Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

pied by the W . M ., Bro . W . Lewis , M . D ., supported by Bros . A . Buchanan , D . M . ; R . Craig , S . W . ; Cairney , acting J . W . ; J . Hill , acting S . D . ; J . Stevenson , . ) . D . ; A . Grant , Sec . ; and others . Mr . W . Conway , was initiated by the W . M . Three brethren wcre passed , the ceremony being gone through by the W . M .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF WEST YORKSHIRE .

The following report of the Provincial Gianel Masters's address at the last quarterly meeting of thc Provincial Grand Lodge of West Yorkshire has been forwareleel to us for publication : — The Provincial Grand Master aeldressed the lodge as

follows , —Brethren , members , and officers of this Prov . G , Lodsre of Harmony , permit me to express my sincere acknowledgments for the cordial reception you have awarded to me , and also for the salutation you have bestoweel upon the office I have the honour to occupy in West Yorkshire . Wc have assembled for our MHsummer meeting , under the banner of the Lodge of Harmony , No . 275 on the roll

of thc Grand Lodge of England . We cordially thank Major Freeman , the W . M ., his officers , and brethren , for their acceptable invitation and proverbial hospitality . This magnificent lo dge , which numbers upwards of yo members , has for many years held a high position in the Craft , and has had , and I may say now has , among its ranks many brethren who have pre-eminently distinguished

themselves in Freemasonry . Since the tenvwal of your lodge warrant in A . L . 5839 , you have beeii remarkable as a body of Craftsmen , for the harmony which has at all times existed amongst you , and by the munificent support you have on all occasions given , and given so cheerfully , to our charitable institutions . The provincial record of subscriptions and donations in the Red Book states that

this lodge commands a total of 338 votes , represent n . g money contributions , exclusive of losses by death , to the amount of £ 1002 . As an example for this Province , nothing co uld be move praiseworthy than the efforts made by the Harmony brethren at the Girls' School election last October , who , by their exertions , enabled the charity committee to carry the election of Lucy Maria Taylor ,

who WAS not a specially selected nominee of West Yorkshire . This effort on your part , brethren , was " a gulden deed , " and worthy of mention , again and again ; jou have also further shown your interest for the prosperity of our charities by your support of Lord Skelmcrselale and myself , at the Annuity Fund , and Girls' School festivals , in Freemasons' Hall , thc combined exertions of the brethren

on these occasions resulting in a subscription list of nearly £ 18 , 000 ; the West Yorkshire quota being £ 1294 , whilst last year these two items were £ 997 13 s . 3 d . Permit me to refer to the Girls' School Festival , on the 10 th May , in ¦ which I , as ycur P . G . Master , was more directly interested . The executive of this anniversary was in hopes to have been enabled to announce that H . R . H . the Duke of

Connaught would preside , but shortly before the day fixed for the festival , a strong doubt having been exprcssetl that H . R . H . would not be in England , Bro . Little , almost at the last hour , honoured West Yorkshire by inviting me to accept the presidency for that day . I trust the cause of this institution did not suffer under the circumstances of the unavoidable absence of our Royal brother , thc Duke of

Connaught , for we know with what tact and ability he would have fulfilled the duties of the chair . On the Men . day before the festival I had the gratification , accompanied by Lady Edwards and my son , of distributing the prizes to the pupils in the school at St . John ' s Hill . I can assure you that it was a most enjoyable day to us , and we hope that it may not be the last occasion upon which we may

have an opportunity of seeing the admirable progress made by the girls of that institution , which is so worthy of your continued confidence and support . I must briefly allude to thc return of our Grand Master , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , from the East to his native land . He has been greeted by the Craft , and by millions of his countrymen , with enthusiasm . As Freemasons , we , of this province ,

hail his return to England with loyalty anil affectum . The Grand Lodge has resolved worthily to commemorate the visit of the Prince of Wales to India , and his safe return home , and has determined that a special committee be appointed to consider the best mode in which this feeling of thankfulness at the safe return from India of our Grand Master , " can be perpetuated in some charitable and

practical form , anel to report thereon to the next quarterly meeting . " A committee therefore has been appointed to inquire Hi to the most appropriate manner in which such a visit shall be commeniurateil , the only limit lo its enquiries being that the memorial shall assume some charitable and practicable form . Our assembly to-day is gladdened by thc presence of our late Deputy , Bro . Bentley Shaw , J . P .

D . L . I seize thc opportunity of his welcome visit amongst us to express my admiration of his lofty virtues and high Masonic qualifications ; and words of mine are inadequate to give a faithful description of the feelings of respect with which we look back upon his 114 years of service as D . P . G . M . of this Province . Before that memorable 21 of April at Halifax , when I accepted at thc hands of our Koyal

Grand Master this chair , so long occupied by thc Marc-juis cf Ripon , I had long known our distinguished brother to be a most faithful , valuable member of the Craft ; but 1 confess I failcel to fully realise the estimation in which he is everywhere held until I came to fulfil the responsible duties attached to my office . Many of us still remember the animated debates in which our late Bro .

Freeman and others took part , and we acknowledge the ability and judicious discrimination of our late Deputy in so guiding those deliberations , which terminated in the present revision of our bye-laws and regulations being adopted , and confirmed by this P . G . Lodge , held at HuddeisfitTd on the 15 th of May , 1867 . A previous edition cf om bye-laws received the signature and sanction cf th

Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

Earl of Zetland , 20 th September , 1848 . This edition is obsolete , and the Huddersfield edition , my Deputy informs me , is now out of print , and that at some of the lodges he has visited these bye-laws are wantin g in the catalogue of constitutions and laws which ought always to be found on the pedestal before each W . M . in open lodge . I have often thought it should be a bye-law of

this province that each W , Master should have a copy of the Br , ok of Constitutions , Prov . Grand Lodge bye-laws , and the hye-laws of his lodge presented to him on his installation by the Installing Master , to read and to stuely . It woulel only cost each lodge a few shillings each year , anel would promote discipline and harmony . In 1848 only 32 lodges appear in the schedule of the obselete copy ;

in 1867 , 4 6 lodges in the revised edition ; whilst 61 lodges require enumerating in a future edition . Under these circumstances , I , and my Deputy , have determined to have thc Huddersfield edition reprinted . It is gratifying to me to notice the continued prosperity of the Craft in this large p . ovince , and to notice thatBro . M . Martin de B utoleme ' , P . P . G . M ., P . G . H ., on the 23 rd May , laid the corner stone of

a new Masonic hall at Sheffield , under auspicious circumstances . On the 20 th , the Lodges Hope anel Pentalpha occupied their new buildings at Bradford . On the c , th June , my Deputy inaugurated in appropriate premises the Wharfcdale Lodge , at Otley . We hope soon to be informed of another new Masonic Hall at Batley , and on the 8 th June my Deputy was present at the inauguration of the

Leeds Masonic Club . The club will , we hope , be conelucive of much benefit tei the Craft in Leeds , anil I earnestly ask thc brethren of the province to consider the remarks I made at Sheffield on Oct . 20 of last year in reference to the union of clubs with I-ondon . In the touching farewell address to our late Deputy to the Craft at Halifax , last year , be said that " peace and concord prevailed throughout

the lodges , with but one slight exception , where he trusted thc misunderstanding which had arisen ( in one lodge ) would be speedily and easily adjusted . Brethren , when I adelrcssed you at Wakefield , I referred to this exception , and I stated that my Deputy had not been able to then find a solution to the ruling of the late Deputy being upheld . He now informs me that , with the assistance of our Preiv . Grand Registrar , a harmonious settlement has been

brought about , and that I can now inform Bro . Bentley Shaw that his dccisieni 'vill be respected . 1 , anel my Deputy , earnestly desire , that in all the lodges there should be peace , concord , anel harmony . We especially commenil tJ-. e word " harmony " to your consideration . It is a truly Masonic word , and worthy of all acceptation , that as Masons we should in agreement , in views , in sentiments , in manners , in interests , labour together for peace and friendship , and mutual harmony .

District Grand Lodge Of New South Wales.

DISTRICT GRAND LODGE OF NEW SOUTH WALES .

The annual communication was held at Freemasons ' Hall , Sydney , on Monday , the 24 th elay of April , 1876 . There were present V . W . Bro . Ernest O . Smith , District Deputy Grand Master , in the chair ; R . W . Bro . A . W . Ritchie , P . D . G . Master Madras ; W . Bros . Thomas S .

Bullard , P . J . D . G . W ., as S . D . G . Warden ; William G . Cassidy , P . J . D . G . W ., as . [ . D . G . Warden ; Wm . Henry Simpson , District Grand Treas . ; O . Spencer Evans , District Grand Registrar ; A . Gardner , P . B . G . Purposes ; R . Leworthy , District Grand Sec . ; W . Webster , P . J . D . G . D .. as S . D . G . Deacon ; George Merrett , P . S . D . G . W ., as I . D . G . Deacon ; W . Thomas , A . G . D .

Ceremonies ; John S . Gordon , D . G . S ., as D . G . Purst . ; S . A . DcLissa , District Grand Tyler ; and District Grand Stewards , Past District Grand Officers , Worshipful Masters , Past Masters , and Wardens of Lodges , and other brethren . The District Grand Lodge was opened by the District Deputy Grand Master in form at 8 p . m .

The minutes of the 17 th January were read and confirmed . Bro . Dr . Charles Leslie DeVine was announceel as representative from the Grand Orient of Peru . The District Deputy Grand Master said that before Bro . DeVine was admitted he had to state that documents had been received from the Grand Secretary of the Gran Orient

of 1 Peru , dated Lima , 15 th April , 1875 , signed by the Grand Master , and under the seal of the Gran Orient of Peru , nominating and appointing Bro . DeVine as the representative of that body to the Masonic bodies of England anil the dependencies of the British Crown ; the documents written in Spanish have been translated into English , and would now be read by the District Grand Secretary .

Documents read as follows : — No . 417 . We , Doctor Bias Jose Alzamora , Sovereign Grand Inspector General of the 33 rd Degree . —Ser . G . M . of the Ancient and Most Honourable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons of the Orient of Peru , To ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME .

Greeting . Greeting . Greeting . For as much as the Gran Orient of Free and Accepted Masons of Peru has resolved to cultivate a correspondence more intimate than that which has existed hitherto with ttee grand bodies of Freemasonry , and considering that tliey may and ought , to cement more closely the bonds of fraternal love , increase the prosperity of the Masonic family , and protect the unity , integrity , and purity of the

Order by strengthening its usefulness and honour by the nomination and mutual exchange of representatives on the part of each of the bodies above mentioned . Wherefore know ye that , having full confidence in our Most Wurshiplul Bro . Dr . Charles Leslie DeVine , Sovereign Prinoe of the Rosy Cross , 18 th Degree , have we deemed expedient to constitute and nominate , and by these presents do constitute and nominate the aforesaid brother , Dr . Charles Leslie DeYine , 18 th Degree , leprestn-

District Grand Lodge Of New South Wales.

tative of the Gran Orient of Peru , to the Masonic Powers of England and the Dependencies of tVie British Crown , foj the purposes indicated . In the testimony whereof we have caused the seal of the Gran Orient to be attached hereto , and have signed these presents in the City of Lima , the capital of the Peruvian 1 Republic , on the 5 th day of the Masonic month , Nisam A . D . L . V . L ., the year of the True Light , 5635 , which corresponds to the nth April , 1875 , E . V .

BLAS J ALZAMORA , 33 , Most Serene Grand Master . ARTHUR M . WHOLEY , 33 ° , Grand Sec . of the Gran Orient . Worshipful Bro . DeVine was then admitted , and thr Deputy District Grand Master received him as the representative of the Gran Orient of Peru .

Bro . C . H . May , P . M . Lodge n 69 , read Auditor ' sreport , with balance sheets of District Grand Lodge anef Benevolent Funds for the past year . He then moved , seconded by Bro . Frederick Harper , P . M ., Balmain Lodge , 868 , that the same be received , adopted , printed , and circulated , which was put and carried . Bro . Bullard , P . J . D . G . W ., proposed , seconded by Bro ' .

Webster , P . J . D . G . Deacon , that Bro . Simpson be re . elected Treasurer for the ensuing year . Put and carried . Bro . Simpson thanked District Grand Lodge for the confidence reposed in him . The District Grand Secretary read a letter dated the " 24 th April , from the Right Worshipful the District Grand Master stating his inability to be present at

District Grand Lodge that evening , and requesting the District Deputy Grand Master to preside , and to invest with their collars the brethren he had appointed for the ensuing year to be District Grand Lodge office-bearers , he also thanked the retiring officers for the assistance they had rendered him in carrying out the duties of District Grand Lodge . The Distiict Deputy Grand Master , in pursuance

of the authority thus delegated to him , in the name and on behalf of the District Grand Master proceeded to invest the following brethren as officers for the ensuing year , namely : —Bros . E . O . Smith , P . M . 5 ^ 6 , D . D . G . Master ; O . S . Evans , 868 , S . D . G . Warden ; A . Gardner , 6 55 , J . D . G . Warden ; Rev . Wazer Begg , LL . D ., M . D ., 390 , Chaplain ; W . H . Simpson , P . M .

390 , D . G . Treasurer ; T . S . Bullard , 556 , D . G . Registrar ; VV . Thomas , 55 * 1 , P . B . G . Purposes ; R . Lewoithy , 817 , D . G . Secretary ; VV . D . Banks , 6 5 6 , S . D . G . Deacon ; J . Marshall , 390 , J . D . G . Deacon ; W . J . Robinson , 1169 , D . G . Supt . Works ; J . S . Gordon , 55 6 , D . G . D . Ceremonies ; J . E . Graham , 656 , A . D . G . D . Ceremonies ; F . Monckton , W . M . 637 , D . G .

Sword Bearer ; T . XV . Craven , 6 55 , D . G . Organist ; H . J . Wager , 390 , D . G . Pursuivant ; S . A . De Lissa , P . M . 6 55 , D . G . Tyler . The District Grand Stewards are W . Bros . J . J . Davy , W . M . 556 ; H . J . Lovett , 817 ; H . Perdriau , 868 ; El Kirchner , 1169 ; E . Cohen , 1552 ; —Stratford , 15 68 . Bros . Rowe and Walton were appointed Scrutineers for

the election of six P . M . ' s to serve on the Board of Genera . Purposes ; a ballot was then taken when the Scrutineers retired ; on their return the result of the ballot was declared to be as follows : —P . M . Webster , Lodge 1169 ; P . M . Bullard , Lodge 556 , P . M . Cassidy , Lodge 817 ; P . M . Banks , Lodge 656 ; P . M . Hopson , Lodge 655 ; P . M . F . Harper , Lodge 868 .

Bros . Merrett and Webster were appointed Scrutineers ; a ballot was taken for the election of six Past Masters to serve on the Board of the Committee of Benevolence , the Scrutineers declaring the result of the ballot to be as follows : —Bros . Webster , P . M . Lodge 1169 ; Cassidy , P . M . Lodge 817 ; Banks , P . M . Lodge 6 5 6 ; Taylor , P . M . Lodge 390 ; Hopson , P . M . Lodge 655 ; T . S . Bullard , P . M .

Lodge 55 ° - It was proposed by the D . G . Treasurer , seconded by Bro . Robinson , that Bro . Webster , P . S . D . G . Deacon , be elected Auditor for the ensuing year ; proposed by Bro . Taylor , seconded by Bro . Perdriau that Bro . F . Harper , P . M . Lodge 868 , be elected Auditor for the ensuing year . Put and cairied .

In the absence of the President , the District Grand Secretary brought up the report of the Committee of Benevolence shewing the amount voted in relief of applicants since last communication to be £ 17 , and that the amount granted during the past year was £ 15 6 . Bro . Simpson proposed , seconded by Bro . Cassi ly , that the report be received , adopted , printed , and circulated . Put and carre 1 .

Bro . Simpson , Ticasurer , brought up the icport of the Committee of the Orphan iociety , with the balance sheet , which was read and ordered to be printed and circulated . A letter was read , dated 4 th April , from the Secretary of the Furnishing Committee , asking for an increase , in the salary of the Tyler from £ 4 to the original amount £ 8 per annum .

Bro . Simpson proposed , seconded by Bro . Taylor , that the salary of the District Grand Secretary be £ 120 for the ensuing year , and said that the duties of the office continued to be most efficiently performed by Bro . Leworthy . The Di .-. Dep . G . Master also said that the duties of the office had been performed most satisfactorily . Bro . Monckton , D . G . Sword Bearer , moved as an

amendment that the salary of the District Grand Secretary be £ ' 5 ° ' the ensuing year ; he thought that amount was quite little enough , as the duties of the office had been increased and faithfully carried out by the D . G . Secretary , and now the District Grand Lodge was in so flourishing a condition it could well afford that amount as

salary-Bro . E . Cohen seconded the amendment . Bro . Simpson , in reply , said he thought that the present salary was sufficient for the work done , and reminded D . G . Sword Bearer that the Secretary received besides'his salary remuneration from the Freemasons' Hall Company . 'ana further , that ' he was only requited lo give up two 'hoars