Eminent Knight Duncan McIsaac, P.Prov.Chamb.
07 September 1931 – 22 May 2014
In May 2014 the Provincial Priory of Northumberland lost one of its most loved and respected Knights when E Kt Duncan McIsaac was called to higher service by our Great Captain at the age of 82 years.
Duncan had been initiated into Freemasonry in St Mark’s Lodge No 5529 in March 1974. Three years later he joined St Luke’s Lodge No 6564 and acted as its Master in 1984 before, a year later, taking the Chair of his mother Lodge. In 1990 he joined the Northumbrian Masters Lodge No 3477 and was its Senior Warden in 2008.
He was exalted in the Royal Arch in the Chapter of Security No 7299 in 1976, later becoming a Founder member of Per Diem Chapter No 9638 in 2004. He acted as First Principal of his mother Chapter in 1989 and became a joining member of the Northumbrian First Principals Chapter No 3477 in 1995. He subsequently took the Chair of First Principal of Per Diem Chapter in 2008.
In consequence of his service he was first appointed in Provincial Grand Lodge in 1992 to the rank of Past Provincial Junior Grand Deacon before promotion to Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden in 2000.
The Provincial Grand Chapter of Northumberland appointed him in 1994 to Past Provincial Grand Sojourner before promotion in 2001 to Past Provincial Grand Scribe Nehemiah.
His installation into the Templar Order occurred in November 1993 when he became a Sir Knight in the Royal Kent Preceptory No 20.
It was normal for members of Royal Kent to wait many years before having the opportunity of taking the Preceptor’s Chair, and Duncan acted as Preceptor seventeen years later in 2010. In recognition of his service he was appointed as the Provincial Great Chamberlain in Provincial Priory.
In the Ancient and Accepted Rite he was a Past Sovereign of St Gabriel Chapter Rose Croix No 388 and a holder of the 30th Degree.
In other Orders under the auspices of Mark Masons’ Hall he was Past Provincial Grand Inspector of Works in the Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of Northumberland, in recognition of 37 years membership in three Mark Lodges – Unity No 708, Adoniram No 1483 and Newgate No 1141.
He was a member of Newgate Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners and a holder of Royal Ark Mariner Provincial Grand Rank.
In the Red Cross of Constantine he was a Grand Officer (Past Grand Vice-Chamberlain) after 22 years as a member of Royal Kent Conclave No 152; and with 19 years of service to The Prior’s Haven Council No 173 in the Order of the Royal and Select Masters, he held rank as Past District Grand Conductor of the Council in the District of Northumberland.
The Provincial Priory greatly regrets the loss of one of its most beloved Knights – he will be missed by all who knew him.
Kevin Stannard
Provincial Prior