History: Lodge Of Harmony, No. 298.

HISTORY : LODGE OF HARMONY , No . 298 .

INDEPE NDENT of the Masonic Brethren themselves there are few to whom the subject of Freemasonry has not some degree of attraction and fascination . In Eochdale and district the number of Brethren is very considerable , and to these particularlv the little volume

of Memorials of the Lodge of Harmony ( No . 298 on the Eegister of the United Grand Lodge of England ) , containing also an account of the Centenary commemoration last year , just issued , will be a valuable record of a Lodge which has existed in this distiictfornow just over a century . The labour of compilation has been in the

capable hands of Bro . Eobinson Greenwood S . D . and Bro . Eobert E . Grey P . M . and Secretary , and for a statement of the immediate reasons of the issue of the book we could not do better than heie give the preface . This

reads : — This little volume of extracts from the records of the Lodge o * Harmony—now numbered 298 on the roll of the Grand Ledge o * England—has been compiled with a two-fold object in view : —(]) To preserve and perpetuate tho memory of that most happy and auspicious day on which the Lodge called her sons together , with

their Brethren and friends , to celebrate with joy and thanksgiving the completion of the first certury of her healthful and vigoious life ; and ( 2 ) To bear faithful testimony to the progress and development within our walls , in practical foim , and by systemotic organisation , of the Grand Principles en which , and for which Freemasonry is founded .

The number cf copies printed will be strictly limited and guaranteed ; and the profits ( if any ) arising ficm the publication will be devoted to the cause of the Masonic Charities .

It is hoped that the book may be regarded and cherished as an interesting and increasingly valuable possession , not only by the members of the Lodge , present or past , or by the Brethren of ether Lodges , especially of this Province of East Lancashire , but also by many of our fellow-townspeople , who , rot being numbers of oui Order , may jet be linked to its history and interests by bonds of iamily , friendship , or gocd-will ; cr-she ma ) be inclircd to lttaid

with pride and respect , as a monument and adornment of their town—more enduiing than brass , more beautiful than maible— a century-old brigade of that vast aimy which is spread ever the entire face of the earth , united in one common bond of reverence for the Gieat Aichitcet cf the Univeue ; aid . whole mitticn is to soften the asperities of common life , to strive to lessen the aggregate of human misery , to "honour all men , love the Brotherhood , fear God , and honour the king . "

The origin and history of Freemasonry is the subject of an interesting article by S . N . LB ., in "which the history of Freemasonry from its birth in the land of the Pharaohs is traced through the various ages and changes of empires down to the present day , and we are told that " among the f rst Ledges established in Lancashire were Anchor and Hope , Bolton , in 1732 , and Belief , Bury , in 1733 . The first established in Eochdale was the Lodge of Amity , 1791 , which was soon after removed to Haslingden , and is now numbered 283 on the Grand Lodge of England . " The compilers tell us that the Lodge of Harmony

had its inception at the house of John Ogden , known as the Unicorn Inn , in the village of Eoyton , on the 5 th day of December 1793 . In that year Eochdale was but

a small town , and Eoytcn a mere hamlet . The cotton manufacture had been introduced , but was still in its infancy . The chief industry was the making of woollen fabrics , which was carried on mainly in the homes of the people . The then inhabitants are described as being generally uneducated , and as living in a rough and ready style , and often in deep poverty .

The first minutes recorded in the Lodge book are of a meeting on the 5 th of December , the date of the Lodge ' s formation , when the following Brothers were

appointed as Officers : —James Hardman W . M ., Joseph Wood S . W ., and William Butterworth J . W . On 23 id January 1794 it was unanimously decided by ballot to remove to the " house of Bro . Charles Hopwood , the Blue Ball , Yorkshire Street , Eochdale . " The firsfc instance of relief granted was on the 20 th September 1798 , when " relief was granted to Bro . Brab and Widow Williamson . " Among other removals of the Lodge were to the Grapes Inn , kept by Bro . Abraham Tweedale , on 8 th October 1844 , and on 4 th June 1857 the D . P . G . M . ( Albert Hudson Eoyds ) wrote : "It is with great pleasure I received your application to remove Lodge 375 to the Masonic Hall , Cheetbam Street , and at once grant

your request to make the change , and trust the day is nofc far distant ere other Lodges will follow your good example . "

History: Lodge Of Harmony, No. 298.

In November 1889 , the Lodge removed from Cheefchain Street to private rooms at the corner of Ann Street and Drake Street , over the Botanist Inn . The first of the Masonic benefit performances given at the Theatre Eoyal by Mr . F . W . Purcell was notified at

a meeting of the Lodge on 6 th January 1886 , when it is recorded that " the announcement was made in the Lodge that it was the intention of Bio . F . W . Purcell , lessee of the Theatre Eoyal , to give a benefit performance of his pantomime in aid of the Masonic Charities , and to

devote to that purpose a clear half of the gross proceeds . The perfoimance took place in Febiuaiy , and the result of this generous enteiprise was that the charity fund of

the Lodge received a donation of £ 10 ; and the other three Lodges in the town received like sums . " Since thafc time Bro . Purcell has given a series of such performances , the total assistance thereby given to local Masonic

being taken under a fresh lease of 11 jears ( dated 1 st May 1685 ) , re-arranged , thoroughly re-decoiated , and ( chiefly through the generous giits of individual members of the Lodge ) liberally furnished . On 3 rd October 1888 the Lodge presented to Brothers

Benevolence amounting to £ 235 . On 5 th May 1886 , the Lodge entered upon their occupation oi the additional premises ( 161 Drake Street ) , which had been taken and connected with the original Lodge-rooms fronting Ann Street , the entire premises

James Cross P . M . and Charles Edwin Collingwood

P . M ., Past Master ' s ( gold ) jewels for their valuable services to Freemasomy in general and to the Ledge of Harmony , 298 , in particular . In December last year the Centenaiy commemoration

of the Lodge was held , about sixty Brethien being present at the ceremonies , including fourteen Provincial Officers . The celebration is so recent that the event is probably still fresh in the minds of our readers , lt will be remembered that the proceedings consisted of the

presentation by Bro . Heelis P . P . S . G . W . of the centenary jewel authorised by Grand Lodge to Bro . Fielden as centenaiy W . M ., and also of a silver chain subscribed for by members of the Ledge , to be worn by the W . M . for the time being ; a procession to the Parish Church , where , by permission of the Yen . Archdeacon Wilson , and with his hearty co-opeiation , a special and appropiate service

was held , afc which Bro . the Eev . Alfred Salts , LL . D ., P . P . G . C . of East Lancashire intoned the prayers , the Archdeacon read the lesson specially chosen for the occasion , and the Eev . E . Bigot-Bagofc , M . A ., P . P . G . C ,

of East Lancashire , and also of Cheshire , preached , and the music of the service was led by a quartette of professional Brethren and a portion of the regular choir of the church , under fche conductorship of the Organist , Bro . B .

C . Crossley , the collection being on behalf of the Eochdale Infirmary and the local branch of the Life-boat Institution . The return procession to the Masonic Eooms was followed by a banquet at the Wellington Hotel , at which there were present by invitation the Mayor of Eochdale , Bro . James Cheetham , formerly a member oi Harmony . — " Heywood News . "

Surrey.

SURREY .

THE Annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge was held on Tuesday , 24 th ult ., at Croydon , both Public Halls and the ante-rooms being requisitioned for the occasion . The Provincial Grand Master Col . G . Noel Money , C . B ., presided , assisted by his Deputy Prov . Grand Master Bro . F . West P . G . D ., & c . Altogether about 300 Brethren were present , all the Lodges in Surrey being represented .

Liberal grants were voted to the Charities , and £ 5 5 s to the Croydon General Hospital . The banquet took place in the small Hall , at which 130 sat down . The Provincial Grand Master gave the usual Loval and Masonic toasts .

The foundation stone of the new chapel at the Wolverhampton Orphan Asylum was arranged to be laid on Thursday , by the Earl of Dartmouth Provincial

Grand Master of Staffordshire , with Masonic honours . A large number of Freemasons notified their intention of being present . We hope to give a report next week .