History of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Midlothian
The Provincial Grand Lodge of Midlothian was constituted on 6th August 1897 by Brother The Lord Saltoun, Most Worshipful Grand Master, within the Lodge Room of Dalkeith Kilwinning No. 10.
Installed into office as the first Provincial Grand Master was Brother Major Robert Gordon Gilmour of Craigmillar (later Sir Robert), with Brother The Lord Elphinstone as Depute Provincial Grand Master, Brother John Borthwick as Substitute Provincial Grand Master, and Brother Andrew McDougall as Provincial Grand Secretary.
Two days later, with Brother Gordon Gilmour presiding, Provincial Grand Lodge was opened and raised to the Third Degree, where the Provincial Grand Master received the Degree of an Installed Master. He was now official!
At that time, the Province of Midlothian consisted of eleven lodges, spanning from West Calder in the west, Musselburgh in the east, and Penicuik in the south. This number remained unchanged until 1907, when a lodge was formed at Currie.
In the following years, additional lodges were established: one in Prestonpans in 1908, another in Gorebridge in the same year, Newtongrange in 1909, Liberton in 1919, Glencorse (Army Barracks) in 1925, and finally, in 1930, another in Musselburgh (Loretto School, now a Lodge of Research).
Today, the Provincial Grand Lodge of Midlothian takes great pride in its achievements throughout its history. In 1997, it celebrated its centenary with numerous events across the province. Donations to charity amounted to £10,000, a detailed history was published, and it was overall a very eventful year.
The celebrations culminated in a Centenary Celebration at the very Lodge Room where the Provincial Grand Lodge was born and nurtured—Lodge Dalkeith Kilwinning No. 10.