United Grand Lodge.

motion of the Acting Grand Master , seconded by Col . A . B . Cook . Another portrait of Earl Amherst Past Grand Master , subscribed for by the Mark Masons of Kent , was also in position , but as no representative of Kent was in attendance to make the formal presentation the ceremony was postponed until next meeting .

Masonry In Bradford.

MASONRY IN BRADFORD .

THE Provincial Grand Master of West Yorkshire , the Right Hon . W . L . Jackson , M . P ., had a somewhat busy time of it on Monday , at Bradford . As head of the West Yorkshire Freemasons he took part in the memorial stone laying at the Royal Victoria Institute for Nurses , by the Duke of Devonshire ; and in the afternoon was engaged in

consecrating a new Lodge at the Masonic Hall , Salem Street . Rarely have Freemasons the opportunity of witnessing two such important functions on one day . The newly consecrated Lodge , named Victoria , No . 266 9 , is an offshoot of the Harmony Lodge , No . 600 .

A Lodge in the usual degrees was opened by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master Bro . J . C . Malcolm , the S . W . and J . . 's chairs being occupied respectively by Bros . J . Young W . M . Hope Lodge , No . 302 , and J . Lawson W . M . Harmony Lodge , No . 600 . Shortly afterwards the

Provincial Grand Master , accompanied by the Duke of Devonshire , and followed by present and past Provincial Grand Officers , was received in due form . The Provincial Grand Master having taken the chair , Bro . W . F . Smithson assumed that of S . W ., and Bro . G . H . Smith , Mayor of Halifax , that of J . W .

The Provincial Grand Master said they were honoured by a visit from a Brother they were all pleased to see . The Brethren responsible for the new Lodge were happy , especially this year , in naming it " Victoria . " Referring to the presence of the Duke of Devonshire , he remarked that

his Grace had conferred an honour on the Lodge by attending its first meeting . The Duke had stamped his name indelibly upon the history of the country , and shown an unflinching patriotism which the breaking of party ties , personal

inclination , and personal sacrifice had in no way tendered to diminish . If there was one conspicuous trait in the Duke ' s character , it was that of sturdy common sense . They were glad to see his Grace .

The Duke of Devonshire briefly acknowledged the salutations of the gathering . He said that in his public service he had simply been actuated by a desire to do his duty to the best of his knowledge and ability . If , in the course of that duty , he had had to make any sacrifices , he had

been amply repaid by the warm approval of those who shared his opinions , and by the generous toleration and sympathy which had been extended to him by his political

opponents . His Masonic duties were not those he had most faithfully attended to , but he had been fortunate in having secured the servicss of an excellent Deputy Master , under whom Freemasonry in Derbyshire was rapidly increasing .

The ceremony of consecration was then proceeded with . At the conclusion the Provincial Grand Master retired , the ceremony of installing the first Worshipful Master of the

new Lodge Bro . C . Crabtree P . M . Harmony Lodge P . P . G . D . being psrformed by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master Bro . J . C . Malcolm . After having been inducted , the newly installed W . M . invested his Officers for the ensuing year . At the conclusion of the ceremony the brethren sat down to a banquet at the Victoria Hotel . — " Leeds Mercury . "

New Hall At Worcester.

NEW HALL AT WORCESTER .

A NEW Masonic Hall was opened at Worcester on Monday . Both the Worcester Lodges came together some years back in the Masonic Hall in Hi gh Street , but that building did not afford sufficient accommodation , and the movement to erect a new Masonic Hall has been in existence since the Jubilee year , 1887 , when it was thought

that , in consequence of the building of the Victoria Institute some of the public buildings of the city might be obtained . A company was formed , Bro . A . F . Godson , M . P ., present Grand Master of the Province was elected chairman , and

Bro . W . T . Page , now Provincial Grand Secretary , was appointed Secretary . The buildings not being obtainable , a site in St . Nicholas Street was purchased , and a new and handsome building has been erected . The elevation of the building , which is of red brick and terra-cotta , is of classical

New Hall At Worcester.

design . The approach is from Trinity Street , and the hall has on the semi-basement spacious kitchen , store room , and cellarage . Approached by a broad staircase , the diningroom is reached . It is 44 ft . 6 in . by 32 ft . 4 m ., and 14 ft high , and on this floor are cloak rooms , and a room set apart for

the Provincial" Museum . The large room is over the diningroom , and the dimensions are similar , but the height is 17 ft . 6 in . On this floor are Tyler ' s and ante-rooms . The buildings have been erected by Messrs . J . Wood and Son ( Bros . J . S . Wood and J . Joseland ) from the plans of Bro . Alfred B . Rowe ( of Messrs . Henry Rowe and Son ) .

The buildings were opened on Monday evening at a combined meeting of the Worcester Lodge , No . 280 , and Semper Fidelis Lodge , No . 529 , by the respective Worshipful Masters Bros . G . W . King and F . H . Williams . The Provincial Grand Master attended , and having been received

with the usual honours , was conducted to the chair , and declared the rooms open for Masonic purposes . He then called upon Bro . G . F . Hough Provincial Grand Chaplain , also Chaplain to the Worcester Lodges , who delivered an appropriate dedicatory address , after which a special hymn

was sung , composed for the occasion , and set to music by Bro . C . B . Shuttleworth Assistant Organist of Lodge No . 280 . The Lodge being closed , the Provincial Grand Master

presided at an inaugural banquet , being supported by the Worshipful Masters of the two Lodges . The toast of '' The Masonic Building" was drunk , in addition to the usual Masonic toasts .

Herefordshire Charity Association.

HEREFORDSHIRE CHARITY ASSOCIATION .

THE twentieth annual meeting of the members of this very useful Association was held at the Green Dragon Hotel , Hereford , on Monday , the 30 th ult . The chair was taken by Bro . Thomas Smith P . P . S . G . W ., the other members of the Association present being Bros . Edward Maddison , W . W . Eobinson , John Marchant , T . Godwin Chance , and William Earle Honorary Secretary . The following report and statement of the accounts was read and adopted : —

Your Committee have the pleasure of submitting their repcrt for the j ear 1896 , and have again to thank Bro . T . Godwin Chance ( P . M . 120 ) for 200 copies of the report for 1895 . At last year ' s meeting the ballot for votes re .-ulted in seven life subscriberships , which were obtained by Bros . A . Outfield , Sir J . B . Bailey , Bart , ( two ) , E . C . Gurney , W . T . Sale , G . 14 . Sinclair , ancl the Palladian Chapter , all of whom elected to take votes in tho Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , inasmuch as two Herefordshire boys are now in that school at a cost to the Institution of about £ 80 a year .

Since its formation in August 1878 , this local Association has remitted to the Masonic Institutions the sum of £ 1 , 002 15 s . An average of more than £ 50 a year . These remittances have secured 177 life subscriberships , yielding yearly 354 votes for the Masonic Institutions , of which , without the aid of this Association , few only would have been obtained .

Vour Committee are much gratified that , mainly through the exei tions of Bro . W . Earle , the Hon . Secretary , more than £ 1 , 000 has been collected by this Association , which result for some years past has been the desire of Bro . Earle before his retirement from office . In conclusion , your Committee again add that this Province certainly ought to have done more than it has hitherto done for the Masonic Institutions , looking to the fact that our candidates have beeu very successful . The Treasurer ' s cash statement for 1896 is presented herewith .

T . SMITH P . P ..-. G . W . W . EAHLE Secretary Hereford , August , 1897 . " Bro . Earle , much to tho regret of the Brethren , announced that he felt constrained , after having held office for twenty years , to resign the

Secretaryship , whereupon the following resolution was unanimously and cordially adopted : — " That the most grateful thanks of the Association be and are hereby given to Bro . W . Earle for his great services to the cause of Masonic Charity in the Province of Hereford , as Hon . Secretary to the Association during the very long period of twenty years . "

It was also resolved , on the proposition of Bro . Earle , seconded by Bro . Smith , that Bro . T . Godwin Chance be appointed to succeed Bro . Earle as Hon . Secretary to the Association . The ballot was then taken , and resulted in the following life subscriberships to the Masonic Institutions , viz : —Bros . Sir Joseph B . Bailey , W . C . Gethen , A . B . Green , G . W . Starr , Wm . Hampton , and W . B Walker .

The Committee for the ensuing year was then appointed , as follows : — President , Bro . W . Earle ; Vice-President , Bro . Jjhn Marchaut ; Treasurer Bro . H . C . Beddoe ; Secretary , Bro . T . Godwin Chance ; for the Palladian Lodge , Bro . G . B . Sinclair ; for the Vitruvian Lodge , Bro . Charles Bootes ; for the Boyal Edward Lodge , Bro . W . T . Sale ; for the Eastnor Lodge , Bro ! Edward Maddison ; for the Arrow Lodge , Bro . Dr . Billiard . Auditors , Bros ! Thomas Smith and Thomas Blinkhorn .

A cordial vote of thanks to the Chairman , Bro . Beddoe Treasurer , and Bro . Earle Secretary brought tbe proceedings to a close . It appears that until the year 1878 the Province of Herefordshire was somewhat noted in the Masonic world for the sinallness of the sum it had contributed to tho Institutions , although several Herefordshire children had been boarded and educated in the Masonic Schools , and some of the ancient

local-Brethren and their widows had for many jears received annuities from the Benevolent Institution . In thc year referred to Bro . Wm . Eaile , during his Mastership of the Palladian Lodge , Hereford , took the preliminary steps towards forming the local association , and has since continued the Honorary Secretaryship , from which every member of the Association deeply regrets his retirement . — " Hereford Mercury . "