Emergency Meeting
Centenary Festival
This being an Emergency Meeting, the Lodge was opened at 5 p.m.
by Brother James Dark, Worshipful Master. The Officers of the
Grand Lodge and the Provincial Grand Lodge were received in due
form by all Officers and Brethren of the Lodge.
Brother B W Rowson P M, D C, reviewed the career of the Lodge in
a very able manner, remarking that the chronicles clearly proved
that the Lodge had been in existence prior to 1792.
Brother J D Murry Grand Treasurer of England in a most able
speech then handed the Centenary Warrant to Brother James Clark W
M. Brother J G Highfield having read the Warrant. Brother J G
Clark W M accepted the same in a most suitable manner.
The Brethren retired from labour to refreshment and the usual
Loyal and Masonic Toasts were given.
The Lodge was then closed according to Ancient Custom in due form
and perfect harmony.
There were 38 members and 19 guests present.
Edward VII became King in 1901; he gave his name to the Edwardian age, a period which was colourful, opulent and somewhat vulgar, the 'last summer' before the irrevocable change wrought in Europe by world war and the consequences for modern society. Aviation was the main example, as in 1909 Louis Bleriot flew across the English Channel.
The Lodge summons first appears in the minute book for the meeting dated 17th January 1907, it is almost the same as it is today, showing another example of our Lodge keeping with tradition. There is however, in the minutes written on 31st January 1908 a summons for an Emergency meeting, it is printed in the usual manner on the inside, but on white paper instead of the usual blue. A communication from Grand Lodge can be found in the minutes dated 19th May 1910, with regard to the death of King Edward VII and orders all subordinate Lodges to be placed in Masonic Mourning for the space of six months, the Mourning to be worn by Brethren individually as follows:
Grand Officers, past and present - Three Rosettes of Black Crape on the Badge, and one at the point of the Chain or Collar, immediately above the Jewel. Masters, Past Masters, and Master Masons - Three Rosettes of Black Crape on Badge, and one on Collar where Collar is worn Fellowcrafts and Entered Apprentices - Two Rosettes of Black Crape at the lower part of the Badge
In the minutes of that meeting a reference to his death reads as follows:
"Proposed by W Bro. Heaton W M, seconded by Rev C Savage, Chaplain, that a resolution expressing our deep sorrow at the Most Melancholy and lamented death of His Late Most Gracious Majesty King Edward VII, Protector of the Order, be recorded on the minutes of this Lodge".
It was carried unanimously.
George V became
King in 1910. During his reign, the First World War was to be the
dominant factor, bringing another era of changes. The Summons
dated 9th August 1915 shows on it the back a Roll of Honour to
the Brethren serving H M Forces, either with Colours or Transport
Service. As the war progressed the list of members increased.
On the inside there is an Obituary, which reads:
Brethren of this Lodge who lost their lives through the sinking
of the Lusitania.
Bros. T J Houghton, P Hefford and S J Penkeyman.
By the End of the War the Roll of Honour had almost doubled, there were 44 names of Brethren serving in H M Forces, they were as follows:
| W Bro E C N Heaton | Bro J Gilbertson | Bro E R Pepper |
| Bro T M Jones SAS | Bro M Greenwood | Bro A E Pugh |
| Bro A C Allsop | Bro F Hart | Bro William Rogers |
| Bro C Baylor | Bro E E Hewson | Bro A H Roden Jnr |
| Bro J E Bond | Bro Thomas Heggie | Bro E M Roden |
| Bro H Bradshaw | Bro A J Irving | Bro A Simpson |
| Bro J J Birch | Bro R G Langley | Bro A H Summers |
| Bro J Balbirnie | Bro W J Law | Bro H Walters |
| Bro J G P Bisset | Bro Robert C P Miller | Bro M J Wright |
| Bro William Booth Jnr | Bro J W H Makepeace | Bro Thomas Wilson |
| Bro J Chamberlain | Bro J McCurdy | Bro E D Williams |
| Bro William Cooke | Bro D McLean | Bro T E Williams |
| Bro W Duncan | Bro E R Mowbray | Bro William Watson |
| Bro C E Elliott | W R Penny | Bro Sam Wharmby |
| Bro G O Phillips |
We now move into the 'Roaring Twenties', which were happier times and it is here we must mention two of the Brethren who were initiated in this era and both made themselves very dear to the then members of the Lodge in their respective Masonic Careers. They are Harold Quayle and Ernie Cleminson. His father W Bro Sam Quayle, who was in his year as Master, initiated W Bro H Quayle PPrJGW into the Lodge on 21st September 1922. He was to celebrate 60 years in the Lodge after making his mark in many ways in the Lodge. He was one of the Brethren who formed the Bi-centenary Fund many years ago. W Bro E D Cleminson PGStdBr, was initiated on 29th July 1927, in an emergency meeting arranged because he was" proceeding to sea". He was not only loyal to the Lodge but played an active role in the Provincial Office at Hope Street. He was to gain the honour of a Grand Rank, and to celebrate 60 years as a member.
Edward VIII
abdicated and George VI was crowned in 1936. The Second World
War, as was the First World War was to dominate life in Britain.
The summons for the meeting 19th March 1936 contains an order
that Grand Lodge and subordinate Lodges be placed in mourning
until 21st April 1936. This was in consequence of the death of
His Most Gracious Majesty King George V. On the 15th October 1936
Wallace Stanley Dulson Weaver was initiated into Ancient Union
Lodge No 203, he is at present the oldest member and the oldest
Past Master. It was minuted at a committee meeting some years ago
that the brethren wished the oldest reigning Past Master would
take the Chair in our Bi- centenary year. W Bro W S D Weaver
PPrJGW, who first served as our Worshipful Master in 1952,
exactly forty years before, was once again at the helm. This
achievement is not unique but one of which Ancient Union Lodge No
203 is very proud. His Masonic Career shows that he is a Brother
of true Masonic Qualities; he has already celebrated 60 Years a
Member of the Lodge.
A tribute should also be made to W Bro F J B Trapnell. He was
Worshipful Master in 1946, and will be remembered for his
generous deeds such as writing to all the Brethren of the Lodge
serving in H M Forces during the war, and collecting the 300
guineas raised for the 150th anniversary.
Another Brother who is sadly missed is W Bro V J Edgar PPrJGW; he
was initiated on 21st December 1929 and was to become well known
to us all as the Lodge Treasurer, serving for 23 years. He
celebrated his 50th anniversary as a member shortly before his
death in 1989.
1938 was an unusual year, because the first initiation of that, year was not carried out until the October meeting. The summons for the meeting dated 25th January 1941, was the first to show Brethren serving in H M Forces. As in the Roll of Honour during the First World War the list of names increases as the conflict proceeds. It is of interest to note that during most of the War years the Lodge met in the afternoons to avoid the Blackouts. An Obituary in the summons dated 24th May 1941, reads; " Killed by enemy action, 4th May 1941, Bro W Boardman."
The next milestone was to celebrate the 150th Anniversary; this was on Monday 10th August 1942. The Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master, Brother Arthur Foster, was the principal guest; the Assistant Provincial Grand Masters, Worshipful Brothers A C Waddle and Ashton Davies, and other Officers of Provincial Grand Lodge accompanied him. During the ceremony, the Worshipful Master Bro F E Higham, very effectively addressed the Brethren with special reference to this memorable occasion, which was greatly appreciated by all the Brethren present. To mark this great day, he presented three cheques of 100 guineas each, 300 guineas in all, which had been subscribed by the Brethren of the Lodge, in aid of the West Lancashire Masonic Charities. The Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master, after thanking the Lodge for their generosity, occupied the Chair of our Lodge. He placed W Bro Reginald Lees, Provincial Grand Senior Warden, in the Senior Wardens Chair, thus constituting a Provincial Grand Lodge. W Bro V E Preston, Charity Representative was then invested by the Provincial Grand Master in the rank of Past Provincial Grand Deacon. The Festive Board which followed the meeting was as would be expected during the war years, kept simple, but I am sure pleasing to all present.
By the end of the war the List of members serving in H M Forces was as follows:
| Bro ET Jones | Bro G A Preston | Bro A H Clarke |
| Bro A Butler | Bro K L Arrowsmith | Bro J A W Pownell |
| Bro G H B Nightscales | Bro R E Lee | Bro J E Preston |
| Bro H P Foster | Bro F McKellar | Bro Eric Sumner |
| Bro S Blackmore | Bro A G Currie | Bro W K Thompson |
| Bro V J Edgar | Bro E Apel | Bro T Wilson |
| Bro W J Barton | Bro E A Burgess | Bro L G Roberts |
| Bro S Smith |
In 1992 the Lodge celebrated its Bi-Centenary. The main celebration was held on 15th September 1992 at Hope Street, Liverpool. In attendance was the late The Most Worshipful Pro Grand Master, The Right Honourable Lord Farnham, accompanied by the Right Worshipful Kenneth E Moxley, the then Provincial Grand Master of West Lancashire. During this celebratory year the three principal offices were held by the three oldest past masters; W Bro W S D Weaver PPrJGW as Worshipful Master, W Bro H Lee PPrJGW as Senior Warden, and W Bro R C H Savage PPrJGW as Junior Warden. Together these brethren had achieved almost as many combined years membership as the Lodge was celebrating. During the meeting the Lodge made a donation of over £2,000 to Masonic Charities.