Eminent Knight Arthur Cousins, P.Gt.Std.B.(B).
06 May 1924 – 13 June 2014
E Kt Arthur Cousins was called to higher service at the age of 90 years. He devoted 35 years of service to our Order as a member of the St Wilfred of Hexham Preceptory No 461.
He had been initiated into Freemasonry in Albert Edward Lodge No 1557 in September 1969.
Ten years later he was installed in the Chair of King Solomon and, as a consequence of his service, he was promoted, in 1989, to the rank of Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden. He became a joining member of the Northumbrian Masters Lodge No 3477 in 1980.
In the Royal Arch he was exalted in Albert Edward Chapter no 1557 in 1971 and, after acting as First Principal in 1984 he served as Scribe e of the Chapter for seven years from 1991. He was also a joining member of the Northumbrian First Principals Chapter no 3477 in 1987.
In the Provincial Grand Chapter he was promoted to the rank of Past Provincial Grand Scribe Nehemiah in 1995.
In our Templar Order he became a Knight of St Wilfred’s Preceptory in February 1979 and acted as its Preceptor in 1989. His service to the Order was rewarded by promotion to Provincial Constable after which he was appointed by Great Priory to Past Great Warden of Regalia in 2001 before promotion to Past Great Standard Bearer (Beauceant) in 2010.
He joined the Provincial Prior’s Bodyguard in 1983, which allowed him twelve years later to become a Founder member of the Northumbria Guards Preceptory No 600 in 1995. He also took the Preceptor’s Chair in the Guards Preceptory in 2006.
In the Ancient and Accepted Rite he was a Past Sovereign of the St Wilfred Chapter Rose Croix No 646 and a holder of the 31st Degree.
In other Orders under Mark Masons’ Hall, he was a member of Hexham Mark Lodge No 1161 and became a Grand Officer (Past Grand Standard Bearer) in the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons in 1994. In the Royal Ark Mariners he was a member of Hexham Mariner Lodge No 1161 and a holder of Royal Ark Mariner Grand Rank.
In 1980 he joined the Bishop Acca Conclave No 333 in the Order of the Red Cross of Constantine, giving 34 years of Service, resulting in Grand rank (Past Grand Orator) in 2006.
The Provincial Priory of Northumberland was sad to learn of his passing and he was missed by all the Knights who knew him.
Kevin Stannard
Provincial Prior