History Of The Airedale Lodge, No. 387,

May 25 th , 1853 . —¦ " The business being finished , Bro . Barker presented the brethren present with a good supper . " As I happen to know what " a good supper " means when thus expressed b y a Baildon brother continually under the influence of the exhilarating breezes of the adjacent moors , I am inclined to think these plain and substantial but wholesome suppers often decided a

wavering brother to attend his lodge even when perhaps his occupation or some social attraction of a different character to Freemasonry pulled in an opposite direction . How many hearts , rarely assailable , and purses , too , have been opened through the mysterious agency of a good supper . I find brethren walked over the moors from Keighley and Bingley , and from Idle and Guiseley , regularly to attend the lodge at Baildon at this time , showing the perfect harmony and activity then existing . October 19 th , 1853 . — " Jonn . Walker again proposed as joining brother , " at the St . John ' s , and installation of Thomas Holmes , December 28 th , 1853 .

It was suggested by the W . M , and agreed to by all the brethren in the lodge that it be taken into consideration to look out for some competent and suitable person for an Outer Guard . It is proposed by Jonn . Walker , and seconded by Bro . Mich . Walker ,- that any respectable young man coining forward to be made a Mason , by being Tyler , shall tyle 40 regular nights , and be allowed 6 d . each time to pay his own contribution fees and cost of certificate and registration .

The name of a candidate was brought forward next meeting , February 15 th , 1854 , but at the ballot ( 15 th March ) two black balls appeared against him , and his reception was postponed . However , the rejection was confirmed April 12 th , 1854 , and the names of the two objectors were made known b y their own admission in open lodge , and entered in the minutes . Henry Smith and Fredk . W . Mowbray' proposed , balloted for , and accepted

Friday , December 29 th , 1854 , Thomas Wharton being installed W . M . The Fredk . W . Mowbray referred to seems to have attended the lodge only once , viz ., on December 6 th , 1854 . He was not returned as a joiniug member of our lodge . Bro . Smith acted in various offices , from O . G . to S . D . during 1854 , and was first returned as a member Jul y 3 rd , 1856 ( for 1855 ) . He was not appointed to any office until the St . John ' s Day , December 29 th , 1854 ( the date

of his joining the lodge ) , when he obtained the position of J . W , and on the following St . John ' s Day , December 24 th , 1855 , that of S . W . Bro . Smith was installed Master in the Airedale Lodge on December 29 th , 1856 . St . Cuthbert's Lodge , Howden , No . 913 , was established in 1854 , its warrant being dated March 24 th , 1854 . Bro . Lycias Barker " declared off " April 4 th , 1855 . In this year " Holme Valley " LodgeHolmfirthNo . 937 was

, , , founded ; also the Royal Filey , No . 926 . On February 20 th , 1856 , the lodge met for the first time at the Angel Inn ( Bro . Wainman Holmes ' s ) , the landlord of the Malt Shovel ( Bro . John Smith ) " having had to leave the house . " Notice of the removal was sent to the Grand Secretary , July 3 rd , 1856 . Camelodunum Lodge , Malton , No . 958 , constituted . Bro . Nicholas Walkerjunhaving died on the first or second day of

, , this month , a letter of condolence , in most affectionate terms , was sent to his widow dated 13 th of August , 1856 . September 17 th , 1856 . A brother was admitted " on the usual affirmation of an Episcopalian , i . e ., without swearing . " October 5 th , 1856 . " It was decided that a paid Tyler should be appointed , commencing Jane 18 th (?) , and that the appointment be left in the hands of

Bro . Joseph Walker . " On November 12 th , 1856 , two pounds were voted to " the Chas . Lee Testimonial Fund . " Airedale raised five pounds seventeen shillings altogether . It is very gratif ying to record that on March 11 th , - 1857 ( Thos . Wharton , P . M , as W . M , _ in the absence of Bro . Henry Smith as W . M . ) , " there was working and lecturing to a great extent in each Degree , which was very instructive and interesting . " At the next meeting