Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

East Lancashire ; T . B . Whytehead , P . M ., P . G . S . B . ; and five Provincial Grand Officers and 42 brethren . The letter of Bro . Tew was read by the PROV . G . SECRETARY , and on the motion of Bro . PEPPER , P . M . 1042 , Prov . G . Treas ., seconded by Bro . C . L .

MASON , P . M . 2069 , P . P . G . T ., it was ordered to be entered on the minutes It was as follows : The Grange , Carleton , Pontefract , 15 th April , 1892 . My dear Deputy ,

With great regret , for the second time , I must plead inability to be present at the meeting of Prov . Grand Lodge . My health , though much improved , has not yet been restored sufficiently to enable me to venture upon out-door exertion . I must , therefore , ask you to take charge of and conduct the business at this the annual meeting , and I hope you will tell my brethren how sorry I am that I am still nnahletn be with them .

I feel sure that the affairs of this important and ever increasing province have been well and faithfully administered by you and the outgoing Prov . Grand Officers , and that nothing has been neglected to promote its best interests . For this care and diligence to you and them I tender my sincere and grateful thanks . I trust the brethren will still further extend indulgence to me , and excuse me from making any attempt personally to visit their lodges , with the hope that T . G . A . O . T . U . may shortly give back to me my former strength , and enable me to the best of my ability to serve the province I have learned to love so well .

Pray express to the brethren my deep obligations for the resolution of sympathy recorded at the meeting at Sowerby Bridge , and for their spontaneous and generous contributions to the " Thomas William Tew Presentation Fund , " whereby they have , in perpetuity , associated my name and that of this province with the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution .

Let me in conclusion add my testimony of sorrow and regret at the lamented death of H . R . H . the Duke of Clarance and Avondale ; also at that of Colonel Shadwell H . Clerke . The latter , as Grand Secretary , was intimately associated with this province , whilst the former was as closely allied to the whole county . With the earnest wish for the peace , harmony , and contentment of every lodge under my jurisdiction , and the hope that we shall continue to be loyal and true to our Grand Master and to each other , —I am , my dear Deputy , faithfully yours , T . W . TEW , P . G . M .

The Acting Prov . G . M ., Bro . Henry Smith ; the Acting D . P . G . M ., Bro . W . H . Brittain , J . P . ; and the Prov . Grand Officers having entered , the Prov . Grand Lodge was opened . The Acting Prov . Grand Master , the Acting Deputy Prov . G . M ., and Bro . McLeod being saluted , the roll of lodges was called , and it was found that 70 out of 75 were represented , and the roll of Present and Past Grand Officers was called .

The minutes of Provincial Grand Lodge held at Sowerby Bridge , on Wednesday , 14 th October , 1891 , were read and confirmed . The ACTING PROV . G . M . then delivered an able and exhaustive address , dealing with all matters of interest to the province , and which we regret our space will not admit of transferring to our columns this week .

The address was listened to with marked attention , and the brethren showed their appreciation by frequent applause . On its conclusion Bro , W . H . BRITTAIN rose to thank the brethren for their cordial greeting . In referring to the address he said that it combined both poetry and prose ,

that it was graceful as well as practical , and that in all his experience he had never listened to an address which so happily combined firm treatment with delicate handling . He spoke in feeling terms of the death of H . R . H . the Duke of Clarence , and concluded a very effective speech by proposing the following resolution : —

That th s Provincial Grand Lodge of West . Yorkshire recognises , with the deepest regret , the great loss which the Craft and the nation have sustained by the death of H . R . H . the Duke of Clarence and Avondale , K . G ., P . G W ., R . W . Prov . G . Master Berks , on 14 th January last , and takes the earliest opportunity of recording on its minutes their profound sorrow and sympathy with her Most Gracious Maje-ty the Queen , their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales , her Serene Highness the Princess May of Teck , and the rest of the Royal Family in their sad bereavement .

This was briefly seconded by Bro . Rev . T . C . SMYTH , D . D ., P . M . 2069 , P . G . Chaplain , and carried . Bro . T . BATEMAN FOX , I . P ., P . M . 208 , P . G . W ., Chairman of the West Yorkshire Charity Committee , then addressed the meeting . Afler complimenting the Acting Prov . G . Master upon the fearless and outspoken terms of the address which they had just heard , an exposition of Masonic principles and conduct with which he thoroughly agreed , Bro . Fox presented

the annual report of the Charity Committee . In proposing its adoption he pointed out the advantage of accumulating votes upon chairs , recommended the Boys' and Girls' Schools to the special charitable consideration of the province , and gave particulars as to the leakage which had occurred in relation to the voting papers in the late election . He urged the Charity members to be untiring in their exertions in collecting and sending in the votes , and strongly deprecated receiving papers twenty-four hours after the elections to which they referred were concluded .

Bro . W . C . Lui-roN , P . M . 974 , P . P . G . D ., Vicc-Chairman , seconded . Whilst most highly commending the brethren for their munificent subscriptions to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , he urged upom them the desirability of promptly redeeming their promises by the actual payment of the mono )' , pointing out how strongly votes were needed for the forthcoming

annuitants' election , and that it was only by securing this additional voting power they could hope to carry the candidates whom the Committee had adopted . That the election was on the 20 th May , and that it was desirable , in order to give time for the issue of new voting papers , that the donations should be sent in not later than the 10 th of that month .

On the motion " That the Report of the Charity Committee be adopted " being put from the chair , it was carried unanimously . Bro . CHARLES PHILLIPS , P . M . 1542 , from the body of the room , inquired what the average cost per boy was in the R . M . I , for Boys . Bro . W . F . SMITHSO . V , P . M . 1001 , P . G . W ., P . G . D ., ex-Chairman of the Charity Committee , and member of the Board of Management , replied , that for educating , clothing , and maintaining the boys in the schools , the average cost per head was a few shillings under £ 40 a year .

Bro . WM . PEPPER , P . M ., Prov . G . Treas ., then presented his balancesheet , and moved its adoption . This , a printed copy of which had been issued throughout the province , was seconded by Bro . T . B . Fox , and carried . Bro . J GERRARIJ , P . M . 154 , Prov . G . Supt . of Works , presented an inventory of furniture , regalia , Dec , belonging to Provincial Grand Lodge . On his assurance that all was in good order and preservation the inventory was received .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

The CHAIRMAN next called upon Bro . Wm . Watson , P . M . 6 i , Prov . G . Librarian . Bro . WATSON said he had prepared a report which would be duly circulated , that during the past year most valuable and important books and MSS . had been added to the library , that in consequence of the munificent which he received from the Grand Master had

support Prov . they now a collection of which every Mason in West Yorkshire might be justly proud . He also referred to the reprints of the Masonic MSS . which at great cost of time and labour had been issued and sent to every lodge in the province . He feared that in some instances they had scarcely received that notice or attention which their importance deserved . He moved the adoption of the

report . This was seconded by Bro . J BARKER , P . M . 1102 , and carried item . con . Bro . C . L . MASON , P . M ., then proposed Bro . John Gibbs , P . M . 904 , as Prov . G . Treas . for the ensuing year . He spoke of his Masonic merits and financial abilities , and assured the brethren that he would prove a worth y successor to Bro . Wm . Pepper , the retiring Prov . G . Treas .

This was seconded in brief and epigrammatic terms by Bro . W . H . BRITTAIN , and there being no other candidate , Bro . Gibbs was therefore unanimously elected . The retiring Prov . Grand Officers then advanced and formally took leave of the Acting Prov . Grand Master , at the same time handing in their badges of office . The new Prov . Grand Officers for the year were called up , and invested as follows :

Bro . Rev . T . C . Smyth , D . D ., 2069 ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ Richard Jessop , 448 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Rev . H . L . Clarke , M . A ., 208 ... -jp rov G Chaos „ Rev . A . H . B . Lees , M . A ., 910 ... J frov . Lr . cnaps . ,, John Gibbs , 904 ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas .

„ William Ramsden , 149 ... ... Prov . G . Reg . ,, Herbert G . E . Green , 1019 ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ John Wm . Balme , 61 ... ... ... " > p c- . „ „ Albert Walker , 1108 ... ... j frov . S . Cr . U . s . „ John Cass , J . P ., 1034 ... ... " } Prov T G D's „ Richard Prince Brindley , 1221 ... ... j rrov ' J- s > „ John Wm . Cocking , 2035 ... ... Prov . G . S . of W .

„ W . Watson , 61 , P . P . G . S . of W . ... ... Librarian . „ Tudor Trevor , 2069 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . of C . ,, Sydney Thomas Steele , 380 ... ... Prov . D . G . D . C . „ C . A . Phillips , 1542 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C .

„ John E . D . Darling , 1239 ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ John Hey , 387 ... ... -I prov G Std Brs „ W . T . Beanland , 1462 ... ... ... ) rrov' ^ ata- Urs-„ Samuel Jacob , 837 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org .

,, Joseph Matthewman , 1019 ...- ... Prov . A . G . Sec . „ B . Fawcett Glover , 495 ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ Charles Shaw , 337 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Purst . „ W . H . D . Horsfall , 1302 ... ... " ] „ Alfred Scarth , 280

„ Wm . Fisher Iasker , 296 ... " i-Prov G Stwds ,, Thomas Norfolk , 600 ... ... ... [ „ Wm . Barrow Wall , 290 ... ... j ,, Louis Eismann , 827 ... ... ... J ,, Thomas Leighton , 139 ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler . ,, Thomas Chester , 904 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Tyler .

The ACTING PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER took the opportunity , before closing the proceedings , of thanking the brethren for their kind reception of himself and their attention to his address . He thought that as they had with them Bro . McLeod , the Secretary of the Boys' School , they would like to hear him . He therefore called upon Bro . MCLEOD , who said : That the thanks of all the three Masonic Institutions , and of their Secretaries , were due to the Freemasons of West Yorkshire ; that he , in his own person , was

especially grateful to them j that their splendid Charitable organisation was admirably and most judiciously worked ; that they were in the proud position of heading the provincial lists at the late Festival of the Benevolent Institution ; that they had nobly supported both the Girls and the Boys , and that they had a distinguished representative share in the working of both Institutions ,

since the Deputy Provincial Grand Master of West Yorkshire , Bro . Henry Smith , was Treasurer of the Girls , and Bro . Smithson on the Board of Management of the Boys . He recommended the brethren to keep up their influence by maintaining their donations , and thanked the Acting Provincial Grand Master for giving him the opportunity of saying these words .

There were no invitations for the October meeting , and Provincial Grand Lodge was closed . Dinner was served by Bro . Powolny in his handsome new restaurant , in Bond-street . About 140 brethren were present , the Acting Provincial Grand Master presiding .

Supreme Grand Chapter.

SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER .

The Quarterly Convocation of Supreme Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of England was holden on Wednesday evening at Freemasons Hall . Comp . W . VV . B . Beach , M . P ., G . Supt . of Hants and Isle of Wight , occupied the chair of M . E . G . Z . ; Comp . Lieut .-Col . Townley Caldwell , M . A ., G . Supt . Cambridgeshire , took the chair of G . H . ; and Comp . Col . Noel V _ J » OUJJL * V ^ rllJJLJI JUtLDIHI K , / IUUJV Llll , 1 ^ 1 Kill Ul Uillij UIIU > JUl"ijJ » w— --Edward

Money , C . B ., G . Supt . of Surrey , took the chair of G . J . Comps . Levchworth , G . S . E . ; Capt . N . G . Philips , acted as G . S . N . ; Robert Grey President Committee of General Purposes ; Baron de Ferrieres , as G-. P-S- ' Sir G . D . Harris , as 1 st A . G . S . ; Hamon Le Strange , as 2 nd A . G-S . ; Frank Richardson , G . D . C . ; George Everett , G . Treas . ; R . C . Sudlow , Ralph Glutton , C . H . Driver , I . H . Matthews , C . Belton , I . E . Le l'euvrc .

Rev . C . W . Spencer Stanhope , F . S . Knyvclt , Dr . Ralp h Gooding , Ja ffll- Glaisher , H . Garrod , C . F . Hogard , C . F . Matier , A . A . Pendlebury , Asst . G . S . E ., and a large number of other Present and Past Grand Ollicers W present . J After the minutes of the last convocation had been read and conlin" j Comp . BEACH announced that H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . E . GJ y ' j again appointed the Earl of Lathom to be Pro Grand Z . ; the r- ^ Mount Edgcumbe to be Grand H . ; and himself ( Comp . Beach ) t ° Grand J . , , |) e Comp . Beach was then obligated as G . J ., and afterwards rc-assume