Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF WEST YORKSHIRE .

Yesterday the ceremony of the installation of Sir Henry Edwards , Bart ., as Provincial Grand Master of West Yorkshire , as successor to the Marquis of Ripon , took place at Halifax . West Yorkshire , for , period of 14 years , had been well and ably 01 insinua

governed by the Marquis xupon , wnuse - tion took place in Leeds , in 1 S 61 , but on the secession of that nobleman from the English Church , the faith he embraced precluded him from longer remaining a member of an Order like that of Freein'isonrv . Many were the opinions as to who should

succeed the Marquis , but ultimately the choice of the Prince of Wales fell upon Sir Henry Edwards , Bart , a oentleman of undoubted popularity in the entire ' county of Yorkshire , and immediately associated in many ways with the province of West Yorkshire and , a gentleman whose openness of

heart magnanimous disposition , and firmness of character , will make him an able and respected ruler . The ceremony of installation took place in the Drill Hall , Halifax , and the preliminary lodge was opened up by Bro . James Menzies , W . M ., and the officers of the Probity Lodge , 61 , of which lodge

Sir Henry Edwards is a P . M . The Provincial brand Lodge was opened by W . Bro . Bentley Shaw , D . P . G . M ., and the brethren assembled numbered about 600 , representing 58 out of 59 lodges in the Province . After the customary salutation of the D . P . G . M ., Bro . Bentley Shaw' said he once more

thanked the brethren for the kind expression of their feeling towards him . This , he said , was the last time he should preside over their meetings , and even on this occasion ¦ he would have to crave their indulgence for not making a lengthened speech . Owing to the very feeble state of his health , having

just come from home after a month ' s severe illness , they nvust excuse him saying move than from his heart he thanked them for their present and many previous kindnesses . Bro . Major Le Gendre N . Starkic , Provincial Grand Master of East Lancashire , in acknowledging

the salutation of the brethren , said he was glad to be present on this occasion , knowing well the enthusiasm of West Yorkshire Masons . He paid a high compliment to Bro . Bentley Shaw , for the able manner he had always discharged the duties of his office .

The ceremony of installation was then proceeded - . villi by Bro . Starkic , and he was conducted to the chair by Bro . B . Shaw , who stated that Bro . Starkic had kindly consented to perform the duty of installation most readily . They were all glad to see him in West Yorkshire again . The ' royal patent of

H . R . H . the Prince of Wales had been granted to Sir Henry Edwards , and Bro . Shaw expressed his belief that as their late chief had been respected and loved by the brethren , so would their brother who had been selected for the distinguished office of Provincial Grand Master , receive their loyal love ,

and that fraternal devotion which it was the duty of every loyal Freemason to render to their chief . Bro . Starkie , in taking the chair , said they were met on an occasion of no ordinary Masonic interest . This was patent when they reflected on that nobleman who had till lately so ably , so loyally , and so

kindly governed them . He was a man who stood high , not only in this province , but in the craft generally , and who , by his moral and honourable character upheld the tenets of Freemasonry and the interests of the Craft . The Marquis of Ri pon was always honourable in action , upright in

character , and bold in principle . West Yorkshire would miss him at its gatherings , but whilst they deepl y regretted the cause of his resignation , they would esteem his actions , and respect his memory . In his successor , however , they had a worthy brother , and lie hoped the members of that lodtre .

and the brethren of the province would render to him a truly Masonic honour , and had faith in that if they would entrust to him their confidence , be guided by his counsel , and conform to his ruling , 'he high position and character of the province would-be maintainedand that West Yorkshire

, would retain that prestige in the Craft that had been left it by its late distinguished chief . ( Applause . ) The patent of Sir H . Edwards having been examined and read , he was conducted into Provincial wand Lodge , and was addressed by Bro . Starkie in reference to thp llirrli nnrl rlionifiprl nffirn tr . itihi ^ h

he had been appointed , and was exhorted to maini-iin a firm but honourable rule in the province . Having entered into the necessary requirements ° ' i rovmcial Grand Lodge , Sir Henry Edwards was invested with the apron , chain , and jewel 01 "is office , and was conducted to the throne amid . 1 - -7 * " . W 4 . UtlUlH , lV . U \ . \ J VliU llliUUt aiiuu . lt

» applause of the brethren , and saluted according to ancient custom . i , n ^ ight Worsh 'Pful Grand Master then ' stressed the brethren , saying he felt deeply sensi-\ y , condescension of H . R . H . the Prince of P , t ¦ '" , PP oimin K him to the important office of 'ovincial Grand Master of West Yorkshire , the

Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

largest and , he believed , most compact province in Englan'd , numbering 59 lodges , and nearly 3 , brethren . When the Prince of Wales first intimated his wish to appoint him to the office , he accepted the post , but it was loyalty that prompted him to accept it , yet he did so with trepidation and

diffidence . He said he should have to rely on their forbearance for his shortcomings in the discharge of his duties . Already he was assured of the support of their respected , able , and , he might say , illustrious brother , Bentley Shaw . ( Loud and prolonged applause . ) He regretted that that

gentleman could not longer fill the post he had so ably done for the period of eleven years , owing to failing health . During that eleven years he had only been absent from one meeting- Referring to his own office , he said , now that the time had arrived he felt more alarmed at the duties of the office , and would

stand aghast did he not feel assured of the same support his predecessor had received . It would always be his aim to serve the interests of the Craft , and assist in promoting the three grand principles upon which the Order is founded . In concluding he urged the brethren to observe the

necessity of acting the part of true Freemasonry , which he found fully pourtrayed in a passage of holy writ— " Honour all men ; love the brotherhood ; fear God ; honour the king . " The following brethren were then appointed , and invested , to the various offices : —

Bros . Thomas Wm . Tew , D . P . G . M . ; Major T . G . Parker , P-S . G . W . ; W . H . Brittain , P . J . G . W . ; Rev . A . W . Hamilton , Rev . G . S . Dunbar , P . G . C . ; R . I . Critchlcy , P . G . T . ; E . M . Wavell , P . G . R . ; Henry Smith , P . G . S . ; W- Tasker , P . S . G . D . ; Thos . Hcaton , P . J . G . D . ; C . Mandall Hartley , P . G . S . of

W . ; W . Roddewig and W . J . Beck , P . G . D . of C . ; F . Crossley , P . G . S . B . ; F . W . Nicholson , P . G . Organist ; A . E . Powolny , and J . Richardson , P . G . P . ; J . R . Armitage , J . Ibberson , Allen Jackson , Geo . Haigh , J . Marshall , and Henry Ward , P . G . S . ; Joshua Lee and Jonas Sheard , P . G . T .

The R . W . P . G . M . then proposed , and the D . P . G . M . seconded a vote of thanks to Bro . Bentley Shaw for his invaluable services during his period as D . G . M . of this province , which was most enthusiastically carried . In replying Bro . Shaw eulogised the character of

Lord Ripon , at whose hands , he said , he had always received the greatest possible kindness ; and he never knew a better friend or a more sincere brother . The brethen were then marshalled into procession , and headed by the band of the 2 nd West York

Yeomanry Cavalry , proceeded to the Parish Church , where an able discourse was delivered by one of the Provincial Grand Chaplains . After these proceedings a sumptuous banquet was served in the Assembly Rooms , where about 100 brethren sat down . After dinner the chair was

occupied by Bro . Sir Henry Edwards , P . G . M ., and the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given and heartily received . Dewsbury was decided on as the next meeting place of Provincial Grand Lodge , under the banner of Three Grand Principles , 208 .

Tasmanian Masonic Benevolent Fund.—Report For 1875.

TASMANIAN MASONIC BENEVOLENT FUND . —REPORT FOR 1875 .

The committee of management , in addressing the subscribers and contributors to the Tasmanian Masonic Benevolent Fund , has again to congratulate them upon the continued success which has attended the operations of the institution during the past year , and desires to express its appreciation of

the increased amount of subscriptions from individual brethren , and the enlarged sum contributed by the several Masonic bodies , thus fully meeting the increased amount of expenditure required , and augmenting the balance to the credit of the fund . The statement of accounts and balance sheet fully

explain the income and expenditure during the past year , as well as the present position of the fund ; and the committee earnestly trusts that this association , which has been and still is of material benefit to aged brethren , and widows and orphans

of departed ones , may receive the continued and increased support of the fraternity , so that more adequate means may be provided for enlarging its sphere of usefulness , and extending its benefits , which should keep pace with the present unexampled progress of the Craft .

Correspondence.

Correspondence .

THE INSTALLATION OF THE GRAND MASTER .

To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — It is with feelings of great reluctance I write to complain of what I consider the unnecessary interference of the Installation Committee , or

Correspondence.

Grand Secretary , if he be the responsible person , in suggesting , or , as in this case it has proved , dictating the manner of disposing of the single M . M . tickets for the Albert Hall issued to each lodge . Who , Sir , are the men to whom the proceedings on next Wednesday are likely to be most interesting and

useful ? The Junior Officers of lodges ; and I imagine , in consequence of the suggestion made in the circular addressed by the Grand Secretary to the Secretaries of lodges , few ( if any ) of these gentlemen are likely to be present on the occasion . The Senior Subscribing M . M , is , generally

speaking , a man who , from disinclination for work , or perhaps other more satisfactory private reasons , desires to rest on his laurels , and therefore refuses year after year to accept office , and only occasionally attends the working of his lodge , thereby allowing his juniors to step before him . I maintain that

the fairest way would have been to have given the Junior Officers the first offer of refusal in rotation , which I believe would have been the plan adopted in my own lodge but for the circular above alluded to , and I should not then have had to sign myself as I do now , A DISAPPOINTED J . D .

[ Our Brother has , we think , overstated ihe force of the recommendation . It was a fraternal and Masonic recommendation , but nothing more . Each lodge had full power to act upon it or not , as it seemed advisable to the feelings and judgment of the Brethren . There was no binding or constraining power in what was intended only as a considerate suggestion . —ED . ]

INSTALLATION JEWEL . To ihe Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — I am not aware whether or not it has been decided to have a , jewel struck in commemoration of the installation of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , and every brother who attends permitted to wear one . If such should be the case , it will give a

splendid opportunity of assisting the Masonic Schools or Charities , by requiring every brother who wears one to pay as a fee of honour , say , half a guinea . I venture to say there would be very few who would not be proud to do so . By ventilating the matter in the Freemason , I have but little doubt the above suggestion will meet with the approbation of the brethren generally .

I am , yours fraternally , A PAST MASTER . [ We have already suggested that a " Commemoration Jewel" should be authorized by the G . M ., in addition to the Stewards' Jewel . —ED . ]

The Guildhall Library.

THE GUILDHALL LIBRARY .

Last week Dr . Sedgwick Saunders , the Medical Officer of Health and Public Analyst of the City of London , was presented with a handsome testimonial , consisting of a pair of candelabra , a Warwick vase , and a silver claret jug , in recognition of his public services in connection with the new Guildhall

Library . The presentation was made at the Mansion House by the Lord Mayor , in the presence of Alderman Sir William Rose ; Alderman Sir Thos . Dakin ; Alderman Sir Chas . Whctham ; Mr . Alderman M'Arthur , M . P . ; the President of the Royal College of Surgeons , Mr . F . Le Gros Clark ; the

President of the Statistical Society , De Guy ; Rev . Dr . Sparrow Simpson ; Mr . Janson ; Mr . John Symonds , Chairman of the Library Committee of the Corporation ; Sir John Bennett ; Mr . R . A . Gray , and many others . Dr Saunders made a suitable acknowledgment of the compliment . In the

evening Mr . John Symonds , the chairman , and the members of the Library Committee entertained about eighty guests at dinner at the London Tavern , including the Lord Mayor ; Major-Gen . Brownrigg , C . B . ; Major Bousfield , M . P . ; Sir Thos . Chambers , M . P . ; Mr . Alderman Figgins ; Mr . Warren de la

Rue , F . R . S ., the President of the London Institution ; Mr . R . B . Martin ; Mr . James Glaisher ; Sir Albert Woods ; Mr . Mclntyre , Q . C ; Dr . Saunders ; Rev . W . Rogers ; Dr . Zerffii ; Mr . Geo . Grove ; Mr . Deputy Shephard ; Mr . J ohn Staples , and others . Towards the close of the entertainment , Mr .

Glaisher , responding to a toast with which his name had been connected , took occasion to say—referring to the fatal balloon experiment in Paris—that he had been exceedingly pained to read the results , and that he could not but feel that a great mistake had been made . M . Tissandier , with whom he was well acquainted , had previously been with him , and

they had talked together about the power of man to ascend a certain altitude , even to the height of five , six , or seven miles . Mr . Glaisher argued then , as now , that no man , however experienced , should attempt to exceed that extreme limit who had any heart disease or any pulmonary affection , for in either of those cases , after ascending to a height of four miles , death might occur at any moment .