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

some Disturbance of Bro . W . K ., and he , at the same time , declared himself off the Lodge after paying up his full contribution . " It was closed at 11 . 30 . May 28 th , 1828 . A Benevolent Society in connection with the Lodge is commenced . Sep . 17 th . Two Brethren appointed to attend the P . G . Lodge at Blackburn"to have all reasonable expenses paidand regalia to belong to the

, , Lodge . " Jany . 14 th , 1829 . The Lodge was removed from the "Ring o' Bells" to the " Coach and Horses . " No mention of a Dispensation . April 20 th . The Brethren , 36 in number , including 22 visitors , joined the procession at the Stone laying of the Blue Coat School . June 24 th . " This night the Sick Fund was carried into effect . "

July 15 th , 1830 . " Lodgeof Emergency , called by order of theP . G . M . L . E . D ., to go in procession to divine worship , being the day of Interment of our Beloved King and Brother , of blessed memory , who died on the 26 th of June . " Jany . 29 th , 1831 . " Bro . John Wild , our faithfull Tyler , Happened a misfortune by being run over by a Gigas he was returning from Manchester

, , which terminated in his death , to the great loss of the members of this Lodge , and to Masonry generally . " Jany . 11 th , 1832 . The brother who had been " elected to the situation of W . M . for the ensuing year , at the previous lodge , was not installed , nor does his name again appear in the minutes . May 9 th . The Lodge was not opened . Four brethren were presentand

, they resolved " not to meet again until summoned b y the Master of the Lodge . " The next Lodge was held on August 8 th . Jany . 21 st , 1834 . Bro . William Skellorn installed W . M . He held office , evidently , " until a successor had been appointed in his stead , " as nothing is said about his being re-elected , and the next installation took place on Decr .

27 th , 1839 . June 26 th , 1839 . Festival of St . John . The brethren joined the procession for celebrating the proclamation of H . M . Queen Victoria . No further records are given until Decr . 6 th . Feby . 7 th , 1838 . The minutes of this meeting were confirmed and signed , the first instance of the kind .

May 20 th , 1838 . A Lodge of Emergency " for the purpose of Making several members of this Lodge Mark Master Masons . " June 28 th . A Lodge of Emergency at 8 a . m . to initiate two candidates , " but more especially for the purpose of joining a public procession in Honour of the Coronation of our most Gracious Sovereign Queen Victoria . " Augt . 1 st . Bro . J . R . H . was " raised to the Sublime degree of a Master

Mason at the Delph Lodge , " and on the " 15 th past the chair at the Denton Lodge ( Duke of Athol ) , and during the same day , also took the mark . " Bro . J . R . H . was initiated May 9 th , and passed on June 6 th . It does not appear why the M . M . degree was conferred on him in another lodge . Oct . 3 rd . A candidate rejected by six black balls . The 2 nd Minute book closes with the minutes of Decr . 26 th 1838 and

, , those of the 3 rd book commence with Jany . 9 th , 1839 . Mar . 27 th . It is stated that a list of the members had been regularly prepared and deposed to before a magistrate , to be deposited with the clerks of the peace , but when tendered to them " in open court at the last Salford sessions , to be filed , " they " refused to recognise the same in consequence of the Act of Parliament not having been regularly and yearly complied with . "

Aug . 21 st . A silver cup was presented to Br . Charles Harrop , of the Lodge of Candour , Delph , for his services to this Lodge . £ 10 lent by the Lodge to establish a Royal Arch Chapter , which was opened Jany . 29 th , 1840 .