Our Honour Roll

Bicentenary
Lodge Kirknewton & Ratho 85 has a proud tradition of brethren who have been honoured Grand Lodge rank including Brother Lawrie Chalmers P.M, Honorary Grand Bible Bearer, the late Brother Bill Smith, Honorary Grand Director of Music, as previously mentioned Brother Neil Gordon, Honorary Grand Treasurer, Brother Robert James Potter, honorary Grand Chaplain and Brother Mervyn Innes, Honourary Grand senior deacon. 

Amongst those honoured with Provincial Grand Lodge rank include Brothers Willie Greenock, Mervyn Innes and David Watt, all three are Past Provincial Grand Senior Wardens,  Brother Robert James Potter is a Past Senior Provincial Grand Chaplain and Brother Kenneth McMaster as Provincial Grand Almoner. Brother Willie Greenock was also an Honorary Grand Bible Bearer.
Bro. Robert W. Scott P.M.
However on 16th April 2011 Brother Robert William Scott, having served the Provincial Grand Lodge of Linlithgowshire with distinction over twenty years, was installed as Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master of Linlithgowshire by the Depute Grand Master Mason, Brother Hugh Bryson.

Brother Scott is the first  Kirknewton & Ratho 85 member to become Provincial Grand Master of Linlithgowshire. Brother Scott’s installation followed the sad death of Brother Kenneth Lauchlan Lindsey on 2 August 2010 during his term of Office, the unanimous vote of the Daughter Lodges and his formal commissioning by the Grand Lodge of Scotland on Thursday 3rd February 2011, at eighteen minutes past two on the beat of the Most Worshipful Grand Master Mason’s gavel.
On that occasion his commissioning was witnessed by many brethren of not only Lodge Kirknewton & Ratho 85 in particular, but many brethren from the province in general. Brother Scott and his commissioned Office-bearers on being welcomed into the Provincial Grand Lodge of Linlithgowshire communication the following evening by Past Provincial Grand Master Brother George Mitchell Preston were treated to a standing ovation by the brethren of the province, a unique occasion witnessed by those present.

Brother Robert W Scott achievement was marked at the Regular Meeting of his Mother Lodge on 25th February 2011 when he received an engraved Masonic Pocket Watch to mark his commission, a further standing ovation ensued. On that occasion two of Brother Scott’s peers, Brother George M Preston and Brother Gavin MacDonald, were given Honorary Membership of Lodge Kirknewton & Ratho 85, all witnessed by many brethren including two large and distinguished deputations from 272 and 1145.

In September 1985 Brother Lawrie Chalmers P.M on receiving his jewel of Honorary Grand Bible Bearer expressed the hope that his jewel would eventually form part of the lodge history. In years to come the brethren of the Lodge Kirknewton & Ratho 85 will look back on Brother Scott’s term as Provincial Grand Master with pride as those of us have today, it will also, in future, form part of the Lodge history.

Anniversaries

As the 250th Anniversary celebrations progress it would seem appropriate to take a look back at the 200th Anniversary celebrations on 3rd August 1961 and the 225th Anniversary celebrations on 2nd August 1986.

The 200th celebrations in 1961 were led by Brother Lawrie Chalmers, Right Worshipful Master who welcomed Brother James Scott, Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master of Midlothian representing the Grand Lodge of Scotland, Honorary Member of 85 whose family had an association with the lodge for three generations.  Brother Chalmers also received Brother Archie Grieve one of the oldest and staunchest members of Lodge Kirknewton & Ratho 85.

During the Harmony supper which followed toasts to the RW Master and Absent Friends were proposed by Brother George Clark P.M of the Watsonians Lodge and by Brother Chalmers RWM. The formal rededication of the lodge was carried out by Most Worshipful Grand Master Mason, Right Honourable the Earl of Eglington and Winton. The deputation from the Provincial Grand Lodge of Linlithgowshire, on that occasion, was headed by the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master, Brother Alexander Pennycook.
Lodge mural
The bicentenary dinner was held at the Masonic Hall, Kirkliston on 28 October 1961 when the Grand Master Mason replied to the toast to Grand Lodge. Brother Sir Andrew Murray, Lodge Canongate Kilwinning No.2 gave an address to Lodge Kirknewton & Ratho 85. The 225th rededication ceremony of the lodge was held on 2nd August 1986.

The ceremony was conducted by the Most Worshipful Grand Master Mason, Sir Marcus Humphrey of Dinnet. The Deputation from the Provincial Grand Lodge of Linlithgowshire, on that occasion, was headed by the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master, Brother Alexander Fraser. After the rededication ceremony the brethren enjoyed a Rededication dinner in the lodge at which the M.W Grand Master Mason replied to the toast to Grand Lodge, proposed by Brother George Tyler PM.

The toast to Lodge Kirknewton & Ratho 85 was proposed by Brother James Milne PM, Past Depute Provincial Grand Master. On Friday 3rd October 2011 the brethren and their good ladies enjoyed a dinner dance within the premises of Lodge Buchan St John 636 where they were entertained by the band Freeway. The bicentenary celebrations and the memories of that special occasion in 1961 were recorded for prosperity both in film and slide show. Indeed, a large number of brethren came together on 22nd February 1963 when the films were shown by the courtesy of Brother Robert Harrison PM of Heart of Midlothian 832, Honorary Member 85 and Brother George Browning PM 85.

The brethren gathered, once again, on 12 December 1986 to re-live the bicentenary celebrations by courtesy of a slide show when the commentary was provided by Brother Lawrie Chalmers PM and other brethren. Brother Chalmers was duly thanked for the insight he provided. The service of brethren from Lodge Kirknewton & Ratho 85 to other Lodges reflects the enthusiasm of those for freemasonry.

The late Brothers Dr Ian Flynn and Adrian Frank Ford as well as Robert Scott PM and our then current RW Master Brother Robert J Potter have all served terms as Right Worshipful Master of Lodge Pioneer 1305, the Linlithgowshire lodge of instruction and research.

Brother George Tyler having been installed as RW Master of Lodge Kirknewton & Ratho 85 on 17th December 1965 was installed as Right Worshipful Master of the Lodge of Light 1656 on 1st April 1999, during their 25th Anniversary year. Brother Tyler being one of the many Lodge Kirknewton & Ratho 85 brethren that were founder members of the Lodge of Light 1656.

It should also be noted that brethren from Ratho acted as sponsors of the Lodge of Light and on an earlier occasion sponsored Lodge St John, Corstorphine 788. The minutes of a lodge act as a record of the past and a reference to the future. When our 250th Anniversary celebrations are concluded how they will be judged by the brethren of the future? Perhaps the best reference we have is the hope expressed by Brother Lawrie Chalmers P.M after the bicentenary in 1961.

The minutes of the Special Meeting of 3rd August 1961 record “Brother Chalmers stated that as the brethren would hear the Lodge history from Sir Andrew Murray at the dinner in October we would have no history this evening and would content himself with saying that if future brethren look back on us and say “Well Done” then we will have lived up to the great traditions of this very fine old lodge.”

On 30 March 2011 having held an open evening of the lodge, hosted by then RW Master Brother Robert J Potter, for the village and community to offer an insight into the lodge 250th Anniversary, although modestly attended, the feedback from the community suggests the lodge still lies at the heart and minds of the residents of Ratho.

The RWM and Brethren of Lodge Kirknewton & Ratho 85 hope that you all enjoyed this brief look at the 250 year history of this ancient lodge.