It was a very special evening on Friday 14th March at Adoniram Lodge of Mark Master Masons No. 1483. The evening started with the Master, W. Bro. Graham Rowley, delivering a well-researched lecture entitled ‘£511 19s 0d’. This proved to be an historical account of the founding and development of the Glenfarclas Distillery in Speyside Scotland. All present agreed that it was a very interesting and informative talk.
There then followed a unique event in the Lodge when the Provincial Grand Master, R. W. Bro. Ray Walton, presented two 50 Year Certificates to two members of the Lodge who are actual brothers. The first certificate was on behalf of the Grand Master, M. W. Bro. His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent, GCVO. The second was on behalf of the Mark Province of Northumberland. The two brothers concerned were W. Bro. John Shaw and W. Bro. Maurice Shaw.
Bro. John was advanced into Nepos Lodge of Mark Master Masons No. 1155 on 16th April 1974 and his brother W. Bro. Maurice followed him into the same Lodge on 17th September later that year. Both W. Bro. John and W. Bro. Maurice became Founder members of Ridley Mark Lodge No. 1439 in 1975 which sadly went on to surrender its warrant in 2013. Both joined Adoniram Mark Lodge No. 1483, and then Blagdon Mark Lodge No. 547 in 2013.
Records show that W. Bro. John was WM of Ridley Lodge in 1981 and WM of Adoniram Lodge in 2004. He was appointed as Provincial Grand Sword Bearer in 1986 and promoted to Past Provincial Grand Junior Warden in 1990. He was honoured with the Grand Rank of Past Assistant Grand Standard Bearer in 2007. He has consistently occupied an office in the Lodge for over 40 years and is always willing to assist when visiting other Mark Lodges and has an extensive command of the Ritual.
Bro. Maurice was WM of Ridley Lodge in 1986 and Adoniram Lodge in 2006. His first Provincial Rank was Provincial Grand Inspector of Works in 1990 followed by promotions to Past Provincial Grand Master Overseer in 1995 and then to Past Provincial Grand Junior Warden in 2007. Like his brother, W. Bro. Maurice has always been willing to take an office when needed.
After a few reminisces of 1974 and the intervening years R. W. Bro. Ray congratulated and thanked both brothers for their years of faithful service to the Mark Degree in Northumberland. He then went on with the very pleasing act of making a field promotion to Past Provincial Grand Senior Warden to W. Bro. Maurice for his commitment to the Order. This is the highest Provincial Appointment a member can receive and was a very well-deserved promotion.
We thank W. Bro. John and W. Bro. Maurice for their many years of dedicated service and hope that they have many more years enjoying the companionship and friendship of the Order.
The meeting was then followed by good food in good company, rounding off another wonderful Mark evening.
BREAKING NEWS
NMBF Summer BBQ 2025
Saturday 26th July at Shiremoor Masonic Hall
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The Great North Air Ambulance receives Grant from MBF
The Travelling Sceptre has found its way to the very far north of the Province to Berwick-upon-Tweed and now resides in the care of St Cuthbert’s Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners No 192. It’s there to be won, but the Lodge only meets twice a year on the 1st Wednesday in May and October, and that’s the challenge.
The Travelling Gavel has left Whitley Bay and moved from the furthest east of the Province to the furthest west and is now in the possession of Hexham Lodge of Mark Master Masons No 1141. Perhaps it can now make its way to the far north to compete the Northumberland triangle.
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