Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

be done . You may not have been unprepared for this , but to me it is a surprise . I will just now content myself by saying—and I will say it in his presence—that the position will be profoundly difficult to fill . The modest statement he has just made as to what he himself has done by no means adequately represents the self-sacrifice , the time , and the devotion which Bro . Henry Smith has given to the Craft in this province . Whilst his

retirement will cause me great difficulty and some anxiety , yet we cannot but acknowledge by the words he has used and the plaints he has made , that his position is a just one , and that he has a perfect right to take off the harness and lay down the load which he so long has borne . There is no need to carry the matter further just now , but I am sure that there is not a member of the Craft , not in this province only but in any part of the

Empire , who is not prepared to bear witness to the distinguished way in which Bro . Henry Smith has done his duty , and who will not join in the regret which all must feel at his retirement . To me his loss will be very great , but I cannot resist his claim to withdraw at such time as he thinks proper . On another occasion we shall take an opportunity of considering our obligations to our Deputy , and in the meantime I can assure you ,

Brother Henry Smith , that you will carry with you into your retirement the esteem and affection of every one with whom you have come in contact . Bro . HARROP , before introducing his Charity report , spoke in feeling terms of the loss the province would sustain by the withdrawal of Bro . Henry Smith from the conduct of its affairs . With respect to the business which was his immediate concern , Bro . Harrop stated that since their last meeting five elections had taken place , and that they had succeeded in carrying four

widows and one man ; that thir , had been done at a cost of from 22 , 000 to 23 , 000 votes , a thing unknown in any province . He also mentioned that West Yorkshire had this year contributed . £ 1903 to the three Masonic Institutions , and that it was a gratifying fact that out of some six boys who had shown exceptional ability , and whose term in the Masonic Schools had been in consequence prolonged , three were West Yorkshire boys . He prop is . d that the grants recommended by the Charity Committee in the cases of Mrs . H ., 61 , Halifax , and Bro . Wm . W ., 290 , Huddersfield , be sanctioned .

Bro . W . C LUPTON , in seconding , wished to accentuate the fact that West Yorkshire boys could hold their own . He thought it could not be too widely spread abroad in the province that three out of the six boys who had distinguished themselves were from the West Riding , and he thought it was proof that the School was in all respects worthy of their support . Bro . J . H . Y . PAWSON , W . M . 242 , cordially invited Prov . Grand Lodge to hold its next meeting at Doncaster .

The PROV . GRAND MASTER thanked him , and said his invitation would be considered , and that he should have a reply in due course . He then added that they could not close that meeting without expressing their gratitude to the Mayor and Corporation of Dewsbury for their kindness and courtesy in permitting them the use of the various rooms in tbe Town

Hall , and he ventured to give expression to that feeling , knowing as he so well did that he was only putting into words what every one felt . There being no other business , Prov . Grand Lodge was closed . Dinner was served in the Mayor ' s reception room . About 70 brethren were present , the D . P . G . M . presiding .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Gloucestershire And Herefordshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE AND HEREFORDSHIRE .

The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Gloucestershire and Herefordshire—postponed from July in consequence of the General Election—took place at Gloucester on Monday , the 21 st ult ., and was largely attended by members of the lodges in the two associated counties . The Prov . Grand Master , Bro . R . V . Vassar-Smith , presided , supported by his Deputy , Bro . Orlando Shellard ; Bro . Baron de Ferrieres , Past Prov . G . Master ; and Bro . Sir Lionel Darell , Bart ., Past Grand Warden of Eng .

The officers of Prov . Grand Lodge and others present were—Bros . S . W . Hadingham , P . M . 340 , Prov . S . G . W . ; W . C . Ferris , P . M . 10 and 439 , G . I . G . Eng ., Prov . J . G . W . ; A . V . Hatton , P . M . 439 , Prov . G . M . O . ; W . Heath , I . P . M . 10 , Prov . S . G . O . ; W . Spence , I . P . M . 340 , Prov . J . G . O . ; Rev . C . E . Lefroy-Austin , 10 , Prov . G . Chap . ; J . Balcomb , P . M . 10 , P . P . G . W ., Prov . G . Treas . ; R . P . Sumner , 439 , Prov . G . Reg . ; G . Norman , P . M . 10 , P . G . D ., Prov . G . Sec ; E . Shaw , 243 , Prov . S . G . D . ; H . Rossiter , W . M . 218 , Prov . G .

I . of W . ; W . R . Felton , P . M . 10 , P . G . Stwd ., Prov . G . D . C ; H . J . Brewer , 439 , Prov . G . S . B . ; J . W . Morrison , 243 . Prov . G . Std . Br . ; H . Gilling , 10 , Prov . G . I . G . ; Tarr , Prov . G . Tyler ; T . Blinkhorn , P . M . 243 , P . P . S . G . W . ; Rev . Dr . Lynes , P . M . 340 , P . P . S . G . W . ; J . Marchant , P . M . 243 , P . P . S . G . O . ; J . Owner , P . M . 218 , P . P . J . G . O . ; J . Cadle , P . M . 340 , P . P . G . R . ; E . W . Henley , 439 , P . P . G . R . ; W . Margrett , P . M . 243 , P . P . S . G . D . ; W . Powell , S . VV . 10 , P . P . S . G . D . ; J . H . Hewitt , E . M . Latcher , S . W . 340 ; C A . j . Hale , Sec . 340 ; H .

James , J . O . 340 ; W . LI . Evans , 10 ; J . L . lickcll , 10 ; 1 . A . Huband , W . M . 10 ; C . Rootes , S . O . 243 ; J . L . Butler , J . W . 10 ; E . Lea , W . M . 439 ; W . J . Johnston-Vaughan , 439 ; A . S . Townsend , J . W . 243 ; J . W . Morrison , S . W . 243 ; N . Phillpott , 439 ; B . Lucas , Jesse Owner , S . VV . 218 ; F . G . Washbourn , S . W . 340 ; Conway Jones , 439 ; J . R . Bibby , 439 ; F . Evans , 439 ; S . Millard , 4391 J- Jennings , 439 ; H . Bruton , S . W . 439 ; and others . The following are the officers of Prov . Grand Lodge for the ensuing

year , as appointed and invested by the Prov . Grand Master , vi *; . . - Bro . Orlando Shellard , P . M . 243 ... ... Dep . Prov . G . M „ Edwin Lea , P . M . 218 , W . M . 439 ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ J . Marchant , P . M . 243 ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ T . A . Huband , W . M . 10 ... ... Prov . G . M . O . „ W . Margrett , P . M . 243 . ... Prov . S . G . O .

„ J . Bruton , S . W . 439 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . O . ,, Rev . Dr . Lynes , P . M . 340 ... ... Prov . G . Chap . 1 , J . Balcomb , P . M . 10 ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ W . Parlby , 243 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ G . Norman , P . M . 10 , P . G . D . ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ F . G . Washbourn , S . W . 340 - ¦• ... Prov . S . G . D . T T m- 1 __ tl - ~ U- ... T / - > 1-V

11 J . Im . J . 1 CKCII , IU ... ... ... 'mv . J - J . U , „ A . S . Townsend , J . W . 243 ... ... Prov . G . l . of VV , „ W . R . Felton , P . M . 10 , P . G . Stwd . ... Prov . G . D . C . i , Conway Jones , 439 ... •¦• ... Prov . G . S . B . 1 , Charles Rootes , S . O . 243 ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br 11 F . Forty , 10 ... ¦¦• ... Prov . G . Org . 11 W . LI . Evans , 10 ... •¦• ... Prov . G . I . G . „ G . Tarr ... ... •¦• ... Prov . G . Tyler .

With one exception , the business of Prov . Grand Lodge was of a routine character . Thc reports from the various lodges in the province were satis-

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Gloucestershire And Herefordshire.

factory , and showed in each case a good financial position . The balancesheet of Prov . Grand Lodge itself also showed a considerable sum to its credit , and this fact justified a vote made in anticipation of some " operative work" being undertaken , as proposed , on the initiation of the Craft Masons of Gloucestershire .

The PROV . GRAND MASTER said it would be within the knowledge of those present , that at the last meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge , a Committee had been appointed with a view to the undertaking of some further memorial work , and that it had been already decided by the Committee that Gloucester Cathedral , which had been previously enriched by thegift of a reredos by the Craft , would offer the most appropriate opportunity for such a work . The Committee had had an interview that day , at

the Cathedral , with the dean , Bro . Dr . Spence , and the Cathedral architect , Mr . Waller , with the result that the choice of an object for the Masons ' work had now practically narrowed itself to one between the opening up of the north cloister and the gift of a new pulp it for the nave of the Cathedral , either of which objects would be sufficiently distinctive to be suitable for the purpose . A final choice would be made when the Committee had been furnished with the details which Mr . Waller had undertaken to lay before it at an early date .

Bro . the Baron DE FERRIERES followed up the statement of the Prov , Grand Master by the proposal that Prov . Grand Lodge vote . £ 25 to be applied to such purpose as the Committee may ultimately decide upon , and this having been seconded , was supported by the D . P . G . M ., as representing the Hereford section , and by members of the outlying lodges of the province , and unanimously approved .

A suggestion made by Bro . Baron DE FERRIERES , at a later stage , that Prov . Grand Lodge should take part , if practicable , in any ceremonial initiation of the undertaking , was also received with favour . At the conclusion of the proceedings , the members of Prov . Grand Lodge dined together at the Bell , under the presidency of the Prov . Grand Master .

Supreme Grand Chapter Of England.

SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER OF ENGLAND .

The following is the business to be transacted on Wednesday , the 6 th instant : The minutes of the last Quarterly Convocation to be read for confirmation . THE REPORT OV THE COMMITTEE OF GENERAL PURPOSES .

To the Supreme Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of England . The Committee of General Purposes beg to report that they have examined the accounts from the 17 th July to the 15 th October , 18 95 , both inclusive , which they find to be as follows :

To Balance , Grand Chapter £ 86 4 7 6 1 By Disbursements during the „ „ Unappropriated Quarter £ i _ y 7 7 Account ... 202 G 2 „ Balance S 76 9 1 ,, Subsequent Receipts .. 35 G 1 S „ „ Unappropriated Account ... 20 S 18 8 £ ' 422 15 4 £ 1422 ' 5 4

which balances are in the Bank of England , Law Courts Branch . The Committee have likewise to report that they have received the following petitions : 1 st . From Comps . Philip Shepherd , as 7 .. ; Ebenezer George Field , as H . ; Arthur Wood , as J . ; and six others for a chapter to be attached to the Royal Albert Edward Lodge , No . 1362 , to be called the Royal Albert Edward Chapter , and to meet at the Market Hall , Redhill , in the county of Surrey .

2 nd . From Comps . Ebenezer Charles Mulvey , as / -. ; Siegmund Lichtenfeld , as H . ; Henry Gardner , as J . ; land seven others for a chapter to be attached to the Broxbourne Lodge , No . 2353 , to be called the Broxbourne Chapter , and to meet at the Hadley Hotel , New Barnet , in the county of Hertfordshire . 3 rd . From Comps . Charles George Miles , as Z . ; Albert John Outfield , as H . ; Frank Meaker , as J . ; and seven others for a chapter to be attached to the Albany Lodge , No . 389 , to be called the Grahamstown Chapter , and to meet at the Temple , Grahamstown , Cape Colony .

The foregoing petitions being regular , the Committee recommend that the prayers thereof be respectively granted . The Committee have likewise received memorials , with extracts of minutes , for permission to remove the following chapters : The Fermor Hesketh Chapter , No . 1350 , from the Masonic Hall , Hopestreet , Liverpool , to the County Hall , Pembroke-road , Bootle . Tho Sir George Elliott Chapter , No . 960 , from the Masonic Hall ,

Working-street , to the Masonic Temple , Guildford-street , Cardiff . The St . John ' s Chapter , No . 36 , from the Masonic Hall , Working-street , to the Masonic Temple , Guildford-street , Cardiff . The Committee being satisfied of the reasonableness of the above requests , recommend that the removal of these chapters be sanctioned . The Committee further recommend that , inasmuch as the Priory Chapter , No . 1 S 63 , Tynemouth , has ceased working , and has not replied to the summons sent to it by Grand Chapter , this chapter be erased .

( Signed ) GEOKGE D . HAKKIS , Acting President Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C , 16 th October , 1895 .

Secret Monitor.

Secret Monitor .

Zachane Conclave , No . 9 . A meeting was held on the 1 Sth ult . at the Holborn Restaurant , when there were present Bros . G . Danford Thomas , S . K . ; Harry Lewis , C . ; VV . C . Canton , G . ; H . W . Kiallmark , Treas . ; C . M . Jessop , Sec ; Win . Amor , Sentinel ; R . W . Bro . H . VV . Kiallmark , G . V ., P . S . R .: V . VV . Bros . C . M . Jessop , P . G . C , P . S . R . ; W . C Canton , P . G . Gdr ., P . S . R . ; Bros . H . J . Gadd , and Harry Lewis , G . Stwd . Visitors : K . W . Uro . Col . Hugh M . Gordon , G . V ., and V . W . Bro . Frank E . Lemon , G . S . B . The minutes were read and confirmed , and the Treasurer announced a satisfactory balance in hand . An assembly of Princes was formed , under the chairmanship of V . W .

Bro . C . M . Jessop , P . S . K ., when Bro . H . J . Gadd was admitted , and took his seat as a Prince of the order . Bro . Col . Edmund Molyneux , VV . M . of Downshire Lodge , and Hro . Julius Rohmann , of Joppa Lodge , were introduced and inducted by R . W . Bro . G . II . Thomas , S . R ., P . G . V . the S . R . elect , Bro . Harry Lewis , G . Stwd ., was installed in the chair of Jonathan by R . W . Bro . H . VV . Kiallmark , G . V . The S . K . selected and invested his officers as follow : Bros . Gadd , as L . ; Col . Molyneux , as G . ; Kiallmark , Treas . j C . M . Jessop , Sec . j Rohmann and Thomas , as Visiting Deacons j Canton , ( "dr . ; and W . Amor , Sentinel . Bros . Sir T . Wright , Marshall , and Belgrave Ninnis regretted tlicir inability to be present . The brethren afterwards dined together .