We are from the United Grand Lodge of England and are situated in the Province of East Lancashire, in Northern England. (Manchester District N0.1) The Lodge meets at Freemasons Hall, Bridge Street, which is in the centre of Manchester and is easily accessible by train and rail link from Manchester International Airport and by motorway, only being 10 minutes from the M62/M60 junctions.
Our Lodge meets on the 3rd Tuesday of Jan/Feb/Mar/Apr/Sept/Oct/Nov/Dec.
We celebrate our 75th Anniversary in March 1999 and our social committee are busy organising all the forthcoming events. To mark this occasion we intend to have a banner presented by a delegation of Provincial Grand Lodge Officers.
Below is a copy of the original summons from the Consecration of the Composite Lodge on Monday 31 March 1924. (Sorry about the quality)
Original Petition of the Lodge
To the Most Worshipful Grand Master of the United Fraternity of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of England.
We the undersigned being regularly registered Master Masons of the Lodge mentioned against our respective names, having the prosperity of the Craft at heart are anxious to exert our best endeavours to promote and diffuse the genuine principles of the Art and for the convenience of our respective dwellings, and other good reasons we are desirous of forming a new Lodge to be named 'The Composite Lodge'.
In consequence of this desire we pray for a Warrant of Constitution empowering us to meet as a regular Lodge at the Denmark Hotel, Lloyd Street, Greenheys, Manchester, on the first Tuesday of each month, except July and August, and there to discharge the duties of Masonry in a constitutional manner according to the forms of the Order, and the Laws of the Grand Lodge, and we have nominated and do recommend Worshipful Brother Charles Middleton, P.M., who has served the office of Warden in a Regular Lodge, to be the first Master. Brother Frederick McKenzie Middleton to be the first Senior Warden, and Brother Herbert Sorton to be the first Junior Warden of the said Lodge.
The prayer of this Petition being granted we promise strict obedience to the commands of the Grand Master, and the Laws and Regulations of the Grand Lodge.
Here is a brief history of the first 50 years of our Lodge from 1923 to 1974 as published for the Celebration Event on Tuesday 19 November 1974 at the Masonic Temple, Bridge Street, Manchester.
WHEN COMPILING a brief history one of the first interesting points is tracing the roots, in this case the foundations are to be found with the Duke of Athol Lodge, No. 210, our grandmother lodge, founded in 1795 by a number of Northern Ireland businessmen. The first master being Bro. Hugh Ardery and meeting place The Royal Archer, in Dale Street, Manchester, and the original petitioners being two muslin manufacturers and their employees.
The roots now spread to the Ashbury Lodge, No. 1459, the mother lodge, from which came the twelve brethren who met at the Denmark Hotel, Greenheys, Manchester, on January 13, 1923, to discuss the forming of a new lodge. Evidently there was some dissension at this meeting for after serious talk a resolution was put forward and carried: "Not to proceed further with the new Lodge". This resolution failed to dampen the spirits of the following:
W.Bro. G. W. Davies, P.P.G.W.
W.Bro. C. Middleton,
Bro. J. W. Wiles,
Bro. F. M. Middleton, and
Bro. J. K. Mitchell.
For on February 12, 1923, they met at a venue in Brazennose Street, Manchester, and accord was attained for the following brethren were invited to become founder members: W.Bro. R. Hine, P.P.A.G.D.C., Bro. J. Fiddiham, Bro. J. Ginnever, Bro. H. Sorton, Bro. J. Handford, Bro. J. H. Bowden, Bro. R. Markham, Bro. W. Wharton, Bro. E. Fitton, and Bro. E. M. Morgan.
Many meetings were held and lengthy discussions took place. The culmination was the acceptance of the Prayer of Petition (see above for the original Petition) by the most Worshipful the Grand Master and the issuing of the Warrant or Charter from the United Grand Lodge of England to the Composite Lodge with the number 4574.
What defied search was why the founders chose the name 'Composite'. Today we like the name and honour the choice. There have always been pillars of strength and no doubt many more will appear in the next 50 years.
The consecration was arranged for March 31, 1924, at the Denmark Hotel (which in those days was a grand and modern building) where a goodly gathering of 117 brethren of all ranks witnessed a ceremony by W.Bro. Lt.-Col. Sir Alan John Sykes, Bart, P,G,D,; D.P.G.M., V.D., D.L., and then the installation of W.Bro. C. Middleton as the first Worshipful Master by W.Bro. R. Verney Clayton, P.A.G.Regr(Eng.), Prov. Grand Secretary.
The banquet was a comparatively sumptuous affair (menu below) and the charge was fixed at the then princely sum of lOs. 6d (ten shillings & sixpence).
Tuesday, April 15, 1924, was the first regular meeting of the newly-constituted lodge. Here a ballot was taken for two candidates, and two joining members. One of these joining members being that great lodge stalwart W.Bro. E. E. Cross, P.P.D.G.D.C., who passed to the Grand Lodge above, recently, after serving Composite Lodge for nearly 50 years.
The lodge at its second regular meeting was extremely busy, being tyled at 5-30 p.m. and dining at 8-25 p.m. with the following business conducted. Two initiations, a passing, bye-laws read and agreed and several other items of Masonic interest reported along with other general items. This was to prove a regular night's work for the officers during the formative years.
The membership rose from the original founders to 27 by 1925, 34 by 1926, and to nearly 50 in 1934. The war years, 1939-1945 caused some disruption to the smooth flow of the work, but lodge business appears to have proceeded with unanimity though certainly with austerity and some difficulty. Between 1940 and 1942 W.Bro. H. Whittaker, P.P.A.G.D.C., had to do two years in the chair. The meeting times varied, not always being held in the evenings, and the day of the meetings changed.
Members served with distinction in the forces and other war-time organisations.
In 1948 members of the Composite Lodge assisted in the founding of Portland Lodge, No. 6575. They were: W.Bro. W. Middleton, P.Prov.G.W., Bro. S. Westbrook, W.Bro. H. Royle, Bro. F. Westbrook, W.Bro. T. Stancliffe, Bro. R. W. Hancock, Bro. G. McGeorge, Bro. H. F. Weston, and, Bro. G. H. Wilkinson. The new lodge was sponsored by Composite Lodge, and in this instance we have given the rank of the founder members as at that time.
The 1960's saw a drop in the membership due, in some measure, to the deterioration of the area around the Denmark Hotel, and the facilities offered. The efficiency of the founders, however, was maintained by W.Bro. J. Whitfield, P.P.G.D., Secretary; W.Br.o. J. Mclsaac, P.P.G.W.; W.Bro. G. Harper, P.P.A.G.D.C., and W.Bro. G. T. Rafferty, P.P.G.Std.Br., Charity Representative. It was in the late 1960's that a move was contemplated, after much discussion and visits by deputations to various temples, the decision was made to move to the Masonic Temple, Bridge Street, Manchester. This took place in time for the 396th regular meeting, under the mastership of W.Bro. J. S. Blackey on Tuesday, January 16, 1968.
This change seems to have revitalised the lodge for more brethren attended and candidates came forward. Unfortunately, grievous losses occurred in the death of W.Bro. S. G. Kenwright, P.P.A.G.D.C., in the porchway of the Temple, and the death of Bro. P. Smith while still master, being particularly remembered. The membership still averages around the fifty mark.
Composite Lodge was noted for being a hard-working lodge and had a reputation for its friendliness, cordiality and the quality of the meals. It was also known for its social board and the quality of the many excellent speakers who came from lodges throughout the world. It was also run with firmness, the word of a past master being accepted as law and immediately obeyed. The authoritative edict usually given with a pat on the back or "You'll find it right, my lad ". We hope that some of these qualities have still been maintained.
A new cadre of officers now look after the efficiency and the general welfare of the lodge. Amongst those not previously mentioned are W.Bro. T. Cliff, P.P.A.G.D.C., and his deputy W.Bro. J. S. Backey, W.Bro. Lees, District Representative, and W.Bro. J. Beaumont, Prov.A.G.D.C., who is still the Lodge Treasurer in 1999.
We cannot fail to mention some items of interest and these include the fact that one of our founders and first I.P.M., W.Bro. G. W. Davies, P.P.G.W., was in 1920 a member of 21 lodges, Chapters and allied degrees. He was also a paid up member of all. He died in 1933 aged 81 years.
In 1974 W.Bro. A. McCombe installed his son, Bro. P. W. McCombe as the 50th Master of Composite Lodge.
Over the years a number of the brethren have willingly entertained at the social board, and here again the name of W.Bro. E. E. Cross, P.P.D.G.D.C., crops up with his renderings of 'The One-legged Goose', 'Agincourt,' and 'Horse and Motor Car' being received with great delight. The recitations by W.Bro. J. S. Blackey, the singing of W.Bro. A. Ward, and the story-telling by W.Bro. H. Robens, M.B.E. (late brother to Lord Robens), all being social board features. Here it is worth noting that the M.B.E., although granted, was not presented as W.Bro. Robens was buried the day the presentation should have been made.
To the Duke of Athol Lodge, No. 210; Chapter of Faith, No. 210; Ashbury Chapter, No. 1459; Ashbury Lodge, No. 1459; Denton Lodge, No. 5234; and Portland Lodge, No. 6575, to all of which we are related, go our best wishes for continued fraternal good fellowship and a sincere wish that they prosper. Best wishes are sent to the many lodges bearing the name Composite throughout the British Isles and the world on this, the Golden Jubilee of Composite Lodge, No. 4574, in the Province of East Lancashire. On this great occasion we pay a sincere and humble tribute to those founders who laid the foundation stone of such quality that it stands as firm as ever after 50 years (now 75 years) and of which today we are justifiably proud. We have no doubt that they were well aware of the words of the Most Wor. Bro. Pro. Grand Master Lord Arnpthill:
'Our object is not so much to get more men into Masonry. as to get more Masonry into men'
This is a copy of the original Menu on the night of the Consecration of the Composite Lodge
Menu