History Of The Airedale Lodge, No. 387.

eloquent appeal he made for a subscription amongst the brethren present resulted in a sum being collected which I could not help reflecting would make " the widow ' s heart leap for joy . " The episode is imperfectl y sketched , but few of the Masons present on that day will find it difficult to fill in the particulars which had so much influence upon me .

Here was a wide field of usefulness open if I choose to accept it , and I mentally desired to profit by the teaching I had received . But Bro . Bentley Shaw ' s useful life was passed in the exercise of benevolence and charity , and the 114 votes lost to the province of West Yorkshire by his death exemplify but a drop in the ocean of his philanthrophy . On the 19 th June onr lodge passed a rather strong resolution against a

proposition in Prov . Grand Lodge to compel payment of one shilling per member annually throughout the province for additional purposes of the Charity Committee . The motion in Prov . Grand Lodge was ultimately withdrawn however , there being quite as strong objection to it shown in other lodges . After voluminous reports and " building business , " on the 17 th July ,

1878 , including that of raising £ 150 for additional furniture , etc ., the lodge sanctioned the necessary arrangements made by the Secretary for the opening of the new hall by the Right Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon , M . W . Pro Grand Master , on the 2 nd of October , 1878 . The action of the Secretary throughout his communication with the M . W . Pro Grand Master , was also enthusiasticall y approved of and confirmed ; also the invitations of the R . W . Prov . G . M . ( Sir Henry EdwardsBart . ) , the W . D . P . G . M . ( Thomas W . TewJ . P . ) and

, , , the officers of Prov . Grand Lodge to dedicate the building on the same occasion . The raising of the annual subscriptions had for some time been contemplated , ancl was finally settled at £ 3 on the 14 th August , 1878 . At the same time precisely the same resolutions were moved as on several previous occasions , to raise the initiation ancl joining fees to ten guineas and five guineas respectivelyand met with the same result as beforethe brethren being still

, , unwilling to make any alteration in them . The meetings of September 2 nd and September 11 th , 1878 , were chiefly for the purpose of removing the lodge , the necessary formalities being completed at the latter meeting . The following circular was issued 27 th September , 1878 : —

Masonic Hall , Kirkgate , Shipley , 27 th September , 1878 . Dear Sir and Brother . —You are requested to attend the duties of the lodge next Wednesday morning at 11 . 30 o ' clock . By order of the W . M . Yours respectfully and fraternally , J . RAMSKBN RIEEY , P . M ., Secretary . BUSINESS . Opening and Dedication of the New Masonic Hall by M . W . Bro . the Right Hon . the Earl of

Carnarvon , Pro G , Master ; R . W . Bro . Sir Henry Edwards , Bart ., D . L ., Prov . G . Master W . Yorks ; W . Bro . Thos . W . Tew , J . P ., D . Prov . G . Master W . Yorks . —The W . M . will open the lodge in the three degrees at 12 punctually . —Luncheon in the dining-room at 2 . 15 p . m .

On October 2 nd , 1878 , a red-letter day in the history of our lodge , there were present : — M . W . Bro . the Ri ght Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon , Pro G . Master ; R . W . Bro . Sir Henry Edwards , Bart ., Prov . G . M . W . Yorks ; V . W . Bro . Thomas W . Tew , J . P ., Deputy Prov . G . M . W . Yorks ; nineteen Provincial Grand Officers , eleven Worshi pful Masters of Lodges surrounding Shipley ; two old

Past Masters of Airedale Lodge , but now of Baildon , 1545 ( Bro . John Walker and Bro . Lycias Barker ) , besides members of Airedale Lodge as follows : — Bro . John Morrell , W . M . Bro . F . W . Booth , P . M ., Prov . G . D . C . „ John Hey , I . P . M . „ Samuel Jackson , P . M . „ John Magson , S . W . „ C . Roebuck , P . M . » Frederick Ives , J . W . „ C . Howroyd , P . M . L 2