Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

will easily understand that I have no fears as to its prosperity and progress . I wish I could speak as confidently with respect to one or two other lodges under my jurisdiction . There are certainly two , perhaps three , whose condition does not realise one's wishes . I need not particularise ; but will only say it would give me very great p leasure to see these lodges emerge from their present unsatisfactory state , and take their places , and do the work which they are eminently fitted to accomplish . They do not lack examples , for the vigour

which is manifested at . Bradford , Halifax , Sheffield , Leeds , and other towns , if witnessed , as I have seen it , is sufficient to stimulate the energies and re-kindle the enthusiasm of even the most desponding members of our Order . But , brethren , in respect of the lodges to which 1 refer there is no cause for despondency ; you may apparently ( so far as your numbers are concerned ) be at a standstill , but you may yet keep up your work ; yet practise and carry out the

great principles of Mark Masonry ; yet keep alive the vital flame , and , if it is feeble , you may fan it into a warmer glow until it once more permeates the hearts of those who were apparently becoming indifferent . Work , such as this , is I know difficult ; is sometimes thankless ; but such work goes never unrewarded . Hear the excellent advice and encouragement which is found in the words of our good Bro . Driver , which I venture to quote from the- Freemason newspaper .-

May we in times of fear and doubt , Learn never to despair , If haply for a while it seems That God rejects our prayer ; Let us , as faithful Masons , still Bear constantly in mind , Although delayed , our work at last Will sure acceptance find .

I assure you , brethren , I have no feeling of despondency ; I know what is going on and I see around me causes for great satisfaction . The steady progress which our Order continues to make from year to year is in the hig hest degree pleasing and with the confidence obtained by past experience I can , unhesitatingly , leave the future in your hands . But , brethren , not only has Mark Masonry progressed in our midst but , as some of you at any rate know , so also have the other Degrees with which it is closely allied .

There are at the present moment in this province three lodges of Royal Ark Mariners with a speedy possibility of a fourth ; Ihree councils of Allied Masonic Degrees ; one council of Royal and Select Masters ; and two conclaves of the Red Cross of Rome and Constantine . All these are associated , more or less , with the Mark Degree , and the supreme authority is , I believe , in all instances the same . These Degrees have greatly increased amongst us of late years , notwithstanding that by some they are looked upon with something approiching disdain .

It is not for me either to defend them or advocate their cause , but this I will say , that it is not to the success of the Mark and its Allied Degrees that the lack of progress which is so much lamented in the Royal Arch is to be attributed . I am preparing a paper upon the Three Degrees and the Royal Arch , in which I shall go into details upon this point , and whilst I was getting my materials together I went out of my way to obtain some statistical information which will , I think , prove interesting . I propose to read that paper at the next meeting of Provincial

Grand Chapterj and you will , therefore , most of you , have an opportunity of hearing it . I say this advisedly , for , notwithstanding what has been suggested to our prejudice , this fact remains—that the great bulk of the Mark Masons in West Yorkshire arc also Chapter Masons . In one Mark lodge I could name no less than 95 per cent , of its members are Royal Arch Masons ; in another , 94 ; in two others 7 S and 73 . The lowest percentage of all is 45 , whilst the average per centage per lodge is 67 ; and yet it has been more than hinted that it is the Mark

and the other " side " Degrees that check the progress of the Royal Arch I If the Royal Arch is what it professes to be , it is the bounden duty of every Craft Mason to join it , and yet out of the 4142 Graft Masons in West Yorkshire there are 2583 who have not done so . The percentage of Royal Arch to Craft Masons in this province is 37 , whilst that amongst Mark Masons is 67 . We shall surely now have heard the last of this very erroneous statement , and , even if not , after this we can afford to disregard it . I think it is also my duty , brethren , to remind you

lhat at the next Festival of the Mark Benevolent Fund our M . W . Pro G . M ., the Earl of Euston , will preside . When he last took the chair he obtained a larger sum than had been ever previously announced . But his total has been since that time twice exceeded , once by myself , when , in 1896 , by your loyal support and munificent help , West Yorkshire sent up no less than £ 741 , raising the grand total 10 ^ 2439—the largest then known—and agai n in the following year , when , under the presidency of the late Colonel Cooke , over ^ 3000 was collected .

Now , doubtless our Pro G . Master , Lord Euston , will seek to exceed even this sum . Well , brethren , such emulation springs from a charitable spirit and a generous heart , and I for one most thoroughly , wish that he may outshine all his predecessors , and , to use newspaper phraseology , " create a new record . " And , with your consent and co-operation , we in this province will help him to do if We have excellent reasons for supporting the Mark Benevolent Fund : firstly because of its economical administration ; secondly , because of its prompt and

ready generosity ; and thirdly , because now in West Yorkshire we have both pensioners as well as other recipients of its advantages . The Chairman of the Charity Committee wjll give you particulars . I am content to say that this province has always met with the kindest consideration at the hands of those who dispense the funds of the Charity , and in no instance has its prayer been slig hted or disregarded . I trust West Yorkshire will give Lord Euston a good " lift by the way , " and thus show its appreciation of

the benefits which , especially during the last 18 months , it has obtained . There is one other subject to which I should like in a few words to refer . It is a common notion that acting Prov . G . Officers are—shall I say—a purely ornamental body of brethren , whose duty consists in wearing their collars gracefully and attending the meetings of Prov . G . Lodge . Now I wish it clearly to be understood that I do not look upon the matter in this light . I consider it is the duty of all Prov . G . Officers , Present or Past , but especially the former , to do

their best in the interest of the province . This they can do by regularly attending their own lodge and constantly visiting others . With a view to induce greater activity and a greater sense of responsibility amongst my officers I have commenced a series of official lodge visits , in which I have summoned , not all , but some , of my officers to accompany me , and I hope that whether called to this duty or not , they will look upon it as an obligation which their office imposes , to go from time to time to the various lodges to acquaint themselves as to the welfare and

progress of such lodges , and to offer help or counsel wherever it may be sought or needed . They possess great power for good , and I trust they will use it . And now , brethren , I think I have said all that under present circumstances is needed . I thank you for your kind attention , and will conclude with the hope that you will all continue to give that devoted service to the good cause of Mark Masonry , which has so eminently characterised you in the past , and which the immense value and importance of the Institution so genuinely warrant .

The Prov . Grand Master ' s address was listened to with great attention and interest and was frequently applauded . Bro . C . LETCH MASON then announced that at the first Provincial

meeting of the Mark Degree in the new Masonic Hall , Leeds , about to be erected , it was his intention to invite the M . W . Pro Grand Master , the Earl of Euston , to pay the province a visit , and he had little doubt but that his lordship would again honour them with his presence .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

There were no invitations offered for the annual meeting in April , 1 9 , and any lodges having a desire to entertain Provincial Grand Lod ^ e were directed to communicate with the Prov . Grand Secretary . The Prov . G . M . then invited his Deputy , Bro . John Barker , to address the meeting .

Bro . BARKER said—Brethren , turning over in my mind the events of the year and trying to deduce from them something definite or tangible has proved a somewhat profitless task . The fact is there has been no incident which has come under my notice since I last addressed you , which would serve either " to point a moral or adorn a tale . " This I regard as being distinctly favourable , as it shows we have been pursuing

" the even tenour of our way" undisturbed by inside commotions or outside attacks . Let us continue to do this , brethren , and by exchanging visits and hospitality , let us bring into a closer bond that pleasant union which exists among Mark Masons . As has been often stated the Mark Degree possesses peculiar privileges . It brings together not the brethren of one lodgs only , but those of many lodges . It is natural that one should become attached to one ' s

mother lodge ; it is even pardonable if one considers it unrivalled in its working and unequalled in its moral and social tone . Such esprit de corps is becoming , nay even creditable ; but when one joins a Mark lodge the field of vision is enlarged and a wider and more comprehensive view of matters is presented to us . Here we meet brethren from possibly six or eight different lodges , and by contact with them the little angular prejudices or conceits are rubbed away ; we begin to see

that there are virtues or good qualities in other lodges hitherto unsuspected oratany rate unadmitted , and we gradually attain to a more tolerant frame of mind . This species of Masonic mental training is distinctly beneficial and removes or prevents that tendency to exclusiveness which is sometimes so prominently conspicuous . By thus intermingling it is found to be much easier to put in practice the Masonic virtues taught in all our lodges . Let us , then , continue the good work . We have

every inducement to do so . Let us visit freely amongst each other , and let us ever strive , when making new acquaintances , to discover a brother ' s good points , and not trouble to search for bad ones . Freemasonry is a noble institution , and its capabilities are immense . In theory it is perfect , but its practice is limited by human weaknesses and human failings . Those are ever with us , but let us not magnify the one nor exaggerate the other ; let us take our brother man as God

made him . In the words of Scotland s poet , Bobbie Burns , himself a Mason , I would say— Then gently scan your brother man , Still gentler sister woman ; Tho' they may gang a kennin' wrang ,

To step aside is human . One point must still be greatly dark , The reason why they do it , And just as lamely can ve mark How far perhaps they rue it .

Then at the balance let's be mute , We never can adjust it ; What ' s done we partly may compute , But know not what ' s resisted . That , I take it , is Christian Charity , which is the true philosophy of Free masonry ; and it is in this spirit we should endeavour to exemplify its teachings

I seem to have got into a somewhat serious vein , brethren , but as " Life is real , life is earnest . " so should our Freemasonry be genuine and its practice warmhearted and reverential , and it is well sometimes that depths should be sounded faith should be tested , and facts looked fairly in the face . As you have heard , we are a flourishing and increasing body , let us set up a high moral standard

and let us , so far as human possibilities go , endeavour to put into practice in our daily lives the lessons we are so consistently taught in our lodges . Accept my thanks for your hearty salutations , and let mc add finally a reminder to W . Ms , and Treasurers that this is the time when they should show extra activity in order that we may continue as in the past two years to be absolutely free from arrears .

The DEPUTY then proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the W . M ., Bro . John Brook , and the brethren of the Eland Lodge , No . 493 , for the excellent arrangements which they had made for the comfort and convenience of Prov . G . Lodge that day . 1 le deplored the unfortunate absence of Bro . Brook , and especially the cause , and would wish to include in his thanks , by name , Bro . W . E . Smithies , whose interest in Mark Misonry

had been conspicuous , and whose hard work in , and attachment to , the Lodge of Eland , of which he was the first W . M ., hid been most exemplary . This was seconded by the Prov . S . G . W ., Bro . W . W . Clayton , and carried with acclamation . Bro . SMITHIES , on behalf of Bro . John Brook , acknowledged the vote . There being no other business , Prov . G . Lodge was closed in due form with solemn prayer at 5 45 p . m .

A dinner at the Masonic Hall followed , at which upwards of 50 brethren sat down . The Prov . G . Master took the chair , and was supported by his Deputy and a long array of Grand and Prov . G . Officers . "The Q ueen" was most heartily given and received , and the other toasts usual on these occasions followed . *

There were also songs and recitations , which largely added to the pleasure of an evening which was universally admitted to be a very successful one .

Mark Masonry.

Mark Masonry .

Snowdonia Lodge , No . 259 , The annual installation in connection with the above lodge took place on the Kth ult . at the Masonic Hall , Menai Bridge , North Wales . Bro . R . C . Thomas was installed W . M ., the Installing Master being Bro . the Rev . John Fairchild . The W . M . appointed the following as his officers : Bros , the Rev . ) . Fairchild , 1 . P . M . ; J ' A * Rodway , S . W . ; T . Westlake Morgan , G . Org . Eng ., tf . W . ; W . Djuglas Jones , MO W . A . Forster , S . O . ; Philip E . Jones , J . O . ; Rev . J . Fairchild , Chap . ; D . Wvnne Williams , P . M ., P . P . I . G . W ., K . of M .: W . A . Foster . Sec .: Ur . H . Orev F . rlJ ??

i . U . ; J . Kinger Williams , J . IJ . ; J . A . Hornby , I . G . ; R . H . Pritchard , P . P . G . Reg ' D . of C . ; J . James and R . W . Pearson , Stwds . ; and J . Powis , Tyler . The lojge was visited by Bros , Lieut .-Col . Charles Hunter , Prov . G . Master of North Wales , and Lieut .-Col . G . Gordon Warren , Dep . Prov . G . Master . The resignation of Bro . } ' . VV . Fendick , as Treasurer was no : ilied ; and a motion by Bro . J . A . Rudivay in favour of the removal of the lodge from Menai Bridge to Bangor , where the great bulk of the brethren reside , was agreed to . The banquet was served at the Victoria Hotel , the W . M . presiding . The Mark Prov . G . Lodge is to be held at Bangor on the iyth or noth inst .

ROYAI . BRITISH NURSICS' ASSOCIATION . —The a-inual convera-. ione of the Royal British Nurses' Association will be held at the Koyal lastitute of Painters in Water Colours , Piccadilly , on Monday , the 4 th inst .