Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

who , on tho day of his installation of His Eoyal Highness the Princo of AVales as Grand Master of England , was described by our royal Grand Master as tho youngest entered apprentice in tho Craft , has boon united in marriage to tho Princess Louise Marguerite of Prussia . We offer the congratulations of the Craft in this Province , uot only

to her Majesty , the Patroness of our Order , but also to the newlywedded royal couple . May this bride and bridegroom realise the heartfelt aspirations of tho Craft that there will be a most ample fulfilment of the promise ratified iu the ancient chapel of St . George , at Windsor , of a happy and contented married life . ( Applause . ) Our Poet Laureate has said of his typical English

Margaret—From the westward-winding flood , From tho evening lighted wood , From all things you havo won , A tearful grace as though you stood Between the rainbow and the snn

The now English Margaret has indeed a tearful grace , and on Thursday the 13 th March , in St . George's Chapter , this royal lady stood indeed " between the rainbow and the sun . " ( Applause . ) The time has again come round when I must part officially with most of the acting Provincial Grand Lodge Officers , and select others to fill their chairs for the coming year . Tho demands upon the services of

these retiring brethren have been indeed excessive during tho year just closing , I thank all the outgoing Officers for their zoal , and tho ready performance , of their , at times , difficult duties ; and , perhaps , moro particularly the Eegistrar , on whoso time , patience , and legal knowledge this province has largely drawn . But in the annual constitutional change of officers comos the most difficult , onorous , and

disagreeable of my duties—so many worthy brethren on whom I should like to confer Provincial Grand Lodgo recognition , and so few official favours to bestow . I always approach this duty with difficulty , anxiety , and delicacy , viz : —Out of a long list , yearly increasing in number , to select names for the ensuing year of the most energetic , able , and zealous Past Masters . Those brethren , therefore ,

who shortly will receive from me the appointment of office must , nnder tho difficult circumstances by which I am surrounded , accept even tho lowest office it is iu my power to offer them as the equivalent of the highest position in tho Craft . It is not by placing yon in a chair that I can best confer recognition on your Masonic labours . I want you to feel your work in the Craft jis far more precious than

that which Lodge rank confers . It is because your labours and generosity cause your names to bo respected in every Lodge , it is because yon give to your Masonic work something which to my mind is far more precious and rare than the mere merit of the apron of Provincial Grand Lodge—intelligence , and the single-hearted devotion of a well-spent Masonic life , I thank you all , and honour these

Past Masters because they havo helped the Lodges within and the brethren without , and because thoy have touched the chords which have evoked tho impulses of benevolence and charity towards others who conld not without assistance help themselves , either within or outside tho walls of the Lodge . It is for their mental and administrative endowim its I appreciate and recognise and

thank them mo . 4 ; for ihoir examples of fortitude , prudence , and justice . The best of endowments and the most enduring reward they can posse .-s is the memory thoy leave in their Lodges , which impels tl ose who come after them to strenuous efforts and exalted aims . 1 accept tho invitation of tho Scarborough Lodge , No . 121-1 , to meet afc Batley in October , the place of tho next

Provincial Grand Lodge gathering . Inconsequence of the depression of trade , aud other matter , ' , which I named at Barnsley , at the last quarterly meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodgo , I deem it inexpedient this year to hold to intermediate quarterly meeting in July . Bro . Tow , Deputy Provincial Grand Master , also addressed the brethren , joining in expres ions of gratitude to tho retiring Oflicers , especially paying a compliment to the zealous , genial , and able

manner in which Bro . Malcolm had discharged tho duties of Provincial Graud Eegistrar , an office which had largely trespassed on his time during tho past year . I-i the course of the day tho Provincial Grand Master , in the name of tho Provincial Grand Lodgo , presented Bro . Malcolm with a handsome jewel , as some slight but permanent recognition of his services , and expressed the pleasure he felt in pinning it on his breast . Bro . Malcolm briefly acknowledged the gift , but felt he had done no more than his duty as a Mason .

Grand Masonic Ball In Japan.

GRAND MASONIC BALL IN JAPAN .

WE read iu tho Japan Gazette an account of a brilliant reunion which took placo at Yokohama , under most successful auspices , on tho 20 th January last . The ball-room waa decorated with exquisite taste , each panel of tho side walls serving as a frame for a Masonic emblem in evergreen , whilst between them wero hung tiny silk banners , which produced a very pretty eilect . The room was

brilliantly lighted by six largo chandeliers , suspended from the highpitched roof in the form of a double triangle , and by candelabra placed at frequent intervals against the walls . The powerful band of the Leipzig , which had been kindly granted by Captain Pnschon , was placed outside one of the windows , and played a capital selection of dance-music with unflagging energy . The company began to

arrive soon after half-past eight o ' clock , aud by tbo time that the pleasures of tho ball wero at their height the scene presented was picturesque and animated iu the extreme . Nearly eighty Indies were present—a number , wo believe , never bcfoio equalled ou a similar occasion iu Yokohama— -and tlio toilet Les were of the most

brilliant description . The American and German naval officers , both hosts and guests :, appealed in uniform , while tho usual . sables of the civilian brethren wero relieved with aprons and Collins of divots degrees of splendour . The Masonio costumes wero most various , comprising the simple aprons of the Master Masons , the

Grand Masonic Ball In Japan.

sashes of tho Eoyal Arch , the swords of the Templars , tho " purple " of tho District Grand Officers , and tho magnificent gold collar of tho D . G . Master , who woro an apron adorned with tho lotus and pomegranate in heavy gold embroidery . His Excellency Sir Harry S . Parkes anti Bro . Stevens the United States Charge" d'Affaires , and nearly all tho foreign consuls were present ; Bro . Stevens , as well aa

several of the consuls , appeared in the insignia of tho Fraternity . At midnight a sumptuous supper was partaken of , and just before tho ladies left tho room tho gentlemen thronged in and filled tho spaco round and ontsido the doorway while the District Grand Master of tho English Constitution ( Bro . Dallas ) proposed tho toast of

tho evening , " Our Sovereigns , our Presidents , ancl the Craft . " Tho introductory toast having been duly honoured , ho went ou somewhat briefly to propose tho healths of " Oar Guests , both ladies and gentlemen , " thanking them for having come in such numbers and for having so heartily contributed to make tho Masonic ball a success . Quoting the words of an old Masonic song ,

"iNo mortal can more the ladies adore , Than a Free and Accepted Mason , " he said that it did not follow that every " free and accepted" could adequately propose their health . He confessed his own inability , but it weighed on him lightly as with tho dazzling galaxy of beauty then present to speak for itself , words from him were unnecessary . With

a few words of thanks and good wishes he left tho toast in tho hands of his brother Masons , but first called for throe cheers for the ladies . Theso woro given rapturously and the toast was drunk with enthusiasm . Sir Harry Parkes responded in a most appropriate speech that was frequently interrupted by applanse . Ho complimented and congratulated tho Fraternity on the success of the ball , but

complained on behalf of tho ladies that they would go away with no more knowledge of the secrets aud mysteries of the Order than they possessed before . Ho had always understood that good feeling and hos . pitality wero special characteristics of the Order , and what ho had seen this evening only confirmed him in that belief . He thought that so numerous a company with so large a proportion of ladies had never

been collected before iu Yokohama , and added that ho conld not better thank the hosts of the evening than by expressing a hope on tho part of all the guests that tho Fraternity would at somo future timo repeat their most successful eutortainment . After supper , dancing was resumed with great spirit ; a little after two o ' clock tho Tokio

guests left tocatch their special train , but at three the rooms wore still full , and a little before four o'clock thero wore some twenty couples loft to finish tho ball with Sir Eoger de Coverley . Altogether we may say that a more successful ball has never been seen hore , and it made experienced ball-goers almost fancy that thoy wero back in Europe .

Diary For The Week.

DIARY FOR THE WEEK .

We sha . l be obliged if the Secretaries of the various Lodges throughout the Kingdom will favour us with a list of their Days ol Meeting , & c , as we have decided to insert only those that are vorifled by the Officers of the several Lodges .

SATURDAY , 5 th APRIL .

General Con raittoc Boys' School , Freemasons' Hall , at 1 . 108—Percy Jolly Farmers' Tavern , Southgate-road , N ., ut 8 . ( Instruction . ) 1624—Ecclos ion , Grosvenor Club , Ebury-square , Pimlico , at 7 . ( Instruction . ) Sinai Ohaptar of Instruction , Union , Air-street , Rcgent-streot , W . at 8 . 119—Peace , Private Rooms , Moltham . 308—Prince Georgo , Private Rooms , Bottoms , Eastwood . 1223—Ainhe . st , Kings Arras Hotel , Westerham , Kent . 1458—Truth . Private Rooms , Conservative Club , Newton Heath , Manchester .

MONDAY , 7 th APRIL .

• 13—Stronf-,- tffan , Sportsman , City-road , at 8 . ( Instruction . ) 171—Sincerity , Railway Tavern , London-street , E . C , at 7 . ( Instruction . ) 180—St . James ' s Union , Union Tavern , Air-stroct , W ., at 8 . ( Instruction . ) 186—Industry , Boll Tavern , Carter-lane , Doctor ' s-commons , at 6 . 30 . ( Instruct . ) 548—Wellington , Whito Swan , High-street , Deptford , at 8 . ( Instruction . ) 701—Camden , Red Cap , Camden Town , at 8 . ( Instruction . )

1260—John 1 [ ervey , Albion Hall , London Wall , E . G ., at 7 . 30 . ( Instruction . ) 1306—St . JoHn ol Wapping , Gun Hotol , High-st ., Wapping , at 8 . ( Instruction . ) 1425—Hyde Park , Tho Westbourne , Cravoa-rd ., Paddington , at 8 . ( Instruction . ) 1-189—Marquess of Ripon , Pembury Tavern , Amhurst-rd ., Hackney , at 7 . 30 . ( In . ) 1623—West Smithfield , Now Market Hotel , King-st ., Snow-hill , at 8 . ( Inst . ) 1625—Tredegar , Royal Hotel , Milo End-road , corner of Burdett-road . ( Inst . ) IC 69—Boyiil Leopold , Surrey Masonic Hall , Camberwell , S . E .

37—Anchor and Hope , Freemasons' Hall , Church Institute , Bolton-lo-Moors . 53—Royal Sussex , Masonic Hall , Old Orchard-street , Bath . 119—Sun , Square and Compasses , Freemasons' Hall , Whitehaven . 133—Harmony , Ship Hotel , Faversham . 151—Unanimity , Masonic Hall , Zetland-street , Wakefield . 156—Harmony , Huyshe Masonic Temple , Plymouth . 190—Pence nnd Harmony , Royal Oak Hotel , Dover . 302—Hope , Now Masonic Hall , Uarloy-strect , Bradford , Whito Hotel

307—Prince Frederick , Horso , Hebden Bridge . 338—Vitruvian , Royal Hotel , Ross , Herefordshire . 381—Harmony and Industry , Smallcy ' s Hotel , Market-street , Over Darwon . 395—Guy , Crown Hotel , Leamington Priors . 431—St . George , . Masonic Hull , Norfolk-street , N . Shields . IU—Three Grand Principles , Red Lion Hotel , Petty Curry , Cambridge . 482—St . James , New Inn , llandsworth , Staffordshire . 597—St . Cybi , Town Hall , Holyhead .

622—St . Cuthberga , Masonic Hall , Wimborne . 651—Brecknock , Castlo Hotel , Brecon . 691-Oakley , Masonic Hall , Church-stroc , Bisingstoko . 823—Everton , Masonic Hall , Liverpool , lit 7 . 30 . ( Instruction . ) 827—St . John , Masonic Temple , HaliEax-rn il , Dewsbury . 850—St . Oswald , Assembly Rooms , Ashbourne , Derbyshire . 1009—Shakespeare , Freemasons' Hall , Cooper-street , Manchester 1015—Stamford , Town Hull . Altrincham , Cheshire .

1050—Giuidulph , Kings' Head Hotel , Rochester . 1051—Rowley , Athennniw , Lancaster . 1077—Wilton , Retl Lion Inn , Hinckley , Lancashire . 1108—R jyiil Wliiirfedale , Private Room , Boroughgatc , Otloy , York . 1124—St . Oswald , Wynnst . ay Arms Hotel , Oswestry . 1180—Forward , Masonic Rooms , New Hall-street , Birmingham . 1211—Godoiich , Masonic Hall , Gt . George-street , Leeds . 1239—Wentworth , Freemasons' Hall , Sheffield .