Consecration Of The Beaumont Lodge, No. 2035.

CONSECRATION OF THE BEAUMONT LODGE , No . 2035 .

fPHIS interesting event took place at Kirkbnrton on Thursday , Sth * inst . The past and present members and Officers of tho Pro . vincial Grand Lodge of the Province of West Yorkshire , of whom there were a very large number present , met at tlio Lodge room , at the Koyal Hotel , at half-past ono o ' clock , and great difficulty wns

experienced in getting accommodation for tho wholo of the visitors , the room being somewhat small for snch an occasion . Brother Tew W . D . P . G . M ., occupied tho chair ; and tho following brethren , Officers and members of Beaumont Lodge , No . 2035 , snp . ported him : —Brothers Rov . P . F . J . Pearce P . M . and P . P . G . Chap , lain , Rev . TV . P . In « ledow Chaplain , W . Schofield W . M ., \ V . Fittou

S . W ., Bon Stocks J . W ., Ed . Smith Treasurer , Chas . Hargroavoa Secre . tary , Geo . Sykes P . M . D . C , B . Oxley , W . H . Cook S . a , H . Calverley J . D ., J . W . Cocking I . G ., H . Field W . M ., W . H . Jessop P . M ., L . B . Brierley W . M ., Hy . Shaw VV . M ., Allen Jackson P . P . J . G . D ., R . Senior , J . R . Brooke , II . Barden , W . T . Sugg , and A . L . Mitchell . There were also present the following visitors : —Bros . G . Goldthorpe S . D . 242 ,

W . King I . G . 208 , E . Fairbnrn P . P . G . S . B . 337 , J . Kaye P . M . 275 , J . Martin P . M . 301 , J . Wood head P . M . 1402 , B . Booth S . D . 1462 , Rev . J . T . Wilkinson P . P . G . C . 652 , R . W . Jubb A . D . C . 275 , G . E . B . Dickenson 1462 , Geo . Pearson P . G . S . B . 1034 , T . A . Greenwood 521 , II . Clayton 521 , W . Mitchell P . M . 200 , John Varley S . D . 521 , A . Avmitago J . W . 521 , J . Barker P . M . 1102 , J . S . Sheard W . M . 521 , J . Eccles

M . M . 521 , Geo . Ainley M . M . 149 , W . E . Wimpenny I . G . 652 , T . Sellers P . M . 1783 , K . T . Gardiner P . M . 458 , H . W . Wrigley P . M . 149 , R . H . Armitage W . M . 275 , W . Bailey M . M . 1102 , J . Shaw P . M . 337 , H . Smith Prov . Graud Sec , H . Wright M . M . 439 , W . Harrop P . P . G . D . 290 , Joe Wood P . M . 290 , J . Day P . P . G . M . 275 , J . L . Pn _ h P . M . 131 ,

J . Brown M . M . 1301 , J . Craven P . P . S . G . W . 275 , G . W . Rhodes P . M . 275 , Alien Haigh P . P . G . D . C 290 and 1514 , W . Haigh P . P . G . P . 149 , J . Kendrew M . M . 521 , W . Rico T . 521 , B . Hutchinson P . M . 290 , T . Ruddock P . M . 275 , J . Newton P . M . 1019 , J . Shaw P . M . 16-45 , C . Wood 149 , J . Lee P . G . T . 290 , T . B . Fox P . M . 208 , W . D . Qnarmby S . W . 208 , J . Fenna M . M . 208 , Thomas Pickles P . M . 258 , G . Hesketh

P . M . 1462 , A . Ainley M . M . 290 , E . Dyson M . M . 521 , J . Tarpin M . M . 521 , J . Brook M . M . 1783 , J Thorp ( Liverpool ) 1502 , M . Rosenthal Seo . 1798 , R . Holmes P . M . 910 , S . Boothroyd W . M . 652 , J . Seed P . M . 1302 , R . Williamson P . J . G . D . 521 , J . H . Taylor I . G . 290 , T . Winn P . G . C , H . Redfearn P . M . 149 , J . Ellis P . M . 149 , J . E . Smith M . M . 1102 , H . Oxley P . M . 495 , J . H . Pearson W . M . 1301 , J . Cowgill M . M .

149 , G . M . Marchant M . M . 1783 , H . Holds worth Sec . 1783 , A . Ilella . well M . M . 1783 , W . Vickers P . M . 1019 , J . J . Vickers M . M . 290 , 0 . S . Sunderland P . G . R ., F . Preston W . M ., J . R . Dore P . M ., aud J . E . Bottom 1514 , & o . The proceedings were commenced by the assembly singing the hymn "All people that on earth do dwell . " Tho Lodge was then opened by the R . W . Brother Thomas William Tew , J . P .

Deputy Graud Master of tho Province , and Senior Grand Deacon of the Grand Lodge of England . Tbe Provincial Grand Chaplain ofl ' orod up prayer , and read a portion of Scripture from 2 Chronicles iii ., and after solemu music , tho Provincial Grand Secretary read the petition for dedication . The Provincial Grand Registrar addressed the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , and asked him to dedicate the hall , and on

the request having been acceded to , the Provincial Grand Secretary called upon tho Worshipful Master for the warrants of constitution , minute book , and bye-laws of the Lodge No . 2035 . The Provincial Grand Superintendent of Works examined the appointments of the Lodge , and reported that all was correct . An anthem , commencing " Behold how good and joyful a thing it is , brethren , to dwell together

in unity , " was sung by Bros . Blagbro , Joe Wood , Joe Varley , and Garner , after which the Provincial Grand Chaplain read a portion of 1 Kings viii ., and offered the firsfc portion of the dedication prayer . A lengthy ceremonial of consecration and dedication of the Lodge room was then gone through . Bro . T . W . Tew afterwards gave the following address : BRETHREN ,

—The institution and the dedication of the 67 th Lodge in this Province , and of the 2035 th Lodge of the roll of the Grand Lodge of England , is , I hope , a Masonio event of such importance as to merit a few brief but customary observations on the consecration of a new Lodge , under the jurisdiction of Lieut .-Colonel Sir Henry Edwards , our beloved and popular Provincial Grand Master . This occasion which , I hope , has

been an interesting one , may be also deemed a suitable opportunity for allusion to the circumstances which have brought about an application for a new warrant for this Lodge , now called the Beaumont Lodge , at Kirkbnrton .. A record of Masonic work in this Province since 1822 , when there were but 19 Lodges in the then constituted Province of West Yorkshire , must abound in both pleasing episodes

as well as melancholy reminiscences of the operative and speculative labours of great and good Masons who have gone to their eternal home—let us hope in the Grand Lodge above—and a faithful chronicler has not only the gratification of enlarging on the increase of the Lodges and the career of the Craft in West Yorkshire , but he is bound to allude to those incidents which have almost every year cast

a gloom over its progress , and tinged the harmony of its advancement and affection amongst us with sorrowful reflections . " We have rejoiced with those who do rejoice , " and we have " mourned with those who weep . " The Craft has within the period since 1823 taken a large and benevolent part in aiding all kinds of charitable and useful institutions . It has also never been slack in tendering homage where

homage was due , or testifying its sympathies to the memory of friends and relatives of departed worth—as in the death of the late Bishop of Ripon—or , as its Charity Committee can record , putting its principles to the test by the practice of the most liberal charity , which virtue is inculcated upon us in every step we take in tho different

degrees , and " blesses him thafc gives as well as him thafc receives . " Our last Charity Report speaks of facts which need no further comment , of the number of recipients of our bounty , and of those young orphans who look up to tbe Lodges as . their guardians , and those Freemasons whom unavoidable circumstances have reduced to tho lowest depths of povery and despair , who regard us as the comforters of old

Consecration Of The Beaumont Lodge, No. 2035.

age . The records , then , of West Yorkshire Freemasonry present a history of tho brethren in their Lodges , having provoked one another unto charity and to good works—a charity ever willing to put itself to inconvenience for tho benefit of others . " Love , generosity , kindness , magnanimity , toleration and forgiveness , " " are the virtues of tho Freemason ' s belief , and aro the things of whioh West Yorkshire

Freemasonry may well be proud in its history of the past 60 years . " May I hope that West Yorkshire Freemasonry presents to our minds a stately and superb edifice , whose superstructure has been built on humanity ' s best , on a true perception of humanity's needs , on a devout humility to render ourselves more extensively serviceable to our fellow creatures , and an eager acceptance to estimate the

wonderful works of the Almighty Creator , the ready acceptance of Jehovah ' s work in man and throngh man ? If we to-day have built this Lodge a corner stone into tho great building of the Craft , like a foundation stone in Solomon ' s Temple , and will trust iu the same corner-stone whioh the builders once refused , this Lodge will stand , and become the chief corner stone in Kirkbnrton of the " wisdom , "

the " strength , " and the " beauty " of Masonio worth and excellence , " or life is one and indivisible . Brethren , take your stand on " Tho Rock of Ages . " Stand like a building founded on a rook , and share its strength , so that yon shall be part of tho living temple of Jehovah . Kirkbnrton is an historical civil parish . Moorhouse ' s history of this parish is full of arohmological love respecting it . It is the old civil

parish of the townships of Kirkburton , Shelley , Shepley , Falstone , Hepworth , Thurstonland , Cartworth , and Wooldale , ancl which em . braces a large part of Holmfirth , including the old church there . Kivkbuvton township proper has a population of about 3 , 000 , and . the industry of the place is chiefly manufacturing cloth . Woodsome Hall , the seat of tho Earl of Dartmouth , is about two miles distant , and

Storthes Hall , now tenanted by Bro . B . Lockwood , No . 275 , is a mile distant from the place where we are now assembled . Tbe ancient Parish Church of Kirkbnrton—where we are shortly to assemble , and where divine service will be celebrated- by the Provincial Grand Chaplains , and the sermon preached by Bro . the Rev . P . F . J . Pearce , Provincial Grand Chaplain , the vicar of St . Paul ' s , Huddersfield—is

an edifice of interest to all of us . The chain Bible , & c , are there . Its registers date back from fche year 1542 , and are in excellent preservation . Indeed , it is said there aro only 19 other parishes throughout England where the registers go so far back , and are so well preserved . The father of tho present vicar died about two years ago at the age of 87 , having officiated there for a period of 45 years . I am

told that the Rev . R . Collins—a scholar and antiquarian—the present vicar , is to be ooo of the first initiated into the " Beaumont" Lodge , as well as a goodly number of gentlemen of standing in the surrounding districts which I have catalogued . The parish clerk is the father of Bro . William Fitton , of Moldgreen , Huddersfield , a brother well known and respected by all the Craft . The parish clerk is alive and

well , and we shall see him in God ' s house this afternoon . The old schoolmaster , Mr . A . Hargreaves , was the father of Bro . 0 . Hargreaves , tbe indefatigable Secretary of the Beaumont Lodge . The shortly to be invested Worshipful Master of No . 2035 , Bro . William Schofield , is already a Past Master and a Past Provincial Grand Pursuivant of West Yorkshire . He was educated at the Kirkburton Grammar

School , as also were Bro . Fitton and Bro . Hargreaves , and all of them under the tuition of tho late Mr . A . Hargreaves . Bro . Stocks , the first J . W ., has been about 13 years a member of the Huddersfield Lodge . Bro . Barnicot , also one of tho founders of this Lodge , is a large employer of labour in this district , and Bro . R . Senior is a member of the eminent firm of Seth , Senior and Sons ,

of Shepley . Bro . Past Master George Sykes , of this town , and Bro . Fitton were both founders of the Albert Edward Lodge , which I consecrated 12 th December 1878 , and of which Bro . T . Ruddock was the first Worshipful Master . These brethren have done good service to Masonry throughout Huddersfield district , and this Provincial Grand Lodge of West Yorkshire is much indebted to them for

their exertions . I could mention other names , such as Bros . W . H . Jessop and Allen Jackson , both Past Masters of Lodge 521 , and Bro . Field , W . M ., of the Wharnoliffe Lodge , all supporters or founders of the Beaumont Lodge . Tho founders have called their new Lodge after , and as a compliment to , Mr . Beaumont , of Whitley Hall , about three miles from here . He is not a Mason , but deserves well of the Craffc

for his gift of 21 acres of land for a public park at Huddersfield , and the hospitable manner in which he entertained the late lamented Duke of Albany and the Duchess on the memorable occasion of their visit to Huddersfield in October last to open the Beaumont Park , and inspeofc the Fine Art and Industrial Exhibition , and to receive an address of welcome from the Freemasons of West York . Although

Mr . Beaumont is abroad , yet it is hoped that some day he may join the Beaumont Lodge and receive that further compliment of tho Mason ' s badge which is more ancient than the " Golden Fleece or Roman Eagle , more honourable than the Star and Garter or any other der in existence . " Under these promising auspices the Provincial Grand Master thought fit to recommend the petition for a warrant for

a new Lodge at Kirkburton , and I am assured by the founders it has the good-will and support of all the Lodges in Huddersfield , and that tho Beaumont Lodgo , No . 2 , 035 , at Kirkburton , will prove an acquisition both to Masonry and also to tho district in which it is p laced . This Lodge then is surrounded by ancient Masonic traditions . These are yonr grand treasures . The first is the tradition of knowledge .

The lecture of the first degree—the cultivation and improvement of the mind . The chat-go and tho lecture of the second degree , " The study of the liberal arts and sciences , " which tend so effectually to polish and adorn the mind , and " the perseverance of every commendable virtue . " The third degree invites ns to reflect on the solemn subject of death , and teaches us thab to fche just , perfect , and uprig ht

man death has no terror eqn . 1 to the stain of dishonour and falsehood , but to look upon dissolution as the end of afflictions and the entrance to a holy ancl pure life in the Grand Lodge above . Another treasure is that of opportunity—the opportunity of doing good to othersopportunity a treasure like the manna of Israel ; yon can have no more than your share ; you cannot gather it but at the moment when