Province Of North And East Yorkshire.

PROVINCE OF NORTH AND EAST YORKSHIRE

FIRST FESTIVAL OF THE EDUCATIONAL FUND . SPEECHES BY THE EARL OF ZETLAND , P . G . M ., H . R . H . PRINCE ALBERT VICTOR , AND OTHERS .

On Wednesday , a large company of distinguished Masons connected with the Province of North and East Yorkshire assembled in the York Lodge Masonic Hall , in the quaint and historic city of York ; on the occasion of the first Festival in behalf of the Educational Fund , vvhich has been established for the laudable purpose of providing for the education

of children of deceased or necessitous Freemasons of this province , who are unable to obtain , or until they obtain , admission to the Masonic Schools . The Committee , in appealing to the benevolence of the brethren , stated that " with the increase in the Craft of late years , there is yearly an increase in the number of applicants for relief , and there can be no doubt as to the

necessity of our new Educational Fund , nor as to the benefits which the unfortunate objects of our Charity will derive from it . . . . The children will be educated , as far as possible , in the locality of their homes , and the strictest economy will be exercised in the management of the Fund , so that the greatest good may be done to the greatest number of cases . " It is

quite true ( as the Committee further stated ) that the province has not hitherto been conspicuous for its liberality , and therefore all Craftsmen will hail with unalloyed satisfaction the step they have now taken in supplementing the efforts of our noble Masonic Institutions , which are , indeed , the very copestone of our Order , and in seeking to relieve the wants and

necessities of those little ones , whose unfortunate circumstances in life are such as to warrant the support and sympathy of the emineivt brethren who will have the control of the exchequer . In response to the earnest appeal issued by Bros . the . Earl of Zetland , P . G . M . ; Lieut .-Col . the Hon . W . T . Orde-Powlett , D . P . G . M . ; J . W . Woodall , P . G . Treas . ( Chairman ); J . Todd

( Vice-Chairman ); and M . C . Peck , P . G . Std . Br . ( the indefatigable Hon . Sec ) , a most generous and ungrudging effort was made by the brethren who enrolled themselves as Stewards , vvith a result lhat ^ 1000 has been subscribed , which was all the more pleasing and satisfactory as it was

beyond the most sanguine expectations of the promoters of the Fund . The Provisional Committee judiciously fixed the Stewards' qualifying fee at a moderate sum , viz ., £ z 12 s . 6 d ., and this consideration doubtless influenced many to give their valued assistance who would otherwise have been compelled to hold aloof .

The Right Hon . the Earl of Zetland , Prov . Grand Master , presided at the banquet in the hall of the York Lodge , and his lordship was supported on his right by H . R . H . Prince Albert Victor , P . G . Warden ; Hon . VV . T . Orde-Powlett , P . G . W ., D . P . G . M . ; M . C . Peck , P . G . Std . Br ., P . G . Sec : Walter Reynolds , Prov . G . Treas . ; and Sir Fredk . Milner , P . M .

1611 ; and his lordship was supported on his left by the Dean of York , P . G . Chap . ; Bros . J . W . Woodall , P . G . Treas ., P . P . G . W . ; T . B . Whytehead , P . P . G . W . ; J . S . Cumberland , P . P . G . W . ; and Sir Geo . Sitwell , 1248 . The following provincial and other officials were also present :

Bros . R . G . Smith , P . S . G . W . ; M . M . Westerby , P . G . D . C , P . P . G . W . ( Vice-Chairman Charities ' Association ); W . H . Marwood , P . P . G . W . ; Stephenson , P . P . G . W ., D . J . O'Donoghue , P . P . G . W . ; H . Greaves , P . P . G . W . ; H . Fowler , P . P . G . D . ; M . Haberland , P . P . G . D . ; A . Buckle , P . P . G . D . ; Geo . Ayre , P . P . G . D . ; H . Farmer , P . P . G . D . C ; J . R . Ansdell , P . P . G . S . B . ; G . Kirby , P . P . G . D . C ; G . Taylor , P . G . S . Wks . ; C . Palliser , P . P . G . S . Wks . ; W . Tesseyman , P . P . G . S . Wks . ; F . Foster , P . P . G . D . C ; H . J . Morton , P . P . G . D . C ; T . Thompson , P . P . G . D . ; G . Bohn , P . P . G . R . ; J . S . Rymer , P . P . G . R . ; W . J . Watson , P . P . G . R . ; W . H . Cowper , P . P . G . R . ; W . Lawton , P . P . G . R . ; C Gray , P . P . G . D . ; W . S . Child , P . G . O . ; W . S . Child , P . G . O . ; A . Sample , P . P . G . O . ; J . Clark , I . P . M . ; J . Marshall , P . P . G . R ., J . Matthews , and C C . Bristovv , of 57 ; S . Broder , W . M ., H . Foster , M . D ., P . M ., C . H . Forbes , S . W ., T . S . Brogden , J . W ., E . W . Purnell , Sec , T . J . Russell , Lockwood , W . F . Hay , ] . B . Sampson , and C . E . Wright , of 236 ; R . R . Hawley , W . M ., and L . E . Stephenson , S . W ., of 250 ; T . Foley , S . W . 294 ; Mark Scott , W . M ., G . 0 . Barlow , P . M ., W . N . Cheesman , P . M ., and Hodgson , J . W ., of 5 G 6 ; J . McFarden , W . M . C 43 ; J . Bilson , W . M ., H . F . Pudsey , P . M ., and J . Carlill Savill , Sec , of 1010 ; H . Watson , P . M . 1040 ; VV . Ascough , P . M ., T . Dawes Sarony , P . M ., and H . Chapman , of 1248 ; J . T . Hansell , W . M ., R . Sootheran , P . M ,, G . J . Robinson . P . M ., and Capt . Donald Grant , of 1337 ; J . H . Buchanan , 1416 ; A . Lamm and P . C Whifield , P . M ., of 1605 ; W . B . Dyson , P . M . 1611 ; R . Harper , W . M . 1760 ; H . Vernon Cooper , P . M ., and W . J . Williams , M . D ., P . M ., of 184 . 8 ; J . H . Taylor , W . M ., and J . Booth , of 1991 ; and others .

At the conclusion cf the banquet , which was purveyed in a recherche style by Bro . F . W . Halliwell , the Chaplain , the Very Rev . Dean of York , returned thanks . The Earl of ZETLAND , P . G . M ., who was enthusiastically received , then

gave the first toast , viz ., " Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen and the Craft . " His lordship said : Your Royal Highness , Worshipful Sirs , and brethren , —The time of evening has arrived for me to propose that ( . oast which is invariably placed on the list of every loyal assembly of

Englishmen and received with enthusiasm , but especially amongst Freemasons , who are ever loyal to the throne . The toast was received with honours . The PROV . GRAND MASTER said : Your Royal Highness and Brethren , ; -I am about to ask you to drink " The Health of H . R . H . the Prince of

Wales , M . W . G . M . of England . " I feel , brethren , that it would be somewhat presumptuous on my part were I to imagine that any words of " ¦ 'ne , which is in my power to say , could in any possible way add to the enthuSiasrn with which this toast will be received . His Royal Highness is Well-known as a Mason to many in thisroom . It will be remembered that some six years ago his Royal Hi ghness honoured this ancient city with a

visit very kindly responding to our invitation to lav the foundation-stone ' the Institute , which I hope will be a great blessing to this old City of S f ' } merely mention this one solitary instance among innumerable inances * which his Royal Highness has kindly come forward , in order to Promote any object of Charity , or which would elevate the condition of the P ° ple of this great country . The display of Freemasonry on that occasion

Province Of North And East Yorkshire.

must have been sufficient to show his Royal Highness that whatever might have been the case in the darker ages of our history , the chief ornaments of Freemasonry , loyalty to the throne , patriotism to our country , and loyalty to our M . W . Grand Master , were flourishing in a marked degree . Without further comment , I ask you to drink most cordially " The Health of the Grand Master . "

The toast was most enthusiastically received . The PROV . GRAND MASTER : Worshipful Sirs and Brethren , —I have taken advantage of my position as occupying the chair on this occasion to take a liberty with the toast list . We are , on this auspicious occasion , honoured with the presence of a Royal guest ; and it appears to me , as I hope it appears to you , that this toast , "H . R . H . Prince Albert Victor , "

should come second only to that of our M . W . G . M . I rise to propose this toast with somewhat mixed feelings . I rise with feelings rather of reluctance , because I feel in H . R . H . 's presence it is impossible for me to extol his very many good qualities ; on the other hand , I rise to propose vvith the greatest feeling of pleasure , because I feel that , whatever I may say with regard to it , the toast is sure to receive the enthusiasm which it justly deserves .

His Royal Highness has occupied a high Masonic position , and I may say that as soon as his Royal Highness heard that this festival was to be held , his Royal Highness did not hesitate to say he would honour us with his company . I may say that he has given a great impetus to Freemasonry in this province , and he has not only done that but greatly benefited one of

our own Charity Funds belonging to this province . He has shown thus early in life that he has taken deep interest in the well-being of his surroundings , and followed the excellent example of his predecessors , whose memory will always be revered by the Craft . The toast was received most cordially .

His Roya ! Highness PRINCE ALBERT VICTOR , who was most enthusiastically received , said : R . W . P . G . M . and Brethren , —I find it very difficult to express myself for the very kind way with which this toast has been received ; still more so for the way in which it vvas proposed by you , R . W , P . G . M ., indeed , in too flattering terms , and for the enthusiastic reception it met . I can assure you , brethren , that it gives me the greatest possible

pleasure to come here this evening , especially on an occasion of this nature , viz ., on the first festival of your Educational Fund . I am pleased to support so excellent and good a work , as I have always taken the greatest and deepest interest in Masonry and its charitable objects ; therefore , I am only too glad to avail myself of the opportunity to be a participator in the movement , especially on an occasion like the present . I have to thank you , brethren , most heartily .

The DEP . P . G . M . ( Lieut .-Col . the Hon . W . T . Orde-Powlett ) proposed "The Right Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon , Pro G . M ., the Right Hon . the Earl of Lathom , Dep . G . M ., " and , in doing so , said these two Masons stood high in the Craft , and spared neither trouble nor time to see that everything was worked to the satisfaction of the M . W . G . M ., and the fact

that the Prince of Wales year after year appointed them to their respective offices proved that they did not fail in the performance of their onerous duties , but rather that they did their duty well , and to the best of their ability , and it was , therefore , only fit and proper that they should drink to their good health .

The Dean of YORK , P . G . C , said that it was his privilege to propose " The Health of the Rt . Hon . the Earl of Zetland , P . G . Master of North and East Yorks . " The toast , he said , would prove alike acceptable to the brethren present as well as to his lordship . As regarded themselves , as Masons , he was sure they might congratulate one another very cordially in having Lord Zetland as their P . G . M . It was not for him to enter at length into the

many qualities which made him so very acceptable to the Masons of the province . During the present P . G . Master ' s tenure of office he had displayed great ability , and given strength to the cause of Freemasonry . He ( the Dean of York ) was becoming a veteran amongst Masons , having been initiated now 50 years , and he could sincerely say that he could look back

upon his long connection with Masonry without one single regret . He was only sorry that during those years he had not persuaded more of his reverend brethren to become associated with the Craft . After referring at length to the spirit of Freemasonry , the reverend brother proposed the toast , which was received with loud and continued applause .

The Earl of ZETLAND briefly thanked the brethren for their cordial reception of the toast , which had touched him deeply . He was exceedingly proud of the long Masonic connection existing between the members of his family and the province . The Earl of ZETLAND then proceeded to propose the toast of " The Educational Fund , " which commemorated the special object of their festival

that night , and said : 1 may be excused for briefly adverting to the progress vvhich Masonic charitable organisation has made in this province . In 1865 our Fund of Benevolence was founded , principally through the exertions of the late D . P . G . M ., and since that period the sum of - £ 941 has been distributed to poor brethren and widows of brethren belonging to lodges in this province . In addition , we have given to the central Masonic Charities about

; £ i 6 oo , irrespective of the subscriptions and donations of the various lod ges and brethren . In 1878 our Provincial Charities Association was established , vvhich has entirely taken away the vast trouble and expense to which candidates for the Masonic Charities were formerly put to secure their election , and which , by concentrating the entire voting power of the province , has been enabled to secure the election of every , candidate whom we have adopted , and this without the slightest trouble or expense to the candidate .

Our Fund will be enabled to deal with many cases of distress , for which the excellent Masonic Schools do not provide , such as those where the children are afflicted with ailments or other personal disqualifications . The scheme has been taken up by the province in a most hearty manner , and I doubt not that the Provincial Grand Secretary will be able to announce a yery handsome sum as the result of the labours of those brethren who have undertaken Stewardships in connection with this festival . I give you then , brethren , the toast of "The Educational Fund of North and East

Yorkshire , with the earnest hope that this festival will be continued annuall y , and prove a valuable adjunct to the cause of Masonic Charity in this

pro-. The Prov . Grand Sec , Bro . M . C . PECK , P . G . Std . Br . England , then read the list of Stewards' lists , the efforts of the 102 Stewards realising the handsome sum of £ 1000—which announcement was received with acclamation .

The toast of " The Great Masonic Chanties " was proposed by Bro . J . W . WOODALL ; and that of "The York Lodge , No . 236 , " by the Earl of ZETLAND , which brought the highly successful festival to a close . The proceedings vvere pleasantly interspersed with harmony , under the direction of Bros , Sample and Child .