West Yorkshire.

WEST YORKSHIRE .

A REGULAR Convocation of this Provincial Grand Chapter was held at Dewsbury , on Friday , 20 th ult ., when Comp . Ensor Drury P . A . G . S . England P . Z . 139 acted as Provincial Superintendent , in the unavoidable absence of Comp . W . L . Jackson , M . P ., he being supported by Comp . Henry Smith P . G . P . S . England Provincial Grand H ., and a large number of other Companions .

The acting Grand Superintendent , accompanied by the Provincial Grand Officers , was received by the M . E . Z . Comp . John Lane Fox and Principals and Companions of Chapter 208 , and Provincial Grand Chapter was opened in form , and the officials were saluted .

The roll of Chapters and of Present and Past Prov . Officers ., was called . The Prov . G . Scribe E . presented the minutes of the annual Convocation of Grand Chapter held at Bradford , on Tuesday ,

9 th June 1896 . As these had been printed and circulated , Comp . John Barker P . Z . 258 moved , and Comp . J . H . Gration P . Z . 1513 seconded , that they be taken as read , which was agreed to , and they were subsequently confirmed .

The acting Superintendent then delivered the following address : —Companions , I thank you for the compliment you have been good enough to pay to the Office that I have the honour of filling on this occasion , and at the same time allow me to express my sympathy with you in the disappointment you

must feel—in which I participate—that the Grand Superintendent is unable to be present to-day . He has requested me to take his place , and I have done so , feeling sure that I may rely upon your kind indulgence , and that . 1 shall receive from you

that assistance which has been so courteously rendered to me on every occasion when I have been placed in the Grand Superintendent ' s chair . The business on the agenda paper is not of an important nature , and it is unnecessary for me to make any observations upon it .

Turning to the events of the past few months I notice with satisfaction the resuscitation of the Zetland Chapter , No . 603 , Cleckheaton , by Comp . J . T . Last and other zealous Companions , and I am sure we all trust that with their energetic assistance it may enter upon a long and prosperous career . Many a Chapter

in this Province has had its period of depression , sometimes lasting until it became a question of the withdrawal of the Charter , and then by the help of zealous and generous Companions it has again become a good working Chapter , in some cases reaching a higher state ol prosperity than it had ever

before experienced . The two old Chapters in my own town , Paradise and Loyalty , both founded towards the end of the last century , are good examples . Whilst speaking of Sheffield , I should like to refer for one moment to that part of the Grand Superintendent ' s address in the minutes we have just confimed

where he alludes to the consecration by me of the White Rose of York Chapter , in March last , in that city . Eor his kind words about myself I very heartily thank him , but I refer to it because I wish to say that I was present at a meeting of that young

Chapter a few days ago , and I am happy to say that it is quite fulfilling the high hopes that I formed and expressed at its consecration .. It now numbers twenty-six subscribing members , and six Hon . P . Zs ., all , I think without exception , enthusiastic Royal Arch Masons .

I wish , Companions , that I could truthfully use that expression in speaking of Royal Arch Masons generally . I think if the members of our Chapters were to show a little more enthusiasm and interest in this beautiful degree , many of the Craft Masons who neglect Royal Arch Masonry altogether would

be attracted to it . It seems almost incredible that although as declared by the Act of Union in 1813 " pure and ancient Masonry consists of three degrees , viz .: —Entered Apprentice , Fellow Craft , and Master Mason including the Supreme Order of the Holy Boyal Arch , " only about one Mason out of

every three in this Province becomes a Royal Arch Mason . It is perhaps too soon yet to judge of the effect of reducing the probation of a Master Mason from twelve months to one month . So far as I have been enabled by my own experience and by inquiry to form an opinion , it has not led to an increase in the

number of candidates in this Province , and when I recollect the eagerness with which I , and the young Brethren of my Lodge , took the degree the very earliest day we could possiblv do so after the 12 months probation , I am inclined to hold to the opinion that in this , as in most things , people do not value that which is too easily attained .

Meeting to-day , Companions , in this old town of Dewsbury , under the banner of that flourishing Chapter , the Three Grand Principles , and especially as that Chapter is presided over by Comp . John Lane Fox , it is impossible for me to keep from my thoughts our lamented and loved Companion the late Bro . Thomas Bateman Fox , whose untimely death we still deplore , and who , had he been now with us , would have been one of the

West Yorkshire.

foremost to welcome this Provincial Grand Chapter . Nor do we forget , Companions , that it was here , in 1858 , that the Earl of Zetland First Grand Principal installed Comp . Dr . Eearnley as First Grand Superintendent of the newly established Provincial Grand Chapter of West Yorkshire . I am reminded by the Prov .

G . Scribe E . that the end of the financial year is rapidly approaching , when the annual returns will have to be forwarded to him , so that a report on the condition- of the Province may be prepared , and submitted to the Grand Superintendent . It is very desirable therefore that Treasurers and Scribes should do

their best to get in all arrears , and so place their respective Chapters in a good position . I understand that the Prov . G . Scribe E . has made out for each Chapter the returns of its members , so that the Scribe E . will only have to add the names , etc ., of those who . have joined or been exalted since 31 st

December last . This will save the Scribes of private Chapters a good deal of trouble , and I hope our Prov . G . Scribe E . will have the satisfaction of finding it expedite the return to him of these necessary forms . I have now only to thank you again , Companions , for your kind reception , and for your attention to the few remarks I have ventured to make .

Comp . Ensor Drury had a very hearty reception , and his address was heard with great interest . After this Comp . Henry Smith , on behalf of the acting Prov . G . J . Comp . J . L . Atherton and himself , thanked the Companions for their cordial salutation . It was , he said , a great pleasure to be present and to be

welcomed so warmly in this ancient Chapter , and to see around him so many old familiar faces . He trusted that the harmony which had distinguished Three Grand Principles would continue to prevail . He was conscious that in some parts of the Province difficulties existed , but those difficulties , he was confident , would

be overcome , and he congratulated the Companions on the fact that they were enjoying greater prosperity at that moment than they had ever known before . He hoped the concord which was so marked would increase as time went on , and , though his term of office might be said to be almost at an end , yet he would to the last wish well to their onward progress . Comp . Smith

explained that , exalted in 1854 , he became a subscriber from that date to two Chapters , and from 1860 to three , so that he thought he had some right to express confidence in the Degree . This he did most thoroughly , and he should , to the extent to which his humble services would go , always give it his fullest and heartiest encouragement .

Comp . J . L . Atherton P . Z . 387 P . P . G . H . acting Provincial Grand J . then delivered the Mystical Lecture . This was given in a masterly way , and was followed throughout with profound attention by the Companions . At its close the acting G . Superintendent , in the name of the Companions , tendered to

Comp . Atherton warmest thanks for his beautiful rendering of that sublime and most perfect lecture . A point was raised in relation to one of the signs , which led to expressions of opinion by Comps . Vaux , C . L . Mason and others , but there was no discussion , as it was not deemed a material question .

In replying to the thanks of the Companions , Comp . Atherton said that if he had done or could do anything by which the interest of the Brethren might be stimulated so that more might be induced to join , he would be fully repaid for any exertion on his part . He considered the R . A . to be distinctly a part of the 3 rd degree , and ought not , he declared , to have been

severed from it . He deemed it an excellent rule , practiced in some places , that no one should pass the Chair in a Craft Lodge unless he was a Chapter Mason . Many Past Masters , not being R . A . Masons , consciously or uncon ' ciously threw cold water upon the Degree , but as for himself he considered its importance could not be overestimated , and that it was worthy of the earnest attention of every member of the Craft .

Comp . T . Robertshaw Z . 448 , Halifax , in the name of his Chapter invited the Province to hold the Annual Convocation , in May 1897 , in that town . A vote of thanks to Comp . John Lane Fox and the Companions of Chapter 208 , heartily proposed , was adopted by acclamation . Comp . Fox replied and the proceedings ended .

Church Service.

CHURCH SERVICE .

A MASONIC service was held in the Parish Church of All Saints , Dalmeny Road , Tufnell Park , London , N ., by permission of the vicar , the Rev . Bro . W . J . Hocking , on Sunday afternoon . Archdeacon Sinclair , D . D ., P . G . C ., preached an eloquent sermon from II Peter i , 7 " Add to

godliness brotherly kindness . " The preacher dwelt on the subject of common brotherhood that should exist among Christians , and pointed out that Freemasonry aimed at the highest religious ideal . The offertory was devoted to the fund for building a soup kitchen for the poor of Upper Holloway .