Chapter Three, ‘trouble at’t mill’

We have traced the history of the Lodge up to the period around 1813. The next period of 18 years is no less troublesome and is doubtless an example of the many trials and tribulations beset by many Lodges, outside events, the amalgamation of the two Grand Lodges. Change in ritual, lack of members, Expense. Freemasons in this period did not have an easy time and a strong character and wielding resolve was needed to maintain a Lodge. Three Graces was no different.

As we know there were gigantic upheavals in Europe during the early part of the 19th century which directly affected this country politically and in trade, yet the only reference in the Lodge minutes to these momentous times is a minute of April 1814 which reads “the elumination for Boneyparte liberating the thrones of France and Ittley”.

However in the Lodge archives there is other evidence of the Napoleonic wars, namely an Appeal from The Committee at Lloyds for the Relief of British Prisoners in France. Assistance on the part of the Government was prohibited in France but “charitable succours from voluntary contributions” were permitted. A monetary standard of relief is set out covering men, women and children e.g. 2 sous per day then equal to one penny to all Prisoners in distress. At that time there were upwards of 10000 British prisoners and to maintain the required relief a sum of £20000 or £25000 was needed annually including the loss from the present unfavourable rate of exchange. No doubt The Lodge would make what contribution it could but it would be small having regard tp its meagre finances.

Despite attendance and other problems in July 1814 it was agreed to hold a procession in August “dinner to be taken out of box” (i.e.where the Lodge funds were deposited) and invitations to attend were sent to Lodges in Keighley, Bingley, Steeton, Heptonstall, Sandbeds, Colne and Burnley. The Minutes of a Lodge of Emergency held on the 22nd record Brethren from Colne, Keighley, Steeton, Bingley, Bradford, Heptonstall and Bottoms attended “when a procession was carried through the Town and a Dinner provided in our club room”. One can imagine that such a procession of Brethren in Regalia would be a colourful and impressive display and no doubt impressed the local onlookers, unless the typical Yorkshire comment was “Ab mak nowt on it”! Who knows.

The Act of Union required major changes to be made by each Lodge, and it had been agreed to send three Brethren fom the local Lodges to London the receive “the new constructions of masonry to save expense and give it to the rest of the Brethren”.
Again reference is made in 1815 regarding an attendance in London to receive the new lectures. Such a visit would appear not to have taken place as in April 1815 it was agreed that John Barraclough and John Ogden should go to Halifax every Friday night to receive the new instructions. In fact it was the Lodge of Probity who sent Brethren to London to attend the Lodge of Reconciliation and afterwards held Lodges of Promulgation at which local Lodges, including Three Graces, attended having contributed four guineas towards Probity’s London expenses.

However all was not well within the Lodge in that no Returns of Members had been made to Grand Lodge in London since 1808 and no dues paid since July 1817. Correspondence between the Lodge Secretary and Grand Lodge ensued and in November 1822 the Grand Secretary writes in response to a letter from the Lodge Secretary, no doubt by way of mitigation, “It will be unavailing to say because the Lodge is composed of poor working people that the just dues to the Grand Lodge are to be with held for it must be admitted that unless their members paid the proper fees upon being initiated or joining your Lodge they could not be regularly acknowledged as such and therefore unless their necessary duty be complied with it will be incumbent on us to report the same to the M.W Grand Lodge in order to receive their further instructions on the business”.
Arrears were requested or else return the Warrant!
There appears to be no further correspondence with Grand Lodge until June 1831. The Warrant was not returned and the Lodge continued to meet at irregular intervals. The recorded Minutes make no reference to the erasure.

There were a number of Brethren who were determined to maintain the Lodge and in June 1831 an enquiry was made to Grand Lodge whether the Lodge could be reinstated. The response was that this was impossible except with a new Number at the bottom of the list and then could only be done by a Petition to the Grand Master and recommended by the Provincial Grand Master and upon payment of fees for a new Lodge.
In June it was proposed by Robert Pickles and John Brown that a new Warranrt be applied for and that Five guineas for the Warrant and all incidental expenses be paid out of the surplus of the Lodge and every member pays his registration fee and Grand Lodge Certificate. And so a new Warrant was issued on 24th August 1831. which is now displayed in the Lodge room in its original frame which cost the princely sum of £1:7s:6d.

It must be acknowledged that over a period of 10 years the Lodge had major problems, irregular attendances by Brethren, Iack of funds and inefficient administration. To quote Bro W.Feather in his Centenary History of the Lodge “It is easy to be wise after the event. We can see how mistakes have occured. Our forefathers in Masonry undoubtedly made many serious tactical and strategical errors in the carrying on of their work, but the root of the matter was in them, and because of this fundamental vitality, the Lodge has survived and has remained throughout the years a living organism in a world wide Order, whose activities encompass the whole of the habitable globe. They lived, they laboured,they died,

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