History Of The Airedale Lodge, No. 387,

those minutes from which I select a few extracts as illustrative of Freemasonry at the Bingley period ) the presiding officers' names are given , after which the rarely varying " no other biseness being done the lodge was cloased in armoney , " comprised the general minutes . I am glad to suppl y the two following extracts , as they show a laudable desire to lay down , some rules b y which to govern the lodge , which indeed was necessary . The list of visitors to the Lodge of Hope g iven in the first is also interesting . In 1810 the Phoenix Lodge , 496 , was removed to Rotherham , in this province .

July 22 , 1810 . Having received a letter from the Lodge of Hope , Bradford , No . 539 , an invitation to go to their procession in honour of his Eoyal Highness George Prince of Wales , our Grand Master's birthday -. Resolved—That the following brothers shall attend : Wm . Simpson , John Alland , Joseph Wild , Wm . Morris , Samuel Clapham , Chas . Bland , John Hudson , Wm . Booth , Jonathan Walker , John Smith , James Scott . Further resolved—1 st , For the better regulation of our lodge and good government of

the same—That this lodge shall in future from this date be opened at our regular lodge nights at 7 in the evening , not to exceed a quarter past , and closed at 10 , not to exceed a quarter past , and that under no less a penalty for the Master than to pay a fine of 6 d . to the lodge for such neglect . 2 nd—That every member shall attend ( if possible ) at the above-mentioned time , if not shall pay 8 d . if he cannot show just cause for such neglect , and if nothing but his usual employment , shall forfeit 4 & . ; and if any brother shall not attend the lodge at 7 or a quarter past at a regular lodge nihtshall forfeit 2 d . for such neglect .

g , 3 rd—That every member of this lodge shall pay every month into the hands of the treasurer One Shilling , 6 d . of which shall be spent , and the other 6 d . shall go to the lodge accounts to defray the different expenses ( this is to be paid monthly extra to the fines ) . i-th—That all officers of this lodge neglecting to attend , such as Master , senior , junior wardens , treasurer , secretary , and tyler , shall forfeit 6 d . for such neglect , and all forfeits arising from a breach of tliose articles , or any of them , shall be paid into the hands of the then acting treasurer for the benefit of the lodge in general ; and any disputes arising concerning those articles shall be finally settled by a majority of the lodge that night .

At a lodge of emergency held October 9 th , 1811 , these resolutions were amended or modified , as is shown- b y the minutes as under : — October 9 th , 1811 . — Emergency . When it was unanimously resolved that for the better government of the lodge in future , that this lodge shall be opened at our regular lodge nights at 7 o'clock , not to exceed half-past , and if so neglected the master to forfeit 6 d ., and if the senior and junior wardens

are not there at the time above mentioned shall forfeit 6 d ., and the secretary and treasurer 6 d ., likewise the tyler . Close at 10 o ' clock . Art . 2 . —That every member of this lodge shall attend at the above-mentfoned time if possible , if not shall forfeit to the lodge 3 d . for such neglect , and if any brother or brothers shall not attend the second lodge night shall forfeit 6 d ., and One Shilling for the third . And if such brethren shall neglect for four lodge nights shall be excluded and crossed out of the lodge books . Art . 3 . —That eveiy member of this lodshall at our regular meetings one shilling

ge pay , exclusive of the forfeits , towards defraying the expenses of the lodge , sixpence of which shall be spent and the other to be entered in a book kept for the lodge accounts . Art . 4 th . —That any disputes arising concerning those articles shall be finally determined by a majority of the members that night . ( To be continued . )