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 Becord of the Progress of Freemasonry in Yorkshire . Br BRO . J . RAMSDEN RILET , P . M . AIREDALE LODGE , NO . 387 ; Z . MORAVIAN CHAPTER , NO . 387 .

SECTION IV . —1864 to 1879 . AT the meeting of our lodge on July 28 th , 1864 , a sum of money was again voted to the relief of a worth y Past Master , and in the following month ( date not being specified ) this entry is made in the minute book , having mournful reference thereto .

On account of the death of our dear Brother Joseph "Walker the following brethren attended the funeral : —Bro . Wainraan Holmes , Bro . Thomas Holmes , Bro . Wm . "W . Holmes , Bro . John Walker , Bro . Nicholas Walker , Bro . L . Barker , Bro . W . Ellison , Bro . Joseph Eenard , Bro . John Ambler , Bro . John Mann , Bro . Nathaniel Smith , Bro . Henry Smith , Bro . S . Atkinson , Bro . S . S . Blakey , Bro . John C . Taylor , Bradford ; Bro . John T . Bobinson , Bradford ; Bro . John Ward , Bradford ; Bro . S . 0 . Bailey , Bradford ; Bro . Geo . M . Wand , and BroHButterworthAfter tho fuueral the lodwas opened in the First Degreeand left

. . . ge , open until next night . Our brethren preferred deeds to promises , ancl every record of this character bears the unmistakable stamp of true charity . I have often felt it would be difficult to decide whether the objects of sympathy , or our worthy

brethren in having it in their power to dispense so much good around them , felt the most happiness on such occasions . Without doubt these men carried their beneficence into many an abode of sorrow outside the bounds of Masonry ; for although , to use an old proverb , "ill weeds wax weel , " it is no less true that the desire to alleviate the sufferings of others grows equall y fast upon the inclinations of him whose heart prompts him to begin it . At the next meeting , September 14 a resolution was passed that " the balance of the

, expenses appertaining to the funeral of our late departed brother be paid out of the loclge funds . " Bro . John Mann was at this meeting proposed as and appointecl Tyler . In this year seven lodges were constituted in Yorkshire , viz .: — No . No . 1001 Harrogate & Claro , Harrogate . 1034 Eccleshill , Eecleshill . 1010 KingstonHull . 1040 SkesDriffield .

, y , 1018 Shakespeare , Bradford . 1042 Excelsior , Leeds 1019 Sincerity , Wakefield . | On the meeting , October 19 th , 1864 , a proposed Provincial Grand Lodge by-law , having for its object the levying of £ 20 per year on every member oi

lodges " for expenses , was discussed , apparently without much difference of opinion . The loclge appointed a committee , ancl took active stejis to o ] 3 pose it at the next Provincial Grand Lodge , and at the meetings of other lodges in the meantime . The o ] 5 position to this proposed by-law seems to have been very strong in our lodge , and if similar unanimity prevailed in other lodges round the neighbourhood the resistance it met with must have been most formidable

. At the meeting , February 8 th , 1865 , the W . M . stated that West Yorkshire had sent up more than £ 1000 to the Widows' Fund , from which it appears the province has long and activel y interested itself in the Masonic Charities . Our brethren seem also to have been personall y interested in the matter , and subscribed at this meeting £ 31 5 s . for the Aged Freemasons' Fund . Of this sum