Entertainment At The Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ENTERTAINMENT AT THE ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

Bro . Horace Banks , S . W . 18 97 , delivered his popular lecture , entitled "A Trip to America , including the World ' s Fair at Chicago , " in the Centenary Hall of the Girls' School , on the 22 nd ult . In addition to the g irls—who , it is needless to say , thoroughly enjoyed

the entertainment—several members of the House Committee and other brethren and friends were present , including Bros . C Hammerton , F . Richardson , J . H Matthews , W . G . Kentish , G . R . Langley , and [<" . R . W . Hedges ( Secretary ) . The lecture was illustrated by means of a triple lantern , manipulated with remarkable accuracy and effect b y Mr . Leonard W . Greaves .

Starting from Southampton with views of the ss . Paris , the lecturer traced the route to New York , Pennsylvania ( including the Masonic Temple ) , Philadelphia , Washington , and Chicago . The interior of the exhibition having been thoroughly explored , the journey was continued via the Niagara River ( with splendid dioramic effects of the Falls by day and night ) , the

Catskill Mountains and Cascades , back to New York . Bro . Banks delivered the lecture in a racy and effective manner that was easily intelligible to the youngest child , and was thoroughly enjoyed by all present . It would be impossible to speak too highly of the magnificent views exhibited , many of them from photographs taken by Bro . Banks himself , and it would

be no idle exaggeration to say that no better or more beautiful pictures on this subject have ever been placed before the public . The lecture was pleasantly interspersed with music , Bro . Willie Wri ght , P . P . G . Org . Middx ., kindly officiating at the piano during the evening , and giving a piano solo , " Irish diamonds , " with his customary

ability . Two songs were illustrated by lantern slides made from photographs taken from life . They were " The three beggars , " effectively sung by Mrs . Banks , the humour being skilfully conveyed and heartily enjoyed , and " The village blacksmith , " sung by Bro . W . W . Lee . Bro . Richard Evans contributed "Maid of Athens" and " Mary" in a highly finished style that gained hearty encores .

Bro . C . HAMMERTON briefly thanked Bro . Banks , in the name of those present , for the enjoyable and charming entertainment they had witnessed . Bro . HORACE BANKS returned thanks for the kindly expressions used , and also thanked those who had given Iheir services to assist him . The National Anthem , followed by a cup of coffee for the visitors and artistes present , closed a pleasant evening .

St. Oswald Lodge, No. 910.

ST . OSWALD LODGE , No . 910 .

VISIT OF R . W . BRO . T . W . TEW , P . P . G . M . A special meeting of the above lodge was held on Wednesday , the 10 th ult ., in the New Masonic Hall , Ropergate , in order to transfer the warrant , banner , and other insignia of the Order from the old lodge premises in the upper floor of Mr . Arundel's house to

the new rooms which the lodge have built during the past summer . There was a large number of the brethren present , including Bros . T . W . Tew , P . P . G . M ., P . G . D . Eng . ; J . Matthewman , P . A . G . Sec ; E . Foulds , W . M .: J . Constable ; Rev . F . E . Egerton , S . W . ; E . Lord ,

P . M . ; S . Slack , P . M . ; A . H . B . Lees , S . D . ; Rev . H . L . Harrisson , Chap . ; E . Lawson , J . D . ; J . Bentley , Sec . j P . P . Wood , Treas . ; R . W . Wheatley , I . G . ; W . Warde , P . M . ; Leech , W . M . 458 ; Wightman ; G . Malcolm , P . M . ; C . England , P . M . j I . Kaberry , P . M . ; Fisher , P . M . ; W . H . B . Atkinson , P . M . ; J . Atkinson , P . M . ; Rev . E . Castle , G . Roberts , A .

Spink , R . Austfrberry , Heptinstall , T , Swales , Hemmant and Nicholson , Stwds ; Barber , Tennant , Monckman , Ambler Davis , N . Greaves , C . Woodhouse , Garner , nine visiting brethren from Castleford , and others . The brethren assembled at five o'clock in the large dining room on the ground floor , in order to robe and

receive the Past Provincial Grand Master of West Yorkshire , Past Grand Deacon of England , Grand Superintendent , the R . W . Bro . T . W . Tew , J . P ., who , having been conducted by selected officers of St . Oswald Lodge to the candidate * ' preparation room , robed and signed the attendance book . He was then met by a procession of the brethren

present , at the head of whom was the W . M ., Bro . Ellis Koulds , who presented him with a silver key , and requested him to unlock the door of the new lodge . The Past Provincial Grand Master , having accepted the invitation and opened the door , the procession followed him into the room , singing " Hail Masonry Divine . "

The P . P . G . M . then took his seat as W . M ., the other official chairs , and the seats on the dais , being filled hy members of the lodge who are also Provincial Officers , the warrant and furniture being all in order in their appropriate places as in the old ledge .

the lodge having been thus constituted , and the various formalities observed , the P . P . G . M . was asked according to custom , if he had anything to communicate for the good of Freemasonry , or for the benefit of Lodge No . 910 in particular , and in reply , delivered the following address : The P . P . G . M . said : Brother Thomas Ellis Foulds , W . M ., officers , and brethren of Lodge St . Oswald , it is "ot my intention lo lake up your lime with many

St. Oswald Lodge, No. 910.

words this evening , but , as this may be the last occasion upon which I shall have the pleasure and privilege of meeting my brethren of Saint Oswald in open lodge , I should like , with your permission , Worshipful Master , to make a few observations in relation to the history and progress of this Society of Freemasons in Pontefract , in the founding and promoting

of which 1 have taken a not inconsiderable part . Thirty-three years have now passed since , in conjunction with a few friends , I applied to the Grand Lodge of England for sanction to open a Masonic lodge in Pontefract . That petition , which was sent in the autumn of 1861 , was signed , in addition to myself , by William Hall , Integrity Lodge , No . 529 , Morley ;

Jeremiah Rhodes , Fidelity Lodge , No . 364 , Leeds ; George Wood Bayldon , John Handhy , Fred Lumb , and William Statter , all of Wakefield Lodge , No . 727 . The prayer of that petition was endorsed by Geo . H . Westerman , W . M . Unanimity Lodge , No . 179 , Wakefield , and by Philip Yorke Savile , Robert Micklethwaite , B . W . Allen , V . Stuart Wortley , William Wood , and Rowland Childe , all of Lodge 727 ( now

495 ) . Wakefield . Of these last named seven brethren , I believe only one , the Hon . and Rev . Philip Yorke Savile , Rector of Methley , survives . Our prayer was heard , and in due course the warrant which bears date 14 th February , 1862 , was received ,

and on the 7 th of April of that same year , 1 was installed by the late Bro . John Gill , also of Wakefield , as your first Worshipful Master . At the completion of my first term of office , you did me the honour of electing me to fill the chair of King Solomon a second time . Nor was this all . Some few

years later , in 1868 , the suffrages of my brethren again placed me in that honourable position—from which circumstances the members of more recent times may gather that during the infancy and early childhood of the St . Oswald Lodge , I was closely connected with its concerns and deeply interested in its welfare and progress . And , brethren , that interest has never waned .

My solicitude for all that relates to Lodge 910 has increased as the years have rolled on , and , let me add , I am proud of the very high position to which the St . Oswald Lodge has attained . Not a few of its members have , from time to time , been thought worthy of provincial rank , and , at the present moment , there are , I am informed , no fewer than 15 of our brethren who

are entitled to wear the much-coveted collar which distinguishes the officer in Provincial Grand Lodge . I myself , your first Worshipful Master was chosen in 187 S by our late Provincial Grand Master , the much respected and gallant Sir Henry Edwards , lo act as his Deputy . For ten years I held that responsible position , and on his retirement , had the honour of

being selected by our Royal Most Worshipful Grand Master to occupy the highest position in the province—that of your Provincial Grand Master . So far then as honours and distinctions are concerned , the Lodge of St . Oswald has received a fair share . Jn addition to this , let me remind you that you have had other valued marks of recognition . On the 6 th

July , 1864 , D . P . G . M ., Bro . Bentley Shaw , whom we all most highly esteemed , visited Pontefract for the purpose of consecrating the St . Oswald Lodge . On the 23 rd October , 1872 , we were still more highly honoured , for on that occasion wejreceived and entertained , not only the P . G . M . of West Yorkshire , but also the M . W . the G . M . of the Grand Lodge of England . I

refer to the noble Marquis of Ripon , who simultaneously held both these important offices . He was accompanied by his Deputy , Bro . Bentley Shaw , and a large body of Provincial Grand Officers—and , as many here present , will doubtless , remember—in a thoroughly Masonic way , he laid the foundation stone of the present Church of St . Stephen at East Hardwick , the

then Worshipful Master of St . Oswald being our good brother Edmund Lord , whom I am delighted to see here to-day . On the 17 th August , 1876 , when the Freemasons of Pontefract wished to pay a tribute of respect to their friend and neighbour , Bro . Breffitt , Alderman and Sheriff for the county of Middlesex , the P . G . M ., Bro .

Sir Henry Edwards , came to Pontefract and , surrounded by a band of other illustrious visitors , joined with us in uttering congratulation to Bro . Breffitt upon the high position which by his perseverance and industry he had reached . And again , in 1880 the Provincial Grand Lodge of West Yorkshire met under the banner of Saint Oswald

and assisted us in promoting the interests of that most valuable Institution—the Pontefract Dispensary . Well , brethren , though in no boastful spirit , I may say then that we can point to a not undistinguished past . We can show members of Parliament and Cabinet Ministers on our roll . We have risen from a comparatively obscure position to one of numerical

strength . Our financial condition is sound , and we have now at length reached that goal to which I have long been looking forward—we have obtained a Masonic Hall of our own . By the energy , the enterprise , and the business ability for which the members of St . Oswald have ever been distinguished , you have attained this result , and I heartily congratulate you thereupon . I was able , though in a most feeble

condition ot health , on the 25 th of January , of this year , to lay the corner-stone of this Masonic temple , and I am thankful to theG . A . O . T . U . that 1 have been spared today to see its completion . You have now a lodge room which only needs Masonic ornamentation to make it all that you reasonably require ; and you have suitable accon modation where , when occasion needs , you may hospitably entertain your Masonic friends .

St. Oswald Lodge, No. 910.

But , brethren , never forget the object and purpose for which this building has been projected . It is to carry out honourably and faithfully the principles of Freemasonry . What those principles are , and what is involved in the . dutiful realisation of them , I have frequently endeavoured to pourtray to you and to others , to the best of my ability . But I cannot let this opportunity pass—this occasion which may be my

lastwithout once more briefly reiterating some of my former words of counsel and warning . Freemasonry is an institution , a parallel to which does not exist throughout the civilised world . It is the one grand organisation which is in no sense selfseeking . Its great purpose is to establish the brotherhood of man and to relieve distress wherever it may be found . Its foundation is the volume of the Sacred

Law . Polemical and party discussions it will have none of . Within the lodge , when a man hss once become privileged to enter , he should find brotherly love and social equality . Political differences , religious dissensions , professional rivalries , and the animosities which the keen competition of trade and commerce may create , should here be laid aside . All meet upon

a common level , and all should act upon the square . But , brethren , our principals are not to be confined to the four walls of our lodges . We must carry out into the world what we have been taught in our ceremonies . We are an unassuming and by no means a proselytising society -but our responsibilities are nevertheless great . We have to maintain and uphold

at a time when religion is openly derided , when political economy is scoffed at , when the recognised and time-honoured bonds of Society are sought to be ruthlessly buist asunder- we have , I say , to hold fast by the doctrines which Freemasonry teaches , and steadily to rally round the banners of the Craft upon which are inscribed the noble mo ' . toes of our Order .

To do all this is only a part of the responsibility which we assume when we enter the Masonic . Fraternity . We should also be modest in our demeanour and exercise self-restraint , since the actions of a few may readily bring our Brotherhood into contempt . How necessary then does it become that we should use the greatest caution and exercise the fullest enquiry

before we admit new members within the portals of our lodges . On this point I feel most strongly , and would for that reason impress you most earnestly . One last word , tor 1 wish not to weary you . My part is played , my active Masonic life is over . I have done what I could—little I fear-yet my humble best . I have tried to make a homogeneous province , and to

make it well thought of by the Grand Lodge of England . I have lived to see the Lodge of St . Oswald thrive and mature , to see it establish itself in an abode which is worthy of it , and I leave it in good hands . The Past Masters , many of whom are with us to-day , will , I am sure , give their time and attention and watchful care to all its interests and concerns ; and the lodge

will I trust succeed in the future even as it has prospered in the past . Strive my brethren to carry out the beautiful principles of our Order , and seek , even as I at this moment entreat , that the blessing of the Great Architect

of the Universe may fall upon you , that it may keep you steadfast in your duties , that it may enable you to act your parts as true men , good patriots , dutiful citizens , and worthy Masons , you and your children after you from generation to generation , until time and Pontefract shall be no more .

Let me again thank you not only for your cordial welcome , for your flattering attention , and for the generous support you have ever accorded me in Pro . vincial Grand Lodge , but also for the many acts of couitesy of which I have constantly been the recipient . At the conclusion of this address , which was received

by the brethren with many manifestations of approval , the new rooms were declared to be duly and properly opened for the purposes of Freemasonry , the brethren in full harmony responding in the usual Masonic manner and the lodge was duly closed . The following is the inscription on a shield attached by a massive silver chain to the key used on this occasion :

" Presented to Brother T . W . Tew , R . W . P . P . G . M . of West Yorkshire , P . G . D . of England , on the occasion of his opening the' new Masonic Hall , Lodge St . Oswald , 910 , October 10 th , 18 94 . " The key was about 2 J inches long , the upper portio n being occupied by a Masonic symbol enclosing the initial T , and being so worded as to represent the same both on the obverse and reverse .

It is intended to engrave on the back of the shield an armorial bearing consisting of the arms of the province impaling those of Bro . Tew .

Bro . D . Nicholson and Co ., St . Paul ' s-churchyard , have registered their business as a limited liability company , the capital being ^ 30 , 000 in £ 5 shares . No issue is to be made to the public . Many and various inquiries are being made as to the present condition of the boa which has gorged itself into such notoriety , and a packet has been received by the manager of the Zoological Gardens , London , bearing the Liverpjol

postmark , containing a slip of paper on which is written : ' A dyspeptic who has suffered frequently from overfeeding , out ot compassion for the nine feet boa constrictor , whose waistcoat must be unduly tightened , begs acceptance of a large box of Beecham ' s Pills which he strongly recommends being given to the reptile withuut delay . He has often heard Beecham ' s Pills are used for birds and be ist-, and their effect on reptiles will surely be equ & Uy sitisfactory . Should the box be given in its endrety , in the interests of science a keeper should watch until the lid co nes oil . "