At the regular meeting of the Lodge on the 8th January 1985, Bro Sir James Wilson McKay, Right Worshipful Immediate Past Grand Master, was made an Honorary Member of the Lodge.
On the 26th March 1985 Bro Alexander Tulloch PM was presented with a jewel, acknowledging his appointment as an Honorary Senior Provincial Grand Warden.
The Brethren of Lodge St Margaret continued with their travels when in February 1986 RWM Bro Ken MacDougall led a deputation to Northern Ireland and visited the Provincial Grand Lodge of County Down on the occasion of the installation of Provincial Office Bearers. The following day the Brethren attended the meeting of Lodge Trafalgar No.826 (Irish Constitution).
During the Installation of Bro JM Marcus Humphrey of Dinnet in November 1986 to the delight of the 548 Brethren, Bro Alexander Tulloch PM was bestowed the Honorary Grand Rank of Bible-Bearer for his outstanding service to his Mother Lodge over many years.
At a special meeting of the Lodge on 31 October 1987 the Brethren of 548 were delighted to host a visit from the Grand Lodge of Scotland, headed by Bro Sir James McKay, Right Worshipful Immediate Past Grand Master, accompanied by six distinguished members of Grand Lodge. The occasion was to pay tribute to Bro Alexander Fraser PM 548 for his eight years of service to Freemasonry while Provincial Grand Master of Linlithgowshire.
Bro Sir James McKay in an eloquent address thanked Bro Fraser for his valuable support, his vision and dedication to Freemasonry. At the conclusion of his tribute Bro Sir James McKay unveiled a portrait of Bro Fraser which now hangs in the east of the Lodge. The portrait, paid for by the lodge Past Masters, was painted by Bro David Paris Craig, PM Lodge Broughty Castle No 486.
On the 26th April 1988 a most interesting part of the history of Lodge St Margaret No 548 unfolded when Bro James McCormack RWM, Lodge of Edinburgh (Mary’s Chapel) No.1 presented a rare artefact in the form of a sash from St Margaret’s Lodge No.288, which was the lodge established in Queensferry in November 1820.
Other than the notes on the first page of this historical sketch, this is the only evidence we have of the existence of this Lodge. Bro James Fraser RWM thanked the Brethren of the Lodge of Edinburgh (Mary’s Chapel) No.1 for the return of such a valuable piece of memorabilia.
On the second regular meeting of the Lodge in November 1991 Bro James McDonald RWM had the sad duty of informing the Brethren that one of our most distinguished Past Masters Bro Alexander Fraser had passed to the Grand Lodge Above. During his 32 years as a member of Lodge St Margaret his love for his Mother Lodge was always evident, particularly in the upkeep of the premises. Another incident was when he installed his own brother James into the Chair of the King Solomon in January 1988 and much to the surprise and delight of the Brethren he placed a Master’s Chain of Office round the neck of the new RWM. This will be a lasting memory of the love and affection Bro Alexander Fraser had for his Mother Lodge.
On the 10th March 1992 a curling rink from the Lodge comprising Bro Peter Allan, Bro Tom Chmylowskyj, Bro James Aitken and Bro A Cooper travelled to Ayr and returned with the “Glen Caladh Curling Trophy” having won the annual Scottish Masonic Curling Competition.
In October 1992 the Lodge was honoured when Bro James Thomson, Immediate Past Provincial Grand Master, accepted Honorary Membership of Lodge St Margaret.
In April 1993 the Lodge presented Bro Robert Summers, PM with the regalia and jewel of a Past Senior Provincial Grand Warden. The regalia and jewel originally belonged to Bro Archibald Mathieson, PM 548, who kindly returned them to the Lodge for Bro Summers. This completed the set as Bro Mathieson returned his Past Master jewel in order that it could be presented to Bro Summers in January 1980.
On the occasion of the annual visit by the Provincial Grand Lodge of Linlithgowshire on the 12th April 1994, Bro Rev J Arnold Fletcher, provincial Grand Junior Chaplain dedicated the new Past Masters Board. The board was presented to Lodge St Margaret by the Queensferry Royal Arch Chapter No.389 on the occasion of its 75th Anniversary in 1989.
On May 5th 1994 Bro Tom Chmylowskyj, RWM conducted a Lodge of Sorrow in memory of Bro James Milne, PM, Past Depute Provincial Grand Master and Honorary Grand Architect of the Grand Lodge of Scotland, and Bro Archibald Mathieson, Past Master and Past Senior Provincial Grand Warden.
On the 25th April 1995 Bro Henry Livingston was presented with his Jubilee Diploma for 50 years membership of the Lodge.
In recognition of his kind support to Lodge St Margaret over many years Bro William James Hilditch, Provincial Grand Master of Linlithgowshire was made an Honorary Member in May 1997.
At the regular meeting on the 10th February 1998 Bro Sandy Tulloch PM and Bro James Orr PM were presented with Jubilee Diplomas to mark 50 years of Service to their Mother Lodge. The Diplomas were presented by Bro Gavin MacDonald, Provincial Grand Master. Unfortunately due to ill health Bro Peter Anderson and Bro John Davidson could not attend to receive their Diplomas. Bro William Rennie, RWM, presented them in their own homes.
During the 1998 summer recess the Lodge Rooms were further improved in preparation of the 125th celebrations in February 1999.
Part of the improvements included a painted mural behind the Master’s chair which was commissioned and donated to the Lodge by Bro T Scott Eadie, PM. The mural was painted by Bro Michael Bower of Lodge Nova Ceasera Harmony in Cincinnati, Ohio, who has affiliated to Lodge Newbattle St Mary No.1063.
This concludes the highlights of the Lodge history as gleaned from the minute books of 1874 to 1999.
Tonight think not of 125 years in time, but of those Brethren known and unknown whose memorial is not in stone or mortar but is writ into the incomplete and continuing story of Lodge St Margaret No.548.