Lodge Histories

badge of the office. He had, however, previously signed LODGE HISTORIES. an agreement in which he declared on his honour that, if elected , he would not communicate any of the proceedings of the Lodge to any one not a member, without orders THE LODGE OF PROBITY, No. 61. from tho Master ; that ho would punctually obey tho (Continued from page 290). orders of the Master, ancl fulfil his duty to tho Lodgo to the best of his power. have now to record the working of the Lod of WE go On the 1st October 1816 occurs an important minute, to Promulgation referred to in our last summary. the effect that " owing to tho great increase of Lodges in Tho minutes being considered as of great interest, and the Province, and for tho better working of the same, it perhaps worthy of special reference by other Lodges, tho was advisable that the Province should be divided. " This whole aro reproduced in tho History before us, It appears we presume, may be regarded as the first step towards tho tho Royal Yorkshiro Lodge, No. 503, Keighley, having sent division of the Province, which followed the presentation an invitation to tho Lodge of Probity, the members wont to of this petition. This is regarded by the historian of tho Keighley, and there formed the Lod ge of Promulgation , Probity Lodge—and justly so—as a most important event being met by members of the Philanthropic, No. 540 ; in the career of his Lodge, and he accordingly devotes a Three Graces, No. 541 ; Amity, No. 280 ; and a Bingley special chapter to the subject , which we shall deal with Lodge, in addition to those who had sent the invitation . in due course. " Tho day was spent in the most agreeable and proper About this time it was found necessary to order tho manner, ancl the whole departed to their own homes much Tyler to " refuse admission to any member whom ho gratified." The Lodge being opened in due and proper perceived to be intoxicated," also to exclude any member form , tho Officars and Brethren of the Royal Yorkshire not clean and decently clad with a white neck-cloth and in wero proposed to bo obligated according to tbe Articles of proper clothing," while in regard to visitors none were to Union. They were unanimously accepted and accordingly be admitted who had " not proper clothing according to obligated in the first degree, after which similar propositions the regulations of the Craft," it being expressly ordered and obligations took place in regard to the other Lodges that no visitor be admitted " with a color'd neck-cloth." represented. Resolutions were agreed to in regard to pay- The fee for visiting was Is 6d. ment of the expenses, and the various Lodges receiving the On 6th March 1817 an address was voted to H.R.H. degrees were restricted in regard to communication of the Prince Regent, congratulating him on his escape from them to others. Subsequent minutes of this Lodge of Pro- the late daring attempt to assassinate him, and it was mulgation relate to the second and third degrees, tho lec- recommended the address should be presented to H.R.H. tures and so forth. On the 28th A pril 1815 , a meeting was by Bro . Lord George Bcresford , who was ono of those held at Halifax, for the purpose of admitting members of initiated in the Lodge of Probity. The address was hibious Lod tho Amp ge, of that town , and they paid their regularly presented and properly acknowledged, and , as £4 4s according ly. Next day the Lodge of Promul gation Bro. Cross!ey puts it, affords another pre of of tho loyalty met at Rossendale, Tranquillity and Silent Temple Lodges and attachment the brethren of that time had for the joining the combination , and contributing the agreed sum. Throne and the rulers of the Craft an attachment which Altogether , , sixteen Lodges of tho neighbourhood received it is hoped will always exist. the new rules and regulations throug h the Lodge of Pro- The accounts of the Chapter of Sincerity and the Craf t mulgation started b the Lodge of Probit y y, the brethren of Lodge appear to have been kept together at this time and which latter bod seems to havo been most , y assiduous in the proceedings of the former are frequently referred to in their exertions to give the necessary instructions. The the records of the latter. The Chapter received its reading of .these minutes is very interesting at the present charter from Grand Chapter in 1818 , tho number being time, and gives us a far greater insight into the " mys- changed from 73 to 84, tho same number as that of the teries " of tho Union than any thing we have yet perused, Probit They y Lodge, with which it was henceforth to bo go to prove the care and ability that was displayed by associated . the rulers of the Order in those days to ensure a thorough understanding Various difficulties having arisen m regard to tho between the two opposing sections than had working or management of some of the sister Lod previously existed. ges, tho aid of " Probity " ht and a satisfactory settlement Ono of the principal acts of the Lod was soug , ge of Promulgation was arrived at in the several cases thus showing was the voting of an address to the Duke of Sussex , the Lodgo , M.W. of Probity was still looked up to by its nei hbours G.M., congratulating him on the Union and g , and , expressing the that it still exercised a kind of supervision. We now loyalty of tho Lodges forming the Special Lodge here referred to. This was graciousl arrive at an unfortunate gap in the records of the Lodgo, y acknowledged, and copies the minute 1822 to of both the address and repl books from 4th April 20th December y are given in the History 1847 being Every effort has been before us. missing. made, we aro told but so far The opened in the Probit , to trace these records without avail, year 1816 y Lodge in a very quiet althoug l and inauspicious manner after tho busy h hopes have not yet been whol y abandoned. Wo times of the two should very like to be the means of restoring preceding years. It was found necessary much these to thoroughly records to the Lodge of Probity, and if any of our readers revise tho Bye Laws, so as to adapt them to the new state should ever come across them they will perhaps remember of things. A subscription was made during the year towards the funds of Grand Lod with what pleasnro they would be hailed by our brethren of ge, when the sum of Halifax. £o 5s was raised " to be used for repairs , which were (To be continued). required." A new Tyler being needed a Mr. Benj. Wood was initiated , appointed as Tyler, ancl entrusted with the Nearly all tho institutions of man are cooval only with tho FREEMASONRY—IT S MEANING AND age iu which they are founded. Politics and political parties are constantly changing. They are only tho INFLUENCE. scaffolding with which to construct now apartments in the rjHHE moet important step in tho advancement of a temple of state, ancl when these aro completed they are JL candidato for the mysteries of Freemasonry is what is torn down. Social customs aro born and die with an age. known as tho shock of enlightenment, when there lings in Methods of business—tho forms of social and domestic upon his ears that grand announcement , " And God said , life—tho usages and forms of governments—are never let there bo light, and there was light." This shock of uniform. Ono of tho glories of Masonry is that it is and an enlightenment ia intended to symbolise the change which uniform cleararound the globe. An age may come is now taking placo in the intellectual condition of tho age may go, but Masonry still remains the same institution candidate. He now beholds the form of tho Lodgo room, of fraternal greetings, of mutual assistance, and social and sees the brethren standing around him, a solid pho anx concord . Tho old man departs, and tho young man is ' ies the seats of the of friendship to assist him in every glorious undei taking. initiated , and a now membership occup Ho boholds the greater and the three lesser lights of Lodgo, but thero has been no change in the institution. Masonry. The Holy Biblo is given him as the rule and We of tho present ago will load tho vessel with tho rich guide of his faith ; tho square to squaro his actions ; and cargo of our noblest resolutions, our holiest aspirations, our tho compasses to circumscribe his passions and desires in most heroic sacrifices , and tho storm of death may romovo duo bounds with all mankind, especially with brother us from tho management of tho Royal Craft, but she still Masons. The Holy Bible is to teach him his duty to God ; sails on down the stream of time, touching at tho harbour the square, his duty to his fellow men ; the compasses, his of every year till time shall be no more. t to establish a per- duty to Masons. He is reminded that tho serious work of Masonry, therefore, is an attemp lifo has now begun. He is provided with working tools. manent good in society. It is an effort to realise in the He is taught that on his own efforts depends his future social sphere what tho builders of tho Pyramids sought to success.

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