Our Twenty-Third Year.

OUR TWENTY-THIRD YEAR .

WITH this issue we conclude the forty-sixth volume of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE , and gladly avail ourselves of the opportunity of expressing a word of thanks to the Brethren who have supported us in the past , as well as to those who are taking an interest in our present

welfare . Twenty-three years may perhaps be regarded as a brief period to look back upon in the life of a weekly paper , in face of the fact that many of our contemporaries can boast a much longer existence , but , on the other band ,

viewed in connection with the immense number of periodicals which come to an end after a far shorter life , it is much to be proud of , and we experience no small amount of gratification in now being able to point to such a record .

There is , however , little time for boasting of the past ; what concerns us more is the present , and the future , in connection < with which we can but express the hope that our efforts will receive the same kindly recognition as has hitherto been accorded them . We assure our readers we

shall use every effort in our power to wm their approval ; we trust our efforts will be crowned with success , and that we may gain- the- knowledge that we have achieved

something for the good of the cause we have so much at heart—the advancement of Freemasonry , and the welfare of its Institutions .

It would . be out of place for us to allow the year to close without a , passing reference to the good record that has been created' by the Craft in the matter of Masonic Benevolence , although our present reference to the subject

must of necessity be only a passing one , and by no means complete , as there yet remains a few more days of 18 97 in which to continue the good work . The year has been a memorable one in many respects , and we believe that

when the returns are put before our readers it will be found . that the total is much above the average , even though the figures available for comparison will by no means represent all that has been accomplished , for very

much has been done by our Grand Lodge , by Private Lodges , and by different individuals on behalf of funds outside of Freemasonry proper , but close enough allied to

be included under the designation of true Masonic Charity . May the year before us prove equally satisfactory in this most important feature .

Cornwall.

CORNWALL .

TTlHE annual Mark Grand Lodge of the Province was held JL at Truro , on Tuesday , 14 th inst . Bro . P . Colville Smith P . G . D . England Deputy-Prov . G . M . presided , Bro . Sir Charles B . Graves Sawle having resigned the office of Prov . G . M . M . Bro . E . M . Milford acted as D . P . G . M . Bro . P . Colville Smith said that it would be known to many that a meeting was convened by ' , the Prov . G .

Cornwall.

Secretary in May or June last to recommend a successor to their late Provincial Grand Master , and the choice fell on a nobleman who acceded to the request made to him , but who was found not to be a Mark Mason . That difficulty had been removed , and they would have the Brother with them next Easter to be installed as Provincial Master .

The Prov . G . Treasurer reported that they started the year with £ 21 in the bank , and finished up with £ 22 , after voting fifteen guineas to the charities . There has been an

increase of thirty-one members during the year . It was resolved to vote ten guineas to the Mark Benevolent Fund of London , and Bro . Venning was elected Steward of the Mark Benevolent Institution .

Bro . Milford was re-elected Treasurer , and Bro . Chegwidden Auditor . The Deputy Prov . G . M . in charge expressed great

pleasure at the re-starting of St . Michael Lodge , Helston . As the Installation of Prov . G . M . M . would take place about March , the Deputy Prov . G . M . proposed that the Prov . G . Officers be re-appointed en bloc , and this was done .

Bro . Rev . Fraser-Frizell proposed for recommendation to the Most Worshipful Grand Master , Lord Halsbury , the Lord Chancellor , as successor to the R . W . Bro . Sir C . Sawle , late Prov . G . M ., resigned . Bro . Milford seconded ,, Bro . Clarke supported , and the proposition was carried unanimously .

The Deput } ' Prov . G . M . said when the Installation took , place he had the promise of the attendance of the Right Hon . the Earl of Euston Pro Grand Master . It was decided to present an address to the late Prov .

G . Master on the occasion of the Installation of his successor , the following being appointed to take charge of the matter : The Deputy , Secretary , Treasurer , Senior and Junior Wardens of the Province . Votes of thanks were passed to the Prov . G . Secretary Bro . W . t . Johns , and to the D . P . G . M .

New Hall In Leeds.

NEW HALL IN LEEDS .

IN view of the decision- ok the West Yorkshire Provincial Grand Lodge to remove its Offices from Wakefield to Leeds , a Committee has for some time . past been engaged in . looking for a suitable site on which to erect a Masonic Hall in the latter city . Several plots of land have been inspected , and the Committee

has now chosen a central site in Great George Street and Eossington Street , between the Higher Grade Board School and the City Printing Works . An offer has been made for the land , but it has not yet been definitely accepted . After the completion of the negotiations , no time will be lost in the preparations of plans and in letting the various contracts .

It is the intention 01 the West Yorkshire Freemasons to build a hall which will be worthy of the Craft and the city . Besides erecting offices for the transaction of the whole of the business of the Provincial Grand Lodge , handsome accommodation will be provided for the eight Leeds Lodges , all of whom will , it is believed , avail themselves of the opportunity of using the new building .

The old Masonic building in Great George Street has just been sold by private treaty for the sum of £ 5 , 000 , to a professional gentleman in the city , though by the contract entered ] into , the members of the Philanthropic Lodge , No . 304 , retain possession till the end of 1898 . The hall , which was built by the Philanthropic Lodge , was opened on 27 th December 1865 ,

since which time it has served as a Masonic home . The site , building , and furniture cost £ 4 , 600 . The furniture is not included in the present purchase money of £ 5 , 000 . It is understood that the hall will in future be used for business and professional purposes , the ground floor being converted into shops , and the storeys into offices . — "Yorkshire Daily Post . "