Lodge Of The Three Graces No.408, Haworth

Chapter Six, Hard Lives and Charity

Reading through Lodge Minutes seldom reveals any personal details concerning the Brethren. Who were these Brethren, What were their occupations, where did they live and indeed under what conditions did they live, work and enjoy their Freemasonry.

More by luck then management we still have some copy documents disclosing some information regarding the Brethren about this time and of course there are public records about Haworth and the kind of village it was. Whilst we might consider the the Lodge would recruit its members from the local male population, such was not the case. Indeed in the middle of the 18th century the estimated population was in the region of 3000, not a sound base for recruitment. A copy Return to the Province in 1868 declares a membership of 21 of whom 4 resided in Haworth, 4 in Oxenhope, 3 in Bradford, 3 in Keighley, 5 in Halifax, 1 in Greenock (Scotland) and 1 in Liverpool. The occupations of the last two being declared as Agents, so we presume the addresses given were for business and not personal residence. As one might expect the majority of occupations reflect textiles, e.g. woolcomber, woolsorter, wool stapler, worsted spinner, commission weaver, spindle maker, machine maker and to make up the numbers we have a tailor, butcher, plumber, tin plate maker, gravestone cutter, architect and one pensioner. Quite different to the diverse occupations of present day Brethren.

No doubt Brethren would be aware of national events, it was a period of British expansion and influence throughout the world. Of more importance to the people who either lived in or visited Haworth were the terrible insanitary living conditions. In April 1849 the villagers sent a petition to the General Board of Health in London requesting that a Superintending Inspector should visit the Chapelry of Haworth to enquire into the insufficient and impure water supply which it was believed contributed to ill health and low life expectancy. Mr.B.H.Babbage attended in 1850 and his investigation covered a period of three days. Haworth was described as “a very unhealthy place”, the death rate figures being similar to three of the unhealthiest Districts of London.

An absence or toilets or “privies” e.g. seven houses in Main Street in front of Newall Hill (later Lodge Street), where the Lodge rented its” Private Rooms”, did not have a privy. Average life expectancy was 25.8 years. Woefully inadequate water supply there being only 11 pumps (two of which did not work) and seven wells. The Babbage report, we have no doubt, would be the main concern not only of the Villagers but also the Brethren.
On a more cheerful note, after initial proposals put forward in 1861 the railway line from Keighley to Oxenhope was opened in April 1867, the temporary secretary for the new Railway Company being Joseph Redman, Parish Clerk, a member of the Lodge and one of the proposers of Branwell Bronte into the Lodge. However whatever the circumstances either nationally or locally, whether the times were good or bad, in a modest way, the Lodge continued to prosper, as we shall see in a later period of our History.

The Lodge’s third Minute book commences in the year 1870 , it was a quiet year there being no additions to our membership and only seven meetings held without any explanation being recorded. An alms payment of £1 was given to the widow of a deceased Brother out of Lodge funds, a reasonable sum in the context of prevailing living conditions when a labourer might earn 5d. per hour and an engineer receive 7/6d per week, generally there was job insecurity and distressing times for work people.

The Lodge submitted a petition to the Lodge of Benevolence in 1879 and was awarded the sum of £40. which was invested with Haworth Pence Savings Bank . From this sum 8 shillings per week was paid to a Bro Whitham for “as long as principal and interest should last”.

Around this period there were numerous requests from Brethren and Widows for financial assistance to alleviate their distress. Petitions made to Province and payments made out of Lodge funds but not everyone was satisfied. In 1880 a widow and daughter sought relief and received £2. plus £ 1: 11 :6d being a collection from the Brethren. A year later a further request was made but was refused. In 1882 this widow made a further request for assistance and was visited by the WM and some Brethren but again the request was refused but no reasons reorded. In 1883 the then Rector of Haworth, Rev John Wade, wrote to the Lodge about this widows “straightened circumstances” and that the shop which she and her daughter had did not pay its way. The Rev Wade writes “as the Order of Freemasonry is so distinguished for looking after its poor, I hope you will be so kind as to bring this case before the Lodge”. But the reply was the same “not able to assist”. Having failed through the Church, this Widow applied to Province, quoting an instance where another widow received 14 shillings per week (such a regular payment could not have come from Lodge funds) and whose children were all doing well and owned property. Province made enquiries but no action was taken. One can only assume that the Brethren, with their local knowledge, had more information concerning this widow which they did not wish to record.

The Brethren were not hard hearted men and gave grants when funds permitted, what is obvious they were not going to be browbeaten by this widow or the Rector and not even the Province! In 1884 a letter was received from Bro. Joseph Whitham thanking the Lodge for past help and stating “I am getting unable to follow any work as I am nearly 79, I cannot get much work as I used to do not even to get myself sufficient food”. With limited funds the Lodge had to be selective. How times have changed !

So much for some of the charitable aspects of the Lodge around this time. Having moved into the “Private Rooms” the Brethren were intent on improving lodge facilities. The Minutes record that £1 was drawn from Lodge funds towards the purchase of a new harmonium the balance being provided by private subscriptions from the Brethren. ‘

One of the early photos of the Lodge room shows the harmonium which was in use until around 1930 when it was replaced by our present organ. Further improvements and additions were made, e.g. the “three lesser lights” were now illuminated by gas by means of a gasolier.In 1888 Bro. William Woodiwiss of Cullingworth provided the Rough and Perfect Ashlars,both still in use. An inventory made about this time listed (inter alia) pedestals,candlesticks,one pair of twelve inch globes,terrestial and celestial (symbolising Masonry universal),various domestic items and “eleven spitting boxes”, a clear indication of the custom generally practised by our Brethren of yesteryear.