Aire And Calder Lodge, No. 458, Castleford.

This evening it will be my duty to hand over to you a souvenir of that memorable occasion ; but , before proceeding to the formal act of presentation , t will venture to offer for your information a few remarks on the subject of lodge warrants .

Anterior to the year 1717 , there was—as you are aware—no Grand Lodge , and no supreme governing power in the Craft . Lodges there were , scattered sparsel y over the face of the country , meeting and acting by their inherent and time immemorial rig ht . How they originated , or whence they sprung , is not our purpose this evening to discuss or to conjecture .

A Grand Lodge having been founded in 1717 , with its consequent organisation , it was obvious that lodges , in return for the advantages to be derived from union and intercommunication , must submit in some degree to supervision and control , more especially as the Grand Lodge was formed , and still exists largely , on the mutual and self-governing principle .

From that time to the present the founding of a new lodge has required the formal sanction of the Grand Master , he being the head and elected ruler of our Fraternity , and authority to meet was then granted , is now , and we trust ever will be , only after due consideration , to a petition from reputed , worthy , and accredited brethren .

Herein , brethren , let us remember , is one of those vitally important safeguards to the well-being of our ancient and honourable Society , for whilst the portals of the Temple of Freemasonry are held by wise and faithful sentinels we may calmly and securely enjoy the blessings of prosperity , fraternal love , and peace .

Down to a period not much anterior to A . D . 1740 , warrants , as we now understand them , were not , it is believed , in general use . Authority was granted to open a lodge , and instances are recorded of a certificate being signed by the Grand Master , that a lodge had been constituted . In 173 S the first West Yorkshire warrant was granted for the senior

lodge of this province , now the " Probity , " No . or , and in this document but one brother ' s name appears as a founder ; and for a considerable while afterwards the warrants issued were of a similar character . It was not until much later that warrants contained the designation of the Master and Wardens , and the names of seven founders .

T owards the close of last century came one of those social upheavals , the like of which no one living has experienced , followed by the appalling Revolution in France in 1792 . At that period over every country in Europe was spread a meshwork of secret societies , many of which existed for the

distinct and avowed purpose of disturbing or destroying the ruling governments ; and even this country , blessed with institutions and freedom far in advance of any nation on the Continent , as it is now , did not escape from contagion by the prevailing epidemic .

An Act , therefore , was passed in the reign of George III ., on the 12 th July , 1799 , which was designed in some measure to guard against the dangerous possibilities of the period , entitled , " An Act for the more effectual suppression of Societies established for seditious and treasonable purposes , and for better preventing treasonable and seditious practices . "

It isa matter of history as to what societies this Act was directed against ; sufficient for us to know , that the Society of Freemasons was specially excepted . Stipulations , however , were made and are still in force , though often disregarded , providing for a return being made once a year , by each lodge , to the Clerk of the Peace , of the names , Skc , of the members .

Owing to the rather dubious expression of a ceitain portion of this Act , the Grand Lodge entertained grave doubts as to the lawfulness of issuing new warrants . We have an instance of this in the case of the Pudsey brethren , who petitioned in 1805 for a new lodge , and received from the Provincial Grand Lodge of Yorkshire , whose head-ouarters were then at York , the

following reply : " Resolved that the prayer of such petition cannot be complied with agreeable to the existing Act of Parliament , but if the petitioning brethren should be fortunate enough to meet with a dormant warrant , that then this Provincial Grand Lodge will not fail to transmit such latent document to the Grand Lodge in London , " kc .

Notwithstanding the prospect of support , no lodge was formed , and the matter appears to have dropped . Bro . John Lane , of Torquay , the worid-wide known authority on lodges , their origin , and changes , believes he has traced no less than 46 lodges , which were really newly formed , during the period that Grand Lodge suspended the issue of new warrants .

These lodges were opened by means of the subterfuge or evasion above intimated , in every instance obtaining the number—and in some instances the warrant—of an expired or dormant lodge , with which it had no actual connet tion whatever .

In many cases warrants were carried from one locality to another , at long distances from each other , and we have examples where the ceremony of consecration was performed , which is a clear proof of the opinion which the

authorities entertained of ihe ostensible " re-opening" (!) . The lodges alluded to were allowed to take up the same position on the Grand Lodge roll as the extinct ones , a proceeding which was manifestl y unfair to the genuine old ones .

We have instances of this kind in Yorkshire , and more than one where such lodges , actually much under 100 years of existence , have , through the misapprehension of the farts by the authorities , succeeded in obtaining the ( catenary warrant and / tie riglil to wear / lie distinctive jewel .

I ntil a comparatively recent period , brethren who desired to open a lodge were granted a dispensation to do so . A sort of temporary authority until such time as a warrant could be issued ; or perhaps what was nearer the fact , in actual practice—until they chose to apply for one . Thus between the authorised opening of a lodge and the issue of the warrant a considerable

Aire And Calder Lodge, No. 458, Castleford.

lapse of time took place occasionally . There are at least two old lodges in West Yorkshire which still meet under their original " dispensations , " not having obtained warrants . As in the case of your own lodge , the formal opening of a lodge was not uncommonly antecedent , by a considerable space of time , to its consecration .

On the warrant of the Aire and Calder Lodge will be found the original number , 672 , which was altered to 458 . at the general closing up on the Grand Lodge roll in 1863 . The warrant was dated March 26 th , 1839 , and signed by H . R . H . the Duke of Sussex , G . M ., countersigned by Lord Churchill , D . G . M , and W . H . White , Grand Secretary .

" H . R . H . the Duke of Sussex was the 6 th son of His Majesty , King George III . Bom Jan . 27 , 1773 , and initiated in the Royal York Lodge of Friendship at Berlin in 179 S . " The honorary rank of Past G . M . of England was conferred upon him in 1805 by the Grand Lodge of England , and on the 13 th of May , 1812 , he was appointed Deputy G . M . On the 13 th April , 1813 , he was elected Grand Master , in succession to his brother , the Prince Regent , afterwards

George I \ . By his unbounded influence with the brethren , and that of his Royal brother , the Duke of York , the glorious union of the rival London Grand Lodges was finally completed in December , 1813 , when he became Grand Master of the united Grand Lodges . After a long and brilliant career , and filling many important offices , he died April 21 st , 1 S 43 .

Lord Henry John Spencer Churchill , a descendent , I believe , of the great Duke of Marlborcugh , was J . G . W . April 27 th , 1831 ; S . G . W . April 25 th , 1832 ; President of the Board of General Purposes June 4 th , 1834 , and June 3 rd , 1835 ; Deputy Grand Master , September , 1835 , April , 1836 , 1837 , and 1838 .

William Henry White was born 1778 , and died April 5 th , 1866 ; initiated April 15 th , 1799 ; elected Master of his lodge December 15 th , 1800 , continuing in office until 1809 . In 1810 he was appointed joint Grand Secretary with his father , William White . In 1 S 13 , joint Grand Secretary with Bro Edward Harper , and in 1838 sole Grand Secretary , an office which he held until 1857 .

The Masonic origin of your founders I have not investigated , but at no distant time , 1 trust , when the materials for your lodge history are being systematically compiled , doubtless some enterprising brother will obtain these particulars on your behalf . On the 14 th December , 1883 , your late hall was dedicated by R . W . Bro . Tew , then D . P . G . M . of West Yorkshire . In the course of an eloquent address Bro . Tew thus expressed his view of the lodge warrant :

" Your warrant is made sacred , made venerable , and has been consecrated for the purposes of Freemasonry , for without it you could not hold a lodge . It is in your eyes a holy and a sacred document , the symbol of authority and of your allegiance to the Grand Lodge of England , and of your obligations in Freemasonry and to the G . A . O . T . U . "

Holding this exalted , yet truly and justly Masonic , conviction of the importance of the warrant , you may rest assured that his sympathy awakened so strongly on the occasion of its loss has not yet subsided . As I have already intimated , we all grieve deeply at the cause of his absence this evening .

His courteous bearing , kindly manner , and generous heart , but , above all , the strong and genuine affection which he entertains for the Craft and all his brethren cause him to be missed from the gatherings he loves so well . May speedy restoration to health be his ! May we soon join hands with him within the mystic circle as of old !

Worshipful Master , Wardens , and brethren , on behalf of R . W . Bro . Tew , I now hand over to you tin ' s beautiful and perfect facsimile of your old warrant , which has gone for ever . You will join with me in saying that the workmanship is highly creditable to the artist , Mr . Garrison , of Goole . I iv ed not ask you to cherish it for the sake of the giver .

It will serve to remind you of many happy by-gone hours , of many joyous associations with one who loved your lodge and loved to be with you . It will , as a speaking likeness of an old friend departed , be a memento of the ori gin of the lodge , and those who have since followed within your walls and sat under the authority of the warrant for many years .

Brethren , it will soon be our turn to depart also , and if we cannot hand down to our successors the old warrant as we received it , we can continue to practice the true princip les of Freemasonry , to make our lodge an abode of harmony and brotherly love ; to pass on to those who follow the memory of good thoughts , kindly words , and noble actions , which arc indeed the soul of

Masonry . For the beginning and the end , the foundation , the superstore - tion , and the crowning of our Masonic Temple are all comprised in that Divine injunction— " Fear God , honour the King , love thy nei g hbour as thyself . " ( Signed ) Wit . WATSON , P . M ., of Leeds , P . P . G . S . of W ., and Hon . Librarian of West Yorks , lanuary 26 th , 1804 .

LENOIR ALEXANDRE . —A Chevalier of the Legion d'Honneur , and conservator of French antiquities at Paris ; was also a zealous and enlightened Freemason , and an antiquary and arch . eologist of great reputation . He was born in I 76 i , and died in 1839 . He was the founder of the " Musee Central , " and saved many monuments and articles ol antiquarian interest from destruction and oblivion . In 1777 the well-known Le Court de ( jebelin had founded the " Couvents Philosophiques , " and held one in 1777 , 177 8 , 1779 , 1780 , 1782 , 178 4 , 1785 , 1786 , 1788 , and 1 789 . In

1812 Bro . Lenoir resumed them by the delivery of eight lectures in eig "' meetings on the " Rapports qui existent entre les anciens Mysteres des Egyptiens et des Grecs et ceux de la Franche Maconnerie . " These lectures , re-arranged , he published in 1814 at Paris , under the title " La Franche Mai ; onneiie rendue a sa veritable origine , ou l'Antiquile de la Franche Maeonnnerie prouvee par l ' explicades Mjsleres anciens tt modernes . " This work was illustrated by 10 p lates . We are not compelled to accept all Bro . Lenoir ' s conclusions , many of which arc more than doubtful , when we express our admiration of his industry and his

ingenuity in developing his own theses , i hat some connection existed as between the Building Scciet ' us and Mysteries is , we think , probable ; but it is equally > we apprehend , incontestable that Freemasonry cannot be properly said to be the continuation of the Mysteries . Many of Bro . Lenoir ' s explanations , both of the actual import of our symbols and their mysterious lore , have long since been given up by Masonic students , but his work remains as a monument of his Masonic sympathies and learning , and will always repay perusal . —Kenning ' * Cyclohivdia nf Freemasonry .