Freemasonry In Wig An––Antiquit Y Lod Ge, No . 178. 17 86-1902.

Freemasonry in Wig an –– Antiquity Lodge , No . 178 . 1786-1902 .

'pHE installation meeting of this ancient and distinguished I lodge Avas held in the Masonic Hall , TOAYCI * Buildings , Wigan , on January 15 th . The occasion Avas more than usually notcAvorthy from the fact that this Avas the lirst festival meeting of the lodge held in the magnificent new premises . Three times during the long and chequered

career of the lodge have the brethren had to seek UCAV homes that their ever-increasing numbers might be accommodated ; and a comparison of the conditions under Avhich they met to carry on their Avork at various periods in the history of the lodge illustrates the remarkable progress of Masonry in the

district . Considerations of space , however , forbid more than a brief survey of the conditions obtaining at the first installation meeting of the lodge , and some account of the recent festival meeting , being the 116 th annual meeting . Fortunately ample

material exists for the purposes of such comparison . Not only do the lodge minute books and Treasurers' books contain an unbroken record of the transactions of the lodge , from its consecration to the present time , but the history of Masonry in Wigan has been ably treated by a Past Master of the lodge

in an admirable little work , Avhich deserves to be much better knoAvn than it is . * Much of Avhatever may be interesting in this short sketch will be found ' within its covers .

THI-: OUKEN'S IIICAP , AVICAX ( 17 MS ) , HEAD OUAIiTI'HS OK Till' i'UiST MASOXiC LOIJ'il" IN AVI KAN " .

Among the very few Masonic lodges existing in Lancashire in the year 1786 was the Antiquity Lodge , Bolton , then No . 196 . Here Bro . Richard Holmes , of the Queen ' s Head , Wigan , was " initiated , pas'd , and raised" on February 19 th , 17 86 , on "the very extraordinary emergency , viz ., that he might have a lodge , going to be formed at Wigan , at his house . "

At the Queen's Head , Wigan , therefore , the UCAV lodge Avas duly consecrated on Wednesday , June 21 st , 1786 , bearing the name of Antiquity Lodge , Wigan , and being numbered 235 . The ceremony took 'place in the presence of a goodly number of brethren from Manchester , Bolton , and Liverpool , the first W . M . being Bro . Thomas Doncaster , of Lodge 39

, Manchester , Avhile Bro . William Rogers , Lodge 53 , Liverpool , and Bro . W . Bradley , Lodge 39 , Manchester , Avere appointed S . W . and J . W . respectively . Bro . R . Holmes Avas the first Treasurer , and continued in that office for 40 years . He appears to have been a yen * eccentric man . The local

records state that he \ yas buried in the Wigan Parish Church graveyard in a coffin Avhich , during his lifetime , he had had hewn out of a solid block of stone . The original bye-knvs , dated London , May 26 th , 1786 , are still in existence . It is interesting to note that from the

first the brethren took steps to establish a Charity Fund for the relief of indigent brethren and for other charitable purposes . In this respect , as will be seen below , their successors have worthily upheld the early traditions of the lodge . Arrangements were also made to ensure the regular

and punctual attendance of officers and members . Refusal to serve in any of the offices entailed a maximum penalty of live shillings in the case of the W . M ., AYith a minimum of one shilling for a Deacon . A member absent one hour after the

appointed tune of meeting was lined one penny . If , however , he did not put in an appearance during the time of meeting the amount Avas increased to twopence . Fines Avere also imposed on brethren who " cursed , swore , lay or offered to lay wagers . " All such fines were deposited in the Charitybox . The initiation fee Avas fixed at no less than " two

guineas and cloathe the lodge , if required . " One authority informs us that this clothing of the lodge included " white aprons and gloves , not only for every member in the lodge , but also for all their wives and sweethearts , if they require them . "