Preserving: ‘The Man Who Is Kind To Another’.

A group of Nottinghamshire masons were pleased to gather and give thanks for the life of Bro Richard Rome Bealey when the headstone of his grave was re-dedicated after renovation and resetting.

Richard Rome Bealey was born in 1828 into a fairly prosperous and philanthropic family, his father, Joseph, being a flannel and baize manufacturer in Rochdale. Richard’s father had married Mary, the daughter of David Rome, which is why the name Rome was adopted in the Bealey family. Richard was followed by twin brothers David Rome and Ralph born in 1830, but his father died just six weeks after the twin’s birth. Ralph died when just six years old and in due time David emigrated to Australia.

After a private education Richard was apprenticed in the drapery business in Manchester and graduated to become a Master Bleacher being skilful in the use of chemistry to bleach yarn, a very well paid and senior position and eventually was to become a chemical and yarn agent. In the 1850’s Richard frequently visited Scotland on business and made friends with Freemasons. In 1860 he was Initiated, Passed and Raised in Operative Lodge No 47 in Dundee, all in one evening, at the cost of £1/11/6d. However, the minute books of the lodge do not record any further visits. There is no record of him having joined a lodge in the English Constitution.

Richard was a Unitarian and a teetotal but took a great interest in Working Men’s Clubs and organised entertainments for them demonstrating his ‘charitable’ leanings.

Richard married in 1870 and fathered eight children.

Richard’s main interest was writing poetry and he became a member of, and secretary of, the Manchester Literary Club whilst writing prolifically. In 1866 he wrote a poem, “The man who is kind to another” in 1875 this was renamed “Here’s to his health in a song” which is now used world wide during Masonic Installation Meetings. This poem/song was set to music by Dr J M Bentley and first sung in Alexander Lodge No 993 in 1875. Richard’s association with Masonic ideals continued with pieces such as “We are Brethren everyone” and “If thy brother offend thee”. Bentley also composed music for Richard’s “Music in the twilight”. It was at this time that Richard’s fortunes began to change dramatically. Business began to wane and his poetic soirees, hosted by masons, did not attract audiences. (However, his son once wrote that Richard’s greatest joy was to give pleasure to others which did not fit with commercial life or the accumulation of wealth.) Richard moved to Nottingham in 1878 and lived firstly in Arnold and then after a short sojourn in Buxton, Derbyshire on Watcombe Circus, Carrington. In 1884 he published “Later life jottings” which included “Here’s to the Craft”. During this period it is thought he associated, as a visitor, with fellow Commercial Travellers in Commercial Lodge No 411.

After a protracted illness Richard died in 1887 and hence was buried in St John’s Church Yard, Carrington. Letters of praise appeared in the Lancashire and Nottinghamshire papers and the funeral was attended by many famous people amongst who was Mr W H Smith, secretary of the Nottingham Literary Club. He was left however in an unmarked grave.

(As Richard was not a subscribing mason he could receive no Masonic Charity but a number of Nottinghamshire and Scottish Lodges contributed to a fund for the relief of his wife and children who had been left destitute.)

He was joined by his wife who died in 1916 and then grave was then forgotten.

In 1943 the position of the grave was identified by Canon Hart, DPGM for Nottinghamshire, and in 1944 the PGL of Nottinghamshire placed a suitable headstone at the grave. In the same year Richard’s daughter Elsie Mary was found to be living in West Bridgford who received the Provincial Almoners support.

One historian comments on an interesting co-incidence in Richard’s life: Born February 7th. Initiated into a lodge with a charter dated February 6th Died February 5th.

It now falls to the present generation of Nottinghamshire Masons to honour this quiet ‘mason’ but well rehearsed and oft heard lyricist of Masonic, and Fraternal songs and poems.

Nottinghamshire Masonic Music Association.

(Thanks to D Goldie, PM of Lodge 47 for his work of which this is but a summary.)

Caption for photograph:

Supporters of the Nottinghamshire Masonic Music Association with the PGM RW R K Wilson together with the PGCh W Bro Rev’d D E Bennett who re-dedicated the memorial stone for Bro R R Bealey.