Palatine Lodge No. 97

Well, after a forced absence due to the COVID-19 restrictions, we had our first meeting back on the 10th September.

Restrictions still in place meant that we were not able to have visitors, and a good number of our own brethren still feel it is unsafe to return.  As a lodge we also feel that the amendments required to perform a ceremony would detract too much from the spectacle, and we are not prepared to carry one out in the current circumstances.

A planned double-second but work commitments prevented one of our Entered Apprentices from being able to attend.  A single-second was the order of the day.

We were missing our Junior Deacon who was a little under the weather, but we had a fine stand in with one of our Past Masters, who performed the role perfectly, despite having no notice!

A special meeting for us this month.  We celebrated the 50th Anniversary of WBro Bob Parsons.  As it was Bob's special night, we took the opportunity of having a 'night off' from ritual, thus ending a two year run of 'live' ceremonies.  A welcomed respite!

The Lodge was opened and we then admitted our official Fraternal visitors, before receiving the Assistant Provincial Grand Master, W Bro Simon Craig Steele, who was in attendance to present the 50-year certificate to Bob.

Happy New Year!  As ever for us, new year and first full outing of the new team.  Nothing like putting them straight to the test, as we have done for the past few years, and this year we did it with a double-second.  It's incredible to think that it's the second double-second we've done in recent months, and we still have another four people to put through this ceremony!  We're planning on doing doubles for those, too.

For the first time in a little while we had a full complement of floor officers, and it was great to see them all perform admirably in their new positions.

Where has 2019 gone?  December is upon us and, for Palatine, that can mean only one thing, our Annual Installation.

For the first time since 2015 we have a brand new Worshipful Master, with the installation of our Senior Warden, Master Elect, into the Chair of King Solomon; Brother Paul Staines.

The representative on the evening was friend of the lodge, WBro Ian Telfer, ably assisted, once again, by WBro Richard Davison, as his Director of Ceremonies, both of whom were given a very warm welcome into the lodge.

For the second November in a row, we raised a brother so that he could join the ladder of officers at our Installation meeting in December.

With December being our Installation, we first had the election of officers.  Our SW, who would have been WM this year had it not been for a hectic work schedule last year, was duly chosen as Master Elect.  Congratulations Paul.

As we've a number of short videos available now, we've decided to give them their own page, available from the What is Freemasony menu, or just click here.

A bunch of us feature in a new video produced by Durham Freemasons, including yours truly. I wasn't planning on being in the video, so if I look a little disheveled, it's because I was totally unprepared to be on camera that day - just filled in for a no-show! If it sparks an interest, please feel free to get in touch. We'll be happy to chat.

Well, after a run of seven straight initiations we simply had to start working through our backlog of ceremonies, especially as some of our newer members will be stepping on to the ladder in December.

Our nine Entered Apprentices have just been reduced to seven; we did a double second degree ceremony this month.  The first in a very long time - we've not had one since I've been a member, and I've been in almost 10 years!

We're back from recess and straight back to business.  Another initiation: A Magnificent Seven.  Every one of our meetings this year has been to introduce a new candidate to Freemasonry, and what a great bunch of guys they are, even if we do say so ourselves.

Anthony has been waiting in the wings for a little while, having first contacted us in October of last year.  As they say, patience is a virtue, both for him and for us, and we were very glad to finally be able to count him as a brother. 

Hit for six!  We have now completed the first half of the year, and have been very fortunate in being able to initiate a new candidate at every one of our meetings.

Another candidate from our website, this one approaching us having had a conversation with a family member who is a Freemason down in Brighton.  Suffice it to say, he came well recommended when due enquiries were made, and we were most pleased to welcome him to the Craft.