A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE FORMATION AND

FIRST 100 YEARS OF

MANOR LODGE NO. 4202

1921 - 2021

 

It was just after the end of the Great War when the initial idea of forming a new Lodge in Wallasey began to evolve amongst a small group of enthusiastic masons, including a a number of Brethren who had resigned from Broadsmith Lodge, No. 3593 in Wallasey.

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On 6th February 1920, a letter was forwarded on behalf of W.Bro. W.H. Dean, one of the Brethren who had resigned from Broadsmith, to a number of "prominent Masons ' in the Wallasey area, inviting them to attend a special meeting at the Guinea Gap Baths in Seacombe on Friday, 13th February 1920 at 7.30 p.m.

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The Minutes of this historical meeting, record the proposition  that an "Application for the Founding of a Lodge be made".   There were two names for the new Lodge under consideration - "Manor" and “Earlston", a vote was taken and it was unanimously agreed with the proposition that the name of the Lodge should be called "Manor" it was further agreed that the Lodge should meet on the fourth Saturday in the month.

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The names of the Founders were submitted and the Officers of the Lodge were nominated with W.Bro. Dean to be the first Worshipful Master. It was also unanimously agreed that the "Broadsmith Lodge be invited to father the petition ".

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The following financial arrangements were proposed: -

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• Founders Fee - £5.5/- (£172 today)

• Annual Subscription £2.12/- (£85 today)

• Initiation Fee £15.12/6- (£539 today)

 

It was not recorded in the earlier Minutes but a letter dated 5th March 1920 from Lord Leverhulme, accepted an invitation - “to become a Founder of a proposed new Masonic Lodge in Wallasey to be called Manor Lodge” and for him to find a suitable symbolic design that would denote the "Manor". His Lordship had previously rejected the suggestion that the Lodge should include “Leverhulme” in the name.

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The first recommendation for the Lodge Motto - (‘Favete Linguis’ meaning "Keep a discrete silence") - was made at the meeting held on 20th March 1920.

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The Minutes of the Founders meeting held on 13th May 1920 records the death earlier that month of the Master Elect, W.Bro. W H. Dean.   It was later Proposed and agreed that W.Bro. R. Rawlinson be nominated as the first Worshipful Master and Lord Leverhulme was unanimously elected as the first Immediate Past Master.

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A serious setback to the Founding of the Lodge was the receipt of a letter dated 12th August 1920 from the Provincial Grand Secretary, W.Bro. Joseph Clarke, in which he stated that the Petition to form a new Lodge had been rejected by the Provincial Grand Master.  Apparently, it was thought that there were lodges in the vicinity of Wallasey which required additional members.  This letter evoked an immediate response from the Founders to the R.W. Provincial Grand Master, Lt. Col. Hubert Cornwall Leigh, pointing out that Lodges in the Wallasey area were, in fact, "congested” and a new Lodge, meeting on the fourth Saturday in the month would ease the situation.  It was mentioned that Lord Leverhulme was supporting the petition but this assertion was later denied by his Lordship who objected to his name being used in an attempt to influence the R.W. Provincial Grand Master.   The letter of appeal, signed by four Founders, received a favourable response on 8th November 1920 from the Provincial Grand Secretary, stating that the M.W. Grand Master had been pleased to accede to the application and the number of the Lodge was to be 4202.

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The acceptance of the petition placed intense pressure on the Founders to arrange a mutually agreeable date, suitable for Lord Leverhulme, the Provincial Grand Master and the Provincial Officers.  Many letters were written by the assistant Secretary, Bro H.J. Hall, particularly to Lord Leverhulme, and the date was finally arranged for the Manor Lodge to be Consecrated on Saturday, 26th February 1921 at Wallasey Masonic Hall.

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The Warrant was prepared and a cheque for £13.2/- (£451 today) was forwarded to the Provincial Grand Secretary on 11th December 1920 to cover the cost of the Warrant.

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The Founders then had to find and decide on a design for the Manor Lodge Crest. It was eventually agreed by Lord Leverhulme that his family Crest could be used with the Latin Motto “Mutare Vel Timer Sperno" which translated reads 'I scorn change or fear".  The name ‘Manor’ originating from Thornton Manor the residence of Lord Leverhulme, not as some may mistakenly assume, Manor Road where the Masonic Hall is situated.   

 

The Manor Lodge Banner, presented to the Lodge by W.Bro. Bill Malone on 12th March 1997 Shows the Leverhulme Coat of Arms.

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In describing the creation of his coat of arms. Lord Leverhulme stated that he wanted it to be emblematical of all the qualities he liked and suggested the elephant because it was docile as he wished to be, it was strong and he wished he were, and it never forgets a friend and he never wanted to forget a friend. 

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It is interesting to note that the placing of an order for items of regalia, Officers Collars, Jewels, Gauntlets etc., cost £61.15/- and the equivalent cost today for the same order would be £2,092 more than 34 times higher.

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Saturday 26th February 1921. Manor Lodge No. 4202 was Consecrated and the Ceremony was conducted by Lt.Col. Cornwall-Legh, the R.W. Provincial Grand Master.

 

He was assisted by W.Bro. Cuthbert Leicester-Warren, the Deputy Provincial Grand Master. 

W.Bro. Robert Rawlinson, (who later became an Assistant Provincial Grand Master) was Installed as Worshipful Master and the newly appointed Officers were Invested.

Regrettably, Lord Leverhulme was indisposed at the time of the Consecration ceremony and was unable to be present.

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The meeting on Saturday, 26th March 1921, was the First Regular Meeting of the Manor Lodge No. 4202.

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A Ballot was taken for Mr. Stanley John Edwards and Mr. Robert Sampson Woodyer. 

Unfortunately, Mr. Edwards was unable to be present through illness so Mr. Woodyer, being present, was the first Initiate into the Lodge.  It was also at this meeting that Mr. Thomas Suthren was proposed for Initiation. W.Bro. Tom  was in future years, to become the Lodge Secretary and to serve in this Office for 24 years.  He was, undoubtedly, one of the most popular and respected members of the Lodge in that era.

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At the meeting on Saturday 23rd April 1921, R.W.Bro. Lord Leverhulme, was present and subsequently invested as the Immediate Past Master of the Lodge.

W.Bro. Dr. Oldershaw, then gave "An Address to the I.P.M. and an Explanation of the Collar Jewel" with which he had been presented.   A Ballot then took place for Mr. Tom Suthren and he was Initiated on the same evening.

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In the early years of the Lodge, there were 9 meetings taking place, from September to May.  Today, there is one less and we meet from September to April.  At the May 1922 meeting, the Lodge was so busy with ceremonies that two candidates were Initiated and two Brethren were Passed to the Second Degree. There was also a Ballot for NINE more Joining Members.

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At the September 1922 meeting, two Candidates were Initiated and two Brethren were Raised.  The meeting commenced at 4pm. rather than the usual 5.30pm to ensure all the work would be completed (Similar multiple ceremonies were to continue for some time), such was the popularity of the Lodge.

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The vast majority of the preliminary work leading up to the Consecration of Manor Lodge, appears to have been done by the Assistant Secretary, Bro. H.J. Hall.   The amount of correspondence involved in the formation of the Lodge was immense.

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The Lodge files contain 26 replies from Lord Leverhulme alone and numerous communications from the Provincial Grand Secretary.   The minutes of 12 committee meetings are recorded between 6th February 1920 and 1st February 1921.  Several at the Guinea Gap Baths and others at the homes of various Brethren.

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Over these past 100 years since the Consecration, we have welcomed into the Lodge, many fine Masons who have given so much to Freemasonry and to Manor Lodge in particular. 

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From the many original distinguished Brethren who came together to Found the Lodge, including Grand and Provincial Officers from Lord Leverhulme himself, to our most recent Initiate at our monthly meeting only last week, all have, and will continue to make their individual contributions to the unique character of our Lodge.  Over the years, many members have been appointed to the highest offices in Freemasonry including, three Assistant Provincial Grand Masters, One Assistant to the Provincial Grand Principals in the Royal Arch, Five Craft Grand Officers as well as many senior Acting and Past Provincial Ranks. 

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It is usual for one masonic meeting to be held each month,  but in 1947 for the only time in the early history of the Lodge, two meetings were held in the same month.  This was occasioned by the fuel shortage which closed the Masonic Hall for the months of March and April.   Therefore, the two meeting for these months were held on the 3rd and 31st of May that year.   In 1955, the Lodge returned to the wearing of evening dress at each meeting as was originally decided by the Founders, which was only interrupted in the war years.

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It is often the case in Masonic Lodges that an Initiate who is an employee of a particular company will introduce his work colleagues as candidates.  Such has been the case in Manor Lodge with groups from the Manchester Ship Canal Company Pilots, members of the typewriter trade, and in more recent years members of Oldershaw Rugby Club all of whom introduced new candidates, who

 have proved to be excellent Freemasons and a real credit to Manor Lodge.

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Our Golden Jubilee year in 1971 when we celebrated 50 years since the Consecration of the Lodge, was celebrated in fine style with W.Bro. Pratt, APGM, who was representing the Prov. G. Master, in attendance.  At the meeting, one of our Founders W.Bro. Vernon read the history of the first 50 years of the Lodge which had been compiled by W.Bro. Morris Kennedy.  Those detailed and interesting notes on our history up to that point are   faithfully reproduced in the new Centenary edition of the lodge history, almost exactly as W.Bro. Morris wrote them 50 years ago, so they can be read by the current generations of Brethren.

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In 1972 the Masonic Hall rent was raised from 15p to 25p per member per meeting, fees we can only dream of today.

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In 1981, those of us who are old enough will remember the extreme financial difficulties with the drop in the value of the British Pound which resulted in an increase in interest rates to 15%. 

Freemasonry was not immune to those events and so it was that the Lodge Treasurer had no option but to increase membership fees to £70 !!  We now look back on those levels of fees with envy and wish they were still just £70.

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In 1984 the last of our Founders W.Bro. Vernon sadly passed away, some 63 years after the Consecration of the Lodge.

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Many artefacts have been presented to the Lodge over the years by the members and their families.  The Lodge Banner we see here was presented in 1997 by W.Bro. Bill Malone, a Masonic Davenport China Plate, made in 1827 was presented in 1933 by Prince Alfred Lodge No. 233 in Bermuda, A set of Custom Made Brass Working Tools in 1990 by W.Bro. Fred Hough and the Secretaries Table we see here in the Lodge room was presented in 1927, also by Prince Alfred Lodge No. 233, many other artefacts are detailed in the centenary edition of the Lodge history.  We also possess a range of Past Masters Jewels and are privileged to hold several of the original Founders Jewels which form the centrepieces of our artefacts.  

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Lord Leverhulme's Manor Lodge founders jewel currently forms part of his personal collection in the Lady Lever Art Gallery in Port Sunlight.

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The Lodge is proud of the many “Family Connections” that have always been evident in the Lodge - including three brothers, a Father and his Son, a Father and his two sons, three relatives by marriage,  as well as others in the early years.

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In 1993, three blood brothers, were installed into the three Principal Chairs of the Lodge and an other member and his two sons were installed as the three other acting officers. 

The meeting was attended by the R.W. Prov. Grand Master, Rev. Canon W. Stanley Walker and the Asst Prov. G Masters W.Bros. William Chadwick and Norman Plant.  It was a memorable and quite unique evening, in commemoration of which, the three brothers presented the Lodge with a Tyler's sword.

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The Lodge has, over the years, dealt with the sad passing of many valued and respected members, each of whom have left the brethren with fond memories of their time with us.  The list is extensive, and each of us continue to remember them in our own individual ways. 

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It is one of the most treasured aspects of Freemasonry, that their names are forever in our recorded minutes and in the written history of the Lodge which ensures that they will always be remembered by the current members who knew them personally and by other members who can read of their contributions to the Lodge from those written records.  In Manor Lodge, a member may no longer be present, but he is certainly never forgotten.

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In 2013, a member of the Lodge was privileged to be appointed as Assistant Provincial Grand Master and in August 2018 was delighted to work with the Lodge and the Master Masons Forum to facilitate the holding of a masonic lecture and ceremony at United Grand Lodge in London. 

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The Brethren performing the Ceremony were made up of junior brethren from Manor Lodge and from other Lodges across the Province.  They all spent some 12 months practicing for what was to be an exceptional ceremony performed in London.  The meeting was held under the Warrant of Manor Lodge.  It was an excellent event with almost 300 people from across the country and overseas attending the ceremony and the accompanying lecture.  

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The 5 year term of office expiring in 2018, Manor Lodge was delighted to be informed that another member of the Lodge would take over as the new Assistant Provincial Grand Master.  A unique event, where two Assistant Provincial Grand Masters, members of the same Lodge, were appointed one after the other.   Manor Lodge was extremely proud to receive notice in 2019 that a member had been appointed as the Junior Grand Deacon in United Grand Lodge of England, a great honour for him as well as for the Lodge.

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Over the past 100 years, the Lodge has seen periods of  having very few candidates, as well as other times when there were so many candidates, that ceremonies were performed for two candidates at a time and even conducting two ceremonies on one evening, such occasions have been taking place in our meetings, even in recent times.

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With the regular influx of members into the Lodge over these years, there has only ever been two occasions when a member has been Worshipful Master of the Lodge for more than one year.  Firstly in 1940 & 1941.  The first during the early years of the Second World War and in 2020 & 2021 during another war, this time against the Covid-19 Virus when the Worshipful Master remained in office, due to the restrictions masonic meeting were not permitted to be held. 

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Such is the strength of Manor Lodge, it is a credit to the members that we have many junior Brethren and joining members working hard to attain the high office of Worshipful Master, ensuring that we will continue to Install a new Worshipful Master every year for many years to come.

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The Covid-19 Interruption of Masonic meetings meant that Lodges were not permitted to meet from March 2020 till September 2021.  We are thankful that none of our members were lost to the virus although each of us knew of someone who had sadly not been so fortunate.  Manor Lodge, however, did not let the pandemic prevent it from enjoying some form of social activity and so the ‘Manor Arms’ was inaugurated via the internet.  On Friday evenings the brethren would log in to Zoom  via their computers with a tipple in one hand and a snack in the other, and kept each other updated on events and of course we enjoyed a lot of light hearted Masonic banter between us.   It was just one of the initiatives we enjoyed together. 

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During lockdown, some of the brethren were involved in delivering 3000 meals to local people who were unable to get out of their homes, others did a socially distanced ‘Masons in the Mersey’ event where those brave enough, took the plunge in the cold waters of the River Mersey to raise funds for the Open-Door Mental Health Charity.

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Manor Lodge is made up of members of all age groups and backgrounds who enjoy each other’s company and work together, supporting each other and our families. 

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The Lodge works hard to maintain each of the key masonic values and our charitable work and contributions have benefited so many worthy causes over the years and will continue to do so into the future.

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No doubt the Founders of Manor Lodge would be pleased with its development over these past 100 years and of its continued success.  The membership is growing and we continue to receive new applications from potential candidates and joining members.

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So what of the future for our Lodge?  That is in the hands of our current and future members.  We only have to look around at the present officers of the Lodge, the number of Stewards sat in the North to know our future is solid.  The young age of our current and future officers is testament to the attraction to Freemasonry which this lodge creates amongst the younger generations. 

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We pride ourselves on maintaining and building on the high standards and precepts set out by our founders a century ago.

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With the considerable masonic experience and guidance from our more established members being passed on to our newer, younger brethren, the Lodge will maintain its standards and fraternal friendships over the next 100 years.  It will be these younger members and the generations to come, whose work within and on behalf of the Lodge, who will be recorded in the future history books and mentioned in the 150th and 200th editions of the History of Manor Lodge.

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History composed by. Wbro P Massie