Notice Of Meetings.

tiou it has been my pleasure to receive . Let me also say how glad I am to see our dear Bro . Craig here . Let me offer my warmest wishes of a happy new year to him . We are all delighted to see that the years set so lightly upon him , and that he still retains his memory and the facile diction whioh has enabled him to go through

the ceremony so admirably . I only hope that when I arrive at his years I shall be able to do as well in this capacity as he now is . I thank Bro . Woodhouse P . G . J . W . and the present members of the Provincial Grand Lodge for so kindly receiving me , and you , brethren for your kind salutation given to the office which I have the honour

to occupy this evening . Although I have very often been in this beautiful room , and had the honour of visiting this Lodge , yet may I hope that it is not an impossible wish that the G . A . O . T . U . may permit us to see the jubilee of No . 304 , which will take place in nine years . I was glad to see on the Charity lists the names of Bros .

Bedford P . P . G . D ., and Bro . Craig P . P . G . D ., and in addition Bros . Bedford and Oates P . G . A . Dir . of Cers ., contributors to the Boys ' School . In the list of the current year I see that Bros . Craig and Bedford have placed their names on the list of the Benevolent ; and will act as Stewards at the Festival on the 22 nd of February . I

doubt not that in due course the Lodge will take into consideration the scheme initiated at the Charity meeting at Dewsbury , ou the 15 th instant . It was hoped at the meeting that we should be enabled to support the Widows' Fund in a jubilee manner worthy both of the Institution and of the Province of West Yorks . The Queen

is a widow , and I think nothing could have been more proper than the proposal of the Chairman of the Charity Committee of this Province ( Bro . Smithson P . P . G . D . ) that we should support the Widows' Fund . At the same time you have heard the letter from Lord Carnarvon read . Having just returned from London , where I

had several communications with the Grand Officers of England , I am able to tell you what their mind is on the subject . I think this is a very convenient time for me to say what I have to say on this subject , as I see the W . M . ' s of all the Leeds Lodges and several brethren from the adjoining province of North and East Yorkshire .

The Grand Lodge is putting great pressure upon Prov . G . M . ' s , and I in turn must also press upon the W . M . ' s of Leeds and of the Province to take up that letter and deal with it in a worthy and patriotic manner , and shew there will be no difficulty in sending up to Grand Lodge in a short time a satisfactory answer on this important

subject . It was the desire of the M . W . G . M . that the question should be taken up so as to demonstrate our attachment to himself and our beloved Queen . The idea rather favoured by Grand Lodge is this : I am informed that there are something like 70 , 000 subscribing members on the roll of Grand Lodge in England , and

throughout the various Provinces into which this conntry is for the purposes of Masonry divided . Besides that , there are about 100 , 000 Masons unattached to any Lodge , and who are therefore not subscribing members to the Grand Lodge . To them as well as to ourselves the privilege is offered of some loyal demonstration to H . R . H . the

Prince of Wales . It must also be distinctly understood that whatever demonstration does take place , whether at the Albert Hall or Olympia , that it cannot be in one sense a Grand Lodge opening , such as you see at the quarterly meetings of that body , because by their constitution Grand Lodge cannot make a charge for admission of

any brother . The demonstration will be simply one of loyalty to the Prince of Wales and devotion to the Queen . An address will be presented to H . R . H ., which will be given to the Queen , expressive of our sentiments of loyalty and devotion to our Grand Master and to our Queen . This will somewhat clear the ground , and enable

us to come to a decision on Lord Carnarvon's letter . I have visited , in company with Colonel Shadwell Gierke , the Palace of Olympia , which we calculate will accommodate 9000 Masons , and if such a number signified there intention of being present the admission fee would be reduced to one guinea . The Grand Lodge too is at the

present moment making arrangements with all the railways in this country to take Freemasons to London and back at one fare , no matter what class they choose to travel by . This being the case , with the admission at one guinea instead of two guineas , will reduce the cost of taking part in such a demonstration to a minimum .

Then again I think H . R . H . has fixed the maximum subscription for the National Institute at one guinea , but neither does H . R . H . nor the Grand Lodge expect every brother on the roll to give that amount ; as low as 2 s 6 d would be gladly accepted , or even ls from those who cannot afford more . I do hope that this information ,

given in the presence of so many brethren of my Province , will go through the length and breadth of the West Riding , and I hope all will take into consideration what I have said . I hope that I and the past and present members of the Provincial Grand Lodge of West Yorkshire will have the honour of sending to London the names of a

very large number of subscribers to this idea of the Royal Grand Master . His Highness hopes that every subscribing brother will give something , and that each subscribing brother's name may appear in a book which the M . W . G . M . intends to have bound and presented to her Majesty , as a palpable testimony of our affection for

our Royal G . M ., and loyalty to her person . I appeal to you to allow me to put pressure upon you to act promptly in this matter . When I put clown my guinea do not let me go with a beggarly following at my back . It would be painful to me if this thing were taken up in small numbers , because so long as I hold my position amongst you

from the Prince of Wales , it would be a painful reflection if I did not carry up to London the majority of the names of the 3 , 300 subscribing Masons of this Province . This matter is to be taken up as a test of affection and loyalty , and I think it will be a grand thing if we in this Province of West Yorkshire show in unmistakable terms

our loyalty to the Prince of Wales and onr undying affection to our most gracious Queen . Under these circumstances yon will not ask me to go to Grand Lodge as a feeble

representative of the patriotism of West Yorkshire . A Com . mittee was formed to take tho circular of Grand Lodge into consideration , and present a report to the next meeting of the Lodge . Bro . Mason P . M . P . P . G . Treasurer was unanimously re-elected to

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represent tho Lodgo on the Provincial Charity Committee , and Bros . Craig and Richardson on the Local Relief Committee . Hearty good wishes having been given , Lodge was duly closed , and the brethren adjourned to the banquet hall . The usual loyal and

patriotic toasts were given . The toast of tho Worshipful Master was proposed by the R . W . Prov . Grand Master Bro . Tew . A very pleasant and enjoyable evening was spent , greatly enhanced by the songs and recitations given by several of the brethren and visitors .

WILTSHIRE LODGE OF FIDELITY . No . 633

ON Friday , the 21 st ult ., the annual meeting of tho above Lodge took place at the Masonio Hall , Deviz _ s . After tho preliminary proceedings , and when ( in had opened the Lodge iu the third degree , the outgoing Worshipful Master , Bro . F . S . Hancock P . G . S . D . Wilts vacated the chair , which at hia request was taken by Bro . William

Nott P . M . P . P . G . S . W . Wilts , who duly installed , according to ancient custom , tho Worshipful Master , Bro . Thomas Carnal Hopkins S . W . for the past year . The uevvly-instsilled Master in investing the various Officers for the ensuing year , addressed them as to their several duties , and the usual addresses to the Worshipful Master ,

Wardens and Brethren wero delivered by the Installing Master . The following were the Officer ., invested : —Tucker S . W ., Johnson J . W ., Rev . W . Humphrya P . G . Ch . Salop Chaplain , Nott P . M . Treas ., Ward P . M . Secretary , Sloper S . D ., Baldwin J . D ., Burt P . M . Dir . of Cers ., Bush P . M . Organist , Cooper I . G ., House P . M ., Crees and

Iugpen Stewards , Barnes Tyler . There was a good attendance of members and Visitors , amongst the latter being Bros . Futcher P . M . 586 P . P . G . S . D . Wilts , Chandler P . M . 355 P . P . G . S . W . and P . D . C . Wilts , Bambridge I . P . M . 1533 P . P . G . O . Wilt ., Hill P . M . 632 ,

P . P . G . S . B . Wilts , Foley I . P . M . 632 , Farrington P . M . 1271 , & o . After Lodge was closed the brethren adjourned to the customary banquet at the Crown Hotel , towards which Brother Taylor , of Erlestoke Park , contributed , as usual , a supply of venison aud game ,

GREY FRIARS' LODGE , No . 1101

THE regular meeting was hold on tho 12 th January , at the Masonio Hall , Reading , wheu there were present Bros . W . Ravenscroft W . M .. R . Dowsett P . M . acting as I . P . M ., E . Margrett P . M . as S . W ., W . Hickie J . W ., J . T . Stransom Treasurer , J . Greenaway Secretary , C . Slaughter S . D ., B . W . Bennett as J . D ., T . J . Pulley P . M . D . C , T . P . Stewart as I . G ., H . G . Sherwin Organist , E . W . Ridley Stewd .,

W . Ferguson P . M ., W . W . Ridley P . M ., R . E . Hodder , and E . P Silver . Visitors : —Br ¦ .. Mariiu J . W ., Parry Secretary , Tirb . tt P . G . Organist , Livings , Ruddock 414 ; Tubbs J . W . 2043 , and Hayward Organist 414 , who on this occ-ision kindly undertook tho musical arrangements . The Lodue having been opened in due form , the

minutes of the last regular meeting were read and confirmed . Bro . Hodder was raised to the sublime degree of M . M ., and Messrs . W . C . Long and W . M . Colebrook were duly admitted and initiated into the mysteries of ancient Freemasonry the ceremony being performed by

the Wor . Master , assisted by Bro . R . Dowsett P . M . A candidate having been proposed for initiation , and other business transacted , the labours of the evening ended , and Lodge was closed according to ancient form , and adjourned .

DUKE OF CONNAUGHT LODGE . No . 1542

THE installation meeting of this flourishing Lodge was held at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet-street , on Thu .-d iy , the 27 th ultimo , when a large number of brethren assembled to W'tness the installation of Bro . Rudolf Polak as Worshipful Master , he having been nnnnimously elected to that important office at the preceding meeting . The brethren present included Arthur Ferrar W . M ., R .

Polak S . W . W . M . elect , G . Ferrar J . W ., W . H . Brand P . M . Treas ., W . H . Lee P . M . Prov . Assist . G . Sec . Middx . Secretary , A . R . Olley S . D ., W . Beasley J . D ., J . H . Rich I . G ., W . Wright Dir . of Cers ., E . Frisby Organist , W . Simpson and John Robinson Stewards ; P . M . ' s Brasted , 0 . Lorkin , J . L . Payne , E . Digoam ; also Bros . A . Brown ,

J . Rhodes , A . Langman , J . C . Davies , H . J . Allardyce , A . Leoffeler , R . Dallas , E . J . Turnbnll , E . Warden , P . W . Rogers , J . Varney , J . ¦ Sanniiter , J . A . Caperoe , S . A . East , H . J . Brookes , J . Goddard , J . " mncan , W . T . Oakley , E . Winch , W . Parsons , A . M . Archer , A . H . unith . A . Pettier , E . A . Harding , H . Pearse , VV . Tomson , J . H . Ellis ,

J . T . Larter , S . Stokes . Visitors—Bra , J . Archer 1685 , 0 . J . Grove J . W . 742 , S . Studd P . M . 1375 , J . McLaren 1805 , W . W . Lee 1897 , G . Bangh 518 , F . Wooton 1986 , J . R . Morford 569 , W . Darnell P . M . 1679 , 0 . Levett 1507 , H . Neville 1320 , J . Ardenne 1184 , R . Pasco 27 , D . Moss P . M . 1275 , J . Doyle 1926 . The Lodge having been opened ,

the minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed . Tho report of the Audit Committee was then dealt with ; it showed the funds of the Lodge to be in a healthy condition . The Benevolent Fund also proved prosperous , for notwithstanding a heavy demand hat recently been made upon it , a substantial balance remained

at the bankers . Brother Ellis was then passed to the second degree . Before tho installation ceremony was commenced Brother W . H . Lee P . M . Sec . drew the attention of the brethren to the serious loss the Lodge had sustained since its last meeting by the death of their much lamented Bro . Past Master Charles W .

Smyth . His sudden death was sincerely regretted by every member of the Lodge , for Bro . Smyth was highly respected and esteemed by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance . Kind and "onial in his nature , he was happy in the possession of those ' . rood

qualities which make alike the good man and th . good Maaon , his social good qualities causing him to be beloved by a large circle of friends . But while expressing the regret of the Lodge at his decease the thoughts of the brethren must naturally revert to those he bad