At a meeting
of Royal Wharfedale Lodge No1108 in December 1936, W.Bro Godfrey
Pick P.P.G.D. proposed, “A petition for the formation of a new lodge
to be held in Boroughgate Otley.” This resulted in the consecration
of a daughter lodge, namely Harewood Lodge No5667, in September
1937. The majority of the founder members of the new lodge were
existing members of Royal Wharfedale Lodge.
The
consecration ceremony was held at the Masonic Hall, Castle Grove,
Leeds and conducted by the then Provincial Grand Master, the Earl of
Harewood. Lodge tradition holds that when the Earl was approached
for permission to call the lodge Harewood it was granted on the
specific command that the pronunciation HARwood be used and never
HAIRwood!
The first
master was W.Bro Godfrey Pick and his first initiate his son Carl,
thereby starting a family connection which has seen three
generations as members and Masters. Godfrey’s sons Carl and Alec
subsequently became Masters and their sons David and Simon became
members in due course. There has also been a strong Wetherald family
connection with two brothers and one son, all becoming Master at
various times. More recently we have seen actual brothers Ronnie and
Geoff Priestley taking the chair for the second time each with Geoff
succeeding Ronnie in 2006
The first
Director of Ceremonies was W.Bro Charles Wood who held this office
for eighteen years. This service was recognised by the award in 1952
of the Grand Rank of P.G.S.B. There can be little doubt that the
current ritual, which is largely based on that of Royal Wharfedale
Lodge, owes much to the influence of W.Bro Wood.
The
Boroughgate premises were not ideal, having several floor levels.
Food for the festive board had to be conveyed upstairs. Soon after
the formation of Harewood Lodge plans were under discussion for new
premises. A site was identified at Beech Hill, Otley and preliminary
negotiations started. Bro Montague, an architect, was appointed to
draw up plans. The outbreak of war in September 1939 effectively
stopped development plans just as it affected many other facets of
Masonry.
Older members still speak with nostalgic recollections of the good
old days at Boroughgate.
In November
1939 the Minutes record that it was agreed to hold the regular lodge
meetings on Saturday afternoons in October, November, December,
January and February and on the normal Tuesday nights from March to
September.
After the
cessation of hostilities in 1945, members returned from the forces
whilst others joined, increasing the membership. A second daughter
Lodge of Royal Wharfedale Lodge was formed in 1949, namely Chevin
Lodge No6848. The question of adequate accommodation for three
lodges became more pressing and in 1954 an Otley Masonic Hall
Management Committee was mooted. Some ten years later the
acquisition and alteration of a large house in its own grounds was
being planned. In 1968 these plans came to fruition with the
Dedication of Westbourne House, the current home of these lodges, by
the Provincial Grand Master R.W. Bro Clifford Smith. In 1987, at the
time of the celebration of the Golden Jubilee of Harewood Lodge, a
chronicler noted the successful conclusion of the masonic hall plans
in 1968 as being “not without the traumas, arguments and
difficulties of such a project!”
Since the
opening of Westbourne house, Alfred Lodge No306, Leodiensis Lodge
No4029 and Horsford Lodge No5339 have joined these rooms.
A leading
member of the Masonic Hall Committee was W.Bro Douglas Hartley who,
in 1966, was honoured with the Grand Rank of P.A.G.D.C. and, in
1969, was appointed Assistant Provincial Grand Master of the
Province of Yorkshire West Riding.
Harewood Lodge
has always been active in masonic Charities, at various times
becoming a Patron of the Royal Masonic Institute for Boys, the
Foundation for the Aged and Sick and more recently the Grand
Charity. W.Bro Lincoln Grunwell was Chairman of the Charity
Executive Committee and W.Bro Robin Gregson a member of this
committee. Several grants have been obtained from the Provincial
Grand Master’s Fund for such diverse purposes as the benefit of
Wharfedale Hospital, the Meanwood Model Farm Project which provides
horse riding for disadvantaged children and the provision of a Bass
Trombone for Otley Band! The latest involvement was for the
rebuilding of the Guiseley Guide and Scout hut after an arson
attack.
As with many
lodges the composition and opulence of its membership has changed
over the years. When many of the Brethren were the principals of
their own firms, they could arrange to leave their employment at
times of their choosing. This is often no longer the case and some
years ago the time for the Regular Lodge was moved from 6.00 pm to
6.30 pm to accommodate those brethren who could not leave work so
early.
Many Brethren
have served in Public Office. We have had two Lord Mayors of Leeds,
and Councillors on both Bradford and Leeds City Councils. Less
prominent service has been Chairman of Tribunals, as magistrates and
in Church offices such as Church Wardens and Treasurers.
Some
twenty-five years ago the membership was in excess of seventy but
now it is barely thirty.
Nevertheless
the Lodge flourishes with a full programme of Social events to which
the ladies are always invited. There is an annual Church Service at
the church where one brother is Vicar, a Christmas Party, a Ladies’
Festival, a Winter Weekend at such venues as Bowness,
York
and Chester, and Barbecues during the summer months. A new venture
is attendance at the open air Last Night of the Proms at Harewood
House.
Inter-lodge
fraternal visiting has been maintained and in 2002 reciprocal visits
were started with the Royal Lodge at Filey.
Though our
members are not as numerous as at one time, Harewood Lodge is still
flourishing.
