Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

_ l Freemasons and the Widows of Freemasons by endowing the chair fro w \ i you ^ ave ret i w ' a Vice-Patronship in perpetuity of these Institutions be entitled " the Henry Smith Testimonial , " to secure which the Lodges and •a thren of this Province have subscribed the sum of 600 guineas . We also request you to accept from us this illuminated address , which but hlv expresses our feelings , and with it a gold chronometer , together with a selfording aneroid barometer , which we trust will prove , by their accuracy and rec u ] ar _ ty , fitting emblems of those characteristics by which your conduct has

We further trust that the well-deserved ease to which you retire will be as ov as we know it will be useful , and that you may be long spared to see the P ovince , for which you have done so much , increase and flourish as the years ll on carry ing out the principles you have so ably advocated , and maintaining " hat hig h standard which , largely through your example and efforts , it has so Litinually striven to reach . Given at this Provincial Grand Lodge , holden at Doncaster , in the County , york , on this 22 nd day of April , one thousand eight hundred and ninety-six . Signed on behalf of the Freemasons of West Yorkshire—¦

W . L . JACKSON * , Provincial Grand Master . W . H . STACEY , Provincial Grand Registrar . HERBERT G . E GREEN , Provincial Grand Secretary . Turning , to Bro . Henry Smith , the PROV . GRAND MASTER said : In making this presentation to you on behalf of the province , I am conscious lhat I have failed altogether to reach the standard which I have desired to set myself in sounding your praises . But 1 am aware that it is your own feeling that I should limit myself strictly to facts . This I have done . And

now on behalf of every brother in the province , I present you with this testimonial . This I do with the greatest possible pleasure , though it is but a slig ht recognition of services which it is not in our power properly to recompense . We all trust that in your retirement your health will be long preserved , and that you will be held and maintained in the safe keeping of [ he Great Architect of the Universe . On rising to reply , Bro . HENRY SMITH was enthusiastically received . His words

were—R . W . Prov . Grand Master and Brethren , —There is , perhaps , once in the lifetime of every man an exceptional occasion when it behoves him to put forth all the powers with which he may have been gifted—such is the present occasion . Conscious of this , he may , however , through causes easily imagined , fail to rise to the position which his mind can readily conceive , but which his utmost energies will not permit him to reach . That is my condition . I see all the circumstances ; I

realise to the full the opportunities ; but 1 fear , brethren , I shall be unable , to my own satisfaction , at any rate , adequately to make use of the exceptional advantages which the words of out Prov . Grand Master and the terms of the address which has just been read so happily afford me . In the address you express regret at my retirement and recognition of my services . That recognition is offered in the only way in which it would be acceptable to me . In addition to this

beautifully-illuminated address , you make me a further presentation of a cosily watch and registering barometer , and in kindly words you pay me the graceful compliment of suggesting that , should the accuracy and regularity of both be at all commensurate with my own display of those characteristics , little more will be needed to complete their usefulness , and make their performance everything that a reasonable man could desire . You then refer to the organisation which I have ,

1 admit , largely been the means of introducing into this large and important province , and to my advocacy and support of the Masonic Charities . Vou praise my administrative powers , and , finally , you send me to my retirement with the wish that it may be a long and happy one , that I may live to see the province flourish and the principles of Freemasonry prevail in this , our fortunate land . Couched in terms free from flattery or adulation this is what you say to me ; and

it is the more gratifying as I believe it to be the earnest expression of your convictions , and that it fully recognises what it has been my delight and privilege to attempt during a long connection with this province . Brethren , I do regret that I must sever the official bond which has so long existed between us ; but I am sure you would be the last to suggest that I should shrink from what I believe to be my duty . As to the organisation of the

province and the creation of the machinery which has proved so important and effective in the working of the elections in our Masonic Institutions , 1 may say that it has largely been a gradual process of evolution . Long before 1 was Prov . Grand Secretary , or our Charity Committee was dreamed of , I used lo take a great interest in these matters . I and one or two more gave attention lo these things , and by degrees began to see what a powerful lever we should

have if by any means we could organise the lodges and get them to work under Ihe guidance of some central influence . This was the nucleus of our Charity Committee . What an advantageous agency it has since become is known to most tf you . In support of the : Masonic Institutions and to strengthen the voting power of this province , you have , as I understand from the statement of your Treasurer , Bro . R . I . Critchley , raised the splendid sum of 600 guineas , which in

compliment to me you have placed in equal shares on the chair of the Deputy of this province , thus constituting the Deputy for the time being in perpetuity Vice-Patron of those three most valuable Masonic Institutions . For this , as well as ^ e personal gifts , I most sincerely thank you . The time of day and the probable weather are subjects which closely concern and interest all of us , so that your gracious gifts will day by day be ever before my eyes , reminding me of

> r kindness , your forbearance , and , above all , of your appreciation ° ' my humble services . It is a common saying when a man who has striven to do his duty , and with moderate success , retires , "that he is a tod man to follow , " and that his successor will have a difficult task , and so 0 n - Now , 1 venture to combat that statement , and to declare that the more ably •he work has been previously done , the easier will be the task of him who comes alter

. I ] eave this province in a condition of organisation and efficiency for which claim no credit , yet I feel proud ; and I am sure it is needless for me to say nat if b y any means ; ,, the ( jrs (; instance I can be of use to my successor , he may naiiyi niy advice and assistance whenever he feels that my experience can be of service to him . And now , brethren , I reach the most arduous portion of what has „ oughout been a most difficult task . Farewells are sometimes , perhaps , best mittfd

- , but my official good-bye to you to-day is , I rejoice to say , tempered by "e fact that though no longer Deputy , I shall in all probability spend my few ' ¦ naming years amongst you ; and 1 cannot see any reason why those ties of _ nendshi p , which it is my hope and belief have been formed during my Masonic e ' should be shattered or even weakened now that I settle down into the comt' rative obscurity of official inactivity . Brethren , you have a splendid position .-p to your utmost to maintain it ; use every effort to keep up the tone of ^ masonry and emulate the example of lamented BroTewwho did so UU a \ J klllUjaLb IHG \ AtltllU / l \ J . WU . miuli-u V . W . \

so our . , | ^ , J , .. . ^ .. .. * ., , I . ... U . U JU e , ' ° rthis province . Regulate your relations in life and your conduct towards of .. 0 l , 1 ! ty tlle noble maxims which the Craft enforces . Let no act or word A . ° . j n any way dim its splendour or tarnish its lustre and let me have the the , ' . ' . ' n my declining years of seeing and knowing that in West Yorkshire str - ' ' - stitution , tor the benefit and advantage of which many have lived and n , stands , vear bv vsar . more deenlv rooted in the hearts of the brethren

Sy more firml y founded upon their devotion , their self-sacrifice , their | ,. * y < ar > d , greatest of all , their Masonic Charity . And now , brethren , " trespass upon your patience for yet a little while longer . You

Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

will see from the statement made by Bro . Robert Critchley that , after the payment of 600 guineas to the three Institutions , the purchase of this very handsome watch and guard and barometer , as well as this most artistic illuminated address , cost of printing , & c , there remains a balance , which has Seen handed to me b y the Committee . This sum has gone a long way towards paying for a complete set of silver-gilt consecrating vessels , which I now desire to present to this Provincial

Grand Lodge . They consist of a thurible for incense , a cornucopia * for corn , two flagons for wine and oil , and a miniature font to contain salt . Up to now these vessels have been hired when lodges and chapters have been consecrated . We shall now be able to feel that we have within ourselves all that is needful for these important ceremonies . I trust , brethren , you will receivethem as a little memento of me and my long connection with this province , and accept in the same hearty and kindly spirit my little present as I also offer it to you .

Bro . J ACKSON acknowledged the gift in the following terms : I should be neglecting my duty if I did not at once rise and declare that we recognise in this graceful act of Bro . Henry Smith a still further illustration of his devotion to our Order . In no way could he have better considered the convenience of the province , and we shall thus be reminded , constantly reminded , of one who has always been foremost in promoting our welfare . I

have examined these beautiful vessels with some curiosity , but I fail to see any indication of their origin , or how they come into our possession . I hope Bro . Smith will allow us to remedy that omission , and permit us , by a suitable inscription , to make known to those who come after us the circumstances under which we receive this beautiful present . On my own behalf , and in the name of the brethren of West Yorkshire , Bro . Henry Smith , I sincerel

y thank you . Bro . WILLIAM HARROP , Chairman of the Charity Committee , then presented his report . After stating the results of the last elections , and his hopes in relation to the coming one—the annuitants—Bro . Harrop said that a charitable educational scheme for West Yorkshire would be introduced at the next meeting of the Committee , and presented for general consideration at the Provincial Grand l . odge in October . He hoped the

matter would be discussed in every lodge in the province , so that an intelligent judgment on this great question mi ght be given . Readers of the Freemason knew lhat there was a scheme on foot for purchasing a site and removing the present Boys' School from Wood Green . That subject was under consideration at the meeting in London on the ioth inst . By a majority of 62 votes against 47—only 15—power was given to the Board of

Management to sell the present Schools , purchase a site , and build ncvones . The minority were of opinion that there was no immediate necessity , that time should be given for further consideration , and above all , that an attempt should be made to ascertain the opinion of the great body of subscribers on so momentous an issue . He would , however , leave the subject for future discussion , and would now move the adoption of the Charity Committee ' s report .

Bro . W . C . LUPTON , P . M . 974 , Vice-Chairman , briefly seconded , and took the opportunity of impressing upon the brethren the necessity of promptly sending in the annuitants' voting papers now in their hands . The report was adopted . On the motion of Bro . Maj . G . BOLTON , Prov . G . Treas ., the statement of accounts , showing a balance to the good of over ^ 900 was received . Bro . W . F . SMITHSON moved a vote of 10 guineas to the Scholarship Fund of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys : seconded by Bro . VV , HARROP , this was carried .

Other routine matters followed , after which the PROV . GRAND MASTER said the next business was to appoint , obligate , and invest the Deputy Prov . Grand Master in succession to Bro . Henry Smith . After explaining the dillicul . ies of his own position , and defining the duties of Prov . Grand Officers , Bro . J ackson continued : No task which you could have imposed upon me could possibly have been greater than that of having to select a brother to fill so high a position . I know from the ihnrtexperience I have had , the qualities which are necessary in a ca > e of this kind . I am very conscious that by reason of my own inability to give as much time as I desire , it is essential I should have at my right hand one who has timj and is Willing to give it—one also who has generally—I should like to say unanimously

the conhuence ot the brethren . You all knov how important that latter point is in an offirerof such distinction—imp * rtant both to himself and to the province . I hope I have been right in my forecast , and I sincerel y trust that Bro . Malcolm , whom I have selected for the position , will meet wilh your approval .

Bro . John Cooper Malcolm was then obligated and invested by the PROV . GRAND MASTER , who , after placing hrm in the Deputy ' s chair , thus addressed him : I need not say how much the prosperity and progress of this province will depend upon your efforts and your txample . Had I the sli ghteit doubt that in either one or the other you would be w mting I ce * tainly sh > uld not have taken tlu responsibility upon myself of appjintingyou to this office , lt

is because I have confidence that vou possess qualities which are neoessiry to success in connection with the Order lhat I have thus selected you . In choosing you I have done it with the belief lhat I have obtained a Deputy who has the general confidence of the brethren ; and you will find as yo j go through the province that all will assist you , and no one will try to impede you in your work .

Ihe newly-appointed DEPUTY PROV . GRAND MASTER , after having been duly proclaimed and saluted , said : I thank you , Right Worshipful Prov . Grand Master , for the honour you have confeired upon me in appointing me to the most important and honourable office of Deputy in the government of this large and populous province . I trust that by the exertions I shall make , by the ability which I possess , and by the time which I shall

bestow upon the duties , to show you that the confidence you have been kind enough to express in me will not prove misplaced . There is one matt-r whicn I wish to refer to , bat time will scarcely allow it ; it is to express my personal regret that my predecessor h is found it necessary to be relieved of the responsibilities of the office . It is , however , great encouragement to me to know that for the 20 years we have acted together , during which time I think I may say I have been on almost every Committee appointed in the province , we have worked harmoniously together . I have

the further encouragement of knowing that any assistance that Bro . S tutti can give me will be freely accorded ; that , in fact , he has already promised . At the present stage I will not say more , but will only appeal to you , brethren , to extend to me your loyal , fraternal , and patient support . If you do this , I feel sure , under the directions of our Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master , I shall be able to maintain West Yorkshire in its present proud portion and enhance it in the estimation of Grand Lodge and of our sister provinces .

Ou ihe motion of Bro . W . HARROP , seconded by Bro . Major BOLTON , Bro . Richard Jackson , P . M . 28 9 , was unanimously elected Prov . G . Treas for the ensuing year .