West Yorkshire

WEST YORKSHIRE

ON tho 10 th inst ., the usual Quarterly Meeting of the Freemasons of West Yorkshire took place afc the Masonic Hall , Groat George Street , Leeds , under the banner of the Goderich Lodgo 1211 . After tho Lodge had been opened by the W . M . and Officers of tho Lodge , tho Provincial Grand Lodge entered , and was opened and presided over by Sir Henry Edwards , Bart ., Provincial Grand Master of West Yorkshire . After the usual formalities had been gone through , and

the reading of a portion of Scripture and prayer , tho Right Worship ful Provincial Grand Master was saluted in ancient style . Reply ing to this salutation , Sir Henry Edwards said : Brethren , — I am happy to meet tho members of this Provincial Grand Lodge at the opening of a new Year , in order that the affairs of interest in connection with Freemasonry in this Province may bo duly considered

and debated . A year ago we were indebted to tho Philanthropic Lodge , and again wo have to thank the Freemasons of Leeds , and especially tho Worshipful Master , Officers , and Brethren of the Goderich Lodge , for the present renewal of hospitality accorded to the Province on its first Quarterly Meeting for the current year . I again acknowledge , with much pleasure and satisfaction , the salutation of

the brethren . Tho cordiality of your reception convinces me that the administration of oar laws and tho government of the Province meets with the approval of the Craft . Fifty years have now elapsed since the establishment of West Yorkshire into a separate Province , and when I look back over that period of time , and contrast the prospect of the future in comparison with the past , I think there is

cause for general congratulation in tho gradual progress which the principles of Freemasonry have made , and the marked improvement which has taken place in a variety of details in the Masonio government and unity of -working displayed in the different Lodges . I assure you that I have tho well government of this Province at heart , and that I will endeavour to

select for my Provincial Grand Officers mon of ability and popularity in tho Craft . It will always be my desire , so far as lies in my power , to advance the position of the hard-working brethren in the Lodges , and to promote their prosperity and happiness , aa well as to secure fair and impartial discussions upon matters of vital interest in my Province . It is a matter of sincere

congratulation that onr Royal Grand Master has again been graciously pleased to accept the highest office which the Craft can confer upon him , and that in December he was once moro invited to occupy the position of our most Worshipful Graud Master iu the Grand Lodge of England . At tho Festival of the Masonic Benevolent Institution in February , his Royal Highness the Provincial Grand Master of

Oxfordshire will , it is hoped , take the chair ; and that of tho Girls in May , Lord Suffield ; aud at the Boy ' s Festival , a most distinguished prelate of the Church of England will preside . We are now enabled to strike a balance of tho results of the working of the Craft during the year just closed . These results may be roughly stated as follows : —Sixty-nine warrants for

now lodges , and the enormous number of 8503 Grand Lodge certificates bavo been issued from head-qnartei-s , each being largely in excess of those sent out in tho previous year , and may bo taken as a fair indication of the steady progress which tho Craft has made during the past year . Tho voluntary contributions to the three Charities have this year reached the munificent sum of £ 39 , 335 7 s 6 d . This

circumstance is a proof of the liberality of the fraternity , and would seem to point to the conclusion that tho wants aud needs of these institutions only require to be mado known in order to meet with a fitting response . But this gratifying result of the year does not end by pouring these large sums into the coffers of these institutions . It imposes upon the managing bodies an increased responsibility for the

economical disposal of this princely sum , and ior a corresponding degree of efficiency in tho educational and other results . In these respects it is to be regretted that , although tho receipts of the Boys ' School havo been largely increased , the extravagant management and the indifferent educational results so forcibly pointed out by your Committee of Investigation a year ago still continue , without any

evidence of improvement in the future . I feel bound to say this simply in the exercise of sound judgment upon tho matter alluded to without lending myself in tho remotest degree to either side in the personal controversy which has unfortunately been associated with the discussion of this question . A number of Freemasons , under a provisionally organised " Masonic Educational and Benevolent

Institution , " havo placed two girls for education , partial maintenance , and advancement in life , in local establishments , and a Lodge in the province has done the same in respect to an orphan boy . These experiments will test the merits of local , as compared with metropolitan establishments , and I cannot refrain from wishing these efforts to bo attended with complete success . My Deputy , just before

Christmas , had the honour of establishing two new Lodges in this Province , numbered 1045 and 1618 on the books of the Grand Lodge of England . Thess new Lodges are in districts , carved out of localities in this thickly populated Province , wherein are older existing Lodges closely associated around them . I cordiall y recommend to tho new brethren tho Pro Grand Master ' s condemnation of tho

unconstitutional practice of new Lodges canvassing , or in any way proposing , that members should bo members of older Lodges and younger Lodges in the same town , and at the same time . I am glad tho Pro Grand Master has expressed himself so emphatically on this subject ; and feel convinced that the very judicious hints conveyed on his part to the Board of General Purposes must meet with the approval of the Craft iu this Province . In conclusion , I ask

all the Lodges represented on this occasion to accept tho fraternal congratulations and good wishes of myself and of my most talented energetic , and indefatigable Deputy , Bro . Thomas W . Tew , for the year just commenced . After the address of the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master , tho routine business of the Province was gone through , and a resolution on the agenda paper , by Bro . Ruddock , on the subject of a pamphlet relating to tho Boys' School , was with-

West Yorkshire

drawn . About 230 brethren attended tho meeting . Afc tho close of tho Lodge , an excellent banquet was served in tho Banquet Hall , by Bro . Gates , in his customary stylo , after which , Bro . Sir H . Edwards presiding , the usual Loyal , Patriotic aud Masonio toasts wero given and responded to , and a pleasant and convivial evening was enjoyed .

Notices Of Meetings

NOTICES OF MEETINGS

Lion and Lamb Chapter . —A convocation of this Chapter was held on the 17 th inst ., at the City Terminus Hotel , Cannonstreet . The Chapter was opened in due form by Comps . G . Newman M . E . Z ., F . Copestiok H ., H . Birdsoyo J . The Companions were then admitted , and tho minutes of last meeting read and confirmed . Bros .

G . Hall , J . Lorkin , J . Grocotfc , H Brand and W . Medwin were pro . posed by Comps . J . Dunn , Copostick Scribe E ., and J . Curie , and were duly exalted into R . A . Masonry . The installation of officers then took place , and the Chapter closed . The Comps . adjourned to supper .

Mersey Lodge , No . 477 , Birkenhead—Ou Thursday , 7 th January , this Lodge o £ Ancient , Free and Accepted Masons met afc the Lodge-room , 55 Argyle-streefc , Birkenhead , for the purpose of installing the W . M . elect , and investiture of officers for the ensuing year . Thero was a very largo attendance of members , and amongst the visitors were Bros . James Salmon P . M . 425 and 1477 , P . P . S . G . D .

Cheshire and P . J . G . W . North Wales and Shropshire , Richard B . Mollor P . M . b 05 and P . P . J . G . D ., M . C . McNerney 384 , Thomas Chesworth W . M . 1576 , A . Stephens W . M . 954 , McNerney W . M . 605 , W . Matthews W . M . 721 , James Ridehalgb P . M . 1276 , J . Taylor W . M . 1276 , Jacobs 702 , & c . After the Lodge had been opened according to ancient usage , Bro . Robert Gracie P . M . proceeded with the

installation of Bro . William Pulford , the W . M . elect , as W . M . for the ensuing year , which was performed in a very impressive manner . Tho remaining officers of the Lodge ware then installed as follows : — Bros . G . J . Adams I . P . M ., Robert Grace P . M . Lecturer , J . Wedgwood P . M ., Henry Martin P . M ., John Griffiths P . M ., Donald Fraser P . M . Treasurer , Samuel Jones P . M . Secretary , John Dutton S . W ., Thomas

Brown J . W ., Wm . Worrall S . D ., Wm . Bennett J . D ., Robert Ridyard I . G ., George Dicken D . C , Robert Hamilton and John Woolley ( Chester ) Stewards , and Holtoway Tyler . Tho Treasurer ' s report showed the Lodge to be in a flourishing condition . Last year there was a balance in hand of £ 7 16 s , and the total amount received during 1876 was £ 397 19 s 3 d . Against ; this , the expenditure had

been £ 331 14 s ll ^ d , leaving a balance in the Treasurer ' s hands of £ 66 4 s 3 ^ d . Before the conclusion of the business , Bro . D . Fraser P . M . brought forward a scheme for the erection of a new Masonic Hall for Birkenhead . Masonry , he said , had recently so rapidly extended in Birkenhead and the surrounding neighbourhood that many now thought it was time that a suitable site shonld be secured

for erecting a new Hall upon , as it was quite patent to everybod y that they had not now anything like sufficient space to accommodate their members with any degree of comfort . By their present arrangement they had still three years left unexpired of thair lease in the building they now occupied , and if tho feeling of the members was tested he had no doubt by the timo tho threeyears had expired they might have a suit .

able hall erected for their accommodation which would be an ornament to Birkenhead . Tho Worshipful 3 Iaater seconded the proposition , and ifc was ultimately decided that if it was found expedient to erect such a hall , the Mersey Lodge take five hundred £ 1 shares in the newundertaking . The practical feeling then tested showed itself by several members present guaranteeing to tako up shares equal to

£ 2 , 500 , which is equal to one-half the total amount required to carry out Bro . Fraser ' s scheme , and augurs well for its being carried out . The Lodgo having been closed in due form , the company adjourned to Bro . Charles Berry ' s , Ranelagh Hotel , where a splendid banquet was served up to about 120 . The newly-elected WiM . presided , and the yice-chairs were occupied by the S . W . and J . W . The toast of

" The Queen " having been received in true Masonio form , " The M . W . G . Master , Bro . H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , " was next given , and met with a most hearty reception . The remaining toasts , which wore effectively proposed by the W . M ., " were— "TheR . W . Prov . G . M . Lord de Tabley , and Prov . Grand Officers Past and Present ; " " Tho Worshipful Master ; " "The Worshipful Past Masters of the Mersey

Lodge ; " "The Officers of the Mersey Lodge ; " "The Past Officers of the Mersey Lodge , " "The Visitors ; " "The Masonio Charities ; " and "All poor and distressed Masons . " During the oveuiug Bro . Fraser P . M . Treasurer , presented Bro . J . G . Adams I . P . M . with a P . M . ' s jewel , and Bto . Robert Gracio P . M . with a

Past Treasurers jewel . Several musical brethren contributed materially to the harmony of the evening . We congratulate tho brethren of the Mersey Lodgo on the progress they have made during tho past year . The Lodge is now ono of the most important in the province , and worthy iu every way of tho great community of Birkenhead .

Portsmouth Lodge , No . 487 . —The installation of tho W . M . Bro . Georgo Bond , of the Castle Hotel , Southsea , took place on Thursday evening , iu the Masonic Hall , St . Mary ' s-sfcreet . There waa a very , good master of brethren . Tho retiring W . M . Bro . E . Bunting , was supported by the following past and present W . M . ' s : — ' . Bros . M . E . Frost , G . Rake , G . S . Lancaster , Cudlipp , R . H . 0 . fJbsdell , F . Pineo , F . Cour ^ , Maltby , E . Groves , MooreTurn ' ey '

, E . Downing , Harrison , and G . F . Lancaster ( Gosport ) . The ceremony of installation was ably performed by Bro . Frost , after which tha W . M . appointed his officers as follows .- —Bros . Richard Beale S . W . Robert Osborne J . W ., Prov . G . Organist , G . S . Lancaster Treasurer M . E . Frost Secretary , J . Astridge Assistant Secretary , Loder S D . ' W . L . Smith J . D ., T . P . Palsgrave I . G ., W . Tuck and F . White Stewards , Johnson Chaplain , Exell Tyler , A vote of thanks wag ,