Eslington Lodge No. 4623

Centenary Celebration 2024

The Founders of Eslington Lodge degreed in the By-Laws that the refreshments supplied at or by the Lodge after, or in connection with any meeting, should be of a ‘‘non-intoxicating nature’’. Despite economic considerations and social changes, and attitude towards drink, there wishes where still being observed, until October 2018. When the By- Laws were changed to allow alcohol to be served.

It was not until the Lodge had been running for 20 years that members felt the need for instruction, and on 30th October 1944, Eslington Lodge of Instruction was formed. It is still thriving and has been responsible for the high standard of ritual work associated with the Lodge over the years.

Over the whole life of the Lodge music has been provided by only five Brethren namely, W.Bro. W.S. Jorden; Bro. W.M. Clapperton, (for 38 years); Bro. J.M. Laws; W.Bro. D. Younger and W.Bro. L. Easton, an Honorary Member of the Lodge who occupied the Office of Organist, whilst W.Bro. D. Younger progressed through the various Offices of the Lodge. Sadly since W.Bro. Since W.Bro. D. Younger retired from the Lodge, we have not been able to fill that Office. However, Bro. Dr. Tony Richardson a Past Master of Industry Lodge has been playing at our recent meetings and we are grateful to him for providing music once more.

One Brother who is worthy of a mention is the late W.Bro. Fred Whaley who was Initiated in November 1933, Passed in March 1934, and Raised in October 1934. He was installed as Worshipful Master in April 1949 being the 26th Master and was appointed to the rank of PPAGStdBr in 1959. W.Bro. Fred was a prolific visitor to the Dunston and Gateshead Lodges and well-known and respected throughout the Province. He died shortly after completing 55 years’ service in November 1988 and left half of his estate to Eslington Lodge.

This is invested in the “Fred Whaley Memorial Fund” and each new Initiate on completion of his Third Degree receives a Masonic Bible purchased from this Fund.

There have been many family connections in the Lodge in the names of Jordan, Nicholson, Tindale, Easton, Younger, Alderdice, and Rankin, whereby sons have been proposed by their Fathers, also W.Bro. G.G.R. Wake, who proposed his father. The current Membership includes W.Bro. F.A. Rankin PJGD and his son W.Bro. M. Rankin PAGStdBr, ProvGDC, Lodge Secretary and W.Bro. G.G.R. Wake and his father Bro. G. Wake. The Dunston Masonic Hall Company and the Craft Lodges and other Degrees in the building are indebted to the late W.Bro. John Harold Easton PJGD for his duties as Catering Officer for 27 years. Eslington Lodge is proud of its charitable contributions and in the par- ticular to the efforts of W.Bro. H. Robson PPJGW, W.Bro. A Coleby PPJGD, W.Bro. J.A. Armstrong PPGSWks and W.Bro. F.A. Rankin PJGD, as the Representatives for the 1979,1989, 1999, 2009, and 2021 Festivals respectively; their efforts resulted in the Lodge obtaining Platinum status in every instance.

The 50th Anniversary of Eslington Lodge was celebrated on the 8th May1974 when the membership was 128, the 60th Anniversary was cel- ebrated on the 13th June 1984 when the membership was 102, the 75th Anniversary was celebrated on the 10th March 1999 when the member- ship was 52, today the membership is 16.

Since its inception Eslington Lodge has continued to foster the principles and tenets of Freemasonry and each generation can make the proud claim to have handed to its success the tradition of our order “Pure and Unsullied ”. In recent years Eslington Lodge has been fortunate and proud to have members appointed as Officers of United Grand Lodge.

These include W.Bro. J.H. Easton to PAGDC in 1985 and promoted to PJGD in 1994 until his death in 2015. W.Bro F.A. Rankin PAGDC in 2002 and promot- ed to PJGD, in 2021, W.Bro J.A. Easton PAGStdBr in 2005 and W.Bro. M. Rankin PAGStdBr in 2018 and promoted to the acting rank of AGDC in 2024.

These Brethren have served our Lodge, our Province and Grand Lodge well and we thank and congratulate them all on their preferment.

Several Brethren of long membership include Bro. Tom Havis who received his 50-year Certificate in 2006, W.Bro. Harold Robson PPJGW who received his 50-year Certificate in 2008 and Bro. Ronald Frazer Clayton who received his 60-year Certificate in 2008. Later in 2024 we will have two further Brethren who will reach this remarkable landmark, W.Bro. F.A. Rankin and W.Bro. J.A. Easton.

Eslington Lodge reduced its Meetings from ten meetings to seven in February 2015; this resulted in no further meetings in June, September, and January; historically these months are poorly attended.

Fourteen Candidates have been initiated into Eslington Lodge over the past 25 years, four of these Candidates have worked steadily through the various Offices and eventually obtained the highest honour, the Chair of the Lodge. Eslington Lodge No. 4623 is firmly established as a friendly Lodge to visit.

Over the years we have received many accolades about our ritual work, our charitable donations, our hospitality and our standing in Dunston and our Province of Durham remains unwatered. We are a Lodge that believes in standards, both ceremonially and in the conduct of Members and Visiting Brethren.

Long may these precepts be continued within our Lodge and as we reach 100 years in age, we are grateful to all those who went before us and thankful for all those who support us.

The attendance of our Provincial Grand Master, RtW. Bro. John Paul Thompson here today together accompanied by a large supporting Provincial Deputation, reflects the standing that Eslington Lodge is held within our Province.

We thank everyone for attending our Centenary celebrations today and we welcome you back at some time in the future, visit Durham Freemasons Provincial web site to view further details of the evening. Centenary Celebration