Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

Bro . EDWIN WOODHOUSE , P . M . 2069 , then proposed the following resolution : That the Freemasons of West Yorkshire desire to express their profound regret that Bro . Thos . William Tew , J . P ., has been compelled to resign the olice of Grand Master of this province , an office the dignity of which he has so fully maintained , and the duties of which he has so ably and diligently discharged since the 24 th April , 1885 .

Whilst expressing the gratitude they feel to Bro . Tew for the beneficent manner in which he has exercised his jurisdiction , they also wish to record their deep and tender sympathy with him in his long illness , and their earnest hope and prayer that restoration to health may graciousl y be accorded to him , that his brethren may see him from time to time , and Freemasonry may benefit by the help and counsel which he has so generously proffered in his valedictory address .

This was seconded b y Bro . the Rev . Canon BULLOCK , G . Chap , of England On being put , the brethren rose as one man , and carried it with enthu

siasm . The Pro Grand Master now took the chair , and ou an announcement being made that the Prov . Grand Master designate , Bro . the Right Hon . William Lawies Jackson was in attendance , Lord Lathom demanded his patent of appointment . This was sent in and read by the PROV . GRAND REGISTRAR . A deputation of distinguished brethren of West Yorkshire having escorted Bro . Jackson to the pedestal , and prayer having been offered by the GRAND CHAPLAIN ,

Lord LATHOM said : Bro . J ackson , allow me to congratulate you most sincerely and heartily that the choice of his Royal Highness , the Grand Master , has fallen upon you to fill this most important chair . I congratulate' you on being about to be placed in the chair of one of the most

important provinces in England . I can only recommend you to follow the example of your predecessor , for it is perfectly certain that under his rule this province has prospered greatly . I will not detain you further , but will ask you whether you are prepared conscientiously to perform the duties of the office bestowed upon you ?

Bro . J ACKSON having signified his assent , the PRO GRAND MASTER administered the obligation , and then requested the Prov . Grand Master of East Lancashire , Bro . Le Gendre Starkie , to invest Bro . Jackson with the apron , chain , and jewel of office . Amid the most enthusiastic cheers of the assembly , who rose en masse , Bro . Jackson was placed in the chair by the Pro Grand Master .

After the usual proclamation and salute , Bro . LE GENDRE STARKIE offered the congratulations of the officers of Grand Lodge , of other provinces , and especially those of the neighbouring one of East Lancashire , over which he presided , to Bro . Jackson on his appointment . He prophesied a bright future for the Craft in West Yorkshire under the able guidance of their new chief , and assured him that he carried with him the heartiest good wishes of

the brethren throughout the entire body of Freemasons in England . On Bro . J ACKSON rising to reply , and to address the brethren for the first time in his official capacity as Provincial Grand Master of West Yorkshire , he received a magnificent ovation . When silence was at last obtained , he said : Most Worshi p ful Pro Grand Master , Officers , and Brethren , —It is my first duty to acknowledge the extreme warmth of your reception , and to

make some very brief personal explanations as to how I find myself in this important and honourable position . By the favour of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , and by the assistance you have rendered to-day , I have been called upon to discharge the important duties of Provincial Grand Master for West Yorkshire . I need hardly say to you that the position has come to me wholly unexpectedly , wholly unsought on my part . I can well

believe that all of you when you heard of it , must have wondered at my temerity in venturing to accept it . But if any justification was necessary from me , my only justification is to be found in the fact , that it was your wish and therefore my duty . Brethren , I know that I enter upon the duties of my office under exceptional difficulties—difficulties of time , difficulties in succeeding so great a man as my predecessor . I know that I shall have to

trespass upon your patience and kindness on many occasions , but at the same time I can assure you that to the best of my ability I shall devote myself and my energies to the work of the province . I cannot plead that 1 am a very young Mason , because 1 was initiated in the year 1 S 65 in the Lodge of Fidelity , but a somewhat active life in business and in public affairs has left me fewer opportunities than I would have desired , and much

fewer than most of you have had , I have no doubt , to try to follow out thc interesting and elevating work connected with the Order to which we belong and of which we are so proud . If I fail on any occasion to satisfy you , you must regard my shortcomings with tenderness . I shall hope , however , in process of time to make myself better acquainted with the detailed working throughout the province , and it is my intention from time to time to visit the

various lodges , accompanied , as I shall hope to be , by the Provincial Grand Officers , and with their counsel , advice , and assistance to learn some of the duties of my office , and to endeavour to discharge them with fidelity and zeal . Brethren , at this point I must refer to a subject which I am sure is uppermost in the minds of every one present . It has reference to my immediate predecessor in the chair . You have listened to-day

to his address . You have heard a good deal of Bro . Tew . I think I am justified in saying that , although this chair has been filled by many eminent and distinguished men , there has been—whether you apply the test of the extent and character of the work , the progress of the Order , or the charitable contributions that have been made—there has been no period in the history of the Craft in this province during which so great progress has been

made as the period of office of my immediate predecessor . For 10 years he filled the position ol Deputy Provincial Grand Master of this province , for nearly nine years he has held the post of Provincial Grand Master , and I am quite sure that , whether you think of him as a profound student of the history of our Order , whether you regard his power as an expositor of its principles , or his character in trying to live up to those princip les , lam

justified in saying that none of his predecessors , and I doubt if any of his successors , can approach the perfection which he attained . I am sure of this , that he has endeavoured to the be it of his ability to maintain thc hi gh traditions of our Order . But he has done more . By his upright conduct , by his benevolence and broa J sympathy with distress , by his de ^ p and abiding love of thc principles of Freemasonry , and , above all , by the

exemplification in his own personal life of those hig h and noble qualities that we attribute to our Order , he has earned , he has deserved , aye , and he receives the ctcem and the affection of every brother in this province . To us it is "melancholy to contemplate the cause that lias robbed us of his services in this position . No one deplores more than myself the loss that has fallen "Ron the Craft in this province by his retirement . You all know that liis sense of duty would have forbidden his resigning that position unless he had felt compelled by bodily illness to do so . One and all , I am sure , will echo the heartfelt and earnest prayer that the G . A . O . T . U . may hold him in his

Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

safe keeping , may preserve him for many years to come , and may under all circumstances pour upon him His richest blessing . Brethren , it is my privilege to offer my thanks to the Pro Grand Master and to the Grand Officers who have been good enough to visit us and take part in our proceedings of o-day . It isa matter of great satisfaction that so many distinguished brethren should have accepted our invitation , and I am sure I am only

speaKing your sentiments wnen 1 say that we oiler them our heartiest welcome . It is also my duty to thank the brethren connected with VVest Yorkshire , and those brethren connected with the Leeds lod ges particularly , upon whose shoulders a large portion of the work of o rganising this meetinghas necessarily fallen , and , with ' your permission , I should like to specially express my thanks to those connected with mv mother lod ^ e—the I nrW nf

Fidelity . Brethren , it is with some degree of pleasure that I am able to refer to the fact , which you now know , that , on my urgent solicitation , our Deputy P . G . M . has been good enough to agree to continue his services . Placed in the position I am in , with so little experience of the details ot the work , it would have been impossible for me—and it would certainl y have bcen most unfortunate for you—if I had failed at this particular juncture to

induce Bro . Henry Smith to accept that office . Guided b y his counsel , assisted by his never-tiring energy , I shall hope that we may carry on the affairs of thc province on the lines on which they have been followed in the past . With reference to the general condition of the province , 1 have the good fortune to be called upon to take this office at a time when I may honestly and truly say the affairs of the Craft never stood

higher and were never in a more satisfactory position than at present . We frankl y acknowledge that the position now occupied b y Freemasonry in this province is due to our dear Bro . Tew , and it is satisfactory that so much progress has been made , and that everything has been placed upon such a firm foundation . I shall endeavour as far as I can to follow the lines upon which he has proceeded , to obey the old precedents , to follow the

constitutional rule , and to travel in the direction in which Bro . Tew has guided this province , because I feel certain that only in that way can the high position to which the Order has attained be maintained . But , above all , you will be pleased to bear this in mind , I can do but little wiihout your loyal , unselfish , willing , and active co-operation . On that I shall rely ; on that , I believe I shall be justified in relying , and , with your help , I look forward

with confidence to being able to carry on the duties on the lines upon which they have been carried on for so long . Brethren , I have little more to say to you now . The progress of the Order , as I have said , has been great , has been solid , has been substantial . Much remains to be done ; but there is one point which , perhaps , 1 ought to refer to , it is a matter of some importance in the organisation connected with the Craft . It is extremely

desirable that great care should be taken that the records of our proceedings should be maintained intact , so that there shall be a complete statement of everything that is done . It is possible to make the minutes of our lodges , perhaps , wearisome by entering into too much detail , but it certainly is desirable that there should be , if brief , still a faithful record of what is done in every lodgf * in the province , and there should also bc—and I beg

that those responsible for the duty will remember it—great care taken of the books and records , so that , in case of any disaster , we may not lose touch with what has bcen done in every district and every lodge . Since the time when our Bro . Tew was appointed to this position in 18 S 5 , death has been somewhat busy amongst us . We miss to-day some familiar faces ; we miss some faces which , though perhaps not so familiar , were the faces

of men hardly less useful to the Craft , and it is our duty to recognise in these brethren whom we have lost , men who have done much to maintain the high position and traditions of our Order . Brethren , in conclusion , let me say again I accept the position with some hesitation and doubt ; is to my own ability to fill it . I will honestly strive to do my best . I shall rely

upon your assistance and upon your loyal co-operation , and I shall hope that it will be given to me in the same frank , loyal , and unstinting spirit in which it has been given to my predecessor . If that be so , I shall humbly discharge the important duties of the office to the best of my power and ability .

The PROV . GRAND AIASTER then announced that he had appointed Bro . Henry Smith to act as his Deputy .

Bro . Smith s patent having been read b y the PROV . GRAND REGISTRAR , the obligation was given to him b y Bro . Colonel Le Gendre N . Starkie , and Bro . Smith was placed in the chair to the ri ght of the Prov . Grand Master amid the cheers of all the brethren present . After Bro . SMITH had been proclaimed and saluted , in a few graceful

words he returned thanks for the especiall y kind and hearty way in which his appointment had been received . He assured thc brethren that the responsibility had been , as it were , thrust upon him , much against his will , that he hoped it would not be for long , but that the ) ' might count upon him doing his utmost , whilst hc held that post , to maintain the reputation of West Yorkshire , and uphold its interests to the greatest possible extent .

An address to H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , beautifully illuminated , congratulating him upon the marriage of his son , H . R . H . the Duke of York , with H . S . H . Princess Victoria Mary of Teck , was exhibited to the brethren .

Bro . J ACKSON having read it , proposed that it be adopted and presented . The DEPUTY seconded , and the brethren heartily assented . Bro . T . BATEMAN Fox , Chairman of the Charily Committee , after congratulating Bro . Jackson upon his appointment to the important post of Prov . Grand Master of West Yorkshire , and expressing a confident hope that the same success which had marked his career in other pursuits would

distinguish his Masonic efforts , presented the report of the Charity Committee for the half-year . Having stated what had been done in the last elections , he said they hoped to carry both their candidates in October , and trusted the Charity Stewards , by the prompt collection of the voting papers , would enable them to accomplish that object . He then referred to a recommend-uion from the Committee in relation to a proposed alteration of Prov . By-law 42 , notice of which would be duly given . He also pointed out that

Bro . W . F . Smithson's term of ollice on the Hoard of Management of the Masonic Boys' School was about to expire , and that it was most desirable that his services should , if possible , be retained , and concluded by moving the adoption of the report , including the following - resolution : " That this Prov . Grand Lodge thanks W . Bro . W . F . Smithson most heartily for his valuable services during the past three years , and earnestly requests that he will allow us to nominate him again as West Yorkshire ' s representative on the Board of Management of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . "

Bro . W , C . LUPTON , Vice-Chairman , seconded , and it was carried unanimously . There were no petitions for relief , and the Provincial Grand Lodge was closed .