Clarendon Lodge

No 1166

‘Fedei Coticula Crux’

‘The Cross is the Touchstone of Faith’

1867 – 2017

Foreword Worshipful Master Derek Scott ProvSGD (Berks)

I first visited Clarendon Lodge No.1166 in November 2008, accompanying

Maxwell Milward Leese, APGM. I am so pleased that I have reason to mention

Max in this foreword, as he was very much a mentor and inspiration to me in

Freemasonry.

I immediately fell in love with this Lodge; not just because of the traditional

curry served annually, but also for the warmth of the welcome I received and

the comradery I observed amongst the Members. I was hooked and became an

irregular, and then regular Visitor.

I have been fortunate to participate in many Ceremonies of Initiation, Passing,

Raising, and, Installation, in this Lodge, acting as Tyler, Inner Guard, Deacon,

Warden, and DC.

Freemasonry is an inclusive organisation open to men of all Faiths, and it struck

me that this Lodge is as inclusive as it gets, when at one Initiation I observed a

Christian kneel and take an Obligation on HIS Holy Book, flanked by two

Deacons, one of whom was Muslim, and the other a Sikh. Where else could one

witness an act such as this?

I could resist it no longer and became a joining Member in 2017, and was

greatly honoured when the Lodge Committee decided that they wanted me to be

Worshipful Master for this sesquicentenary year.

This Lodge has a fantastic first 150 year’s history, which will be covered below,

and I hope that it continues for another 150 years, and beyond.

Derek W Scott,

Worshipful Master, Clarendon Lodge No.1166, 2018-2019.

Derek W Scott, Provincial Senior Grand Deacon

Worshipful Master, Clarendon Lodge No.1166, 2018-2019.

A Short History of the Lodge

In the early 1860’s there appeared to be a renewed activity among Masons in

the N.E. of Cheshire. This no doubt coincided with the growth and prosperity of

the region. The Royal Edward Lodge 1088 was constituted in March 1866 at

Stalybridge. The Oakwood Lodge was warranted and constituted on the 29th

September 1866 at Romiley and then, with the help and sponsorship of the

Master and Brethren of the Lodge of Industry No 361 and support from many

other Brethren of Lodges in Stalybridge, Denton, Altrincham, Marple, Stockport

and Glossop, the Clarendon Lodge was finally constituted at the Queens Hotel,

Hyde the 22nd August 1867 by the Right Worshipful Brother Lord de Tabley,

Provincial Grand Master of Cheshire, attended by the Right Worshipful Brother

the Viscount Combermere, Deputy Provincial Grand Master.

Queens Hotel Hyde

Worshipful Brother John Wood of Arden Hall, Bredbury, Barrister at Law, Justice

of the Peace, had called a meeting of the Brethren at the Queens Hotel,

Clarendon Place Hyde (no date is given of this meeting), for the purpose of

discussing the opening of the new Lodge at that hotel and the following Brethren

attended;

Bro John Wood

Bro John Brierley Bro David Oldham

Bro John James Horsfall Bro John Hepworth

Bro George Green Bro Martin Middleton

Bro Francis Daniels Bro John Swain

Bro Saul Natham Bro Joseph Wild

Bro George Fox Bro John Leigh

Clarendon Lodge should feel grateful to those Brethren and particularly to Bro

John Wood, for without his foresight persistence and ability, Clarendon Lodge

might never have been formed. He was a member of three Lodges. No 4, No

321 Unity and 1126 Oakwood and a great personality. Evidence of the nature of

the proceedings which led to the consecration of Clarendon was provided by the

Secretary of the sponsoring Lodge of Industry for the Centenary celebration.

At the time Bro John Wood’s endeavours were beginning to bear fruit

arrangements were being made by the Rev R Leigh of St Thomas’ Church. Hyde,

to have the Foundation Stone of the new church laid with the Masonic ceremony

and he had invited the Master and Brethren of the Lodge of Industry to take

part. The Brethren agreed to apply to the Lord de Tabley to lay the stone to

which he readily agreed. The Warrant, on behalf of the new Lodge had been

applied for and was promised to be granted. His Lordship expressed his

intention of performing both the ceremonies on the same day, namely 22nd

August 1867.

St Thomas' Church, Hyde

It was thought desirable that both Lodges should work conjointly in connection

with the above ceremonies and that after a few preliminary meetings it was

considered best to form a committee of four individuals from each Lodge to work

conjointly and to represent the interests of each Lodge and the following

Brethren were appointed as a committee;

Industry Clarendon

Bro. J. Burgess, WM Bro. J. Wood WM designate

Bro. F. Wrigley, SW Bro. H. Reddish SW designate

Bro. B. Cooper JW Bro. J. Hibbert MM

Bro. H. Molyneux SD Bro. J. Wood acted as Chairman

Eventually it was decided to organise the two matters on a grand scale with

lunches and a banquet, with one waiter to every five guests, Champagne 6/- and

10/, - Hock, Claret 4/- and 9/-. and Port 7/-, the Compstall Prize Band (still in

existence today) to be engaged, the bell ringers to be offered £3. 3s 0d. from

11.00am to 2.00pm and singers to be paid half a guinea each and a free ticket.

It took in more than a dozen meetings to complete all the arrangements. It was

obviously intended that the foundations of both the Church and Clarendon Lodge

should be well and truly laid, and that no little cost to the Brethren of both

Lodges.

The minute book records that at 2.00pm on the 22nd August 1867 the Provincial

Grand Master the Right Worshipful Brother Lord de Tabley, opened a Craft Lodge

at the Queens Hotel, Hyde and the ceremony and consecration of the Clarendon

Lodge 1166 took place and afterwards the Installation of the Worshipful Master

Designate Bro. John Wood, who was installed as the first Worshipful Master of

Clarendon Lodge No. 1166. He remained Worshipful Master for the years 1868

and 1869.

On the 3rd September 1867 the next meeting was held and seven members were

balloted for and accepted, so that the Lodge began to build up at once. At this

meeting it was decided to order eighteen aprons for the use of the Lodge.

Immediately upon this Bro John Leigh offered enough white leather to make the

said aprons and Bro Francis Daniels presented a sword for the Tyler’s use. Both

these Brethren had only a few moments before being balloted for as joining

members, whilst the Worshipful Master himself was thanked for the handsome

present of all the jewels and the Lodge of Loyalty No. 320 (Stalybridge) was

thanked for the loan of their furniture for the consecration of the Lodge. At each

subsequent meeting for the first year or two there ware usually as many as

three of four ceremonies of ignition, passing or raising and on one occasion there

was one ballot and initiation followed by three separate passings and one

raising.

There came a slowing down of candidates and a period when there was little

business to attend to and a corresponding drop in attendees, so that by 1880

there was an occasion when only two Past Masters a Senior Deacon and a Tyler

were present so that no Lodge could be held. These times were not without

Masonic interest however. In February 1873 the Worshipful Master informed the

Lodge that in as much as Bro W. H. Dutton could not be raised to the third

degree at the last Lodge meeting through pressures of business and as he had

expressed a great desire to be raised as early as possible, he had consented that

the ceremony might take at the Lodge of Friendship No. 44 for which purpose he

(the Worshipful Master) along with Bro Fox PM. and Bro. Hepworth SW. attended

the Lodge of Friendship (which is in the Province of East Lancs.) and Bro Dutton

was raised to the sublime Degree of MM by the Worshipful Master of the Lodge,

Bro Dutton went on to become the Worshipful Master of Clarendon Lodge in

1885 and attained the rank of PGADC.

A year later a colliery manager was balloted for but two black balls were against

him and at the same meeting another candidate was withdrawn at the last

minute because he had been misrepresented as a Doctor.

A Mr George Eyre Pursglove was asked to give a price for the making of the

Lodge furniture. In the meantime he was proposed, balloted for and initiated

into Clarendon Lodge. His bill for the furniture, which included oak chairs,

pedestals, columns and working tools amounted to £53. 19s. 1d. he was then

asked to wait for his money until the Lodge was able to pay and he would

receive 5% per annum interest on the amount owing. Bro Pursglove was patient

for a while and then asked for his money. After a period of negations with W.

Bro. Wrigley came to the rescue and paid up Bro. Pursglove promptly resigned.

Later it was the turn of W. Bro. Wrigley to demand his money and resign. The

furniture was eventually sold to purchase War Loan Bonds in 1929.

An emergency meeting was called on the 2nd March 1880 in consequence of no

Lodge meeting having been called for February. The Worshipful Master stated to

the Lodge his reasons for calling the brethren together and his regret at what

had taken place. He requested the brethren to express their opinion upon the

conduct of the Secretary in not calling the Lodge together at the proper time. It

was resolved unanimously by the brethren present that the secretary had

forfeited the confidence of the Lodge and that the Worshipful Master be

requested to appoint some other brother to perform the duties as secretary in

accordance with the constitution of the Grand Lodge. At the next regular

meeting however, the matter came to the boil. The Past Masters had meanwhile

held a meeting in Manchester at which they resolved that ‘‘the Past Masters of

the Lodge regret that the brother recommended by them for the appointment as

Secretary was not appointed, as they feel that had their recommendation been

carried into effect the late deplorable neglect in summoning the Lodge would not

have occurred, but whilst they expressed their regret at this they were satisfied

that it was the Worshipful Master’s duty to see that the Lodge was called

together and on no account to have suffered the duties which fall upon himself

as Master primarily, to have been entrusted into their hands. They felt the

blame must of necessity rest not on the Secretary but in a greater degree on the

Worshipful Master’s gross neglect of duty renders his conduct deserving of the

censure.’’ At the next meeting in March it was decided to adjourn the regular

meeting in October, at which an apology was given for the absence of the

Worshipful Master who it was stated had removed to Durban South Africa. It is

not certain whether the recent Lodge problems had hastened his decision to

emigrate.

In these times Masonic funerals were allowed by Dispensations and there are

many accounts of hurried arrangements for such dispensations. Brethren were

warned to take care ‘‘not to appear abroad in there masonic clothing and jewels

except in going and returning with the funeral Processions.’’

There are also recorded many instances of Masons falling on hard times and

being unable to continue their obligations to the Lodge of requiring assistance

for their families, particularly as a result of illness or loss of business. The

Welfare State had not yet arrived.

No Lodge meeting was convened for April 1886 in consequence of an epidemic of

smallpox raging in Hyde and a case of having occurred at the Queen’s Hotel in

Hyde.

In the early years of the twentieth century the membership appeared to have

dropped again, but on the 6th March 1906 there was a determined effort to

increase membership. No less than seven candidates were separately dealt

with. The Lodge opened at 4.00pm and after the four candidates had been

initiated (three of whom were Licenced Victuallers) the Lodge adjourned and also

a change of teams took place. There followed one more initiation and two

second Degree ceremonies before the Lodge was finally closed at 9.45pm.

When the 1914-18 War began the Lodge received an instruction from the

Provincial Grand Secretary, who was then our own W. Bro Fredrick Broardsmith

PAGReg (Eng.), PPGW and Prov.GSec. ‘‘to regulate Lodge meeting and post-

prandial after proceedings with as little expense as possible, by discarding

dinners of festive boards and substituting light refreshments, bringing the

meetings to a close as early as possible’’. Toasts had to be reduced, ‘‘no

honours – no singing’’.

Jubilee – 50th Anniversary

An emergency meeting of the Lodge was held on 22nd August 1917, exactly 50

years after the consecration, to celebrate the Jubilee. Bro H. Handsford was the

Worshipful Master and there were 40 members and 30 visitors present, a very

creditable number given that it was war time. W. Bro F Broadsmith, acting for

the Provincial Grand Master of Cheshire, congratulated the Lodge on its success.

A souvenir programme containing a history of the Lodge and a Jubilee Jewel

(price 14/6d) were presented to each member. Sadly W. Bro Broadsmith, who

was then the oldest member of the Lodge survived the Jubilee by only eleven

more months.

Jubilee Festival Souvenir

After the period of the 1914-18 war there was obviously a great demand on the

Lodge to accept new members and it was necessary to have a special note

printed and attached to the summons giving the names of the three persons

nominated for membership of the Lodge apart from the six names of these

awaiting initiation whose names already appeared on the summons. The

brethren were asked to take into consideration this list when contemplating

nominations. Very few lodges at that time were in this fortunate position.

In March 1927 the Secretary received a letter from the Provincial Grand

Secretary admonishing the Brethren for going into the public bar at the

Brooklands Hotel wearing Masonic clothing and there had been a certain

carelessness in talking about Masonic matters in the presence of strangers. He

also complained that the noise made had been a cause of annoyance to the

residents.

At the beginning of the War in 1939 all Lodges were suspended for a short while

but opened again in October. During the war years Clarendon never failed to

meet, though on many occasions Lodge business for lasted only 30 or 40

minutes. The festive board was much curtailed and tea only was served.

Between October 1939 and September 1942 there was only one new member.

Minor social events were sometimes held after the Lodge meetings and brethren

could invite one lady only.

From 1943 onwards there was however a regular flow of candidates. The

summons in 1946 shows that there were eight candidates waiting for 2nd and 3rd

Degree ceremonies.

The Lodge like any healthy individual has had many periods of restlessness, and

has moved home on seven occasions. It moved from the Queen’s Hotel Hyde in

1887 to the Commercial Hotel in Manchester Road Hyde for a short time until

1894 when it returned to the Queen’s Hotel again. From there it moved to the

Volunteer Inn at Sale for next few years and then to the Sale Masonic Hall. It

then moved to the Brooklands Hotel Sale for perhaps its longest stay and in

1964 came back to the Sale Masonic Hall where it is happily accommodated

today.

Out present summons has been much admired by other Lodges. It first

appeared in its present form in October 1876 after several other designs had

been tried. We are very proud of it and the Arms and motto of Lord Hyde of

Hyde Hall, the Earl of Clarendon, and the meaning of the motto ‘‘Fidel Corticula

Crux’’ literally ‘‘The Cross is at the Touchstone of Faith’’ or ‘’My Faith is in the

Cross’’ at any rate according to our Jubilee Festival Souvenir

The Lodge originally met on a Tuesday on or before the full moon in each month.

Frequent changes occurred and the by-laws were constantly being altered but

the present meeting day was decided in 3rd May 1886 as an amendment and

‘‘the last Thursday in every month’’ has been adhered to with few exceptions up

to the present day. The number of meetings were increased from 6 to 7 in 2010

due to the amount of business to be completed.

Centenary Anniversary

The Centenary meeting took place on Thursday 28th September 1967 at the

Masonic Hall in Sale with Worshipful Master Hubert G Harrison in the Chair. The

Lodge received The Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master RW Bro Arthur A

Johnston, The Deputy Provincial Grand Master W.B. Harry Lomax PGD, the

Assistant Provincial Grand Master, W. Bro T Gerald Pearson PGD. and officers of

the Grand Lodge and Provincial Grand Lodge past and present. The highlights of

the evening were the Presentation of the Centenary by The Right Worshipful W.

Provincial Grand Master to the Master and the presentation of a cheque for 400

guineas for the R.M.I. Boys’ 1968 Festival in recognition of the Centenary of the

Lodge. Many of the members of the Lodge who attended this meeting went on

to support and guide the brethren of Lodge for many years.

Centenary Summons

More Recent times

The Lodge prides itself on the many family ties that have developed over the

years. Whilst there are many that can be traced there are a few father and son

milestones that stand out.

Walter Geary MBE, PRDG

Worshipful Master 1940

Leonard Geary MBE,PRDG.

Worshipful Master 1963

Walter and Leonard who both became Worshipful Master of the Lodge and went

on to undertake more senior responsibilities within the Province.

Another father and son milestone was the double initiation of

Eamond Keher (father)

Initiated 23/04/09

Aaron Keher (son)

Initiated 23/04/09

Eamond and Aaron were initiated on St Georges Day 2009 by Worshipful Master

Soshil K Rawal, this occasion was shared with 54 members and guests

There are other members who have served the Lodge in many offices in more

recent times who have ensured that the longstanding reputation of the Lodge

endures, a full list is too long to include but it is appropriate to mention a few

who have contributed to and maintained the traditions of the of the Lodge

ensuring it reached its 150th anniversary

James N Shuttleworth PSGD, PAPGM

Worshipful Master 1952

John Barnes PPJGW

Worshipful Master 1966

Received 50 year certificate from W. Bro G Monahan

Albert Evans PPJGW, received the George Medal

Worshipful Master 1972

Got to the age of 100

Both John and Albert were lifelong friends and sadly passed away to a higher

calling within 5 weeks of each other in 2015.

Edward Appleton PJGD

Worshipful Master 1981/85/86

In addition to being the Worshipful Master of the Lodge on three occasions

Edward also held a number of other senior offices including DC and Treasurer.

Graham Monahan PPJGW

Worshipful Master 1998/99/2012/14

Amongst other things Graham as Secretary of the Lodge is credited with the

introduction of the use of the computer in Clarendon Lodge, the template

created for minutes is still used to this day.

Vinod K. Bhandari PPGSuptWks

Worshipful Master 2008

Treasurer and DC for many years

In recognition of their service to Clarendon Lodge the following Brethren were

made honorary members on the 27th November 2008

J. W. Loynton PPJGW

Worshipful Master 1971

P. J. Morrison PProvAGDC

Worshipful Master 1976

A tradition recently established for Clarendon Lodge is the annual Curry Evening

which was introduced around 2004 some 12 years ago. It reflected a change in

the membership of the Lodge and was seen as a way of encouraging more

visitors. In the early years the food was prepared by Members of the Lodge who

spent much of the day of the meeting preparing the food for the Social Board.

This has been a great success for many years and has recently seen the

attendance of distinguished guests. On November 24th 2016 the PGM, DPGM,

APGMs, Grand Officers and Acting Provincial Officers attended with Members and

Guests totalling 100, all sat down to a four course curry supper (the current

Worshipful Master, being at that time a regular visitor , acted as Tyler for the

meeting). The money raised from the meals, raffle and Alms was used to

support the needy, local, national Charities.

Recognition

The Brethren of Clarendon Lodge 1166 would like to thank

W. Bro Graham Monahan PPJGW for the support given in the production of the

150th Anniversary History.

Mr John Geary and family for the donation of Clarendon artefacts belonging to

Leonard Geary MBE, PAPGM.

W. Bro John Barnes and family for the donation of Clarendon artefacts belonging

to John Barnes PPJGW.

Past Masters of Clarendon Lodge No 1166

John Wood 1867/8/9 Stuart Harrison PPAGDC 1919 John W. Barnes PPJGW 1966

John Hibbert 1870 Sam Wilson 1920 H. Harrison PPAGSwdB 1967

George Fox 1871 Henry S. Lambert PPGStdB 1921 John Hampson PPGDC 1968

Thomas Drinkwater 1872 Cornelius J. Townsend OBE 1922 Leslie W. Wedgbury PPGStdB 1969

James Hepworth PPGD 1873 Edmund E. Lofts 1923 Reginald A. Pope PPAGDC 1970

Thomas Stafford 1874 Giford Mosley 1924 James W. Loynton PPJGW 1971

John Pott 1875 Arthur Hartley EL 1925 Albert Evans PPJGW 1972

William H. Dutton 1876 James H. Hartley PPGDC 1926 William E. Murphy PPGDC 1973

William Ramsdon 1877/8 Samual Day PPGSwdB 1927 Jack Medowcroft PPAGDC 1974

Fredrick Broadsmith PAGReg 1879 James W. Maudsley PPGDC 1928 John Mills PPAGDC 1975

William Brooks Coburn 1880 Fredrick C. Blackburn 1929 Percy J. Morrison 1976

Arthur Handforth 1881 John W. Grinrod 1930 George A. Banner PPJGW 1977

John McWhirter 1882 John Airey 1931 William Fraser 1978

Mark Billinge 1883 Henry H. Patchett 1932 John H. Henney PPAGSuptWks 1979

Aaron Haighton 1884 Herbert H. Taylor 1933 Michael Stringfellow PPAGDC 1980

William H. Dutton PAGDC 1885 William Cox 1934 Edward G. Appleton PJGD 1981

William Ramsdon 1886 Walter Thomas 1935 Roy Fiddes PPAGDC 1982

Walter J. Cotsworth 1887 James W. Loynton PPJGW 1936 Cyril Haines 1983

Frank Holiday 1888 John Hughes PPGDC 1937 Derek Hayward-Shott PPAGDC 1984

Richard B. Dutton 1889 Leonard Marlow 1938 Edward G. Appleton PJGD 1985/6

Thomas M. Cains 1890 Herbert Fairfield PPAGSwdB 1939 Harold Schofield PPAGSuptWks 1987

Richard Stephenson PPGDC 1891 Walter Geary MBE 1940 John Hampson PPGDC 1988

George Kittson 1893/4 Cecil A. Brown 1941 Ian M. Gibson 1989

Ernest Hampson 1895 Richard Pointon 1942 William A. Royal 1990

William W. Mcleod 1896 John G. Neilson 1943 Philip N. Owen PPAGSwdBr 1992/3

John G. Frost 1897 Ernest A. Ball PPAGStdB 1944 Robert Eborall PPAGSuptWks 1991

Arthur Moxon 1899 Albert Bowman PPAGSwdB 1945 Ian S. Frankland PPAGSwdB 1994/5

William T. Haworth 1898 George Cooke 1946 Peter D. Barton 1996/7

Robert Rear PPGDC 1900 Fredrick Birch PPAGDC 1947 Graham Monaghan PPJGW 1998/9

Arthur C. Gronno 1901 John B. Redman PPAGDC 1948 Robert Eborall PPAGSuptWks 2002

Thomas Webster 1902 Vivian I. Marsden 1949 Brian Cooke 2003

William H. Relly PPGDC 1903 Henry E. Faint PPAGDC 1950 John Purser PPJGD 2000/1

John A. Adey PAGDC 1904 Vincent L. Hadfield PPGDC 1951 Prithipal Singh 2004

Edmund Chorlton 1905 James N. Shuttleworth PSGD PAPGM 1952 Arminder Singh Sohal 2005

Bridge Hopkinson PPGOrg 1906 John Procter PPAGDC 1953 Gurmit Singh Ranshi 2006

Richard C. Done PPGStdB 1907 Harry Annis MBE 1954 Zahir Aziz* PPJGD 2007

Blanthorn PPGStdB 1908 George W.Pearce PPGSuptWks 1955 Vinod K. Bhandari PPGSuptWks 2008

Richard Edgell PPGStB 1909 Dugald A. Pearson 1956 Sushil Rawal PPJGD 2009

Alan Hadfield 1910 Leslie Fairfield PPGDC 1957 Sudesh Sethi 2010/11

Harry Smith PPAGDC 1911 Reginald H. Pickering PPGD 1958 Graham Monaghan PPrJGW 2012

Joseph Read 1912 Charles V. Loynton 1959 Mark Hopwood 2013

Charles Atkinson PPGSwdB 1913 Charles L. Foulkes PPGDC 1960 Graham Monaghan PPJGW 2014

John Williams 1914 Edward L.Thomas PPGStdB 1961 Zahir Aziz PPJGD 2015

William H. Liggit 1915 Fredrick Lucas PPGDC 1962 Ian Browne 2016

Thomas Atkinson PPGSwdB 1916 Leonard Geary PRGD PAPGM 1963 Sajid Hussain 2017

Harold Handford 1917 John W. Wood 1964

Herbert Jones PPAGDC 1918 Frank Taylor 1965

Members of Clarendon Lodge No 1166