Prior to his death in December 2022, he probably held the record in our Lodge, amongst current members, for the number of Lodges and side-degrees for which he can claim membership! We often wonder how he controlled such a busy diary!
He recalled the early days of our Lodge with considerable pride.
“The Founders’ meetings were held at Chester le Street Masonic Hall, under the guidance of Joe Cowey, and were much more sober affairs than those of the Social Committee. Gerry Shotton’s memories of those meetings reminded me of one of the said Social Committee who particularly enjoyed Tom’s famous hospitality. This was one Hance Embleton who regularly succumbed to the enticement of a young Keith Moffat to refill his glass.
The social committee were responsible for organising the many happy social events in the formative years of the Lodge. They worked hard – especially when you think that the duties of our then Senior Steward, Tom Moffat, was not only to organise the bar for our meetings and socials, but also to purchase the stock and hand a handsome profit to the Treasurer at the years end. This often entailed staffing the bar until 1 or 2 a.m. on a lodge night.
With the exception of J.J. Cowey, W.M. and R. Allison, S.W. no other Founder Past Master went through the Chair of Lodge of Progress 8259 as it was founded to “progress” younger masons. That is why we should always insist on our correct title “The Lodge of Progress” and not Progress Lodge as sometimes used by our sister lodges. The average time to reach the chair of other lodges in 1968 was anything between 10 to 17 years after becoming a steward, and it was for this reason our lodge was founded.
As the founder ‘Inner Guard’ I can recall a couple of items; the first being at our first working meeting when several visitors arrived late and using the “Scottish” method of announcement I said “several well known Brethren seek admission” to which Joe Cowey replied “You will find out the names and Lodges of these Brethren and repeat your report. ” Needless to say no one entered the Lodge late that year without being fully announced.
If you check on the first candidates you will see that the Inner Guard did not announce a single candidate that had only one Christian name, in fact one I will never forget, although not now a member, Adrian Michael Vaughan Connelly. Also we did not perform a first degree ceremony for a “single” candidate for a number of years.
As we all came from different Lodges with different ritual Joe Cowey presented each Officer with a signed copy of the “Nigerian Ritual”, which I still proudly own, with the hope that with us all ‘singing from the same hymn-sheet’ the D.C.’s job, that of G.D. Shotton, would be made easier.
I also well remember some ‘pearls of wisdom’ given to me by Gerry on my appointment; “Remember the tone of the evening is set by the first report of the Inner Guard. Speak up and be smart of attitude – I don’t want to see you looking at the floor when taking the step or making your salute.”
I have many pleasant memories of Lodge meetings and can not recall any occasion which has caused me to regret being a member or the distinct honour of being a Founder and Past Master.”
Lodge of Progress 8259 
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