Journey Through Time with Caldaire 9625. Your Local Freemason Lodge

The Beginning

It nearly was not called the CALDAIRE LODGE but the LEONINE LODGE.

When W Bro Ron Lewis first had the idea for forming a new lodge, which was in 1992, there were a number of members of Lions International who were ready to be Founder Members. Hence the name "Leonine", which W Bro John Goodchild informed, the would-be founders, upon research, that it meant "Lion Like".

This name was put to the then Provincial Grand Master, R W Bro John Trevor Broadley. He did not feel there was scope for another Lodge in the Castleford area and therefore did not give his permission. The idea was almost forgotten. An additional problem was that the old Masonic Hall had been compulsory purchased.

Legiolium Lodge No 1542, had met in the old Masonic Hall for many years and had to take up temporary residence at the Pontefract Masonic Hall until the new Masonic Hall was built. Which meant had permission been granted the new Lodge could not have met in Castleford.

Most Masons know that a certain W Bro Ron Lewis does not give up easily and with his perseverance and true Yorkshire grit managed to keep in touch with the majority of those who showed an early interest and also made new contacts.

During the course of the next four year there were several Get-Togethers and progress reports made.

Once the new Masonic Hall, near to the Railway Station, had been built and Legiolium Lodge had moved in R W Bro Broadley had a change of heart or was it he was fed up with W Bro Lewis's pestering?

The Provincial Grand Master gave permission for another Lodge.

Therefore the most important date in the Lodge's history was the meeting on 13th April 1996 at the new Masonic Hall.

The Founders had been told that a new Lodge could go ahead and this was the meeting which decided the important items such as, the Lodge name, Officers, whose name were to be on the Warrant and the forming of a Ritual Committee.

The name to submit to the Provincial Grand Master was "CALDAIRE", a combination of Calder and Aire, because that is where the two rivers join. Actually by this time the interest of the Lions International was not as great and maybe R W Bro Broadley was correct in not agreeing to it in the first instance.

A list of Officers were drawn up but due to work commitments some had to be changed. However the following were selected: -

Worshipful Master - DesignateW Bro R R E Lewis PPrJGW.

IPMW Bro A Hepworth

Senior WardenW Bro G F Cook, PPrJGD.

Junior WardenBro D R Bulmer.

ChaplainW Bro J F Goodchild, M. Univ. PPrSGW.

TreasurerW Bro J . Craven, PPrJGW.

SecretaryW Bro T H Wise, PDistSGW(Bombay), PPrJGD (E.Lancs).

Director of CeremoniesW Bro H Gregory, PPrDGSwdB (E Lancs).

Charity StewardW Bro G Pearson.

Senior DeaconBro R Oldfield.

Asst Director of CeremoniesW Bro S Walker, LGR, PPrSGD.

OrganistW Bro M Purdy.

Assistant SecretaryBro R G Collingwood.

Chief StewardW Bro M B Hart

Other Officers were changed by the time of the Consecration.

Warrant

The four names for inclusion of the Warrant in addition to the Worshipful Master and his two Wardens were decided as W Bro Arthur Hepworth, W Bro Steven Walker, W Bro Harold Gregory and W Bro John Goodchild.

Ritual Committee

Comprised of W Bro C M G A Bond; W Bro H Gregory; W Bro A Hughes; W Bro GF Cook and the Master Designate.

The Lodge was to be very fortunate in having W Bro Colin Bond on the Ritual Committee because he was connected to a Printing Business and had been involved with The Lodge of the Morning Star, whose ritual the new Lodge was about to adopt.

The Go-Ahead

W Bro Ron Lewis received a letter, dated 20th April 1996, from the Provincial Grand Master, R W Bro J T Broadley, JP. In which he approved the name of the Lodge and gave permission to go ahead with the necessary paperwork. He added that he would like the Consecration to be in the September.

It was a busy time getting the twenty-eight signatures, which even till this day are listed on the Lodge summons. It will be noticed the first founder listed is a Lewis and so is the last founder a Lewis. However in twenty-three-year honorifics have changed somewhat and the "Baby" of the Founders is not only a Grand Lodge Officer but has served as an Assistant Provincial Grand Master in charge of Area 5 and is currently the Deputy Grand Superintendent for the Province in the Royal Arch.

From the original list of twenty-eight there are now only three subscribing members remaining.

Amongst the Founders were an international Rugby League Referee, School Teachers, Travel Agent, an Engineer in charge of "The Yorkshire Post" printing presses, Prison Officers; Fruit & Vegetable Market Dealers; Civil Engineer, and a Historian. Apologies for any profession omitted. The next meeting was on the 4th of June 1996 and reports were received  from the various sub committees.

The Founder's Fee was set at £100.00 and payable in two parts.

W Bro Michael A Holliday made a report on regalia that had been purchased from a Lodge in Liverpool that had surrendered it's warrant. The  regalia was on view and everyone agreed the Lodge had got a bargain at £250.00.

Consecration

The Consecration of the Lodge took place on Thursday 19th September 1996 at the new Masonic Hall, Castleford, Powell Street, Castleford.

Whereas the actual ceremony started at 2:00 pm, Founders and Consecration Team were there for 9:30 am for their final practice, of which there had been two others, also photographs.

The Consecration Team were: 

R W Bro John Trevor Broadley, Provincial Grand Master as Consecration Officer.

V W Bro Raymond Howarth, PGSwdB; DepPGM as Installing Master.

They were assisted by four Assistant Provincial Grand Masters :-

W Bro John F Bird, PSGD,

W Bro John R Holt, PSGD,

W Bro John Burham, PJGD

W Bro John G Clifford PAGDC

(You will notice that all those brethren had the name John).

The other officers were:-

W Bro T S Kirby, PPrSGW as Provincial Senior Grand Warden.

W Bro T E Cowdell, Provincial Junior Grand Warden.

W Bro F A Chappell, Provincial Grand Chaplain.

W Bro J Pigott, Provincial Grand Registrar.

W Bro R M Wellock, PAGDC, Provincial Grand Secretary.

W Bro R S Scorer, PAGDC, Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies.

W Bro J A Frankel, Provincial  Grand Supt, of Works.

W Bro B Parker, Provincial Senior Grand Deacon.

W Bro P J Blackburn, Provincial Junior Grand Deacon.

W Bro A Clark, Provincial Grand Organist.

W Bro A Bateman, Provincial Grand Pursuivant as Inner Guard

W Bro A Deaton, Provincial Grand Tyler.