Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Obituary.
record of his decease , should be unaccompanied by some observations of his interesting career . Bro . Sutcliffe was born in Midgley , in the parish of Halifax . He was initiated into Masonry in the Lodge of Probity , ( then No . 84 ) , on the 4 th August , 1 S 0 S , and raised to the sublime degree on the 30 th of Nov . following . He subsequently became exalted in the higher degrees of
Arch Masonry . In the year 1813 , he was deputed , with two other Brethren , to attend the proceedings in London , which terminated in the Union of the . two Fraternities , and in the constitution of the present United Grand Lodge of England . In the discharge of the duties of that important mission , he became the medium through which the revised system of Craft Masonry was communicated to the Brethren and Lodges in the
neighbourhood where he resided ; and from that period , he has never ceased to be regarded as a standard authority on these truly interesting matters . He was not less qualified by acuteness of ability and enlarged kindness of disposition , than by the distinguished order of his experience for imparting instruction and encouragement in the sublime principles of the Order ; nor will the recollection be lost , till the present generation of Brethrenshalllike himselfhave passed awayof the willingness and
, , , , zeal , with which he embraced every opportunity of promoting a correct system of working , and of furthering a legitimate knowledge of Masonry among his Brethren . Soon after his return from London , and when the benefits of his instruction had been experienced , the high estimation in which his conduct was held by the Brethren , led to the presentation of an elegant Past Masters' Jewel , bearing the inscription , — " a mark of esteem from the
Lodge of Probity , No . 84 , to Bro . John Sutcliffe , April 6 th , 1815 . " The subsequent history of this venerable Lodge , affords abundant proof of the extent to which its prosperity is due to his disinterested zeal and perseverance . For six years prior to 1829 , the Lodge remained in practical abeyance ; its meetings were all but discontinued , and its members had dwindled down to a number scarcely sufficient for the proper discharge of its offices and ceremonies . A new era then dawned ,
and the spirit of Masonry again animated its members . At this period our lamented Brother exerted himself with the greatest devotion , and ere long he had the satisfaction of seeing its regular meetings resumed , under his own able presidency as W . M . ; an increase of new members attended this happy resuscitation , and to the present time , the number has gradually increased , with no further check to its progressthan those of a temporary characterwhich are natural incidents
, , , experienced more or less by every Lodge . Since the year 1830 , our late Brother occupied the responsible position of W . M . of this Lodge , on different occasions , for a period extending over five years . It fell to his lot to discharge the duties of that office in the year 1838 , when the centenary of the Lodge ' s existence was celebrated . The Prov . Grand Lodge , and other Lodges of the Province , took part in the jubilee with which that interesting event was honoured .
A few years then elapsed , and the Lodge still flourished . A large accession of new members gave additional proof that the spirit of Masonry was diffusing itself in the Province , and that with respect to this Lodge in particular , the lapse of one hundred years , since its original constitution , was no unworthy testimony of its usefulness and respectability . In the six years ending December , 1847 , not less than seventy new members were initialed , and during the whole of that period his regular attendance , aud frcmicnl discharge of the duties of one or other office in
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Obituary.
record of his decease , should be unaccompanied by some observations of his interesting career . Bro . Sutcliffe was born in Midgley , in the parish of Halifax . He was initiated into Masonry in the Lodge of Probity , ( then No . 84 ) , on the 4 th August , 1 S 0 S , and raised to the sublime degree on the 30 th of Nov . following . He subsequently became exalted in the higher degrees of
Arch Masonry . In the year 1813 , he was deputed , with two other Brethren , to attend the proceedings in London , which terminated in the Union of the . two Fraternities , and in the constitution of the present United Grand Lodge of England . In the discharge of the duties of that important mission , he became the medium through which the revised system of Craft Masonry was communicated to the Brethren and Lodges in the
neighbourhood where he resided ; and from that period , he has never ceased to be regarded as a standard authority on these truly interesting matters . He was not less qualified by acuteness of ability and enlarged kindness of disposition , than by the distinguished order of his experience for imparting instruction and encouragement in the sublime principles of the Order ; nor will the recollection be lost , till the present generation of Brethrenshalllike himselfhave passed awayof the willingness and
, , , , zeal , with which he embraced every opportunity of promoting a correct system of working , and of furthering a legitimate knowledge of Masonry among his Brethren . Soon after his return from London , and when the benefits of his instruction had been experienced , the high estimation in which his conduct was held by the Brethren , led to the presentation of an elegant Past Masters' Jewel , bearing the inscription , — " a mark of esteem from the
Lodge of Probity , No . 84 , to Bro . John Sutcliffe , April 6 th , 1815 . " The subsequent history of this venerable Lodge , affords abundant proof of the extent to which its prosperity is due to his disinterested zeal and perseverance . For six years prior to 1829 , the Lodge remained in practical abeyance ; its meetings were all but discontinued , and its members had dwindled down to a number scarcely sufficient for the proper discharge of its offices and ceremonies . A new era then dawned ,
and the spirit of Masonry again animated its members . At this period our lamented Brother exerted himself with the greatest devotion , and ere long he had the satisfaction of seeing its regular meetings resumed , under his own able presidency as W . M . ; an increase of new members attended this happy resuscitation , and to the present time , the number has gradually increased , with no further check to its progressthan those of a temporary characterwhich are natural incidents
, , , experienced more or less by every Lodge . Since the year 1830 , our late Brother occupied the responsible position of W . M . of this Lodge , on different occasions , for a period extending over five years . It fell to his lot to discharge the duties of that office in the year 1838 , when the centenary of the Lodge ' s existence was celebrated . The Prov . Grand Lodge , and other Lodges of the Province , took part in the jubilee with which that interesting event was honoured .
A few years then elapsed , and the Lodge still flourished . A large accession of new members gave additional proof that the spirit of Masonry was diffusing itself in the Province , and that with respect to this Lodge in particular , the lapse of one hundred years , since its original constitution , was no unworthy testimony of its usefulness and respectability . In the six years ending December , 1847 , not less than seventy new members were initialed , and during the whole of that period his regular attendance , aud frcmicnl discharge of the duties of one or other office in