Correspondence.

Correspondence .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion .

GUY'S HOSPITAL RE-ENDOWMENT FUND . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Referring to Bro . Maurice Spiegel ' s letter in the Freemason of the 21 st March last re the above fund , at the festival of which his JRoyal Highness

the M . W . Grand Master will preside , I beg to inform any brother who may desire to give to so noble a cause , that I will be glad to add their subscriptions to my list . Guy's Hospital deserves the support of Masons , for it has benefited them directly and indirectlyin all parts . of the world , and any day one can find a number of Masons benefiting by the Charity , both in the wards and out-patient departments .

I may add subscriptions can be sent to me until the 14 th of May ; they will be thankfully acknowledged by letter and in the Freemason by THOMAS DUTTON , M . D ., W . M . elect ^ Esculapius Lodge , 2410 , and Secretary . 7 , Portland Place , W ., April 25 th .

Reviews.

Reviews .

"THE B ERKSHIRE MASONIC REGISTER AND CALENDAR FOR 1 S 96 . " —This official publication is edited by Bro . John Thornhill Morland , M . A ., who is the Deputy Prov . Grand Master in charge of the Province of Berkshire , and a most energetic and distinguished Craftsman , if is larger than ever , and has been creditably printed by Bro . G . J . Cosburn , of Newbury . Over 150 pages of most interesting Masonic information for a Province of 15 Lodges and four R . A . Chapters , ought to fully satisfy the most exacting , and even Ihe adjoining Prov . Grand Lodges come in for a share of attention .

Bro . Morland ' s plan is to give the Roll of present members of his Prov . Grand Lodge in order of precedence , as those of past rank are bracketed according to date of investment , immediately after the present holder of each particular office , and there is also another table of the succession of Provincial Officers since Berks was separated Masonically from Bucks . The particulars relating to each lodge are much fuller than usual , and really

amount to a complete Masonic Directory for the County , involving considerable labour , and , doubtless , a large amount of correspondence . AH the Degrees worked in the County are duly attended to , and also the Votes for the Central Masonic Charities . The latter are most exhaustively treated , the grand total being 4342 actually received for the three elections . Truly a magnificent record . Subscribers will much appreciate the excellent portrait of the Editor , which is the Frontispiece for A . D . 1896 .

"THE FREEMASONS' CALENDAR AND DIRECTORY FOR THE PROVINCE OF ESSEX , 1896 . "—This well-printed and ably-edited Annual is now in its 12 th year , and is doubtless one of the most useful and most used Directories published _ in the Provinces . Brief Titles of each Part are printed on another colour paper , which is a handy guide to the portions needed to be consulted , and a feature other Editors might well follow . There are now 3 8 Lodges in the Province , so it is one of the largest in England , and , fortunately for all concerned , its management is of the best . The Editor of this

Calendar is the Provincial Grand Secretary , Bro . T . J . Railing , who has long acted in that capacity to the manifest advantage of his Province , and is well skilled in all such duties . The Summary of Votes on the great Masonic Charities exhibits the grand total of 959 8 , an advance on all previous years , and is of a most satisfactory character . The Calendar portion is carefully arranged , and evidently compiled with special attention to

the brethren who belong to the additional or Higher Degrees . The " Events of the Year , " the "In Memoriam , " and other compilations like the "Masonic Notes , " are most desirable additions to the usual information found in such publications , and the work , from first to last , is a credit to the Editor , Printers and Publishers . The portrait for this issue is that of Bro . John J . C . Turner , who from the appreciative biography attached , he evidently well deserves the compliment .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF WEST YORKSHIRE .

RETIREMENT OF BRO . HENRY SMITH . APPOINTMENT OF THE NEW DEPUTY . The annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Lodge took place at Doncaster on Wednesday , the 22 nd ult . The occasion was especially interesting , as it embraced the public retirement of Bro . Henry Smith and the appointment of his successor . The spacious rooms in the Mansion House of that ancient borough were courteously placed at the disposal of the Freemasons by the Mayor , and though strenuous effort was made by ths W . M ., Bro . J . H . Pawson , and the brethren of the Lodge of St . George ,

No . 24 . 2 , to provide for the comfort of everybody , it was found to be entirely impossible . The lodge room was crammed before Provincial Grand Lodge entered , and numbers of brethren left on seeing lhat even standing room was not available . This was greatly regretted , and arose from the fact that a just estimate of the probable numbers desiring to attend was not formed Sheffield and Leeds sent large contingents , facilities for reduced fares being provided on the Great Northern Railway system . Amongst those supporting the Prov . G . Master , Bro . the Rt . Hon . W . Lawies J ackson , M . P .,

were : Bros . Henry Smith , the retiring Deputy ; John Cooper Malcolm , P . M . 306 , P . P . G . Reg . ( City Coroner for Leeds ) ; Charles Letch Mason , P . M . 304 , Prov . S . G . W . ; J . J . Brook , P . M ., P . J . G . W . ; R . I . Critchley , J . P ., P . M . 208 , P . P . J . G . W . ; Col . Joseph Hartley , D . L ., P . M . 495 , Col . J . Day , P . M . 275 , William Harrop , P . M . 290 , and Richard Jessop , P . M . 448 , P . P . G . Wardens ; the Ven . Archdeacon

Doune , M . A ., Vicar of Wakefield , Prov . G . Chap . ; Rev . Jas . Geo . Williams , Chap . 1779 , P . P . G . Chaplain ; Rev . Wm . Wilkinson , W . M . 1214 , Prov . G . Chap . ; Major Geo . Bolton , P . M . 154 , Prov . G . Treas . ; Jas . Hy . Gration , P . M . 1513 , John Gibbs , P . M . 904 , Wm . Fisher Tasker , P . M . 296 , and Thomas Richards , P . M . 208 , P . P . G . Treasurers ; Aulay Macaulay , P . M . 258 , and Thomas Brayshaw , P . M . 20 9 , P . P . G . Registrars ; Capt . H . G . E . Green , P . M . 1019 , Prov . G . Sec ; Reuben Williamson , P . M . 521 , P . P . S . G . Deacon ; Herbert Nixon , P . M .

1239 , Prov . S . G . D . j Geo . Hy . Robinson , P . M . 275 , Fredk . C . Robinson , P . M , 1648 , and Fountain Reed , P . M . 1034 , Prov . J . G . Deacons ; Saml . H . Stocks , P . M . 603 , Wm . Chas . Lupton , P . M . 974 , George Marshall , P . M . 521 , Jno . Read Dore , P . M . 750 , John Wm . Balme , P . M . 61 , Albert Walker , P . M . 1108 , Wm . Hy , Bradford , P . M . 1211 , and Jno . Taylor Simpson , P . M . 448 , P . P . G . Deacons ; William Dickie , P . M . 904 , Prov . G . S . of W . ; John Barker , P . M . 1102 , P . P . G . S . of W . ; Geo . Paul Sunderland , P . M . 1736 , Prov . G . D . of C ; J . W . Monckman , P . M . 1018 , P . P . G . D . of Cs . ; Hy . Jackson Sutherst , P . M . 1018 . and

Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

Godfrey Woodhead , P . M . 1645 , Prov . Asst . G . D . of Cs . ; Thomas Pickles , p M 258 , Edmund Lord , P . M . 910 , John Dyson , P . M . 306 , Wm . Fitton , P . M . ^ o ' * . * . ' Thomas Norfolk , P . M . 600 , Wm . Hy . Dawson , P . M . 1108 , Howgate Holroyd P . M . 603 , and John Dawson , P . M . 521 , P . P . G . D . of Cers . ; Herbert Columbine ' P . M . 1211 , Prov . G . Swd . Br . ; Asa Fawthrop , P . M . 1302 , Prov . G . Std . Br ' Wm . Laycock , P . M . 110 S , Robert Fisher , P . M . 910 , John Watson , P . M . 61 and John Constable , P . M . 2259 , P . P . G . Std . Brs . ; Simeon Whiteley , J . W . 1034 Prov

G . Org . ; William Ash , P . M . 1019 , George Carbert , P . M . 495 , and Geo . F . Carr P . P . G . Organists ; Joseph Matthewman , P . M . 1019 , Prov . Asst . G . Sec ; Thos Lawrence , P . M . 1001 , Prov . G . Purst . ; Henry Morton , P . M . 1522 , P . as P . A . G P B . P . Parker , P . M . 264 , John Seed , P . M . 1302 , Wm . Cockcroft , P . M . 307 J 0 h ' ' Shoesmith , P . M . 1783 , George Blackburn , P . M . 264 , Charles Shaw , P . M . 337 Geo . H . Holdroyd , P . M . 1514 , Jas . A . Heastie , P . M . 652 , and James Oldroyd ' P . M . 1214 , P . P . G . Pursts . ; Wm . Richard Bates , P . M . 1522 , Horatio Scott Wood '

P . M . 439 , Wm . Roberts Hinings , P . M . 600 , and Wm . Wilson , P . M . 1102 , Prov G . Stewards ; Thomas Leighton , Tyler 139 , Prov . G . Tyler ; Thomas Chester T yler 904 , Asst . to Prov . G . Tyler ; with the W . Masters and brethren from 75 out of the 77 lodges in the province . Amongst the visitors were Bros . John Chadwick , P . G . S . B ., Prov . G . Sec . E . Lanes . ; J . H . Duffin , P . M ., Prov . G . D . of C E . Lanes . ; James Terry , P . G . S . B ., Sec . R . M . B . I . ; F . R . W . Hedges , P . G . S B Sec . R . M . I . G . ; Jas . M . McLeod , P . P . G . W ., Sec . R . M . I . B . ; Wm . Gadsby , P . M ' . P . P . G . Org . Derbyshire , and others .

The lodge having been opened and certain routine business despatched the PROV . GRAND MASTER called upon Bro . R . I . CRITCHLEY , Treasurer of the Henry Smith Testimonial Fund , to make his report . He stated that every one of the 77 lodges constituting the province had subscribed , the contributions amounting in the aggregate to ^ 632 ns . ; the chapters of the province had contributed ^ 32 ns ., the Knights Templars preceptories . £ 10 ios ., while private and individual subscriptions brought the total to

£ 784 16 s . In deference to the known wishes of Bro . Henry Smith , it was proposed to allocate 200 guineas to the Girls' Institution , 200 guineas to the Boys ' , and 200 guineas to the Aged Freemasons , endowing the D . P . G . M . ' s chair , and thus procuring for the province 140 votes in perpetuity . With a portion of the balance there had been procured an illuminated address , a gold chronometer and guard , and a registering aneroid barometer , and the remainder—a sum of £ 43—it was proposed to hand to Bro . Smith , with which to do as he pleased .

The PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER , on rising , was greeted with loud cheers . He first acknowledged indebtedness to the Mayor of Doncaster ( Councillor F . Brightmore ) for the use of the Mansion House , remarking that though Provincial Grand Lodge had been held on six previous occasions in Doncaster , the last was in 1880 , when the Centenary of the St . George ' s Lodge , under whose banner they had that day met , was

celebrated . Touching the condition of the province , the Provincial Grand Master observed that he regarded the gathering before him as sufficient evidence of the eminently satisfactory state of things which prevailed . Since the previous meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge , at Dewsbury , the membership of the province had increased by 70 , though So brethren had been lost by death , and in this connection he thought it only fitting to allude

to the lamented loss of Bvo . Bateman Fox , Chairman of the Charity Committee . One lodge— Furrival , No . 255 . ** . Sheffield—had been added to the roll , and there was a probability that a warrant would shortly be granted for a new lodge in the neighbourhood of Leeds . It was satisfactory that all the candidates brought forward by the province in connection with the Charities had been elected . Coming to the presentation to Bro . Henry Smith , the

Prov . Grand Master spoke in fitting terms of the distinguished success which had marked the D . P . G . M . ' s tenure of office . Bro . Henry Smith had , he said , filled the position with credit to himself and advantage to the brethren of the province , and he could not allow the separation to take place without putting on record his personal sense of the servic . s rendered by the retiring D . P . G . M . Bro . Smith was initiated in 1 S 52 , in the Hope Lodge ,

Bradford , to which he had for 44 years been a subscriber . In 1854 , hc joined the Airedale Lodge , then meeting at Baildon , but now at Saltaire , and of this lodge he had been a subscribing member for 42 years . He was in 1859 , appointed Prov . G . Deacon , by the then Prov . G . Master , the Earl of Mexborough , becoming in 1870 , Prov . G . Secretary , under Earl de Grey and Ripon ( now the Marquess of Ripon ) . He was re-appointed by Sir Henry

Edwards in 1875 , and was made Deputy by Bro . T . W . Tew , in 1 S 85 . In 1887 , the rank of Grand Deacon of England was conferred upon him by the M . W . G . M ., the Prince of Wales . . He was one of the founders of the West Yorkshire Charity Committee in 1879 , was a Vice-President of the Boys ' , the Girls ' , and the Old People ' s Institutions , and had been six times elected Treasurer of the Girls' Institution—a position he still retains . It would be

idle , Bro . Jackson observed , to add to the recital of such a record of devoted service any feeble words of praise , but he desired to say that during the short time he ( the Prov . G . Master ) had held office , Bro . Henry Smith had been his mainstay , and his personal indebtedness to the retiring D . P . G . M . was very great . Bro . Henry Smith had desired that the testimonial should be no mere personal compliment , but should be chiefiv devoted to the

Charities for which he had laboured so incessantly , but while marking the splendid endowment of the D . P . G . M ' s . chair , he had , as Prov . G . Master , the privilege of handing Bro . Henry Smith a small personal gift , in the form of an illuminated address , a chronomtter , and a barometer , which would , he trusted , remind Bro . Smith during the years vouchsafed him by the G . A . O . T . U . of the interesting occasion on which they were then met . Bro . J ACKSON then read the address , which was as follows :

To Worshipful Brother Henry Smith , P . M ., Past Grand Deacon of Eng land , Past Deputy Provincial Grand Master . We , the Antient Free and Accepted Masons of West Yorkshire , have heard with great regret that owing to advancing years you have felt it impossible an )' longer to support the cares and responsibilities which the office of Deputy Irovincial Grand Master must necessarily entail , and that you have in consequence withdrawn from the position which for 11 years you have so ably and judiciou 51 ' ?

held . We gratefully recognise that we owe much to your powers of organisation and your administrative skill , both of which were admirably illustrated during the 15 years that you acted as our Provincial Grand Secretary . , We also most freel y acknowledge the zeal and energy with which you hav undertaken the advocacy and sunoort of our ureal Masonic Charitable '" . tltu '

tions . By the system and method you have introduced , we are not only ab le gauge the voting power we possess , but also to bring it to bear in the m advantageous and effectual manner , in procuring the success of our candidal < and applying to the greatest practical advantage those funds which from t '

time it is our pleasure and delight to supply . ve Adequately to remunerate services like yours is as impossible to us as know it is undesired by yourself ; we therefore ask you to permit us to assoc : your name permanently with the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , the 1 y Mas-runic Institution toi Boys , and the Roya \ Masonic Benevolent Institution