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Grand Master Mason Brother Alexander C.G. Moncrieff
The Grand Lodge of Antient Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland
Photo with kind permission
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Grand Master Mason’s Message Brother Alexander Moncreiff
Dear Brethren, since my January 2026 message in the previous Grand Lodge Quarterly, both the staff within Grand Lodge and
the Grand Lodge Office-bearers and Grand Stewards have been extremely busy. I am very grateful to all who have supported the deputations lead by me and by
the Depute Grand Master and the Substitute Grand Master. Since February, our deputations here in Scotland have
been very generously hosted by Daughter Lodges and Provincial Grand Lodges to celebrate various milestones. On every occasion, these events were well
organised, and all of the members of the deputations were able to enjoy fraternal welcomes and great hospitality. On one Saturday,
there were three deputations in operation, and I am particularly grateful to Brother Ramsay McGhee, Past Grand
Master, who headed the one to Lodge Fingal, and also to the Depute Grand Master, Brother Alistair Henderson, and the Substitute Grand Master, Brother James
Jack. At our February Regular Communication of Grand Lodge, I was delighted to confer Honorary Membership of The
Grand Lodge of Scotland to the Pro Grand Master of The United Grand Lodge of England, Most Worshipful Brother Jonathan Spence, DL. There are only five
Brethren who hold this honour and Brother Spence addressed Grand Lodge to express his thanks where he referred proudly to his ancestor being a member of one of our Lodges in Glasgow. I was also very pleased to confer Honorary Grand Secretary to Right
Worshipful Brother James Daniel who has also been a long-term friend of Grand Lodge, and in particular when he was Grand Secretary of UGLE. Brother Daniel
also addressed Grand Lodge, and I was very glad to note that we had taken him by surprise! Prior to heading off
for four weeks, Grand Lodge hosted the annual Tripartite Meeting on 24th February where the Pro Grand Master, Grand Secretary and Grand Chancellor of The
United Grand Lodge of England, and the Grand Master and Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Ireland flew to Edinburgh. These annual meetings allow the three oldest Grand Lodges (The Home Grand Lodges) to discuss any Masonic matters globally.
This is particularly important as we all wish to stay aligned and informed with regard to Regular Freemasonry worldwide and to exchange any ideas that
we may have between the three Constitutions.
The District Grand Lodge of Western Australia
The following day, the Grand Secretary and I flew to Perth in Western Australia to install our new
District Grand Master, Brother George Buchan, and his Office-bearers. We were looked after so
beautifully during our very short trip to the district (three nights only), and it was so heartening to
see the excellent health of Freemasonry there, the great enthusiasm amongst the Brethren and also to be so generously
hosted. Within our Lodges, there are many Scottish Brethren who moved to Perth some years ago and so Scottish accents were very much in evidence, which was
marvellous. Following the Installation Meeting, the celebratory dinner was superb; and we were treated to a performance from Perth Metro Pipe Band, with several Brethren and their wives as the musicians. It was touching to note that the District
Grand Master’s sons both attended his Installation Meeting and were present at the dinner with their partners and the rest of the family. After three
nights, I flew back to London and the Grand Secretary travelled to our other district in Western Australia, The Goldfields. He was there for a few days and was able to catch up with the District Grand Master and Brethren from our Lodges
there. District Grand Master Brother George Buchan on the way to his Installation Ceremony Perth Metro Pipe
Band.
The District Grand Lodge of The Bahamas
On 1st March, I had a one day and night layover in Heathrow and then flew to The Bahamas. Feeling a little crumpled on
arrival, I was greeted by our District Grand Master, Brother Dave Munro, and our Grand Inner Guard and Past District Grand Master, Brother Joe
Curry.During that week I was delighted to be able to meet all of the Past District Grand Masters of The Bahamas since
it was consecrated in 1991 and also visit Lodge St Michael No. 1634 for a wonderful Degree and marvellous Harmony. The Sottish Craft is very healthy there
and a large amount of young
and enthusiastic Brethren were very much in evidence. There were also audiences with The Prime
Minister and Governor General, for which I was most grateful. During the week, our Grand Director of Ceremonies, Brother
Ronnie Forbes, arrived along with our Grand Almoner and Proxy District Grand Master, Brother Tom Davidson. On the night preceding the Installation Meeting,
there was a superb party hosted by The District in The Fort in Nassau. Our DoC spirited me away (not too early), but before I was able to really get into the spirit of things! The following day we installed Brother Dave Munro and his Office-bearers,
with the assistance of Brother Davidson acting as Grand Secretary and Brother Joe Curry acting as Grand Chaplain. That evening we enjoyed an amazing banquet and dancing thereafter, and my first experience of Junkanoo, which was a traditional band and with
the musicians in traditional costumes. Almost everyone was on the dance floor—although the video evidence will not be posted on social
media for fear of exposing my very poor dance moves! On Sunday we went to church and were able to enjoy a
wonderful service at which many of the Brethren and their families attended. That evening we were invited to a barbecue hosted by
the district where many of the Brethren and families were also in attendance. Brother Forbes and I were able to
meet a Brother with a huge Harley Davidson motorcycle parked outside the venue. We have been able to put him in touch with the Widows Sons here in Scotland
and there may well be a new Widows Sons Chapter opening in The Bahamas in due course.
Grand Director of Ceremonies, Brother Ronald Forbes Grand Master Mason with Past District Grand Master, Brother Levonne
Moxey, and his granddaughter. After a hugely happy time within our District of The Bahamas, we departed the next
day and were very excited to be whisked from our hotel to the airport by police escort. During our visit, we were delighted to be accompanied and assisted by the District Grand Masters of Guyana, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago and
Grenada.
The District Grand Lodge of Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada.
We departed the next day and were very excited to be whisked from our hotel to the airport by police escort. During our
visit, we were delighted to be accompanied and assisted by the District Grand Masters of Guyana, Jamaica, and Trinidad and
Tobago and Grenada. On arrival in Trinidad, there was a splendid welcome party of many Brethren and we were able to have refreshments ‘airside’ before
being sped through customs and passport control. I joked with the District Grand Master, Brother Warren Sookdar, that we were used to police escorts in
The Bahamas and he managed to say nothing until we emerged from the airport to see a large stretch limousine
waiting to uplift us to our hotel! This caused much hilarity and delight between us all. On arrival at the hotel, there was a busy and hugely enjoyable
drinks reception where we were able to meet many of the Brethren of the district, along with a decent deputation from the province of
Ross and Cromarty, headed by their Provincial Grand Master, Brother Raymond MacKeddie. Drinks reception on
arriving in Trinidad It was unfortunate that the deputation from Grand Lodge was only able to be in the District
of Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada For three nights, but the District Grand Master and his
Brethren were able to arrange some wonderful events for us during our short stay with the district. We had a splendid city tour of Port of Spain and a visit to The Prime Minister’s Office and Mayor’s Office, as well as a memorable meeting and
Degree at The Lodge of United Brothers No. 251. We were met there with the greatest of welcome and enjoyed a really superb Harmony thereafter. There
were around thirty Entered Apprentices at the meeting from across The District and I was privileged to be invited
by the District Grand Master to address them in open Lodge. District Grand Master addressing the Lodge of United Brothers The Harmony at the Lodge of United Brothers On Wednesday 11th March, we installed Brother Warren Sookdar and his Office-bearers in
Trinidad. Again, Brother Joe Curry acted as Grand Chaplain and we were very grateful to Brother Alex Craib, our
Grand Librarian, who acted as Grand Secretary. Thereafter, we were treated to a hugely delicious banquet dinner with musical accompaniment. I was on stage
at one point and, quite by surprise, had to sing one line of the song being performed by the artist. I am delighted to say that there is no
video footage of this!Rehearsal antics! Adjusting the
Carpet The District Grand Master and Grand Master Mason wired for sound!
The District Grand Lodge of Barbados
After a very brief but hugely enjoyable time in Trinidad, we flew on to Barbados for four nights in
order to install Brother Roger Bushelle and his team. We had a great welcome at the airport in
Bridgetown and our exit was very swift as many of the staff there were also Brethren. Brother
Bushelle was aware that we had come from quite a busy schedule and so we were able to enjoy the
wonderful hotel facilities and views before joining him for a delicious dinner with his team that
evening. It was a great opportunity to familiarise ourselves with him and his Brethren and to discuss any points for the
upcoming meeting. These smaller events are an excellent way to meet the Brethren involved within our districts and to be able to find out about the district
itself.
There was a rehearsal the following day and we were the prepared for an early start with the
Installation Meeting being held on the Saturday morning. That evening, we were invited to attend a party at The Barbados
Yacht Club to meet all the Brethren. Guests included Past Grand Master,
Brother Charles Wolrige Gordon, Past Substitute Grand Master, Brother David Reid, and Proxy
District Grand Master, Brother Craig Thompson. It was a splendid event, and we felt so welcomed by all of the Brethren
from within the district. Drinks at The Barbados Yacht Club. On Saturday morning, we installed Brother Bushelle
and his Office-bearers and were delighted to have Brother David Reid, Past Substitute Grand Master, stand in as Acting Grand Secretary.
The morning meeting proved a pleasant change to an afternoon event and allowed informal socialising
and lunch after the meeting, and then some downtime before the celebratory dinner in the evening.
Our constant of Brother Joe Curry as Acting Grand Chaplain, pictured with our Grand Director of
Ceremonies Table arrangements by Ronnie and Roger, Past Provincial and District Grand Directors of
Ceremonies! Dinner was another superb meal with a four-piece band of young musicians playing for the first part of the dinner. We were able to enjoy an incredible buffet of an enormous variety of utterly delicious dishes.The following day, we were taken on a very informative tour of the island, which culminated in a visit to St Nicolas Abbey rum
distillery. Many Brethren and their wives attended this tour, and we enjoyed a carriage of merriment (without rum) on the private railway that is on the
estate. It was a great way to end our trip to Barbados, although we were lucky enough to dine in a small group that evening with Brother Bushelle.A very jolly railway carriage! The Consecration of the District Grand Lodge
of Bermuda and the Installation of its first District Grand Master After an amazing visit to Barbados, we
travelled on to Bermuda and once again we had the privilege of being fast tracked through the airport to be met by the Grand Superintendent, Brother
Martin Weekes. Brother Forbes and I were given an excellent tour of the island from one end to the other, although I was not the best student and dozed off on a couple of occasions due to having sat up the night before in Miami airport due to
a flight cancellation. Our Grand DoC was able to have a few short hours in a hotel room due to having a US land side visa.
One of our days in Bermuda consisted of a tour of each of the Lodge premises where we were
enthusiastically welcomed by the Brethren in each building. Halfway through the tour, we were given a delicious lunch by
the Brethren of Lodge Civil and Military. The orientation exercise was a
thoughtful gesture, very enjoyable and hugely appreciated. It was a great opportunity to meet the
Lodge members in their ‘homes’ in an informal and relaxed environment. We were also pleased to
visit an impressive premises owned by the Irish Lodges on the island. The Lodge Room of Civil and
Military The Lodge Room of Somers Isles District Grand Master, Martin Weekes, telling us about the premises of
his Mother Lodge, Lodge St George No. 200 On one of the evenings, Brother Weekes hosted a drinks party which
allowed us to meet the Brethren from the Scottish, English and Irish Constitutions which all operate in Bermuda. We were also hosted at dinners to meet the senior Brethren in Bermuda within the Scottish Constitution. These generously hosted events were all
opportunities to meet Brethren before what proved to be a very busy day on Saturday 21st March. We had two meetings to perform on behalf of Grand
Lodge: the morning meeting was to consecrate the District Grand Lodge of Bermuda, and in the afternoon to install
Brother Weekes as the first District Grand Master. We were blessed by having an organist and a saxophonist to accompany the singing and to play incidental
music during the perambulations. District Grand Masters, Dave Munroe and Sean Noel, stood in as our acting Grand Wardens and the
ceremonies went off to plan. The constant of our acting Grand Wardens, District Grand Master of Guyana, Brother Sean
Noel (left), and District Grand Master of The Bahamas, Brother Dave Munroe Once again, Brother Joe Curry acted as
Grand Chaplain. After our work was done, Brother Forbes, Brother Curry and I returned to our hotel and celebrated the completion of five Ceremonies with
a local drink (a Dark and Stormy) which we felt we had earned! The three Dark and
Stormies! The next day we attended a wonderful church service at Christ Church where The Minister hailed from
Scotland. We were met by him and his congregation with such kindness, and it was a fitting end to an exciting, rewarding and wonderful trip to
Bermuda. During the visits, I must acknowledge the huge amount of work done by Brother Forbes as Grand Director
of Ceremonies, who kept me right all of the time, and Brother Joe Curry, who provided comforting continuity in acting as Grand Chaplain, as well as
invaluable advice about Freemasonry within The Caribbean. I am hugely grateful to our District Grand Masters and their Secretaries
and teams, along with all of the Brethren from their respective Lodges who made us feel so welcome within all of
their districts. I travelled home to Scotland with some beautiful gifts also and these will be wonderful reminders of my trip. It was a hugely humbling experience to preside
over such important meetings, and it is an experience which I shall
never forget.
Since my return to Scotland,
Grand Lodge has been busy and I have been pleased to install Brother Mark Bruce as the new Provincial Grand Master of
Moray and Nairn, attend and speak at a marvellous dinner hosted by Brother David Irving within his province of Dunbartonshire,
install Brother Thomas Walker as Provincial Grand Master of Linlithgowshire, and celebrate the 225th Anniversary
of the province of Lanarkshire Upper Ward with Brother Scott MacLean and all of his daughter Lodges. Other enjoyable visits have included Lodge St David
(University Lodge) No. 36, and an excellent Degree performed by Young Masons from the provinces of Perthshire West and Perthshire East. At the end of April, the Grand Secretary and I were in London to attend the United
Grand Lodge of England’s Pro Grand Master’s Business Meeting, where we were able to note the great progress made
within his provinces and districts and to see their future roadmap, including a fundraising initiative for their beautiful building in London and other
Masonic premises within England and Wales. The following day, we attended the UGLE Annual Investiture Meeting and I was delighted
to be promoted to Past Senior Grand Warden. This rank has also been bestowed upon Brother Ramsay McGhee when he
was Grand Master Mason and likewise to Brother Charles Wolrige Gordon when he was in the Chair of The Grand Lodge of Scotland. Some of our Past Grand
Masters have also held the office of Senior Grand Warden within UGLE, a term usually lasting two years. I look
forward to being in Gibraltar for two events shortly and then at the end of May, around fifteen of our Young Masons will head to London for the UGLE Light
Blues Meeting, which I feel sure will be an excellent event full of young Freemasons. This is being held on a Saturday for obvious
reasons.On all of my visits both in and outside of Scotland, the Brethren have been hugely welcoming and I have
received some amazing gifts for which I am incredibly grateful. Thanks to you all for such generosity.Additionally, I
would like to thank all of the Lodges who have taken part in the open days from the beginning of the year, and mostly in February. There have been some
tremendously encouraging results and many Lodges are now seeing engagement with many potential Candidates—or, in some cases, Candidates that have now become Freemasons. This initiative has been a huge success and many lessons have been learnt for further
open days to be held in the future. This idea came from the Grand Secretary’s office and I commend him and his team for their dedication and hard
work that they do for all of us. Finally, for those of you who have worked so hard over the past Masonic season,
I do hope that you have some time to enjoy spring and summer with your families and friends, and also to pursue your hobbies outside of The Craft. I greatly look forward to seeing some of you at our next Regular Communication on Thursday 11th
June.
Alexander C.G. Moncrieff-Grand Master Mason
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Grand Secretary’s Message by Brother William M.S. Semple
I am pleased to share several important developments and initiatives within the Grand Lodge of Scotland, reflecting both
continuity in our traditions and steady progress in our administration and governance.
Welcome to New Provincial Grand Masters
Following a suggestion from last year’s leadership development day, it was a privilege to welcome recently appointed
Provincial Grand Masters to Freemasons’ Hall, to acquaint them with the surroundings and business areas supporting the Scottish Constitution. These
introductions extend far beyond simple formalities. The appointment and welcome of Gary Smith (Forfarshire), John Duncan (Kincardineshire), David McMaster (Ross & Cromarty), and Norman Carnegy (Lanarkshire Middle Ward) serve to further strengthen
the vital link between Grand Lodge and the Provinces. Through such engagement, we promote a shared sense of purpose as we work towards
achieving the strategic priorities of Scottish Freemasonry at every level. We wish them well at the start of
their Commissions on Thursday 11 June 2026 along with our District Grand Masters appointed overseas: Paul Manecksha (Middle East) and the
reappointment of Paul Villalta (Western Mediterranean) and Robert Fisher (Zimbabwe).
Change to June 2027 Regular Communication
Grand Lodge always meets in Regular Communication on the second Thursday every June. Next year the Regular Communication
of Grand Lodge will be held on Saturday, rather than the traditional Thursday. This change is intended to improve accessibility and attendance, particularly
for those travelling from further afield. Your date for the diary is Saturday 12 June 2027. This adjustment will enable more Brethren to participate in the proceedings of Grand Lodge, and we look forward to a well-attended and productive
Communication. Watch this space for more details for what promises to be an enjoyable day in Edinburgh.
Education Survey
The Education Survey has now been completed, and I extend my sincere thanks to all who
contributed. The findings will be considered by the Governance & Strategy Board and have already
provided valuable insight and clear direction. As a result, we will now focus on addressing four key
priorities: the development of a structured education framework, the introduction of a Masonic
mentoring system, the creation of a central digital platform to support learning and
communication, and a wider programme of cultural and engagement reform. These priorities
ensure that Masonic education becomes more coherent, accessible, and impactful, supporting
Brethren at every stage of their journey while strengthening engagement across the Constitution.
Annual Burns Supper – 4 July 2026
I am delighted to tell you that the Annual Burns Supper will take place at Freemasons’ Hall,
Edinburgh, on Saturday, 4 July 2026. This much-anticipated event offers an excellent opportunity
for Brethren, friends and guests to come together in fellowship and celebrate our shared heritage in a fitting and
convivial atmosphere.Tickets are priced at £45 per person and can be purchased via the Grand Lodge of Scotland website: Annual Burns Supper 2026 We look forward to another great night of entertainment at Freemasons’ Hall.
Annual Report
Preparations for the Annual Report are well underway. This report will provide a comprehensive
overview of the activities, achievements, and our combined efforts towards achieving the strategic
vision and priorities of the Scottish Constitution over the past year. This is due in no small way to all our members,
and the information used to compile the report is currently being collated by
Provincial and District Grand Masters and Grand Superintendents.
Bermuda – Transition to District Status
I am pleased to note that Bermuda became a District under the Grand Lodge of Scotland earlier
this year. This significant milestone reflects both the continued growth and maturity of Freemasonry in Bermuda, as well
as the evolving structure of our overseas jurisdictions. We now have, overseas, 27 Districts, 3 Superintendencies and 13 Lodges under the direct supervision
of Grand Lodge. Full details can be found here - Find a Lodge and also in our annual year book - 2026 Yearbook
Review of the Constitution and Laws
Work will continue over the summer on the development and amendment of the Constitution and
Laws of Grand Lodge. The principal workstreams will focus on the review and amendment of
Benevolence & Care, Membership & Fees, Discipline, and general administration. We seek to
address existing contradictions and anomalies that exist in the current 30th Edition and expect to
present a notice of motion for change to Grand Lodge in October 2026. This process is essential to ensure that our
governance framework remains clear, relevant, and effective, while continuing to support the needs of modern Scottish Freemasonry and uphold
the standards of our institution.
Closing Remarks
The breadth of activity outlined above reflects a period of strong progress across the Scottish
Constitution. From strengthening leadership connections and enhancing education, to modernising our governance and
celebrating our shared traditions, each initiative contributes to the continued vitality and relevance of the Scottish Craft. I thank all involved, both at
home and overseas, for their ongoing commitment and support, without which none of this work would be possible. Together, we will continue to build upon our strong foundations and ensure that Scottish Freemasonry remains well positioned to
thrive.
William M.S. Semple-Grand Secretary
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Grand Almoner’s message by Brother Thomas Davidson
We are now approaching the end of a very busy Spring period with many projects now well bedded in and running along
nicely. In this report, I will focus on the matters that have changed in the past quarter.
EDUCATION/ TRAINING AWARDS
In April 2025, I wrote in my report about the education and training grants that are able to be accessed through the
Grand Lodge Benevolence Fund. Support may be available to your son or daughter if they are undertaking a full-time course of Higher or Further Education
or undertaking an apprenticeship. Awards are for the length of the course subject to satisfactory progress.
Qualification is through the father’s membership. Applications available from the Benevolence Department at Grand Lodge,
tel. 0131 225 5577-Qualifications to be considered:
• A Brother should have been recorded as in Good Standing for the past five years
• Child should be in receipt of an SAAS Grant or local authority bursary
• Parental income
• In case of apprenticeship, signed indenture papers
• All applications will be considered and awards decided by the Benevolence and Care Committee
GRAND MASTER MASON’S CHALLENGE 2026
The GMM’s Challenge was a match funding project issued in November to encourage projects
to benefit local communities or local Brethren. We set aside £90,000 for the project, but
assessed that a 50% take up would represent success, 53% of provinces, 7% of districts, and
14% of Lodges under direct supervision participated and brought forward 25 submissions (out
of a potential 84 submissions). A wide range of projects included:
• First responders on Arran
• CPR training, defibrillators and First Aid Training in Lodges
• PSA Testing on St. Kitts
• Childcare support for women in Mauritius
• Support for children leaving care in Edinburgh
• Solar geysers for a care home in Zimbabwe
• A children’s rugby project in The Borders
The overall expenditure by the end of the year will be about £40,000. Thank you to all the
Brethren who submitted projects which will make a difference in their community.
ARMED FORCES COVENANT
We have now reached the point where we have submitted our application to be considered
for the Gold Award. We should hear if we have been successful in July. This is an important
part of the ongoing commitment and work with Services Veterans organisations as well as
support to cadet units.
PROSTATE SCOTLAND LEGACY PROJECTS
The legacy projects are all progressing well in partnership with Prostate Scotland, however
the Prostate Champions Project has been producing excellent results. We are still speaking to
Masonic groups, but we are now speaking more and more to community groups, sports
organisations and businesses. We therefore ask your help in guiding us to as many of these external groups as possible,
we have about 70 Brethren who are prepared and able to come to your Lodge or community group (male, female or
mixed) to raise awareness of prostate disease. You can help by contacting me at galmoner@grandlodgescotland.org
MASONIC LITERACY CHAMPIONS
We are seeing particular success in Fife where one of our champions has not only been
speaking to groups but has been able to set up book exchanges, provide children’s books to
various groups and has even been getting interviewed on local radio stations. In Perthshire, a
project has been set up to provide up to £5,000 worth of books to a new primary school.
These projects tie The Craft into communities and demonstrate the support we give to these
communities.
TEDDIES FOR LOVING CARE (TLC)
Documentation is in the final stages of being produced and will come out to provinces before
the summer. The project has been successfully operating in Ayrshire and the Northern
Highlands for a time now. Hopefully, other provinces will see this as a project they would seek
to join and give support to children undergoing treatment in A&E departments of hospitals in
their province.
Tom Davidson-Grand Almoner
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