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In
writing a short history of the Lodge of Charity, No. 4105, since its
Consecration fifty years ago, one has to rely upon the records and writings
of its members in the early days.
Foremost amongst these are those penned by the late W. Bro.
Ernest
Cummins, J.P., F.S.A., P.P.G.W., whose eloquence and
flair for description are
still remembered by many of us today.
One
could not do better than extract a lot of the early events which he wrote
about in a brochure published to celebrate
the
Lodge's Coming of Age in October 1941.
To
cover the history of Fifty years would fill many pages and an effort has
been made to reduce its length by taking only the important items from our
Minute Books and records. In this connection a tribute must be paid to our
present indefatigable Secretary, Bro. L. A. Crossland, P.P.G.Sw.Br., for his
help and guidance. Incidentally, it is worth recording that Bro. Crossland
received Provincial Honours without occupying the Chair of the Lodge, an
honour deservedly bestowed by Provincial Grand Lodge in recognition of his
long and valued work as Secretary and his
contributions to Freemasonry.
To go
back to the beginning, we are told the story commences
in a small office in Swaine
Street, Bradford; a street which has fallen to the progress and rebuilding
of the City centre. There, in this small office the germs of a new Lodge
sprang into life, during a conversation between the late Bro. F. S. Ingham
and the
late
Bro. Cummins, both being Master Masons at that time.
Together, they were members
of the Lodge of Hope No 302 and a suggestion was made that the time was ripe
for the formation of a new Lodge from the Mother Lodge of Hope.
In
their words "they fearlessly took up the challenge"
and one of the first
decisions made was that the Founders of the new Lodge should be confined to
the Brethren of Hope Lodge
only.
The nucleus was quickly formed and, in a short time,
twelve brethren were gathered
together, including W. Bro. John Atkinson-Jowett, P.P.G.W. who was nominated
to be the first
Master.
Again
quoting from the History of W. Bro. Cummins; "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. Aims and ideas must
be high, noble
and
selfless. Needless to say, each must be enthusiastic and
zealous".
Those
words, spoken fifty years ago, have carried the Lodge through until today
and are equally applicable in these times.
In
those days of the early 1920s, following the sorrows and devastations of the
First World War, the men were looking in particular for inspiration and a
better means of communion with each other and their Maker. What better
outlet for these aspirations and ideals than a search for them in Masonic
teachings? We find that many others throughout the country were of the same
mind as our Founders and in consequence many new Lodges were consecrated
about this same time.
Following up their deliberations our enthusiastic forefathers made
application to the Mother Lodge and this was cordially and readily granted.
It is
interesting to note the Master of the Lodge of Hope at that
time
was W. Bro. Jonas Chatburn. He gave every assistance
and, was one of our Hon.
Members for many years.
Eventually the great day came for the Consecration. The first Master
Designate W. Bro. J. Atkinson-Jowett, entertained the
Consecrating Officers to lunch at his 17th century house, Clock
House,
Frizinghall. This house is now incorporated with the
buildings and grounds of the Bradford Boys' Grammar School
on what was known as the
"Clock House Estate".
The
list of Consecrating Officers, together with the Officers appointed for the
first year of the Lodge of Charity No. 4105, are given in the early pages of
this booklet.
From
these imposing lists many of the older Brethren will
recognise the names of men who were also eminent in spheres
outside Freemasonry, notably
in civic and business circles.
We
are told the Ceremony was conducted with dignity.
The
Provincial Grand Master perambulated the Lodge four
times. On each occasion pouring out the symbols of Masonic
tenets and principles. First; Corn for Plenty. Second; Wine for
Harmony. Third; Oil for
Concord. Fourth; Salt for Friendship and
Brotherly Love.
Again
quoting from the writings of W. Bro. Cummins, "So
the
Lodge was launched on the Sea of Freemasonry, in their
untried barque, whether for
good or ill, but in any case we had a fine send-off".
The
intervening years since then and now, half a century later, have proved
their decision to be a right one and we must be grateful to those founder
members whose courage and initiative paved the way to our present
celebrations. During these fifty years, as one could expect, there have been
fluctuations in the Lodge's
fortunes, the sadness and the happiness, the ups and downs,
reflected by the black and
white squares of our floor coverings.
Masters have come and gone. Each one bringing his own
personality to bear in the
Office.
Whilst
the Lodge was originally housed in North Parade, occupying premises
conjointly used by Hope and Pentalpha Lodges,
there
was a feeling a change was desirable by the possible
acquisition of a pleasantly
secluded double house in Spring Bank
Place
under the ownership of Hope, Pentalpha and Charity. It
was
decided to form a Company to make the purchase, the
alterations and furnishing of
these present rooms.
So it
came to pass that the opening took place on 24th March, 1926 with a special
meeting at 5.00 p.m., under the Banners
of
the three Lodges.
Progress was made in the Lodge Membership until the
early
1930s when there was a great deal of international and
economic unhappiness.
This
phase passed until the Second World War which brought disruptive elements
into everyones lives. Several of the younger Brethren joined the Services,
whilst the older ones played their part in the Home Guard, Observer Corps,
Air Raid Precaution and National Fire Services. Fortunately the Lodge did
not suffer any casualties.
The
Regular Lodge Meetings were held on Saturday afternoons to overcome the
exigencies of Blackout restrictions. Petrol rationing precluded the use of
cars. The after-proceedings were curtailed to enable the Brethren to get
home in daylight. Austerity found its way on to our tables with the
rationing of food and shortage of drinks, but we always managed to scrape
together a meal of some sort.
Practice meetings still continued on Friday evenings, often to the
accompaniment of the wailing sirens for "Enemy action" and then the "All
clear". Afterwards the homeward journeys were made through the darkened
streets, usually by bus or trolley.
One
well remembers those days, but Masonry went on — a few hours weekly when the
outside world and worry could be forgotten in the gathering together of the
Brethren. The ending of the war again brought a steady influx of new members
and the numbers built up to over 80.
A few
years later the Lodge and the Past Master' Board suffered heavily by the
passing to the Grand Lodge above of several of its highly esteemed and
respected Past Masters in a very short space of time. The loss of these
Brethren, steeped as they were in Freemasonry, was a sad blow from which
recovery was slow. However, time and the progress of some of the younger
Brethren to the higher offices and the Chair again built up our
Lodge.
At the
present time we have a young and enthusiastic band of junior Brethren. The
future of the Lodge of Charity is in their hands, to continue the work of
the past fifty years and lead its members into the next half century. The
foundations have been well and truly laid and the future can be looked
forward to with brightness and confidence that the work of the founder
members so long ago will be continued in the best interests of the Lodge and
Freemasonry in general.
Today
we have installed into the Chair, Bro. Donald Cummins, whose father was a
founder member. What a proud moment it would have been for W. Bro. Ernest
Cummins, P.P.G.W., to see that the words uttered in that small office would
eventually result in his son, fifty years later occupying the Chair of the
Lodge of which he himself was so proud and for which he did so
much.
This is
the end of our story, but not the end of the Lodge of Charity, merely a
beginning for embarkation into the next half century.
"Happy have we met,
Happy have we been.
Happy may we part
And happy
meet again." |
