New Monkland Montrose Lodge No. 88 & Lodge St. Bryde No. 579 - 28/11/25 - 29/11/25

We’re kicking off another brilliant season visiting in Scotland at New Monkland Montrose Lodge No. 88 and Lodge St. Bryde No. 579.

On Friday 28th November, a big moment took place in the Masonic community as Bro Ian Keltie took the Chair of King Solomon as the Right Worshipful Master. It was a proud occasion, with two well-respected installing masters, Bro Kenny Dalzell and Bro Bobby Gaines, guiding the ceremony and adding real gravitas to the day.

Once the installation was over, it was straight on to enjoying the company and good spirits at New Monkland Montrose Lodge No. 88. It turned into a night to remember in the Province of Lanarkshire Middle Ward. Delegations came up from both Durham and Warwickshire Provinces (UGLE) and the celebrations carried on with proper Scottish whisky and plenty of singing into the early hours of saturday morning.

The following day, after a cracking night, it was time for the Warwickshire brethren to visit our friends at Lodge St. Bryde No. 579.

This wasn’t just another installation to attend – but something remarkable had already happened before we’d even stepped inside the lodge. Bro. Jim Jack of Lodge St. Bryde No. 579, in recognition of his outstanding work and contributions to scottish freemasonry, had been promoted to Substitute Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Scotland.

For anyone not familiar with the structure of the Grand Lodge of Scotland:

• The top office is Grand Master Mason (GMM).

• Immediately under that is the Depute Grand Master (DGM).

• Next in the list of Grand Lodge Office-bearers is the Substitute Grand Master (SGM).

For everyone who was there that evening, it was pretty clear that Bro Jim’s hands and back were probably aching from the sheer number of handshakes, back slaps and hugs he got.

Bro Jim has been a solid supporter of brethren from all over the world, and it really showed that night when visiting brothers from across the globe made the journey not just to support Lodge St. Bryde No. 579, but to show their appreciation and offer their congratulations to Bro Jim Jack.

The evening began with Bro. Jim Vasey being placed once again into the Chair of King Solomon, an incredible 35 years after his first installation. The ceremony was carried out flawlessly by Installing Masters Bro. Alexander Hamilton and Bro. Thomas Lynch — exactly the high standard of ritual Lodge St. Bryde No. 579 is famous for, Bro Andrew Millar, Provincial Grand Master of Lanarkshire Middle Ward, also highlighted this quality during his speech at the festive board.

Then came the harmony and singing, and before long the brethren from Warwickshire and Lodge St. Bryde No. 579 all piled into the bar to finish the night off with whisky, Tennent’s, and pretty much any bottle still left in sight!