Chapter Eleven, Centenary

The next major evet looming on the horizon was the celebration of the Lodge centenary, but first the Lodge organ had to be repaired and so a renovation fund was formed to which the widow of the late Bro. Atkins of Royal Lancashire Lodge, and the original donor, made a contribution.

The organ, a unique feature of the Lodge, had to be tunefully ready for the grand occasion. A levy of one guinea on each member was levied to help meet to costs of the day of celebration which took place on the 24th August 1931.

The Lodge was honoured by the attendance of the Provincial Grand Master, RW.Bro. The Earl of Harewood, Deputy and Assistant Provincial Grandmasters, Provincial Secretary and 90 Brethren (how did we packed them all in!). On being received by the Lodge the Provincial Grand Master thanked the Lodge and continued “The history of your Lodge which I have had the pleasure of looking through seems to me to be one of the most instructive it is possible to have in the history of a Masonic Lodge, its real origin being much more than 100 years ago – 1792 dates it during a period which was a period of very great Masonic activity, a period during which the Napoleonic wars were about to begin. A period which was one of great stress and which in the past almost invariably being a period where the mind of man has turned to Masonry in order to find some relief from the normal sufferings of the mind on such occasions. During the early period of its history interest seems to have flourished considerably but it was not long afterwards that interest seems to have flagged slightly in the activities of Freemasonry.”

He congratulated the Lodge on accepting the year 1831 as being the year of origin and presented the Centenary Warrant and Jewels to the Lodge Brethren .. The Master of Faith Hope & Charity Lodge presented a photo copy of the old Lodge Warrant, The Master and two Wardens of the Lodge presented new Tracing Boards and Shirley Lodge presented a carpet for the ante-room. And so to the Festive Board and harmony- a day never to be forgotton by those present. A page of Masonic history turned and the Brethren looked forward with confidence to the future of Freemasonry in Haworth.

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