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	In the early days, the meeting place of the Lodge was located in the nearby village of Newstead.  The building, long since demolished, was the home of the Mein family and appears to have been built in 1613 for there was engraved on a lintel of the house the initials "RM" followed by that date together with the letter "M" and a  representation of  a chisel and a mallet.  A Peter de Mein was involved in the building of Melrose Abbey.  It has been suggested that he was the founder of the Melrose Lodge, but there is no direct evidence of this.  There is evidence, however,  that members of the Mein family were active members of the Lodge over a long number of years.  A tombstone in the family burial ground in the Abbey bears the inscription " Heir lyis Androv Mein Meayson in Nevsteid.......".  He Died in 1624 aged 63.  A Historical Sketch of the Lodge written in 1912 states that the Newstead house was well adapted for Lodge use "being masonically correct to the compass" A painting of the old house done by William Heatlie and finished by Tom Scott 1n 1891 following Heatlie's death hangs in the Lodge today.
This is now what is left of the original Lodge at the end of St John's Wynd in Newstead, it is thought to be a part of the wall or corner of the Lodge.  A plaque with the wording "The Original Site - Ludge of Melros St John" is inlaid into the stonework Each year in June the Melrose Festival  take a tour of places of interest in and around Melrose, the site of the original Lodge in Newstead  is the first stop where the Festival principals and followers meet with the Brethren of the Melrose  Lodge.    The Worshipful Master assures the Festival principals that Freemasonry still continues today as it did since the first stonemasons came to Melrose to build the abbey in 1136.
	This stonework, which was salvaged from the original Lodge at Neewstead, was attached to the outside of the Lodge and is now displayed on the south wall of the Lodge, it reads "Stones from the Old Lodge at Newstead and placed here AD 1892. Wm Hart RWM"
In the shadows of the Eildon Hills, Melrose Abbey exhibits the finest remains of the four Border Abbeys.  Originally built in 1136 by King David the 1st for the Cistercian Monks, it  is now in the care of Historic Scotland, where visitors are able to see examples of the lavish decorative work produced by the Masons  hundreds of  years ago and to see the place where it is believed that  the heart of Robert the Bruce  is buried.