Centenary Of The Friendship Lodge, No. 277, Oldham.

CENTENARY OF THE FRIENDSHIP LODGE , No . 277 , OLDHAM .

MASONIC SERVICE . On Sunday , the i 8 th inst ., a special service in celebration of the centenary of the Friendship Lodge , No . 277 , Oldham , of the Province of East Lancashire , was held in St . James ' s Church , by the permission of the Vicar , the Rev . T . L . Knapp . The brethren met at the Freemasons' Hall ,

Unionstreet , at two o ' clock . Bro . W . Edwards , P . M ., Marshal , arranged the procession , which left the hall at 2 . 30 . The following are the officers of the Lodge of Friendship for the current year , most of whom were present : Bros . John Greaves , P . M ., P . P . G . S . of W ., W . M . ; BernulfC . Mattinson , l . P . M . ; Joseph Braddock , P . M . ;

S . W . ; Abraham Clegg , P . M ., P . P . G . W ., J . W . ; J . 0 . Jelly , M . A ., Chap . ; Charles Watson , P . M ., Treas ., Thomas Bailey , Sec ; John Buckley , P . M ., S . D . ; Ralp h Holden , P . M ., J . D . ; H . L . Hollingworth , P . M ., P . P . G . T ., D . C ; F . Lawton , Std . Br . ; J . Clafton , P . M ., P . P . G . O ., Org . ; T . H . Duckworth ,

P . M ., Purst . ; J . C . Varley . J . Whiplech , John Greaves , jun ., and W . Wilson , Stwds . ; and S . A . Thorp , Tyler . Most of the Past Masters of the lodge , of whom a list is appended , were also present , viz . : Bros . John Greaves , P . P . G . S . of W . ; Henry L . Hollingworth , P . P . G . T . ; Joseph Braddock , Henry Thomas " P . P . S

G . D . ; Joseph Crompton Lees , P . P . S . G . W . ; Joseph Clapton , P . P . G . Org . ; Isaac Prockter , Abraham Clegg , P . P . S . G . W . ; ' John Buckley , Ralph Holden , Thomas H . Duckworth , Charles Watson , and Bernulf C . Mattinson . There were also in the procession Bros . T . Stevenson , W . M . Tudor Lodge ;

C . V . Haworth , W . M . Unity Lodge ; A . J . Haworth , W . M . Thornham Lodge ; and representatives from the Imperial George , the Albert , the Minerva , and the Candour Lodges . Altogether the brethren in the procession numbered about 170 . The banners of the three Oldham lodges were carried

before the respective Worshipful Masters , and the line of route to the church was via Union-street , Bottom o' th' Moor , and Huddersfield-road . Special hymns , & c , in connection with centenary celebrations were used , the anthem being " Blessed be the God and Father . "

The preacher was Bro . the Rev . E . BIGOE BAGOT , LL . B ., P . M ., Provincial Grand Chaplain , who delivered an impressive and eloquent address from the 3 rd verse of the 16 th Psalm— "All my delight is upon the saints that are in the earth and upon such as excel in virtue . " In the course of his remarks the reverend

brother said that the world presented a sad spectacle . When morality was depreciated , and the newspapers day by day contained the unsavoury records of impurity , dishonesty , and vice ; when order was divided , and submission to anything or anybody was coming to be disregarded as antagonistic to freedom and intelligence ; when ancient

loyalty was rapidly disappearing under the euphemism of " modern independence "—is it a time to set at naught that which still , as throughout many generations , sets forth the beauty , power , and liberty of discipline , obedience , and subordination ? In days when the storms of political and religious controversies were

raging so loudl y , when distinctions of social rank and position must make many strangers to each other who were one in heart and hope , is it not something to find a place where these considerations do not enter—a neutral ground where we can meet in that kindl y spirit of friendl y interest which does not sanction the intrusion

of one uncharitable thought , or necessitate the compromise of one sincere conviction ? Masonry is no creed to supplant or supplement Christianity . It expresses the conviction of the human heart from the earliest ages of primitive history—the voice , as it were , of one

crying in the wilderness for li ght , sympathy , order , and power , shaping its ideal b y some graphic analogy which seems to express most adequatel y what it has at heart , out Masonry did more than this . As an independent witness it gave wonderful and remarkable support to the great Catholic doctrines of the Christian rhmv-h

to believe in God as the author and source of all created tn 'ngs ; to fear His name , to honour His worshi p , ana to work ri ghteousness , was the design and object effi Craft Faith ! n the Great Architect ; the tioT t dut y of P rayer i the P ower and inspira-.. " . tne Hol y Scriptures were all witnessed to b y . 1 . v wi-ii ^ tuita wcic cui wruiesseu iu uy ne princip

les of Masonry . We , as Masons , were ^ minded that to the just and upright death had no l ) rin ° "' i that in ever y numan frame tnere 'ives the divi ^ germ of immortalit y . There was a Bihl f , ! ssatlsfaction in the heart of man , and the e ««» - t , ^ S th flt a 11 man ' ' > ' a 11 the immense athe wretchedness of satietywhich ivtvituili Ul SrLLiCLJr

link ' " , lll'llfpc r -.- vOJ - , W 111 UI 1 ever- - " i ^ time to time—and now more than onlv th u c l uestion . " ls life worth the living V " is ni-iL C SU ! , ! discontent of the soul , which was in thr . fi" ' rest in God > and therefore cannot rest glorv t n ' s St Paul insists on al ! honour and the mn ° -c when he vindicates His attributes in

both nHu " burst ' " 0 h ! the de P th of the riches how ;„ Wlsd ° m and of the knowledge of God ; Past fir . j - able are His Hgment and His ways W •tr K f ° V Freemasons place the being Proceed ^ 1 °° d ! " forefr ° of all their nomasre P ' . y never meet without paying Were disno An " ' and when we ' as Masons , wifh hio-h ... ° P ay court and honour to those invested tude for th ° ' Md t 0 bend before them with grati' ° n ? eth l ^ r ! , ' we were reminded that honour be" ATI slcrl f l ^ ' and exh ° rted ever to exclaim—S' ° ry t 0 the Most Hi gh ! » All good men ought

Centenary Of The Friendship Lodge, No. 277, Oldham.

to be eager to establish and secure upon more firm ground a great society , which was essentially of a religious character , and was a great and important guarantee for social order , morality , and large-heartedness . The magnificent benevolent and educational Institutions of Masonry were the secret and method of its success ,

and the powerful magnet which attracted to its ranks all grades of society and sectional characteristics of mankind from the future King of England and his son to the humblest subject of the Queen . The powers that make for ri ghteousness , social order , commercial

morality , and genial charity in this land were deeply indebted to the Order ; and the bearing and attitude of all true citizens to the Craft should be those of gratitude and respect , and their own best interest should ever prompt them to strengthen her cords and lengthen her

stakes—The friends thou hast , and their adoption tried , Grapple them to thy soul with hooks of steel . " At the close of the service an offertory was taken in aid of the East Lancashire Systematic Masonic

Educational and Benevolent Institution . On leaving the church the procession was re-formed , and returned by way of Huddersfield-road , Bottom o ' th Moor , Yorkshire-street , and Clegg-street , to the Masonic Hall .

A most interesting and unique ceremony took place on Thursday evening , the 22 nd inst ., in connection with the Lodge of Friendship , No . 277 , at the Masonic Hall , the occasion being to celebrate the centenary of the lodge , which has had an uninterrupted course since tbe 22 nd of August , 1789 , the warrant for the formation of the lodge bearing that date . An emergency meeting had been called for the occasion .

I here were present Bros . J . Greaves , P . M ., P . P . G . S . of W .. W . M . ; R . Mattinson , l . P . M . ; J . Braddock , S . W . ; A . Clegg , P . P . S . G . W ., J . W . ; J . Jelly , Chap . ; C . Watson , Treas . ; T . Bailey , Sec ; J . Buckley , S . D . ; H . L . Hollingworth , I . G . ; J . W . Duckworth , J . Clayton , Org . ; J . C . Varley , John Greaves , jun .,

H . Shaw , G . H . Ashton , G . Newton , W . Droysfield , E . Tetton , F . Lawton , E . Hadfield , J . Hudson , T . H . Smithurst , D . Johnson , A . C . Campbell , H . Andrew , J . Chadwick , W . Beaumont , A . J . Hurton , T . Buckley , W . E . Clegg , J . McKennell , J . Wild , J . Gartside , G . H . Braddock , A . Kenworthy , R . Crompton , J . Brierley ,

R . L . Sparrow , R . Harrison , and J . E . Whitehead . Visitors : Bros . J . Chadwick , P . G . S . B . Eng ., P . G . Sec ; J . H . Sillitoe , P . G . Std . Br . Eng ., P . P . G . W . ; W . Bagnall , P . M ., P . P . G . D . ; T . Stephenson , J . Clegg , J . T . Carson , C . V . Haworth , W . M . 1868 ; L . Courtney , W . Campbell , M . Stafford , R . Younge , C Blacoe , J . D .

Smith , and G . S . Smith , P . M . 1134 . The lodge being opened in the usual manner , Bro . GREAVES , W . M ., called upon Bro . Jelly to read a history of the lodge , from the time of formation to the present , compiled by him from the minute books . After the reading of this interesting record , the

W . M . called upon Bro . Chadwick , P . G . S . B . England , Provincial Grand Secretary , to present to the lodge the centenary warrant granted b y the Grand Lodge of England . Part of the warrant grants the privilege to members of the Friendship Lodge , so long as they remain ' . so , to wear a centenary jewel when

meeting for Masonic purposes—a privilege which , no doubt , will be hi ghly prized and appreciated amongst members . Bro . CHADWICK , in making the presentation , said : As a preface , I may say that you might have obtained the services of brethren higher in rank than I for so interesting a duty , but I will say this , brethren none

more earnest or more desirous of fulfilling the duties required of me . I congratulate the Friendship Lodge on possessing such a history as that just given by our good Bro . Jelly , and on its stability and prosperity , and I rejoice to visit it to-day , and present to you , my dear friends and brethren , the centenary warrant granted by

the M . W . G . M ., H . R . H . the Prince of Wales . The aspirations of the Provincial Grand Lodge , of which I am the humble exponent , are that all the brethren under its jurisdiction—especially you of this Friendship Lodge , No . 277—may be worthy of the obligations they have severally taken , may work in love and unity , and

may be in the future , as in the past , a contented , prosperous , and harmonious community of Freemasons , the pride of our estimable and worthy chief , Colonel Le Gendre N . Starkie , and the envy of the world outside the mystic circle . I desire , W . M . and brethren , in presenting this centenary warrant , to

declare to you the progress the Craft has made in this Province of Lancashire since its institution , but especially since this lodge was consecrated , 22 nd August , 178 9 . The number then was 554 , and now it is 277 . Bro . Edward Entwistle was our first P . G . M ., appointed in 1734 , with three lodges under his

jurisdiction . In 178 9 Bro . John Allen was P . G . M ., with 22 lodges , and there were also 13 others under Athol Constitution , called Antients . Bro . F . D . Astley was P . G . M . at the Union , in 1813 , with 57 lodges under his jurisdiction . On the division of Lancashire in 1826 , Bro . Le Gendre N . Starkie was appointed P . G . M . of

the E . D ., with 41 lodges ( the number of members I have no means of ascertaining ) . Bro . Colonel Starkie was appointed Prov . Grand Master in 1870 , with 74 lodges and 3400 members . Now , in 188 9 , we have 100 lodges and upwards of 4400

members . T his is a record , I venture to say , not surpassed by any province . I would , before concluding , remind you of the charges that every true Mason should keep , for our grand Craft is a science worth y to be kept and engraven upon the heart of every true Mason . It is a virtuous science , for it teacheth man to speak and write

Centenary Of The Friendship Lodge, No. 277, Oldham.

truly , and to discern truth from falsehood . I might , before sitting down , congratulate the lodges meeting in this hall on their efficiency , and the prudence with which they are usually governed . I should much like to see all the lodges in our towns housed in a central hall , actuated and animated by one spirit , the spirit of

harmony and brotherl y love . This , I am positive , would be most conducive to their prosperity , as well as Masonic harmony . The WORSHIPFUL MASTER then called upon Bro . J . H . Sillitoe , P . P . G . W ., to present the centenary jewel , which he did in the following terms : —

W . M . and Brethren , —Since entering the lodge I have been asked to discharge a very pleasurable duty ; but , from the suddenness of the request , I have not been able to prepare a suitable speech . Still , after the very able addresses which have just been read , and looking forward to the interesting and important ceremonies which

are about to follow , I think I shall best consult your wishes by making my remarks as brief as possible . In handing you , Worshipful Master , this centenary jewel , on behalf of the donor , to be worn by you and your successors , let me impress upon you and the members of your lodge that they must not look upon this jewel as

a simple ornamentation for the breast of a brother , but they must regard it as of far greater Masonic value , because it is meant to bear testimony to succeeding ages that during the past 100 years your predecessors must have carried on the working of this lodge with regularity , otherwise you would not now have either the

jewel or the centenary warrant in your possession . I trust , Worshipful Master , that your lodge may see another 100 years , and that your successors may follow the good example set before them , so that at the end of that time this jewel and the warrant may be handed to the then W . M . pure and unsullied as you receive them

to-day . The most agreeable presentations of the evening were then made to Bro . Hollingworth , on behalf of the members of the Iodge , who had subscribed a very handsome sum of money in order to show their sincere appreciation of his long and valuable services to the

Friendship Lodge in particular , and for the good of Masonry in general . The first was a large photograph of himself in Masonic regalia , beautifully mounted and framed . . The next was a Past Master ' s jewel and an address on vellum , containing the names of the officers and members of the lodge . The subscription for these

presents was most heartily taken up—every member of the Iodge , without exception , subscribed—and , indeed , it was with difficulty confined to the members of the Friendship Lodge , Bro . Hollingworth being so highly esteemed outside .

In acknowledging these presentations , Bro . HOLLINGWORTH expressed in brief , but very feeling terms , his grateful thanks . He alluded to the great loss sustained by the lodge during the last 12 months in the death of three of the oldest and most worth y Masons the lodge had ever received into its ranks .

A silver cruet was then presented to Bro . Hollingworth for his good lady , which was suitably acknowledged . Bro . BREARLEY next presented the W . M ., on behalf of the lodge , with a fac-simile portrait of the one given to Bro . Hollingworth , which was graciously

acknowledged . All further business being complete , and " Hearty good wishes being expressed from a great many visiting brethren present , the lodge of emergency was closed . The brethren subsequentl y dined together , when the usual toast list was proceeded with .

The enjoyment of the evening was greatly enhanced by musical brethren , including Bros . Stafford , P . M . C . Blacoe , J . Clafton , P . G . Org . ; and J . D . Smith . The gold P . M . ' s jewel presented to Bro . Hollingworth was speciall y designed and manufactured b y Bro . George Kenning , 47 , Bridge-street , Manchester , and London .

Masonic Veteran Association.

MASONIC VETERAN ASSOCIATION .

The Masonic Veteran Association of the District of Columbia has issued an invitation to its kindred associations and the veterans of Masonry elsewhere in the United States to assemble in convention in the City of Washington , October nth , 1889 . The circular modestly and innocently says : "It

would be manifest presumption in us to indicate in this invitation what subjects it will be desirable and proper for the convention to consider . We are not directed or authorised to propose anything for its discussion . But we may , without danger of giving offence , state the fact that the symbolic Masonry of the United

States has no national organisation ; and we may properly say , further , that such a convention may legitimately consider whatever may be proposed or suggested for the benefit of Freemasonry , or for a more widel y extended and closer union of its veterans throughout the country , by the formation of associations

where , as yet , there are none ; and otherwise in its discretion . The conservative influences of the old and experienced workmen may thus be concentrated ; abuses be reformed ; innovations discountenanced ; and the prosperity and efficiency of the Institution increased . And , if there should be no other result , there are

surely , pleasure and profit to be had by all of us , from brotherly intercourse and communion , from the renewed greeting of old friends and the acquisition of new ones , and from the additions thus made to each one ' s store of pleasant remembrances . It can hardl y be that some profit to Freemasonry itself will not come of our foregathering . —The Tyler .