The Province Of Durham.

custom , the latter dating back to early in the eighteenth century . Sir Henry Vane Tempest , M . P ., Avas initiated in 1805 ; IAVO years later Dr . Clanny , " the inventor of the miner ' s safety lamp which bears his name , " Avas . also admitted . Several "Ancient" Masons of Newcastle were re-obligated and had the three degrees re-conferred on themAvithout ,

, liOAvever , ceasing to be members of the "Ancient" or Athol Lodge in that town . The members of the St . Nicholas Lodge , then No . 208 , also of NeAvcastle , refused to admit them as visitors , so the latter complained to the Marquis ¦ of Granby Lodge , AVIIO laid the matter before the Grand

Secretary . HOAV it Avas decided does not appear , but as in 1814 the St . Nicholas joined the Newcastle-on-Tyne Lodge , No . 24 ( then 26 ) , to which those brethren belonged , the -difficulty must have been duly adjusted .

BARON'S HALL , RABY CASTLK .

In 1811 the foundation-stone of the new lodge room was laid by Sir Ralph Milbanke , Bart ., and Avas occupied later in the same year . A similar function took place in 1868-9 , Avhen the HBAV and larger Freemasons' Hall Avas inaugurated , at a cost of over ^ 3 , , much to the credit of the members .

On 26 th October , 1814 , the Earl of Durham , then John George Lambton , Esq ., M . P ., Avas initiated , being one of five Provincial Grand Masters of Durham who have been members of the lodge . Just at this period , it may be as Avell to note the fact that seven Deputy Provincial Grand Masters have

also been on the lodge roll , including the present esteemed Deputy Provincial Grand Master the Rev . Canon Tristram , D . D ., P . G . C . of England , the celebrated Oriental traveller and distinguished scholar . In view of the necessity for being brief I must forbear

quoting many other interesting facts from Bro . Logan ' s history of No . 124 , Durham . I must , however , take space enough to state that the lodge not only subscribed toAvards the jewel to be presented to the Earl of Moira , Acting Grand Master , prior to leaving for India as Governor-General ,

but also presented an address to that most zealous and distinguished Mason . Special efforts were made to perfect the brethren in the work , consequent upon a rearrangement of the ceremonies after the union of the two ri \ -al Grand Lodges in 1813 , the head-quarters for the purpose being at Sunderland , brethren from there visiting Durham to confer with and instruct the

members , and even one from No . 124 went to reside in Sunderland so as to perfect himself for " the benefit of the Granby Lodge . " I should also like to note the fact that my late friend , Bro . the Rev . A . F . A . Woodford , Avas Worshipful Master of the lodge in 1843-6 , and also to draAV attention to the Centenary Festival Avhich was held 8 th

September , 186 3 , in the presence of the R . W . Bro . John FaAvcett ( a member ) , when the neAV centenary jeAvels Avere first worn , by virtue of a special charter from the M . W . Grand Master ; the design consisting of a live-pointed star , having the arms of the city in the centre , the garter bearing

the name of the lodge . The present article being devoted to the Three Degrees of Masonry only , it will not do to refer at any length to the Royal Arch , which Avas first worked in the city apparently

in 1783 , the chapter obtaining a centenary jewel Avarrant in 1888 . Bro . Logan ' s history of the chapter should be consulted on this subject , so also in relation to the Mark Degree , which Avas conferred under the wing of the lodge in 1773 ( the second oldest in England ) , and noted in its by-laws of 1775 . The " Order of the Heredom" Avas

imparted in 1773 , also under the tegis of the lodge , and for four years later , with the Worshipful Master usually present in his official capacity ' . The second in precedence on the roll is the St . John ' s Lodge , No . 80 , Sunderland , the senior being No . 4 8 ,

Gateshead . St . John ' s OAves its high position on the register to its " Atholl " origin , the only one in the county still at work . Strange to say , though the warrant is dated in 1805 , the lodge takes precedence of the Phoenix of 1755 , and the Palatine of 1757 , both of Sunderland , and of others of that century ,

owing to its obtaining the vacant number formerly held by the Orange , No . 94 , held in the 51 st Regiment , which made no return after 1781 . In the existing charter mention is made of the year 177 6 , which is simply clerical , and refers to the volume in Grand Lodge . Its constitution took place in

1806 by the " Knight of Malta , " attached to the 2 nd Regiment of Royal Lancashire Militia , as mentioned by Bro . Logan in" his history of No . 80 ( 1889 ) . The members had the right to Avork the Royal Arch by virtue of their warrant , as with all "Atholl" subordinates , and exercised that privilege almost at the start , as they permitted IAVO brethren to " pass