Lodge Of The Three Graces No.408, Haworth

Chapter Ten, Expansion

The first notable event in the next period of the Lodge history is the establishment of new Lodge in Barnoldswick. Since the reopening of the Mark Lodge in Haworth in 1900,Brethren from Barnoldswick (known locally as “Barlick”) have formed part of its membership. At one of these meetings the formation of a Craft Lodge at Barnoldswick was discussed and the project matured with the help of Brethren from Haworth and Skipton. During the summer of 1920 the second Faith Hope and Charity Lodge was formed and consecrated at the Old Seven Stars Inn. To mark the occasion the old Lodge Warrant dated 1792 (which was not returned to Grand Lodge in 1822 as requested when that Lodge was erased from the Rolls) was presented to the new Lodge, thus the Warrant was returned the Barlick after an exile of 125 years ! ( Readers will recall that the Lodge moved from Barlick to Haworth in 1806)

It has always been the practice for the Lodge to support non Masonic charitable appeals, finances permitting and without publicity. In 1925 the Lodge paid for a new Sterilising Plant at the Keighley Victoria Hospital (now demolished) at a cost of £150 to commemorate Bro.Robert Calverley being elected Mayor of Keighley.

In December 1925 the Lodge purchased an additional plot of land, 168 square years at a costs of £33-12-0d situated at the side of the Lodge building.

Around this time the Brethren were made forcibly aware that ownership of Lodge buildings brought, at times, heavy responsibilities for in 1927 there were signs that the structure was giving way. The building was built on ground sloping towards a small stream flowing down the Worth Valley. The cause was said to be due to heavy road traffic so permission was granted by Haworth U.D.C for the rear gable wall to be buttressed at a cost of £530, for which a Building Society Mortgage of £500 was obtained (and not repaid until June 1962 !). Such are the privileges of ownership?! Because of the ever increasing road traffic the County Council determined that the main road in front of the Lodge premises should be widened and 55 square yards was acquired by the Council. As a consequence the windows in the front façade and in the East were blocked up by the Council who also strengthened the front basement wall by the addition of buttressing.

In 1927 a request was made to the Lodge for the formation of a new craft Lodge at Haworth. The membership growth in the Lodge in the years following the erection of the new Masonic Hall had, in the opinion of the majority of he Brethren, made it necessary for steps to be taken to form another Lodge so that the advancement of Brethren into office might not be unduly retarded. So a petition bearing the names of 10 Pastmasters and 13 Master Masons was sent to Provincial Grand Lodge. The name of “Shirley” was chosen ( readers of the Bronte novels will make the connection) and the new Lodge number 4978 was consecrated in June 1928, meeting at the Lodge premises until 1984 when Shirley Lodge moved to Bingley.

1927 saw another addition to our family when Facula Lodge 4825 in Halifax was consecrated, being the daughter of St. Johns Lodge 1726 our second daughter Lodge. Exchange visits with all our daughter and grand daughter Lodges continue to this day and long may this fraternal visiting continue.