Clitheroe 422324 (Editorial), 422323 (Advertising), Burnley 422331 (Classified) 16 Clitheroe Advertiser&Times, Thursday, June 14th, 2007 www.clitheroeadvertiser.co.uk Clitheroe 422324 (Editorial), 422323 (Advertising), Burnley 422331 (Classified) THE THURSDAY FEATURE SPOTLIGHT ON. .. Valley’s Masons ________by Natalie Cox


FREEMASONRY has been part of Clitheroe’s heritage for almost 200


years. The town has four lodges - the first


founded in 1822 and the most recent in 1979. But Freemasonry has often been


referred to as a secret society and as a result many questions have been asked about the organisation. This year the Clitheroe Lodges have


decided to reveal more about them­ selves in a bid to raise their profile and remove the air of mystery. Clitheroe’s first Masonic Lodge -


Limestone Rock Lodge no. 369 - was founded in 1822 and its Founder Mas­ ter was calico designer and portrait painter Henry Roberts. Its consecra­ tion meeting took place in St Mary’s school room on June 2nd, 1823. Down the decades the lodge moved to a num­ ber of different meeting places, start­ ing a t The White Horse, in Church Brow, before moving to the Brownlow Arms - now the Yorkshire Bank, the Swan and the Masonic Hall. In 1881 it returned to the Swan and Royal where it met until 1962 when it moved to the


Masonic Rooms at the Conservative Club where it continues to meet. In 1922 Castle Lodge No. 4482 was


the next to be founded. It was conse­ crated on Monday, April 30th, 1923, at the Swan and Royal. The decision to form a second lodge


was the result of demand - Limestone Rock Lodge was getting too large and the waiting time to join was unaccept­ ably long. Installed as the first Wor­ shipful Master was William Self Weeks, the senior partner in the Bald­ win, Weeks and Baldwin practice and town clerk of Clitheroe Town Council. Twenty five years after the forma­


tion of Clitheroe’s second lodge, its third was formed - with Castle Lodge sponsoring the formation of Keep Lodge no. 6538 60 years ago, in 1947. The first meeting to consider forming a third lodge was held in 1946 at the offices of Ramsbottom, Liddle and Dixon, in Church Street. Fourteen of the 19 men who attended the meeting went on to become founders. At the gathering it was unanimously decided that Castle Lodge be asked to sponsor the new lodge. The first Master of Keep Lodge was John D. Greenwood. For years he was


the chairman and managing director of Barlow Bros and Greenwood cotton manufacturers, and was a former pres­ ident of Clitheroe Operatic and Dra­ matic Society. In 1979 the fourth lodge opened - St


Michael In Castro no. 8838. Its main sponsor was Keep Lodge and its con­ secration took place on December 6th, 1978. Mr Geoffrey Mitchell JP was the instigator and there were 20 founders. The founder Master of the lodge


was William Smalley JP. A prominent Clitheroe Freemason, he was a former Master of Keep Lodge and a Grand Lodge Officer. Like the other four Clitheroe


Lodges, the name of the most recently formed one paid homage to the history of the town. All four take their name from the Castle which has dominated the Clitheroe skyline for centuries and help the masons continue their con­ nections with the town. 9 For anyone interested in joining


the Freemasons, or viewing the Lodge Room, an open day is being held on Saturday, August 18th, between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the Clitheroe Con­ servative Club.


So what is Freemasonry? I t aims to teach moral lessons and


self-knowledge through participation in special two-part plays which are learnt by heart and performed in each lodge. Freemasonry offers members an approach to life which reinforces thoughtfulness, kindness in the com­ munity, honesty in business courtesy in society and fairness in all things. Importantly it also teaches and


practises concern for people, those less fortunate and gives help to those in


need. There are three great principles


which members follow: 9 Brotherly love - showing tolerance


and respect for others’ opinions and behaving with kindness and under­ standing to others 9 Relief - care for the community as


a whole by charitable giving, voluntary efforts and work as individuals 9 Truth - Masons strive for truth


THE Valley’s


Four Masters, from the left, Edward


Smillie, Peter Walker, Harry Brown and


Ian Thornton- Bryan.


(S270407/4b)


and require high moral standards, aim­ ing to achieve them in their own lives Any law-abiding man of good char­


acter and who acknowledges a belief in God, whatever his faith, can become a Freemason. Despite beliefs to the contrary


Freemasonry is not a secret society. However, its meetings are private and open only to members although its rules and aims are available to the pub­ lic. Its meeting places are not a secret and in many cases are used for other activities by members of the communi­ ty.


Masons are also encouraged to talk


openly about the organisation. From its earliest days Masons have


been involved in charity work, provid­ ing support for those within its own, and the wider, community. On June 1st the four lodges hosted a


ball at Mytton Fold Hotel. For a report and picture, see page 9.


Children help council launch its new website


by Mary Foley


CLITHEROE town coun­ cil has launched its new website with help from local high school pupils. The website, giving informa­


tion about the services provid­ ed by Clitheroe Town Council and containing contact details for councillors and employees, was developed with help from staff and pupils from Ribbles- dale High School Technology College, who provided the design capability and advice. Information available on the


website includes the council’s agendas and minutes, copies of newsletters, with links provid­ ed to the Ribble Valley Bor­ ough Council and Lancashire County Council websites as well as the facility to e-mail the town council via the web­ site. Welcoming the move, former


Clitheroe Town Mayor Coun. Allan Knox said: “We are very pleased that the website is now available and for the help pro­ vided by Ribblesdale School. “With its range and accessi­


bility of information, it is an important step towards the


Oaks Hotel


Reedley on


Su n d a y J u ly 1st 11am - 4pm


....... 9 .............


For Ribble Valley news online go to... www.clitheroeadvertiser.co.uk


www.clitheroeadvertiser.co.uk


Clitheroe Advertiser& Times, Thursday, June 14th, 2007 17


Booking for stands now being taken. Telephone:


Julie or Kathryn on


town council obtaining ‘Quali­ ty ’ status, which we plan to apply for towards the end of the summer.” The new website which can


be accessed at www.clitheroe- towncouncil.gov.uk, has been designed to be accessible to all


users and easy to use. If any­ one has any comments about the site, the council will be happy to receive them, details of which can be found within the website. Our picture shows Coun. Knox officially launching the


new website with (behind from left) Mr Simon Smith, head­ teacher of Ribblesdale High, town and borough councillor Mrs Ruth Hargreaves and the school’s E-Learning centre representative Mr David Has- sen. (A190307/1)


01282 426161 Ext: 503


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Question: In which street is the Clitheroe branch of SPEX situated? Answer:........................................................... Title:.................First Name: ........................


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Please send your entry to: SPEX (CAT) Competition, Promotions Department, East Lancashire Newspapers, Bull Street, Burnley, BB1I 1DP, by JUne22nd.


East Lancashire Newspapers Ltd is a member of the Johnston Press Group pic. Johnston Press itself, or via its agents, will use your information to con­ tact you by mail, email, phone or SMS to let you know about our, or our business partners’, products, services and special offers. By supplying your email address and phone numbers, you agree that we may contact you by these methods for marketing. If you do not wish to receive information from us please tick this box q , or from our business partners please tick this b o x o For quality and training purposes, we may' monitor communi­ cations.


WE have teamed up with SPEX Opticians, of King Street, Clitheroe, to offer our readers the chance to win a pair of designer sunglasses up to the value of £150. SPEX offers a huge range of designer frames


and sunglasses from designers such as Versace, Gucci, Ray-Ban, Giorgio Armani, D & G and many more - and all at fantastic prices. Call in and see the great range of eyewear for yourself either at the Clitheroe branch or one


WE have also teamed up with the award-winning authentic Italian restaurant La Locanda Ristorante Italiano and Wine Bar, Gis- bum, to offer our readers a special £5 meal discount - so they can experience a taste of real Italy for lessl Owners Cinzia and Maur-


of the company’s other branches in Accrington, Burnley, Rawtenstall and Ramsbottom. The friendly staff members are always happy to help or you can just browse at your own leisure. For enquiries, call 01200 442255. All you need to do to be in with a chance of


winning this great prize is the question on the coupon and send it in before the closing date.


izio Bocchi, who hail from Lake Maggiore in Lombardy, have, over the past two years, established an enviable repu­ tation in the Ribble Valley for


P C


when paying your bill at the end of your meal. The offer runs until July


providing customers with the true flavour of Italy’s region­ al cuisine using imported Italian ingredients and local­ ly sourced fresh produce. To claim your £5 discount, sim­ ply book your table at La Locanda on the number below, informing them that you will be redeeming the voucher, and then present it


1J on at La Locanda Advertiser and limes This voucher entitles you to a £5 meal discount at La Locanda Ristorante Italiano & Wine Bar, Main Street, Gisburn. Terms and conditions apply. No photocopies accepted.


-C C , t T i ATbeClitberoe TT


15th, 2007, but excludes Sat­ urdays. I t cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer including the early bird menu. Only one voucher per two people dining in the restaurant. Photocopies will not be accepted. To book, simply call 01200


445303 or call in to La Locan­ da Ristorante Italiano and Wine Bar, Main Street, Gis- bum, Clitheroe, BB7 4HH.


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