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

At one meeting this year " 10 Brn . were made moddern , " & " 4 Brn . made pass masters . " March 28 th , 1798— -a " Subscription towards the support of the war , £ 7 7 s . " , appears in the Cash Book . A local Almanack for the year 1880 gives the following : —¦ " May 26 th , 1794—The Freemasons beat up for military recruits . " There

does not appear anything in support of this statement , though the Brethren were certainly loyal , as proved by the above grant of money , and 30 pairs of Flannel Drawers in 1793 . June 12 th , 1799— " This Lodge was Opend But Theopelus Turnor disturbed the peas and good harmoney at 8 o ' clock . " Oct . 9 th—The Secretary occasionally whiled away his time with another Brother in scribbling doggrel rhymes on the pages of the Minute Book . We have : —•

" James Potter is my name and England is my nation oklham is my dwelling place and christ is my salvation . " After which comes , in another hand" 0 save him from rhymes like these

and mind his bacco ancl his cheese . " Jany . 8 , 1800— " but a fue Brothers atendded the lodg was not opened But there was peas hand good harmoney . " Deer . 28 th , 1803— " Agreed to advance the price of making masons from £ 2 12 s . 6 d . to £ 4 4 s . Cd . —viz ., £ 1 Is . Od . at the report & £ 1 Is . Od . for each step . "

" Augt . 15 th , 1804—By a gift to Brothers prisoners in Lancaster s . d . Castle 10 6 Sep . 19 , 1804—Discussion " whether two steps or only one taken on a night . " Agreed that two might be taken . " Liquor to be Determined next night whether we are to have it as usual or on a better Plan . " Novr . 14 th—Resolved to move the Lodge to another house .

Deer . 27 th— -Agreed that " the Lodge shall stop here at this house until we find a Sufficient reason to remove , " ... " after Due trial of the Landlord that is coming to Occupy this house . " Feby . 13 th , 1805—Twelve Brethren were " made Mark Masons . " March 18 th , 1807—Monthl y subscription raised from 9 d . to Is . The " quantity of liquor to come in to be at the option of the Master and Brethren . "

Augt . 12 th—A visiting Brother " from the Lodge at Wearneth" paid Is . What Lodge was this ? "Agreed to summons John Harrop & John Hey wood to answer to their conduct on joining a lodge of Orange People whether they mean to remain in our lodge or entirely give up the Orange Lodge as our members will not allow them to sit with us ; Except they decline the Orange . "

June 8 th , 1808— " The moment the Lodge was opened Bro . Scott informed the brethren that Wm . Rutledge , Esq ., Captain in the 6 th dragoon guards requested to be made a Bro . when the W . M . ancl the rest of the officers and Brethren agreed to give him . the entered apprentice step to-night and exalt him to the degree of a Master Mason to-morrow ni ght . " On this night Br . Rutledge was initiated , and made Fellow Craft and Master Mason on the following night . The fee of £ 4 4 s . was paid . Jany . 4 th , 1809—Monthly subscription raised from Is . to Is . 6 d . ; Is . to he spent in liquor & " 6 d . funded for relief . "