Eminent Knight Samuel James “Jim” Neil, P.Prov.2nd Const (Dur)
21th October 1939 – 6th February 2023
The Province of Northumberland is saddened to report the passing of Eminent Knight Samuel James Neil earlier this month.
Jim was extremely well known in both Provinces of Northumberland and of Durham, and he divided his masonic time fairly equally between the two.
He had been initiated into Freemasonry in Pele Tower Lodge No 435 in Durham in January 1968 and remained a subscribing member all of his life. He subsequently joined Vindobala Lodge No 5480 in Wylam, Northumberland in 1986 and also joined Tynedale Lodge No 3067 in 2003 until its erasure seven years later.
He was exalted in Pele Tower Royal Arch Chapter in June 1971, remaining a member after it amalgamated with Hebburn Chapter No 1643 in 2010.
He also joined Good Samaritan Chapter No 7654 in 1995, translocating to Albert Edward Chapter No 1557 in 2008 after Good Samaritan Chapter was erased.
He was a prolific supporter of all his Lodges and Chapters, acting as Master of Pele Tower Lodge three times and Vindobala Lodge once; and was First Principal of Pele Tower Chapter twice and of Good Samaritan Chapter once.
For his service to his Lodges and Chapters he was appointed Past Provincial Grand Registrar of Durham in 2000, and promoted to Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden of Northumberland in 2004. In the Provincial Grand Chapter of Durham he held the rank of Past Provincial Grand Sword Bearer.
In our own Templar Order, he was installed as a Knight in Strathmore Preceptory No 479 in Durham in March 1998, remaining a subscribing member until his election as an Honorary member of that Preceptory in 2022. He joined the St George of Throckley Preceptory No 525 in 2001.
Showing the same dedication that he had to the Craft, Jim was Eminent Preceptor of St George in 2006 and the following year became the Preceptor of Strathmore, leading to his eventual promotion to Past Provincial 2nd Constable of the Provincial Priory of Durham.
In other Orders under Mark Mason’s Hall, he was a Grand Officer in the Mark, with the rank of Past Grand Junior Deacon in 2008 and he held Provincial Royal Ark Mariner Grand Rank in Northumberland and Durham.
He held Grand Rank in the Order of the Allied Masonic Degrees (Past Grand Sword Bearer); in the Order of the Secret Monitor (Past Grand Standard Bearer); and was Past Provincial Grand Lecturer in the Order of the Scarlet Cord. He held Grand Rank (Past Grand Conductor of the Council) in the Order of Royal and Select Masters; and was Past Grand High Chancellor in the Order of the Red Cross of Constantine.
In the Ancient and Accepted Rite, he held the 30th Degree as a member of the St Wilfred Chapter Rose Croix No 646 and was, for many years, a stalwart Outer Guard for the Royal Kent Rose Croix Chapter No 8.
Kevin Stannard
Provincial Prior