Symbols.

we thus keep within these hounds ifc is hardly possible to " err materially . " The origin of this symbol is variously stated . By some it is represented as " an abstruse allusion to the old sunwoiship " being abstruse we will nofc pursue the thought in that direction .

While in modern days the two parallel lines are made to represent the Saints John , in reality they refer to " particular periods in the sun ' s annual course , in which he has reached his greatest northern and southern limit , being the 21 st of June and 22 nd of December . " ( Mackey . ) This

being true the allusion to the patron saints is altogether arbitrary , but as the anniversaries of the saints were at these dates , their names seem to have been appropriately used . Maokey says that "the true interpretation of the point within the circle is the same as that of the Master

and Wardens of a Lodge , preserving the symbolism of the Lodge and the world . "The Master and Wardens are symbols of the sun—the Lodge , of the universe or the world . " This symbol has led many earnest Masons to believe that the Saints John were Masons , but there is not sufficient

evidence of such a thought to form the least approach to fact . The name of St . John the Baptist was very early used as a patron saint to the Lodge ; the other was not adopted until after the sixteenth century ; but early Masons

did not claim that either were Masons . We shonld , therefore , abandon the legend of their being Masons , but should cling to the principles of purity embodied in the symbol . —Voice of Masonry .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF WEST YORKSHIRE .

A PROVINCIAL Grand Lodge waa holden in the Cutlers' Hall , Sheffield , on Wednesday , 22 nd October , afc 2 . 15 p . m ., under the banner of Ivanhoe Lodge , No . 1779 , when the Worshipfnl Brother William Tew , J . P ., P . M . 910 , Past Grand Deacon of England , Deputy Provincial Grand Master , presided . There were also present Bros . Simeon Hayes as Prov . S . G . W ., George Motley Wand , J . P ., Prov . J . G . W . ; J . Batley , Ensor Drury , John Booth , Isaac Booth , and Lieut .

Colonel J . Day Past Prov . G . Wardens ; Eevs . Canon E . Bnllock and W . T . M . Sylvester Prov . G . Chaplains ; Rev . P . F . J . Pearce Past Prov . G . Chaplain ; James Henry Oration Prov . G . Treasnrer , Jonas Craven P . P . G . W . as Prov . G . Registrar , Henry Smith Prov . G . Secretary , Benjamin Hutchinson and Joseph Lowenthal Prov . S . G . Deacons * Henry W . Pawson P . as Prov . J . G . Deacon , Reuben

Williamson Prov . J . G . Deacon ; William Longden , John F . Moss , W . B . Alderson , John Fawcetfc , William Robert Thomas , M . D ., Robert Craig and William Delanoy Past Prov . Grand Deacons , Thomas Winn Prov . G . Superintendent of Works , John Beanland , G . W . Hawksley , Charles Gott , and John Barker Past Prov . G . Superintendents of Works ; Joseph W . Monckman Prov . G , D . C , Hugh S . Holdsworth

Prov . G . Depnty D . C , Thomas Collinson P . as Prov . Assistant G . D . C , L . W . Roddewig , Samuel Slack , and George Perkin Pasfc Prov . G . D . C , George Pearson Prov . G . Sword Bearer , Robert Arnison and Henry Joseph Garnett Past Prov . G . Sword Bearers , James France and Alfred Austin Prov . Grand Standard Bearers , John William Phillips , Samuel Suckley , and J . Needham Pickering Prov . G . Organists ; Herbert G . E . Green Prov . Assistant Grand Secretary , John Seed

Prov . Grand Pursuivant , William Cockroft Prov . Assistant Graud Pursuivant , Joseph Cawthorn , John Richardson , William Schofield , Thomas Barber , J . L . Gates , end William Hall Pasfc Prov . Grand Pursuivants ; Henry T . E . Holmes and Moses Perkin as Prov . Grand Stewards , Robert Schott , James Wright , James Bedford , and Joseph Brailsford jun . Prov . Grand Stewards ; Joshua Lee Prov . Grand Tyler , Jonas Sheard Prov . Assistant Grand Tyler ; also W . Masters , Past Masters , Acting Wardens and brethren from Lodges 61 , 139 , 149 ,

208 , 242 , 258 , 264 , 265 , 275 , 290 , 296 , 302 , 304 , 306 , 307 , 308 , 380 , 387 , 401 , 408 , 448 , 458 , 495 , 521 , 600 , 603 , 652 , 827 , 904 , 910 , 971 , 974 , 1001 , 1018 , 1019 , 1034 , 1042 , 1102 , 1108 , 1211 , 1221 , 1231 , 1239 , 1301 , 1302 , 1311 , 1462 , 1513 , 1514 , 1542 , 1645 , 1648 , 1736 , 1779 . 1783 , 2035 .

Letters of apology for unavoidable absence were received from Bros . Scarborough , Parkinson , Town , and Gaukroger 61 , Binney and Webster 139 , Cadman 154 , Critchley 208 , Pickles 253 , Wright , Mellor , Ruddock , and Starkey 275 Kay , Williamson , Greaves , and Milnes 289 ; Bartolome 296 , Broughton , Barlow , and Hill 302 ; Ellisdon , Malcolm , and Freeman 306 , Blackburn 337 , Steward 380 ,

Atherton 439 , Whitaker 448 , East 458 , Colonel Hartley and Senior 495 , Althorp 600 , Davies and Pickersgill 837 , Lord 910 , Willey , Lnpton , Briggs , and Evans 974 ; Smithson , Ackrill , and Harvy 1001 ; Banister 1018 , Wordsworth 1019 , Ibberson 1102 , Fourness 1211 , Levy and Moore 1221 , Sunderland 1301 , Marshall 1283 , Pearson 1311 , Pollard 1522 , Macvay 1542 , Stephenson and Loveless 1648 .

Visitors—Bros . J . S . Cumberland and T . B . Whytehead P . M . 's 1611 P . P . G . Wardens North and East Yorkshire , A . E . Nugee No . 14 , Galway . The Lodge was opened in the three degrees by Bro . C . H . Gilbert Hay W . M ., and Officers of Ivanhoe Lodge , No . 1779 , afc two o'clock ,

and at 2 * 15 the Worshipfnl Bro . Thos . William Tew , J . P ., Past Grand Deacon of E ., D . P . G . M ., and the Provincial Grand Officers entered , and Provincial Grand Lodge was opened in form ; solemn prayer was offered , and a portion of Holy Scripture read by the Provincial Grand Chaplains .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

Tbe Worshipfnl Depnty Provincial Grand Master was sainted according to ancient custom , aud delivered the followiug Address : — Officers and Brethren of Provincial Grand Lodge , —Tho cirenmstances under which we assemble at Sheffield for onr October gather , ing are somewhat exceptional , the chair not being occupied by the Provincial Oraud Master , the office beinsr , as it ' w-pre , in abeyance ,

there hiving been a regular succession of Grand Masters to govern this Province since its constitution at WakehVld in 1823 . Under the administration of its illustrious Grand Masters , Lord Mexborough , the Marqness of Ripon , and Lieut .-Colonel Sir Henry Edwards , Bart ., the Lodges have multiplied from nineteen to sixtyseven , aud Freemasonry has prospered in a remarkable manner under

their salutary administration of our antient laws and regulations , because to each of these governors the brethren have over rendered a cheerful obedience and loyalty . To-day this Province is without an active Provincial Grand Master . The Deputy , by a rule in the New Book of Constitutions , has autho . rity to summon Provincial Grand Lodge for the despatch of business .

The Province being under the charge of the Provincial Grand Officers for tbe time being , tbe indulgence of the brethren is claimed in the administration of its affairs until our Eoyal Grand Master , who has fche retirement of Sir Henry Edwards before him , exercises his prerogative in the appointment of his successor . Whoever thia may be , whether Royal Duke or Noble Lord , or some titled

personage , the allegiance of the brethren will be given fco the occupant of this office , . as it has been to those who have preceded and governed ns with ability and success . Of all loyal bodies of men on the face of this earth , there is not one which can surpass the Provincial Grand Lodge of West Yorkshire in dutiful faithfulness to any appointment the Prince of Wales may choose to make .

On the 2 nd of June , the Deputy received a communication from Sir Henry Edwards , " to make known his intention of retiring from the Provincial Grand Mastership , " and to " accompany the determination of his withdrawal with an unmistakable feeling of gratitude to the Prince of Wales , for his gracious permission to act so long in this capacity , and thankfulness to all the Lodges and Chapters for

the uniform kindness , support , and forbearance invariably manifested towards him , thus enabling him to fulfil his Masouic obligations taken at his installation afc Halifax in 1875 . " To this wish of the Prov . Grand Master , the Depnty felt bound to comply ; aud a circular letter , dated the 18 th June 1884 , was accordingly issued to the W . M . ' s of all the Lodges in the West Riding . This

communication will therefore be read to you , and entered on the Minntes . With thafc delicacy of mind so characteristic of the sensitive natnre of onr Prov . Grand Master , he wished that his determination to retire should be received by the Lodges " sub silentio . " This command has been respected , and although the Lodges have passed sympathetic resolutions , these havo been transmitted to me , and , as opportunity

has occurred , I havo conveyed their expressions of sympathy and regret . A more formal resolution ia on the agenda paper , thanking tho Prov . Grand Master for his services to the Craft , deploring the cause of his retirement , and expressing our gratitude and unshaken confidence for the manner in which he has maintained the dignity of this Provincial Grand Lodge , and our fervent desire that tbe Great

Architect of the Universe may yet give him many years of life , to adorn his high station and " to render himself serviceable to his fellow creatures " in that beneficent manner of which he has ever shown himself to be so remarkable and brilliant an example . It is gratifying to know that he does nofc intend to withdraw his name from this Prov . Grand Lodge .

Since we assembled at Huddersfield , in April , for the annua meeting , several communications have been made to me respecting the Encyclical Letter of Pope Leo XIII . with reference to Freemasonry , and inquiring whether this Prov . Grand Lodge would have an opportunity of recording a protest against the charges , and to affirm with all the force and solemnity that we can bring to bear that

they are based upon complete and total misapprehension of tho principles of Freemasonry . An identical proposition , in harmony with thafc passed by the Grand Lodge of England on the 4 th of June , is on the paper for your consideration . Tho Bishop of Eome has declared that Freemasonry is mere " Naturalism ; " thafc ifc takes human nature and human reason as its guide and rnle in all things .

As evidence against the Pontiff ' s judgment that the Masonic sect is merely naturalistic , we appeal to the Antient Charges , to our Book of Constitutions and to onr Regulations , oue and all breathing a spirit of religion and of obedience to the " Volume of the Sacred Law , which rales and governs oar faith . " The Lodges of West Yorkshire , and their members , in their lives and morals , and the practice of the

principles upon which Masonry is founded , and above all , our illustrious rulers , are a refutation of the condemnatory assertions of this Encyclical Letter . I am persuaded that our " Gracious Qneen on her throne , the constitution of this realm , social order , faith , education and religion " ( and I use the words of the Pro Grand Master ) " have no stronger friends , nor firmer pillars to rest upon , than the Masonio

body in England . Our Order , governed by principles of Love and Charity , deals with the moral and social improvement of humanity and the amelioration of suffering in the world . We fight , not over creeds and faiths , but we have our faith , even in the greafc Church of thePatriarchs , the Prophets and fche Apostles , the Church of the ages thafc have passed and tho ages that are yet to come . Bnt we

help fche orphan , the widow , the aged , ancl decayed , who having been brought by unforeseen misfortune to poverty or distress , have troubles to be alleviated and griefs to be assuaged ; and these we seek to mitigate . As we protested at oar Quarterly Meeting at Leeds , on the 24 th April 1878 , against the action of the " Grand Orient of France " for expunging from its Statute Book a belief in the

Supreme Being of the Universe , Provincial Grand Lodge feels in to be a duty to the Lodges , to yourselves , and to the honourable fraternity to which we belong , to support Grand Lodge in entering our protest against the misstatements of facts in this Encyclical Letter . The Grand Orient of Italy has sent a circular to the Lodges throughout tho world , suggesting a common protest should be made