Congratulations from Northumberland Freemasons to Belvedere Lodge No.6558, which meets at Whitley Bay Masonic Hall, on their recent triple celebrations where the Lodge celebrated 75 years of existence and 2 members received fifty year certificates for their meritous service to the Craft.
In 1942 the Past Masters of Monkseaton Lodge No.3637 met to consider the formation of a Daughter Lodge, the membership of the Lodge being some 130 brethren. Following discussions with the Provincial Grand Secretary it was decided that any further consideration regarding the formation of a new Lodge should be left until the end of the war. By 1946 the membership had risen to 148 and Provincial Grand Lodge agreed that the formation of a Daughter lodge was justified.
The name of the Lodge is derived from a district of Whitley Bay, and the motto, “Bellus Videre”, is taken from the Latin Bello, meaning beautiful, and Videre, meaning sight or see. In Architecture a raised turret, or canteen, on the top of a house or summer house, erected on an eminence, commanding a fine view, hence the detail of the Lodge Crest.
There were 19 Founder members and 13 joining members, the majority from Monkseaton Lodge. It was agreed that the dress code for the new Lodge would be Evening suits and that the Lodge would hold its meetings on the First Thursday of the month, July and August excepted.
The consecration of the Lodge took place on 12th January 1948 in the Masonic Hall, Albion Road, North Shields, in the Temple of Lindisfarne Lodge No.2762, who also supplied their own regalia for use in the ceremony. The Deputy Provincial Grand Master W. Bro. Sidney I. Wilson. PGD officiated as the Consecrating Officer in the absence of the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master W. Bro. W. Cooper Bailey, who was unable to attend owing to a sudden indisposition.
W.Bro. Ernest Albert Affleck was Installed as Master of the Lodge, with his Wardens being W.Bro. James E Sykes, as Senior Warden and Bro. Alfred B. Jameson, as Junior Warden. All Founders were members of Monkseaton Lodge.
Three candidates were proposed for initiation, Mr Leslie Tuddenham an Assistant Works Manager with Adamsez Ltd, Sanitary Engineers of Newcastle, Mr Joseph Clasper, a Manager with Messrs G.H. Tweddle & Co. Ltd, Timber Merchants of Newcastle and Mr Conrad Marshall, a Lieut. Commander in HM’s Royal Navy. During the first year of the Lodge four candidates, the other being Mr James K. Wall, were initiated, there were 13 joining members making a total membership, including the 19 Founder members, of 36.
Following the consecration meeting subsequent meetings were held at the Old Assembly Rooms Whitley Road until the 76th and 77th meetings, which were held in the Grand Hotel, Tynemouth. The 78th meeting was held in the new Masonic Hall at Norham Road where meetings have been held ever since, the only change, made in March 1963, being to the Lodge recess, from July and August to August and September.
During the past 75 years many members have been very generous with their gifts to the Lodge of regalia etc. Firstly there is the Lodge Banner, which was made and embroidered by the wife of W. Bro. G. C. Hopkins. After 2500 hours work the Banner was ready for presentation to the Lodge, which the Provincial Grand Master, R.W. Bro. J.M.S. Coates, MBE unveiled and dedicated at the regular meeting held on 2nd October 1958. In March 1956 the Lodge Organist, Bro. William G. Jameson presented a beautiful Indian Ivory gavel still used on special occasions by the Director of Ceremonies. Through the good offices of W. Bro. R.J. Scott, Master in 1952 the Masonic Hall Company acquired the handsome chair used at the Festive Board by Masters of the Whitley Bay Lodges. It was recently refurbished having previously been refurbished in 1998 by W. Bro Leslie Little.
In addition to the celebrations two members of the Lodge, W.Bros Chris Boak and Jim Nicholson, celebrated a fabulous fifty years of uninterrupted service to the Craft.
Chris and Jim went to the same school RGS, not the one in Newcastle, but the Ralph Gardener in North Shields, but didn’t know each other at that time.
In the early 1980’s Chris took his son Simon to join the cub scout pack which Jim was running, Chris offered to help Jim run the meetings and became a Leader himself. At that time both Jim and Chris were members of the Craft, in separate lodges, Jim in Belvedere and Chris in Links, and were visiting each other at their Lodge meetings. It’s not clear which contact sparked their friendship, however it’s a friendship that has endured.
Jim was initiated into Freemasonry in March 1973, when he joined Belvedere Lodge, subsequently becoming a joining member of Links Lodge No.7666 prior to its sad demise. He has occupied the Masters chair on an incredible five occasions, twice with Links Lodge and three times with Belvedere Lodge. He was acknowledged in Provincial Grand Lodge when he received appointment to the rank of Past Provincial Senior Grand Deacon in 2001, receiving subsequent promotion in 2006 to Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden, before being appointed in United Grand Lodge to the rank of Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies in 2011.
He joined the Royal Arch Chapter in 1991 when he was exalted into Chantry Royal Arch Chapter No.6669, prior to it being erased when he joined Napier Clavering Royal Arch Chapter No.2821, where he remains a member. He was acknowledged in Provincial Grand Chapter in 2008 when he received appointment to Past Provincial Grand Sojourner, receiving subsequent promotion in 2014 to Past Provincial Grand Scribe Nehmiah.
Chris was initiated into Freemasonry in April 1973 when he joined Links Lodge, prior to its erasure and became a joining member of Belvedere Lodge in 2003 and David Kenneth Williamson Lodge No.9938 in 2017. He has occupied the Masters chair on five occasions, three times in Links Lodge and a further two times with Belvedere Lodge and is currently the Lodge Treasurer and Director of Ceremonies. He was acknowledged in Provincial Grand Lodge in 1991 when he was appointed to the active rank of Provincial Senior Grand Deacon, receiving subsequent promotion to Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden in 1996. He was acknowledged in United Grand Lodge when he received appointment to Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies in 2009, receiving subsequent promotion to Past Senior Grand Deacon in 2013, having been appointed in Provincial Grand Lodge to Assistant Provincial Grand Master the previous year.
He was exalted into the Royal Arch Chapter in 1980 when he joined Lord Armstrong Royal Arch Chapter No.5344, occupying the Chair of Z on four occasions. He was acknowledged in Provincial Grand Chapter in 1995 when he received appointment to Past Provincial Assistant Grand Sojourner, receiving subsequent promotion to Past Provincial Grand Scribe Nehmiah. He was then acknowledged in Supreme Grand Chapter when he received appointment to the rank of Past Grand Standard Bearer in 2008, receiving subsequent promotion in 2017 to Past Assistant Grand Sojourner.
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