Forth Tuesday.  Except June, July, August, December  

A Short History of Moorside Lodge

 Written by Members of Moorside Lodge  

Included is a report on the 50th Anniversary Meeting.

Naturally we in Moorside Lodge had the traditions and Landmarks set by our founder Brethren, in September of 1951. Sadly, with one exception W.Bro Brian Batley, the founders are all long departed.  The Lodge was formed with Fenham Lodge No 4019 as our Mother Lodge.  Lodge Prudence No 3424, as Grand Mother Lodge, and Westgate Lodge No 5513, is our sister Lodge.

The Ideas of our founders was to have a simple inexpensive Temperance Lodge.  Therefore we wear Lounge suits and do not parade, in or out ,of our Temple.  Naturally no alcoholic drink is consumed at our festive board. 

The Traditions at the same time kept down our costs.  More to the point however, every effort was made to keep expenses, and Lodge subscriptions low.  Indeed Fees, which included Dining, for the first year, were: -       

Initiation fees             15 Guineas

Joining Fee                 5 Guineas

Annual Subscription   2 Guineas

Our Founders had wished to name the lodge after the well known Temperance figure, W.Bro Robinson, being unable to do so, it was named after his residence, and the gate motif on our Banner, comes from his house gate.

The Lodge was consecrated in 1951, and met at the Assembly Rooms, Westgate Road, Until 23rd April 1963, when the premises underwent extensive renovation. From 28th May 1963, until June 1968, the Lodge met under dispensation at the Co-operative Hall, Walbottle. In September of 1968, we held our first meeting in the new West Masonic Temple, at Ferguson’s Lane, Benwell.  We had, in the pervious five years, raised our share of the cost of the new building, by means of raffles, Levies on members, and a variety of money raising efforts.  

During our first three years, 1951 to 1954, the Provincial Grand Master gave us a dispensation, which allowed us to hold our June Meeting, in July, to avoid having a meeting during the Newcastle Race Week.  The new P.G.M. saw an end to this practice.

A shortfall of Lodges in the West Masonic Temple, coupled with rising cost and falling membership of our own Lodge, led us to move to Newcastle West Temple, in 1985.

Lodge membership peaked in 1969/70, when we had 111 subscribing members.  In those days we initiated 6 candidates every year, and had a two year waiting list.  We held double degree meetings, every November.  We started at 6:00 pm, with a second degree ceremony, followed by a first degree ceremony at 7:15 pm.  In fact in some years a number of two degree meetings were held.  A gradual decline over the next 25 years, saw our membership fall to 28 in 1996, since then we have recovered to our present 39 members, with the hope of four or five initiates in the next twelve months.

That decline had, of course, forced us to make some hard decisions over the years.  The cost of staying in Newcastle West Temple, resulted to our moving to our present location at Throckley in 1985.

Last year saw the Dedication of the Moorside Lodge Banner and the presentation of a Tyler’s sword by W.Bro D Lawson.

Amendment and additions to Moorside Lodge History

5OTH  ANNIVERSARY MEETING

      On Tuesday 23rd OCTOBER 2001 Moorside Lodge held a meeting to celebrate it's Golden Jubilee and were honored by a visit by the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master, George Usher and Officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge as under:-

W Bro RGB Scullard Assistant Provincial Grand Master

     Bro A Pyle      Provincial Grand Chaplain

W Bro B Taylor  Provincial Grand Secretary

W Bro W Burns Provincial Grand Sword Bearer

W Bro J Welsh   Provincial Grand Standard Bearer

W Bro D Welsh  Provincial Grand Standard Bearer

W Bro D Lilly     Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies

The Master's Chair was taken by the Provincial Grand Master, who appointed W Bro Tony Lane, Past Provincial Senior Grand Warden as Senior Warden and W Bro Albert Robson Past Provincial Senior Grand Deacon as Junior Warden.

     W Bro Brian Taylor, Provincial Grand Secretary, read the Warrant of the Lodge.

     The minutes of the first meeting held on 25th September 1951, were rear by Bro İan Mitchinson, Secretary of the Lodge.

     An oration was given by Bro Alan Pyle  the Provincial Grand Chaplain.   Who also led an Act of Thanksgiving for the well being of The Moorside Lodge No 7120 during the last fifty years.

     The ceremony was followed by a Golden Jubilee Festive Board, where W Bro RGB Scullard PAGDC proposed a toast to The  Moorside Lodge

     All Brethren were presented with a commemorative Diary and Wallet. A Charity Raffle raised the sum of 130.00 pounds for the NMCA. The cost of the evening being supported by funds raised over the previous five years.

Our first 50 year member

     Although a number of our brethren have completed 50 years in masonry, Brother Harry Forster is the first to do so after being initiated into The Moorside Lodge on 27^th November 1951, and at our regular meeting on 26^th February 2002, he was presented with his 50 years Service Certificate on behalf of the Provincial Grand Master by W Bro John Henry Irving PAGDC. At the Festive Board held on the same evening the Lodge presented an appropriately engraved decanter to mark the occasion.