Masonry In Northumberland.

ever , in whatever order they are taken , can hardly be uninteresting to Freemasons . I shall therefore begin with Provincial Grand Lodge .

INTERIOR OF THE ALNWICK LODGE , No . II ( 17 , ALNWICK .

The Provincial Grand Lodge of Northumberland has fortunately had in its Provincial Grand Masters , brethren , whose rank , character , and the estimation in which they were held in the north , have combined to ensure that continued success which the province has enjoyed since

its establishment in 1735 under the first ruler , Mathew Ridlev , Esq ., who died April 6 th , 177 8 . Men of such standing and Masonic zeal could not fail to inspire the various officers who have had the honour of serving under them with the same lofty ideals , the same love of the Craft ,

FOI'TII-EAST I'OliNKI ! OF ST . DAVID'S I . ODGI-: ROOM , ISEIi \ VI ( 'K-ON-TW KKD .

the same broad Masonic Charity which guided them in the discharge of their exalted duties . It is doubtless owing to these brethren who were so highly esteemed by hitih

personages at the head of the Grand Lt dge , tlv . it causes which have at times been exerting a centrifugal influence in the province have been smoothed away , and that the most distant province in the kingdom has

remained so loyal to the great Central Institutions . lt is undoubtedly the case that even down lo the present time the province has felt that its great distance from the warming heart of the Craft has caused

it to feel rather chilling waves of coldness , which it has taken some tactfully supplied local clothing to dispel and convert into a desirable degree of warmth . But this has been done ; and loyalty to the much esteemed provincial chief has been no small factor in the process of its

achievement . The first Provincial Grand Master of Northumberland , Mathew Ridley , Esq ., was appointed by the Right Hon . John Lindsay , Earl of Craufnrd , in 1735 , and about the same time , Joseph Laycock ,

Esq ., was appointed the first P . G . M . of Durham . There are notices of meetings of the brethren in the Xcivcasllc Coiiranl , in I 73 ° , > 73 > 1732 , 1734 : » ld

1735-" At a meeting on Wednesday last , the Ancient and most Honourable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons

unanimously chose John Fenwicke , Esq ., their Grand Master for the ensuing year , a gentleman of great accomplishments , character , and plentiful fortune . "—( Xairasllc Coiiranl , 30 th December , 1732 ) ; so that it is evident that prior to 1735 the Masons of the Province elected their own P . G . M ., 01 Grand Master as he was styled , and were independent of any

central authority in London . In 1731 there is the following notice : "A meeting is appointed to be held at the Lodge at the house of Jonah Grev , King ' s Arms , Key Side , on Wednesday , 16 th June , at

i 1 o ' clock in the morning , where a dinner will be ' providcd , by order of Mathew White , Master , < S : c . " This Mathew White was created a Baronet on the 6 th