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

a quarter past Three o clock the Lodge called from refreshment to labour . Closed the Lodge at a quarter before Four o ' clock , agreeable to the instructions of Wm . Dickey , Esq ., Deputy G . Master , and the thanks of all the Officers and Members present be ordered to be transmitted to the Grand Lodge for the honour conferred upon them in empowering them to hold this Grand Lodge . JAMBS ABEL , Grand Master . THOS . WALKEK , Grand Senior Warden . JAS . GRADWEM , Grand Secretary . ROB . MANSIEY , Grand Junior Warden .

These brethren were members of the Lodge of Antiquity and for the occasion as the above acted as Grand Officers , there being no Provincial Grand Master appointed for this Province under the Antient Institutions . The first minute book records the proceedings of the lodge from the 9 th April , 1797 , to 12 th December , 1801 . The 9 th A p ril , 1797 , appears to have been a preliminary meeting previous to the formal opening of the Lodge .

At this Meeting it was resolved , " That every Candidate that dines shall pay the sum of four shillings towards paying the expenses of the day , the same as old subscribing members . " "Tis unanimously a greed that this Loge , No . 303 , shall be call'd St . John ' s . Br . Jno . O'Neal in the chair . Br . Thos . ICeenan Sour . Warding , Br . Dal . Cain Junr . Warding . Call'd to refreshment at half-past 7 o ' clock . Closed at Eight o ' clock . —JOHN O'NEIW , , Master . April 16 th . — " Unanimously agreead that James Savage , Hugh Hamon , Patrick Hughs Sen ., and Patrick Junr ., as Candidates , is to Become Members the 29 th inst . " JoHiY O'NEILL , Master

In the minutes of the lodge the following- is the onl y record of the Consecration so well recorded in the books of the Antiquity . Bolton , April the 20 th , 1797 . Lodge of St . John's , No . 303 , was instituted . The following persons was chose and Install'd . Br . John O'Neil Master . Br . Thomas Keenan Senr . Warding . Br . Daniel Cain Junr . Warding . Br . John Mc . Alister Treasurer . Br . Edward Maglone , Secretary . Lodge opened at Three o ' clock upon the First Degree of Masonry . James SavagePatrick Hughes

, Senr ., mid Patrick Hughes Junr ., all obtained the First Degree of Masonry . Closed the Lodge at Six o ' clock with the greatest harmony . June 29 th . —In commemoration of St . John , opened the Lodge at J past 9 in the morning and went to Church in procession , being joined by the Ancient Lodges . Call'd to Refresh't . at i past 3 , labour at 4 . Closed at - | past 4 with the greatest harmony .

lhis would appear to have been rather a " dry" affair , but I find in consulting Bro . Newton ' s notes of Antiquity Lodge , that a procession was formed at eleven o ' clock preceded b y a band of music , slowly moved on to the Old Church , wdiere a sermon was preached by the Rev . Dr . Dullas , of St . John ' s , Manchester , after which the procession went ( with the band of music ) to Bro . Shakespeare ' s , and Lodge 303 proceeded to the lodge room , where an elegant dinner was provided , and the day spent with the greatest harmony and brotherl y love . The Bro . Shakespeare above alluded to was proprietor of the hostelry known as the Bowling Green Inn , Bradshawgate , now known as the Shakespere Inn .

Dec . 4-. —The Worshipful ' s Toast from the Chair , " That Masons may florish like the bea Leaf that grows by the River Side that is always green . " Lodge opened at i past 9 . Candidate initiated at 10 m . past 10 . Closed at 12 minutes past 10 . Opened on 2 d at 20 m . past 10 ! and the Candidate passed on the 2 d degree at i past 10 . Closed Lodge at 11 . The early closing movement was not then in vogue .

1797 . Dec . 17 .- Lodge of an Amergency , the Worshipful John O'Neal in the Chair , Lodge opened on the three degrees of Masonry at 6 o ' clock . Br . John Mulhollan Tried foi charges alledecl to him by the Worshipful for misconduct . The Worshipful from the Chair and the Defendant quitted the Lod ge Room . Br . Thomas Keenan , Sr . Warden , took the Chair ; and Br . Cain acts as Sr . Warden , Br . John Mc . Googan as Jr . Warden . Br . John Mulhollans Tryal commenced at 7 o ' clock ; Br . Mulhollan for being Intoxicated in Drink , for breaking the 6 th Rule of our By-Laws Find 6 dsecondlfor breaking the 12 th Rulefined

. ; y , , 5 s . ; and for bad language to the Worshipful it is agreeable by the Members of this Lodge that it is heer met that he must make a an Humble Submission for so doing ; this is unanimously agreed upon that his futer conduct mus be agreeable to the Members of this Lodge His Tryal lasted until 10 o ' clock . Dewly admonished , Br . Mulhollan asked Gods pardon and ' the Lodges and the Matter is amicably settled .