The Masters And Wardens' Association Victoria.

Victoria , " and he added that as the outcome of the discussion which followed the reading of thc paper , the Association had that evening " confirmed resolutions , having for their object a conference of Lecture and Deputy Lecture Masters with a view

to procuring something like uniformity of working and establishing a Lodge of Instruction in which this work shall bc persistently taught , the sanction of the M . W . G . M . being now sought for this purpose . " But these are far from being all thc benefits conferred on the Craft through the medium of the

Association . Opportunities have been placed within reach of the members for discussing such questions of difficulty as from time to time present themselves in private lodges , a " Question Box" having been provided in which " any member can deposit at one meeting a written question , which at our next meeting is

freely discussed and settled b y a vote of the meeting . ' Hitherto it seems to have been the practice for the Committee to draw up answers to such questions , but it has now been determined that in future " the general meetings onl y shall deal with these matters , so that the utmost freedom of discussion and decision

may be the result . " There remains still one other object which the Association has set itself to accomplish , and that is , the establishment of scholarships and even of colleges and schools , for the benefit of Masons' children . From these particulars it would appear that the Masters ' and Wardens '

Association of Victoria belongs to the Composite Order of Institutions . It is in the first place a sort of literary institute in which papers on interesting Masonic subjects are read and discussed ; it is looking forward to becoming in itself , or organising from other material , a lodge of instruction for defining what

is and what is not the proper method of working the different ceremonies . In respect of the Question and Decision part of its programme , it appears to aim at being something in the nature of a Final Court of Appeal in questions of difficulty ; and lastly , it has in view to become a Charitable organisation for the

purpose of hel ping , educationally , the children of poor or deceased brethren . The programme we have thus endeavoured to sketch out strikes us as being more than ordinarily ambitious , while as regards that part of the scheme in which , if we ri g htl y understand it , the Association is intent on clothing itself with

the authority of a Final Court of Appeal , we doubt not the United Grand Lodge of Victoria will see fit to regulate its aims and keep them well within bounds . However , the Association has thus far prospered ; it appears in certain matters to

have carried out its purposes ably , ancl as the members are doubtless discreet and cautious men , they will not dream of erecting their institution into anything more formidable than a kind of "discussion forum" and Charity Institution . We shall watch with interest the further progress of the Association .

Province Of West Yorkshire.

PROVINCE OF WEST YORKSHIRE .

RETIREMENT OF THE DEPUTY PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER , BRO . HENRY SMITH .

We publish to-day a report of the half-yearl y meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of West Yorkshire , which was held on 16 th ultimo . Businesslike and instructive as these proceedings invariabl y are , the announcement that Bro . HENRY SMITH had determined to retire from the office of Deputy , an office he has

held for io years , added largely to the interest which tlie meeting excited . Perhaps no name in the Masonic world is better recognised than that of HENKY SMITH . In his own Province , us we are aware , it is familiar as a household word , whilst in London and Provincial Masonic circles , particularly amongst

those most closel y associated with the working of our Masonic Charitable Institutions it is almost equally well known . To have worn the badge of our Order " with pride and pleasure , " as he himself says , for 43 years is a statement which may possibly be

matched or even exceeded by many a worth y brother on our roll , hut to have devoted himself with increasing zeal and vigour as the years passed on to the interests of the Craft during that time , to have given up lo it so disinterestedly the best portion of an 'ndustrious ancl active life is a position so unique that we might

; 'hnost say it will remain unchallenged . Provincial Grand Secretary for 15 years , Bro . HENRY SMITH graduall y introduced "i * der , regularity , ancl system where chaos previously prevailed Until the organisation of the Province of West Yorkshire reached ' * - present almost perfect condition . To his great personal

Province Of West Yorkshire.

application and his wonderful mastcrv of detail mav be attributed not onl y the smooth working of the business of the Province , but to those qualities also is largel y clue the marvellous success which West Yorkshire has attained at the various Elections connected with the Masonic * Institutions . Out of 125

ol these somewhat exciting struggles during the * past 25 years , the retiring Deput y quietl y tells us he has been present and taken part in 123 ; with the surprisingly satisfactory result of

putting 66 boys ancl 57 girls from West Yorkshire in our Masonic Schools ancl placing 45 men ancl 35 widows on the Annuity Fund . This without counting presentations . Of course , Bro . ' . IEXRY SMITH has been strongly supported by his Province and ably

backed up by the Chanty Committee , in the formation ancl conception of which ) so far back as 1859 , he took an active part . And to its credit it must be said that whilst West Yorkshire has lost no opportunity of promoting the interests of its own

candidates , yet it has never lost si ght of the needs ancl difficulties of others , ancl that more than one despairing case has owed its salvation to the generosity , and , in some instances , the personal zeal of the members of this active orsranisalion .

The retirement of Bro . HENRY SMITH marks an epoch in West Yorkshire ' s Masonic history . His office , as the Provincial Grand Master admitted , will be " profoundl y difficult to fill , " yet Bro . JACKSON also confessed that notwithstanding the embarrassment and anxiety which mi ght result to himself , he could

not but acknowledge that the position taken was a just one , and that , after the toil and burden of so many years , Bro . HENRY SMITH mig ht fairly claim to be relieved from the duties which increasing age had made , if not irksome , at least onerous . To every word of Bro . J ACKSON ' eulogium , we of this paper who

have known Bro . HENRY SMITH SO long , give a most cordial assent , ancl we especiall y endorse the opinion that the modest statement he makes in the valedictory address which he <>* ave to his brethren—an address which we report in full—b y no " means adequatel y represents the self-sacrifice , the time ancl the devotion which the Deputy has given to thc Craft in West Yorkshire .

As hinted by Bro . JACKSON , a suitable acknowledgment of the services of Bro . HENRY SMITH will of course be made in due season . West Yorkshire will do its duty in this respect we entertain no doubt . We also venture to hope that the worth y Deputy may enjoy many years of well-earned leisure . We are

all prepared ( in Bro . JACKSON ' S words ) " to bear witness to the distinguished way in which he has clone his duty , " and wc are sure that hc will carry with him into his retirement thc esteem ancl affection of all those who had the privilege , not onl y of knowing him intimately , but even of enjoying merely his personal friendship .

The Charges Of British Freemasons.

THE CHARGES OF BRITISH FREEMASONS .

( SECOND EDITION *) . By W . J . HUGHAN .

If Brother Hughan had produced no other literary work during his long , arduous , and gigantic labours in the cause of Masonic research and the extension of Masonic knowledge , the brethren of the Craft throughout the world would be lastingly indebted to htm . There is scarce ! v * a student of

Masonic lore in existence but who is under obligations to Bro . Hughan , either for knowledge gained through his piib'ish-jd work or for direct advice and assistance . There are many brethren who have ; attained distinction , and who owe their position largely to the early and opportune help received from Bro . Hughan .

In the different departments of Masonic labour in which he has so long been engaged , he will take a foremost place for all time , more especially in his investigations and researches respecting Masonic MSS . Until his publication in 18720 ! the first edition of " Old Charges "the first attempt at classifying or bringing together the MSS . known at that

day—few lr . deed had realised , or even thought of , the high importance which ti . ose ancient and interesting documents pos : eis , or the valuable knowledge which could be drawn from them as to the nature of Frei-.-masonry in the pre-Grand Lod ^ -e period , by critical acumen and scientific analysis .

The last 25 years may indeed be termed the Golden Age of Fieemasonry , for more good work has been done within that period than during the whole prtceding generations within our ken , as regards clearing away tne rubbish of apocryphal traditions and fables , in studying intelligently and systematically the various aspects and phases of scientific lore , and in unearthing

and preserving the treasures of loi'g pasc ages in the Craft . In this direction Bro . Hughan has been an indefatigable pioneer and continuous wotker . The whole Craft must therefore heartily congratulate him on bringing out the handsome and bcautilully illustrated volume which contains the epitome of his invaluable explanations in that one time unknown and unsought mine of Masonic wealth—the Ancient MSS . He need not tell us of his struggle to keep his book within practicable limits . The subject , like his knowledge of it , is vast , but he has wisely