Lodge of Peace 149 Bicentenary
Celebrating the Bicentenary of the Last Antients Lodge in the Province of Yorkshire, West Riding
The Abridged History of the Lodge of Peace No.149
This year 2020 marks the official celebration of the bicentenary of the Lodge of Peace No.149, the only remaining Atholl or ‘Antients’ Lodge in the Province of Yorkshire, West Riding. The story of Lodge’s foundation begins during the year 1776 in the Mulberry Tree Tavern on Broad Street in the commercial port city of Bristol. At this time, the Industrial Revolution was gathering pace across Yorkshire and Lancashire and a group of Bristol businessmen, keen to take advantage of the commercial opportunities developing in the north of England had started to regularly visit the area of Barnsley in South Yorkshire. These businessmen were originally associated with the Antients (or ‘Atholl’) Lodge No.162 which met at the Mulberry Tree Tavern.
In 1776 they had decided to set up a new Lodge in Barnsley and were in discussion with the Antients Grand Lodge to obtain a Warrant of Constitution for their new Lodge.
This year 2020 marks the official celebration of the bicentenary of the Lodge of Peace No.149, the only remaining Atholl or ‘Antients’ Lodge in the Province of Yorkshire, West Riding. The story of Lodge’s foundation begins during the year 1776 in the Mulberry Tree Tavern on Broad Street in the commercial port city of Bristol. At this time, the Industrial Revolution was gathering pace across Yorkshire and Lancashire and a group of Bristol businessmen, keen to take advantage of the commercial opportunities developing in the north of England had started to regularly visit the area of Barnsley in South Yorkshire. These businessmen were originally associated with the Antients (or ‘Atholl’) Lodge No.162 which met at the Mulberry Tree Tavern.
In 1776 they had decided to set up a new Lodge in Barnsley and were in discussion with the Antients Grand Lodge to obtain a Warrant of Constitution for their new Lodge.
This Warrant was duly granted by the Grand Master of the Antients Grand Lodge, the 4th Duke of Atholl, on 1st April 1777 with meetings to be held at the Cock Inn which resided within the Shambles area of Barnsley town centre. So began the long history of the Lodge of Peace No. 149.
In 1804, the Lodge of Peace relocated from Barnsley to Dewsbury and Masonic activities continued at Dewsbury until around 1820. Whilst 2020 actually marks the 243rd anniversary of the foundation of the Lodge of Peace, it is from this date, 1820, that the Lodge of Peace can claim to hold unbroken minutes of Lodge meetings and from which we mark the date for celebrating this year’s official bicentenary. In 1826, the Lodge removed to Meltham, West Yorkshire where it had several temporary homes including the Woolpack Inn, the Rose & Crown Inn and the Masonic Rooms, located close to Meltham marketplace, before finally settling at its present home of Freemasons Hall on Wessenden Head Road in 1881.
The building of this truly Masonic structure, with its beautiful and ornate Temple ceiling, is a permanent testament to the enthusiasm and dedication of our past Brethren. Over the course of the 20th Century the Lodge has continued to thrive and has counted Baronets, Knights and decorated war heroes amongst its valued members. However, our greatest Mason was not a baronet, or a knight just a cotton spinner from Meltham Mills but he did more than anyone to deserve the title ‘Saviour of the Lodge of Peace’.
David Redfearn joined the Lodge of Peace in 1820 and showed his commitment to the Lodge by the work hedid to ensure the Lodge was organised on sound constitutional lines. However, the full greatness of David Redfearn did not become apparent until the period 1830 to 1856, when the Lodge went through its ‘Darkest Years’. The Lodge’s membership declined alarmingly to only eight members in the early 1850’s and its collapse seemed almost a certainty. During this very long time David Redfearn’s conduct was exemplary; he was master six times and was always ready to take any office or shoulder any responsibility refused by others, and ever present to repair the bond of fellowship loosened or broken by others. For over twenty years David Redfearn laboured to rescue the Lodge from the forces, both internal and external, that threatened to end it and eventually succeeded. A frail man who towards the end of his life suffered illness and hardship he did, however live to see the Lodge’s fortunes change as the membership started to increase and the recovery, he had worked so very hard for, finally start to materialise. David Redfearn died on the 11th October 1856, and not even in the Lodge minutes was his passing noted or a tribute to him put on record. Being possibly the greatest Mason the Lodge has so far produced I would like to think that David Redfearn would be very happy to accept the survival of this ancient Lodge to its bicentenary year as his only memorial.
Having been founded during the time of the American Revolutionary War and over a decade before the culmination of the French Revolution, the Lodge of Peace No.149 is a truly ancient Lodge with a rare ‘Antients’ heritage, a heritage which the present Brethren of the Lodge are duly proud of and which we hope will last another two hundred years.
Further information regarding the unique history of the Lodge of Peace No.149 and its Atholl heritage can be found on the Lodge’s website at www.lodgeofpeace.org.uk.
Jonathan Cole, Lodge Historian
In 1804, the Lodge of Peace relocated from Barnsley to Dewsbury and Masonic activities continued at Dewsbury until around 1820. Whilst 2020 actually marks the 243rd anniversary of the foundation of the Lodge of Peace, it is from this date, 1820, that the Lodge of Peace can claim to hold unbroken minutes of Lodge meetings and from which we mark the date for celebrating this year’s official bicentenary. In 1826, the Lodge removed to Meltham, West Yorkshire where it had several temporary homes including the Woolpack Inn, the Rose & Crown Inn and the Masonic Rooms, located close to Meltham marketplace, before finally settling at its present home of Freemasons Hall on Wessenden Head Road in 1881.
The building of this truly Masonic structure, with its beautiful and ornate Temple ceiling, is a permanent testament to the enthusiasm and dedication of our past Brethren. Over the course of the 20th Century the Lodge has continued to thrive and has counted Baronets, Knights and decorated war heroes amongst its valued members. However, our greatest Mason was not a baronet, or a knight just a cotton spinner from Meltham Mills but he did more than anyone to deserve the title ‘Saviour of the Lodge of Peace’.
David Redfearn joined the Lodge of Peace in 1820 and showed his commitment to the Lodge by the work hedid to ensure the Lodge was organised on sound constitutional lines. However, the full greatness of David Redfearn did not become apparent until the period 1830 to 1856, when the Lodge went through its ‘Darkest Years’. The Lodge’s membership declined alarmingly to only eight members in the early 1850’s and its collapse seemed almost a certainty. During this very long time David Redfearn’s conduct was exemplary; he was master six times and was always ready to take any office or shoulder any responsibility refused by others, and ever present to repair the bond of fellowship loosened or broken by others. For over twenty years David Redfearn laboured to rescue the Lodge from the forces, both internal and external, that threatened to end it and eventually succeeded. A frail man who towards the end of his life suffered illness and hardship he did, however live to see the Lodge’s fortunes change as the membership started to increase and the recovery, he had worked so very hard for, finally start to materialise. David Redfearn died on the 11th October 1856, and not even in the Lodge minutes was his passing noted or a tribute to him put on record. Being possibly the greatest Mason the Lodge has so far produced I would like to think that David Redfearn would be very happy to accept the survival of this ancient Lodge to its bicentenary year as his only memorial.
Having been founded during the time of the American Revolutionary War and over a decade before the culmination of the French Revolution, the Lodge of Peace No.149 is a truly ancient Lodge with a rare ‘Antients’ heritage, a heritage which the present Brethren of the Lodge are duly proud of and which we hope will last another two hundred years.
Further information regarding the unique history of the Lodge of Peace No.149 and its Atholl heritage can be found on the Lodge’s website at www.lodgeofpeace.org.uk.
Jonathan Cole, Lodge Historian
Message from the Provincial Grand Master -
“I send my fraternal greetings congratulations to the Lodge of Peace on the attainment of such a significant and historical milestone. The first 200 years of existence! We inherit from the past and are custodians of the present before passing on the baton to future generations. I am sure that the Founders would be well pleased with the contribution that your Lodge has made to Freemasonry in general and also to our own Province.
I promise you that when things return to a semblance of normality in a post-Covid-19 World, we shall celebrate the occasion in the customary and traditional manner. Worthy Masons All!"
David
Provincial Grand Master
“I send my fraternal greetings congratulations to the Lodge of Peace on the attainment of such a significant and historical milestone. The first 200 years of existence! We inherit from the past and are custodians of the present before passing on the baton to future generations. I am sure that the Founders would be well pleased with the contribution that your Lodge has made to Freemasonry in general and also to our own Province.
I promise you that when things return to a semblance of normality in a post-Covid-19 World, we shall celebrate the occasion in the customary and traditional manner. Worthy Masons All!"
David
Provincial Grand Master
Message from the Pro Grand Master -
I would like to congratulate Lodge of Peace No. 149 on reaching their 200 year Bi-Centenary. It never ceases to amaze me how efficient Lodges are in keeping their Minutes up to date for this long period of time. Credit for this must, of course, go to your predecessors, but the current membership is carrying on the tradition and I am sure future generations will continue the good work.
Although you are unable to celebrate this milestone in the current circumstances, you will, I am sure, fully make up for this as and when the situation allows. Let us all hope and pray that it will not be too long before you can start to rearrange all your plans. In the meantime, I send you my very best wishes.
Peter Lowndes
Pro Grand Master
I would like to congratulate Lodge of Peace No. 149 on reaching their 200 year Bi-Centenary. It never ceases to amaze me how efficient Lodges are in keeping their Minutes up to date for this long period of time. Credit for this must, of course, go to your predecessors, but the current membership is carrying on the tradition and I am sure future generations will continue the good work.
Although you are unable to celebrate this milestone in the current circumstances, you will, I am sure, fully make up for this as and when the situation allows. Let us all hope and pray that it will not be too long before you can start to rearrange all your plans. In the meantime, I send you my very best wishes.
Peter Lowndes
Pro Grand Master
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