Lodge Histories.

LODGE HISTORIES .

THE LODGE OF PROBITY , No . 61 . ( Continued from page 290 ) .

WE have now to record the working of the Lodgo of Promulgation referred to in our last summary . Tho minutes being considered as of great interest , and perhaps worthy of special reference by other Lodges , tho

whole aro reproduced in tho History before us , It appears tho Royal Yorkshiro Lodge , No . 503 , Keighley , having sent an invitation to tho Lodge of Probity , the members wont to Keighley , and there formed the Lodge of Promulgation ,

being met by members of the Philanthropic , No . 540 ; Three Graces , No . 541 ; Amity , No . 280 ; and a Bingley Lodge , in addition to those who had sent the invitation . " Tho day was spent in the most agreeable and proper

manner , ancl the whole departed to their own homes much gratified . " The Lodge being opened in due and proper form , tho Officars and Brethren of the Royal Yorkshire

wero proposed to bo obligated according to tbe Articles of Union . They were unanimously accepted and accordingly obligated in the first degree , after which similar propositions

and obligations took place in regard to the other Lodges represented . Resolutions were agreed to in regard to payment of the expenses , and the various Lodges receiving the degrees were restricted in regard to communication of

them to others . Subsequent minutes of this Lodge of Promulgation relate to the second and third degrees , tho lectures and so forth . On the 28 th April 1815 , a meeting was held at Halifax , for the purpose of admitting members of

tho Amphibious Lodge , of that town , and they paid their £ 4 4 s accordingly . Next day the Lodge of Promulgation met at Rossendale , Tranquillity and Silent Temple Lodges joining the combination , and contributing the agreed sum . Altogether , sixteen Lodges of tho neighbourhood received

the new rules and regulations through the Lodge of Promulgation started by the Lodge of Probity , the brethren of

which latter body seems to havo been most assiduous in their exertions to give the necessary instructions . The reading of . these minutes is very interesting at the present time , and gives us a far greater insight into the "

mysteries " of tho Union than anything we have yet perused , They go to prove the care and ability that was displayed by the rulers of the Order in those days to ensure a thorough understanding between the two opposing sections than had

previously existed . Ono of the principal acts of the Lodge of Promulgation was the voting of an address to the Duke of Sussex , M . W . G . M ., congratulating him on the Union , and expressing the

loyalty of tho Lodges forming the Special Lodge here referred to . This was graciously acknowledged , and copies of both the address and reply are given in the History

before us . The year 1816 opened in the Probity Lodge in a very quiet and inauspicious manner after tho busy times of the two preceding years . It was found necessary to thoroughly

revise tho Bye Laws , so as to adapt them to the new state of things . A subscription was made during the year towards the funds of Grand Lodge , when the sum of

£ o 5 s was raised , " to be used for repairs which were required . " A new Tyler being needed a Mr . Benj . Wood was initiated , appointed as Tyler , ancl entrusted with the

Lodge Histories.

badge of the office . He had , however , previously signed an agreement in which he declared on his honour that , if elected , he would not communicate any of the proceedings of the Lodge to any one not a member , without orders from tho Master ; that ho would punctually obey tho orders of the Master , ancl fulfil his duty to tho Lodgo to the best of his power . On the 1 st October 1816 occurs an important minute , to the effect that " owing to tho great increase of Lodges in the Province , and for tho better working of the same , it

was advisable that the Province should be divided . " This we presume , may be regarded as the first step towards tho division of the Province , which followed the presentation of this petition . This is regarded by the historian of tho Probity Lodge—and justly so—as a most important event in the career of his Lodge , and he accordingly devotes a

special chapter to the subject , which we shall deal with in due course . About this time it was found necessary to order tho Tyler to " refuse admission to any member whom ho perceived to be intoxicated , " also to exclude any member not clean and decently clad with a white neck-cloth and in proper clothing , " while in regard to visitors none were to be admitted who had " not proper clothing according to

the regulations of the Craft , " it being expressly ordered that no visitor be admitted " with a color'd neck-cloth . " The fee for visiting was Is 6 d . On 6 th March 1817 an address was voted to H . R . H . the Prince Regent , congratulating him on his escape from the late daring attempt to assassinate him , and it was recommended the address should be presented to H . R . H . by Bro . Lord George Bcresford , who was ono of those

initiated in the Lodge of Probity . The address was regularly presented and properly acknowledged , and , as Bro . Cross ! ey puts it , affords another pre of of tho loyalty and attachment the brethren of that time had for the Throne and the rulers of the Craft , an attachment which it is hoped will always exist . The accounts of the Chapter of Sincerity and the Craft

Lodge appear to have been kept together at this time , and the proceedings of the former are frequently referred to in the records of the latter . The Chapter received its charter from Grand Chapter in 1818 , tho number being changed from 73 to 84 , tho same number as that of the Probity Lodge , with which it was henceforth to bo associated .

Various difficulties having arisen m regard to tho working or management of some of the sister Lodges , tho aid of " Probity " was sought , and a satisfactory settlement was arrived at in the several cases , thus showing the Lodgo of Probity was still looked up to by its neighbours , and that it still exercised a kind of supervision . We now

arrive at an unfortunate gap in the records of the Lodgo , the minute books from 4 th April 1822 to 20 th December 1847 being missing . Every effort has been made , we aro told , to trace these records but so far without avail , although hopes have not yet been wholly abandoned . Wo

should very much like to be the means of restoring these records to the Lodge of Probity , and if any of our readers should ever come across them they will perhaps remember with what pleasnro they would be hailed by our brethren of Halifax . ( To be continued ) .