Extracts, With Notes, From The Minutes Of The Lodge Of Friendship, No. 277, Oldham.

August 10 th , 1791 , Seven Brethren are " made moddern masons , enter'd , past , and Raised . " At several meetings this year and subsequently till 1840 , Brethren were " made Pass Masters . " Probably these Brethren were nominally Past Masters , upon whom only the Royal Arch degree was conferred ; and a certificate stating their rank would be issued from their Lodge . See " Records of Old

Lodges , ilfasoiw ' c Magazine , Vol . IV ., page 6 . Feb . 16 th , 1791 . A visiting Br . was present from " the Lodge of Fortitude ' held at James Taylor ' s , Bottom of Hollinwood , under the Ancient Grand Lod ge of Tork . " We have not been able to find any other mention of this Lodge . Dec . 17 th . J . R ., ( the first W . M . ) was "sencered for his bad Behaviour ancl he asked Pardon of the Lodge ancl received it . " March 7 th , 1792 . " The Lodge closed in good harmony with the Master ' s Lecture ; " ancl on April 4 th , with the "Enter'd Apprentices Lecture . "

Augt . 9 th . 1 wo Brethren were " fined for going before the lodge closed in the penalty of one shilling per member by the consent of this body . " Sept . 26 th . The Lodge was summoned for 5 o ' clock , " but on account of the Master ' s forgetfulness and his not coming till 8 o ' clock it was opened then . " ' Oct . 2 . 3 rcl . The Lodge closed " In hopes to meet again in good health and in fresh Masonic Vigour the month following . "

Augt . 21 st , 1793 . " The Lodge removed without one dissenting Voice to Br . Woods on Account of Bad wase and worse language " ancl "so FarewelMr Lawson . " Brother Wood was an Inn-keeper aud the W . M . at the time . The name of the House kept b y him does not appear . Deer . 5 th . The Lod ge opened at 11 a . m . It was an emergency meeting , at which a Brother was raised . Closed at 2 p . m . ancl the minutes state "After this we proceeded to Roytou on business . " No trace of the nature of this " business " appears . Deer . llth . In the Cash Book the following items occur .-

—£ s . d . " To 30 pair of Flannel Drawers for the use of our army abroad 3 5 0 Carriage of the same to London ...... 27 Oct . 28 th , 1795 . Six Brethren were made Mark Masons . July 20 th , 1796 . " The Lodge was called for emergency on the occasion of the funeral of our late worth y Br . John Rowbottom . " " In the Cash Book is the following item : — £ s . d . " To preaching Bro . Rowbottam ' s sermon . . . . 110 "

These items also occur : — £ s . d . " 2 dozen of Aprons 170 " Gloves 14 10 " The Clothing was provided b y the Lodge for many years . At this emergency meeting the following chapters attended : —

Philanthropy , Werneth , Trinity , Manchester . There were brethren also from Lodges in the neighbouring towns . Can any one tell us whether the charters of the two Chapters mentioned have been attached to any other Lodge ? Novr . 29 th 1797 .

, In the Cash Book it appears that £ 2 2 s . was lent to Bro . W . R . " on his watch untill valued . " At the next meeting 3 s . 6 d . was paid for " valuing and repairing" the watch . Its value is stated to be £ 2 2 s ., but nothing further is recorded about it .