The Coming of Age of the Lodge of Charity, No. 4105

LODGE OF CHARITY, No.  4105.

CONSECRATED AT THE MASONIC   HALL, NORTH  PARADE, BRADFORD,

14th  October, 1920.

By W. Bro. Ernest Cummins, J.P., F.S.A., P.P.G.D. Secretary

"He who desires to understand the harmonies and beautiful proportions of Freemasonry must read, study, reflect, digest and discriminate. The true Freemason is an ardent seeker after knowledge."

TWENTY-ONE years since the Consecration of the Lodge on 14th October, 1920. In that period of time what changes and variations have taken place.

The story starts in a small office in Swaine Street, Bradford, when in conversation between W. Bro. F. S. Ingham and myself the germs of a new Lodge sprang into life. Both of us were members of Hope Lodge and as the numbers of the Lodge were large and a suggestion had been made that the Lodge was ripe for a new Lodge to be formed from Hope Lodge, we fearlessly took up the challenge and made a beginning for a new Lodge.

One of the basic foundations in forming any institution is that those who are making the effort should be of similar views, full trust in each other must be held, and aims and ideals must be high, noble and selfless. Needless to say, each must be enthusiastic and zealous.

From the very start I acted as Secretary and so was given an insight into the personality of each founder, and being called upon since then to interview each candidate for initiation or joining, I have been able to make contact with every member. It has been an interesting experience and I have been privileged to have a view of men which seldom falls to the lot of one man and I appreciate to the full the great opportunity given to me.

It is a trite saying that "no two men are alike." This applies to the physical, mental and spiritual phases of life and I have seen men shine out with beauty of soul and with a fine gift for friendship and brotherliness. Taken broadly is seems to me that there is no institution which is so all-embracing as that of Freemasonry excepting, of course, the Fatherhood of God along with the Christian brotherhood of man.

We made application for the blessing of our mother Lodge on our proceedings. This was readily and cordially granted, along with offers of help and assistance from many quarters. The W.M. of Hope at this time was our very dear friend and brother, W. Bro. Jonas Chatburn, who was indeed a source of inspiration. He obtained the blessing sought and passed it on to us. His presence at every one of our installations since the consecration has been a never-ending source of pleasure to all our members.

After many meetings all was set for the great day. W. Bro. J. Atkinson-Jowett, P.P.G.W., was our first Worshipful Master, and an ideal Master he was. His ritual was dignified and reverent, and all of us were proud of him on the great day of consecration. He entertained the Consecrating Officers to lunch at his 17th century house at Frizinghall, known as the Clock House.

Sir William Rayner, the Provincial Grand Master of West York­shire, was the Principal Consecrating Officer and took the Chair of the Lodge. He was assisted by W. Bro. Richard Gill, the Deputy Grand Master, and W. Bro. Geo. Whittington, the Assistant Grand Master.

A rehearsal was held prior to the ceremony and then came the Consecration itself. How well I remember the Provincial Grand Master in his perambulation round the Lodge Board.

1st "I pour corn on this Lodge as a symbol of plenty."

2nd "I pour wine on this Lodge as a symbol of harmony."

3rd "I pour oil on this Lodge as a symbol of concord."

4th "I sprinkle salt on this Lodge as a symbol of friendship and brotherly love."

After this dignified and beautiful ceremony W.Bro. Richard Gill, J.P., Deputy Provincial Grand Master, installed W.Bro. John Atkinson Jowett, P.P.G.W., as Master and Bro. George Sugden, S.W., and Bro. Joseph Barker Lister, J.W

The consecration ceremony was the culmination of our untiring efforts. And so we were launched on the sea of Freemasonry in our untried barque, whether for good or ill, but in any case we had a fine send-off.

I.P.M.

Chaplains

W.Bro. H. G. E. Green, P.G. Sw.Br., Provincial Grand Secretary.

The officers appointed were :—

Bro. Ernest Cummins.

Bro. Charles Edwin Seed, J.P.

Bro. Charlie Jessop.

The addresses were given by :—

W.Bro. Richard Gill, J.P., P.G.D.,Deputy Provincial Grand Master.

W.Bro. George Whittington, Provincial S.G.W.

W.Bro. Richard Gill, J.P., P.G.D.,

were elected Honorary Founders.

The Banquet following was arranged by Bro. F. S. Ingham and a sumptuous feast it was. Much of its success must be given to W.Bro. John Atkinson-Jowett, who besides entertaining the Consecrating Officers to Lunch gave very generously to the success of the banquet.

The first year of the Lodge's existence was one of great activity. With only twelve founders and W. Bro. Ernest Muff a joining founder, we had not sufficient officers to fill the positions. Emergencies were the rule, with two ceremonies at almost every meeting, so that when Bro. George Sugden came to the chair a year after the consecration all the offices were filled. Our first candidate was W. Bro. John A. Dobson, now a Provincial Officer, the very valuable Treasurer of the Lodge, Bro. Walter Wilkinson, W. Bro. H. H. Birch, W. Bro. Berry and others were initiated in this year and amongst the new officers were Bro. the Rev. Canon Gower Rees, now of Canada, as chaplain, and W. Bro. Ernest Muff, who started his long and successful career as Treasurer. It is good to find him with us again after a short absence. Long may he continue. In the third year we had W. Bro. J. B. Lister as Master. Always known as "Joe," those of us who worked with him well remember his zeal for the Lodge and the very great generosity he showed to all. Bro. Seed never went to the Chair, nor did the much loved Bro. H. H. Tompsett, "Tommy" as we knew him, and W. Bro. F. S. Ingham took the Chair the following year.

The Juniors thought him a hard task master on first acquaintance, but when they knew him better they knew him as one who loved his lodge and its brethren, and very thankful brethren often speak of him as the finest of mentors. I think I am only stating a plain fact when I say that it was Bro. Ingham who laid the foundations of the ritual of the Lodge on solid rock.

Abram Clement Marsden ("Clem") was a good Master with a joke and pleasant smile for all. He did a good job of work in the Chair.

I followed him, first taking the Warden's Chair. I never did any of the floor work of the Lodge but stuck to my pen and books. As I went through the Chairs various brethren held the position of Secretary but it was understood that after being Master I should revert to the Secretarial office. As a matter of fact, I was never allowed to lose touch with the office whilst I was taking my exalted journey through the Chairs.

Bro. Charlie Jessop followed me and I well remember the trying year through which he passed. He had been stricken with sickness but with great fortitude he persevered in the Chair, always delivering the ritual with that charm and dignity which distinguishes his work

Bro. Harry Nelson also had to contend with ill-health whilst Master, and it was only with great difficulty that he completed his year of office. He was followed by his great friend, Bro. Fred Barrett, a Master full of enthusiasm and endeavour.

So the founders finished their line and their dynasty came to an end. But they had set a good example and those who have followed reap the benefit of their unstinted devotion to the Lodge. Time and the great reaper have left but few of the Founders in the Lodge today. Still they carry on. They are the first Master, W. Bro. John Atkinson-Jowett, P.P.G.W., the first Secretary, W. Bro. Ernest Cummins, J.P., F.S.A., P.P.G.D., and the first Outer Guard, W. Bro. Charlie Jessop, P.P.A.G.D. of C. W. Bro. Fred S. Ingham, P.P.G.D., some years ago was elected Honorary Member for his untiring and laudable work in the Lodge.

W. Bro. John A. Dobson, P.P.G.D., Treasurer, was the first candidate of the Lodge to become Master and he commenced the new dynasty of brethren initiated in the Lodge. As I look through the list I find that the successors to the founders are working in a spirit of emulation of which their predecessors are justly proud. The Lodge is fulfilling its promise.

From the Mastership of W. Bro. Dobson, the Chair has continued to be occupied by good men and true. Necessarily each one has brought his own personality to the office. Some have been very good ritualists and all have striven to keep the ritual to its original working. In order that this might be maintained a committee was formed whose duty it was to have a permanent copy written, and this copy is now consulted whenever any divergence looks like creeping in. This book of ritual was written by Bro. Arthur Feather, and is a very beautiful example of caligraphy. It is a lasting memorial of the love of the Lodge held by Bro. Feather.

It will not be expected that a full personal record be given of each Master, but one or two ought to be mentioned. W. Bro. Herbert Reynolds had almost completed his year of office when he died with tragic suddenness a week or two before the installa­tion of his successor. Another sudden change was upon the withdrawal of the Master-elect when W. Bro. W. Berry stepped into the breach and with marked ability and success carried the Lodge over a difficult situation.

Many brethren who had looked forward to occupying the Chair never reached their goal. The Great Architect took some to Himself. Others have loyally taken their share in the work of the Lodge but have not desired to take the higher positions of the Lodge. And some have trod the flowery paths of success while others have been less fortunate. Just in the same manner the fortunes of the Lodge have fluctuated. But through all the changing vicissitudes, the Lodge has ever striven to build a fine superstructure on the solid foundations of its consecration.

So we come to the "majority" of the Lodge and by a strange coincidence we have another W. Bro. Jowett in the Chair. The 21st year has been in other ways very similar. The two Masters are both quiet in manner and efficient in practice. Both are first class ritualists and both gave of their very best to the Lodge. Whilst W. Bro. John Atkinson-Jowett was the first Master, he was also the most prolific supporter of the Masonic Charities. In like manner W. Bro. Morris Jowett decided to celebrate the "coming of age" of the Lodge by making an outstanding effort for the Boys' Festival, 1943.

His effort has been very successful and a record amount has been raised for the charities. The Royal Institution for Boys' 1943 Festival will benefit by it when our Grand Master, the Rt. Hon. The Earl of Harewood takes the Chair of the Institution in that year.

The future success of the Lodge seems assured when we con­sider the abilities and enthusiasm of the brethren of today. The true rendering of the ritual is well ingrained in our Members, the study of the meaning of the ritual is the subject of much earnest Work. The good fellowship existing amongst the brethren is of the highest standard and this last year has shown that the hearts of the brethren are in the right place and that the name of the Lodge was not given to it in vain.

At the September meeting, last month, the Founders and Past Masters conducted the initiation ceremony of Bro. Peter Dixon. This proved to be an outstanding event and all the brethren enjoyed the proceedings immensely. At the after proceedings the brethren overwhelmed me by making me a very beautiful present and I was very deeply touched by their great kindness. To every brother I tender my heartfelt thanks.

“There is not a problem, social or political, that cannot be solved by the application of Masonic principles. Then let us again pledge ourselves to a renewal and a more forceful practice of those fundamentals which Freemasonry inculculates and practises.”

©1941 W. Bro. Ernest Cummins, J.P., F.S.A., P.P.G.D.

This page has been approved by the United Grand Lodge of England