Prov. Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

PROV . GRAND LODGE OF WEST YORKSHIRE .

ON Wednesday a meeting of the Fraternity was held in the Masonic Hall , Stirrer Strenr , Sheffield , under tho tho united anspices of th <» four ShetfiVtd Lodges . Nos . 139 , 2915 , 1239 , and 1779 . and was presided over bv Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Henry Edwards Bart ., Provincial Grand Master , assisted bv Bro . T . W . Tew Deputy P . G . Master , and a largo array of Provincial Grand Officers . This

being the first meeting since tho annnal one in April , a goodly number of brethren assombled from all parts of the Province , nearly every Lodge being represented . After the customary salutations had boon accorded to the Provincial Grand Master and to the Depnty , Sir Henry Edwards addressed the assembly ag follows :

—Worshipful Masters , Officers and Brethren , on almost every Provincial Grand Lodge circular of the business to be transacted at onr quarterly gatherings of Freemasonry , there is an invariable paragraph , " To receive applications for the next meeting . " When wo assembled at Dewshnry , in July last , to lay the foundation-stone of the new District Infirmary , and had returned to transact tho usual bnsiness of

the Province , under the banners of the two inviting Lodges , Nos . 208 and 827 , I was much strnek with tho fact that no proposal was made as to onr next place of meeting . Wo separated without this Provincial Grand Lolge knowing whoro next , to moot . This absenco of a locality has only ovenrrod once before sinoo I became your Provincial Grand Master ; bnfc during the period

intervening between separating at one meeting and assembling at another , a voluntary invitation has always been forthcoming . Thi 3 Provincial Grand Lodge , since I have had the honour to occupy its chair , has never at the end of a qnarter been required to solicit an invitation for a locality ; hot on prpvions , so also on this oceasion , an invitation of the most obliging and kindest manner came , to the

satisfaction of myself and Deputy , to meet at Sheffield , and so relieved my Officers of anxipt y as to the habitation of tho Grand Lodge of West Yorkshire for the autumn of 1881 . Wo have assembled together since the 7 th April 1825 , twelve times at Sheffield ; first under the banner of one Lodge and then of another . Twice since 1876 nnder that of Wenfcworth Lodge , No . 1239 . and once at least under that of

Britannia , But this is the first time we meet at Sheffield by the invitation of the four Lodges here , and under their united banners dnring a period of fifty-seven years . In October 1875 , when I first addressed tho Grand Lodge in Sheffield , I made some remarks on yonr efforts to greatly impvove and enlarge tbe present Masonic Hall . In July 1877 , I congratulated the Craft on the accomplishment of this

work ; and on their co-operation in the restoration of the ancient parish chnrch of Saint Peter in this town , and on the 24 th July 1878 , I commended to the Oaft the scheme for the " Bentley-Shaw Presentation Fund . " On the 20 t . h October 1878 , my Deputy consecrated the Ivanhoe Lodge , No . 1779 , and to-day , therefore , it is a matter of tho liveliest pleasnre tome to receive tho salutations of the Craft ,

under the united banners of all tho four Lodges of Sheffield . This union of the Lodges in their united invitation , is again presumptive evidence that perfect harmony prevails between the four Lodges and the brethren here . Mnv they maintain in perpetuity this old and beautiful spirit of onr Order—this identical concord which is " the very bond of peace and brotherly love . " Amongst the sixty-six Lodges of this Province , I havo often had to refer to th » ir Iib « nlifcv

in support of our Charities , and I cannot allow this occasion to pass without thanking Britannia , Royal Brunswick , Wenhworth , and Ivanhoe , for their snpport to the Annuitants' and Girls' and Boys ' Festivals this ypar by eighteen Stewards , and ; 6- ' 0 . 115 s . Onr united efforts for the three Charities are £ 4 , 203 —for which I thankagnin all the Lodges of this Province—will en 'ble our Charity Committee , reinforced by this augmented voting power , to enter Freemasons' Hall this month with more certainty and confidence for the snecess of the

candidates for whom your efforts were solicited at Hnddprsfipld on the 9 th September , our two girls and one boy who seek admission . But every vote must be forthcoming , and none must be given away to outside applicants ; union is strength . I am glad that onramended Provincial Grand Lodge Bye-Law , No . LV ., has added eighteen permanent members to the Charity Committee , all of whom have done

good service to the Craft , and whose experience and advice will be given to the Commifee , otherwise than as elected Charity Stewards of their Lodges . The strength of this Committeo may now be ei ghty-six members . Bro . Smith has again , after much lnbnnr , brought out a new edition of the Red Bonk of Subscriptions and Donations of all the Lodges and members in West

Yorkshire to the London Masonic Charities . It is about double the thickness of the ono he brought out in 1875 . This compilation has been with him a labour of love , and is invaluable . The I rovincial Grand Secretary merits onr warmest acknowledgments and thanks . It hns been remarked by some envious provinces that West Yorkshire donors never die . I wish this were so . But in order

that their names should not pass away as contributors , Bro . Smith , at the outl of tho book , has added a list of all those contributors who have died since 1870 . Alas ! it is a heavy list . Bnt their generosity when alive is now perpetmted in this catalogue of their gifts . The book tells ns one thing—niimely , that our voting power ¦ has steadil y increasedandnotwithstanding hard timesyonr libe .

, , , rality also . I am reminded tho Charity Committee , in March last , attained its majority . It is now in its 22 i \ d year . During this period fifty candidates , save one , have been duly sent up from West Yorkshire , and received tho benefits of onr London Charities , anrl your Committee has , I belinve , never yet lost a selected candidate H we havo given freely , wo have also reeeired freely . Urns . Thnmn <

Hdl , Henry Smith , and John Booth , among the fomiders of this Com . jntttee , are present with us to-day ; may they with us long be spared oy the mercy of the Great Architect of the Universe , to witness still irtber benefits from the Institutions for onr annuitants and orphans rniid Lodge of England has sanctioned an angmentafcion of Prov wand Officers , as follows : — " That in Provinces nmnhering fort v - 'Odges and upwards the P . G . Masters shall be empowered to appoint

Prov. Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

annually four Deacons instead of two , ns at present , and also a Deputy Directoro F Ceremonies . " Rrother Sir John B . Monekton explained that tho-se in Grand Lodge wonld commence at , tho Grand Festival in 1882 , but inasmuch as the Provincial Grand Lodges affected by this motion met at different dates , tho Provincial Grand Wasters of those Provinces would bo empowered to appoint tbe

additional Grand Officers at tho first Provincial meeting after the cor * firmat / ou of the minntes of this Grand Lodge , of England . Theso re . solutions having been confirmed by tho United Grand Lodge of England at the last quarterly meeting , I propose to act upon them to-day , and to appoint to tho offices named , for tho residue of this year , until our annnal meeting in April 1882 , two moro Deacons and

ono Depnty Director of Ceremonies . I only wish it were in my power to further recognise Mwsrmie merit in my Province , and to deserving old Past Masters North and East York , shire meet at Hnll this day . I regret tho meetings of the two Provinces clashing , but it was imperative , in consequence of the Charity elections being on tho 8 th and 10 th of this

month , that West Yorkshire shonld meet to-day , in accordance with onr Bye-Laws , and to consider tho report of our Charity Committee . My Depnty informs mo that the Masonic reception given by the York Lodges to their brethren attending the Briti .-h Association meeting in September was a brilliant snecess . I i-egre' that absence on tho Continont prevented my being present . I most cordially

congratulate the West Yorkshire Craft , and my Deputy most especially , on tho active part thoy took in promoting that most scientific gathering at York . Brethren , I will not detain you longer , but thank yon again for your attendance ' here to day , and to the interosfcs of Freemasonry . I hope to meet many of you again in Provincial Grand Chapter , at nuddersfield , on

2 nd November , and to announce tho success of our candidates at tho forthcoming elections in Freemasons' Hall , and at which my Deputy intends to be present , and will gladly receive all lagging votes , as well as proposals from neighbouring Provinces for votes in exchange . The Freemasons of Yorkshire hold in chivalrons regard the American people , and

every member of this Provincial Grand Lodge sympathises with them on the death of the First Citizen of that great Republic . We desire to add onr manifestations of regret at the loss onr American brethren have sustained , and onr unaffected sentiments of sorrow towards Mrs . Garfield and her ' family . " If his tragic end has found n place in human history , as a

man he has found a grander place in human hearts . " Daring this winter season , a busy one for the Lodges , I wish them all renewed prosperity . My two new Deacons will be T . D . Bav , Lodge Fidelity ( 2 S 9 ) , Leeds , VV . Masteriu 1863 , Dr . W . H . Evans , Lodge Pentalpha ( 974 ) , Bradford , W . Master in 1871 . My new Depnty Director of Ceremonies John Ramsden Riley , W . M . Lodge Airedale , Leeds ( No . 387 ) , initiated 28 th March 1866 , W . M . 1871 .

During the course of the afternoon brethren and Lodges holding votes for the Boys' and Girls' Schools wore urged to send their papers with all despatch to the Provincial Grand Secretary , in order that all the votes possible should be poffed to the advantage of the province . After tho proceedings of the Provincial Lodge a large number of the brethren repaired to the Cutlers' Hall , where a sumptuous banquet was served , after which tbe customary Loyal and . Masonic toasts were duly honoured . '

The Done Chapter of Improvement , No . 933 , will hold its fntnre meetings in the Masonic Room at the Dnke ' s Head , 79 Whifechapel Road . The Companions meet every Monday Evening , at Seven o ' clock , commencing on the 10 th instant , on which occasion the ceremony of Exaltation will be rehearsed , and a Treasnrer and Scribe E . elected .

LODGE LIBRARY . —A Lodge library may be composed of bnt one volume , hut that one is worth more than the largest library on earth without it , for it is the book of hooks—the holy Bible . This is the first necessity for a Masonic Lodge . It is the first object upon which the eyes

of the initiate rests , and during all his progress , through , all the degrees it is never out of his sight . Ton can as readily conceive of daylight without a snn , as a Masonic Lodge , Chapter or Commandery without a Bible . —Bro . Dr . Burroughs .

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THE THEATRES , & o . T > HVRY Ii AWE ! . —At 7 . 30 , YOUTH . COVENT GARDEN . —At 8 , PROMENADE CONCERTS . HEE MAJESTY'S . —At < t , HAVERLY'S MONSTER TROUPE OF REAL NTGGERS . Wednesday and Saturday , at a also . ABKLPBI -At 7 . 15 , A LAD FROM THE COUNTRY / . At 8 , IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO MEND . PRIIMCESS'S . —At 7 , A PHOTOGRAPHIC FRIGHT . At 7 , 1 . 5 , THE LIGHTS OF LONDON . GLOBE . —At 7 . 30 , MY WIPE'S OUT . At 3 , LES CLOCHES DE CORNEVILLE . 3-ATF ! TY .-At 7 . 5 . OPERETTA . At 7 . 20 , FAST COACH , At 8 . 30 , FORTY THIEVES . OLYMPIO .-At 7 , 15 , QUITE AN ADVENTURE . At 3 . 15 , CLAUDE DUVAL . STRAND . —At 7 . 30 , UP THE RIVER . At 8 , OLIVETTE . VATJD KVTOIiE . —At 7 . W , THE HGN-W . ITCHERS . At 8 . 15 , THE HALFWAY HOUSE . Ac .

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BRO . 1 . 1 . UIRST engages to provide , at short notice , an efficient Band for Aumml l !; im | tiels , Dirm-rs , Excursions and Quadrille Parties . For terms apply to " R . Hirst , The Three Crowns , 237 Mile End Road , E . "