The Lodge No 276
was granted its Warrant, and was duly consecrated on 10th August
1792. The Worshipful James Chalmers, Worshipful Master, ably
assisted by Worshipful Thomas Appleton, as Senior Warden, and
Worshipful John Douglas, as Junior Warden, were authorized by the
Athol Grand Lodge to form and hold a Lodge of Free and Accepted
Masons, at the Freemasons' Tavern, Sir Thomas' Buildings,
Liverpool, or elsewhere in the said town of Liverpool, upon the
first Wednesday of every month, on all seasonable times and
lawful occasions.
In 1792 George III was King, Admiral Nelson was about to end
Napoleon's Egyptian Campaign, by destroying the French Fleet at
Aboukir Bay (1798), the Duke of Wellington was involved in
campaigns in India. In England the Industrial Revolution had
started.
Richard Arkright, who is sometimes known as 'the father
of the Factory System', died, he had been knighted six years
earlier, and his factories and others like them transformed
Britain's cotton industry. James Watt's rotative steam engine was
already in use, and between 1780 and 1800 there was an eightfold
increase in the amount of raw cotton imported for the industries
use. Liverpool's population was around 60,000, but was shortly to
increase dramatically as the Port was to prosper along with the
increase of trade. Transportation was also about to be improved
with the opening of the Leeds Liverpool Canal in 1816 and later,
in 1829; Stephenson's 'Rocket' started the age of the Railway.
Coal was the main fuel but by 1823 no less than fifty-two English
towns were gas-lit, this gas was produced from coal. Iron and
Steel were also on the increase, all adding to extra trade
through Liverpool. While all this domestic activity was taking
place. Nelson had perished at his moment of victory over a
combined French and Spanish fleet at Trafalgar (1805), Wellington
had defeated Napoleon at Waterloo (1815), and had served as Prime
Minister (1828-30), and George IV had ascended the throne (1820).
The Lodge No 276, was registered on the books of the Athol Grand
Lodge, which was formed in 1751, and was also known as the "Antients"
Grand Lodge. There was also another Grand Lodge known as the
Premier or "Modern" Grand Lodge, which had more Lodges
in the Liverpool area. There was much rivalry between these two
Grand Lodges centered on differences in ritual. One major problem
was the difference in official approach to the Royal Arch
Workings. The 'Modern' Grand Lodge did not officially recognise
any degrees other than the three Craft Degrees, while the
'Antients' accepted Royal Arch and other additional degrees and
did not object to them being worked under the Craft Lodge Warrant.
In 1809 the Premier Grand Lodge took a definite step to bring a meeting of the two Grand Lodges by passing a resolution rescinding the decision of 1739, which had transposed the Words in the ritual. Later in the same year the 'Antient' Grand Lodge appointed a Committee to investigate the possibilities of affecting a Union. By 1810 it was possible for the Antient Grand Lodge to pass a resolution, which began the process of forming a Union. In 1813 after the Duke of Sussex had been installed as Grand Master of the 'Moderns' and the Duke of Kent installed as Grand Master of the Antients', the Articles of the Union were signed. The actual Act of Union took place on the 27th December, St John's Day, 1813 at Freemason's Hall in Great Queen Street, London. The two Grand Lodges were opened in adjoining rooms, then forming a procession moved into the hall where the two Grand Masters were seated on thrones of equal height. The Act of Union was read and formally ratified. The assembly was constituted into one Grand Lodge and the Duke of Sussex was elected as the first Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of Ancient Freemasons of England.
Our Lodge has been known under five Lodge numbers. The re-numbering of Lodges was caused by the fact that many Lodges ceased to exist or transferred allegiance to new Grand Lodges (for example those in Canada, Australia and India). Both the Premier Grand Lodge and the United Grand Lodge have at various times re-allocated the numbers on the register in order to produce an up to date and consecutive numbering of existing Lodges and to leave no gaps where Lodges have withdrawn or been expelled or have had their warrants withdrawn.
The Lodge's original number of 276 was altered to No 348, when the United Grand Lodge of England was formed on 27th December 1813, by the Union of the two Grand Lodges (Antients and Moderns). The re-numbering of all Lodges caused by the formation of the United Grand Lodge caused some controversy and, to avoid argument, it was decided that the re-numbering was to alternate between 'Antients' Lodges and 'Moderns' Lodges. There was a ballot for allocation of the first number, which was in favour of the Antients. Their Grand Master's Lodge became No 1 while the Moderns Grand Lodge's older Lodge of Antiquity became No 2. At the time, there were 647 lodges to be numbered apart from the Moderns Grand Lodge's Grand Stewart's Lodge, which kept its place at the head of the list without a number. Because of this ancient method of re-numbering in 1813, a Lodge's number does not necessarily reflect its age and there will, therefore, be Lodges with a number higher than Ancient Lodge and were founded much earlier. An example of this is Mariners Lodge No 249, which was consecrated on 1st March 1783, and was registered in the books of the Premier Grand Lodge of England and known as a " Moderns" Lodge.
The Lodge was given its first name on I9th September 1816, which was Union Lodge No 348, although the number was changed again, to No 245, because of the general alteration in the numbers in 1832. It was not until 16th February 1847, the Lodge was named Antient Union Lodge No 245. At the closing of the numbers in 1863, the Lodge became, and now stands on the Register as No 203.
The first meetings of Lodge No 276, were held at the Freemasons' Tavern, Sir Thomas' Buildings, Liverpool. We cannot find records of meetings under the leadership of Worshipful James Chalmers, the records we possess start in 1795 in the hand of the then Secretary John McCloud. The minutes from those early meetings, together with the entries made in the Registration Book, show that the Lodge held meetings at 12 Old Hall Street. During this year Joseph Johnson was the Worshipful Master and was ably assisted by James Caddick and William Gratty in the Senior and Junior Wardens Chairs, the Worshipful Chalmers was the IPM. In the Minute Book marked No 1 and called Lodge No 276 Transaction Book, commencing December 17th 1795, and ending August 15th 1805, it can be appreciated Just how little has changed in the life of our Lodge.
The first minutes from that book are as follows:
Lodge No. 276
No.
12 Old Hall Street
Liverpool 17th Dec 1795
"This being the first meeting of the Persons, who having purchased the Warrant No. 276 from W Bro. James Chalmers, it having been dormant sometime. Bro. Joseph Johnson having been Installed sometime since as Worshipful Master of this Lodge, with a power to install his Wardens, as soon as furniture could be procured in order to open the Lodge. Accordingly the Lodge was opened on the First, Second and Third Degrees of Masonry, when Bro. James Caddick was installed Senior Warden and Bro. William Gratty Junior Warden. Mr. William Orme and Mr Richard Kennedy and Mr. John Welch, were unanimously approved of, as worthy to become Masons, accordingly they were all made Entered Apprentices. It was agreed that this Lodge should meet on Saturday next, for the purpose of their advancement, after which the Lodge was closed in due time and perfect harmony."
There were three more meetings held in the same month, on the I9thDecember they passed and raised the initiates, and on the 25th December they were given lectures on the first and second degrees. The fourth meeting of the month was held on 31st December 1795, and at this meeting the first Bye-Laws were resolved. The minutes read as follows:
"This being a Lodge Night called by the Worshipful Master
when the following resolutions were made.
1st. That this Lodge shall be held on the first and third Friday
in every month at No 12 Old Hall Street.
2nd. That every Brother who is a member of this Lodge shall
subscribe five shillings and three pence quarterly to the Lodge
fund.
3rd. That the members of this Lodge shall convene together
according to Ancient Custom on or near the 24th June and 27th
December yearly, to transact the Great and Mighty business of
those days, and that each member shall pay two shillings and six
pence on each of those days, and every visiting Brother five
shillings or what the majority of the members of the Lodge shall
think proper.
4th. That every Brother wishing to visit this Lodge his name
shall be first given in to the Lodge and if any one member
objects against him he shall not be admitted, but if he is
admitted he shall pay one shilling for his expense of the evening
or what the majority of
the members shall think proper, sojourners excepted.
5th. That the Rules and Regulations made in the Year by Prince
Edwin at York shall be strictly adhered to in this Lodge and that
no Rules or Regulations hereafter shall be made that shall do
away the force or energy of the Grand Lodge Rules.
After which the Lodge closed in custom and perfect harmony."
The first minute helps in some way to explain why there are no
records from the first three years, in that it may be assumed
that the Lodge met infrequently until December 1795 with only the
founder members present. Both of these minutes show that the
present day minutes are in the main, written in the same
tradition. The following year meetings were held at Lewis's
Richmond Street and remained so for five years until 29th January
1801 when the Lodge met at Aspinnalls, Richmond Street. The next
move was to Strong's, Thomas Street on 17th November 1809. This
only lasted two years, because it is recorded that on 5th
December 1811, the Lodge was meeting at Greenhalghes, Cable
Street, Liverpool. On the 4th February 1839 the Lodge was meeting
in the house of Mrs. Joseph Taylor, Pied Bull, Great Charlotte
Street. On 19th March 1840 there was a meeting at Copperas Hill,
and from the 20th October 1840 until 15th September 1842 the
meetings were held at the Blackhorse, Cheapside. After this it
was Hyatts until 19th September 1844 when the Lodge met at Brooks
Grapes Inn, Brownlow Hill. From 1858 until 1968, the Lodge met at
the Masonic Hall, Hope Street, Liverpool. After the fire at Hope
Street, the Lodge moved to Garston.
The first and second Minute Books show that the Lodge met frequently, they held meetings even on 25th December 1795 Christmas Day, however, not for celebration of the festive season, but to hear a Lecture given by the Worshipful Master Joseph Johnson. On 2nd January 1798 the Lodge celebrated the Anniversary of John the Baptist by installing James Guiball as Worshipful Master and his officers. William Orme, who was initiated during the first meeting at 12 Old Hall Street, was installed as the Senior Warden. The minutes occasionally show entries of Lodge No 276 meeting as a Royal Arch Chapter, which was permitted under the constitutions of the Athol Grand Lodge.
The first mention of a Lodge of Instruction can be seen in the
Minutes dated 1st February 1816, they read as follows:
"Resolved. That a Lodge of Instruction should be held in the
Lodge Room on Thursday Evening next, on which evening the
Regulations were to be adopted for that Institution."
The meeting dated l9th September 1816, which has already been
referred to as the meeting the Lodge No 348 was to be named
"Union Lodge No348". Shows references to meeting of
Provincial Grand Lodge, but after those communications were
complete the business of naming the Lodge reads,
" It was unanimously agreed that the name of the Mariners
Lodge should be expunged and that the name of the Union Lodge be
adopted in its stead."
From this minute onward the Lodge uses its adopted name, but was
the Lodge originally going to be called Mariners?
Provincial Grand Lodge held a meeting on the 12th October 1818 at
the Spread Eagle in Manchester. At this meeting a resolution was
passed that any Lodge hereafter be reduced to any number less
than seven they would not be considered as a regular Lodge and
their Warrants be declared void. The purpose of the resolution
appears to have been an attack on Union Lodge No 348, which had
declined in number to only 10 members. Our records show that the
Lodge held an emergency meeting prior to this Provincial Grand
Lodge Meeting:
"To appoint a suitable person to attend, the Worshipful
Master Brother J Gillmore agreed to undertake the business, and
in case of his being prevented, Brother Senior Warden Milton
offered his services."The registration book shows that during 1818 there were no
initiates just five joining members. Two before the Provincial
Grand Lodge Meeting and three after.
In 1819 Edward, Duke of Kent became the proud father of Princess Victoria. She was to become Queen at the age of eighteen in 1837. Victoria presided over the glory of the British Empire and the establishment of Britain as a powerful and peaceful industrialised nation. She exerted an immense influence, stamping the era with her own rather stiff respectability, tastes and morals. Her two most famous ministers were Gladstone and Disraeli. The Victorian age brought many changes to Britain. The advent of the postage stamp was to be of great benefit in 1840, and there was of course, the beginning of the age of the automobile.
Queen Victoria's Coronation was in June
1838. A celebration arranged by the Freemasons of Liverpool was
that the Ancient Order of Freemasons in Liverpool should testify
their loyalty to Her Most Gracious Majesty by forming in the
procession in Liverpool, in honour of the ceremony of her
Coronation. This meeting also respectfully requested the Right
Worshipful Le Gendre Nicholas Starkie esq., Provincial Grand
Master of the Western Division of this county, and also the Right
Worshipful Ian Drinkwater esq. Deputy Provincial Grand Master to
give their support. In fact, the Provincial Grand Master and his
deputy were in Liverpool at the time to preside over the laying
of the foundation stone of St George's Hall.
The Lodge now known as Lodge No 348 began to increase its
membership with both joining and initiate brethren in equal
numbers. The minutes of 21st December 1826 show a ballot for
Worshipful Master. At this meeting two Brethren's names were put
forward Brother Spurr and Brother Martin. The ballot box revealed
4 balls for Spurr and 7 balls for Martin; Brother Martin was
declared Master Elect. The following meeting on the 18th January
highlights the Lodge being closed prematurely. It states that
during the meeting on account of Brother Sweeny being determined
to come into the Lodge in a very abrupt manner - the Worshipful
Master thought proper to close the Lodge. An emergency meeting
was to follow the next evening in which the Installation of
Brother Martin took place.
During the early 1800's, Lodges in Liverpool were finding it more
difficult to find suitable places where privacy could be
guaranteed. It became apparent that a central Masonic Hall was a
necessity. Ancient Union Lodge played a large part in conjunction
with the Merchants Lodge No 241, and other Lodges in forming a
Committee to study this matter. A trust deed was established to
select a suitable site. The site selected was known as "The
House in the Garden", No 22 Hope Street, Liverpool, and in
October 1858 the Hall was opened for Masonic Meetings. Ancient
Union first met in the new Masonic Hall in November 1858.
The Minutes of Ancient Union Lodge No 203 taken from the meeting
held on 21st October 1869 show a notice of Motion given by the
Senior Warden Bro. E Hughes as follows:
"That the sum of One Guinea from each initiation and the sum
of five shillings from each joining fee, from this date be set
aside as a Reserved Fund to be hereafter appropriated for the
building of a Masonic Temple in Hope Street on the land at
present belonging to the Masons of! Liverpool. The said monies to
be paid to the duly appointed Trustees or their successors when
the Foundation Stone is laid. Such fund to be called The Masonic
Building reserve Fund."
This shows that the Lodge was involved in paying for the Masonic
Temple at Hope Street, and is why it was important to the
membership to celebrate the Bi-Centenary in those famous
surroundings.
In the inside cover of the Minute Book covering the years 1881 to
1892 there is an inventory of the Lodge furniture, taken on the 6th
December 1884, towards the end of the report is a section under
the heading Cellar (contents) which were as follows:
1 Garde de Vin,
containing 12 square cut decanters, with plated stoppers; 2 cut
decanters with cut glass stoppers; 3 common glass decanters
without stoppers; stock of wines, 1 1/2 gallon of Sherry and 1 1/2
gallon of Rum in jars, 1 quart Rum,1 quart Sherry, and 1 quart
Whisky in decanters
We wonder where those decanters are now? The contents we all know
must have been used in celebrating the Centenary in 1892.