Ar00902

r ^^^^^ W ^^ P SATURDAY , 18 TH MAT 1889 .

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

PROV . a . LODGE OF WEST YORKSHIRE . THE half-yearly meeting of Mark Masons of the Province of West Yorks was held under the Banner of the Prince Edward Lodge , No . 14 , at the Masonic Hall , Eastwood , on Wednesday , the 8 th inst ., when the following brethren assembled : —Bros . 0 . Letch Mason Prov . G . Master , the

Rev . T . 0 . Smyth , D . D ., Deputy Prov . G . Master , Francis Smith Prov . G . S . W ., J . W . Monckman P . P . G . W . as Prov . G . J . W ., J . A . Thornton Prov . G . M . O ., R . Nelson as Prov . G . S . O ., Henry Smith Prov . G . J . O ., the Rev . J . H . Evans Prov . G . Chaplain , George Normanton Prov . G . Treasurer , Thomas Gaukroger Prov . G . Registrar , Wm .

Cooke Prov . G . Secretary , Wm . Ackroyd Prov . G . S . D ., J . E . Craven as Prov . G . J . D ., Thomas Myers Prov . G . L of W ., W . P . Tomlinson as Prov . G . D . of C , John P . Hewitt Prov . Assistant D . C , John J . Green Prov . G . Sword Bearer , A . P . Fitzpatric Prov . Grand Standard Bearer , G . F . Carr Provincial G . Organist , Henry Oxley as Prov . G . I . G ., Kendall and Collinson Stewards , Thomas

Marshall P . P . G . O ., Barrand 111 , and Thomas Hodgson as Prov . Grand Tylers . The Prov . G . Lodge was duly opened and the Prov . G . Master and Deputy Prov . G . Master were saluted in ancient form . The Prov . G . Master , in replying to his salutation , said : —

Accept my very sincere thanks for the hearty reception yon have accorded to Prov . Grand Lodge this day . Ifc has been onr privilege to assemble nnder fche banner of Prince Edward several times , first in Augnsfc 1872 and again in August 1875 , September 1879 and September 1882 , bufc this is the first occasion on which we

have met here during the time I have had fche honour of being your Provincial Grand Master . The Lodge of Prince Edward , No . 14 , has the proud distinction of being high on the roll of Lodges in this Province , a position I feel sure it does not in any degree undervalue . Bro . Craven , in his " History of Freemasonry at Bottoms , " states ,

" The Mark Lodge is one of the oldest , if nofc fche oldest in the Province . Afc the time of the formation of the Grand Mark Lodge it was a disappointment to Prince Edward thafc ifc was not given No . 1 on fche list of the Grand Mark Lodges , as it had been led to expect such a distinction . The date of its creation is not known . Several

Mark Lodges have sprung from the Bottoms Mark Lodge . I am assured thafc at one time it was considered the chief and most im . portant Mark Lodge , that brethren came to it from all parts of the country , and thafc it had between eighty and ninety members . I can recollect when it was attended by Mark Masons from Leeds ,

Bradford , Wakefield , Huddersfield , Halifax , Rochdale , and Oldham . " Such , brethren , are the words of one well known to you , and who can speak much more confidently of the past of Prince Edward than I can . I see that at the end of 1887 you only had eighteen members ; since then I understand you have had several additions , and I trust

that the Lodge will go on adding good men and true till we see it one of the strongest and mosfc active in the Province , It is not my intention to address you at any length to-day , my worthy and esteemed Deputy the Rev . Dr . Smyth , Prov . G . Chap . England , has kindly consented to deliver an address , to whioh we are all looking

forward wifch pleasure . I mnst , however , trouble you with a few matters of detail . On the 29 th January last , with the assistance of Bros . C . F . Matier P . G . Warden Asst . G . Sec , Robfc . Berridge P . G . O . G , Dir . of Cers ., and R . R . Bryant , I had the pleasure of consecrating the Danum Lodge , No . 398 , at Doncaster , This makes the eleventh

Lodge on the Roll of West Yorkshire . Since we last met in Wakefield , in October lasfc , we have lost onr much respected Bro . Fred Barber , of the Britannia Lodge , Sheffield . Afc that meeting he was appointed Junior Warden of the Province . Bro . Barber left immediately Provincial Grand Lodge was closed , as he was

proceeding to America the next day . None of us , who then saw his happy face and bade him a safe and prosperous journey , thonght it was the last time we should meet on this side of the grave . To fill the vacancy thus caused , I appointed our W . Bro . William Delancy , the first Master of " Danum , " and I am sure you will all join with me in

wishing him long life and happiness and success and prosperity to the Junior Lodge of the Province . Grand Mark Lodge has recently taken a most important step , in securing the lease for 49 years of Bacon ' s Hotel , adjoining the Freemasons' Hall , in Great Queen

Street , London . The importance of this step is hardly realised in the Provinces . Those of ua who know the present headquarters of the Grand Mark Lodge will not fail to see the great advantage that will accrue to Mark Masonry , and I believe it is tbe one step of

Mark Masonry.

all others thafc will tend to the greater prosperity of the Order and raise its prestige still higher . To no one does Mark Masonry owe so deep a debt of gratitude than ib does to our lamented and highly esteemed brother the late Canon Portal , whose recent loss we are mourning . Canon Portal was a Past Grand Master of the Order ,

and up to the day of his death tbe President of the Board of General Purposes . He took a mosfc active interest in all that concerned the welfare of Mark Masonry , and in losing him we have lost a * " Good Brother and Trne . " I have just issued an appeal on behalf of our Mark Charities . I do nofc ask any large contributions , bub I do ask

that each Lodge will endeavour to do something . I firmly believe that hereafter our Charities will form a prominent feature in the Masonio Charities of England , and that their benefits will be as highly esteemed and valued aa those of fche larger ones . Let ua therefore gradually strengthen our voting power , so that when the

hour of necessity arrives we may be able to assist a brother in distress , or help in the education of the orphans of our less fortunate brethren . One word more and I have done . According to the laws of Mark Masonry and the terms of my appointment as yonr Prov

Grand Master it will devolve npon you to-day to nominate a brother for the office of Provincial Grand Master for the ensuing three years . Whoever thafc may be rests entirely in your own hands . One object alone we all have , the welfare and prosperity of Mark Masonry in Wesfc Yorkshire .

The roll of Lodges being called , all were found represented , with the exception of two . The Provincial Grand Registrar read a report of the state of the several Lodges in the Province . The Prov . G . S . W . Bro . F . Smith proposed , the Provincial G . J . W . Bro . Monckman

seconded , and Bro . the Rev . T . C . Smyth , D . D ., Past Grand Chaplain supported—That this meeting recommends to the M . W . G . M . M . M . the re-appointment of the Provincial Grand Master for a further period of three years , which was carried unanimously . Bro . the Rev . T . C . Smyth , D . D ., read tha following address : —

I have often spoken on occasions like the present , of Freemasonry as a source of edification apart from the social enjoyment involved in it , and the tie of the brotherhood , by which it binds together the various nations of the world . At the present time I would tonoh in a few words on the lessons whioh are taught through fche journey of

life by its different degrees . Especially alluding to those truths which Mark Masonry tends to inculcate . The neophyte in the Order is first directed to make himself acquainted with the principles of moral truth and virtue as a sure foundation upon which to " erect a superstructure perfect in all its parts and honourable to the builder . "

The Craftsman is next admonished on this basis to " extend hia researches into the hidden mysteries of nature and science , " for no knowledge of the liberal arts and sciences can avail fco make him a genuine Mason acceptable in the sight of God and man if his mental attainments do not rest on the sure ground of truth and virtue . In

the third degree , with a mind well constituted and a life that haa been squared on the principles taught to the Entered Apprentice , he is led to reflect on the close of existence , and is shown thafc " to the just and upright man death can have no terrors compared with the sting of falsehood and dishonour . " Some may be present who

have not been exalted to fche Holy Order of Royal Arch Masonry , and therefore I confine myself now to observing fchafc he who haa been so privileged is conducted on fco reflections npon that eternity of which death is the portal ; to the thought of Him , with whom one day is as a thousand years , and a thousand years as but one day :

" The Alpha and Omega , the beginning and the end , the First and the Last , who was and is and shall be , the Almighty , " and with whom the faithful Mason may hope to inherit everlasting life and happiness . Between the second and third degrees cornea our honourable Order , affording us a striking dramatic illustration in

regard fco the practical dutiea of this life , and a proof that patient continuance in well-doing , though ib may for a time be despised and unrecognised will , sooner or later , receive a recompense . And I cannot bnt observe on the present occasion that those who estimate the work of Mark Masonry as teaching this greafc and cheering lesson

must feel how lasting a debt of gratitude is due to him who has recently passed away from amongst his fellow workmen to receive his wages at the Master's hands . As the editor of the Freemason has justly observed , "ifc is given to few men to make trial of their ability in so many varied spheres of

Masonio labour , and to win very high distinction in all , as was granted to Bro . Canon Portal . Only preferred to his highest honours a short while since , in constitutional Masonry as Grand Chaplain and Principal Sojourner in the Supreme Grand Chapter , he may well be considered the reviver of the Mark degree in the form which it has

now assumed , and to him T . G . O . O . U . was pleased to grant the satisfaction accorded in this life to very few , of seeing his labours well rewarded and his work appreciated . But above all , and crown , ing all with a halo of never failing brightness , is the snre reward in another world awaiting one who up to the extent and opportunity

given him , has thought well and laboured well for God and man . How often ifc happens that men like our noble Grand Master Moses are nob permitted to see the happy consummation of their life work with mortal eyes in accordance with the rule thab " oue soweth and another reapeth " but a state there is in which " he that soweth and

he that reapeth shall rejoice together , " and "every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour . " No feeling will there be then of failure ; no bitter cry "Alas ! alas ! my labour is lost ;" bat we shall obtain a recompense for things that were done when we

have been buried for centuries , the fruit of fche outermost branches of the tree which we had planted and had left a sapling . Brilliant aa has proved the success of Mark Maaonry even already , as revived by him whose loss we deplore , its grandest prosperity has yefc to come * the work goes on although tbe worker has passed away . Let