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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.
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.
We were always a little uncertain how many would attend our meeting, given it was the Thursday before the long bank holiday weekend, and it proved the case that the numbers were a little all-over. A host of our own brethren were notably absent, but, fortunately, we were well supported by our visitors.
The Lodge having been opened, we welcomed our visitors and then received the Assistant Provincial Grand Master, W Bro Simon Craig Steele, who was in attendance to present a 50-year certificate to Bro Ron Crossley.
Thursday, 9th March 2017, saw us meet at the slightly earlier time of 18:30, this being to allow us to comfortably accommodate the business of the evening.
A quiet meeting by our regular standards, with over twenty brethren absent for one reason or another.
We gave a lecture on the evening entitled The Masonic Apron. Palatine Lodge has been fortunate in being able to count many keen historians amongst its members, past and present, and this lecture was written by W Bro EG Watson, author of volume one of our Lodge history, and was compiled into the Palatine Book of Lectures by Bro GE Pearson in 1914.
On the 12th of January 2017 we had the good fortune of being able to celebrate our 260th anniversary, having been consecrated on the 14th January 1757.
The main business of the evening was the initiation of a new brother, a Mr Paul Wallace. Someone that I have known, a rather scary, 29 years and counting! We’re old school pals.
