The New Zealand Question.

visited Australasia and found Freemasonry in those two Colonies in thc position of a house divided against itself . There is , ol course , this very material difference between the position of the then so-called Grand Lodges of New South Wales and Victoria at

the date of Lord CARNARVON ' visit and that ofthe Grand Lodge of New Zealand at the present time . The former were in a decided minority in both Colonies as compared with the lodges under the English , Irish , and Scotch Constitutions , whereas the Grand

Lodge of New Zealand is in a majority . Yet the recognition of thc Grand Lodges of New South Wales and Victoria was strongly urged upon our Grand Lodge by the late Pro Grand Master , with the result that they were recognised b y us , and

have since , we believe , been recognised by the Grand Lodges of Ireland and Scotland , with what results , whether beneficial or otherwise to Masonry as a whole , is sufficientl y well-known to our readers . Is it too much to hope that similarly-beneficial

consequences may result from our recognition of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand when his Royal Hi g hness has determined upon the steps which are necessary to that end , and at the same time to safeguard the rig hts and privileges of such of

our lodges as may desire to remain in their allegiance to our Grand Lodge ? This is the point which it has become our dut y to consider since the question has entered upon its present stage . It is , indeed , an academic question which may well he left to

future generations of brethren to consider , whether thc bitterness of feeling by which the members of the opposing Constitutions in New Zealand have been actuated towards each other had its origin in the conduct of this or that Masonic body , or of these

or those prominent members of the opposing Constitutions , What we are chiefly concerned about now is that the unhappy condition in which Freemasonry in New Zealand has been placed

during the last half dozen years shall be determined as speedil y as possible , and it will be time enough to cry out against the steps now in progress towards that determination , when wc know what they are which it is proposed to take .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF WEST YORKSHIRE .

On Wednesday , the 24 th ult ., the annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Lodge was held under the banner of the Lodge of Hope , No . 392 , at the Technical College , Bradford . There was a very large muster , all the lodges in the province except two being represented . The Prov . G . M ., Bro . the Right Hon . W . L . Jackson , M . P ., was unable to atter . d , owing to what he descr . bed in a letter of apology as very urgent and important business . In his absence the chair was taken by the Deputy Prcv . G . M .,

Bro . J . C . Malcolm , with Bro . Henry Smith , Past Deputy Prov . G . M ., as acting Deputy . In addressing the brethren , Bro . MALCOLM expressed regret at the absence of the Prov . Grand Master . Alluding to the work of the province , he said that during 1 S 96 , 310 new members were enrolled , as compared with 308 the previous year . The resignations were 112 , as against 12 ( 5 ; deaths

6 . | , as compared with 82 ; and exclusions 51 , against 53 . The general membership of the province was 3950 , as against 3 S 50 . Regarding the business before the meeting , there was EH item relating to the ctLbration of the Diamond Jubilee . Up to the present no decision had been come to by Grand Lodge as to the form the Masonic celebrat i on of the Jubilee should take , and he suggested that action should bedeferred , ard ihe matter left in the hands of the Piovincial Officers . Concerning the proposed Wtst

Yorkshire Masonic Educational and Benevolent Fund , he understood there was some feeling of opposition to the scheme , but he pointed out that the principle had already been decided upon , and that a 1 the meeting had to do was to resolve whether the by-laws prepared for the new scheme shculd be accepted or not . He hoped the minoiity would be able to bing themselves into line with the majority , and that whatever action was taken would be for the best interests of the province .

Bio . W . C . LUI-TON , P ! M ., P , P . G . D ., as Chairman of the Charity Committee , presented and moved for adoption the annual report of that bod y . He said the province had elected to the Royal Masonic Institutions during the year five girls , two boys , and two widows . To succeed in the election they obtained 30 , 258 votes . At present the Committee had to support the election of three girls , two boys , one widow , and four men , and he

hoped they would succeed in carrying the majority of these casts also , though the question of the removal of the Boys'School wou'd be uppermost in the minds of the brethren , he was glad to say that , so far as the management of the Institution was concerned , it was of a most satisfactory charac ter . The boy who had taken the highest scholarship tffcred was irorn Harrogate , and the general reports of the boys from thc province in the school were very encouraging . . Bro . W . BLACKBURN . Vice-Chairman of the . Committee , seconded the

adoption of the report , which was carried . of r r re P orts ° ^ ' Pr ° v . Grand Treasurer , showing a balance in hand „ * 9 p 3 Ss . 4 d . —an increase of £ 40 on the year—and of the Prov . Grand VP " tendent of Works and Honorary Librarian , were presented and

Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

On the motion of Bro . J . W . MONCKMAN , seconded by Bro . F . W TOMLINSON , Bro . VV . Smith , P . M . 1211 , was unanimously re-elected P . G , Treasurer for the ensuing year . The Prov . Giand Oflicers were also appointed and invested , the new P . S . G . W . being Bro . VV . C . Lupton , and the P . J . G . W ., Bro . G . H . Smith ( Mayor of Halifax ) ,

It was decided to accept the suggestion of the Deputy Prov . Grand Master that action regarding the Masonic recognition of the Diamond Jubilee should be deferred pending communications from Grand Lodge , on receipt of which the various lodges in the province will be communicated with .

Bro . W . F . Smithson having resigned his position on the Board of Management of the Boys' School owing to the opposition shown to the removal of that Institution to another site , it was now proposed by P > ro . H , SMITH that he should be re-elected . Bro . SMITHSON gave an explanation of the reasons for his resignation , and said he should not accept re-election ; but the motion to re-elect him was carried almost unanimously .

Bro . W . C . LUPTON moved the adoption of the rules and regulations of the new VVest Yorkshire Masonic Educational and Benevolent Fund , which is establi hf d for the followiner objects — ( a ) . The maintenance , clothing , and education wholly or partially , of the children of necessitous or deceased Freemasons , ( li ) . The making cf grants towards the advancement of such children on their leaving school . (<) . The making of grants and granting annuities to aged and necessitous Freemasons and the widows of

Freemasons . Themotion having been duly seconded , Bro . R . I . CRITCIILEY , P . P . G . W ., moved as an amendment : " That in the opinion of this meeting , it is not desirable to proceed further with the formation of an Educational and Benevolent Institution for this Province until the various lodges have had an opportunity of expressirg their approval or disapproval of the scheme ,

and that it be an instruction to the Piovincial Grand Seer , tarv to obtain the opinion of all lodges before the next meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge . " He maintained that the lodges in the province hid not had time to properly consider the proposal , and for that reason his lodge ( Three Grand Principles , No . 208 , Dewsbury ) were unanimously opposed to the adoption of the scheme at present .

The DEI > . PROV . G . MASTER ruled the resolution to b 2 out of order , inasmuch as notice had not been given , and the principle ot the new scheme had already been sanctioned at the last Provincial meeting at Morley . He said , however , that an amendment could be moved postponing the adoption of the by-laws of the new fund . This was moved by Bro . CKITCHLEV and seconded by Bro . T . L . CHADWICK , P . S . G . W .

On being put to the vote there was a strong minority in favour of the amendment , but the original resolution was afterwards carried with a very small opposition . This was the chief business before the meeting .

Consecration Of The Albany Lodge, No. 2652.

CONSECRATION OF THE ALBANY LODGE , No . 2652 .

On Friday , the 2 nd inst ., the roll of lodges in the Province of Surrey was increased by the addition of the above lodge in connection with the Albany Club , Kingston-on-Thames , a popular and rapidly increasing social institution . Bro . the Right Hon . the Onslow , G . C . M . G ., Prov . G . Master ,

attended the ceremony , which was the first of the kind he had assisted at in his own province and opened the lodge , having for his officers Bros . Fred . West , P . G . D ., D . Prov . G . M . ; T . A . Bullock , P . G . S . B ., as S . W . ; S . G . Edrid ^ e , Prov . J . G . W ., as J . W . ; Rev . P . R . Mahony , Prov . G . C . ; J . H . Hawkins , Prov . G . D . C . ; and G . H . Lister , Prov . G . S . B ., as I . G . Bro . Tyler , Piov . G . S ., was present , but took no part in the working .

The rite of consecration was performed by the Deputy Prov . G . Master , and the music incidental thereto was given under the direction of Bro , Arthur Briscoe , P . P . G . O . Surrey . The Albany Lodge having been duly constituted , Bro . S . S . Goodman , P . M ., was installed as its first Master , and he subsequently appointed and

invested the following officers : Bros . T . Wholey , as I . P . M . ; S . H . Horton , S VV . ; G . A . Peller , J . VV . ; AV . M . Wilkinson , P . M ., P . P . G . K . Surrey , Ireas . ; F . G . Wheatley , P . M ., P . P . A . G . D . C . Dorset , Sec ; David Harrison , P . M ., S . D . ; F . VV . Hancock , P . M ., J . D . j and John Litt , Tyler . The addreises were given in most able style by Bro . John O'Connell ,

P . P . G . O . B : fore closing the lodge , the W . M . presented to the Prov . G . M . and D . P . G . M . a founder ' s jewel , and thanked them and the assis . ing oliicers for their attendance . Prepositions for two joining membsrs and eight initiates were made , so that the number on the roll will even grow larger .

Later on a banquet was served to a party of 40 , the arrangements for which were most satisfactory , and did infinite credit to the chef and staff of the club . The Earl of ONSLOW , when acknowledging a toast in his honour , remarked that there were many moie applications for warrants than were granted , and it was with great pleasure he recommended the petition of ihe lounders of the Albany Lodge to the favourable consideration of the Grand

Master . It met a want not supplied in the town , and would be an addition to the existing number of class lodges , of which he was able to speak well from his own experience . Having an acquaintance with the Albany Uub , he ( the noble earl ) was sure the founders would UUIKC the Albany L . idge as successful as that had been ; but he would impress on them the importance of gathering in new recruits , and not draw in members of other ludges alone . Other toasts followed in accordance with custom , and No . 2652 had a good send-off in every way .

* THE OUICKN , accompanied hy the Princess Henry of Battenberg and Piincess Louis of liattenberg , drove from Cimiez on Monday to a spot near lieaulitu , where her Majesty took tea . In the evening H . R . H . the Prince of VVales dined with the Queen