Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

announced amounted to upwards of £ 11 , 000 . Our Charity Committee reports five candidates for our votes at tho elections , and may I hopo that you will all , without delay , send in your voting papers to tho Committee , so that they may not bo hampered iu the conduct of tho elections and givo disappointment to expectant applicants , when success ought to crown united exertions , aud tho moro as by Bro .

Shaw ' s death wo lose 11-1 votes , which he always placed at the disposal of tho Charity Committee . Since preparing my address , I havo been informed of tho election of three out of the livo candidates . ( Loud applause . ) It is with delicacy I refer , as does the charity roport , to the failuroof a Loudon bank in which the voluntary contributions of tho craft , to the extent of £ 2 , 689 had been intrusted .

Tho late Graud Treasurer , ifc appears , was connected with this banking linn . A committee has been appointed to consider and report upou the finance arrangements generally , and those relating to the lato Grand Treasurer . Tho pecuniary loss to the craft is moro thau was at first anticipated . A proposal has been placed on the agenda papoi- by tho Provincial Grand Registrar and his successor for

augmenting the charitable resources at the disposal of this Provincial Grand Lodge . My deputy thinks tho time has arrived , and that this is a fitting opportunity , for the consideration of a fund of benevolence for West Yorkshire . Should you bo pleased to entertain the Registrar's moderate proposal , tho paragraph would , when confirmed , become incorporated by attachment to that particular bye-law , aud be

construed as a part of it by affiliation . Those brethren think by this proposal , a foundation would be laid on which hereafter might bo consolidated a " fund of Masonic benevolence , " solely devoted to charity , worthy of the libcraland munificient traditionsof thisgonerons province . Tho proposal has for one of its objects tho separation of the annual current expenditure of the adminstration of this province from the receipts ,

to bo exclusively devoted to charitable purposes , such as are petitions for relief , etc . By placing the financial receipts of this proposal for the establishment of a charitablo fund under the control of the Charity Committee , the pecuniary influence and usefulness"of this most represeutativo body would bo greatly and permanently consolidated , and its voting power at the olections year by year could be

cumulatively increased and strengthened . Should there be anything in bye-law No . 42 which may on constitutional precedent hinder the promoter and seconder introducing this proposal for discussion , I and my deputy ask your permission for its temporary suspension , so as to enable this meeting of tho craft to tako cognisance of and deal with this proposal to tho extent contained within itself . Only ono more

topic must I touch upon , which ought not to be passed over ; I refer to the resolutions of Grand Lodgo on the French question . These resolutions I received from London , and requested my deputy to transmit them to the Worshipful Masters of all Lodges under my jurisdiction , with directions to havo them read in open Lodgo , at its next meeting after their receipt , and afterwards permanently fixed in

tho minute-book . With us a candidate cannot be admitted who is without belief in tho G . A . O . T . U . Tho first article of our incomparable Book of Constitution says , " A Freemason of all men should best understand that Jehovah seoth not as man secth , for man looketh at tho outward appearance , but Jehovah looketh at tho heart . " Therefore there is no place in our Lodges for one who has no belief in a

Supreme Being . We aro dependent on Him for life and health and all things . He demands tho entire consecration of the intellect , the heart , the physical powers to His work and glory here , and that wo may be fitted for the resurrection and tho Grand Lodge above , ( Applause . ) Iu conclusion , permit me to say that , having examined the annual returns of tho Lodges , I find an increase of 88 now members

admitted over the numbers of the previous year . With 810 Worshi p , fnl Masters and Past Mastors on our rolls , the difficulty of choosing names for the entering year is one of anxiety and delicacy ; because out of so large a list of meritorious brethren I am utterly unable , to my groat regret , to provide them with Provincial Grand Lodge recognition ; therefore those Lodges from whom members aro about to receive the appointment of office must accept aud consider it iu theso brethren

as equivalent to the highest houour in my power to bestow . Again I heartily thank the outgoing Provincial Grand Officers for the work thoy have accomplished and assistance rendered to me and to my deputy during their year of office . ( Applause . ) Bro . Tew having briefly replied , tlio roll of Lodges was called over , showing that 61 out of 61 Lodges in tho province wero represented , thero being about 400 brethren present , one of the largest gatherings for somo time .

The next business was tho investing of Provincial Officers for the ensuing year , as follows : — S . G . W Bro . Rev . A . W . Hamilton-Gell , 139 , Sheffield . J . G . W „ J . R . Armitage , 302 , Bradford . G . Chaplain ... „ Eev . William Collins Leekis , M . A ., 837 , Ripon . lievIsrael arkinson

„ ... „ . i ' , iVl . A .., bl , Halifax . G . Treasurer . ... „ it . I . Critchley , 208 , Dewsbury—re-elected . G . Registrar ... „ J . C . Malcolm , 306 , and 304 , Leeds . G . Secretary . ... „ H . Smith , 3 S 7 , Wakefield . S . G . D „ T . Ruddock , 275 , Huddersfield .

J . G . D „ W . B . Alderson , 495 , Wakefield . G . H . of W „ A . H . Kirk , 208 , Dewsbury . G . D . C „ F . W . W . Booth , 387 , Shipley . G . A . D . C „ Wm . Cooke , 1 , 302 , Halifax .

G-S . Bearer ... ., F . M . Tindall , 1 , 239 , Sheffield . G . Organist ... ,, U . Harvey , 904 , ltotherham . G . Pars „ R . D . Kendall , 1 , 283 , Sowcrby Bridge . G . A . Purs „ H . F . Ward , 458 , Goole . G . Steward ... „ G . F . Crow , 1 , 211 , Leeds .

,, „ J . Fawcett , 904 , ltotherham . „ ... „ D . A . Shaw , 827 , Batley Carr . ., „ J . Hoodie , 1 , 012 , Leeds . ' ' , ... „ AV . W . Macvay , 1 , 512 , Castleford .

„ ... „ W . Pratt , 1 , 034 , Eccleshill . G . Tyler „ J . Lee , 290 , Huddersfield . G . A . Tyler ,,. „ J . Sheard , 208 , Dowsbnry .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

A proposition of Bro . J . G . Hutchinson , P . Prov . G . Regis ., seconded by Bro . Malcolm , Prov . G . Regis ., to alter the 53 rd bye-law , for the purpose of establishing a local fund for charitable purposes , caused considerable discussion ; and au amendment to defer tho further consideration of tho matter for threo moutli 3 was ultimately carried by a largo majority .

A voto of condolence to tha widow aud family of the lato Bro . Beutloy Shaw , P . D . Prov . G . M ., expressing tho heartfelt sympathy of tho Provincial Grand Lodge , was then unanimously carried . It was stated that for the purpose of perpetuating tho memory of tho lato Bentley Shaw , Sir II . Edwards offered to subscribe £ 50 to .

wards £ 1 , 050 to obtain a , presentation to tho Girls' School to be called the Bentley Shaw presentation . The Provincial Grand Lodge was then closed , after which many of the brethren repaired to the Queen ' s Hotel and partook of a sump , tnons banquet , following which the usual loyal , patriotic , and Masonic toasts wore given and heartily received .

Was Pope Pius Ix. A Mason?

WAS POPE PIUS IX . A MASON ?

WHAT AN EXAMINATION OP THE RECORDS REVEALS .

IT has frequently been asserted with a degree of confidenco that the late Pope Piu 3 IX ., known as Mastai Ferretti , beforo his election to tho Papal throne was a member of the Masonic fraternity under the jurisdiction of tho Grand Lodgeof Pennsylvania . Many believed , and still believe , that tho late Popo united with the craft , but subsequently withdrew from it , and became one of its most relentless op . ponents . Ifc is not a difficult matter to discover the truth or falsity

of any statement relative to this or that man who claims to be , or of whom it is asserted , is a Mason ; for so complete are the records of tho Grand Lodge of this or any other Masonic jurisdictiou , that an examination will always establish the fact ono way or the other . So much has been said of the late Pope's Masonic connection , that a representative of tho PRESS yesterday mado an investigation of tho

matter , with the result as given below , which will be found of interest not only to the membership of the Masonio order , but to every reader who has never crossed the threshold of a Lodgo-room . Upon visiting tho new Masonic Temple , the reporter was directed to the office of tho Keystone , a Masonic weekly , whoso editor , Clifford P . McCalla , Esq ., Past Master of Concordia Lodge , No . 67 , of this city , somo timo

ago published a full and exhaustive article upon the subject . On visiting Mr . McCalla , at his office , that gentleman stated that he did not think that Mastai Ferretti was ever a Mason so far as tho Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania had any jurisdiction . He had carefully examined tho records at tho now Masonic Temple , at Broad aud Filbert Streets , and had given to the readers of his paper tho results of his

research . Ho then courteously handed tho PRESS representative a copy of the Keystone , which contained quite a lengthy and exhaustive article upon this subject , from which the following extracts have bc 6 n taken : "So far as Philadelphia is concerned , Mastai Ferretti was never made a Mason in any Lodgo of this city , and we are prepared to say that he was never mado a Mason in any Lodge working under

tho jurisdiction of the Grand Lodgo of Pennsylvania , or in any foreign country included in the Masonio jurisdiction thereunto belonging . There is a shadow of proof that he was a Mason in Havana , in a Lodgo which at the timo was working nndor tho Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania . An examination of the books and records at tho Temple shows that on March 2 , 1818 , tho Grand Lodge warranted Los Dclicias do la

Havana , No . 157 , working in Havana , Cnba . Tho Lodgo surrendered its warrant June 4 , 1821 , at which time it came under tho jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Havana . On November 17 , 1819 , Martin Ferrety was raised to the sublimo degreo of M . M . in this Lodge . On December 17 , 1804 , tho Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania warranted Lodge La Temple des Vertus Theologias , No . 103 . Tho Lodge

surrendered its warrant at tho same time as tho above named Lodgo . In Lodge La Temple , Juan Augustus Ferrety was made a Mason January 15 , 1815 . He resigned March 21 , 1817 , and affiliated with Lodge Les Delicias de la Havana , No . 157 , in which ho was crafted and raised . Martin Ferrety and Juan Augustus Ferrety are the only Ferretys on the records of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania . " Ib

wilt be seen that these names are spelled Ferrety and nob Ferretti , which latter was the Pope ' s name . Whether Pius IX . joined a Lodge in Havana under an assumed name is a question that cannot be answered . The shadow of proof is iu that direction , for one of the Ferretys may havo been the late Sovereign Pontiff . At any rate , tho only record of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania is as above given .

It cannot be said , however , with any degree of authority , that Pio Nono was not a Mason . The fact that he was a Catholic , devotedly attached to a church whose feelings and prejudices are strongly against all secret societies , especially the Masonic fraternity , might have induced him to adopt one of the names abovo given , in order to conceal tho fact of his connection with the Order . As Mastai Ferretti ,

he never was affiliated with any Lodge under the junsdition of the Grand Lodge of the State of Pennsylvania , and iu truth he might say so . His admirers aud co-religionists could also with considerable force deny any of the assertions that ho was ever raised to the sublimo degree of a M . M . in any Masonic Lodge . In so far as the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania is concerned , the statements that he never

was a Mason would seem to be entirely borne out ; but this fact as already stated must be kept in mind—he may have been one of tho two Ferrety's . It should bo said , however , that the Masons of this city have been just as anxious to discover the truth as the faithful of tho Church have been zealous in denying all the statements that ho ever had anything to do with ancient Masonry . —The "Press" of Philadelphia .