On the afternoon of Saturday 16th August 2025, a distinguished deputation from the Grand Lodge of Scotland, headed by the Right Worshipful Depute Grand Master, Brother Alexander C. G. Moncrieff, visited the Tait Hall, Kelso, on the occasion of the Installation of Brother James Thom (Past Master of Lodge Melrose 1bis) as Provincial Grand Master of the Provincial Grand Lodge of the Scottish Borders.
The meeting commenced with the Provincial Grand Lodge being opened by the retiring Provincial Grand Master, Brother Andrew E. Forsyth. The Depute Grand Master, accompanied by a deputation of Office-bearers from the Grand Lodge of Scotland, was then received and warmly welcomed.
Having received the Maul, the Right Worshipful Depute Grand Master addressed the assembled company, conveying greetings from the Most Worshipful Grand Master Mason, Brother Ramsay McGhee, and advising that he was on the road to recovery following a recent illness. He expressed his thanks and congratulations to Brother Andrew E. Forsyth for the exemplary manner in which he had led the Province over the past five years, before proceeding to conduct the Installation Ceremony. During this ceremony, Brother James Thom was formally invested and proclaimed as Provincial Grand Master, followed by the commissioning and investiture of the following Brethren:
Brother J. Stewart Clark (PM, Lodge St. John Coldstream No. 280) – Worshipful Depute Provincial Grand Master
Brother Dale W. Hall (PM, Lodge Dunse No. 23; PM Lodge Friendship Waverley No. 597) – Worshipful Substitute Provincial Grand Master
Brother David Bell (PM, Lodge Dunse No. 23) – Provincial Grand Secretary
Brother Michael Laidlaw (PM, The Hawick Lodge No. 111) – Senior Provincial Grand Chaplain
Brother Brian Dodds (Master, Lodge St. John Selkirk No. 32) – Junior Provincial Grand Chaplain
Following the investiture, the Lodges of the Province were called upon to give their allegiance to the newly installed Provincial Grand Master, which was carried out in the customary manner among masons. After receiving the Maul from the Depute Grand Master, Brother Thom addressed the company, thanking Brother Moncrieff and the Grand Lodge Office-bearers for their work and expressing his commitment to leading the Province over the next five years.
Upon the conclusion of the formal proceedings, the Brethren enjoyed an excellent dinner, featuring a traditional roast beef main course. Following the dinner the Depute Provincial Grand Master, Brother J. Stewart Clark, proposed the toast to The Grand Lodge of Scotland. In his reply, the Depute Grand Master expressed gratitude for the generous donations:
£786.35 from the collection, which was rounded up to £1,000 for Grand Lodge benevolence.
£750 from the raffle proceeds, in aid of Prostate Scotland.
Further toasts included:
Brother Stuart J. Robertson, Provincial Grand Master of East Lothian – Toast to the Provincial Grand Lodge of the Scottish Borders.
Brother Dale W. Hall, Substitute Provincial Grand Master – Toast to the Daughter Lodges, which was ably replied to by Brother Philip J. Titley, Master of The Lodge of Melrose St. John No. 1bis.
It was truly another wonderful day of Freemasonry!
