History Of The Airedale Lodge, No. 387,

HISTORY OF THE AIREDALE LODGE , No . 387 ,

Giving also , incidentally ( by notes of the Foundation of each Lodge in chronological order ) , a Record of the Progress of Freemasonry in Yorkshire . BY BRO . J . RAMSDEN RILEY , P . M . AIREDALE LODGE , NO . 387 ; Z . MORAVIAN CHAPTER , NO . 387 .

SECTION III . —1833 to 1863 ( continued ) . GRADU 1 LLY the Lodge regained its vitalit y once more , a strong proof of which is exhibited in the minutes of April 27 th , 1842 , which records that " it is but just to remark that , considering various circumstances , considerable

merit is due to most of the worth y Brethren , who went through their work with true Masonic worth . " A small part of this minute is in the Mark cypher . On the 14 th December , 1842 , there were only six members present . These , being sterling workers , seem to have . felt some disappointment at the absence of so many on this occasion , especiall y as it was the usual night for election of

Master . Nevertheless , with true Masonic charity , they made the best of it , and the humorous way in which the Acting Secretary entered the minutes is a striking proof his li ghtheartedness in the matter .

Wednesday night , Deer . 14 th , 1 S 42 . —At a meeting held this night there were present : Thoa . Robinson , W . M . ; John Walker , senr , S . W . ; Nicholas Walker , J . W . ; James Brown I . G . ; John Smith , Tyler ; Nobody , Deacons ; His Et . Hon . L . Barker , Secretary . The rest of the Brethren not being present , we proceeded to business without ' em , and transacted it nearly as well without them . Bro . Thos . Robinson was again proposed to stand as Master for the next coming year . Also , we agreed to canvass the members for attending St . John ' s , and those who agreed to attend should sign their names , and afterwards be considered responsible for the expense

of the Dinner , etc ., in case of non-attendance . The Business of the Lodge being settled , wo closed in the usual form with solemn prayer . Of course we had a glass or so each after our fatiguing labours , and then bundled home . At the foot of the page there is a note made b y the Lodge Secretary ( Bro . Wainman Holmes ) a fortni g ht afterwards , and it needs nothing more to shew how utterl y impossible dissensions must have been amongst , and how strongl y the Masonic princi ple of Brotherl y Love had entwined itself round the hearts of the veteran Masons of Airedale Lodge at this time . The note above referred to reads as follows : —

Dec . 29 th , 1842 . —After reading the above I cannot but note here how thankful I am for Bro . Barker ' s kind way of officiating for me , and should this remark come before a Lodge of freemasons in one hundred years from hence , take my word for it , Bro . B . is a well beloved Bro . Mason . ( Signed ) W . HOLMES , Sec . For the edification of my brethren , more especially as Bro . Barker was present in good health , I read the note nearl y thirty-six years after it was penned , viz , on the opening of the new Masonic Hall at Wellcroft , Shi pley ,

October 2 nd , 1878 , and I hope that at the expiration of sixty-four years more there will be many brethren of Airedale Lodge who will feel pride and pleasure in , as well as take an example from , the memory of such Masons . _ In 1843 the Huddersfield Lodge ( then 365 ) completed its fiftieth year , and a jubilee in honour of the event was held , 24 th April , being the date of its anniversary . D 2