The old phrase “You wait ages for a bus and then three come along at the same time!” is no more relevant than for the Bruce family this year.
Northumberland Freemasons joins in the celebrations of the incredible achievement of the family who have received three Provincial Grand Chapter honours for three generations of the same family, in the same year.
EComp Ryan Bruce joined the Royal Arch Chapter when he was Exalted into De Loraine Chapter No.541, which meets at Fern Avenue Masonic Hall, in January 2012, serving as Z in 2018. He is a joining member of Northumbrian First Principals’ Chapter No.3477, which he joined in 2018 and was acknowledged in Provincial Grand Chapter in 2020, when he was appointed to the rank of Provincial Grand Steward, being promoted this year to the active rank of Provincial Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies.
Ryan was initiated into Freemasonry when he joined St Mark’s Lodge No.5529 in April 2011. He is a joining member of the Insurance and Banking Lodge of Northumbria No.3886, Northumbrian Masters Lodge No.3477 and a Founder member of the Provincial Grand Stewards Lodge of Northumberland No.9981. He has occupied the Masters chair on three separate occasions and is currently the Assistant Secretary and Membership Officer in the Northumbrian Masters Lodge, Assistant Secretary and Assistant Director of Ceremonies in Insurance and Banking Lodge, and Treasurer and Assistant Secretary in St Marks Lodge. He was acknowledged in Provincial Grand Lodge in 2018 when he was appointed to the rank of Past Provincial Grand Steward.
His father, EComp John N Bruce was also Exalted into De Loraine Chapter in October 2007, also becoming a joining member of Northumbrian First Principals’ Chapter in 2015.. He occupied the office of Z of De Loraine Chapter in 2013 and is currently their Scribe Ezra. He was acknowledged in Provincial Grand Chapter when he was appointed ton the rank of Provincial Grand Scribe Nehmiah, an office he has been appointed to once again.
John was initiated into Freemasonry in October 1989 when he joined Highveld Lodge No.7750 in South Africa, subsequently becoming a joining member of St Mark’s Lodge in 2006, Northumbrian Masters Lodge in 2011, Insurance and Banking Lodge of Northumbria also in 2011, Reserve Forces of Northumbria Lodge No.2666 in in 2016 and finally Victoria Rifles Lodge No.822 in 2021. He was acknowledged in Provincial Grand Lodge in 2017 when he was appointed to the rank of Provincial Grand Superintendent of Works, receiving subsequent promotion to Provincial Senior Grand Warden in 2021.
His grandfather, EComp John C Bruce joined the Royal Arch Chapter in June 1971, when he was Exalted into Mufulira Chapter No.5326, in Zambia, becoming a joining member of De Loraine Chapter in 2007 and Northumbrian First Principals’ Chapter in 2018. He was acknowledged in Provincial Grand Chapter this year when he was appointed to the rank of Past Provincial Assistant Grand Sojourner and is the current Treasurer of De Loraine Chapter.
He joined Freemasonry in 1969 when he was initiated into Mufulira Lodge No.5326, in Zambia, becoming a Founder member Copperbelt Lodge of Installed Masters No.9136, also in Zambia. He became a joining member of St Mark’s Lodge and Northumbrian Masters Lodge in 2017. He occupied the office of Master of St Mark’s Lodge in 2022.
If you have a story, event or news item you would like to have published on the Provincial website, or social media, please get in touch with our Communications Team at news@northumberlandmasons.org.uk