Lodge Of Friendship, No. 277, Oldham.

one other is noted . The first WM . wns Bro . Jonathan Raynor , and the first Wardens presumably Bros . Dunkerley and Clegg , as thoir names appear with that of Bro . Raynor on the Warrant . As to tho social position of the members , wo may judge from tho statement that one was a weaver , four were cotton manufacturers , one a hat manufacturer , one a tailor , one a shoemaker , and ono an innkeeper . On the

opening day three candidates were received as entered apprentices , of whom the first in order was the Eev . M . Wrigley , A . M ., who waa passed and raised at an emergency meeting held on tho 19 th of tho same month . On the 28 th Oct . twelve members of thoUnion Lodge , No . 534 , Manchester , visited the Lodge , this being the first occasion on which any visitors were present . Early in December the Lodge moved to

the Angel , and on New Year ' s Day , 1790 , a new W . M . was installed . As to the length of the Master ' s term of office there seems to have been a diversity of practice till the end of tho year 1820 , the Master being sometimes elected for twelve , but generally for six months . The expenses do nofc appear to have been heavy , only niuepence being charged to each member , namely , sixpence for expenses and

threepence for charity , a very fair proportion , such as is not always observed in these days . But thongh the Lodge work was harmoniously conducted for the most part , aud there is but little therefore to record of an out-of-the-way character , we have remarked some things carious which deserve to be mentioned . Thus , on 10 th August 1791 , seven brethren were " made moddern Masons , enter'd , past , and

Baised . We presume these seven were "Ancient" brethren , thongh why a Lodge of the elder of the two Masonio bodies at tbe time existing , should speak of the members of its own fraternity as being " modderns" is passing strange . The same year , and as recently aa 1840 , ifc was the custom to make brethren " pass Masters " whioh , to judge from our own acquaintance with Lodge histories , the

Eev . compiler is correct in suggesting must have been nominally Past Masters on whom the E . A . degree was conferred . The same practice prevailed in the Bolton Lodge , 221 , as pointed out by Bro . Brockbank . On 16 fcb Feb . 1791 , a visiting brother was present , who hailed from "the Lodge of Fortitude , held afc James Taylor ' s , Bottom of Hollinwood , under the Ancient Grand Lodge of York . " This , Bro . Harrison

points out , is the only mention he has been able to find of this Lodge . The circumstance is the more strange as this Grand Lodge had very few subordinate Lodges , ard because about that date it was beginning to fall into thafc state of torpor from which it never subsequently emerged . We should like to hear what Bros . Gould and Hughan have to say of this offshoot of the old Grand Lodge of all England ;

or , did the writer confound the Grand Lodge of the Ancients with the old or Ancient Grand Lodge which met at York ? We fear an answer to this question is likely to prove exceedingly difficult . On 28 th October 1795 , and also subsequently , the Mark degree was conferred in the Lodge , while , at an emergency meeting on the occasion " of the funeral of onr Jafce worthy Br . John Ron-bottom , " the

Chapters of Philanthropy , Werneth , and Trinity , Manchester , attended , so that , as has been seen in other cases , Craft , Arch , and ' ark Masonry were worked under the same warrant . On one occasion the Lodge seems , speaking figuratively , to have worked under the familiar sign of the "Three Ralls ; " for it advanced two guineas to a brother on the security of " his watch untill valued . " Anion . '

other items of interest may be mentioned extracts from the Cash Book , showing that on one occasion " 30 pair of Flannel Drawers " were purchased fortheuseof onr army abroad—though how an army , unless ifc were a stage one , could get into thirty pairs of drawers is a puzzle we shall nofc endeavour to solve . On another occasion seven guineas were subscribed to the expenses of the war , and nnder

date of 26 th May 1794 we read that the Lodge so far forgot , the peaceful character of Freemasonry , as to have venture' ! on beating up for " military recruits . " This , of course , may be excused on the score of the well-known loyalty of the Craft , and all tho more so as tbe beating up for recruits does not , for aught these minutes divulge , appear to have had any result . It seems to have been a

statement aud nothing more . Vegetarians will be sorry to hear that on the 13 th of June 1799 " one Theopelus Turner disturbed the peas and good harmoney of the Lodge afc 8 o'clock . " In another case the Master was so far oblivious of bis dnties that though the Lodge was summoned for 5 p . m . the Wor . Brother did not put in an appearance till three hours later . In another . minute , but as

late as the year 1826 , it is recorded that only two brethren attended , and , under such discouraging circumstances , we presume , they solaced themselves with a bowl of punch and then " retired to their respective homes . " These are among the lighter and more entertaining records , but there is also mention made of a few family jars occurring , such as , to use an ordinary phrase , are to be expected iu tho best

regulated families ; and at one time there seems to have been so considerable a dissension as to hav e bronght about a sub-divirfon of the Lod ge into two parts , one meeting at the " Spread Eagle , " and the other at the " Angel , " the " Angelic " body being at fault . We have alread y referred to the Mark degree being worked in the Lodge , and this practice appears to have prevailed as late as 1838 on the 20 th

, May in which year we read that a Lodge of emergency was held for the purpose of making several members of the Lodge Mo . rk Master Masons . " In a minute of 17 th April 1843 , occurs the honoured name of the late Earl Howe , then Senior Grand Warden of England , who on thafc day laid the first stone of St . Mary ' s Church Schools , Oldham . On 13 fch Nov . 1830 , ifc is recorded that Masonry had revived

ouring the decade , nnd as a proof of this circumstance we are told that at that meeting " ten candidates were proposed , and were all initiated in due course , " while eleven candidates were accepted nt the two _ subsequent meetings . It may be remarked that ample evidence is furnished in the course of these extracts from the minute books of the Lodge thafc it was net inattentive to tho claims on its

conscience of that greatest of ail Masonic virtues—Charity—and many a time is mention made of a sum being voted to the relief of a distressed brother . or towards some fund which was being raised for the especial assistance of the injured or afflicted in some great calamity . Mention is also made , from time to time , of testimonials being presented to brethren who had deserved well of the Lodge , a prominent case

Lodge Of Friendship, No. 277, Oldham.

being thafc of Bro . Isaac Gaifcskill , twice Master of tho Lodge and Past Grand Junior Deacon of the Provinco , to whom , in February 1853 , wero presented " a gold watch , guard , and ring , " in recognition of " his eminent services to the Lodge . " A list of initiates , joining members , and Worshipful Masters is appended , and from the first two we gather roughly that during the close on ninety-one years

of its existence there have been some five hundred subscribing members . It is a noteworthy fact thafc our Eev . Bro . Harrison shonld have published this interesting narrative during the Mastership of Bro . Abraham Clegg . The first Junior Warden of the Lodge was a Bro . Isaac Clegg , and he was the third brother elected to fill the chair of K . S . A Bro . Beniamin Clegg was initiated on the

28 th June 1797 ; a Bro . Thomas Clegg on 26 th November 1800 ; a Bro . Edmund Clegg on 12 fch April 1843 ; a Bro . James Clegg on 12 th March 1851 ; a Bro . Kay Clegg on 9 th July in the same year ; a Bro . John Clegg on 11 th May 1859 ; and a Bro . Charles Clegg on 25 fch Feb . 1874 . We cannot take upon ourselves to say

offhand that all these brethren belonged to the same family , but the first and last are described as " cotton manufacturers , " and also some of the intermediate Cleggs : if so , ifc is evident thafc Masonry was beloved by this family . With this remark and a reiteration of our thanks to our Eev . Bro . Harrison for his kindness in forwarding us a copy of his little work , we bring this notice to a close .

Egyptian Lodge of Instruction , No . 27 . —On Thursday , 22 nd July , at the Hercules Tavern , Leadenhall-street , E . C . Present—Bros . H . J . Phillip W . M ., D . Moss S . W ., J . Da Silva J . W ., L . Norden Seo ., Gartley I . G ., C . H . Webb Preceptor , and other brethren . The

usual formalities were duly observed , and then the W . M . rehearsed the ceremony of initiation , Bro . Norden acting as candidate . Lodge was opened to the 3 rd degree , and closed to the first . Bro . Moss was unanimously elected W . M . for the ensuing meeting , and it was arranged thafc Bro . Norden should rehearse the installation ceremony .

Dalhousie Lodge of Instruction , No . 860 . —Held at Bro . Smyth ' s , Sisters' Tavern . Pownall-road , Dalston , on Tuesday , 27 th inst . —Bros . Carr W . M ., Smyth S . W ., Wardell J . W ., Clark I . G ., J . Lorkin Secretary , P . M . Wallington Preceptor ; also Bros . Dallas , Quay , C . Lorkin , and others . Lodge was opened aud the minutes of

last meeting were read and confirmed ; tbe ceremony of initiation was rehearsed , Bro . Quay candidate . Bro . Forss worked the first , second and fourth sections of the lecture , assisted by the brethren . Bro . Smyth was elected W . M . for the ensuing week . AH Masonic business being ended , the Lodge was closed in due form .

Friars Lodge of Instruction , No . 1349 . —A regular meeting of this prosperous Lodge of Instruction was held at Bro . Pavitt's , Liverpool Arms , Canning Town , E ., on the 20 fch instant . Bro . Smith occupied the chair , and was supported by Bros . Myers S . W ., Pavitt J . W ., Worsley S . D ., Fyfe T . G ., Morgan , Forss , Keable , McCarthy , Stephens , & o . Lodge having been opened with the usual

formalities , the third ceremony was capitally rehearsed , with Bro . Morgan candidate . Bro . E . T . Worsley , Hon . Sec , worked the first section of the lecture , with the assistance of the brethren . Lodgo was then closed to first degree . In the absence of tho esteemed Preceptor , Bro . P . M . Musto , who was taking a holiday , Bro . Secretary proposed P . M . Myers as W . M . for tho 27 th instant , when Bro . Worsley

said the sections would be worked , and no brother was better fitted to preside than was Bro . P . M . Myers . This arrangement was subsequently modified to this extent , that Bro . McCarthy W . M . 1076 was to work the installation on thafc day , after which Bro . P . M . Myers would work as many of tbe sections as time would allow . Of one thing visitors to the Friars Lodge of Instruction may always be sure

they may rely upon finding the Lodge working , and will nofc experience the disappointment which attaches to repeated visits to certain Lodges where no work is done owing to an insufficient attendance . With a hearty welcome from Bro . Worsley , its indefatigable working Secretary , it is not to bo wondered afc that the Friars Lodge of Instruction should be well attended and prove so great a success .

On the 27 th instant Bro . P . M . Myers presided as W . M ., with Bros . P . M . Cnndick S . W ., Smith J . W ., P . M . Musto Preceptor , Worsley Secretary , aud Bros . Pavitt , Nash , Fyfe , Power , Rotldam , Sadler , White , Rawe , Watkins , & c . Lodge was opened in due form , and the minutes having been read , ifc was advanced to the second and third degrees , and resumed to the first , when sections were worked : —1 st . Bro . Rawe ; 2 nd , Bro . Watson j 3 rd , Bro . Cundick ;

4 th , Bro . Pavitt ; 5 th , Bro . Smith ; 6 fch , Bro . Pavitt ; and 7 th , Bro . Cnndick . There was nob time to work any more , but on the next section night the second and third lectures will be given in continuation Bro . Cnndick was unanimously elected to fill the chair on Tuesday next , which is the day for completing the list of names for the summer banquet . The Preceptor , Bro . Musto , who has been sojourning at Yarmouth , for the benefit of his health , will also be in his place to support Bro . Cnndick .

Prince Leopold Lodge of Instruction , No . 1445 . — At Bro . Stevensou ' s , Sandringham-road , Dalston , Monday , 26 th July . Present : Bros . W . H . Myers P . M . Preceptor , McCarthy 1076 W . M ., McGregor S . W ., Robson J . W ., Seymour-Clarke Secretary ; also Bros . McDonald , Kimbell , Goddard , and others . After preliminaries , the Lodge having been opened in the second degree , Bro . Goddard was

presented as W . M . elect , and the ceremony of installation was impressively rehearsed by the W . M . Bro . McCarth y , who duly installed Bro . Goddard into tho chair of King Solomon , when-the brethren saluted in each degree , Lodge being opened aud closed as required . Bro . McGregor W . M . of Capper Lodge 1076 was then elected a member , and W . M , for Monday week , 9 fch August , at 8 p , m ,