Chapter Eight, New Rooms

Over the next twenty years we see progress of Freemasonry in Haworth and more particlarly in the Lodge.

But first and foremost it was the hope of the Brethren that the Lodge would be able to celebrate its Centenary in 1892. However the resulting correspondence with Grand Lodge was to of no avail. It was resolved to retain the correspondence in the Minute Book but over the passage of time the letters have been lost. One can only surmise the reason was that as the Lodge warrant was withdrawn in 1822 and although the Brethren met on a fairly regular basis, the meetings were irregular and Grand Lodge would only recognise the existence of the Lodge as from 1831, the date of the new Warrant.

So such celebrations would have to be deferred and enjoyed by a later generation of Brethren.

Masonry was however extending for in 1900 a Mark Lodge was formed comprising mainly Brethren from the Lodge and in 1892 both the Chapter and Knights Templar degrees were revived. The minutes record these new Degrees were accommodated in the Lodge rooms, an additional building having been rented. £15 was “lent” in order to help establish the Chapter and K.T.

No mention is made in respect of the Mark Lodge, but no doubt it would receive assistance if required. (More details regarding these three Degrees are to be found under their respective headings above)

A major innovation occured during the latter part of the 19th century, namely socials. Hardly earth shattering, but it does show that Masonry was gradually becomming less exclusive. In 1891 the Lodge held a social event for “wives and sweethearts” being a picnic at Harbour Lodge on Haworth Moor. There is no record of how the Brethren and their Ladies travelled, probably on foot, after all 2/3 miles over rough ground was no problem to our Worth forebears, even hampered as they were by the restricting limitations of Victorian dress. There are references also to a trip to Patterdale and the Lodge has a photograph of the Brethren and their ladies at Ingleton. A trip to Kirkby Lonsdale is of special interest to the Lodge because of the Lodge’s association with Underley Lodge situate at Kirkby Lonsdale since 1880. The Lodge celebrated a century of inter visiting with Underley in 1990.

These modest social events were the forerunner of socials now held on a frequent basis. However there were financial limitations and an invitation to attend a “Masonic Ball” in full regalia at Barnsley in 1892 at a cost of 15/- for Gents and 10/6d for Ladies was not taken up!

The interests of the Lodge were not confined to Haworth, in 1890 10/6d was paid to Peterborough Cathedral towards the costs of a Masonic memorial. In 1893 the sum of four guineas was donated towards a Masonic purse “to be placed on the Foundation Stone of the new Halifax Infirmary in the name of the Lodge”. A deputation attended together with Halifax Brethren.

At the invitation of Prince Frederick Lodge of Hebden Bridge the Brethren along with others from the area “with full Masonic clothing with jewels formed a line of procession and went to Heptonstall Church where a Masonic Window was unveiled with much pomp and ceremony and fully recorded in all the local newspapers”. Prince Frederick Lodge used to meet at Heptonstall and had close connections with the Parish Church. In 1998 the centenary of that event was celebrated at Heptonstall and by invitation some of our Brethren attended.

The minutes of 1900 are for the main part fairly routine, candidates being admitted throughout the year. An instance of the Lodge’s interest in the community is exemplified by an entry that 4 Brethren represent the Lodge on the Gala Committee for the Nurses Fund and that the Lodge subscribe one guinea to the fund. In July a donation of one guinea was made to the South African Fund (no doubt In connection with the Boer War) The final minutes of the year read “Dec 31, This being the last day of the 19th century the Brethren remained in the Lodge to welcome in the new one which was done in a hearty manner”.

In writing up the minutes the Secretary has mixed up the centuries, perhaps the celebration was carried out in a too hearty manner!

The Lodge was still in rented premises at Newall Hill (now called Lodge Street) no more than 100 yards away from the Parish Church, so doubtless a peal of bells would herald in the New Year which hopefully would secure continuing security, more trade, prosperity and peace. The changes and disasters of the 20th century could not be envisaged.

The first change came with the end of the Victorian era. The death of Queen Victoria is recorded on the 22nd January 1901 and the sympathy and condolences to “our Grand Master and the rest of the Royal Family in the late lamented death of Her Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria” The Grand Master, of course, being King Edward VII the former Prince of Wales who on accesion to the Throne resigned the office of Grand Master and adopted the title of ” Protector of the Craft”.

So the Lodge continued into the first decade of the new Century making improvements to the Rooms, thanks are recorded to Bro. Hodgson of Bradford for his gift of electric light.
There was no shortage of visitors, the railway providing easier travel and it is recorded in the minutes “that we use our influence with the Midland Railway Co. to alter the train services on the Worth Valley Line”.

We know not whether the Lodge was sufficiently influential but it does illustrate how local issues were conducted on a local basis. How times have changed!
In the July meeting of 1906 a paper was read “on the career of the Lodge it being the centenary of existence at Haworth”.

Because of the increased user of the Rooms not only by the Lodge but also by the Chapter and K. T and now by the Mark Lodge which was formed in 1900 it became apparent that the facilities were inadequate. “Cribbed, cabined and confined” was not the sole reason, for Bro Feather in his History of the Lodge writes “the rooms situated as they were at the top of a very steep hill severely tried the stamina and powers of endurance of the older and more corpulent Brethren”. No amount of building improvement could answer that problem!

In a 1906 meeting of the Mark Lodge a Brother offered £100 towards the cost of a new building providing it was situated near to the Railway Station. So in Jan 1907 a committee was formed for a new Lodge building and directed “to proceed at once, to select a site, prepare plans and get the work done”.

A site was selected at Ebor Lane Top (the present site) trial tests made, plans approved and in May 1907 the land purchased for the sum of £85-5-0d. and the first sod lifted two days thereafter.
So confident were the Brethren that the works would proceed without delay that notice was given in May to the Landlord that the Lodge would cease to occupy the rented rooms on Nov 13th 1907.

The main builders were a firm in Oxenhope but from the receipts still available, various trades were employed by Brethren on an ad hoc basis.
The total cost was in the region of £ 1000 and was funded by a building fund to which 42 Brethren subscribed, a private loan and Building Society mortgage.

According to the records all indebtedness was cleared with 12 years. There is scarcely any reference in the Minutes to the new building except thanks were recorded in September to Mr.James Redman, the Haworth V.D.C surveyor,for executing the ornamental masonic carving on the front of the Building. To-day seldom noticed by passers-by and indeed many Brethren.

Sub-Pages