Lodge St. John Kilwinning (Largs) No 173 had a recent installation ceremony on Saturday 4th November when Right Worshipful Master, Bro. James Fraser was installed. The local lodge was constituted in 1789 under charter from The Grand Lodge of Scotland.

Asked about what freemasonry means to modern society, and whether it is still perceived as a secret society, Largs lodge secretary John Watson responded: "The basic principles have never changed, nor will they. People talk about it being a secret society, it is not, it is a society of secrets. There are certain elements where the general public don't know, and shouldn't know. What is important to get across is it is not a religious organisation. It is open to anyone, as long as you believe in a supreme being.

"It helps to make you a better person and helps your morals. Charity is a big thing in freemasonry, but it is not just to big charity organisations, but being charitable towards your fellow man."

The official Grand Lodge of Scotland website states; "Freemasonry is a society of men concerned with moral and spiritual values. Its members are taught its precepts by a series of ritual dramas. These remain substantially the same form used in Scottish stonemasons lodges, and use Scottish stonemasons' customs and tools as allegorical guides."

Although women cannot join the freemasonry, they can join a similar umbrella group - the Eastern Star - where both men, who are generally freemasons, and women can join in, and some branches do exist in North Ayrshire including Millport and Dalry. There are long standing masonic lodges in Millport, West Kilbride and Skelmorlie.

The Largs Masonic Lodge is in Frazer Street where it has been based for 107 years, after having featured in a number of other buildings in the town since the 18th century.