From an old school exercise book, which had been adapted to 
serve
as a minute book, we can abstract details of the early meetings of those brethren
who were ultimately responsible for the founding of Finchale
Priory Lodge. The first entry dated Friday the 28th April 1950 was of a
meeting to be held in the old pavilion of Chester-le-Street Cricket Club, Ropery
Lane, which was attended by W.Bros. J. Auger (Snr), Davies, Norris and Todd,
and Bros. J.Auger (Jnr.), Curry, Days, Richardson and Walker.
It was at this meeting that Bro. S.C. Walker was elected Secretary (pro tem) and W.Bro. Norris was elected Chairman (pro tem). Until this point in time, it appears that W.Bro. Davies had been acting as Chairman, and it also appears fairly evident that the W.Bros. and Bros. mentioned must have been closely involved in discussions, probably only among themselves at first, regarding the formation of a new Lodge, but there is no documentation regarding any meeting prior to this date.
At this first meeting it was agreed that ten meetings should be held each year. This was carried by six votes to two with the second Wednesday in the month to be the meeting day and this was acceptable to all.
It was also at this meeting that both “Hermitage” and “Finchale” were proposed as suitable names for the new Lodge. Both names received four votes each and Hermitage was eventually chosen by the casting vote of the Chairman. The next meeting was arranged for 18th May 1950.
Some confusion arises nowadays regarding the change of our meeting day in December to the second Monday. Reference to these early minutes shows that there is a good reason for this.
At this 18th May meeting it was pointed out that in the festive season all December meetings in the temple were advanced by one week, bringing the Lumley Lodge meeting onto the second Wednesday in December and it was at this point that a July and August recess was agreed.
All these early meetings were very important because the discussions, which took place, largely determined the shape of the Lodge. For instance by the end of the May meeting, the second to be held, the Officers had been agreed. There had been a general discussion on candidates and the ritual to be adopted.
Written by W.Bro. Thomas Robson Laws P.G.StB. P.Pr.J.G.W.
WHATS IN A NAME?
As you may have noticed from the previous section the name Finchale Priory Lodge
was not the first to be considered by the Founders
of the Lodge. We have been able to gather from correspondence from United Grand
Lodge that the name “Hermitage Lodge” was rejected, possibly because
it referred to a private residence. A letter from the Grand Secretary dated
27th December 1950 shows the alterative name “Finchale Abbey Lodge”,
was acceptable to both United Grand Lodge and Provincial Grand Lodge. This name
was eventually amended to Finchale Priory after it was pointed out by a W.Bro.
Christie that the Abbey was actually a Priory, as it was a dependant cell of
Durham Abbey.
