Eminent Knight Anthony James Smith, P.Prov.Gt.Reg.
25 June 1947 – 02 May 2017
It is with great sadness that the Provincial Priory reports the passing of Eminent Knight Anthony James Smith.
Bro Tony Smith was initiated into Freemasonry in Hulne Priory Lodge No 6464 in December 1987. Subsequently taking the Master’s Chair in 1996, he later acted as the Secretary of the Lodge for 13 years from 2000.
As a consequence of his devoted service to the Craft he was appointed in 2005 as Acting Senior Grand Deacon in Provincial Grand Lodge, before promotion to Past Provincial Grand Sword Bearer in 2013. In the Royal Arch, he was exalted into Alnwick Chapter No 1167 in 1989.
He acted as First Principal in 2000 before taking on the duties of Scribe Ezra of the Chapter for over a decade from 2002. He was first appointed to the rank of Acting Provincial Grand Sword Bearer in Provincial Grand Chapter in 2005, before promotion to Past Provincial Grand Scribe Nehemiah in 2011. In the Templar Order, he was installed a Knight in St Aidan Preceptory No 469 in 1991. He acted as Preceptor in 2001 and promoted to the rank of Past Provincial Great Registrar in the Provincial Priory of Northumberland.
A member of the Mark Degree, he was in the Hotspur with Coquetdale Mark Lodge No 135, holding the rank of Provincial Grand Senior Warden in the Provincial Grand Mark Lodge of Northumberland.
He also held Royal Ark Mariner Provincial Grand Rank as a member of Hotspur Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners.
In the Ancient and Accepted Rite, he was a member of Aberwicke Chapter Rose Croix No 423 and a holder of the 30th Degree.
It is with great sadness that the Provincial Priory reports the passing of such a devoted and dedicated Freemason and Knight Templar and he will be sorely missed by all his Brethren and Brother Knights throughout the Province.
Kevin Stannard
Provincial Prior