Eminent Knight Stephen Young
After a prolonged illness, E Kt Stephen Young passed away in November 2019.
Stephen was initiated into Freemasonry in April 1979, in Grainger Lodge No 7261.
He was Master in 1988 after which he was appointed to the rank of Acting Provincial Junior Grand Deacon before promotion to Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden in 2011.
His interest in the academic aspects of Freemasonry was exemplified by his being a Founder member of the John Stephenson Lecture Lodge No 9571 and a joining member, later Secretary and, in 2009, Master of the Northumbrian Masters Lodge No 3477.
In the Royal Arch, he was exalted into Carliol Chapter No 5419 in February 1981, acting as First Principal in 1992.
This led to his appointment as Provincial Grand Sojourner before promotion to Past Provincial Grand Scribe Nehemiah in 2014.
March 1992 saw him installed as a Knight of our Order in St Oswald Preceptory No 481, and he became its Preceptor in 2002.
In 2009 he became a joining member of the Preceptory of Tutelage and in recognition of his dedication, he was promoted to the rank of Past Provincial Great Second Constable.
Active in several other masonic Orders, he held Grand rank as Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies in the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons, and Provincial rank in the Order of the Royal Ark Mariners.
His death after a long and debilitating illness was a source of sadness and regret to the Provincial Priory of Northumberland and to all those masons who knew and admired him – he will be greatly missed by us all.
Kevin Stannard
Provincial Prior