Prov. G. Lodge West Yorkshire.

Institution for Boys . The Right Worshipful Prov . Grand Master wrote aa follows : — To Herbert > i . E . Green , Esq . Dear Prov . Grand Secretary , It is a matter of the deepest regret and sorrow to me that I am

unable , throogh serious indisposition , to undertake the honourable dnties pertaining to the chair in Prov . G . Lodge on Wednesday . With perfect confidence , however , I leave tha conduct of affairs to my faithful friend and Depn'y , Bro . Henry Smith , feeling assured that he will etxteod to all the same measure of esteem and friendship

whioh both be and I bare invariably received from the brethren of thin Province . Please express to the Prov . 6 . Lodge how greatly I appreciate the compliment it is proposed to offer to me to celebrate the Jubilee of the Royal Masonio Benevolent Institution , by perpetuating my name through the purchase of a presentation to be styled tbe

" Thomas WiUiam Tew Presentation . " Also convey my obligations to the Charity Committee for their noble advocacy of the Charitable and Benevolent proposals which have come nnder their notice . »¦ Thank Bro . Wm . Hy . Thorpe and the Brethren of Rybnrn Lodge , No . 1283 , for the arrangements they have made , and for the trouble they have taken to further the comfort and convenience of Prov . 6 . Lodgo .

I well remember the agreeable reception and hearty hospitality extended to me on the occasion of my last visit to the Ryburn Lodge . I was tbeq much impressed with the earnestness and enthusiasm displayed for the prosperity of the Craft in this important corner of the West Riding , and the presence of Prov . G . Lodge nnder their

banner on Wednesday will be a confirmation of ( the opinion I then formed . In conclusion , perhaps I might ask the brethren of the Province , if they have not already done so , to give their attention to some admirable letters whioh have appeared in the Freemason newspaper ,

touching npon the present position and fnture prospects of our beloved Graft . Tbey are well worthy the consideration of ua all , and have resulted from a communication in the first instance from Bro . T . B . Whytehead , of York . Thanking yon and tbe secretarial staff for your valuable assistance . Believe me , yours faithfully and fraternally , THOMAS WM . TEW , Prov . G . Master W . Y .

Visitors—Bros . 0 . H . Horsfall 1923 Malta ,, W . H Mitchell J . D ., and James Harwood I . G . 226 . The acting Right "Worshipful Prov . G . Master Bro . Hy

Smith acting D . P . G . M ., Bro . Wm . Brittain , J . P ., and the Prov . Grand , Officers entered at , 3 ' 15 . The Prov . Grand Lodge was opened in due form , solemn prayer vvas offered , and a portion of Holy Scripture read by the Prov . Grand Chaplains .

The acting Right Worshipful Prov . Grand Master and tho acting D . P . G . M . woro saluted according to ancient custom , the roll of Lodges was called , and it was found tiiat 63 oufc of 75 wore represented . The roll of Present and Past Prov . Grand Officers was called . The minutes

of Provincial Grand Lodge , holden at Huddersfield , on Wednesday , the 15 th April 1891 were presented . On tho motion of Bro . Thomas Rnddock P . M . 275 P . P . G . Treas ., seconded by Bro . C . L . Mason P . M . 2069 P . P . G . Treasurer , it was resolved that the minutes be taken as read , and confirmed .

The acting Right Worihipfal Proviucial Grand Master thon delivered the following Address : — BBETHREN , —Tha nnfoftnnato circumstances , in consequence of whioh I am called upon to address you to-day , nre known , more or leas fully , to all ( if yon . Oar Right Worshipfnl Prov . Grand Master

haa been for pome weeks confined to his house by illness . You will have observed that , for a considerable time , he has discharged his Masonio duties with creat effort , and has in fact , in his zeal for the Craft * exerted himself much beyond his strength . On many ocoaaions , I will , venture to say , he has left out of consideration his own

health and . comforfc in order to be present at onr assemblies . Throngh the careful attention of those around him , and the exercise of no little self-denial on his own part , he is , yon will all rejoice to know , making progress , nob with that rapidity we would wish , bnt yefc with , I trust , steady advancement towards complete convalescence . Yon

will all join with me , I am sure , in the expression of hope that T . G . A . O . T . U . will speedily restore him to health , so that he may again appear amongst us , and take that warm and enthusiastic interest in Masonio matters generally , aud this his beloved Province in particular , whioh has for so many years especially characterised him

. The good services of onr Right Worshipful Prov . Grand Master , I have no hesitation in saying , are unequalled ; and tho sympathy ho has shown , and continues to show with every one of ns , commends him to onr hearts , and creates within ns a respect and affect on to which words of mine , Brethren , altogether fail adequately to give

utterance . rou will doubtlees wish , before thia meeting is over , to place on record , by resolution , somo expression of yonr feeling on this question . I leave it in your hands , assuring yon beforehand that it will have my hearty concurrence . In holding our Provincial Meeting at Sowerby Bridge to-day , we to

ww , some extent , departed from what has now become almost our nsual cnstom . It must bo patent to all of you , brethren , that for tho convenience ofthe greater number it is ' better that Provincial brand Lodge shonld nssomblo in somo central aud populous place . Whilst recognising thia fact , our Rt . Wor . Prov . G . Master does

Prov. G. Lodge West Yorkshire.

occasionally deviate from this custom , and , I may nay , wo have met here to-day at his express wish . It may , perhaps , be interesting to you to be reminded that so earlv aa 1856 an important Masonio function took place at Sowerby Bridge . On Whit Monday of that year the foundation atone of the building in which we are at thia moment assembled was laid , and laid with due Masonio pomp and honours .

The members of the Lodge of Probity , Halifax , rallied round their brethren from all the neighbouring towns . They were joined by the ( gentry , the trade societies , and the inhabitants generally . The Free , masons met at a place called , if I remember rightly , Underbuuk ; a procession was formed , and after marching to the site , the stone was dnly and truly laid by onr late Rt . Wor . Prov . G . Master , Bro . Sir

Henry Edwards , Baronet , M . P ., then , however , only plain Henry Edwards , Esq ., of Pye Nest , Depufcy Lieutenant of the West Riding of tbe County of York . The Rt . Wor . Prov . G . Master of those days was Bro . the Earl of Mexborongh ; his Deputy was Bro . Chas , Lee , and , I may add , Bro . James Fielding , J . W . of Lodge Probity , then numbered 13 , Chairman of the Town Hall Building Committee , dry .

salter , of Sowerby Bridge , presided at the banquet which followed .,, These brethren , I regret to say , have all passed away from our mids * . There was at that time , of course , no Masonio Lodge in this town . Bnt what was the result P Seed waa sown that day whioh brought forth fruit in dne time . In 1869 the Ryburn Lodge , No . 1283 , waa consecrated by tha then .

Deputy Prov , G . Master , Bro . Bentley Sbaw ,, D . L . Of the . original , thirteen founders three only , I believe , survive : they are Bros . Robert D . Kendall , Francis W . Crossley ,, and Joseph Senior . If any of those brethren are present I hope they will accept my congratulations on the success of the Lodge they established , whioh haa so far advanced that it now . numbers 40 brethren , and , for the first time ,- .

has the hononr of . entertaining the Grand Lodge of this Province . And now , brethren , leaving local considerations , I may say that the affairs of Masonio West Yorkshire are generally satisfactory . The brethren are loyal and enthusiastic , and the efforts of those responsible for the efficiency of their respective Lodges to support and supplement the work of the Prov . G . Secretary axe very praise ., ;

worthy and gratifying . I should like , however , to take thia opportunity of calling yonr attention to one or two matters which seem to me of the greatest importance—matters whioh concern not ,, thia Province only , bnt tbe entire body of Freemasons . The great strides , which Masonry has made of late years , ita oon . stantly increasing , numbers , with , the greater publicity consequent ,

thereupon , have led many thoughtful and conscientious brethren to , ask . whether we are acting judiciously in thus so rapidly enlarging . car borders , whether we are exercising that strict caution in the selection and admission of new members whioh onr society demands ' from ns . Brethren , this is a vital question . The Marquess of Ripon , when Prov . G . Master , used to say : " The strength of . a Lodge does , <

not consist in the number of its members , ba $ in the . quality of the brethren of whioh it is composed . " , And what is trne for a Lodgo is true for the whole Craft , whioh ia simply an aggregate of the Lodges . Lower the tone of yonr Lodge by tbe introduction of men who are unfit or unworthy ; admit > amongst us chose who cannot appreciate the beauties of Freemasonry ,

aud you not only damage that particular Lodgo bat you inflict , a serious injury npon our entire Society . Brethren , let me enjoin you to take to henrfc this caution ; let us not bring discredit upon our noble Institntion ; lot us advance certainly , but let it be warily , judiciously , and gradually . Attain , very frequently I notice mea going outsido their o . vn towns for admission into Fraomnsonry . ,

Now , whilst there is no absolute objection to this , provided that f bona fide inquiry has been dnly made and replied to , yot the position r , of a brother so initiated is that of disadvantage , insomuch as he ia necessarily precluded from attending to his Masonio duties aa regularly as is desirable ; and , being non-resident , he cannot . fully ., sharo that esprit de corps which prevails in ovory properly conducted

Lodge . I should , thereioro , deprecate this practice , nuleds very - strong grounds can be add need in its favour . And now ono word to Treasurers and Secretaries . The office of Treasnrer is a very honourable one , and is often , and to my mind very properly , conferred as a mark of distinction ; but it is also a very responsible one , a-Kl roqnires au active , firm , and conciliatory

spirit . Tho collection of subscriptions , and espooially of arrears , though in many instances neglected inadvertently , must be made , and , fchongh I do not absolutely complain , yet I should be delighted to see the various Treasurers interested in my statements exert themselves strenuously , so that the number of those in arrears , instead of amounting as it did to 161 at the end of last year , may ,

when our next returns are made , be substantially reduced . To oat-going Secretaries I would say , give every possible help and ' assistance to your eucceasors ; see that the Grand Lodge und Provin . cial Grand Lodge returns are duly made , signed , and promptly sent io , and call particular attention to those Bye-Laws of the Province which especially relate to the duties of Secretary . Let not , however ,..

the Worshipful Master forget that the responsibility for the proper and efficient working of his Lodge does not rest upon the Secretary , nor upon any other Officer , but npon himself alone . It ia to him we look , upon him is the obligation . Let me advise him -personally to sec that duties are performed , frequently to take counsel with his Past Masters , and in case of unforeseen doubt or difficulty , apply to the

Prov . G . Secretary , from whom he may at all times look for prompt and valuable assistance . It is nexfc my melancholy duty to record that death has again been active amongst us . Since our last meeting at Huddar-ifield in April , we have lost many good man and true Masons ; men who have made their mark in their respective paths in life and who , aftor in some

instances long and exemplary Masonic careers , have gone to enjuy , vro confidently hope and believe , a rest and peico which no amount of happiness in this world o : in atl ' ord . Amongst these wsre Bros . Isaac Booth , Lodge 61 j Fohn Foster and John Taylor , 139 ; John Wikon , 290 ; C . H . Taylor , 302 ; Edward Poppleton , 827 ; William Hall , 1019 ; John Symonds , 2330 ; W . J . West , 2268 ; Samuel Ber .