Meeting Of The Lodge Of Benevolence

MEETING OF THE LODGE OF BENEVOLENCE

THE regular meeting of tho Lodgo of Benevolence was held on Wednesday evening at Freomasons' Hall . Bro . Joshua Nunn occupied the President ' s position , while the chairs of Senior and Jnnior Vice Presidents were held respectively by Bros . James Brett and W . T . Howe . Among the brethren prosent wero Bros . H . Garrod , S .

Rawson , T . Cubitt , C . Atkins , Griffiths Smith , W . Mann , J . M . kkuick , C . F . Hogard , W . H . Porryman , Skegers , Adamson , Hnbbuck , Britten , Baker , John Constable , Farnfield , W . R . Marsh , Alfred Withers , W . Stephens , and B . H . Swallow . Thero wero thirty-eiirbt petitions before the Lodge . Of these ono was dismissed and ono withdrawn . Two were postponed . The romaining thirty-four were relieved , with £ 639 .

Committee Meeting Of The Girls' School.

COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE GIRLS' SCHOOL .

THE general committee of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls held their monthly meeting on Thursday , at the Freemasons' Hall , when there were present—Bros . E . Letchworth ( in the chair ) , A . H . Tattershall , H » M . Levy , Herbert Dicketts , Francis H . Webb , H . Venn , S . Rosenthal , Edward Cox , H . S . Kingston , R . B . Webster , H . Massey , W . F . C . Moutrie , James E . Peters , Wni . Paas , Thomas Cnbitt ,

H . Mnggeridge , Peter De L . Long , Thos . W . White , W . Hope , Joshua Nunn , Jno . Faulkner , W . Bailey , and F . R . W . Hedges ( Secretary ) . Two children were placed on tho list for the October election , after wKich tho following brethren were nominated for the Committees : —House Committee—E . Cox , H . A . Dubois , E . Letchworth , Joshua Nunn , W . Hope , Col . Peters , Mather , J . A . Racker , A . H .

Tattershall , Thos . W . White , Griffiths Smith , Frank Richardson , Chas . Hammerton , R . Warner Wheeler , John Mason , and Peter Do L . Long . Audit Committee—W . Bailey , J . G . Chancellor , Herbort Dicketts , Thos . Kingston , H . C . Levander , W . Roebnck , R . B . Webster , H . Venn , James Cutbush , H . M . Levy , and Robert Berridge . This concluded the business of the mooting .

Provincial Grand Chapter Of West Yorkshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF WEST YORKSHIRE .

THE annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Chapter took place at tho picturesquo village of Uppermill , Saddlewortb , under the auspices of the Confidence Chapter 337 , tho Principals of which opened a preliminary Chapter , when about ninety Companions from various parts of the Province assembled . M . E . Comp . Lieut .-Colonel Sir Henry Edwards , Bart ., Provincial Grand Snpcrh tondeut of West

Yorkshire , and the Officers of Provincial Grand Chapter having entered , the usual salutation was heartily accorded 1 im , and iu reply , Sir Henry Edwards said that he had fult necessita cd to call them together sooner than had been customary , iu conseqncncc of his having to leave Yorkshire for London , and as this was his first occupancy of the chair in opening Provincial Grand Chapter since his

installation as Provinci ¦! Grand Superintendent , at Sheffield , on Wednesday , 30 th October 1 S 78 , he had beeu desirous nut to delegate the duties to another . Sir Henry thon added : — " I may hero observe that I havo laid it down as an absolute rule never to recommend an application for a new charter until the draft bye-laws have been submitted for approval , the form of which , without undue interference , I should

desire to indicate . For instance , the first page to contain the founders ' names , dates of charter and consecration , index , tables of fees , and certificates in due order . The chief object is to bring all Chapter bye-laws into harmony and almost uniformity , and I am happy to learn from our Registrar that one-half of the Chapters have already revised their bye-laws in

accordance with this excellent system . In the appointment of Officers in Provincial Grand Chapter in this Province it has been the custom , as you may be aware , to select but Past First Principals ; and at my installation it was my endeavour , as it shall be , to distribute the Offices as widely as possible . Our Registrar , who has so much to do in the revision of Bye-Laws , was induced to accept

tho office once more , and I hope it will be your pleasure to fc rward his endeavours in tho matter of the complete revision of Bye-Laws . On referring to tho annual returns , I find we havo on onr rolls 884 Royal Arch Masons ; and of that number there aro upwards of 249 Principals and Past Principals . It is with every feeling of thankfulness I am thus able to speak of the prosperity of Royal Arch Masonry

in this gi oat Province of West Yorkshire ; and whilst w ) should be grate - ful for the position we have already attained , let us each and all endeavour faithfully to discharge our duty ; and may peaco and happiness , health and prosperity , love and unity . , ever attend us . Excellent Comps ., I thank you for your kind attention , and , in conclusion , ask you to join with me in passing a cordial vote of thanks

to onr Companions in this part of the Province for cntertaiuing us , and in wishing this Chapter every possible measuro of prosperity . " Tbe Officers for the ensuing year were appointed as follow : — Comps . C . L . Mason 20 A Leeds P . G . H ., J . D . Kay 2 S 9 Leeds P . G . J ., H . Smith 302 Wakefield P . G . S . E ., Roddiwig 139 Sheffield P . G . S . N ., J . F . Moss 139 Sheffield P . G . Prin . Soj ., E . Woodhoasc 521

Huddcrsfield P . G . 1 st Assist . Soj ., J . Beauland COO Bradford P . G . 2 nd Assist . Soj ., J . Fisher Gl Halifax P . G . Treas . ( re-elected ) , W . B . Aldcrson 154 Wakefield P . G . Reg ., Powolny 301 Leeds P . G . Sw . B ., Kendal ! 1283 Soworby Bridge P . G . St . 13 ., -J . R . Doro 275 Haddersfiold P . G . D . C . W . Glover 289 Leeds P . G . Org ., Schofield 290

Hiiddcrsfield , Slack 495 , Austin Roberts 61 Halifax , and France 20 S Dewsbury , P . G . Stewards , J . Leo P . G . Janitor . After other routine business , an invitation for tho next meeti . ig to be hold in Leeds was accepted , after which the Companions partook of an excellent repast .

Dedication Of A New Hall At Ipswich.

DEDICATION OF A NEW HALL AT IPSWICH .

ON Friday the 10 th inst ., the ceremony of consecrating the new Hall erected in Sloane-street , Ipswich , took place , in tho presence of a very large gathering of the Craft . The now building is a plain red brick erection , 52 feet long , including an alcove of four feet , with a height of 43 ft . It is entered by a portico of box ground Bath stone , opening into a capacious vestibule with the door of the banqueting hall directly opposite . This room is of largo dimensions , lofty ,

and with excellent lighting , warmin ' , and ventilating arrangements . Tho Lodge room over tho dining hall is reached by a fine staircase of pitch pine , springing from the left-hand sido of the vestibule . This room is of corresponding size to tho banqueting room , except being 41 feet loftier . The walls are boarded to a height of about s' -ven ft . Adjoiuiug are a comfortable ante-room on the one side , aud a cloak

room on tho other . On tho ground floor are spacious kitchens , butler ' s pantry , and the usual offices . Tho stoves in the larger rooms are faced with white enamelled tiles , on which are beautifully paintedwe understand by a local lady artist—Masonio emblems . The total cost of the building-land , and furnishing will bo about £ 1 , 300 . Tho proceedings commonced at two o ' clock by the Depnty Prov . Grand

Master Rev . C . J . Martyn being conducted into the Lodge room by the past and present Prov . Grand Officers . The Lodge having been opened , prayer was offered by the P . G . Chaplain Bro . the Rev . W . W . Bird and the D . P . G . M . oxpressed his pleasure in meeting the brethreu in their now hall , congratulating thom upon erecting such a building . The plans of the hall were then handed in by the architect ,

Bro . H . Luff , who was congratulated upon the result obtained , and the Chairman of tho Committee of Management , Bro . N . Tracy , detailed the various steps taken by tho Craft to obtain a building as their home . The facts connected with tho erection of the present hall were then referred to at length . Tho anthem , " Behold , how good and joyful , " was then rendered by Bros . Abbott , Grayston , and Steele ,

Bro . C . Cooke presiding at the organ . After the dedication prayer and invocation , a procession was formed , and the ceremony of dedication performed by the D . P . G . M ., and tho proclamation made by the Director of Ceremonies . The Prov . Grand Chaplain then delivered an oration , and after the singing of the hymn , " Lift the strain of high thanksgiving , " the Lodgo was closed in the usual form . A Grand

banquet followed , over which the D . P . G . M ., Bro . Martyn , presided , to which about 70 brethren sat down . The usual Loyal aud Masonic toasts were given . Tho Chairman , in proposing the health of tho R . W . P . G . M ., Lord Waveney remarked that he took the greatest inter . est in everything connected with Freemasonry , and greatly regretted his inability to attend . Bro . P . de L . Long , P . G . D ., and Vice President

of tho Board of General Purposes , proposed the health of tho Deputy Prov . G . M . Bro . Martyu . A better man and a better Mason it was impossible to moot , and no man stood higher in the Craft in tho Grand Lodgo . Bro . Martyn , in responding , trusted that the hall would be a groat snecess . Freemasonry in this provinco was going on snccessfnly and well , and a petition had inst gone up for the signatnre of tho

M . W . G . M . the Prince of Wales for the consecration of a new Lodge at Clare , which would make 20 in all . JIc concluded by giving tho " Provincial Grand Officers , past and present . " Bro . W . II . Lucia G . S . W . and Prov . G . Sec , Bro . W . P . Mills P . P . G . S . W ., and Bro . J . B . Eraser P . P . G . S . W ., responded to tbe toast . Bro . R . N . Sanderson P . P . G . C . proposed " The Visitors , " to which Bro . Browne S . W . " Good Fellow .

ship Lodge , " Chelmsford , responded , stating that he should take homo with him such a report of what he had seen and hoard as would , ho hoped , inspire the brethren at Chelmsford to rear up a similar hall , though not on so noble a scale . Bro . Brice , " Star of tho East , " Harwich , also responded . Bro . the Rev . J . J . Burton P . P . G . S . W . Cambs ., gave " The Masters of Lodges in tho Province , " to which the

Chairman respouded ; and proposed " Success to the Freemasons' Hall , and prosperity to tho four Ipswich Lodges—its founders . " It was a very great source of pride to all Suffolk Masons to feel that in the town of Ipswich there was a hall in which thoy could not only carry out tho oeremonials of the Craft , but where they could offer visitors thab hospitality which was so doar to every Freemason ' s hoart . He hoped

and trusted that from the dedication to-day , and from the commencement of the Masonic life of this house , there might grow a great structure which should not only bo perfect in all its part 3 but honour , able to the builders . Bro . Casloy W . M . 114 replied , stating that there was never so much life in Ipswich Freemasonry as now . The build , ing in which they met had been erected in a period of something like six months . It was already in a position of financial safety , and ho

hoped it would soon bo in a still better position—free from debt . Bro . Clarke , W . M . 959 ; Bro . We . ntworth , 225 j and Bro . S . R . Anness , S . W . 376 , in absence of Bro . W . B . Jeffries W . M ., also responded to the toast . The other toasts were , "The Preliminary Committees , " coupled with the name of Bro . Tracy , Chairman j" Tho Architect and the Builder , " coupled with the name 3 of Bro . H . Luff P . M . 376 , and Bro . O . T . Gibbons ; and " The Masonic Charities . "

It is not ouv custom , prior to tho oleefcion , to urge tlie claim of individual candidates who appear upon the lists for the Masonic Charities ; bat at the request of many of onr subscribers we briefly call attention to the case of Mrs . King , No . 2 G on the list , which is an especially

deserving one . Mrs . King , who is 63 years of age , lost her husband nearly six years ago , and for some time obtained employment as housekeeper at au hotel in Brighton , but is now incapacitated by old age and infirmity , and is without

any means of support , Tho London brethren who are exerting themselves in Mrs . King ' s behalf will be glad of any assistance that can be afforded them b y those who have votes they can conveniently spare .