Lodge Of The Three Graces No.408, Haworth

Chapter Nine, War Years

On th 27th November 1907, the last Meeting of the Lodge was held in the “Private Rooms” in Lodge Street and the first meeting in the new building was held, by dispensation, on Saturday the 14th December 1907 and the Deputy Provincial Grand Master and several Provincial Grand Officers were present, about 60 Brethren attended and the cost of the meal was between £15 – £16.

For the first occasion the Lodge was able to hold its Festive Board on Lodge premises. No doubt the Brethren felt justifiably proud of their new premises, of what they had achieved by collective effort and how the Lodge had progressed from strength to strength, as it had.
From a humble beginning in Bamoldswick in 1792, an unusual transfer to Haworth in 1806, meeting at first at the Black Bull, later in the Private Rooms, withdrawal of the Lodge Warrant, by determination of the Brethren issue of a new Warrant in 1831, formation of the Chapter, K. T. and Mark and now the proud owner of its own premises.

The first regular meeting in the new Lodge premises was held on the 13th Jan 1908 when it was proposed by Bro.J.W.Hartley (Treasurer) seconded by Bro. Bradley PM supported by Bro.Driver IPM. “that the Lodge express its thanks to Bro.Atkinson (now present) for his generosity in presenting to us the organ to which he suitably responded and said we were heartily welcome”.
Bro. Atkinson was a member of Royal Lancashire Lodge in Colne (later he became a joining member of the Lodge).

There are accounts amongst the Lodge papers for the delivery of the organ from Barrowford to Bradford and from Driver & Haigh, Organ builders in Bradford, to Haworth. This organ was built into the structure of the Lodge room and is a unique feature, still in regular use (though a trial to some organists!) and is probably the only one of this type in the Province.

The area of land bought from Merrall & Sons Ltd was 310 square yards and cost £85:5:0 and and was conveyed to three Brethren as joint tenants, no mention of holding the property on behalf of the Lodge. However this was rectified in 1908 by a Trust Deed conveying the property, the land and building, to 28 Trustees. The Deed stipulated that the premises were to be solely used for the purposes of Freemasonry and sanctioned by Grand Lodge.
It is interesting to note from time to time the occupations of the Brethren. Unfortunately these are not always available but the 1908 Deed discloses the occupations of all the parties thereto and comprise an Engineer, two Schoolmasters, a Stone Merchant, an Organ Builder, a Cashier, a Worsted Spinner, five Machine Makers, a Baker, a Toolmaker, a Draughtsman, a Tobacconist, a Printer, a Tailor, a Brassfounder, a Butcher, a Contractor, a Licensed Victualler, a Patent Agent, A Currier, a Coal Merchant, a Professor of Music and a Commission Agent. Quite a varied cross section of society.

During this early period in the new premises many items of furniture were donated to the Lodge by the Brethren, the two Davenports for use by the Secretary and the Treasurer, the Master’s Chair, the three Pillars of Wisdom denoted by the three principal orders of architecture (Doric,Ionic and Corinthian), the lectern and the square and compasses. And for the first time the Lodge received a banner depicting the Three Graces, Faith, Hope and Charity (replaced in 1960).

During the next ten years or so, scarcely a meeting passed without a ceremony of initiation etc. Indeed during the period 1899 – 1919 some 78 members were introduced into the Lodge which shows that a keen interest in Freemasonry existed, even during the war years 1914- 1918 the regular admission of new Members remained unabated ..

In 1907 the annual sub was two guineas, later increased to three guineas until 1947 when ( no doubt after much deliberation !) it was raised to five guineas and so remained until 1953.

The Minutes continue in a now established pattern only infrequently broken by an item of national interest. King Edward VII’s death was noted in May 1910 when the Lodge went into mourning for a period of six months and in June 1911 it was proposed to send two guineas to Provincial Grand Lodge for the “Coronation Festivities”. It was also resolved to erect a flagstaff to the building and a Brother volunteered to find “the Flag”. Like many resolutions in this life, it came to nought, which is perhaps just as well, for whose job would it be to raise and lower “the Flag” and when ?! A report was made on Haworth’s Coronation Festivities in which doubtless some of the Brethren participated. Happy times but all was to change.

In August 1914 the Minutes record that “the Secretary read a telegram from Buckingham Palace re ‘the Prince of Wales War Distress Fund’ asking for a subscription, the Lodge having no money in hand it was resolved to make a subscription in the Lodge. How much was collected is not disclosed .. And so masonically speaking life continued as normal despite obvious difficulties which affected everyday life.

Various appeals were made and responded to. In 1915 there was an appeal from Haworth V.D.C for support to the Belgium Relief Fund. In November 1914 Bro.Buckley was made an Honorary Member as he was going to the Front(ominous words in those days) later in April 1916 congratulations were sent to S/Major Buckley on being awarded the D.C.M.. In 1915 the Lodge presented an illuminated address and a purse of gold to W.Bro.F.W.Tumer as a mark of respect from the Brethren on the occasion of his Golden Wedding and as appreciation of his being Secretary extending over a period of35 years. Some record to beat!

During the War,as could be expected, feelings towards the Germans were bitter and this perhaps shown when a request made by Bro Schmidt in January 1916 for some assistance was refused. He had resigned from the Lodge in March 1914, reasons unknown, but he had donated the Davenport used by the Secretary in 1908. The Lodge reply was that in the present circumstances it was not in a position to do anything for him, yet at the same meeting the Lodge gave £5 to the Widow of a deceased Brother and stated the matter would be considered further. One can only speculate on the reasons for the refusal, maybe there were good reasons or perhaps it was the name, for even the King changed his Family surname. It is a fact that Grand Lodge issued an edict that all Brethren of German, Austrian, Hungarian or Turkish birth should not attend any Lodge.

Some indication of how the War was affecting everyday life, by virtue of food rationing, is shown by a resolution passed in February 1918 that “For the duration of the War or a return of better times, we neither accept nor issue invitations to neighbouring Lodges”. This follows a letter from Grand Lodge to economise in the matter of food and an Appeal for English Freemasons interned in Enemy countries. Why is not disclosed but after much discussion a Moira Apron was presented to our daughter Lodge, St.Johns Lodge, at Halifax. The Lodge now has a mutilated paper copy of the Moira Apron which was found in the cellar some years ago. Although in poor condition, it was framed and is now displayed in the Lodge.

In July 1919 it was resolved to discharge the Lodge Mortgage of £300. To make this possible eight Brethren each advanced £25, interest at @ 5%. A subsequent proposal that these loans be free of interest was lost!.

In the October following a jewel belonging W.Bro Wm.Wright, who was initiated into the Lodge at the first meeting at the Black Bull on 7th July 1806,was presented to the Lodge by W.Bro.Wm.Spencer who had obtained it from W.Bro. W.H.Atkinson who in turn had obtained it from Bro.Jas.Hartley of Colne. W.Bro. Wright was Master of the Lodge in 1818 and the the jewel is engraved “W.Wright Three Graces No.506″. More about this jewel or medallion later, when we get towards the end of the 20th century!.

And so at the completion of the Lodge’s third Minute book, the final entry is of Scroll night in November 1919. Covering a period of ten years or so the Lodge has undoubtably progressed, notwithstanding the turbulent times through which the Lodge and our Country passed, times the like of which no one had previously experienced.