WARRINGTON MUSEUM OF FREEMASONRY

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1 WARRINGTON MUSEUM OF FREEMASONRY Welcome to our Newsletter Volume 2 (1) UPCOMING EVENTS We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year! This Newsletter is packed with information and articles. Warrington Museum of Freemasonry gains charitable status Friends Hotpot Supper 31 March2015 7pm for 7.30 Museum Open Plant Sales Order forms from behind the bar or plants@themasonicmuseum.co.uk MUSEUM OPENING TIMES Wednesday 9.30am 12 noon other times by appointment please contact Vic or Caroline Kevin Poynton presenting the Charitable Organisation Certificate From its humble beginnings in 2010, with a small cupboard, to now with a room full of impressive and unusual artefacts many with interesting stories to tell. The trustees of Warrington Museum of Freemasonry (WMF) have been working tirelessly to achieve charitable status for the last 2 years, its acceptance in January this year was a cause for great celebration and the picture above shows Kevin Poynton Assistant Grand Master for West Lancashire presenting the certificate to Curator Vic Charlesworth and Archivist Caroline Crook. Vic Charlesworth said Vol 2 (1)2016 Page 1

2 Contact Us Warrington Museum of Freemasonry Winmarleigh House Winmarleigh Street Warrington WA1 1NB Curator Vic Charlesworth Archivist Caroline Crook Secretary John Pether Treasurer Jim Cartledge Chairman Barry Jameson Trustees; Mike Williams and John McIntyre Information about becoming a Friend when talking about charitable status this is a great step forward in the development of the museum and will help us to access specialist funds for the conservation and display of our wonderful artefacts Several notable items have been received recently from the general public and freemasons alike, both on long term loan and as donations to the Museum. These include Masonic Jewels, silverware and documents, all of which help to demonstrate the development of Freemasonry in Warrington and the surrounding area over the last 300 years. The Trustees will not be resting on their laurels however, they have now commenced the process of achieving Accreditation with the Arts Council, once achieved we believe, this will make the WMF the most northern accredited masonic museum in England and the only accredited Masonic town museum in the country. The WMF has a friends of the museum scheme where for just 10 per year you can assist in the running of the museum and the preservation of the artefacts held you will receive a newsletter 4 times per year outlining what s going on at the Museum. Friends Annual Hot Pot Supper 31st March pm for 7.30pm Menu Hotpot with Pickled Red Cabbage and Crusty Bread & Ice cream Tea or Coffee Guest Speaker.: Susan Snell Archivist and Records Manager The Library and Museum of Freemasonry Preserving Your Memories To book your place please contact Vic Charlesworth or Vol 2 (1)2016 Page 2

3 The continuing story of the 17th century chair We last saw the 17th Century chair in it s dismantled state, well the transformation is now complete! The chair returned from Bramhall Interior Design following its final finishing, and it look excellent, its not back to brand new as that was never the plan, it bears its scars of a useful life with honour, lets hope it continues to give us pleasure for another 325 years! Before restoration During restoration Good as new Mysterious Buttons Can anyone help us with a mystery, we have in the Museum a pair of metal buttons or collar studs, we have no idea where they came from or indeed what they are, can anyone help us identify them? Warrington's Sporting Masons Our Warrington Sporting Freemasons exhibition has been delayed due to the amount of research required, we have many sportsmen to research who were born or played sports in Warrington. Group Talks Vic will once again be strutting his stuff, for two engagements one in February, for a Ladies Group who are visiting the Masonic Hall and the other in March for the Warrington Probus Group, who meet at Warrington Sports Club. Vol 2 (1)2016 Page 3

4 We are holding a Plant sale to raise funds for the conservation of fragile items within the museum collection. We want to be able to protect and store the artefacts to the highest standard. The funds raised will help us to achieve this. Please ask your family and friends to support us! Ensure your garden is blooming marvellous this year! Just collect a plant list from the museum or behind the bar, fill in your order and leave it with your remittance behind the bar in the envelopes provided Plant orders will be ready for collection on Sunday 15th May 2016 from the Masonic Hall between 12 noon and 3pm For further information or an electronic copy of the plant list please contact: Plants@themasonicmuseum.co.uk Vol 2 (1)2016 Page 4

5 Museum collection benefits from bequest Sadly, as many of you will know WBro. Frank Austin Starkey PJGD Passed to the Grand Lodge above on the 15th December It was his wish that his extensive collection of Masonic books and other documents, together with his jewels and regalia should be donated to the Warrington Museum of Freemasonry. These items have now been collected and the books have been catalogued and put on display within the Museum, this will become known as the Frank Austin Starkey Masonic Library. Trustees to visit Worcester Masonic Museum The Trustees of the WMF have been invited to visit the Masonic Museum at Worcester. The nucleus of the Worcester Museum was formed towards the end of the 19th century and it became an Accredited Museum in It has a fine collection of Masonic items. More information can be obtained from the website The visit will be a great opportunity for the Trustees to get behind the scenes at another masonic museum and to share information, maybe even acquire some items. Talks and Tours Do you know of any groups that would be interested in the history of Freemasonry and its place in Society? If so please contact Vic by curator@themasonicmuseum.co.uk Articles Required If you would like a relevant article included in the newsletter, please contact Vic or Caroline vic@themasonicmuseum.co.uk, caroline@themasonicmuseum.co.uk Vol 2 (1)2016 Page 5