History Of The Airedale Lodge, No. 387,

mutually agreed not to have another meeting until the proper time in May , viz ., in two months . " At the same time "it was unanimousl y agreed that for the future the postage of no more letters should be paid . " The next meeting was held on May 9 th , 1838 , and it was then proposed by the Secretary , Bro . William Ellison , seconded by Bro . Beck , P . M .: That the Sick Fund should bo discontinued provided that half of the stock of money should go to that mu-posa to the first who may need it . The aforesaid carried unanimously .

It was also decided — That not not more than seven should be returned to Wakefield ami London out of the lodge ; but that if any person should like to be returned anxiously he may by returning himself , ancl so reducing the number from the lodge . In accordance ivith the preceding resolutions thus passed , on May 21 st , 1838 , the returns were made to Grand and Prov . Grand Lodges with payments

to 31 st December , 1837 . Only seven members were so returned , viz ., John Sutcliffe , John Wintcrbnrn , John Bland , Jolm Beck , Nicholas Walker , James BroAvn , and William Ellison , Secretary . Besides the severe depression of trade at this time the lodge had a far more serious cause of alarm and anxiety in the personal dissension amongst a few of the members , and for a time these unfortunate troubles were a sore trial . Probabl y this was the most critical

period in the history of our lodge . There is much to admire in the strai g htforward , manly way in ivhich the Secretary ( Bro . Ellison ) explained some of the difficulties at this time , in a letter to Bro . W . H . White , the Grand Secretary , ancl although to many the idea of further economy being possible b y the refusal to pay postage , as resolved uponmay seem somewhat absurdin those days of cheap postageyet

, , , it should be remembered that letters in 1838 cost 5 ch , Sd ., 10 d ., and some , according to distance , over Is . each , consequently postage must reall y have been a most serious item of lodge expenditure if indulged in to any extent . The letter referred to ( as well as a note entered in the minute book respecting the Provincial returns made at saiue time , read as follows : —

"Owing to some partial disturbance among our brethren , depression of trade , etc ., etc ., we have unfortunately had our members reduced to the small number of seven , tho' we hope in our next returns the quantum will bo considerably augmented aud all affairs finally restored to peace . " We now find tho expenses to be very burdensome , since so many have declared off , with the rent , expenses of journeys , and the largo quantity of letters coming from London and country lodges , which ive have regularly received , that ive are compelled to adopt some

economical mode to abridge our payments or follow the rest of our brethren . This latter part wo are not inclined to consent to , therefore wo have unanimously agreed to stop paying the postage of all letters coming from any lodge whatever to ours , and now give you notice to send us no more unless you pay the postage . AVe have no particular inclination to see any future quarterly returns , nor any other annual letters , but will place confidence in your benevolence and wisdom in the distribution and management of affairs , tho' you may always expect us punctual in our yearly returns for the members wo have regularly attending , but it will bo two years before we make out our returns again , except that we have some initiations . Baildon , May 24 , 38 . "

At the same time the returns were sent to the Provincial Grand Lodge through the hands of a ropemaker , with the sum of 14 s ., and in all respects expressed the same as those sent to London , to ivhich refer . Our Lodge seems to have been so generally abandoned to die a natural death at this time , that these seven brethren arc fairl y entitled to the credit of preserving our warrant and saving the lodge from erasure , ivhilst the personal sacrifices they must have made prove beyond doubt a genuine love of the

institution and an exemplary reverence for the tenets and benevolent objects of our Order . Like many noble acts ancl intentions which , too often , are never recognized until many years have passed , and frequently not until after the death of many trul y great men , the example of these Avorth y brethren did not immediately bear good fruit . The lodge seems to have been completely