History Of The Airedale Lodge, No. 387.

February 4 th , 1874 , the Secretary presented to the lodge a large tracing board of the First Degree , which he explained on several subsequent occasions . Two handsome stands for the globes were , at the next meeting ( March 4 th , 1874 ) , presented by Bro . Samuel Jackson , W . M . The finances of the lodge continued a source of anxiety to the more interested members , and on the 29 th April , 1874 , Bro . John Morrell gave notice

of a proposition to levy £ 1 each " on every member without distinction , " for the purpose of clearing off the Furnishing Fund of 1868 . " At the same time Bro . P . M . Thomas Denby ' s proposition to raise the initiation fee to ten guineas was negatived , ancl Bro . Morrell ' s amendment ( seven guineas ) substituted and passed . Bro . Morrell also proposed that the joining fee be raised from two to three guineas , which was passed .

Bro . Morrell's proposed levy was passed in open lodge , June 3 rd , 1874 , and the project of building new rooms was first discussed as a practical scheme . The first effect of the levy was , unfortunately , to cause dissatisfaction to our oldest member and first Master , Bro . Wainman Holmes , who wrote to me on the subject ; and , in accordance with his instructions , it ultimatel y became my disagreeable duty to propose that his resignation be accejjted . On the 1 st Jul

y , 1874 , Bro . Thomas Murgatroyd , P . M ., moved , seconded by Bro . Samuel Jackson , P . M ., " that this loclge expresses its thanks to Bro . Wainman Holmes for his past services and usefulness during upwards of forty years , and accepts his resignation with sincere regret . " By the 26 th August the meetings and discussions had fairly settled down into a project of " enlarging " the loclge premisesthe former idea of building a

, new hall being entirety abandoned . A very acceptable and thoughtful gift of crimson table cloths was made by the retiring W . Master , Bro . Chas Roebuck , on 30 th December , 1874 . In this year the Alexandra Loclge , Hornsea , No . 1511 ; Friendly , Barnsley , No . 1513 , Thornhill , Lindley , No . 1514 ; and Olicana , llkley , No . 152-2 , were founded .

In January , 1875 , the loclge lost two worthy members—Bros . Wardman and Delves , the former after a long and painful illness . Letters of condolence with Mrs . Wardman and the family of Bro . Delves were duly passed by the brethren and forwarded by the Secretary . On the 24 th Jul y four more erasures were made for arrears . Legiolium Lodge , Castleford , No . 1542 , and Baildon Loclge , No . 1545 , Baildon , were constituted ; and in 1876 the De La

Pole Loclge , Hull , No . 1605 ; Colne Valley Lodge , Staithwaite , No . 1645 ; Eboracum Loclge , York , 1611 ; and the Prince of Wales Lodge , No . 1648 , Bradford . On the 25 th May , 1876 , nine brethren attended our lodge as promoters of a new lodge to be called the Prince of Wales Loclge , to be held at Bradford , and these signed in open lodge the declaration and petition required by the Book of Constitutions . The same eveningBro . Charles Marchbank

, having generously promised a useful piece of furniture ; in return , it was unanimously carried that the old furniture formerly used in the lodge at Baildon should be presented to him . July , August , and September were chiefl y occupied with my notices for the revision of certain bj ^ e-laws ancl the renewed proposition of Bro . Thomas Denby , P . M ., to raise the initiation fee to ten guineas ; the latter , however , Bro . Denby withdrew , after an unfavourable report

upon it by the Lodge Committee . The amended , bye-laws were all passed , 6 th September , 1876 . Having prepared a complete list of the members of Airedale Lodge from its foundation , shewing the date of initiation , passing , raising or joining , Bro . Chas . Honroyd , P . M ., most kindly volunteered to have it framed for the lodge room . On 4 th October , 1876 , he presented it on his and my behalf . On the

same evening Bro . Marchbank presented a most useful gift of a sideboard for the kitchen , which had long been needed . ( To le continued . )