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

Dec . 18 . —Election of Officers for 1 year . W . M . Elected at 4 p . m ., S . W ., at 35 m . past 4 , J . W . at 45 past i , Treas . at 5 p . m ., Secretary at 5-10 . Wh y these pauses between ? possibl y a libation . 1798 . Feby . 5 . —A Character sent to us of Br . Stokes from 292 , Stockport . 20 . —A charge Iayed to Br . John O'Neal for charging the Members of the Lodge to meet clandestinely ; a Cometa chose by the Worshipful , to absent themselves from the Lodge Room to jacin Room to decide the matterthe Committee agreeing and finding Br .

an a ; O'Neil colpable of an error for Sohandlolizing the Lodge is fined five shillings , and it to make an humble submission to the Lodge for the offence . Br . O'Neal made an humble apology for the offence . Lodge closed at 50 minutes past 10 , when the greatest harmony subsisted . 1798 . Apl . 12 . —Various . accusations laid down against a Brother who has Suspended Twelve Calendar Months , then to be dealt with as the Lodge shall think fit .

I notice that if there is no business at the Lodge great regularit y is observed in opening , calling from Labour , resuming Labour , and Closing ; and the timcl of each event carefully recorded , such as : —opened 15 past 7 , called from L . to R . \ past . 9 , from R . to L . 55 minutes past 9 , etc . July 5 . —Copy of Memorial read from Grand Lodge . Would this be on the subject of Hnion ? Nov . 1 . —Br . Crook gave a lectui'e on the first degree . 1799 . Feb . 7 . —A Lecture given . Mar . 7 . —Lecture on the 3 d degree by Br . Crook .

Br . Crook was not a Member of the Lodge . I presume he was some perambulating luminary . 9 May . —The Brother whose conduct was under review a year ago is again brought before the Brn ., who agree he shall not have any Certificate whilst " he is due any debt to the Lodge . " 1800 . Feb . 6 . —A Return made to Grand Lodge . Apl . 3 . —Agreed that the Lodge shall be shifted to the house of Brother Richard Clarkson ,

the sign of the Lord Admiral Nelson , on Bolton Moor . May 18 . —Resolved , that a Royal Arch Chapter shall be held . 5 Brethren agreed to be made Arch Masons . Opened the Lodge on the 3 d degree , and these 5 Brothers past the Chair at 5 o'clock and pd . 7 / 6 . Soon after opened the Royal Arch Chapter , these Brn . were made Exolant and Shnpev Exclant Masons and Likeeves Holy Royal Arch Masons . 1 S 01 . Sep . 3 . —Br . Morris summoned to attend and has refused , not only now but formerly , as well as the dutys of the Lodge neglected as Acting Secretary . Oct . 1 . —Visited by some Brethren under Scottish Jurisdiction . Nov . 5 . —Visited by a Br . of Lodge No . 285 .

This appears to be a Lodge in connection with the 17 th Dragoons . A Brother named Smalley wdio appears to have been initiated in some other p lace , is recorded as passing 1 ? . C . and M . M . and afterwards becoming a Subscribing Member along with some Scotch brethren . Dec . 3 . —Resolved , That the Lodge shall be removed after the Festival of St . John . Dec . 12 . —3 Brethren of this Lodge , with a Brother irom 165 , Scotland , passed the

Chair . 1802 . Jan . 1 . —A procession took place in which No . 196 joined , wh . was guarded by the Militay stationed in the town , and a letter of thanks was addressed by the Seer , of Lodge 196 to the Commanding officer .

The Cash Book records that £ 2 0 s . 6 d . was received towards the Expenses from different brethren of the 17 th Light Dragoons . No . 2 . Book contains the following code of bye-laws : — Rule the 1 st—Resolved that this Lodge Shall Meet on the First Monday of Every Calender Month in order to Act and Transact such business As seems Meet unto them For the Well Being of the Antient Craft , at the house of Mrs . Lawson ' s , Hand and Banner , Deans Gate , and Every Member Shall Pay one Shilling , Sixpence to Be spent and Sixpence to the fund Tyler , and Candles To be paid out of the same .

Rule the 2 nd—Resolved that Every Brother Shall pay Three Shillings and sixpence on Every St . John ' s day , and Every Br . Absent on that day Shall pay the same Except Sickness or Confinement . Rule the 3 rd—Resolved that no Bi-oiher will be chosen by Seniority to Preside as Master or Aney other office in the Lodge , except he Merits it .