Centenary Banquet Of The York Lodge, No. 236.

giving a most interesting account of the very extensive chanties maintained by tho Masonic body . Bro . Tow proposed the Wardens and Officers of tho Lodge , and tho Senior Warden , Sir James Meek , made a suitable reply . The Tyler ' s Toast then brought the speaking to a conclusion , and nn adjournment was made to tho Masonic Hall , Duncombo-street , where a very social evening was spent , the R . W . Prov .

Grand Master taking his departure at a late hour , amid rounds of cheers . During tho progress of tho banquet a massive and handsome silver loving cup , subscribed for as a memorial of tho occasion by the members of tho Lodge , was passed round and partaken of "with the usual ceremonies . Letters of apology from many prominent Masons to whom invitations had been sent , stating their inability

to bo present , were read by tho Secretary , amongst them being the Prince of Wales G . M . of England , Lord Carnarvon Pro Grand Master , Lord Skelmersdale , tho Marquis of Hartington , Sir A Woods , J . Hervey Grand Secretary , Bro . W . J . Ilughan ( thoMasonic Historian ) , and others . Not a single hitch occurred to mar the success of tho affair , which was amongst the most memorable Masonic events of tho ancient

city which claims to bo tho birthplace of Freemasonry in England . Tho following is a complete list of tho brethren present : —Bros , the Earl of Zetland P . G . M ., J . W . Woodall P . M . P . P . S . G . W ., T . W . Tew Dep . Prov . G . M . West Yorkshire , Hon . W . T . Orde-Powlott P . P . S . G . W ., Dr , Smythe P . D . P . G . M ., Rev . IT . Grooves W . M . 5 GG , Rev . W . C . Lukis Ripon , J . Conlson W . M . 5 : 13 , S . Stead P . M . Leeds ,

George Anderson W . M . 141 ( 5 , — Ford W . M . 294 , T . Cooper W . M . 1011 , Dr . Paley W . M . 837 , T . Clough W . M . G 60 , R . B . Atkinson W . M . 1211 , Henry Smith P . G . Sec . West Yorkshire , A . Smith W . M . Leeds , S . B . Ellis W . M . 1229 , J . Terry Sec . Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , J . Jfnwtliwaito Leeds , J . M . Bottomloy W . M . 312 , W . Green W . M . GSO , W . Cowling W . M . 23 G , Sir James Meek P . M . S . W . 23 G ,

W . B . Richardson P . M . J . W . 236 , J . Todd P . M . Sec . 230 , R . Davison P . M . M . C . 23 G , G . Balmford P . M . 230 , T . Smtirthwaito P . M . 23 G , Rev . J . E . M . Yonng P . M . Chaplain 23 G , , 7 . March P . M . S . D . 23 G , C . Smith P . M . S . D . 230 , F . Bawling P . M . 230 , S . Maltby VM . 230 , T . B . Prissiek P . M . 23 G , R . W . Hollon P . M . 230 , Alderman J . Terry , Alderman Varcy , tho Lord Mayor , B . Wormald , J . Wilkinson Town Clerk ,

Rev . W . Valentine , 0 . Wood , 0 . G . Padel , H . Churchill , T . B . Whytehead , J . F . Stephenson , J . I . F . Marshall , M . Rooke , T . S . Camidge , J . Sampson , C . D . Bnrstow , G . Kirby , J . S . Rymer , W . Thompson , M . Cooper , E . J . Mann , W . M'Kay , P . Matthews , J . Saville , J . Hollins , J . Tissiman , J . D . Fanssett , — Browne , G . Garhutt , George Seller , J . Ward , J . Shillcto , W . Flint , G . Simpson , G . Mooro , J . Ayros , J .

Smith , J . G . Turner , C . Abbott , A . Buckle , W . Battyc , R . S . Storry , J . W . Mann , H . Scott , J . Eastwood , T . J . Russell , 6 . Robinson , W . Wilson , C . Kearsley , C . Ware , T . G . Mann , J . Pickersgill , 0 . Walker , W . T . Gowland , A . Walker , W . Powell , E . Whitehead , W . S . Thomas , H . C . Camidge , T . Sanderson , W . H . Gainforth , II . Aitken , E . Honldcn , J . Keswick . Bro .

Ilughan s letter of apology , which was read by the Secretary , Bro . J . Todd P . M ., contained somo very interesting remarks on the history of Freemasonry in York , a subject to which , as all Masonic students aro aware , ho has devoted much attention . Wo quote a poition of his letter : — " 1777 was an eventful year for Freemasonry iu England for tho Grand Lodgo ( of London ) of the " Moderns "

decided then to oppose most thoroughly the " Ancients , " or " Seceders . " It was tho period of special prosperity of tho Grand Lodgo of all England held at York ; tho Freemasons' Calenders of the regular Grand Lodge were first issued ( in lien of the engraved lists by Pineand Cole ) , and in July the " York" Lodge ( thon the"Union" ) was warranted . Thero were ( it appears ) seven Lodges chartered by the

regnlar Grand Lodge in 1777 , the first being the Lodge of the " Nine Muses" ( whoso centenary was held 8 th May 1877 , and whose history has been well written by its W . M ., Bro . Walter Webb ) ; then a Lodge in Cornwall , long ago extinct ; 3 , the Union , now the "York" Lodge , whoso Centenary Festival will be held on the Gth November 1877 , and the history of which is to bo found attached to its admirably edited

Bye-laws , a history which has been read and re-read by many Masonic students at home and abroad , and which is alike honourable to the compilers and the Lodge ; 4 , a Lodge at Braintree , some time extinct ; 5 , the present " Indefatigable " Lodgo , of Swansea , originally issued for Neath ; 6 , a Lodge for tho Island of Nevis ; and 7 , one for the Inniskilling Dragoons . At the period of the advent of tbe " York "

Lodge . His Grace George Duke of Manchester was the M . W . G . M ., and the Right Hon Lord Petre M . W . P . G . M . ( a much esteemed Roman Catholic nobleman ) , Roland Holt was D . G . M ., Captain Pascal and John Allen were Wardens , James Heseltine G . Sec , Rowland Berkeley G . Treas ., and F . Johnston G . S . B . Tho Warrant was authorised by the second Prov . G . M . of Yorkshire , Sir Thomas Tancred , Bart ., who

had acted iu that capacity from 1774 . Tho Duke of Manchester was succeeded by H . R . H . the Duke of Cumberland , and , in 1791 , H . R . H . George Prince of Wales ( George IV . ) became M . W . G . M . The York Lodge , accordingly , participated in tho prosperity of the Craft dnring the latter part of the last century , and has never failed to keep tho light of Masonry bright and clear in the city of the north , tho homo

of the Ancient Craft , and ever famous in Masonic story . Ifc was preceded by tho Lodge held at tho Pnnch Bowl , York , warranted in 1701 and erased in I 70 S , and afterwards by tho "Apollo , " chartered iu 1773 , which bravely struggled for existence many years , even to securing a position in tho revised list of 1832 , aud then expired . The "Rockingham" was not so constant , and the Lodgo held by tho

Ancients , afc West Gate , evidently met with much opposition from tho " York Grand Lodge " and tho " Regular " Masons , for it failed to keep on tho Register beyond a few brief years . Saving the Military Lodges which were occasionall y held " in the city , the' * York " Lodge has practicall y been the onl y Craft Lodge , until recently , that has honoured tho Masonic City with its presence , and I trustifc will continue to prosecute its useful career for many ccntnries to come .

A meeting- of the Polish National Lod ge was held on Thursday evening ; repot t . sliall appear in our next .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Wiltshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF WILTSHIRE .

rpHE annual meeting of tho Provincial Grand Lodge of Wiltshire -L took p lace at tho Town Hall afc Devizes on Friday last , the 2 nd inst ., nnder the banner of tho Wiltshire Lodge of Fidelity , No . 6 G 3 . Tho brethren of that Lodge , duly appreciating the honour of tho visit , had been most assiduous and successful in their endeavonrs to give their visitors a befitting reception .

Tho Assembly Room at tho Town Hall had been fitted np with great taste , as a Lodge room , and hero theLodgo was opened by tho W . M . of 063 , Bro . Raymond , at 1 . 30 . At 2 o ' clock the Provincial Grand Master , Lord Mothnen , and his Provincial Grand Lodge , wero announced , and on entering wero received with the usual honours . Amongst those present were Lord Harry Thynno P . G . W . of England

and P . G . Supt . ( Royal Arch ) Wilts , and tho following brethren : — E . Tumor Payne P . G . D . England , Henry C . Tombs G . D . England and P . S . G . W . Wilts , Rev . T . Ravonshaw P . G . Ch . England , S . G . Homfray P . G . A . D . C . England and D . P . G . M . Monmouth , William Biggs P . P . S . G . W . Wilts and P . P . G . Sec . Berks and Bucks , F . H . Goldney P . S . G . W . Wilts , Capt . Bradford P . G . Treas . Wilts , John Chandler

P . P . S . G . W . Wilts , Gen . Doherty P . P . S . G . T ) . Wilts , Wm . Pick-ford P . P . S . G . W . Monmouth , William Nott P . P . G . Reg . Wilts , J . L . Whatley P . P . J . G . D . Wilts , John V . Toone P . S . G . D . Wilts , Robert Stokes P . P . S . G . W . Wilts , T . Graham P . P . J . G . W . Wilts , Col . Magrath P . G . S . B . Wilts , & c , & c . After tho roll of the Lodges in tho Province had been called , and

tho Provincial Grand Lodge had boon duly opened , the R . W . P . G . M . called upon tho Acting Grand See ., Bro . Henry 0 . Tombs , to read the minutes of tho last Provincial Grand Lodgo , held at Warminster in November last . This was done , and such minutes wore duly confirmed . A letter was read from Capt . Bradford P . G . Treas ., expressing

regret that the state of his health compelled him to ask tho P . G . L . to elect another brother to fill that office . Ho then was called upon to read the accounts for the past year , which had been duly audited , and the same were now approved . The next business was to receive tho Charity Committee ' s report , which was read by Bro . Tombs . From this it appeared that they

had voted £ 52 10 s to the Girls' School , and £ 50 to the Benevolent Institution , to endow in both instances the chair of tho D . P . G . M . It also appeared that ; Bro . W . Nott , Sec . to the Provincial Charity Organization Committee , had offered to represent this Province as Steward at tho next Festival of tho Girls' School , and Bro . S . Gaunfclott to fill a similar Stewardship as regards the Benevolent

Institution . The report was approved , and tho two brethren named appointed as Stewards to represent the Province . In the absence of tho P . G . Registrar , Bro . Blackmore , his report was read by Bro . Commans P . P . G . Reg . showing a steady increase in tho number of subscribing members in the Province , which now stood

at 419 . Tho report , after analysing the income and expenditure of the various Lodges , went on to recommend that a strict compliance be enforced with the bye-laws , as regards the returns to bo mado by tho Secretaries of Lodges . The report was adopted . The report of the Charity Organisation Committee was read by its Secretary , Bro . William Nott ( Devizes ) , and stated that tho

Committee was in thorough working order , and had , to their mutual advantage , established terms of reciprocity with many surrounding Provinces . Tho number of votes for the Masonic Charities placed afc tho disposal of the Committee by subscribers in the Province had been in April—Boys 176 , girls 106 , aged males 250 , widows 140 ; and in October—Boys 219 and girls 103 , there being no election in tho

autumn for tho Benevolent Institution . The Committee had supported two cases during the year , both of which had been successful —namely , a girl ( Feltham ) at the April election , and a boy ( Shrapnel ) in October , and had adopted tho case of the widow of the late Bro . Joseph Burt , of Devizes , for the next election of the Benevolent Institution , in May . The Committee at its last meeting had resolved that

as a general rule no petition for admission as a candidate from this Province for either of the Charities ought to be presented without being first approved by this Committee , so as to secure unity of action and avoid any clashing of candidates . On tho motion of the P . G . M ., seconded by Lord Harry Thynne , this report was approved . W . Bro . F . H . Goldney P . J . G . W . who , at the last Provincial Grand

Lodge had undertaken to compile a short sketch of tho History of Freemasonry in Wiltshire , begged to thank tho P . G . Secretary and tho Secretaries of tho various Lodges in tho Province , for their assistance in the matter , and stated that ho hoped ere long to put such a sketch into print , and distribute it amongst the brethren . Bro . John Chandler was invested with a Charity jewel .

The R . W . P . G . M . expressed his regret at losing the services of so good and faithful a brother as Captain Bradford , who had held tho office of Treasurer since 1808 , and who , though ho had resigned that office , he hoped to seo amongst them for many years . It was somo satisfaction to propose a cordial vote of thanks to him , this he ( Lord

Methuen ) , accordingly did , and coupled with it a proposal that £ 10 10 s , he voted for tho purchase of a jewel to be presented to Captain Bradford , in commemoration of his services . This was seconded by Lord Harry Thynne , and carried by acclamation . Bro . Bradford , who appeared very much overcome , briefly responded in suitable terms .

Bro . Fred . H . Goldney P . M . G 2 G , P . J . G . D . Wilts , was then , on tho proposition of the R . W . P . G . M ., seconded by Bro . Major Calley unanimously elected Treasurer for the ensning year . The R . W . the P . G . M . having made his appointments , tho Officers of the Provincial Grand Lodgo for the ensning year were invested as follow : —

Bros . Thomas II . Chandler 355 , GG 3 , S . G . W . ; William Nott 063 , J . G . W . ; Rev . A . Law 355 , G . Ch . ; Fred . H . Goldnoy G 2 G , G . Treas . ; Alex . Braid 125 ) 5 , G . Reg . ; Henry C . Tombs 355 , G . Sec . ; John Godwin 355 , S . G . D . ; Thos . Raymond 003 , J . G . D . ; S . Gauntlett 032 ,