Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

that I have filled the chair quite long enough , and that it is only right and seemly that I should give way to some one else . I am in your hands , brethren , absolutely and unconditionally—tell me clearly and distinctly what you would have . Assure me that you think , in the interest of the province , it is desirable that you should find some other brother to take this position , and I will at once stand aside and loyally carry out your suggestion . On thc other hand , if you say that you have continued confidence in me and that you are satisfied with the administration of

the province under my regime , that , in fact , you still wish to retain me as your Provincial Grand Master , then I will gladly comply with your wishes and permit myself again to be nominated . But , let us have -unanimity and concord , let there be no grudging half-hearted , consent to such a course . If I felt or thought that your allegiance was divided , your confidence incomplete , or your loyalty shaken , no inducement would influence me to retain the position . Anything I may have done forthe province in the past must not count on this occasion—all I ask is that you will do your duty to the province and to yourselves , that you will so

arrange matters that a prosperous future may be assured . The characteristic feature in Mark Masonry in West Yorkshire , a feature the possession of which has always caused me genuine pride and pleasure , has been the sense of unanimity and haimony we have experienced ; we have dwelled together in unity . Let that happy condition of affairs continue , and when we part to-day may we carry away the blessed feeling that there is no restraint amongst us ; that we can meet again with the same whole-hearted fraternal affection , and that , sinking personal considerations , we have acted in the best interests of the Order , to which we owe generous allegiance .

- The Prov . Grand Master was most attentively listened to and frequently applauded . The DEPUTY was then invited to address the brethren . This he did in

the following terms—Brethren , our Right Worship ful Prov . Grand Master has called our attention this afternoon to the steady progress which the Mark Degree is making in the Masonic world . Let me add that it is not only the Mark Degree that is advancing in numbers and influence ; all the Degrees and Orders associated with Freemasonry are showing wonderful vitality and activity , and Freemasonry is becoming a great power amongst us . There is , I fear , however , a tendency in

these days to depart somewhat from the lines of procedure ( not perhaps in main principles , but in apparently unimportant details ) upon which our Institution was founded and has flourished . Such departure you may take it , brethren , bodes no good to our Order . Innovations , seemingly simple and even convenient , are the thin ends of what may prove destructive wedges , and , therefore , I say beware of them . This is too large a subject to dwell upon on an occasion of this kind , for it cannot justly be dealt with in the space of time allotted to me . I will not ,

therefore , further discuss it , but will call your attention to other matters which are not without connection with it . True Freemasonry avoids publicity and is disinterested . It is much too common now-a-days to see accounts of Masonic meetings in the . ordinary daily or evening newspapers ; we are too much infi sted with what is called the " enterprising reporter . " I should designate him the inquisitive busybody . Give him and all his kind , Masonically , a wide berth . We have no desire to advertise ourselves in the public journals , still less to see our proceedings

commented upon by ignorant , sometimes impertinent , paragraphists . We have our Masonic papers , and they suffice for all the publicity we need . There are ceitain , both London and Provincial sheets which make a strong point of Masonic news , and sad grief they come to in their so-called authenticity ; but let them blunder on , we are indifferent , only take care not to help them in any way . My second point is disinterestedness . 1 have more than once been consulted by men who have , they tell me , been recommended to join our Order because of business

advantages or other interests , wlich they calculated or were informed might result therefrom . Now , I need not point out to you that that is not the spirit which animates our Order , and it is net such influences which have generated its power for good . The man who seeks to enter Freemasonry with such motives is the very man whom we must carefully exclude . The advantages of becoming a Ficemason I will not discuss here—they ate known and experienced by all of you , but even if our Institution lacked the numerous

privileges it confers , it at any rate enables us to become acquainted with men whom we should not otherwise perhaps ever meet . By its means we form intimate associations , often dear and lifelong friendships . It teaches us to see the gcod in a man , and to learn to exercise and prcfit by that excellent gift of Charity spoken of by the Apostle . I don't mean giving only , but the Charity which suffereth long and is kind , the Charity which thinketb no evil , the Charity which in . 'pired the divine words of the Saviour , "Neither do I condemn thee ; go , and

sin no more . " Let us then jealously guard the landmarks and also the outworks of our Institution , and let us for ever class all newspaper busybodies as Cosvans and intruders , And now , before 1 sit down , it is my duty and pleasure to propose a vote of thanks to Bro . J . B . Corbitt , W . M ., and all the brethren for the care they have bestowed upon the arrangements for our comfort to-day . It is the first visit of Prov . Grand Lodge to Castleford since the consecration of the Legiolium Lodge , and I know to

thai great desire has been shown by the brethren of Lodge 4 ^ 7 prove themselves worthy of ihe occasion . If you agree with me that so fur they have certainly done so , you will join with me in this very necessary and well-deserved acknowledgment . This was secended by liro . T . ROWBOTHAM , S . G . Warden , and carried with enthusiasm . Bro . J . B . CORIUTT replied , and said that the Castleford brethren had worked very hard to make the meeting a success , and that they were all

much pleased that their efforts had been appreciated . Bro , B . SYKES BMLVA * , P . M . -3 , 74 , Prov . G . Treas ., proposed as his successor in that office Bro . Francis Smith , P . M . 352 , P . P . G . Deacon . This was seconded by Bro . J . E . CAWTHORN , supported by the Prov . G . M ., and carried unanimously . Bro . F . SMITH thanked the brethren for the honour conferred upon him . 'Ihe Prov . Grand Ofiicer . ' , for the year were then appointed and invested as follows :

Bro . T . G . Howell , 137 and . 193 ¦•••••Prov . S . G . W .

„ Thos . Pickles . 127 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . ,, j . Paikin Hewitt , 53 ... ... ... Prov . G . M . O . ,, Joshua Hill ( T . L ) ... ... ... Prov . S . G . O . „ Jas . Milligan , 58 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . O .

,, Rev . J . L . Brereton , 127 .... ... Prov . G . Chap . ,, F , Smith , 352 ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ J . A . God \ vin , J . P ., 374 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ Joseph Matthewman , 110 ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ Thco . Barber , 39 S ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ Wm . Varley , 501 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D .

„ W . B . Smith , 352 ... ... ... Prov . G . L of W . „ R . J . Smith , iii ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ S . Krakauer , 127 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . ,, Tom Ashworth , 14 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ J . K . Mann , 457 ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . „ J . Nicholson , 457 ... ... ... Prov . G , Org .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

Bro . E . Foulds , 535 ... ... ... Prov . G . I . G . „ J . T . Thompson , 53 ... ... ... ** ) „ H . Bonser , 111 ... ... ... f D „ , ~ . e . J „ Jas . H . Dyson , 137 J Prov . G . Stwds . „ Geo . Hovle , M . D ., 493 ... ... ... ) ,, T . F . Wheeler , in ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler .

Two or three of these brethren were absent , and collars were received by their proxies . The Chairman of the Charity Committee , Bro . W . E . SMITHIES , called upon the Prov . G . Secretary to read the sixth annual report of that bod y . On this being done , Bro . SMITHIES proposed its adoption , which was seconded by the V ICE-CHAIRMAN , both expressing satisfaction . This was carried .

The two Wardens and three Overseers were chosen to act on the Board of General Purposes . The next business was to nominate some distirguished brother to occupy the position of Prov . G . Master for the next three years . This duty was warmly undertaken and gracefully performed by Bro . H . S . Holdsworth P . M . 58 and 535 , P . P . G . W ., P . G . ' Std . Br .

Bro , HOLDSWORTH , as one of the oldest Mark Masons present , could claim to have some knowledge of this province and its work . He could , he said appreciate the immense progress that had been made under the rule of Bro . C . L . Mason ; and that if , as Bro . Mason had said , he was willing to serve fcr another period of three years , they ought all to be glad indeed , and to congratulate themselves upon the continuance of his

most successful and harmonious government . He was , therefore , proud to nominate in that Prov . G . Lodge Bro . Chailes Letch Mason to occupy the posiiion of Prov . G . Master for the three years ensuing , and he felt sure their new G . Master would gladly approve of their nomination , and would be pleased to accede to their wish .

The feeling amongst the brethren was very strong as to this course , and all most cordially assented . An invitation was given by Bro . HAROLD BONSER , W . M . in , on behalf of Copley Lodge , No . ni , to hold the autumn meeting of Prov . G . Lodge in Leeds , when it was hoped they wculd have entered upon occupation of the new Masonic Hal ' .

Ihe PROV . GRAND MASTER promised to give Bro . Bonser ' s invitation full consideration . After some other business had been discussed , the Prov . G . Lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to dinner in the Queen ' s Hall ; About 60 sat down , and the proceedings passed off very pleasantly . There were the usual toasts , aud songs were given by Bros . Buckland , Beach , and others .

The Legiolium brethren maybe congratulated upon the complete success of their arrangements , as from beginning to end there was not a hitch . All worked smcolhly , and to Bros . J . B . Corbitt , W . M . ; J . E . Mann , LP . M ., and those who ably assisted much praise is due for their forethoug ht and arrangements .

Provincial Grand Chapter Of Durham.

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF DURHAM .

INSTALLATION OF THF . REV . CANON TRISTRAM , D . D .

A special convocation of the officers and members of the above Prov . Grand Chapter was held on Saturday afternoon , the 4 th instant , in the Masonic Hall , Duiham , for the purpose of installing the Rev . Canon Tristram , D . D ., LL . D ., F . R . S ., as Grand Superintendent of the Province

of Durham . The honoured and respected Canon was appointed by H . R . H . the Grand ' / .., then Prince of Wales , in November last , but , owing to indisposition , the ceremony of his installation was deferred until Saturday . There was a large and representative gathering from all parts of the province .

Prov . Grand Chapter was opened by Comps . John Holt , acting Grand Superintendent ; A . S . Fowler , as Prov . G . H . ; and VV . E . Moffett , Prov . Grand J .

Other Past Provincial Grand Principals in attendance were Comps . Babington Boulton , P . P . G . H . ; Richard Luck , P . P . G . H . ; Robert Hudson , P . G . S . E .-Canon Kynaston , P . P . G . H . ; F . H . Bennelt , P . P . G . H . ; William Loean , P . P . G . H . ; II . | . Turnbull , P . P . G . H . ; C . H . Backhouse , P . P . G . J . ; J ? C Moor , P . P . G . J . ; George Harland , P . P . G . H . ; and Thos . Coulson , P . P . G . H .

Amongst the Past and Present Provincial Grand Officers were Comps . J . R . Cutter , Thomas Harrison , B . S . Beckwith , j . H . Nelson , Dr . L . Booth , Charles Cox , Wm . Barlow , J . W . B . Heslop , G . F . Allan , R . Stewart , E . Lautebach , A . Grundy , R . Hauxwell , K . H . Tilley , John Walton , Rev . Thomas Lawson , S . Fenny , Nicholas Lee , W . J . Dobson , Thomas Robinson , as P . G . P . S . ; T . R . Jobson , R . II . Holme , D . Whitehead , G . S . Shaw , W . McBride , tl . Sodeberg , M . A . Lax , J . N . Taylor , G . IS . Hall , Henry Brown , and J . F . Hillier .

While among tlie Principals and ollicers of chapters were Comps . John Robinson , John Joel , R . R . Ferguson , W . T . Tate , A . Dodds , T . A . Moffat , John Armstrong , T . A . Pragnall , W . J . Anderson , T . O . Todd , J . M . Thompson , H . Havelock , T . Grieve , A . Goucley , W . Brown , and others .

Thc patent of appointment of the Rev . Canon Tristram , D . D ., as Grand Superintendent having been read by Comp . R . Hudson , P . G . S . E ., the Grand Superintendent designate was introduced by Comps . R . Luck , H . J . Turnbull , F . H . Bennett , A . S . Fowler , S . Fenny , and C . H . Backhouse , the collar and insignia of oliice being borne by Comp . li . HauxwelL

The duties of installing chief were performed in an able and dignified manner by Comp . Babington Boulton , P . P . G . H ., who , in the name of all the R . A . Masons in the Province of Durham , offered the Rev . Canon Tristram their hearty congratulations on the honour conferred upon him by his Majesty the King , now Grand Patron , and until recently Grand Z .

of the Order , in selecting him for the high oflbe of Grand Superintendent of a Province , and he was sure they might also congratulate themselves on having such a distinguished Mason to preside over them . They would be delighted to serve under him with unfailing loyalty , and they trusted he might be long spared to rule over them . ( Applause . )

The Grand Superintendent , Rev . Canon TRISTR \ M , D . D ., having been duly installed and proclaimed according to ancient custom , brielly addressed the Prov . Grand Chapter . In the first place , he expressed his extreme regret at the circumstances which resulted in his being appointed to that hig h position , in the departure hence of his old friend Sir Hedworth Williamson , Bart . The Prov . Grand Chapter had onl y been formally constituted since iS ' ifi , but the chapter had existed and they had had Grand Superintendents for about 120 years . Among the Grand Superintendents