Province Of West Yorkshire And Its Masonic Library.

" Fidelity , " No . 2 S 9 , in 1 S 73 ) , and as Bro . Wilson , junr ., is Senior Warden of the " Mother Lodge of the Province " ( No . 28 9 , Leeds ) , and likel y soon to have other honours conferred upon him , the Province may be congratulated on thus having secured the services of such a competent brother to follow in the footsteps of Bro . William Watson , who has done so much and so well for West Yorkshire .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Cornwall.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF CORNWALL .

At the annual Prov . G . Lodge at Camborne , on the 23 rd ult ., there was a very large attendance . The town put on quite a festive appearance , and the procession to church was watched by a large crowd of people . The Earl of Mount Edgcumbe , Prov . G . Master , presided , supported by Bro . P . Colville Smith , Dep . Prov . G . Master . The Prov . G . Officers for the year were as follows :

Bros . J . Bedford Kerswill , 1164 , Prov . S . G . W . ; W . Andrew , 7 S 9 , Prov . J . G . W . ; the Revs . C . F . Mermagen , 131 , and W . R . Gilbert , 330 , Prov . G . Chaps . ; F . A . Rawling , 107 1 and 1164 , Prov . G . Treas . ; T . 11 . Tresise , 1136 , Prov . G . Reg . j B . F . Edyvean , 330 , Prov . G . Sec . ; B . Spray , 450 , and B . C . Matthews , Prov . G . S . Ds . ; T . W . Shepherd , 7 S 9 , and S . Walters , 2747 , Prov . J . G . Ds . ; S . Trehane , 970 , Prov . G . Supt . of Works ; W . Symons , 557 , Prov . G . D . of C .: R . H .

Williams , 510 , Prov . Dep . G . D . of C . ; W . Boxer , 1151 , Prov . Asst . G . D . of C . j W . R . Wilton , 893 , Prov . G . S . B . ; S . M . Abbott , 589 , and R . P . Coath , 2166 , Prov . G . Std . Brs . j M . Thomas , 1954 , Prov . G . Org . ; W . A . Sandoc , 330 , Prov . Asst . G . Sec . ; W . Vial , 1554 , Prov . G . Purst . ; G . Williams , 12 7 2 , Prov . Asst . G . Purst . ; J . A . George , 131 , Jos . Smith , 100 6 , G . Burrow , 1 ^ 29 , Mitchell , 977 , W . Pidgeon , 318 , and C . T . Worth , 6 99 , Prov . G . Stwds . ; C . R . Crews , Clerk , Asst . to Prov . G . Sec .: and Burt , 789 , Prov . G . Tyler .

The Prov . G . Officers unable to attend were Bros . Kerswill , Mermagen , Spray , Shepherd , Thomas , George , and Pidgeon . After the calling of the roll the PROV . G . MASTER congratulated the lodge on the wonderful appearance they presented . there and the trouble

many of them had taken to come such long distances . It was now his duty to carry out their wish , and present Bro . Edyvean with the clothing of his rank in Grand Lodge . His lordship renewed their congratulations , and expressed a hope that Bro . Edyvean would live long to wear the clothing . ( Applause . )

Bro . EDYVEAN returned thanks for their handsome present . He need not assure them that his work on behalf of the Charities of the province had been done with all his heart and soul , and as long as he lived he should do what he could for the province . ( Applause . ) Bro . EDYVEAN reported that there had been 14 S initiations , against ICI , and 31 joining members , against 20 , the total subscribing members , 1 S 94 ,

being the largest recorded in tha annals of the province . The decrease in initiations showed that the lodges were beginning to appreciate the fact that Freemasonry should be regarded as a luxury , and not as a benefit society Foundation-stones of new Masonic temples had been laid at St . Austell and Calstock , and a new and beautiful Masonic temple had been solemnl y dedicated at Camborne . They had contributed £ 473 to the Masonic War Fund .

The PROV . G . M ., in moving the adoption of th" report , congratulated the province on two lodge-rooms begun and one finished—the very beautiful building wh ch he inspected at Camborne on the previous evening . He had to thank Bros . Edmund Carlyon and Colville Smith , who had acted for him ( the P . G . M . ) during the year . Bro . Carlyon was one of the oldest Past Masters in England , and in Bro . Colville Smith he ( the P . G . M . ) knew he had

someone to rely on whenever he could not himself be present . ( A pplause . ) He hoped the brethren did not think he was wrong in taking up the War Fund , and he hoped he had the approval of the brethren generally in appropiiating ^ 100 out of the sum subscribed , in response to the proposal of Grand Lodge , to assist their brother Masons who were in distress in the Transvaal . ( Applause . )

The P . G . Treasurer ( Bro . F . A . RAWLING ) also presented his report , which was adopted . Bro . Milford reported on the Cornwall Masonic Annuity and Benevolent Fund . The total , £$ 62 , fell short by about £ 30 of the amount received last year . They paid seven annuitants , £ 150 ; nine widows ^ 132 ; and eight educational grants ; £ 100 ; total , £ S & 2 . Their income lrom investments was ^ 234 .

In reply to Bro . Colenso , who thought the income of the Fund justified further expenditure , Bro . MII . IOKD said they were obliged by their constitution to invest a certain amount of their receipts to meet the annuities , and he assured Bro . Colenso that no worthy case brought before the committee was ever refused .

The report of the Committee of Relief recommended grants to the Masonic Charities as follows : Cornwall Annuity and Benevolent Fund , 50 guineas ; Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , 33 guineas ; Boys ' School , £ \ o ; Girls'School , £ 10 . The Secretary presented the report of the Cornwall Masonic Charity Association for Bro . Gilbert Pearce , who was unable to attend ; and Bro . E . A . Broad made his statement as manager of the votes for the great Masonic Charities .

About half-past 12 the brethren formed in procession , and , headed by Camborne town band , made a circuit of the town to the parish church . The procession was a very long one , and with the banners of the lodges , the regalia of the Order , and the op ; n Bible borne by four l . e . vises , or sons of Masons , before the Prov . G . M ., made an impressive sight . The large church was completely filled .

The service was conducted by the rector ( Rev . G . 11 . Hooper ) , who also played the harmonium ; Rev . W . K . Erskin ' e read the lesso . i , and the sermon was preached by Bro . Rev . W . R . Gilbert , Prov . G . Chap . His text was I . Peler ii ., 17— " Love the brotherhood ; fear God ; honour the King . " These words , he said , written for all men , might be particularly applied to members of the ancient Order of Freemasons . They were

taught to be true men , to stu Jy the sacred law , and treat it as the standard of truth and justice and the guide of their lives—they were a religious brotherhood . While all their proceedings in lodge were dedicated to God , the loie of their lel / ow men w is a permanent feature of Freemasonry . He was told the o . hcr day bva man just returned from South Africa that it was wonderful how ready our enemies were to recognise a Mason , and many a

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Cornwall.

man ' s life was made more easy when taken prisoner if it was known he was a Mason . Theirs also was a loyal brotherhood ; they were charged to be true liege men of the Throne . They found in Freemasonry an admirable system of morality wlrch embraced all the best religions of mankind . He had been in lodges with Roman Catholics , Jews , Mahometans , Hindoos , Parsees , and with Chinese , Japanese , and others , and he had received the sign of Masonrv from a peasant in one of the Greek islands at the eastern end of

the Mediterranean Sea . Their predecessors built the great Cathedrals and churches of Europe , their aim was spiritually still higher and nobler , namely to turn every heart into a temple of the living God . The most massive walls of material buildings would crumble to dust ; the building they had it in their power to erect would live for ever . Let them look forward to the time when different societies of men would no longer be required , when wars should cease , and the whole world should be united in one brotherhood , full of love and peace .

On the re-assembling of the lodge , the Prov . G . M ., at the door of the lodge , presented each of the " Lewises , " who had carried the Volume of the Sacred Law in the procession , with a Bible . I lis LORDSHIP said he was sure they had esteemed it an honour to have done that duty . They had heard in the sermon that the principles of the Brotherhood to which

their fathers belonged , were based entirely on that Book . Whether they ever became Freemasons or not , he ( Lord Mount Edgcumbe ) trusted they would always take the Bible as their guide , and as a reminder of that occasion he presented them each with a Bible , in which he had written their names and signed his own . The names of the boys were Duncan , Benallack , Barke , and Beringer .

On the proposition of Bro . CHIRGWIN , seconded by Bro . COURTNEY , Bro . E . H . Broad , the present Charity Representative , was elected Prov . G . Treasurer for the year . Bro . Broad was also re-elected Charity Representative , on the motion of Bro . COLVILLE SMITH , D . P . G . M . The P . G . M . announced that the collection in church was ^ 10 7 s . 6 d , ; which was divided as follows : ^ 4 3 s . to the Cornwall Masonic Annuity and Benevolent Fund ; £ 4 3 s . to the Camborne Nurses Fund ; and £ 2 is . 6 d . at the disposal of the rector . The Prov . Grand Master then proceeded to invest the officers for the year as follows :

Bro . G . H . Chilcott , 331 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ ] . M . Carne , 75 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . " ' fw ' riS ? ' !' } Prov . G . Chaps . „ Rev . W . G . Kerr , 331 ... ... ... ) r „ E . A . Broad , 450 ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ A . W . Walters , 1544 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . ,, B . F . Edyvean , 330 ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . " M '? ' „ , } Pro * . S . G . Ds . ., I . lonkm , 131 ... ... ... )

: ; fe & y K % ::: ::: ::: }* - . G . D , „ F . J . Gardener , 1 544 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of W . „ H . Downing , 5 S 9 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ C . J . Webber , 2747 ... ... ... Prov . Dep . D . of C „ A . R . Brown , 856 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ W . Andrew , 977 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . ,, I , Smith , 1006 ... ... ) , „„ n Cf-i n „ P . C . Tefferv , 1136 j Prov . G . Std . Brs .

„ C . II . Whetter , 4 y 6 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ T . E . Roach , 967 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Sec . „ G . Goodfellow , 340 ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . ,, G . Anderson , 1954 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Purst . „ A . Bowhay , 2166 ... ... ... " " I „ R . Colenso , 121 ... ... ... | ;; R- ffiW ::: ::: ::: K G . Stwds . „ W . Stephens , 8 93 ... ... ... I „ J . Brooking , 1071 ... ... ... J „ J . V . Bray , 450 ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler . In investing Bro . the Rev . H . K . Southwell as Prov . G . Chaplain , the

Earl of MOUNT EDUCUMIIE mentioned that Bro . Southwell had recently returned from South Africa , where he had been serving as a volunteer chaplain on the march from Bloemfontein to Pretoria . ( Applause . ) When Bro . Lee came up for the collar of Prov . S . G . D ., his LORDSIIII '

said he had , on behalf of the brethren of the Camborne Lodge , to present Bro . Lee with a gold watch and chain and also a Past Master's jewel , in token of the esteem in which he was held for his valued services as Secretary of Mount Edgcumbe Lodge for eight years , and lor services in connection with the building of the new premises . ( Applausj . )

The PROV . G . M . said he had intended to give a collar to Bro . Lieut . Hugh Smith , brother of the D . P . G . M ., but that brother was still serving his country abroad . The PROV . G . M . also acknowledged the presence of Bro . Col . Edyvean , Prov . S . G . W . Devon , and brother of the P . G . Sec . ; and of Bro . Mason , a member of the Grand Lodge of England .

Invitations for the next Prov . Grand Lodge were received from Padstow , Bodmin , Truro , and Looe . Bro . J BREWER said he wished to acknowledge , on behalf of himself and other visiting brethren , the kindness of the Camborne Lodgs in providing the brethren refreshment on their arrival . ( Applause . ) This was done in the supper-room of the new Masonic Hall , the ladies

assisting being Mrs . and the Misses Nicholls , Mrs . Biiley , Mrs . Laurence , and Misses Trythall , Newland , Thomas , Turner , Middlin , and Burdge . Luncheon was afterwards held at the Commercial Hotel , Bro . the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe presiding . After " The Oueen and the Craft , " the PROV . G . M . proposed "The

M . W . G . M . the Prince of Wales . " It was dillicult to estimate , he said , what the Prince of Wales had done for Masonry . His name being associated with the Boys' Festival had no doubt helped to raise that £ \ . \ 2 uoo collected at the Centenary banquet , a sum never reached before in any effort of the kind . ( Applause . ) His lordship coupled with the toast alio the name of the Duchess of Cornwall .

The name of Bro . Mason , P . G . Std . Br . Eng ., was coupled with the toast of " The Grand Lodge . " He enforced upon the brethren the duty of giving more support to the Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widows of Freemasons , which was paying _ £ i 7 , 000 in annuities . Bro . F . HARVEY , acting P . S . G . W ., propjsed " The Health of the Prov . G . Master . " They were delighted , he said , to see his lordship amongst