West Yorkshire.

WEST YORKSHIRE .

A CONVOCATION of the Provincial Grand Chapter of West Yorkshire wns held in the Music Saloon , Wood Street , ' Wekefield , on Friday , 24 th ult ., by tbe invitation of Chapters Unanimity 154 , Wakefield 495 , and Sincerity 1019 . Comp . Honry Smith P . Z . 302 Past Grand Prin . Soj . of England Prov . G . H . waa the Acting Grand Snperintendent ,

and he was well supported . Apologies for unavoidable absence were received from the following Provincial Grand Officers : —Thos . Wm . Tow , J . P ., Grand Superintendent , Herbert G . E . Green P . Z . 154 Prov . G . S . E ., John Shoesmith P . Z . 521 and Wm . Flockton P . Z . 1042 Prov . G .

Sojs ., Joseph Wilson P . Z . 302 Prov . G . Stand . B ., Wm . Metcalfe P . Z . 600 , Jose Eickard P . Z . 304 , and H . S . Goodyear P . Z . 495 , Prov . G . Stewards , and abont 125 Companions , many of whom were Past Provincial Grand Officers and Past Principals .

Comp . Henry Smith and bis Officers entered at 4 p . m ., and Provincial Grand Chapter was opened in form . The Provincial Grand Principals were sainted , and the roll of Chapters was called . The minntes of the Grand Convocation ,

holden at Pontefract , on Monday , 15 tb May 1893 , wore presented and confirmed . The Acting Provincial Grand Superintendent then delivered the following address : —

E . Companions , —I hare been commanded by our Grand Snperintendent E . Comp . T . W . Tew to preside at this Convocation , and to express regret at bis inability to be with ns , he having temporarily taken np his residence at Torquay by the advice of hia medical man . I may say that his health has somewhat improved , and that his mind

is ns active as ever . He takes a deep interest in this branca of the Royal Craft , and looks forward with hope to having the pleasure of being able to be present at our annnal Convocation in May 1894 . Companion Tew is muoh exercised by the knowledge that we are not possessed of rooms sufficiently capacious , not only for our

meetings , but for the refreshments afterwards , whioh experience teaches should always be supplied in the samo building ; and he would strongly advise the Companions of Wakefield , when opportunity offers itself , to seriously consider if anything can be done to bring about this very desirable object .

At our May Convocation I called yonr attention to the large number ( sixty-two ) of Companions in arrear , and desired that special exertion should-be made by the Scribes and Treasurers to greatly reduce the number of these negligent Companions , being convinced from long experience that want of prompt and diligent attention by those

Officers , early in each year has as mnoh to do with the black list as the negligence and indifference of the Companions themselves . All Masonic subscriptions are dne in advance , and mostly due on tho 1 st of January , when they should be diligently looked after . The obscure notice usnally at the foot of the oironlar is not sufficient ,

and I would recommend that a separate demand note should nooom . pany the summon * . Wo shonld look forward anxiously for the returns which will be due in a few weeks , when we shall be enabled to judge of the progress we have made .

I may here say that every Chapter will be supplied with tho necessary forms , and those for this Province have been fnlly and carefnlly written ont by our Prcvincial Grand Scribe E . in order to ensure accuracy and to avoid omissions , with the great advantage to Chapter Scribes , whose labour is hereby considerably reduced .

Many of onr Chapters appear to be prospering , at which wo greatly rejoice , but I am sorry to confess that three at least aro not only languishing , but are at the point of extinction , and their Charters being withdrawn , I name this circumstance with extreme regret . I have not had opportunity to confer with oui Grand Supurin .

tenderit . on tho subject , and the effect of the resolution of Grand Chnpter ou 1 st of November last , which , if confirmed in Febrnary 1894 , -will enable a Master Mason to take the Eoyal Arch at tho

expiration of four weeks instead of twelve calendar months , as ordered by Royal Arch Regulations , Article No . 73 . My present impression is that it wonld not be prudent to reduce the interval to less than three months . It would then enable the candidate to obtain

nnd produce his Grand Lodge certificate before exaltation . With a view to induce Masons to join the Royal Arch ,, and thns render the circle of their Masonio life complete , yon with all , I am sure , unite with me in the hope that the change may be beneficial . In tbe case of Master Masons , it is quite legitimate to invite them to

join a Chapter . In this Province we have upwards of 3 , 600 members of the Craft . Of these , only 1 , 257 , amounting to about one-third , are Royal Arch Masons , and of these perhaps 400 are either occupying the chairs at the present moment or have already passed them .

Daring the current year we have to deploro tbe loss of several good Royal Arch Masons . Amongst these I may name the late Mayor of Halifax , Comp . J . W . Davis , also Comp . John Leech , of Sincerity Chapter , No . 61 , Comp . Alexander Assonheimer G 00 ,

Comp . John Holmes Greaves 495 , and Comp . Thomas Wm . Embleton , of 1513 , Barnsley . Oar contributions this year to the threo Mnsonic Institntion * are , as follow : — £ 8 ( I

Old People ... ... ... ... 508 3 0 Girls ... ... ... ... 1323 3 0 Boys ... 372 15 0 making a total of £ 2 . 204 la , and for the last 23 years £ 49 , 984 19 s .

West Yorkshire.

I do not propose to mention tbe benefits which this Province haa derived in consequence of these generous contributions . I am quite sure , from a monetary point of view , the balance is decidedl y against us . I can hardly avoid allnsinn to tho imposing ceremony at Leeds on

tho 27 th of September , when our Provincial Grand Master was installed , and your humble servant re-appointed Depnty . Our distinguished visitors were not only impressed with tho orderly and precise arrangements , but deeply crttifiod by the dignified ceremony and the hearty reception accorded to thorn , many have

written to assure ua of their appreciation of the welcome and hospitality that were shown to them . I am happy to say we havo in the press a full report of the whole

proceedings at the Albert Hall , aa well as nt the banquet at tho Town Hall . This book , published at ono shilling , has the following synopsis of f contents : —

Preface . Portrait of the Eight "Worshipful Provincial Grand Master . Principal Masonio Events , 1822 to 1893 . List of Provincial Grand Masters . List of Depnty Provincial Grand Masters . List of Provincial Grand Secretaries .

Minutes of the Installation Meeting . List of Grand Officers Present . List of Present and Past Provincial Grand Officers . List of all Brethren who signed the Attendance Sheets .

List of Visitors Present . Roll of Lodges . An account of the dinner at the Town Hall , speeches , & o ., and many other matters of interest connected with the Province .

The book will bo valuable for reference as a Masonio record , and , I might almost say , history . Up to the present time orders have been received from 35 Lodges for over 500 copies , tbe number being limited to 1 , 000 . When the orders arrive from the 40 other Lodges , I think it more than probable that the book will be at a premium .

Let me exhort yon , Companions , to give every encouragement to the study and practice of this very beautiful and interesting branch ofthe Craft . Endeavour to perfect yourselves in the ceremonial , which will most certainly repay any industry or perseverance you may bestow upon it , and , as yon increase in the knowledge

yourselves , you will find that your pleasure will be incomplete unless you seek and obtain opportunity to share with others the advantages yon yourself have gained . I must not conclude without expressing oar thanks to the Principals and Companions of the three Wakefield Chapters for their

cordial co-operation in every way to render this meeting pleasant and satisfactory . It is the fourth time wo have met here in Wake , field , the previous occasions being in 1872 , 1881 , and 1886 . In the last instance I may mention that the entire expense , both of the meeting and of the entertainment of the Companions , was borne by

the Chapters under whore banners wo mot . Let mo once more remind onr Correspondents tho necessity for giving their postal address on all communications . When Scribes write on headed paper one would naturally reply to

the address given , viz ., the Lodge-room ; bat this not being what they want , it is usually a reply by return of pott , and if we reply to Lodge-rooms the delay might be a week or more . Correspondents shonld think of this .

At the conclusion of the address some discussion took p lace with regard to the change in tho time of probation of candidates for exaltation which Grand Chapter proposed

to reduce from 12 to 1 month . Comps . Parke , Harrop , Smithson , Rand , Vans , Billington , Dawson and Murphy took part . Considerable diversity of opinion was expressed on the subject .

It was moved by Comp . Billington P . Z . 1462 P . P . G . D . of C , seconded by Comp . Wm . Harrop P . Z . 290 P . P . G . J ., and supported by Comp J . F . Tanner P . Z . 337 Prov . G . J ., and resolved— " Thab a hearty vote of thanks be accorded

to the M . E . Z . s and Companions of the Wakefield Chapters for the excellent arrangements made for the convenience and comfort of the Companions . " This resolution was suitably acknowledged by Comps . Fennell Z . 154 , Mathers Z . 495 , and Martin Z . 1019 .

Provincial Grand Chapter was closed at 5 'l £ > p . m ., after which tea was provided in thc same room , and was partaken of by about 42 Companions .

Bro . James Terry , the Secretary of the Boyal Masonic Benevolent Institution , has been laid up , his numerous friends will regret to hear , with a somewhat severe attack of influenza . He is now much better .

The Doric Lodge of Instruction , No . 933 , haa removed to the Plough Tavern , Bow Boad , where future meetings will be held every Tmsday , at 8 o ' clock . Preceptor , Bro . B . Da Costa P . M . 1349 ; Secretary , Bro . C . N . Fox P . M . 1319 . It is proposed to work the fifteen sections at one of the meetings during the month of January .