West Yorkshire.

WEST YORKSHIRE .

TFIE annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Chapter was held on the afternoon of the 16 th inst , under the auspices Oi the Charity Chapter , No . 302 , in the Church Institute , Bradford . In the absence of Comp . , W . L . Jackson , M . P .,

Prov . Grand Superintendent , the proceedings were presided over by Comp . R . Wilson Prov . G . H ., who was well supported by local Officers and other members , only four of the Chapters of the Province being unrepresented .

The Acting Prov . G . Z . having apologised for the absence of Comp . Jackson said that was the ninth time the Prov . G . Chapter had been held in Bradford . He congratulated the Chapters of the city on their flourishing condition . Although the membership of the Chapters in the Province had increased ,

it was still not m proportion to the Craft . The South African Masonic Relief P und had made satisfactory progress . It was not expected to be a large fund , but up to Friday night it had reached the sum of £ 4 , 500 . P ' orty Lodges in the Province

had subscribed . He concluded by moving that a sum of £ 10 1 os be voted towards the South African Masonic Relief Fund . Comp . E . Billington seconded the motion , which was carried .

Comp . T . Wood presented the accounts , which showed a balance in favour of the Prov . G . Chapter of £ 272 . These were received and adopted . Comp . C . Stokes , of Sheffield , was re-elected Prov . G .

Treasurer , and the Officers for the ensuing year were invested . A vote of thanks was accorded to the Charity Chapter , and to the Mayor of Bradford Comp . W . C . Lupton , who had invited the Companions to tea at the Masonic Hall , Rawson Square .

About 150 Companions accepted the invitation of the Mayor . There was an excellent cold collation provided , consisting of Salmon Mayonnaise , Roast Beef , Roast Lamb ,

Boiled Chicken , York Ham , Pigeon Pie and Rook Pie , to which it is not necessary to say , the Companions did full justice—all honour to our worthy Companion Lupton , one of the truest Freemasons of the day .

At a largely attended and representative meeting of the Clydesdale l ^ odgfe , No . 556 ( S . C . ) , on the 9 th inst , held in Glasgow , the principal attraction was a presentation to Bro . William Falconer I . P . M .. The gifts , presented in appreciation ci his services while W . M ., consisted of a gold Past Master ' s

jewel , set with diamonds , and a roll top desk , and , for his wife , a . gold watch and chain , and gold chain bracelet . Brother j . Habick W . M . made the presentation in name of the members and others who had sought to show their goodwill towards Bro . Falconer . Bro . Habick congratulated trie I . P . M . on the

success which he , by his influence and management , had secured for the Lodge during the two years he was in the chair of K . S . Brother P alconer has been a very active Mason in Scotland since he became associated with the Craft some eleven years ago ( April 1889 ) . He has since 1890 been in constant

membership with the Grand Lodge of Scotland . Pie has filled the offices in the Province of Glasgow City of P . G . President of Stewards , P . G . B . B ., and presently holds the Office of Prov . Grand Junior Warden . He is a member of the Correspondence Circle of the Quatuor Coronati Lodge , No . 2076 , and in

his connection with the " Glasgow Evening News , " in the nom de plume of " The Mallet " has done much to improve the condition of Freemasonry in the West of Scotland . In response to a widely expressed desire among Freemasons in the West of Scotland , there was published , with the sanction of the Most

Worshipful Grand Master , in 1891 , " The Scottish Masonic Record " which was successfully conducted and edited by Bro . P alconer . Scotland , however , has never taken kindly to Masonic Magazines , and after a little over two years run the Record

" " was withdrawn for want of support . Bro . Falconer is highly respected in Masonic circles , and , in addition to Craft hcnours , is a Royal Arch Mason , a member of the Order of Knights Templar , Red . Cross of Contstantine , and of the Rosicrucian College of the West of Scotland .

The Three Grand Lodges " has become a recognised toast in our social meetings in the West of Scotland , but the propriety of confining this toast to the home Grand Lodges is questionable , says " The Mallet , " in " Glasgow Evening News . There are Grand Lodges in some pi our Colonies

West Yorkshire.

—why should they be omitted ? It would , and I give the suggestion for what it is worth , be an improvement on these occasions if the toast were given— " The Grand Lodge of Scotland , and all Grand Lodges with which she is in Fraternal communication . " There are many occasions when visitors are

present from other parts of the world , and a toast worded in such a way as indicated would be appreciated by any visitor and at the same time afford the Brethren opportunity of hearing something of our sister Constitutions , instead of the

generalities which must perforce be given under so extensive a' subject as " The Three Grand Lodges . " This , too , would permit the Office-bearer of the Grand Lodge of Scotland called upon to reply to concentrate his thought on Freemasonry in Scotland .

The veteran conductor of the Crystal Palace , Mr . August Manns , looks forward with the greatest of anticipations of success to the forthcoming Handel Festival , to be held there next month . The first great rehearsal of the Festival Choir

was held on Monday , 14 th mst , at Exeter Hall , when the choruses of Parts I . and II . of " Judas Maccabseus " and the whole of the " Messiah " choruses were rehearsed . At the conclusion of the rehearsal , Mr . August Manns was evidently delighted with his experience of the forces under him .

''A Sprig Of Acacia.''

''A SPRIG OF ACACIA . ''

WE are sorry to record the death of Bro . George T . Lenard P . M . Richmond Lodge , ion , Wilton 1077 , and Truth 1458 , which occurred during the early portion of the present month , his interment taking place at St . Luke ' s Church , Cheetham Hill , Manchester . The day of the funeral was very fine , and an unusually large gathering of friends and

members of the Masonic Fraternity assembled to pay the last sad tribute of respect to the memory of the departed . After an impressive service , a fine oak coffin ( studded with Masonic emblems ) which contained the remains , was lowered into the grave , being literally covered with prettily-designed floral post

mortem offerings . The late Brother Lenard , besides being connected with three Craft Lodges , had identified himself with the Royal Arch degree , being a member of St . John Chapter , No . 325 , and Truth , No . 1458 . He was also one of the promoters of the Truth Instruction Chapter , in the working of

which he had taken a very active part . His services in this respect had not been overlooked , for at the meeting of Provincial Chapter , held at Blackburn , in March , his name was on the list of those appointed for investiture , but unfortunately illness prevented him from attending to receive the

honour . The Instruction , 581 , will perhaps be the greatest loser by his death , for not only did he act as its Treasurer for a period of ten years , but in conjunction with Bro . Alfred

Piebden , the Preceptor , frequently undertook the ceremonials , and in cases of emergency was ever . ready to perform any section or other work , whether great or small . We may add that Bro . Lenard had been a subscriber to the FREEMASON ' S

CHRONICLE for many years , and had often furnished our Manchester representative with valuable information . The following names represent only a small portion who attended the last sad obsequies , viz ., Richmond Lodge , No . 1011 , Past Masters Robert Caldwell , J . Williams , J . Gordon , J .

Mottershead , A . Nail , G . R . Berry Secretary ; Wilton , No . 1077 , Wm . Plenry Lowy Worshipful Master , Past Masters Bridgford , Plorsneld , Middleton , Dr . Knight-Coutts , Stopford , Sawyer , Jackson ; Truth , No . 1458 , Hirsh W . M ., Past Masters Taylor Vincent , Higham , Cooper , Needle ; Instruction Lodge , No .

581 , Past Masters Alfred Hebden Preceptor , G . W . Davies Sec , Thos . Knott , A . Eicholz , A . Ashworth , R . Adshead , and Richard Simister . Brother Lenard was unassuming in manner and consistent in all he did ; every detail of his work , however insignificant , was well performed , because he was actuated by

an exalted sense of duty , and whilst being an admirable and efficient exponent of the higher and more serious phases of Freemasonry he had unconsciously assimilated many of its excellencies , thus , after an active and successful career , in which envy , malice , and uncharitableness had no opportunity for

expansion , passing to his final bourne amid the grateful recollections of those near and dear to him , of others who had been recipients of his benevolence and charity , and of a very wide

general circle of friends , who could not avoid being genuinely impressed by his earnestness , assiduity , and sincerity , which , while tending to sustain him in his manifold exertions , was helpful and encouraging to them ,