Eminent Knight Paul Damian Burns, P.Prov.Chamb.
05 March 1948 – 13 November 2013
The Provincial Priory was sad to learn, in November 2013, of the passing of a very dedicated and talented mason, when E Kt Paul Burns was called to higher service by our Great Captain.
Paul had been initiated in Freemasonry in the Ryton St Mary’s Lodge No 6550 in the Province of Durham in May 1997 and was its Master in 2002.
Consequently he was awarded Provincial rank in the Provincial Grand Lodge of Durham in 2009, to Past Provincial Assistant Grand Registrar.
He joined the John Page Lodge No 3619 in our Province and was its Master in 2009. He was also a Founder member of Argent Lodge No 9824, and he maintained subscribing membership of all three of his Lodges until his death.
He had been exalted in Ryton Holy Cross Chapter No 4231 in 1998 but decided against taking senior office.
In the Templar Order he was installed a Knight in the St George of Throckley Preceptory No 525 in December 2002 and was its Eminent Preceptor in 2009.
In Provincial Priory he was appointed as Past Provincial Chamberlain, but tragically his Templar journey was cut short by his untimely death four years later.
He had shown great interest and dedication to other Orders under Mark Masons’ Hall by memberships of four Mark Lodges (Ryton No 1714, Carville No 968, Hexham No 1161 and De Umfraville No 1270); the Northumberland and Berwick upon Tweed Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners No 9003; the Royal Kent Conclave No 152 of the Red Cross of Constantine; three Conclaves of the Order of the Secret Monitor (Severus No 351, the Scarlet Cord No 500 and the Scarlet Cord Conclave of Northumberland No 559); the Royal Kent Council “H” T.I. in the Order of the Allied Masonic Degrees; two Councils in the Order of the Royal and Select Masters (Hexhamshire No 193 and Royal Kent “A” T.I.) and two Consistories in the Ancient and Masonic Order of the Scarlet Cord (Northumberland No 39 and the Scarlet Cord No 9001).
By achieving so much in only sixteen years as a mason, Paul’s talent and zeal was remarkable and one is left to ponder what might have been had he not been taken from us at such a young age. His service to masonry was second to none and he will be forever missed by all his Brethren and Brother Knights.
Kevin Stannard
Provincial Prior