Foundation of the Lodge

Bro. James Masterton, founder RWM of Lodge Kirkliston Maitland

There existed in the second part of the nineteenth century "a desire among Brethren at Kirkliston that the benefits of Freemasonry should be extended to this part of the county"

So claimed the masons residing in the village in 1868. Consequently a meeting was held in the Newliston Arms on the 26th of February that year.

The brethren present were, William Proven, owner of the hotel, William Brown, James Spalding, George Thomson, George McAlpine, William Forrest, Henry Greive, George Simson, Alex Hind, David Peacock, William Hall and James Masterton.

It was that the proposed lodge should be named Kirkliston Maitland and Brother James Masterton (pictured) became the founder Right Worshipful Master.
Securities
Brothers Brown, Hind, Forrest and Greive however promised to become securities for the repayment of the Charter fee within twenty four months

Office Bearers
The following were nominated as founder office bearers, R.W.M. Bro. James Masterton, Depute Master - Bro.George McAlpine, Senior Warden - Bro. David Peacock, Junior Warden Bro. William Forrest, Deacon Bro. George Thomson, Junior Deacon Bro. Alex Hind, Secretary/Treasurer George Simpson and Tyler Bro. Andrew Peebles.

Lodge Name
Unfortunately no details were included the early records of the lodge as to where the founder members were made Freemasons. Nor is mention made of why the lodge name includes Maitland.

It could be suggested however ever that the name comes from the Maitland Hog family of Newliston House. James Maitland Hog IV of Newliston in particular was a benefactor of the village of some streets in Kirkliston presently bear his name and the spire on the Free Church was completed as a memorial to him.

Hiccup
Enthusiasm to establish their lodge in Kirkliston the founders suffered a couple of early hiccups.
First, their application for a Charter was returned by Grand Lodge and secondly, they were suprised by the attitude of the members of nearby Lodge Kirknewton and Ratho.

They had returned the Charter application because it had not been supported by two existing Daughter Lodges.

Refused
When the Kirknewton and Ratho members were approached they refused to sign the petition.They claimed that a lodge inKirkliston was not in their interest since it would affect their recruitment of candidates.Could that be a pointer here the Kirkliston lodge founders were made freemasons!

Keep Trying
The Ratho setback spurred those keen to establish the lodge to try harder and forced them to travel futher afield to gain the necessary sponsors required.

With the members of Ancient Brazen No. 17 at Linlithgow having willingly signed, when asked at the same time as Kirknewton Ratho, Bathgate was the next stop.

Success
There the members of Lodge Torphicen Kilwinning No. 13 and the now dormant Hoptoun Lodge No. 181 readily agreed to back the petition.