Lightcliffe Lodge No.3222(EC

Lightcliffe Lodge No. 3332 has been based in Hipperholme, Halifax for over one hundred years. We have an active thriving membership. The Lodge began its life when it was consecrated in 1908 at the Congregational Schoolroom at Bramley Lane, Lightcliffe. From this point Lodge meetings were held in the council chambers of the Hipperholme Urban District Council until January 1919 and from February the lodge moved to the current premises (see below).

Where does the name Lightcliffe comes from? Well, in The Wakefield Manor Court Roll for 1275, it shows an entry for Lightcliffe but it is spelt "Lightclif". "Lightcliffe" means a cliff which is light as opposed to deep. Such a cliffe can be found at the grounds of the nearby Holme House. The Lodge's motto is "Festina lente" which is Latin for "Make haste slowly". It appears underneath our arms and crest. The motto, arms and crest were those of theHipperholme Urban District Council.

The lodge room is fantastic and hence the reason for the inclusion.

The jewel for the Royal Clarence Lodge No. 560 (1790), showing various emblems, with ’belief and truth’ on the crest and ’devoted to secrecy and friendship’ around the edge. The crest shown on the left is actually the old crest of the London Grand Lodge in the 18th century which borrowed elements from the operative London Company of Masons.

Bro. Henry Lee Harvey

The Castle Semple Estate was bought from the McDowalls in 1815 by John Rae who inherited considerable wealth from the family of his mother, Elizabeth Harvey. On inheriting he took the name of Harvey. When he died in 1820, the estate passed to the family of his elder daughter, Margaret, wife of Major James Lee who came from a prominent Dublin family and had served with the Duke of Wellington. Again, on his wife’s inheritance, James Lee took the name of Harvey.

Bro. Harvey had married his cousin whose father was the 12th Earl of Buchan; they were a much loved family, remembered by memorial windows in Lochwinnoch Parish Church, Howwood Church and Holy Trinity Church in Paisley. Sadly, their only child, Alice, died aged nine and the graves of Henry, Elizabeth and Alice are side by side at the entrance to the Collegiate Church. Bro. Henry Lee Harvey affiliated to Lodge Garthland St. Winnoch in Lochwinnoch No.205 in November 1871. His mother lodge is not known, but he was master in 1871—73; he was not present at the meeting when he was elected and was the figurehead of the Lodge for his term of office although not a regular attender. He eventually took the office as Depute PGM of Renfrewshire East which might have been more honorary. Bro. Harvey inherited the estate in 1872 (died 1883) and eventually the family died out. The large estate became Castle Semple Park and the house became a ruin with small holdings.

Paper label reads, "Masonic Apron/ Daniel McDowell/ Unanimity Lodge of/ Edenton, North Carolina/ Entered June 1827/ Passed June 1827/ Raised July 1827" This lodge is based in Edenton, North Carolina, US and is now numbered 7. It is unknown if this is one of the MacDowells from Renfrewshire.

The main body of the apron consists of a centred pair of columns and arch resting upon a mosaic floor, representing the two pillars of King Solomon's Temple. Centred at the top of the arch is a crown. Under the arch is the letter "G" within a five-pointed blue star, the canopy of heaven, and the five points of fellowship. Below this is an open Bible with a square and compasses, and below this are three candles of the three Lesser Lights. At right of columns are the embroidered symbols: sun, level for equality; gauge or rule; beehive for industry; and trowel. At left of columns are the embroidered symbols of the moon and seven stars for the number needed to make a perfect lodge; scythe for time; hourglass for human life; ark and dove; and acacia sprig for immortality.

The third degree or Master Mason’s Degree is the culmination of our lodge system. The first degree concerning the governing of the passions, the second degree the adoring of the mind. The Master Mason’s Degree is considering the spiritual development and the great truth that there’s life after death. The real goal of the masonic degree system is a kind of masonic transformation whereby a man is transformed from the inside out, pursuing the right things in life as a matter of habit even Aristotle sought this type of transformation.

This degree is the climax of the teachings of the lodge, hence the name high and sublime. It is the culmination of all that has been taught to candidates in the two proceeding ceremonies. At this point, the candidate has symbolically balanced his inner natures and shaped them into a proper relationship with a higher, more spiritual parts, of himself. His physical nature has been purified and developed to a higher degree so that he’s ready to take on the Sublime Degree. Sublime is defined as being exalted or elevated so as to aspire awe and wonder. The degree portrays the removal of everything that keeps us from rising to that state of improvement from which we are able to absorb the great lessons of this degree.

One of the primary goals of the third degree is to symbolize the great doctrine of immortality which it accomplishes in a very dramatic fashion. One of the greatest lessons to a man from this degree is that having been faithful to his trust, he must at last die in order to obtain the ultimate rewards of this fidelity. His own self must die and a new one reborn as he prepares himself for the future. Each reexamination of this degree by a brother mason yields new meaning concerning these important lessons.