South Wales (Eastern Division).

SOUTH WALES ( EASTERN DIVISION ) .

A PROVINCIAL Grand Chapter was opened on Thursday of last , week , at the Masonic Hall

Woking Street , Cardiff , by Companion Marmaduke Tennant Grand Superintendent . After the usual business tho Officers for fche ensuing year were invested .

The consecration of the Marmaduke Tennant Chapter attached to the Tennant Lodge followed , thc Consecrating Officer being the Grand Superintendent , assisted by other Officers of fche Province . After the Consecration , the Companions adjourned fco banquet .

West Yorkshire.

WEST YORKSHIRE .

A CONVOCATION of this Provincial Grand Chapter was held in the Masonic Hall , Great George Street , Leeds , on Wednesday , 23 rd ult ., by invitation of Excelsior Chapter , No . 1042 , under the presidency of Comp . Henry Smith P . Z . 302 Past Graud Principal Soj . of England Prov . G . H ., who acted as Provincial Grand Superintendent .

There was a large attendance of other Provincial Officers and Principals of Chapters , while apologies were received from many who were unable to attend . Provincial Grand Chapter was opened in form , and the Acting Grand Superintendent and the Grand H . and J . were saluted .

The Roll of Chapters and of Present and Past Prov . G . Officers was called . The Minutes of the Grand Convocation , held at Wakefield , on Friday , 24 th November 1 S 93 , were confirmed .

The Acting Grand Superintendent then delivered the following address : — Companions—I am sure you will be greatly disappointed to find that our Grand Superintendent is unable to be present with us this afternoon . For some

little time he has not been progressing satisfactorily , and he has been ordered for change of air to the mild atmosphere of Leamington . He desires me to convey to you his expression of regret . He has given careful consideration to the list of Companions selected for office

for the current year , and confidently trusts that the appointments will give general satisfaction . I am also commissioned to offer Companion Tew ' s compliments and thanks to the retiring Officers . Whilst on this subject I may state that Grand Chapter , on the 3 rd

May 1893 , made an increase of six Provincial Officers to Provinces having thirty Chapters and upwards , viz . : — one Deputy G . Registrar , one Deputy G . Sword Bearer , two Assistant G . Standard Bearers , and two Assistant G . Directors of Ceremonies .

On the 4 th November last , rule 73 of the Royal Arch Regulations was rescinded . The new rule makes ifc legal to exalt a Master Mason four weeks after his raising , and it is hoped that this relaxation will tend to increase the number of exaltations—an effect we all earnestly desire .

I may state for your information that we commenced the year 1893 with 1257 subscribing members , and at its close our numbers were 1298 , being an increase of 41 We had 95 new members , an increase of 6 ; Resignations were 38 , against 42 in 1892 , a decrease of 4 ; Deaths 31 ,

against 26 , an increase of 5 ; Exclusions 16 , against 10 , an increase of 6 ; and 56 Companions were in arrear , being a decrease of 6 . This we may consider fairly satisfactory . Our income has slightly increased , as our Treasurer will shortly tell you , and I will not therefore enlarge upon the balance sheet .

You will have seen the notice of motion for a grant to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys in support of our Provincial Grand Master , Bro . Jackson , who will preside at the 96 fch Annual Festival at Brighton , on Wednesday , the 27 th June . It was contemplated fco

select the Crystal Palace as the place of meeting , but the day fixed being the second day of the Handel Festival , it was considered that the crowded state of the building would greatly interfere with the comfort of the ladies and Brethren ; whilst the caterers might be unable to supply our needs satisfactorily . Ladies and Brethren

West Yorkshire.

dining together necessitates a very large hall , much larger than any in London , —it was therefore finally decided to go to the Pavilion , Brighton , where many Masonic Festivals have beeu previously held with great success . I may state that the cost of the Railway

Company ' s conveyance is covered by the Steward ' s fee . I am pleased to report that 70 oufc of 76 Lodges have contributed to this Festival , as well as the following Chapters : —Charity , 302 , Bradford ; Sincerity , 600 ,

Bradford ; St . John ' s , 827 , Dewsbury ; Marquess of Ripon , 837 , Ripon ; Harrogate and Claro , 1001 , Harrogate . I hope that the other Chapters will see their way to follow this generous example .

We have met to-day for the first time under the banner of Excelsior Chapter , No . 1042 . This Chapter was consecrated as recently as the 28 th January 1886 , the ceremony boing very ably performed by our excellent Companion Charles Letch Mason . Our esteemed friend

Dr . Smyth was its first Principal . It has continued to progress ; and , with a roll of 40 members , is now , in point of facfc , one of the numerically largest Chapters in

West Yorkshire . We are greatly indebted to Companion Thomas Thorp and the Members of fche Chapter , for their arrangements and entertainment ou this our llth Provincial visit to the good city of Leeds .

Gomp . Rand Prov . Grand Treasurer presented his Balance Sheet , and stated thafc the balance in fche Bank to the credit of Prov . G . Chapter had increased by about £ 14 , and now stood afc £ 224 6 s 9 d . He moved that it be

adopted and entered on the minutes ; this was seconded by Companion Steward Provincial Grand Registrar , and carried . Comp . Fox Chairman of the Charity Committee , pursuant to notice , proposed : That the sum of £ 52 10 s

be granted to further endow fche Graud Superintendent ' s chair in the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , and in support of the Chairmanship of the Right Hon . William Lawies Jackson , M . P ., who will preside at the 96 th

Festival , to bo held afc fche Pavilion , Brighton , on Wednesday , the 27 th June ; ho also stated that the chair of Grand Superintendent being already a Vice-President ' s , this grant would bring double votes ( 10 ) iu perpetuity .

The motion was seconded by Comp . Smithson Past Chairman , and carried . The Treasurer , in very felicitous terms proposed that Comp . Henry Cowbrough P . Z . 1042 be elected as his

successor . Companion William Bingham , in seconding fche proposition , said how much gratified the Companions of the Excelsior Chapter would feel if the proposition

received the approval of the Provincial Grand Chapter , and spoke as to Companion Cowbrough ' s qualifications for the position . The resolution was carried wifch acclamation .

The Acting Grand Superintendent then appointed and invested the following Grand Officers for the ensuing year . Henry Smith VAA . 302 - - H . Col . J . E . Bingham 296 - J .

Herbert G . E . Green 154 - Scribe E . Jose Rickard 304 - - Scribe N . Henry Cowbrough 1042 ( elected ) Treasurer Major G . Bolton 154 - - Registrar George H . Robinson 275 - Deputy Registrar

Alfred Verity 208 - - Principal Sojourner H . Blackburn 827 - - First Assist . Soj . John Hunt 139 - - - Second Assist . Soj . H . Samuel Goodyear 495 - Sword Bearer Wm . Harrison 265 - - Deputy Sword Bearer

Wm . David Shoebndge 448 - Standard Bearer Charles Newsome 234 - - ) . . , ,,,, ., William Oddy 387 - - / Assist . Std . Bearers Thos . Uttley 307 - - - Dir . of Ceremonies Wm . Metcalf 600 - -1

Walter Critchley , J . P ., 1214 - \ . . . ~ . Thos . Lawrence 1001 - J Assist . Dir . of Cers Samuel Jacob 837 - - Organist Frederick Simpson 1019 - - Assist . Scribe E . Joe Booth Whiteley 290 - - )

Jobn Dyson 306 - - - 0 , . John Cass , J . P ., 302 - - Stewards AVilliam Murphy 275 - - / Thos . Chester 904 - . Janitor .

It was proposed by Companion Major Bolton Prov . G . Registrar , seconded by Comp . John Barker P . Z . 258 P . P . G D . oi C , and resolved : That a most hearty vote of thanks be accorded to Companion Thomas Thorp