History Of The Airedale Lodge, No. 387,

in 1868 ; and acting for many subsequent years as Installing Master , he acquired from the members the name of " second father " of the lodge , a title justly merited for his Masonic attainments , fidelity to the ancient landmarks , and general earnest attachment to what he believed to be the true interests of the Order . Alike a faithful brother and a firm friend , he put into practice in private life the precepts inculcated by pure Freemasonry . The many bystanders , however , who were moved to tears during the funeral ceremony , testified to his worth far more eloquently than any written eulogium on his character .

He had a baud , open as day , To melting charity . The lodge went into mourning for three months , and a letter of condolence was sent to Mrs . Murgatroyd ; whilst such was the desire to show marked respect to the memory of so worthy a brother , that the installation of new Master being on December 11 th , it was decided to have no banquet on that occasionas customary . The Airedaleorindeedany lodgecan ill afford to

, , , , , lose members as zealous as our late Bro . Murgatroyd , and now that the earth has closed over his remains , it may not be unprofitable to reflect that there are few members of the lodge who , if they would look around them , could not do something towards filling up the void he has left us . ¦ In this year St . John ' s Lodge , Halifax , No . 1736 ; Leopold Lodge , Scarbro ' , No . 1760 ; and Ivanhoe LodgeNo . 1779 Sheffieldwere constituted .

, , , On January 8 th , 1879 , valuable presents made to the lodge before the opening of the new hall were duly acknowledged in the lodge , and the several donors were unanimously thanked for the same , viz . -. The lectern , by Bro . John Hey , P . M . ; W . M . ' s ivory gavel , by Bro . Saml . Jackson , P . M . ; mirror in preparing-room , by Bro . Ohas . Honroyd , P . M . ; mirror in committee-room , by

Bro . Chas . Roebuck , P . M . ; pedestal Bible , by Bro . S . A . Anty , W . M . ; trestle tables in dining-room , by Bro . Fred . Ives , S . W . ; and three Duke of York pedestals and curtains in Tyler ' s room , by Bro . C . W . March bank . Owing to the severe distress in the district , and es ] 3 ecially in Shipley at this time , I gave much thought to the subject of relief , and without communicating in any way with my lodge , I sent out a circular , first to the W . Masters , and afterwards to the 400 brethren in the Bradford district . From the first

, however , I was warned that the project would not be supported , but the reasons assigned were so unsatisfactory that I would not attribute them to Masons , more especially as several distinguished and influential Past Masters not only highly approved of the scheme , but strongly urged me to carry it out . My own lodge meantime at once responded most generously , ancl others were willing earnestly to support me ; but as I felt that for such a fund the credit of

the Order should have primary consideration—and as this could only be assured by the movement being general and finding moreover that this was impossible , I was obliged to relinquish the plan and discontinue further action in the matter . Since then , however , ive have had occasion to apply the same scheme for the relief of distress so successfull y that on this ground I g ive a copy of the circular . ( Appendix I . )

I have now only to state that since the opening of the new hall six candidates have been initiated in the Airedale Lodge . A son of our late Bro . Dr . Murgatroyd has , through the earnestness of the brethren and zeal of the Charity Steward , Bro . Fred . W . Booth , P . Prov . G . D . C , been elected to the Boys' School . I had marked out the latter event , and certainly now regard these generally satisfactory results as signs of prosperity with which I may fitly conclude my task . For the special effort of the lodge £ 36 has been

raised for the Boys' School , and altogether £ 66 for the Masonic Charities during 1879 . May the next fifty-two years' history of the Airedale Lodge be as creditable and equally progressive , and may the bonds of fellowship ancl brotherly love