Lodge History

The Lodge of Endeavour was consecrated on March 2nd 1951 by Right Worshipful Brother W.S.S Hannay, Deputy Provincial Grand Master. At the consecration meeting 138 Brethren were present consisting of the 21 Founders and 117 visitors.

The early history of the Lodge was recorded by  Leslie Reeve,  who was initiated into the Lodge in 1962. Leslie was a respected Mason in the Preston Group and joined at what some would consider a late time in his Life. Having spent the war years as part of Bomber Command and serving his country in exemplary fashion, Leslie returned to “normal” life, bringing up his family in Preston and serving the lodge with distinction. He served in all the offices of the Lodge and set high standards for all to follow. He celebrated 50 years as a member of the Lodge with a special celebration night in 2012 the high attendance being a testament to his dedication and standing within the Group.

Listed amongst the founders of the Lodge and still actively engaged in the Lodge when he joined were:-

Rudolph Ord, Jack Sutcliffe, Percy Goldberg (First Master), Bill Rowe Wilcocks, Monty Litton, Leslie Howarth and Jack Whittaker. The history of the lodge, however, revolves around one man, Percy Goldberg, who in his overall Masonic career, was forceful and determined that we should be strong, successful and an ornament to our Masonic traditions. He was a driving force in the team that successfully purchased the building, which we now call Preston Masonic Hall. His vision and drive gave the Lodges in Preston a permanent "home", where they could join together and enjoy their Freemasonry. In 1982 Percy celebrated 50 years in Freemasonry and on reaching his 60th Year as a member of our Lodge, his achievements were celebrated in a ceremony in the presence of the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master, Brother Kenneth E. Moxley. His long service to Masonry in general is legendary and well documented. We are privileged within the Lodge of Endeavour that a great portion of that service is so closely woven into the fabric of the Lodge.

Another great servant to the Lodge was Walter Lindley, a superb ritualist and lecturer, Walter served the Lodge and the Group in exemplary fashion and was dedicated to keeping the traditions of Masonry in Preston alive and true to their origins. Initiated in 1964 Walter soon became an enthusiastic member, attaining the chair in December 1973. Apart from his many contributions by way of lectures on all aspects of Masonic history, his service as Lodge secretary from 1978 to 1982, it was he who in 1974 presented the Lodge with the Masters’ Collar which bears the names of all of the Masters of the Lodge since its inception, a tradition which continues to this day as each New Master is installed in December.

At the Consecration of the Lodge the Oration was given by the Provincial Grand Chaplain and the following quote is an extract from his speech:-

“The true incentive of Endeavour, is for us the sense of duty to ourselves and to the Brotherhood. The reward of duty done through high endeavour is God’s gift of a life which is worth living. What higher reward can a man attain than the respect of his fellows and the approbation of the Divine Architect.”

It was to the great credit of our founders that they displayed such confidence in the future to undertake the responsibility of their endeavours. We the present membership must do all that we can to encourage and stimulate interest amongst all suitable, prospective candidates, to enable the Lodge to survive and prosper during the coming years, ultimately reaching and celebrating the Lodge Centenary in 2051.