History Of The Airedale Lodge, No. 387,

expended upon the building , which is every way adapted for the purposes of a lodge of Freemasons . There are tivo large rooms for lodge purposes , a room of medium size , a large kitchen , with store-rooms , lavatories , & c . The lodgeroom ^ which is upon the upper storey , is twenty-seven feet by twenty-five feet ; the dining-room being of equal dimensions , and situate upon the floor beneath . To the former a small ante-room is attached , and to the latter a convenient

store-room . Upon the first floor are situate the practice-room , twenty-five feet by twelve feet , and a kitchen , eighteen feet b y thirteen feet . The latter is fitted with the best appliances for cooking and upon all those occasions when the austeries of the Craft are so far relxaed as to allow its members to dine , this department of the lodge premises will be regarded as an indispensable adjunct . A hoist communicates with the dining-room and also with the lodge-All the

room . rooms are lofty , and are Avell ventilated . The li ghting of the lodge-room is effected b y means of a central chandelier and six side lights , Avhile in the dining-room a central light on Benham ' s principle is introduced , supplemented by side li g hts , a very cheering effect being produced thereby . The furnishing and decoration of the premises are quite in keeping with the structural arrangements of the hall , the appointments of the lodge-room being such to entitle it to rank

as as one of the neatest in Yorkshire . The decoration of this room has been effected with considerable taste , all the colours being in distemper . The ground colours of the Avail is of fawn , relieved by parallelograms divided by chocolate lines , the panels filled in with Masonic emblems draivn in vermillion and blue . Boldly-designed corbels support the roof , the frieze being effectively relieved by a series of Egyptian figures continued round the room . This design is reproduced from one introduced into the

decoration of the former lodge-room . The ceiling of the room is done in colours and gold . The dining-room is of a modest tone , the prevailing colour being drab . Round this room is a surbase moulding in pitch pine , the interval between this and a deep plinth being filled in with geometrical designs in black . The furnishings have been the subject of much attention , and in respect to some portion of the furniture a more than ordinary interest attaches . Three of the

pedestals , presented to the lodge by Bro . Chas . Marchbank , have withstood the wear and tear over ninet y years , having been used in the old Duke of _ York Lodge , and , re-furbished , look equal to quite as long a tenure of existence . Apropos to the opening of the new hall , various presents have been made b y members of the lodge , including an eagle-lectern , a large quarto copy of the Hol y Scriptures , a beautiful ivory mallet , & c . The various works in connection with the

erection of the building were contracted for by the following tradesmen , viz ..- —Mason , John Rhodes ; joiner , George Yates ; plumbers , S . Rushworth and Son ; plasterers , Walsh and Son ; decorators , bam Odcl y ancl Son ; gas fittings , C . Howroyd . The architects for the Avorks were Messrs . Jackson ancl Longley . The extra decorations rendered necessary by the ceremony consisted of the laying of crimson cloth along the passages and staircases of the hall , ancl draping the AvindoAVS with curtains , & c . These have been supplied by Messrs . Pratt and Sons , of Bradford .

rue brethren of the lodge assembled in good force , but owing to the limited accommodation of the building ( although sufficiently large for the purposes of then- OAVII meetings ) , they -were unable to make the occasion so general as it otherwise would have been . Their invitations included the acting members of the Provincial Grand Lodge of West Yorkshire ; and they had succeeded in securing the honour of the company of the M . W . Bro . Earl Carnarvon , Pro wand MasterThe lod

. ge having been opened by the W . M . and officers of the Airedale Lodge , the Provincial Grand Lodge entered , and was presided over by + 1 ™ -A ' Lieut .-Colonel Sir H . Edwards , Bart ., Prov . G . M ., assisted by tie W Bro . T . W . Tew , D . P . G . M . of West Yorkshire . After the customary M W Tj ° ° f theSe tw 0 di £ nitaries > a procession was formed , and escorted the l - W . Pro . Grand Master ( Earl of Carnarvon ) into the lodge . 0 2