Palatine Lodge No. 97

This article was first published 26th February 2021, but bumping it to our front page following the article in the Sunderland AFC match programme on New Year's Day, 2025.

Robert Singleton was born in July of 1852 in Garstang, Lancashire, to Robert Clifton Singleton and his wife Susannah (nee Dickinson).  He was the second of six children, having four brothers and a sister.  On the 1861 census his mother is listed as an Innkeeper’s widow, so she was left with a very young family to tend to. 

As always, our December meeting is our Installation - the time when we install the Master for the ensuing year and he appoints the Officers of the Lodge.

On this occasion, the Lodge Director of Ceremonies, Wayne Rumley, went back into the Chair, taking over from Steve Thompson who has presided over the Lodge for two great years, which included initiating seven new members to the Craft, organising several charity functions and a number of trips to other Lodges.  He can be proud of his achievements in those two years.

Back from recess with a bang. A double second-degree ceremony with great ritual from all involved, kicked off by Glen and Howell, the candidates, giving perfect answers to the questions put to them.  We also welcomed a joining member, David, who has recently moved to Sunderland.  He came along to our June meeting and enjoyed it so much he completed a form there and then.

50+ in attendance made up of over 30 of our own members and over 20 visitors, with the majority staying to dine.

Heading off into recess in style, we welcomed new members at both our May and June meetings.  Ken joined us in May, a long-time colleague and friend of Denny, one of our more senior members.  Brian joined us in June, a long-time friend of some of our newer members.

We had met both socially and enjoyed beers and a curry on a few different occasions.  We knew they would be a great fit and we are pleased to be able to count them amongst our numbers.

As mentioned in our March update, we've been pretty active so far this year, and April was no exception.  Our Worshipful Master, Steve, was answering family duties and was on holiday, so our Immediate Past Master, Paul, took the Chair for the evening.  We were doing a double second, and fate dictated that one of the candidates was Anth, who Paul proposed into Freemasonry and initiated when he was the Worshipful Master way back in March of 2022.

Conscious that we haven't yet posted this year, rest assured we have been busy!

January was another Initiation.  We welcomed Brother Howell to the Lodge, He is pictured here with a number of our newer members (standing to the left of our Worshipful Master - the one with the Square on his collar for any non-masons on viewing).

January

Once again, December brings the close of one year and the start of another. WBro Steve Thompson will remain as Worshipful Master for a second year, after a very successful first year, and what better way to commemorate that than by providing a recap of our year.

Sir William Allan was initiated into Palatine Lodge No. 97 in 1890 and remained a member until his death in 1903.  

He was an interesting character, his London Times Obituary, dated the 29th December 1903, documents a remarkably interesting life.

We hold regular social events, and have raffles at each of our meetings, and this helps us raise funds to donate to worthy causes.

Having followed us on our Facebook page for a little while, Mick Clark contacted us via Messenger in January of 2021. We couldn't meet at the time but invited him onto a few Zoom calls so that he could get to know us, and us him. 

He was initiated into this Lodge in February of 2022, passed earlier this year, and completed his third degree on the 9th of November 2023.  

A perfect example of, to be one, ask one, and we look forward to many years of friendship.

If you're interested in joining, or would like to know more about us, do as Mick did and drop us a message.

For anyone that has visited Palatine, you may have noticed the name that sits atop our list of Past Masters; H. B. Carter, PProvAGStB, 1963.  It’s very unlikely that many of you have met WBro Henry Brian Carter, or know that much about him, but here is a little of his story, and ours.

Thursday the 8th of June saw well over 100 Masons attend Palatine Lodge, No. 97, at Wearside Masonic Temple to celebrate 50 years in the Craft for V.W. Bro. Prof. Denovan Keith Wilson, PGSwdB, PDepProvGM.

A man as well respected as ‘Denny’ was always sure to draw a crowd.  The Durham Provincial Grand Master in the Craft, R.W. Bro. John Paul Thompson, attended with a Deputation of Provincial Officers, which included the Deputy and two Assistants.  The Past Provincial Grand Master, R.W. Bro. Norman Eric Heaviside, was also there.  

We've had a very busy year so far. January's First Degree was accompanied by another First Degree in February, a Second Degree in March, a double Second Degree in April and another double Second Degree in May.  We're taking a break from ritual in June - you'll see why next month - and will be busy once more after our recess.

We started our year with yet another First Degree last night. We welcomed Bro Ian to the Lodge and to Freemasonry in general. He's pictured in the Lodge room with our WM, left, and SD, right, who were his Seconder and Proposer respectively, and have known him a combined total of over 70 years (yes, we hear you ask, why did they all wait so long!?)

As it was our Installation meeting last month, this was the first time the officers have performed their duties in their new offices. A few nerves on display but our longstanding reputation of great ritual continues.