The Events of 1922
Of course, to the members of Preston Guild Lodge No 4408, THE major event was the issuing of the Lodge Warrant by United Grand Lodge on the 1st February 1922 leading to the Consecration Ceremony at the Bull Hotel Assembly Rooms on the 20th June 1922.
But in 1922, quite a few other things happened.
It was Guild Year in Preston! The Preston Guild Merchant was to be the highlight of the town’s calendar.
Founder Member, Chris Miller was very busy. He served on The Preston Guild General Trades Procession Council representing the Master Carters’ Association. He was also a member of the Executive Committee and served on the Regulations and Band sub committees.
Another founder and first Installed Master, James Adkins, was preparing the choir and he was the organist for the Guild Mayors Sunday Service to start the Guild Celebrations.
Bert Starkie, a founder and partner in James Starkie Ltd, was preparing the amazing Wrought Iron Temple, first used in the 1902 Guild Parade, ready for another procession.
Preston North End played in the last FA Cup final before the move to the Empire Stadium at Wembley. They lost one nil to Huddersfield which would have not gone down well with our Master at Consecration, Will Ord, who was the Chairman of Preston North End. Worry not. Reinforcements were on the way – Tom Finney was born in 1922.
On a national and international front, 1922 was a momentous year.
The nation had recovered from the economic hardship caused by the Great War. Prosperity was returning.
The British Empire reached its largest extent covering a quarter of the Globe and ruling over one in four of the World population.
The 1922 General Election delivered a Conservative Party victory under new Prime Minister Bonar Law. Most significantly, Labour overtook the Liberal Party to become the largest opposition party.
The first regular radio broadcast for entertainment was made from a hut at the Marconi labs in Chelmsford. This was followed up by further broadcasts from Marconi House in London. The Prince of Wales, later to be King Edward VIII – a Freemason, was the first member of the Royal Family to make a public broadcast. This led to the creation of the BBC later in the year. The Broadcasting Licence Fee was introduced which would be the precursor of the much-loved TV Licence Fee.
The future Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England, Viscount Lascelles who would become the Earl of Harewood, married Princess Mary, daughter of King George V. In 1946, as Earl of Harewood, he issued the Warrant of Forest of Fulwood Lodge No 6388 that would later amalgamate with Preston Guild Lodge No 4408.
The Irish Free State came into existence. While the Parliament of Northern Ireland voted to remain part of the United Kingdom.
HMS Victory was permanently dry docked at Portsmouth.
Howard Carter and his team discover the Tomb of Tutankhamun. He and Lord Carnarvon became the first people to see inside the tomb in over 3,000 years.
The iconic Austin 7 car was launched. It would remain in production until 1939.
The Swallow Sidecar Company was founded in Blackpool. This company would evolve into Jaguar Cars.
The world rejoiced when Crosse and Blackwell commenced production of Branston Pickle at their plant in Branston, Staffordshire.
Insulin was injected into the first human by Frederick Banting marking a major advance in the treatment of diabetes.
Mahatma Gandhi was imprisoned for six years for disobedience by a British Magistrate.
Joseph Stalin was appointed as the General Secretary of the Russian Communist Party as Lenin’s health failed. Later in the year, 14 republics formed the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
The British Madate of Palestine began. The US President Warren G Harding signed a resolution to establish and Jewish Homeland in Palestine.
Benito Mussolini assumed power in Italy and formed a government.
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk proclaimed the Republic of Turkey thus bringing an end to the Ottoman Empire which had endured since 1299.
Crown Prince Hirohito of Japan became Regent as his father Emperor Taisho’s health failed.
Max Schreck starred as Count Orlok in the genre defining horror and vampire movie, Nosferatu. The estate of Bram Stoker was less that impressed as it appeared to breach the copyright of the Dracula novels.
Some of these events would have a significant impact on the world in coming years. Some we feel to this day.