New Schools At Radcliffe Hall, Lancashire.

NEW SCHOOLS AT RADCLIFFE HALL , LANCASHIRE .

IMPOSING MASONIC CEREMONIAL . A Masonic ceremony , which can well be described as unique in the annals of Radcliffe , took place at Radcliffe Hall , on Saturday , the 14 th inst ., when the foundation-stone of the new National School which is being erected in Chapel-street in connection with the Radcliffe Parish Church was

laid with full Masonic ceremonial by Bro . Col . Le Gendre N . Starkie , Prov . G . M . The weather was beautifully fine , and there was a la > -ge crowd of spectators to witness the ceremony .

The brethren assemble ! . at St . Anne s School , N irth-street , about an hour before the time fixed for the ceremony , and here Prov . Grand Lodge was opened . Afterwards a process ' on was formed , and marched to the site of the new school by way of Holland-street , Hutchinson-street , Cross-lane , round

Church-green , and on to the site . The procession was headed by the Radcliffe Parish Church Lads Brigade , the members of which presented a very smart appearance , and the scholars attending St . Anne ' s and the Parish Church Sunday Schools walked next . Then came the Ridc'iffe Old-Bind , and following the band were the brethren in full regalia .

Amongst those present , in addition to the Prov . Grand Master , were

Bro ? . R . H . Beswick-Royds , P . G . D . Eng ., D . P . G . M . ; J . Weeks , 62 , P . G . D . ; J . Barlow , 1012 , P . J . G . W . ; J . Selby , 1083 , P . G . D . C . ; W . Gray , 999 , P . A . G . D . C . j D . Lord , 286 , P . A . G . D . C . ; T . T . Hardicker , 2449 , P . G . S . B . ; W . J . Melling , 2185 , P . G . Std . Br . ; T . Heap , 344 , P . P . G . P . ; W . H . Brown , 221 , Prov . S . G . D . ; Robert Jones , 348 , P . G . S . ; Edward Hope , 146 , P . G . S . ; Thomas Mellor , 2560 , iqi , P . P . S . G . D . ; George Lingard Vaughan , 10 3 , P . G . Reg . ; J . Newton , P . G .

Sec . j J . H . Fowler , 999 . P . G . Tyler ; G . Parker , P . M . 1083 ; R . Smith , S . W . 191 ; Wm . Greenwood , P . M . 348 ; W . Rigg , P . M . 266 ; B . Alston , P . Z . 1256 ; J . H . Hardman , 344 ; W . Brierley , 344 , P . P . S . G . D . ; J . Wardle , P . M . 1534 ; W . Craven , P . M . 1633 , P . A . G . Sec ; J . W . Hockensall , P . M . 1534 , P . P . A . G . D . C ; J . W . Thompson , 1 S 34 , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; C . Swim , 238 7 , P . | . G . D . ; J . Snape , 10 5 s , P . J . G . D . ; T . Uttley , 2464 , P . S . G . D . ; J . H . Heap , P . M . 344 , D . C ; E .

Hardman . 274 , P . P . S . G . D . ; J . W . Kenyon , P . P . G . Supt . Wks . ; W . Balmer , P . P . A . G . D . C ; A . Smith , J . W . 2554 ; J . Partington , P . P . S . G . D . ; W . B . Midgley , P . M . 1534 , and W . M . 2534 ; R . H . Smith , J . W ., R . H . Parston , Sec , and F . Forwood , P . M ., of 266 ; A . D . Briscoe , 344 ; F . S . Styler , 344 ; G . Whewell , P . M . ; A . Redford , 934 ; G . Home , 1392 ; W . C . Whittaker , Stwd . 344 j J . Bolton , 344 ; W . Forster , 344 ; E . Bakewell , Tyler 344 ; T . Lawrenson , P . M . 344 , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; W . L . Rothwell , P . M . 2350 ; T . J . Hutchinson , W . M . 2560 ;

R . Wolstenhome , Org . 344 ; J . F . Street , J . W . 934 ; J . Hart , S . W . 344 ; W . Hampson , P . M . ; Wm . Partington , I . P . M . 344 ; J . Robinson , P . M . 42 ; J . Y . Thorpe , W . M . 344 ; S . Culpan , S . W . 1948 ; T . Graham , J . W . 1948 ; Roger Woodward , J . W . 344 ; and Rev . W . H . Healey , Chap . 344 . There were also present , Col . Mellor , M . P ., Mrs . Mellor , the Rev . S . Swinburne ( Rector of Radcliffe ) , the Rev . J . D . Ellwell , Dr . Chisholm ( Chairman of the Radcliffe District Council ) , Dr . A . Sellers , Jlessrs . A . C . Bealey , sen ., A . C . Bealey , jun ., W . Wild , J . Monks , J . Clayton , D . Allen , S . P . Morris , and others .

The brethren having taken up their positions , the " Old Hundredth " was sung , and the Rev . S . Swinburne made a short speech . In the course of h s remarks he said they were obliged to build a new school at Radcliffe Hall , Their old school had been condemned by the Government ; but they did not propose to spend any more money than was absolutely necessary upon the new school . They were not attempting to get a beautiful or artistic

building . Then duel aim would be to provide all that was essential for giving a thoroughly good education to the children of Radcliffe . He did wish that afternoon to impress upon them the immense importance of giving their children a really sound education , based upon religious principles , and that was what they proposed to do . He was glad to tell them that the people of Radcliffe had made most generous efforts on bshalf of the new school , and

the little boys and girls had managed to get together , by the distribution of penny bi icks , about , £ 15 15 s . He thought that spoke very well for the children . He wished to tell the Masons that in Radcliffe they were in a happy position . They had no educational problem and no educational difficulty so far as the question of religious education was concerned . They had no quarrel or trouble with their neighbours . Close by them was the Wesleyan school , and they were going to build their school side by side

with the Wesleyan school , but without any idea or thought of rivalry or even competition . Their whole idea was that of a generous and kindly co-operation . ( Applause . ) Those parents who desired to have their children educated in the principles of the Church of England could send them to the new school , and those who wished to have them educated in undenominational or Wesleyan principles cculd send them to the school near by . ( Hear , hear ) .

The RECTOR then extended a welcome to Bro . Colonel Starkie and the Freemason * , and spoke in felicitous terms of the work which had been done in Radclffe by the late dowager Mrs . Starkie , Bro . Col . Starkie ' s mother , and by the Rev . H . A . Starkie , the late Rector of Radcliffe , his brother . The Rector ' s speech was followed by a flourish of trumpets , and the P . G . M . addressed the spectators " according to ancient custom . "

The Rev . W . H . HEALEY offered prayer , and the stone was lowered about nine inches , the choir , meanwhile , singing the first verse of " Prosper the Art . " A bottle containing copies of the local papers and other documents was then placed in a cavity under the stone , and a brass plate containing a suitable inscription was placed over the cavity . The stone was lowered a further nine inches , the choir singing the second verse of " Prosper

the Art . " The Rev . S . Swinburne then handed to the Provincial Grand Master a silver trowel with which to spread the cement , and this having been done , the stone was lowered to its bed , the choir singing " Gloria in Excelsis . " Bro . Col . Starkie formally proved the stone with plumb , level and square , and afterwards blessed it with corn , the emblem of plenty and abundance ; wine , the emblem of joy and gladness ; an 1 oil , the emblem of unanimity , peace and prosperity .

The response " Glory be to God on h gh " was sung , and Bro . Colonel STARKIE declared the stone well and truly laid . This was followed by a flourish of trumpets , and whilst the band played & selection of muic Mrs . Mellor received purses containing money from

New Schools At Radcliffe Hall, Lancashire.

the school children , and the purses were laid on the stone . The hymn " The Church ' s one foundation " havins ; been sung , The Rev . Mr . HEALEY pronounced the Benediction , the brethren responding with " So mote it be . " Colonel MELLOR , M . P ., then moved a vote of thanks to Bro . Colonel Starkie . He said t ^ at amongst the many du ' . ies he had had to perform as

their representative he could thoroughly and honestly say that hs had never performed one which gave him more agreeable and happy feelings than th » one he was about to perform . They had been present that day as witnesses of a deeply interesting , impressive , and solemn ceremonial . They had seen the commencement and inauguration of a work which , when the hand that had laid that stone was at rest and when the voice which then addressed

them was heard no more , would be of unspeakable benefit to the neighbourhood . He could truthfully say that the name of the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master of that honourable Order was known throughout the length and breadth of the kingdom , and in Lancashire it was a household word on account of the good works which members of the family had done , and which would fructify and bear fruit long after they had departed

from the scene of that school which was inaugurated that day . That school would be a source of blessing and benefit to thousands who would come after them . The Rector had told them of the work which the Starkie family had done in that district , and he had spoken in terms more fully and more felicitously than any he ( Colonel Mellor ) could use of the great obligation that parish was under to the late Dowager Mrs . Starkie . ( Applause . ) His duty that afternoon was to ask them to give a hearty

vote of thanks to Bro . Colonel Starkie for the immense service which he had rendered to the town of Radcliffe on that Decision , and he sincerely hoped that school might be a blessing to the many generations which would come after them . ( Applause . ) He agreed with the Rector upon the unspeakable blessings of an education conveyed in the way it would be conveyed in that building . He hoped the school would prove a blessing amongst them , and lhat their people would grow up an understanding people , and that they would grow up loyal and God-fearing .

Mr . A . C . BEALEY , in seconding the resolution , said he had no doubt that the building , when finished , would be of benefit to the people of Radcliffe . They would have there a school in which not only secular education , but religious education , would be given , and that , to his mind , was a complete education .

Col . STARKIE , in responding , said they had had , during this Jubilee year , many interesting ceremonies , and he rejoiced that in Radcliffe they had had one of the best mementoes of the Jubilee that anyone could wish to see . ( Applause . ) He spoke of the effect for good or evil which individuals or communities could have upon society as a whole ; and , in conclusion , thanked Col . Mellor and the Rev . S . Swinburne for the references they had made to his mother and brother .

The Masonic version of the National Anthem was then sung , and the proceedings at the site of the new school were concluded . The procession returned to St . Anne's School , and Prov . G . Lodge was closed by the P . G . M . Appended is the architect ' s description of the new schools : The schools

are designed to accommodate 440 children—boys , girls , and infants—and are specially arranged so as to be suitable for both day and Sunday schools and for parochial purposes . The rooms are all on the ground floor , and comprise a central Hall 54 by 35 , round which are ranged six class rooms for four classes of 50 , and two for 60 children .

The cost of the buildings complete will be about ^ 3200 ; they have bsen designed and will be carried out under the personal inspection of Mr . Tnos . Bell , architect , who is a school specialist . For use at the stone laying , Bro . W . Bowker presented a set of working tools , including square , level , and plumb rule , each bearing the inscription " Presented by Bro . VV . Bowker , to Lodge of Faith , 344 , in recognition

of the Diamond Jubilee reign of her Majesty Queen Victoria . " We publish on the authority of Bro . J . Y . Thorpe , W . M . of the Lodge of Faith , No . 344 , the inscription on the plate , which was laid between the foundation stone of the new school and its bed , and was as follows : " This corner stone was laid with Masonic formalities , 'in the name " of the Great Architect of the Universe and to His Glory . ' by Col . Le Gendre Nicholas

Starkie , Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master of Free and Accepted Masons of the Province of East Lancashire ( under the Grand Lodge of England ) in the Diamond Jubilee year of the reign of her Most Gracious Majesty , Queen Victoria , August 7 th , 1897 ; Bro . Rev , Stanley Swinburne , M . A ., Rector ; Bro . John Yates Thorpe , W . M ., Lodge of Faith , 344 . "

During the ceremony the various responses were beautifully harmonised by the choir of Radcliffe Parish Church . They also rendered very efficient aid in the chorus to the anthem " Prosper the Art , " under the direction of Mr . F " . Hulley , choirmaster , the solo to the anthem being rendered by Bro . R . Wolstenholme , Org ., Lodge of Faith , 344 . Bro . J . Bradshaw , also of the Lodge of Faith , presided at the harmonium .

After the ceremony the Provincial Grand Officers were entertained to tea by the W . M ., Wardens , and brethren of No . 344 , at their headquarters , the Ram ' s Head Hotel ' , the hostess , Mrs . Shaw , giving every satisfaction . The remainder of the brethren were entertained in the Assembly room at the Conservative Club .

Mark Masonry.

Mark Masonry .

Derwent Lodge , No . 282 . The members of the above lodge held their annual meeting in the Masanic Rjoms , Portland-square , Workington , on Tuesday , the ioth inst ., for the purpose of installing Bro . G . A . L . Skerry , P . G . Org ., S . W ., W . M . elect , as W . M . for the ensuing year . There was a very fair attendance of brethren . The following were appointed and invested as officers for the year : Bros . I .

Meenely , P . G . I . G ., I . P . M . ; I \ Neil , S . W . ; J . Wood , J . W . ; W . Fowler , M . 07 : J . W . Richardson , S . O . ; W . Bell , J . O . ; J . J . Little , P . P . S . G . O ., Treas .: I . Bouch , P . S . G . D ., Sec . j J . Fletcher , S . D . ; Jos . Fletcher , P . P . G . S . B ., I . D .: j . Cooper , P . P . G . Og , Org . ; J . Purser , P . P . | . G . O , l . G . ; and Whitehead , P . P . G . T ., Tyler . Bro . J . Gardiner , P . M ., R . P . S . G . W ., P . G . S . Eng ., was the Installing Master , and Bros . T . Atkinson , P . M . 229 , P . P . S . G . O ., and J . J . Little , P . M ., P . P . J . G . O ., gave the charges .

The business of the Iodge being disposed of , the lodge was closed , and the brethren , at the invitation of the W . M ., sat down to an excellent spread . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts received ample justice , and a very enjoyable evening was spent .