St. John's Lodge. No. 221. Bolton

ST . JOHN'S LODGE . No . 221 . BOLTON

COMPILED BY BRO . G , P . BROCKBAKC , THORNFIELD , BOLTON , P . M ., P . PROV . S . I 3 . D . EAST LANCASHIRE . THIS Lodge was originated by a number of brethren in humble position in life , wdio , from the old Records which have been carefully preserved , shewed considerable method and thrift by the way they went to work . None

of the founders were members of a Lodge meeting in the town . There were two Lodges in existence in Bolton at the time this was warranted , the one " Modern " ( Anchor and Hope , now No . 37 ) founded 1732 ; and another ( then No . 196 ) which had been originally founded at Leigh in 1776 . but was in working order at Bolton in January , 1786 . From an examination of the records of this latter Lodge lent to me for perusal by Bro . Jas . Newtonwho

, has written a few notes in the Masonic Magazine respecting this Lodge ( Antiquity , now No . 146 ) , I find that Bro . John O'Neal , a member of a Lodge in Manchester , No . 275 , now extinct , visited the Lodge on the 2 nd January , 1793 . This brother was subsequently first Master of St . John ' s Lodge , and no doubt from the date of that visit he utilised his strength in order to have the honour of establishing the first Lodge warranted to Bolton under the

Ancient Constitutions ; I also find a visit to Antiquity Lodge recorded from Bro . John Mulhollan , who became first Treasurer of the new Lod ge ; also from Bro . Reuben Bullock , represented as from Stockport , Lodge No . 292 ( now 212)— : this brother subsequently became Secretary of St . John ' s Lodge , Bro . John O'Neal again visited the Lodge as it is recorded on the 16 th December 1796 " to request from us a recommendation to the Grand Lodo-e for a

, , grant of a warrant to be held in Bolton , and that our Lodge should grant it to them conditionally as will be mentioned in a bye-law made for that purpose in both Lodges . " I find no further record on the subject until the 20 th April , 1797 , when the following minute appears : —

GRAND LODGE . 1797 , 20 April . Hand and Banner , Bolton . The Eight Worshipful Bro . James Abel , Grand Master , appointed by virtue of a deputation sent to him for that purpose from the Ancient Grand Lodge of England and the Masonical Jurisdiction thereof , with Bro . Jas . Banks , of 196 , his E . W . Deputy Grand Master ; Bro . Thos . Walker , No . 235 , Wigan , his R . W . Senr . G . Warden ; Bro . Bobert Mansley , of No . 238 , Chorley , his R . W . Junr . G . Warden ; and Bro . Jas . Gradwell , of 196 , his Grand Secretaryopened a Grand Lodin due form the Third Step of according to

, ge upon Masonry , the Ancient form of the Craft of Free and Accepted Masons in all ages used and approved of , at 15 minutes before one o ' clock at noon , in the presence of and joined by the Brethren of the several Lodges hereafter mentioned , viz : —Bros . Henry Peet , Thos . Walker , Richd . Holme , Thos . Entwisle , John Taylor , Jos . Gaskell , Jas . Taberner , Jas . Scott , Edwd . Darbyshire , Wm . Brooks , of No . 235 , Wigan ; Pat . Sullivan , 512 , Ireland ; Thos . Fowler , 521 , Ireland ; John A . King , Augustin Meir , Jas . Blackledge ( Tyler ) , 238 , Chorley ; Cornelius Hughes , 64 , Ireland j Jas . Turner , 275 , Manchester ; Reuben Bullock , 292 , Stockport ; John Bradshaw lde RowbottomThosGradwell Halliwell

, S . Wy , Wm . , . , A . , Bold Halliwell , Jas . Gradwell , Lodge No . 196 . After the Lodge was duly opened an Anthem was sung , after which the Grand Master and the rest of the Grand Officers then proceeded to the Installation of the Lodge No . 303 , which was performed with the greatest solemnity , regularity , and decorum ; and Bro . John O'Neal named as Master in the Warrant ; Bro . Thos . Keenan his Senr . Warden ; and Bro . Danl .. Cane , his Junr . Warden ; Bro . John McAllister / Treasurer ' and BroEdwdMcGloneSecretaryand they being directed to choose their Deacons

. . . , ; own and other Officers , when convenient to themselves . Called from labour to refreshment and immediately from refreshment to labour at 2 o ' clock . Proclaimed Lodge No . 303 duly constituted a Regular Warranted Lodge . Called from labour to refreshment at 20 minutes after 2 o'clock , then toasted the Grand Officers of the Grand Lodge of Antiquity of England . At