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Past Provincial Grand Masters

2018 - 2023

William Caven Steel

Appointed Provincial Grand Master February 2018. Initiated in Lodge Loudoun (Kilwinning) Newmilns No.51 in November 1978, passed in December and raised in January 1979. First took part in degree work when the Lodge visited Lodge St. John Catrine No.497. First Office in the Lodge was Bible-bearer Installed as Right Worshipful Master in 1985-1987 and thereafter Lodge Treasurer for seven years. Moved to Darvel in 1987 and became an affiliated member of Lodge Darvel No.971 in 2002. Became Right Worshipful Master in 2006. Joined Provincial Grand Lodge as a Committee member and as Tyler in 1989 and held various offices before being Commissioned by Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master Bro. John Ralston in 1997 as Substitute Provincial Grand Master. Made Honorary Grand Senior Deacon in 2010. Member of the Disciplinary Review Committee. Holds Honorary membership of several Lodges. Aim during term as Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master was to encourage the Lodges within the Province to be mindful of their communities when raising money and making charitable donations. Brother William Caven Steel passed to the Grand Lodge above on 24 November 2024.

William Caven Steel

2013 - 2018

Robert Little

Appointed Provincial Grand Master February 2013. Initiated into Lodge St Peter No.331 in December 1971. First held Office as Chaplain in 1972. Installed as Right Worshipful Master 1978-80. Secretary 1982-86. Joined Provincial Grand Lodge 1982 as Steward and rose through the various Offices to Provincial Grand Almoner before being Commissioned SPGM (1993-98). Re Commissioned as SPGM 1998-2003. Commissioned as DPGM 2008 and became Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master February 2013. A Founder Member of Lodge Burns Dundonald No.1759; Affiliate Member of Lodge Stinchar Valley No.1705; Right Worshipful Master 2004-06. Elected to Grand Committee in 1997. Currently serves on the Disciplinary Committee. Made an Honorary Grand Senior Deacon in 2004 and an Honorary Member of Lodges Loudoun (Kilwinning) No.51; Troon Navigation No.86; St. Marnock No.109; St James Tarbolton (Kilwinning) No.135; Beith St. John's (Kilwinning) No.157; St. John (Kilwinning) No.173; Ayr St. Paul No.204; Royal Arch No.314; St. John Royal Arch No.320; St. John No.334; Neptune Kilwinning No.442; Fergusson St James No.566; Prestwick No.1060; Wallace St Hugh No.1212 and Coila St. Andrew No.1334.

Robert Little

2008 - 2013

Archibald Chalmers MStJ FSA Scot.

Appointed Provincial Grand Master February 2008 to February 2013. Initiated into Lodge Thistle No.127 in Stewarton December 1973. Right Worshipful Master December 1981 - December 1983. Elected to Provincial Grand Committee in 1984. First Office in Provincial Grand Lodge Senior Steward in 1993. Commissioned PGL Secretary from 1998 - 2003; PGL Senior Deacon Director of Ceremonies and Almoner before being elected to serve as Provincial Grand Master. Holds Honorary Grand Rank of Senior Deacon; serves as the Grand Representative of the Grand Lodge of Montana near the Grand Lodge of Scotland ). Member of Lodge Albert Edward No.592 and of Lodge The Kings Park No.1386 (Renfrewshire East) RWM 2004-2006; Lodge Stinchar Valley No.1705 RWM 2007-2009; Lodge Burns Dundonald No.1759; The Anchor Lodge of Research No.1814 (Renfrewshire West) DM 2009-2010 and Proxy Master of Lodge Thistle No.1013 (Panama). Honorary Member - MK0; No.11; No.20; No.22; No.51; No.86; No.88; No.109; No.133; No.135; No.149; No.157; No.169; No.173; No.201; No.202; No.204; No.237; No.290; No.314; No.320; No.331; No.334; No.399; No.442; No.497; No.505; No.565; No.566; No.617; No.624; No.668; No.753; No.971; No.1167; No.1212; No.1289; No.1398 and No.1822. Honorary member PGL Kilwinning. Honorary Senior Provincial Grand Warden PGL Argyll and the Isles. Honorary Provincial Grand Secretary PGL Lanarkshire Upper Ward. Past President No. 0 Burns Club in Kilmarnock, Past President Irvine Burns Club.

Archibald Chalmers MStJ FSA Scot.

2003 - 2008

James Stuart Lanes

Appointed Provincial Grand Master November 2003 but sadly died suddenly while holding Office. An Office-Bearer and member of PGL Committee before being commissioned as Substitute PGM 1988-1993 and 1993-1998. Depute PGM from 1998-2003. Initiated in Lodge St John No.334 New Cumnock in 1968. Right Worshipful Master 1974-1976 and 1983-1985. Honorary Member of Lodge St David (Tarbolton) Mauchline No.133; Lodge St Thomas No.201; Lodge St Thomas Kilwinning No.433 and Lodge St John No.497. A keen Burnsian he was very much sought after at Burns Suppers throughout Scotland. Stuart Lanes passed to the Grand Lodge above on 3 February 2007.

James Stuart Lanes

1998 - 2003

John Husk Ralston

Provincial Grand Master November 1998 - November 2003. PGL Secretary 1983-988. Substitute PGM 1988-93. Depute PGM 1993-1998. Secretary to the PGL Fund Raising Committee for more than 15 years. Initiated in Lodge St Clement (Kilwinning) Kilmarnock No. 202 in 1966 and Right Worshipful Master thereof from 1970-1971. A founder member of Lodge Irvine Newtown No.1662 and of Lodge Burns Dundonald No.1759. Served on the Board of Grand Stewards from 1982-1988. A member of Grand Committee 1988-2006 and of the Laws and Rulings Committee. Apart from numerous Honorary Memberships in Scotland he held Honorary Membership of Lodges in England Ireland and in the USA but perhaps the greatest honour he has received out with his Mother Lodge is that of Honorary Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Michigan. Honorary Grand Rank of Grand Junior Warden. John Ralston passed to the Grand Lodge above on 20 May 2009.

John Husk Ralston

1993 - 1998

William Rae

Appointed Provincial Grand Master November 1993. Served in numerous offices within Provincial Grand Lodge before being commissioned as Substitute Provincial Grand Master 1983-1988. Appointed Depute Provincial Grand Master 1998-1993. Initiated in Lodge St Thomas Muirkirk No.201 in 1953 and Right Worshipful Master thereof from 1960-1961. Secretary of Lodge St Thomas No.201 for over 25 years. A founder member of Lodge Burns Dundonald No.1759. Elected to Grand Committee in 1989. Chairman of the Petitions, Complaints and Appeals Committee. Holds the rank of Honorary Grand Senior Deacon. William Rae passed to the Grand Lodge above on 4 September 2012.

William Rae

1988 - 1993

Adam Cunningham

Appointed Provincial Grand Master November 1988. Served till November 1993. Past Provincial Grand Lodge Substitute Master on two occasions. Initiated in Lodge St Andrew Kilmarnock No.126 in 1952. Right Worshipful Master 1960-1961. An affiliate member of Lodge Mother Kilwinning No.0. A founder member and first Right Worshipful Master of Lodge Burns Dundonald No.1759. Honorary member of Lodge St James Tarbolton (Kilwinning) No.135 and of numerous other Lodges across the Scottish Craft. A very well known Installing Master throughout Ayrshire and beyond and has many Masonic friendships throughout the Scottish Craft. Member of the Grand Lodge Finance Committee for many years. Honorary Grand Senior Deacon.

Adam Cunningham

1983 - 1988

John Weir DSO OBE JP MA FEIS

Appointed Provincial Grand Master November 1983. Served till November 1988. First PGM elected by the Brethren of the Daughter Lodges in Ayrshire without having a connection with Mother Kilwinning. Served on PGL Committee for over 21 years before being elected into his first Office within the PGL and as WSPGW. Initiated in Lodge St James (Kilwinning) Tarbolton No.135 in 1938 and Right Worshipful Master in 1948. Past Substitute Grand Master 1997. Appointed to the Board of Grand Stewards in 1958 and President of the Board in 1977. Elected to Grand Committee in 1982. Was a member of the Bye-Laws Committee of the Museum and Library Committee and of the Publications Committee. Chairman of the Petitions Complaints and Appeals Committee 1992-1995. Representative from the Grand Lodge of Maryland. Honorary Junior Grand Deacon. John Weir passed to the Grand Lodge above on 28 November 2005.

John Weir DSO OBE JP MA FEIS

1978 - 1983

Thomas Armour McCall

Appointed Provincial Grand Master 1978. Served till November 1983. Substitute Provincial Grand Master 1974-1977. Initiated in Lodge Darvel No.971 in 1943 Right Worshipful Master 1957-1958. Affiliated to Lodge Mother Kilwinning No.0 in 1977 Right Worshipful Master 1977-1983. Elected to Grand Committee in 1983. Chairman 1991-1994 of the Hall and Buildings Committee and Chairman 1996-1999 of the Masonic Homes Committee. Served Grand Lodge as an Office-Bearer and Member of Grand Committee for a number of years before being promoted to Substitute Grand Master 2004-2005. Honorary Grand Senior Warden. Representative of the Grand Lodge of Saskatchewan. Tom McColl passed to the Grand Lodge above on 23 June 2007.

Thomas Armour McCall

1962 - 1978

Gregor Grant

Appointed Provincial Grand Master 1962. Served till 1978. Depute Provincial Grand Master of Ayrshire 1961-1962. Initiated in Lodge St Clement (Kilwinning) Kilmarnock No.202 in 1939 and Right Worshipful Master thereof from 1945-946. Affiliated to Lodge Mother Kilwinning No.0 in 1961 and Right Worshipful Master thereof from 1963-1977. Affiliate member of Lodge Sir Robert Moray No.1641. A founder member of Lodge Irvine Newtown No.1662 and of Lodge Stinchar Valley No.1705. A Grand Steward from 1958 to 1963 and Chairman of the Finance Committee. Past Grand Treasurer. Substitute Grand Master 1978-1979. Representative from the Grand Lodge of Illinois.

Gregor Grant

1957 - 1962

Thomas Muir Wilson

Provincial Grand Master 1957-1962. Depute Provincial Grand Master 1956-57. Initiated in Lodge St Vincent Sandyford No.553 in 1924. Right Worshipful Master 1932-1934. Affiliated to The Trades House of Glasgow Lodge No.1241 and to Lodge St David (Tarbolton) Mauchline No.133 in 1945. Affiliated to Lodge Mother Kilwinning No.0 in 1957. RWM of Mother Kilwinning in 1957. It was due to the intervention of Brother T Muir Wilson that the Minute Book of Lodge St David Tarbolton No.174 (The Mother Lodge of Robert Burns) covering the period from 1773-1843 was purchased when it appeared at auction in London in 1971. Honorary member of Lodge St James (Kilwinning) Tarbolton No.135. Brother T Muir Wilson was at one time the Honorary Sheriff of Ayr Sheriff Court and latterly Honorary Sheriff of Kilmarnock Sheriff Court and a former Depute Chairman of Blackwood Morton and Sons Ltd Kilmarnock more commonly known as the world famous BMK.

Thomas Muir Wilson

1949 - 1957

Archibald William Alexander Montgomerie TD DL BA 17th Earl of Eglinton and 5th Earl of Winton

Peer of the Realm. Provincial Grand Master 1949-57. Depute Provincial Grand Master from 1948-49. Affiliated to Lodge Mother Kilwinning No.0 in 1947 RWM 1949-1957. Initiated in Lodge Apollo University Lodge No.357 (EC) in 1936. Affiliate member of Lodge Montgomerie Kilwinning No.624 and RWM 1947. Grand Master Mason Grand Lodge of Scotland 1957-1961 previously Depute Grand Master Mason and Worshipful Grand Senior Warden. Grand Architect in 1948. Member of Grand Committee in 1949. Representative from the Grand East of the Netherlands from the Grand Lodge of Quebec from the Grand Lodge of India and from the Mark Grand Lodge of India. Honorary Member of the Grand Lodge of India. As Grand Master Mason he gifted to Grand Lodge the Schaw Statutes of 1598 and 1599. He passed to the Grand Lodge above on 21 April 1966 aged just 51 years.

Archibald William Alexander Montgomerie TD DL BA 17th Earl of Eglinton and 5th Earl of Winton

1947 - 1949

Lieutenant Colonel Evelyn Stewart Arthur of Montgomerie JP DL

1941 - 1947

William Wallace Smith Cunningham 16th of Caprington DSO JP DL

1939 - 1941

James E Shaw JP DL

1935 - 1938

Sir Standish Gage Craufurd 5th Baronet of Kilbirnie CB CMG CIE DSO JP DL MP

1933 - 1935

George Clark

1931 - 1933

Sir Charles Glen MacAndrew ( Later Baron MacAndrew of Firth of Clyde) TD PC DL MP

1927 - 1931

Lieutenant General Sir Aylmer Gould Hunter-Weston KCB CB DSO GCStJ JP DL MP

1924 - 1927

James Arthur of Montgomerie

1921 - 1924

William Hyslop of Bank and Afton JP

1917 - 1921

Archibald Seton Montgomerie 16th Earl of Eglinton and 4th Earl of Winton DL

1912 - 1917

Thomas Walker McIntyre

1908 - 1912

Colonel Louis Gardiner Pearson

1904 - 1908

Archibald Kennedy 4th Marquess of Ailsa & Earl of Cassillis JP DL FSRGS

1901 -1904

Major William Mure of Caldwell JP DL

1899 - 1901

Matthew Arthur of Carlung and Barshaw (later 1st Baron Glenarthur) JP DL

1896 - 1899

Hugh Robert Wallace of of Busbie and Cloncaird DSO JP DL

1890 - 1895

The Honourable Thomas Cochrane of Dankeith 1st Baron Cochrane of Cults JP DL

1876 - 1879

Robert William Cochrane-Patrick of Woodside & Ladyland MP

1868 - 1878

Colonel William Mure of Caldwell MP

1866 - 1867

Robert Wylie, Castlepen JP

1865

Hugh Conn, Adela Cottage

1859 - 1864

The Right Honourable Sir James Fergusson 6th Baronet of Kilkerran GCSI KCMG PC DL MP

1858

Robert William Cochrane-Patrick of Woodside & Ladyland MP

1857

George Johnstone of Redburn

1853 - 1856

J Boyle Gray of Cranberry Moss JP

1851 - 1852

George Fullarton of Fullarton

1848 - 1850

George Johnstone of Redburn

1846 - 1847

George Fullarton of Fullarton

1842 - 1845

George Johnstone of Redburn

1840 - 1841

George Fullarton of Fullarton

1837 - 1839

George Johnstone of Redburn

1835 - 1836

George Fullarton of Fullarton

1833 - 1834

William Millar of Monkcastle

1831 - 1832

George Johnstone of Redburn

1830

G Fullarton younger of Fullarton

1828 - 1829

Robert Montgomerie DL

1826 - 1827

John Smith of Swindridgemuir

1823 -1825

Colonel Alexander Hamilton of Grange

1821 - 1822

Sir Alexander Boswell 1st Baronet of Auchinleck MP FRSE

1818 - 1820

Colonel Alexander Hamilton of Grange

1817

James Crichton

1815 - 1816

Patrick Maxwell, Irvine

1813 - 1814

William Davidson of Air

1811 - 1812

Alexander McGowan of Smithston

1809 - 1810

Roberts Davidson of Drumley then of Air

1806 - 1808

William Blair of Blair MP

1801 - 1807

William Campbell

1795 - 1801

Interregnum

1769 -1795

George Murdoch JP DL

1747 - 1769

Robert Mollison

1739 - 1747

Alexander Drummond

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