A special meeting was arranged for Saturday 9^th May 2009 at Lodge Girvan St. Johns’ No.237, the evening was attended by Masons from far and wide, Thanks go to  Lodge St Bryde, Uddingston No.579 who conferred the Masonic business that evening and a special mention to Robert McMaster, who as Coxswain of Girvan Lifeboat gave an excellent presentation on the duties and history of the RNLI .The evenings fundraising collected the sum of £400 which was presented by Bro. Robert Laird, Right Worshipful Master of Girvan to the RNLI Girvan Crew members in attendance. The Brethren of Girvan would like to thank all who attended and congratulate the RNLI on their heroic efforts to date and wish them safe waters for the future.

Lodge History

 In 1810 lodge Girvan St John No240 was granted a charter from grand lodge on the 11^th of November, but that number was later changed to No237 as it is today. In the late 1800s the lodge held there meetings in a room above a public bar in Old street adjacent to the Old street cemetery which was later known as the Masonic Arms. The pub was later sold and changed into a newsagent; the new owner needed the lodge room for storage. Luckily the new owner was a member of the craft and built a new lodge above the stables adjoining his property which was then rented to the lodge and Girvan St Johns occupied this building for many years. On the 20^th of May 1910 the lodge held an emergency meeting for a memorial service for the death of King Edward the 7^th. Later on that year on the 4^th of November with special permission from the Provincial Grand Lodge of Ayrshire the lodge held a centenary festival at Union Hall on Henrietta Street. There were 96 brethren in attendance that day including the Provincial Grand Master Brother Colonel L.G. Pearson. At that time the lodge had good membership of 120.  On the 7^th of May 1922 the lodge held a special meeting to unveil a war memorial in memory of 7 brethren of the lodge who fell in the Great War; the ceremony was carried out by Rev S.G Fry who was the Provincial Grand Chaplain.On the 17^th of August 1923 the lodge held a Divine service in the Parish Church which was lead by the Girvan pipe band, lodges number 11, 198 and 566 were in attendance.On the 25^th of July 1962 it was discussed about making an offer on the Union Hall on Henrietta Street of £1500, as I couldn’t find another minute regarding this I can only assume that it wasn’t carried out.On the 22^nd of December 1962 Brother William Sutherland of 237 on behalf of the Lodge Imperial 543 of the Grand Lodge of Canada presented a V.O.S.L as a token of good will to the Girvan brethren.On the 29^th of May 1963 a letter was read from the Eastern Star suggesting that the lodges should amalgamate and build a new lodge at 188 Dalrymple Street but this amalgamation was never carried out.In 1965 brother John Cook was installed into the chair by brothers J Cannon PM 237 and J McCreadie PM 566, brother John is now the oldest living PM of Girvan at 91 years of age and still a regular attendee at both meetings and harmonies, brother John recently received his 50 year diploma presented to him by brother Neville Clark who was RWM at the time in 2006. In 1967 on the 15^th of November a mallet was presented to the lodge by brother A Hay pm of Girvan 237 from the lodge Toronto Imperial 543 which is still in use today.In 1974 the lodge which they had purchased in 1926 was demolished as the high street was redeveloped, the brethren persevered and held there meetings in various locations until 1978 which saw the purchase of the current lodge on Laggenwhilly Lane.In the year 2000 brother Billy Agnew W.S.W presented the lodge with a set of mark stones which were from cuttings of tombstone granite,The honorary members presented the past masters board which displays the master back to 1810.Over the last 10 years the brethren have worked throughout the recesses in their building club to renovate the lodge which has now been successfully completed to a very high standard, now all that remains to be done is a disability ramp.In the last few years members of Girvan St John have been honoured both by PGLA and GLOS, PM Neville Clark who has been a member of provincial and grand lodge for a number of years has now holds the rank of SPGM. Davy Kirkpatrick received honorary grand rank as honorary provincial grand piper in 2008 which was richly deserved as he has been piping deputations into lodges of South Ayrshire for over 40 years.