Accompanied by a Provincial Deputation, our newly installed Provincial Grand Master, RWBro Alexander Sillars McLaren made his inaugural Lodge Visit as PGM to Bury Masonic Hall on Tuesday night to a Kinship meeting hosted by William Romaine Callender Lodge No.136.

With yours truly making his debut as Acting Standard Bearer (sorry about the ceiling folks), the PGM and his Deputation entered the Lodge to a warm greeting from the Worshipful Master, WBro Ken Laidlaw and the Brethren of the Lodge. With the PGM taking the Chair of Adoniram and the Provincial Wardens WBro Mark Davis ProvGSW together with WBro John Rimmer ProvGJW taking their respective Chairs, the PGM proceeded to introduce the members of the Provincial Team that evening. He subsequently continued with the few remaining items on the Summons and closed the Lodge.

Eight Craft Masons were then admitted, took their places and were welcomed into the Lodge by the Provincial Grand Master. A brief Q&A session took place before the PGM introduced the Provincial Grand Secretary, WBro Trevor Parvin PGSD who gave an excellent 20 minute slideshow presentation on Mark Masonry to show the Craft Masons just what they’d been missing !

The evening concluded with 45 Brethren taking their seats at the Social Board for good food, fine drinks and lively conversation – the Friendly Degree in action !

The Provinicial Grand Master, RWBro Alexander Sillars McLaren with WM WBro Kenneth Laidlaw PProvGJW (Durham)

So who was William Romaine Callender ?

William Romaine Callender (junior) (1825 – 22 January 1876) was a British businessman and Conservative politician.

He was the son of William Romaine Callender of Mauldeth Hall near Manchester and his wife, Hannah Pope of London.
W. R. Callender senior was a prominent Whig and non-conformist in the area who campaigned for the incorporation of Manchester as a municipal borough, and served on the first town council.His son, however, became a leading Conservative and Anglican. In 1849 he married Hannah Mayson.

He entered his father’s business as a cotton spinner and merchant in Manchester, eventually taking charge. He expanded the firm by the purchase of that of Sir Thomas Bazley in Bolton in 1861. Apart from his business activities he was a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, and a strong supporter of the Manchester Athenaeum, which was founded by wealthy businessmen for the education and recreation of the working classes. In 1858 he was appointed honorary secretary of the Athenaeum, a position he held until his death. He also assisted in the formation of a company of rifle volunteers in 1859. He was a Freemason, and rose to be Deputy Grand Master of the Provincial Grand Lodge of East Lancashire, and Grand Master of the Mark Masons of England.

He was elected as a member of the first Manchester School Board in 1870, and in 1874 as one of three members of parliament for the Parliamentary Borough of Manchester, defeating the Liberal MP, Jacob Bright.

In November 1875 Callender fell ill after attending an Orange Order demonstration, and was advised to travel to the south coast to aid his recovery. However, he died of “rheumatic neuralgia” at St Leonards-on-Sea, Sussex, in January 1876, aged 51.A bust of the late MP was unveiled at Manchester City Hall in 1880.