Corinthian Lodge was consecrated on 11th September 2012, from their mother lodge of Eccleshill Faith and Fraternity, who’s history states ‘The Members of Eccleshill Lodge were inspired with such zeal and enthusiasm to such a degree that their great Masonic capability could not find full expression in one Lodge being already overstaffed with keen and capable officers, so that there was a swarm from the parent hive and with great help and assistance and all good wishes, the parent looked fondly on the birth of its daughter lodge, CORINTHIAN, which of the twenty founders contained no less that fifteen Eccleshill brethren’.
Thus, Corinthian Lodge number 3600 on the register of the Grand Lodge of England was born.
In this year King George V was crowned King, The Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre, The Chinese Republic was proclaimed, The British Board of Film Censors was formed and more locally to home, Bingley College and Halifax Football Club were founded, whilst Bradford City won the FA cup, which was also made in Bradford.
The lodge adopted its motto ‘LUX VENIT AB ALTO’ which means ‘Light from above’ but imbued with the spirit of Emerson’s words ‘hitch your wagon to a star’ is a measure of the spirit pervading the Lodge and its founders, their hopes were high.
There were meany gifted an capable men in the Lodge and the enthusiasm and growth of the Lodge continued despite the First World War, the Depression and the great social upheaval which followed.
The Lodge received many gifts from its members, the Memorial Scroll, the DC’S Baton, the Deacons Wands, the Wardens Gavels, the framed Warrant of the Lodge, the Wardens Columns, the Silver Chain of Office and a new banner and candelabra being the most recent.
Twelve meetings a year were held until 1920, when the present rule of the FOURTH Friday every month except August was adopted. In the same year FICE guineas were authorised to be donated to initial expenses for a Masonic Temple, The Connaught Rooms. Later the same year it was agreed that all initiates should pay TEN guineas towards the MASONIC TEMPLE Building Fund and that the Lodge then invested two hundred pounds in debentures. By 1926 all initiates were required to pay twenty guineas to the Building Fund.
The Lodge Members worked hard and cheerfully suffered the burdens necessary to assist in financing the new building to which the Lodge was moved when it was opened in 1928.
The Founder Master was WBro E R Harling a Past Master of Lodge Acacia No 1309 Middlesex and of Eccleshill Lodge. He was Landlord of the Trevelyan Hotel and noted as a good golfer, among other capabilities. He was a member of the Lodge until his death in June 1930 at the Cottage Homes, Daisy Hill.
The Senior and Junior Wardens being Bro Walter Speight and Bro William Sheard with WBro William Holroyd, who had been actively associated with founding the Lodge, as Treasurer and Immediate Past Master. His financial expertise was known and was highly regarded. The consecration Ceremony was a most impressive occasion and was held in Freemasons Hall, Westgate, Bradford, with the Officer in Charge being the Deputy Provincial Grand Master.
A descendent from the original founders that being Bro Walter Speight, WBro Andrew Speight was until recently a member of Corinthian Lodge and who generously located, purchased and gifted to the Lodge the original Entered Apprentice Apron used by the Lodge at the initiation of new candidates.
The Lodge continued to grow and prosper and in 1928 moved to Connaught Rooms, located on Manningham Lane, Bradford.
Although the Lodge continued to meet during the Second World War it was decided that morning dress would be worn at the Installations of the Master and that due to Government Advice only three courses were to be served at the festive boards.
On 1st April 1979 the Lodge moved to its present surroundings of Hoyle Court, Baildon, which by chance was also the birthday of the Worshipful Master at the time WBro Ronald (Ronnie0 Lee.
WBro Lee wrote at the time “Family names appear often throughout the years and are the framework which has held the whole together, with the many officers who have given long years of service, to maintain and sustain the work of the Lodge in its Masonic and Social existence until the present time and make the decisions which culminated in the move to HOYLE COURT and today our first Lodge in these rooms”
Corinthian Lodge continued to grow from strength to strength and on 28 September 2012 celebrated its centenary by installing WBro Malcolm Jones as the Worshipful Master a very proud day for the Lodge to celebrate 100 years of Corinthian Lodge.
The Lodge continues to meet at Hoyle Court, Baildon every Thursday to meet, socialise and practice its ritual and holds a regular meeting of the Lodge and Festive Boards for its members to eat, drink and cement their friendships and masonic knowledge, on the first Thursday of the month except August.
Corinthian 3600 