Palatine Lodge No. 97

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.

James [Jim] Edward Harker was born in Middlesbrough on 29th August 1933 into a long line of Fairground Folk [and other Jim Harkers!]:

After leaving his National Service in the RAF in November 1954, during which he worked on Spitfires as a Senior Air craftsman, Jim returned to his life in ‘Civvy’ Street and worked both at the family fairground attractions as well as pursuing a career in the automotive parts supply business.

Masonically, 2022 has now come to a close for us and, as December is our Installation meeting, it also means passing from one Worshipful Master to the next.  WBro Paul Staines, albeit assisted / hampered by COVID, has become the first Worshipful Master since WBro Robert Hutton (1812-1815) to serve three consecutive years in the Master's Chair.  He has served the Office, and this Lodge, well, during his years.

One of our own, Prof. Denny Wilson, who had already achieved so much in Freemasonry - Past Deputy Provincial Grand Master of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Durham, and at time of writing, current Provincial Grand Master of Durham for the Mark Degree, and Past Master of this Lodge, has now been appointed Assistant Grand Master of the Grand Mark Lodge of England and Wales and its Districts and Lodges Overseas.

A very proud moment for this Lodge, and we wish Denny every success in his new role.

As we head into our summer recess we decided to go out with a bang, performing the first double-initiation undertaken by the Lodge in over twenty years, and certainly the first ever undertaken by the current Officers of the Lodge.  Given we only had one Lodge of Instruction to rehearse the double, all of those that took part can be immensely proud of the ritual on display, once again upholding the high standards we place upon ourselves.

As part of the Sunderland History Fair 2022, we once again opened our doors to the public on Saturday, 21st May.

Once again appreciating not everyone would be able to attend, a fly-by tour video was recorded.

We held an Open Day at Wearside Masonic Temple on Saturday, 19th March.
Appreciating not everyone would be able to attend, a fly-by tour video was recorded.

We'll be holding another Open Day on Saturday, 21st May, and all are welcome.

We had another great meeting on Thursday, 10th March.  For the third month running we performed a First Degree ceremony and welcomed a new member to our Lodge.  Pictured with the Worshipful Master, we have Mick (February), Anth (March), Paul (the Worshipful Master), and Jon (January).  

The enthusiasm shown by all three is really promising, and we look forward to many years of friendship to come.  

We're fortunate to still have a number of potential candidates and we're now scratching our heads to create a plan to get them in; some have been waiting a while.