Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

Lodge , at the Lodge Room , at the Shears' Inn , Hightown , when Bro . John Binns was the Worshipful Muster . Grand Lodge books go back to about 1740 , and show No . 258 from the year 1786 to 1792 only , and from 1803 to 1887 as a new Lodge . " Amphibious " finally settled in its present place of meeting on 27 th

March 1850 , and the last time Provincial Grand Lodge visited this place was on the 2 nd January 1861 . I men-I mention these facts to show the importance and necessity of Lodges carefully preserving their minute books and ancient documentary records . This is the sixth time that "Amphibious" Lodge has

received this Provincial Grand Lodge . With sixty-one members , it has twenty-four Worship ful Masters and Past Masters , only two other Lodges in this Province exceeding this number . We cordially acknowledge , therefore , the labours of the W . M . Bro . A . Macauley and his Officers for the preparations they have made for the conduct

of the business of this Prov . Grand Lodge to-day . We wish this Lodge a continuation of prosperity and perpetuity , both on " land and water , " and fervently trust that in 1903 it may enjoy its centenary from an unbroken continuity of working since 1803 , and give proof of its uninterrupted existence for one hundred years , in

accordance with the Book of Constitutions . After a reference to the meeting of the Charity Committee at Halifax on the 24 th September , to consider a report of this Prov . Grand Lodge , the Prov . G . M . pointed out , from Col . Gierke ' s statistics , the growth of the Masonio Institutions dnring the past fifty years , and continued as follows : —

With this financial and numerical increase in our Charities , the number of Lodges have also multiplied by 1565 , during the same Jubileee period ; and since the year 1875 , when His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales became Grand Master of the Craft , 682 Lodges have been established , being nearly 40 more than existed altogether

at tbo accession of Her Most Gracious Majesty in 1837 . These figures illustrate in some degree the Loyalty , the Brotherly Love , and Charity of Freemasons , and 1 hope the next 50 years will exhibit , in these respects , a corresponding progression in magnitude of tbe Freemasons of England , and that of West Yorkshire will be in the

van with its sympathies for the Charities , and its generosity and loyalty , as it has shown itself dnring this past brilliant period of our Gracious Sovereign Queen Victoria ' s glorious reign . Briefly , Brethren I have awakened in yonr memories Masonic progress in this country . It is representative of the Loyalty and Charity of onr Order . It is for

us to work out the perfection of Masonry , " when wars ahall cease , and art shall prosper , and science thrive , " and when trade aud manufactures and agriculture , represented by personal activity , shall reach their triumphant consummation by turning the " whole human race into one vast Lodge , and make every man a brother . " And may this gracious Lady who sits npon tbe Throne of

England" Through all this track of years , Wearing the white flower of a blameless life In tbat fierce light which beats upon a throne , — who has witnessed so many changes , without lessening the esteem

and affection of her snbjects , long continue to govern a united , prosperous , and contented people , is the fervent aspiration to-day of every brother in this large gathering of the Craft , forming the Provincial Grand Lodge of the Province of West Yorkshire , so

" May each day better others happiness Until the heavens envying the Earth ' s good . hap , Add an immortal title to yonr Crown . " is the prayer of yonr Provincial Grand Master . The D . P . G . M . in replying to his salutation gave the Brethren

some very excellent advice . It was moved by Bro . J . K . Ibberson P . M 1102 Prov . G . Registrar , and seconded by Bro . John Booth P . M . 258 D . P . G . W ., and resolved : — " That the best thanks of this Prov Grand Lodge ore dne , and hereby given , to the Right Hou . the Ear ] of Zetland R . W . Provincial Grand Master , to Lieut .-Col . The Hon

W . T . Orde-Powlett Past Grand Waiden W . D . P . G . M . of the Prov . Grand Lodge of North and East Yorkshire ; and to the Very Reverend the Dean of York , V . W . Bro . A . Purey-Cnst , D . D ., Past Grand Chaplain , and the Worship fnl Master and Officers of the York Lodge No . 236 , for their very able nnd efficient arrangements at York , on

Thursday the 14 th Jnly , A . L . 5887 , for the Masonic Celebration of the Jubilee of Her Most Gracious Majesty the Qn > -en . " Bro . M . C . Peck Prov . G . Sec . N . and E . Y ., briefly thanked the Brethren for the vote of thanks . Tbe Treasurer to the "Jubilee Presentations Fnnd , " stated that there was £ 1424 0 s Od in the Bank to the credit of the

Fund , and there were promises amounting to £ 350 , which , together with the donations from Prov . G . Lodge and Chapter , wonld bring it np within £ 10 of the amount required . Moved by ihe Chairman of the Charity Committee , seconded by tbe Vice-Chairman , and resolved , that authority be given to the Treasurer , to pay the Thousand

Guineas when the agreement for the First Presentation is executed , and the Second in like manner on its completion ; and that permission be obtained from the Trustees to fix a Brass Memorial Tablet in the Hall of the Institntion at Croydon , the cost to be defrayed by Prov . G . Lodge . Bro . James Terry Past G . Sword Bearer , Sec . R . M . B . I .,

returned thanks for his hearty reception and salutation , and in thanking the Brethren for the gift of the two Presentations , said , he felt sore tbe Trustees wonld give permission to have the above-named Tablet fixed iu their Institntion . The Chairman of the Charity Committee said , that at the Elections in April and May , they hacl

been successful in Electing all their Candidates , viz .: One Girl , Four Boys ( including one presented ) , One Male and Fo : ir Widows . The List of Candidates for October Elections showed One Girl and Fonr Boys . He cordially thanked the Brethren and Charity Members for so punctually sending in their Voting Papers . He asked the

R . W . Prov . G . M . to suspend Prov . By-Law No . 27 , and he having complied , moved that the following grants for relief be made , viz .: Bro . J . L . 439 , £ 10 ; Mrs . E . M . 290 , £ 20 ; and J . L . 458 , £ 25 . Bro . Harrop seconded the motions und they were carried . H . R . H . the Prince of Wales K . G ., & c , M . W . G . M ., having granted the privilege to Pzoyinoi & l tumid Masters of conferring Past Provincial Grand Rank

Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

to a limited number of Brethren , the Prov . G . M . proceeded to make the appointments . An invitation was received from the three Wakefield Lodges to hold the Annnal Meeting of Prov . Grand Lodge under their joint Banners in April 1888 . The R . W . Prov . Grand Master said he would give it his consideration , and acquaint the

Brethren of his decision at an early ditte . Prov . Grand Lodge waa then closed indue form , and with solemn prayer at 4 . 30 p . m . Dinner was provided at the Masonio Hall , Market Street , at 4 . 30 p . m ., at whioh about 80 Brethren sat down , the R . W . Prov . Grand Master presiding .

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

THE Quarterly Court of the Subscribers and Governors was held on Saturday in the large hall of Freemasons' Tavern . Brother Horace Brooks Marshall , Past Grand Treasurer , presided . After the reading and confirmation of the minutes , the report of the Committee as to the alteration of the dates of the Quarterly Courts was adopted .

A resolution proposed by Bro . J . A . Birch tbat as the alteration of the dates of election would necessarily involve some alterations in the Laws of the Institution , the Committee already appointed continue their services nntil the alterations are effected , was carried . The Centenary Committee ' s report , which we dealt with in detail last

week , was taken as read , and on motion by Bro . Thomas Fenn , seconded by Bro . Edgar Bowyer , was ordered to be received . The other motions of whioh notice had been given by Bro . T . Fenn were also adopted ; with the exception of No . 3 , almost withont question . Bro . Fenn , on rising to move the adoption of No . 2 , said , as he was

given to understand that there might be some discussion relating to the third proposition , he wonld propose all the others first and separately , and leave No . 3 for discussion after the others bad been disposed of . Bro . Fenn , in calling on the brethren to consider Clause 3 , said he would like a letter read which had been written by Brother Tew ,

Prov . G . M . of West Yorkshire , to their Secretary , Bro . Hedges , in his official capacity . He thought Bro . Tew could have no objection to its being read . His ( Bro . Fenn ' s ) name was mentioned in the letter , and as certain imputations were cast npon the Committee , of which he ( Bro . Fenn ) was Chairman , he thought it should be read and

answered . There were misconceptions in that letter , so extraordinary that if other brethren in the Provinces misconstrued tbem in the same manner tbe Committee wonld have to give their scheme up altogether , for they could not carry it out without the assistance of the Provinces . The Chairman said this was a very important letter , and

he thought it should be read . Bro . J . A . Birch protested . It wonld be establishing a very inconvenient practice if leters were to be read at these Courts from brethren who happened to be distant , and who did not attend . If they conld not attend they should h > ive sufficient confidence in those who did attend to leave them to settle the question . He believed it would be the initiation of a most inconvenient

practice . He moved tint the letter be not read . Bro . Fnnn quite agreed as to the inconvenience of the course proposed , bnt Bro . Tew represented brethren of one of the largest Provinces in En land , and his remarks were of very great importance . Bro . C . F . Hogard thought the difficulty of Bro . Birch was that Bro . Tew the

Prov . G M . for West Yorkshire , was not present . He would remind him that the D . P . G . M . was present , and he could support the letter of Bro . Tew . Bro Fenn then summarised what he styled the misconceptions of Bro . Tew . Bro . Tew , for whom he had greit respect , was an old personal friend . He ( Bro . Fenn ) protested against the

assumption that they desired to push their report through the Court . The Committee , of which he had the honour to be Chairman , had to perform certain duties which they were asked to undertake by the General Committee . They did so , and as quickly as they conld , and made their report on the first available opportunity . Tbey could do

no more , and in the discharge of their dnty they conld do no less . It was not the fault of the General Committee or the Quarterly Court that the General Committe met about one week before the Quarterly General Court . The Committee could not publish their report before

it was made to the General Committee , and the Secretary had a number of them printed and in the hands of the General Committee , and they were sent out the next day to the Provincial Grand Secretaries . There was no desire on the

part of any one to force it throngh the Court . The proposition he had to bring under their notice meant very little ; it did not commit the Court to spend £ 20 , 000 ; the matter must come before another Quarterly Court , and therefore the haste of which Brother Tew complained did not exist , and there was no necessity for haste .

Bro . Tew wrote of the great cost of the buildings which were proposed to be pulled down wholesale— £ 63 . 000 ( witb the land ) . What were they proposing to pull down ? The north-west wing , which cost some £ 1 , 400 . They also proposed to pull down the kitchen and some useless sculleries and store rooms . Tho kitchen was becoming of

very little service , because ifc was built for sixty-ei ght children , and it had now to provide for over two hundred and a proportionate staff . That cost perhaps another £ 1 , 400 , because the kitchen was only of one storey . There was no building over it , and instead of this cost of £ 63 , 000 , if Bro . Tew knocked off £ 60 , 000 , £ 3000 wonld be

found to be mnch nearer tho mark . Then Bro . Tew said the new buildings were to cost £ 30 , 000 . There was nothing in the Report to justify that assumption . The sum mentioned was £ 20 , 000 . As he went through the propositions of the Sub-Committee ho would mention the various items which made up this £ 20 , 000 . Bro . Tew said

there would be £ 12 , 000 extra . He ( Bro . Fenn ) did uot know where Bro . Tew got his £ 12 , 000 . That was in connection with 0 scheme , which the Committee did not recommend . The first part of the recommendation of the Sub-Committee was that new kitchen

offices , with matron ' s room , cooking class room , house dining room , and servants' bed rooms be built on tbe site of the newpiece of ground lately purchased by the Institution , and bounded by the public road . It was necessary for him to state that part of the recommendations was the convergion of the drill-room into a dining-