History Of The Airedale Lodge, No. 387.

April , 1871 , the position of affairs was discussed , this resulting in a proposition that the Secretary should prepare a list of members , ancl that each should be called upon to contribute something towards starting the loclge fairly in its new quarters free from debt . I recollect how careful we were to avoid any compulsory levy , which , though generally the best as well as the fairest course , will not answer during certain stages of a lodge ' s existence . Ours had passed

into the hands of another generation , whose youthful vigour was practicall y ousting the former one from a position it was compelled reluctantly to resign ; whilst a distasteful removal also combined to influence many of the old members at this time to withold even a passive assistance . The appeal was cheerfully responded to by about twenty brethren , all the rest refusing to subscribe . The amount raised was £ 90 onlybut this sufficed to cause an anxiety which

, did much good afterwards , by checking all unnecessary expense . One of the first things thought of was the letting of one of the rooms , ancl so strongly did a majority of the brethren regard retrenchment ancl economy as necessary , that although actively opposed by one or two influential Past Masters , the room was

let for one night a week to a building society at Shipley , on the 2 nd August , 1871 . On November 29 th , 1871 , a bye-law was passed , the existence of which is quite unknown to most members now , viz : that non-resident members shall only pay 21 s . per annum subscription . To come within the operation of this bye-law it is requisite that every such member must reside not less than ten miles from the lodge . It has been a useless bye-law , and did not even satisfy

the brother for whom it was originated ( who I believe did not , however , specially ask for it ) , who resigned in 1874 . At the meeting on February 28 th , 1872 , the Secretary read a letter to the Prov . G . S . E . West Yorks , with reference to the removal of the Moravia Chapter to Shipley . I certainly never saw any excuse for the " mysterious mysteries " with which this beautiful degree was invested for our novitiate . Howeverthe

, dullest performance has its termination , and probably the wholesome exercise of other than Masonic virtues ( meekness especially ) did none of us any harm . The following members of Airedale Lodge being wishful to become R . A . Masons , were the resuscitates ( we all felt " resurrectionists " I am sure ) at this period of the Chapter ' s history : —Thomas Murgatroyd , Thomas Denby , F . W . Booth , George Glover Atkinson , ancl J . R . Riley .

Comp . Booth had been exalted in Charity Chapter , 302 , and now joined Moravia . The last meeting of the Chapter prior to resuscitation was on March 26 th , 1862 , so that after being dead eleven years a little special mystery might have been expected . On April 24 th , 1872 , still carrying out the retrenchment policy , four members in arrears of subscriptions were erased from the list , and on the 24 th July the annual subscription was raised to two guineas . In

September this year a goodly sum was subscribed towards the De Grey Scholarshi ps . In 1872 the Falcon Lodge , No . 1416 , Thirsk , was constituted . The 15 th January , 1873 , was in many respects an important meeting , and the culmination of a feud and distrust dating from the election of Master in 1869 . It was the " black-letter " clay of our lodge , and for a time the prospects of Airedale Lodge were loomy indeed .

g In marked contrast to other " business , " on the same evening , our late worthy Bro . H . J . Wardman ( then S . W . ) , presented the lodge with a fine harmonium . We were supposed to possess one of these instruments , until after several years ' use it was suddenly removed b y the donor ! To supply the loss thus sustained , Bro . Wardman purchased and presented the hai-monium now in the lodge room . On June 11 ththis yearfive more members were erased " in arrears" and on

, , ; November 5 th Bro . F . W . W . Booth , P . M ., was for the first time elected charit y member . Bro . Henry Smith , P . M :, held the office from 1857 to 1869 , and Bro . S . S . Blakey from 1870 to 1873 , inclusive . In this year the Wharncliffe Lodge , Penistone , 1462 , was founded . Two more defaulting members were erased , January 15 th , 1874 ; and on