and all left the lodge quietly, whilst the village lay asleep. 

Oh, what a night!!! Normal service resumed at Lodge Kirknewton and Ratho No 85. The members have been working hard to rekindle the enthusiasm in the lodge were delighted to welcome 5 reigning master's and many other visiting brethren from our near neighbours Almondale 1658, Dalkeith Kilwinning 10, St Clair 349, Kirkliston Maitland 482, St Margaret 548, Liberton 1201, Dalhousie Bonnyrigg 720, St John Corstorphine 788, St John MidCalder 272 to mention a few, and especially the excellent deputation from St Leonards, Loanhead and Lasswade 580 headed by Bro Steve Ritchie. An entered apprentice degree was worked, followed by the infamous Ratho soup, expertly stirred by Bro Mark Nevin and a thoroughly enjoyable evening by all was brought to a close by the Tyler's toast by Bro Merv "the swerve" Innes PM and the national anthem. The next degree will be a fellowcraft on 11th November at 7:30pm to be worked by master elect Bro Rab Stewart.

The master Bro Colin W Grieve will lead a tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at our regular meeting on Friday 23rd September 2022 at 7:30PM.

​God save the King.

Four past masters of Kirknewton and Ratho 85; Bro's Scott, Harrower, Nevin and Potter, maintained the traditional sojourn to lodge Melrose St John 1bis in their June meeting on Saturday 25th, further cementing the ties between the lodges. 85 and 1bis have been exchanging visitations for decades and this meeting, post covid, recorded a break in a 300 year tradition of holding the annual installation on a day other than on St John's day (27th December). Even a planned and an unplanned medical excursion did not curtail the brethren making the visitation. Bro Brian W Lawson was installed as the master of Melrose St John 1bis  in a packed Corn Exchange by Bro George Donnelly, Past Master of Lodge St. Ebbe No. 70 and a Past Provincial Grand Master of the Province of East Lothian & Berwickshire, along with Bro. Duncan Taylor, Past Master. Likewise, in another break of tradition, the annual Masons' walk to and from Melrose Abbey, took place in daylight hours, negating the need for the infamous and perhaps perilous wax torch lights! A thoroughly enjoyable day out was had by all. see ​The Lodge of Melrose St John No 1bis

Congratulations to three brethren from Lodge Kirknewton and Ratho No 85 on being installed into office at the Provincial Grand Lodge of Linlithgowshire Installation at a ceremony held at Bo'ness on 11th May 2022: Bro Mark R Nevin IPM as PGL Sword Bearer, Bro Kenny E McMaster PM as PG Almoner and Bro Neil S Gordon as PG Treasurer. A special night for our brethren, particularly Bro Neil Gordon being installed as PG treasurer for the 19th successive year.

Hearty congratulations to Lodge Kirknewton and Ratho 85's latest 50 year diploma members: Bro Kenneth Hutton, Sandy Lukey and Willie Aitken and of course to our RWPGM Bro Ronnie Gemmill who was made an honorary member on Friday 22nd April. What a great night of history and celebration, the fantastic deputations from PGL and St John Corstorphine 788 and not to forget the soup and the freebees!!! 😂🤝🤝🤝 ​

Kirknewton and Ratho 85 syllabus up to the end of April 2022.

Friday 8th April 2022 Regular Meeting, Lecture: “Baronial Ratho, the Lodge and a very unique masonic artefact”, by Bob Potter PM Tyling at 19:30. (updated lecture from the 337-zoom series) Followed by harmony. EA, FC and MM’s very welcome.
 
 
Friday 22nd April 2022 Regular Meeting, three 50-year jubilee membership celebrations to be presented by PGM Bro Ronnie Gemmill, 3rd Degree: Bro Gault, Tyling at 19:30. Followed by harmony.

RWM and brethren concluded at last weeks General Committee, now that Scottish Government restrictions due to the Omicron variant of Covid have been lifted on 24th January, the Lodge Kirknewton and Ratho 85 meetings will resume from Friday 11th February 2022. That's very good news and the RWM is looking forward to welcoming you all back into the lodge once again.

As I am certain you are well aware, the priority is to make as sure that all our members and visitors are as safe as possible from the Covid19 virus and under the current Scottish Government and GLoS guidelines, there are certain protocols that must be observed which are summarised in the documents on this website and are subject to change as the Scottish Government and GLoS guidelines change in due course.

In preparation the Lodge Risk Assessment and Lodge Protocols have been updated to the current guidelines and are posted on the Lodge notice board and the Coronavirus information tab on this website.

​The master is looking forward to welcoming members and visitors back to the regular meetings from 11th February 2022