Mrs Leslie Newman, the wife of our Secretary, Wbro Keith Newman is an antiques dealer specialising mainly in Victorian Edwardian jewellery, however she often finds hidden gems of other kinds and at a recent car boot sale found a Lodge Temperance 2557 regalia case with apron and documents. The case and contents belonged to Bro Luke Nicholson.
Bro Luke Nicholson was 25 years old when he was initiated into Lodge Temperance 2557 on January 25th 1910 having been proposed as a fit a proper person to be admitted into freemasonry by WBro John Armstrong, P.M., PProvGSuptwks, Treasurer and seconded by Bro W. C. Crowe, Assistant Secretary at the meeting on December 20th 1909. Bro Luke was a “Rancher” residing at Blyth House, Leadgate just outside Consett, Co Durham from a family of drapers. He was only with the Lodge a short time resigning on 31st August 1910 and it’s unclear if he continued his Freemasonry.
Today, the UGLE book of constitutions rule 168 limits the conferring of a degree to no more than two candidates on the same day, but in the early 1900’s Lodge Temperance 2557 routinely performed a degree with up to five candidates and Bro Luke’s initiation was no different as he was one of five initiated on the same night including Mr Thomas Allinson, Mr Arthur Walter Hall, Mr James Ridley, and Mr Thomas Gowland and all by the same degree team! All five were passed to the second or Fellowcraft degree on February 21st and raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason on March 21st 1910.
WBro Keith is delighted to have these in his Masonic collection.
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Regalia and case of Bro Luke Nicholson
Regalia case of Bro Luke Nicholson
Lodge Temperance 2557 By-Laws c 1910
2557 Clearance Certificate Bro Luke Nicholson
Master Mason’s Apron Bro Luke Nicholson
