Lodge Histories. The Lodge Of Probity, No. 61.

LODGE HISTORIES . THE LODGE OF PROBITY , No . 61 .

( Continued from pngo 321 ) . IN our last notice of this History wo spoko of a proposal mado on the 1 st October 181 G , as to the division of the Province of Yorkshire , and promised to refer moro fully to the subject . In the chapter of tho History devoted to it

reference is first mado to the original formation of the Provincial Grand Lodge of West Yorkshire , and the appointment of various brethren as Prov . G . Masters . Then we aro told that no further particulars are known as

to tho length of time during which this West Yorkshire Grand Lodge existed ; indeed , as no records of its proceedings have been discovered , doubts havo arisen as to its existence . Brother Crossley considers it probable this Provincial Grand Lodge fell into abeyance some time after 1765 , whilo in 1774 tho whole of the county appeared to have been placed under the jurisdiction of Sir Thomas Tancred . Sir Walter Vavasour . Bart , afterwards presided

over tho Province , and was succeeded by Richard Slater Milncs , who in turn was followed by Robert Pemberton Milncs . It was during the presidency of this latter Brother the Province was divided into two parts , as we know it to-day : —North aud East Yorkshire and West Yorkshire . Tho minute of 1816 , already referred to , speaks of the great and increasing number of Lodges in the West Riding

ot the county—then dl in all—and remarks it is highly necessary tho new laws respecting Provincial Grand Lodges should bo observed . The distance of most of the Lodges from York and tho timo and expense required to attend there rendered compliance with tho laws difficult ,

and it was on this ground tho division of the county was suggested ; Leeds or Wakefield being named as the home for tho Provincial Grand Lodge of the West Riding . This alteration , it was considered , would enable three-fourths of

the Lodges to attend without either inconvenience or expense , while it was further pointed out that both towns wero near the seat of tho then Provincial Grand Master . These suggestions were drawn up in the form of a resolution , but it was afterwards decided not to send them in

that shape , and a memorial was substituted , which was in due course transmitted to tho Provincial Grand Master , and , in duplicate , to tho Grand Secretary in London . Among the matters touched upon in this memorial was

a suggestion that " as the Provincial Grand Lodge is a representative body , " composed of the Provincial Grand Officers , also the Past Masters and Wardens of every Lodge under its jurisdiction , it ought not to be attached to any

particular Lodge ( as is the case at present ) , but should be a separate and distinct body of itself , the present Constitutions having provided a fund for its support . " Further reference was made to the necessity of appointing to the office of Deputy Provincial Grand Master a brother of

" highly respectable character and a man of business , " who should bo a Past Master ( not an acting Master of any private Lodge ) , while , " in order to prevent jealousies , and to establish union and brotherly lovo the assistant

and subordinate Grand Officers should be annually chosen from the Masters and Past Masters of the different Lodges , and not more , if possible , than one Officer from a Lodge . " It seems somewhat strange in these , days to read of a

Lodge Histories. The Lodge Of Probity, No. 61.

Private Lodge making such suggestions to tbe rulers of the Order as are here referred to , and which may be said to have now long become recognised as part and parcel of the groundwork of Masonic supervision . We may imagine from this memorial that the Lode-e of Probitv . if not the _ __ _

_ _ _ — — ^ — — - - ij i actual proposers of all that is set out in the memorial , wore at least among the first to officially direct the attention of the Craft to the proposed alterations , and it must be matter for considerable gratification among those now associated with the Lodge to learn that their predecessors

took so active and important a part in the promotion of Freemasonry in its earlier days , and its subsequent management .

We are told tbe whole district , with tho exception of Doncaster , gave the project a hearty support , but , as may be imagined , many difficulties arose . The York brethren particularly were averse to the division , the Deputy Provincial Grand Master ( tho Hon . Lawrence Dundas ) being expected to show opposition to it , or anything which lessened the importance of York , of wbich ho was at tho time parliamentary representative . His father ( Lord

Dundas ) was Deputy Grand Master of the Empire , so that the opposition he could bring to bear was of no mean character . In an interview between the Deputy Provincial Grand Master and Bro . John Robinson , of Wakefield , who took considerable interest in the movement , the former , while receiving his guest " with respect and politeness , " explained he could not thoroughly comprehend the intention " of the memorialists . " To attempt to draw anything from the City of York , he said , would bo looked upon with

great jealousy , and , instead of cementing the brotherhood , would bo more likely to create a schism amongst . them . This high official , however , gave expression to his readiness at all times to do everything for the benefit and

satisfaction of the Craft consistent with his duty to all parties . Ho observed that tbe neighbouring Lodges were inclined to have an annual , biennial , or triennial meeting amongst themselves , and thought such meetings should be encouraged so long as they were conducted properly . Wo

are told tho whole question was well ventilated , the various Lodges throughout the West Riding being almost unanimous in petitioning for the division . Tho Provincial Grand Master ultimately camo to tho conclusion that a meeting of the Worshipful Masters who had petitioned for tho division should be held , and this was accordingly arranged at his residence , at Fryston , on the 3 rd February 1817 . The result of this meeting was

that the Provincial Grand Master " perfectly agreed to the substance of the memorial , and promised to use his interest with H . R . H . the Most Worshipful Grand Master . " Some delay occurred in consequence of illness in tho family of the P . G . M ., but tho petition to Grand Lodge was submitted to H . R . H . the Duke of Sussex in May , accompanied with an expression of the Provincial Grand Master ' s opinion as to its reasonableness . It appears to have been favourably received by the Grand Master , but no official notification of the . prayer of tho petition being

granted or otherwise seems to have been received in Yorkshire until March 1818 , when the Grand Secretary , in a letter to the W . M . of Probity Lodge , after remarking that he is quite unable to say anything respecting tho

Provincial Grand Lodge , states that " in the next Calendar tho Lodges will be divided under their respective Provinces . " Here the matter seems to havo rested until the following December , when the Probity Lodge