The Provincial Grand Master attended the final meeting of the Ernest Dixon Mark Lodge No. 1015 which was held at Queen Street in Sunderland on this occasion.
The Ernest Dixon Mark Lodge was Consecrated in 1944 and took its name from Rt W Bro R.W.Ernest Dixon who is our longest serving Provincial Grand Master to date, from 1938 to 1959. The Mother Lodge is Ravensworth Mark Lodge number 718 which was Consecrated some 24 years earlier. And in turn, Ravensworth Lodge is a daughter Lodge of Bede Mark Lodge number 605 which was Consecrated in 1909. All three are Sunderland based Lodges.
As a side note, Ravensworth Mark Lodge was the first Lodge Consecrated under the new Province of Durham, following the separation from Northumberland. The then Provincial Grand Master, Lord Ravensworth was its first Worshipful Master.
Whilst it is always a pleasure to visit a Lodge, the Provincial Grand Master had the difficult duty to receive the Warrant from the Ernest Dixon Mark Lodge. This is never an easy task and one which is always done with sincerity, respectfulness and decorum.
The PGM was supported on this occasion by a multitude of acting as well as past Provincial Officers, even though this wasn’t a formal visit. Many friends of Lodge members and visitors joined to create a memorable occasion, for the right reasons.
Whilst this could be a sad occasion and there definitely was a touch of sadness at moment the Warrant was surrendered, everyone is celebrating the life of the Lodge. This was ably exemplified by Roy Neville who gave a short memoir of his time in the Lodge, highlighting the characters and memorable moments of recent past.
Although the Lodge is closing after 79 years, every single member is joining another Mark Lodge.
The Worshipful Master, John Cox had the pleasure of presenting the PGM with two cheques towards the Durham 2029 Festival to close the accounts. The cheques were in the names of the two Lodges where most members are joining, Bede and Ravensworth Mark Lodges. Once these cheques are processed, those two Lodges should be well on their way to achieving Diamond status.
It may be the end of an era, but what an era. However, the story lasts in the members who will continue their Mark Masonry in their other Lodges.