Stephen Paslaw

The early history of Freemasonry in Haworth cannot be recorded without reference to the above named. Details of his personal life, where he came from, where he went to, are not known but what is recorded is colourful, to say the least.

In the Royal Yorkshire Centenary Book written by W.Bro.Riley reference is made to Stephen Paslaw when, in 1793, he was was proposed in September and passed in October, and possibly raised in another Lodge. It would appear he passed the Chair in order to qualify for Judea Chapter which was attached to Royal Yorkshire. (Until relatively recently only Past Masters could join the Royal Arch).

There appears to be no reference to him afterwards except he is described as being “an active Mason and a notorious Brother of the Haworth Lodge”

Stephen Paslaw next appears on the Masonic scene in 1795 on the formation of Prince George Lodge No.308 of which he was a Founder Member and the first W.M. and which met at the White Lion Inn in Haworth. He was by occupation the Parish Clerk of Haworth and would, we presume, be regarded as a person of good repute and education and a person having every prospect of Masonic advancement.

However in September 1805 a Lodge of Emergency was called when “Stephen Paslaw’s conduct towards this Lodge was the topic of conversation it was also agreed that three different Lodges would be requested to examine the same.”
It is an indication of how serious the members considered this matter to be by the fact that only three days later on the 15th September a further Lodge of Emergency was called to consider “the propriety or impropriety of Bro.Stephen Paslaw towards this Lodge”.

It was no mean achievement, in those days when travel was difficult, to hold so quickly a meeting when 11 Brethren from the Lodge of Harmony at Halifax, 7 Brethren from Royal Yorkshire Lodge at Keighley and 2 Brethren from Hope Lodge in Bradford were present together with 29 Brethren from Prince George Lodge.
Various charges concerning misdemeanours and masonic irregularities were read out and recorded, but Bro.Paslaw was not present to answer these charges.

It was apparently intended to form a Knights Templar Degree and a petition naming John Barraclough as Principal was to be sent to the Grand Recorder in London but it was alleged that Stephen Paslaw substituted his own name for that of John Barraclough. There were other alleged irregularities and Bro Paslaw was expelled.

Troublesome events which Freemasonry or indeed any organisation can well do without. Minor differences between Brethren can always occur and the majority are happily settled but this was a case of one Brother against his Lodge and no doubt a deep impression was left on the minds of the Brethren.

However, according to the late W.Bro W.Feather of Three Graces Lodge, the case against Paslaw was eventually dismissed by Provincial Grand Lodge at York in December 1805. We shall never know the true facts but quite obviously W.Bro Paslaw knew his rights and how to exercise them and had every intention of staying in Freemasonry.

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