Province Of West Yorkshire.

PROVINCE OF WEST YORKSHIRE .

THE Provincial Grand Lodge meeting was holden at . Halifax , on the 15 th inst ., under the banner of St . James" Lodgo , No . 448 . Present : R . W . Brother Thomas William Tew , J . P ., P . G . D . Eng . Prov . Grand Master , W . Bros . Henry Smith P . G . D . England Deputy

Prov . Grand Master , William Harrop as Senior Warden . Thomas Crossloy Junior Warden , Rev . John II . Evans , M . A ., and Eev . Benjamin Mayou , M . A ., Chaplains , Thomas Harrison Treasurer , Harold Thomas Registrar , Herbert G . E . Green Secretary , J . B . Woatinholm and Willinm

Henry Jessop Senior Deacons , J . B . Knight and W . Ridgard Massie Junior Deacons , William Watson as Snpt . of Works , Henry T . E . Holmes Director of Ceremonies , W . F . Tomlinson Depnty Dir . of Cers ., Thos . Lan g Assistant Director of Ceremonies , George Henry

Locking Sword Bearer , Thomas Riley and John Thronp Standard Bearers , George Carbert Organist , Joseph Matthr-wnian Assistant Secretary , Robert Henry Arraitago Pursuivant , John Shoesmith Assistant Pursuivant ,

Joseph Thomas Walker , Captain Tupinan , Fred Hand , Robert Thompson and Joseph Wilson Stewards , Samuel Barrand Ty ler , Thomas Lei g hton Assistant Tyler , besides a large number of Past Provincial Grand Officers . Also W . Masters , Past Masters , Acting Wardens , and Brethren from Lodges ( il , 1 . 39 , 154 , 20 ft , 242 , 258 , 264 ,

265 , 275 , 289 , 290 , 296 , 302 , 304 , 30 G , 307 , 308 , 337 , 380 , 387 , 408 , 439 , 448 , 458 , 495 , 521 , GOO , 603 , 652 , 750 , 810 , 837 ,

904 , 910 , 971 , 974 , 1001 , 1018 , 1019 , 1034 , 1042 , 1102 , 1108 , 1211 , 1214 , 1221 , 1231 , 1239 , 1283 , 1301 , 1302 , 1311 , 1462 , 1513 , 1514 , 1522 , 1542 , 1645 , 1648 , 1736 , 1783 ,

2035 , 2069 , 2091 , 2259 , 2261 , 2263 , 2321 , 2330 . Letters of apology , for unavoidable absence , were received from threo Provincial Graud Officers aud sixty-nino Brethren .

Visitors—W . Bro . James Morrison McLeod P . M . Sec . R . M . I , for Boys , and Rov . Henry Ellershaw , M . A . The R . W . Prov . Grand Master Bro . Thomas William Tew , J , P ., the Deputy Prov . Graud Master Bro . Henry

Smith , and the Prov . Grand Officers entered at half past two o ' clock , iind the Prov . Grand Lodge was opened in due form ; solemn prayer was offered , and a portion of Hol y Scripture read by the Prov . Grand Chaplains .

The R . W . Prov . Grand Master and the Deputy Prov . Grand Master were saluted according to antient custom . Tho roll of Lodges and the roll of Present Grand

Officers was called . The rniuutes of the annual meeting of Prov . Giand Lodge , holden at Sheffield , on Wednesday , the 16 th April

1890 , were presented . Ifc was moved by Bro . C . L . Mason P . M . 304 P . P . G . Treasurer , seconded b y Bro . Austin Roberta P . P . G . D . C . and resolved , " That the minutes be taken as read , and confirmed . " The R . VV . Prov . Grand Master then delivered the

following address : — BRETHREN , —We acknowledge the hearty welcome offered to this Prov . Grand Lodge by Bro . Alfred Robertshaw and fche Brethren of the Lodge St . James , No . 448 , aud I also thank yon all for the salutations accorded to me , to my Depnty , and to the Officers of this

Province , this afternoon . I may remind you that this Lodge of Sfc . James , which now numbers some 80 members , was constituted 17 th March 1838 . Ifc celebrated tho jubilee of its existence on 23 rd October 1888 . Tweutyono years ago , on the 24 th November 1869 , Prov . Grand Lodge

assembled in this Hall for the purpose of its dedication by the Marquess of Ripon . I and my Depnty were present , but many Hrethren , like Bro . Bentley Shaw , who was then the Deputy , have , al » 3 ! passed away to thoir ro . it . I am happy to think that this noble Hall is now free , or almost

free , from the obligation ot debt . Th in Lodge of St . James , No . 448 , has contributed £ 712 15 s to tbe Charities , and possesses 231 votes ; but I will not tnako further allusions fo it , because we are looking forward to Bro . Austin Roberts ' History , which I am told is in the press , ancl n copy of which will

shortly adorn the Masonic Library at Wakefield . To this Ledge , then , ns well as to the other Lodges of Halifax—Probity , Do Warren , and St . John's—Prov . Grand Lodge offers good wishe . i for t heir prosperity and success . Like my predecessor , Sir H . Edwards , I am anxious to nee all Lodges hold their meetings in halls of their own , und with

that view it has been a pleasure to me quite recently to sanction plans for new buildings or rooms at Batley , Hebden Bridge and Castleford . Thero is to these changes from licensed promises to private balls

ono great danger , viz ., that of being led to keep late hours ; and I think that tho Act of PaHiamentregnlating fcheclosingof hotels might fairly guide us as to the hour of onr departure from onr Lodges . On Lodge aud instruction nights the billiard room should be closed , otherwise the attendance ia the Lodge is liable to be seriously affected .

Province Of West Yorkshire.

I would commend these matters to the serious consideration of the W . M . ' s and Past Masters of this Province . With respect ; to the interval of timo between taking degrees , I call your special attention to Rule 195 , Book of Constitutions . From this Rale there can bo no dispensation . It wonld appear that in somo cases Brethren have allowed private

piqno to unduly influence them in this matter , and they have thus crone beyond tho limits prescribed by Rule 190 of B . of C . By judicious inquiry in fche first instance , and by the exercise of tact and firmness by the Executive , and forbearance by fche Brethren , we feel confident theso objectionable practices might be avoided . If this evil , however , be persisted in , it must inevitably lead to the decadence

of Lodges and tho discredit of the Craft . At a special meeting of our Charity Committee , held at Leeds , on the 23 rd June last , the representatives of this Province adopted Bro . James Morrison McLeod as the mosfc suitable candidate for tho office of Secretary to the Boys' School . The election took place on the 12 th July , and Bro . McLeod received 2317 votes , having a

majority of 1326 over those polled for Bro . A . C . Greenwood , who was next on fche list , thus showing that many other Provinces agreed with onr selection . At this same meeting the opportunity was taken of presenting to Bro . W . F . Smithson , the Chairman of tho Committee , complete sets of clothing and jewels corresponding to the offices conferred upon

him by the M . W . Grand Master in Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter . Bro . Smithson has done immense service to the Craft by his labours for the re-organization of the Boys' School , and earned for himself much credit as our representative in London ; and he richly deserves our commendations for the labour and time he has devoted fco carrying out the views of West Yorkshire in this most difficult matter .

The West Yorkshire Bretnren have provided carpenters benches and tools for the purpose of giving manual , in . addition fco mental training , to the Boys in our School , and this has been augmented by a munificent private donation . A farther sum has been given , which has been expended in the purchase of a printing press . This is now in active ( operation , and a monthly magazine , called the Masoniaii ,

has been established , and is being largely circulated . Having taken a deep interest in the re-organization of the Boys ' School , it is now manifestly onr duty to give it our hearty support . West Lancashire sets ns a noble example , and its Prov . Grand Master , fche Rt . Hon the Earl of Lathom , has consented to preside at tho next Festival of the Institntion .

With the approval of onr Charity Committee , a notice has been placed on the agenda paper for a grant from this Prov . Grand Lodge of £ 151 10 s as our contribution in aid of the 1891 Festival . I and many of my friends shall also add onr names as Stewards , and I believe that in making this appeal to your sympathies , I shall have at least 100 who will follow our example .

With regard to the Girls School , my Deputy hns recently been there , and has reported to our Charity Committee the progress made at tho new buildings . All seems satisfactory . Tho memorial lights of the large window of the Centenary Hall have thus been appro , priated : —There aro nine lights , and West Yorkshire has takwn up seven of them ; North and East Yorkshire , one ; and the United

Northern Counties Lodge , London , the ninth ; thus completing the Yorkshire portion of the Centenary VVindow . The Librarian will give a brief report of the donations of books since April . There is one work I must mention , " The Heraldry of York Minster , " by Bro . the Very Rev . A . Purey-Cnst , Deaii of York , and

P . G . Chaplain of England . This work ia a monument of gracefnl learning . The Library is thus accumulating mosfc valuable books and curiosities , through the enterprise and energy of Bro . W . Watson , our Honorary Librarian . It would hardly become the loyally of this Prov . Grand Lodge towards the M . W . the Grand Master of Grand Lodge of England ,

H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , to pass by with only briefly reading fche communication of the Grand Secretary of England , dated the 1 st July 1890 , announcing the death of the Right Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon M . W . Pro Grand Master and Prov . Grand Master of Somerset . This event has filled the heart of every Mason wifch grief . For upwards of fifteen years , during which time he held the position

of Pro Grand Master of the Order , his unfailing courtesy , his just rulings , and his matured advice and increasing exertions for , and devotion to the best interests of the Craft , will ever be recognised as having signally contributed to the high position ifc now occupies in the world . This Prov . Grand Lodge , therefore , records its grateful appreciation of the invaluable services rendered by the noble Earl to

English Freemasonry during tho whole of that period . I thank my Province for subscribing the sum of £ 1815 5 s this year to the three Chariiies , and for the donation of £ 250 13 a 6 J b y 74 Lodges to tbe Pension Indemnity Fund , R . M . I , for Boyp . The visit of the British Association at Leeds , from 3 rd September to the 10 th , anrl tbo Masoaic Conversazione in tho Masonic flail on

tlui 8 th September , was indeed a success ; and Professor Glusbier ' s thanks were cordially appreciated by fcho 250 visitors there . Under the auspices of the Phoenix Lodge of Freemasons , on 24 th July , a corner stone of a new north aisle was laid at the Mesborongh Parish Church by this Prov . Grand Lodge . This Church of St . John , 800 years old , was connected with Roche Abbey . The

Rev . II . Ellershaw , the Vicar , who is with us to-day , gave the Craft a fraternal welcome , and Bro . the Rev . Canon Bullock , Vicar of Holy Trinity , Leeds , and P . P . G . Chaplain , preached an eloquent sermon , taking for his text , " And a threefold cord is not quickly broken . " As the winter season of fche Lodges opens after the summer recess and Masons will congregate together , I appeal to the Worshipful

Masters to point oufc to their Brethren tbat Masonic precepts , faithfully applied , bring peace and prosperity to Lodge , Province , and nation . Inculcate tbo beantifnl symbolism wrapt np in the words of Ecclesiastes , " And a threefold cord is nofc quickly broken . " Yon will be struck by the word three . The key note of a Mason ' s creed is struck by three words—Faith , Hope , and Charity .