Provincial Grand Chapter Of West Yorkshire.

You see , companions , since our numbers have so largely increased it is not everywhere sufficient and suitable accommodation can be obtained , and then there is the increased cost , which is a serious consideration , where chapter funds are often limited ; in May , 1883 , we experienced a similar difficulty , and , this hall not being available ; the Wakefield chapters , by my request , conveyed their furniture and paraphernalia to the Town Hall , Pontefract , where we had a very successful meeting , and on the present occasion the Wakefield chapters have

determined to bear the entire cost . In the most graceful language it is in our power to command , we desire to convey to those chapters our appreciation of their most opportune liberality and kindly welcome . In order not to trespass too heavily on private chapters and to encourage the continued growth of our meetings , which I much desire , and to give the smaller chapters an opportunity of sometimes receiving us , it is proposed in our revised by-laws to pay the expenses properly incident to these meetings , and I recommend as an understood practice , in future , all companions attending pay for

refreshments . The annual subscriptions to chapters are so limited in amount that few can indulge in the luxury of entertaining Grand Chapter , the cost of which is seldom less than £ 20 . I am told that companions have strong opinions on this question , which I commend for consideration to your good sense and wisdom , but in my humble opinion some such understanding might , in future , remove any obstacle such as I have mentioned , and which has tended to delay an earlier meeting this November . When we met at Barnsley on 10 th May , we had for the first time before us the newly-revised Royal Arch

Regulations , confirmed in London five days previously , copy of which had been furnished by Grand Chapter to every chapter under English Constitutions ; and it became necessary that we should revise our own by-laws , which had been in force since 30 th November , 1858 ; accordingly , you appointed a most learned , competent , and representative Committee to carry out this important work . This Committee held its first meeting in Leeds on 29 th October , and after many subsequent conferences and proofs submitted to every acting Principal and chapter , our Registrar is enabled to present to us what I

fully believe to be , a perfect set of by-laws , which are in complete harmony with the new Royal Arch Regulations . The hearty , and zealous , and rapid manner in which the Proy . G . S . E ., Comp . Henry Smith , and all other members of the Committee have laboured in this matter , is another illustration of the aptitude to get this business over ) shown by members of the Court in this province . Should you adopt this revised edition this afternoon we shall be able to confirm it in May , 1 SS 7 , and forthwith obtain the certificate of M . E . the First G . Principal . On 4 th August , Supreme Grand Chapter granted a charter for

a chapter to be attached to Harrogate and Claro Lodge , No . 1001 , and on 3 rd instant , a charter for Phcenix Lodge , No . 904 , Rotherham , and I have requested E . Comp . C . L . Mason to perform the ceremony of consecrating the former , and E . Comp . Ensor Drury the latter . We welcome these additions to our roll , making 3 S chapters . I may mention that in May our brethren and companions of Wakefield gave a concert which produced the noble balance of fiifty guineas for the Masonic Charities . It now becomes my melancholy duty to allude to the loss by death of many valued and

distinguished companions ; amongst the number , I may mention , Comps . T . G . Andrews , F . W . W . Booth , J . Buckley Sharp , and W . Benland , all of Bradford , and this town has sustained a severe loss by the death of a venerable Freemason , viz ., Martin Edward Naylor , who had been a member of Unanimity Lodge considerably over half a century ; these companions by their conduct , so far as we can judge , practised the grand moral lesson inculcated by this beautiful Degree . Lastly , may I ask suggestions for the most desirable method of commemorating the Jubilee of our Most Gracious Majesty the Oueen ,

in 1 S 87 . You are acquainted with the letter of our Royal Grand Master , dated 30 th October , 18 S 6 , to the Mayor of Windsor , wherein he states his conviction that the anxiety to commemorate , in some special manner , her Majesty's Jubilee is felt as warmly in provincial towns as in any part of the Queen ' s dominions . Should a similar communication be addressed to Supreme Grand Chapter , this Provincial Grand Chapter will take practical steps to honour adequately this auspicious event , and may I suggest that we adopt a resolution similar to that passed by Provincial Grand Lodge , on 20 th October ,

" Thatthe consideration be left in the hands of the Charity Committee . " Finally , companions , in peace , love , and unity I commend this Chapter , of which the Sanhedrim of the Jews of old is a type , to your care and keeping , believing that by the great attributes of the mysterious words , to the all wise , all powerful , and all present Being , around whose throne we may be hereafter permitted to stand , you will steadily pursue the acquisition of true wisdom , by searching out Jehovah's great and glorious works , for promoting His honour and glory , for the benefit of mankind , and your own individual welfare .

The roll , and the roll of the Present and Past Prov . Grand Officers having been called , the minutes of the meeting at Barnsley , on the 10 th May last , were taken as read , and confirmed . It was moved by Comp . J . HEATON CADMAN , P . Z . 154 , P . G . Reg ., seconded by Comp . C . L . MASON , P . Z . 304 , P . P . G . H ., and resolved , "That the Provincial Grand Lodge By-Jaws , as revised by the Advice Committee , and submitted for the consideration and approval to everyone in the chapter ,

be adopted in place of the by-laws in force since 1858 ; " a vote of thanks to the Committee , for their arduous and successful labours , being also passed . The PROV . G . SUPERINTENDENT having said he was prepared to receive suggestions as to the best method of celebrating the Queen ' s Jubilee in 1887 , it was moved , seconded , and resolved , "That it be left in the hands of the Charity Committee to prepare a scheme to be laid before next Prov . G . Chapter in May , 1887 . " It was moved by Comp . C . L . MASON , seconded by Comp . JOHN WORDSWORTH , "That it be a recommendation from this Provincial Grand Chapter

that in future chapters entertaining Prov . G . Chapter allow members attending to pay for refreshments . " Comp . JOSEPH DOBSON , Z . 289 , on behalf the Leeds chapters , having invited the P . G . Superintendent to hold the annual meeting , May , 1887 , in Leeds , Prov . G . Chapter was closed , and the companions adjourned to refreshment , the P . G . Superintendent presiding . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts were dul y honoured , and , with the assistance of the musical companions , a very harmonious evening was spent .

Grand Lodge Of Scotland.

GRAND LODGE OF SCOTLAND .

The third Jubilee of the Grand Lodge of Scotland was celebrated in Edinburgh on the 30 th ult ., St . Andrew ' s Day . There assembled in Edinburgh the largest gathering of Freemasons which has been known in the history of the Scottish Craft . The celebration assumed the form of the annual communication to the Grand Lodge and a banquet . It was early in the afternoon when the first proceeding took place , and at it the Master

and office-bearers for the year 1886-87 were elected and installed . The banquet took place immediately afterwards in the Drill Hall , Forrest-road , and it proved in every respect a brilliant success . The annual communication of the Grand Lodge was held in the afternoon at two o ' clock , under the presidency first of the Earl of Mar and Kellie , and then of the Grand Master Mason , Bro . Sir Archibald Campbell of BIythswood , Bart ., M . P . There was a very large attendanceof brethren

from all parts of the country . The office-bearers for the year 1886-87 were duly installed . The leading names are as follows : Bros , the Right Hon . the Earl of Haddington , R . W . G . M . Depute ; the Right Hon . the Earl of Kintore , R . W . Substitute G . M . ; Frederick E . Villiers of Closeburn , R . W . G . S . W . ; James T . S . Elliot , younger , of Wolfelee , R . W . G . I , W . ; D . Murcav Lyon , R . W . G . Sec ; David Kinnear , R . W . G . Cashier ; Rev . John Watt , B . D ., and Rev . R . Herbert Story , V . W . G . Chaps . ; William MacLean , jun ., C . A ., V . W . G . S . D . ; J . Dalrymple Duncan , V . W . G . J . D . ; Hippolyte J . Blanc , V . W . G . Architect ; David Macgregor , V . W . G . Jeweller ; Major F . W . Allan , V . W . G . B . B . ; Albert Apthorpe , W . G . D . oEC ; George Dobie , W . G . Bard : Lieut .-Col . John Campbell , W . G . Swd .

Grand Lodge Of Scotland.

Br . ; Carl D . Hamilton , W . G . D . of M . ; Robert Davidson , W . G . Org . ; Major Wm Hills , W . G . Marshal ; David Reid , W . I . G . ; and David Robertson , Grand Tyler . Sir Archibald Campbell having been formally elected to the office of the Master , was conducted to the hall with the customary ceremonial , and was informed by the Earl of MAR and KELLIE that , for the third time , he had been elected Grand Master Mason of Scotland . His lordship congratulated him on the honour that had thus been conferred on him . ( Applause . )

The GRAND MASTER returned thanks for the honour which he had thus received , and had pleasure to be able to announce on this auspicious occasion —the occasion of the third jubilee—that the Grand Lodge was in as flourishing and as prosperous a condition as they * as Masons , could possibly desire it . ( Applause . ) The other office-bearers were introduced with the full Masonic ceremony , and took the oath of allegiance .

Bro . Sheriff THOMS presented to the Grand Lodge a bust of the Past Grand Master , the Earl of Mar and Kellie . ( Applause . ) The bust is b y Mr . John Rhind , and is a replica of that recently presented by the Grand Lodge to Lady Mar and Kellie . ' The GRAND MASTER accepted the present with the greatest pleasure—as the gift of a bust of a most distinguished Mason —( applause)—and as one who deserved well of the Grand Lodge . ( Renewed applause . )

Grand Lodge was then closed . There was an attendance of about 1400 brethren at the banquet , all the lodges of Scotland being represented , as well as many others at home and abroad . The Drill Hall naturall y lent itself very suitably to the occasion . Along the south side of the hall there was ranged a platform , on which the Chairman and the more prominent Masonic brethren were accommodated ; The back of the platform was effectivel y decorated with drapery , and in the

immediate centre and behind the chair it was embellished with a panelling representing the orders and symbols of Operative Masonry . The proceedings opened at three o ' clock . Sir Archibald Campbell , the Grand Master Mason of Scotland , occupied the chair . Amongst those present were—Bros . The Earl of Mar and Kellie , Past G . M . ; Earl of Haddington , G . M . Depute ; Earl of Kintore , Sub . CM . ; Lieut .-CoL Lord Saltoun ; R . F . Shaw-StewartPast

, Sub . G . M . ; Charles Dalrymple , M . P ., Prov . G . M . of Argyllshire and the Isles ; W . H . Shaw-Stewart , M . P ., Depute of Renfrewshire West ; Wm . Pearce , M . P ., of Glasgow ; Rev . Prof . Story , G . Chap . ; Sheriff Thoms of Caithness , Orkney , and Shetland j M'Lagan , M . P ., G . M . of Linlithgowshire ; Col . Drummond Moray , yr ., G . M . of Perthshire West ; F . E . Villiers of Closeburn , G . S . W . ; D . Murray Lyon G . Sec : Capt . Oswald of Dunnikier , P . G . M . of Fife and Kinross : 1 . T . Elliot , vr .. of Wolfelee .

G . J . W . ; Rev . John Watt , B . D ., G . Chap . ; Hector M'Lean , W . S ., P . G . M . of Upper Lanarkshire ; W . Barton , Representative from the Grand Lodge of Tennessee ; Dr . John Loth J J . M'Donald , Representative of the Grand Lodge of Indiana ; R , Nisbet , Representative from the Grand Lodge of Utah ; J . Baird , Representative from the Grand Lodge of Cuba ; Alexander Hay , Prov . G . M . of Jamaica ; D . Kinnear , Grand Cashier ; and Thomas Nesbitt , Depute P . G . Sec . Antrim .

The CHAIRMAN proposed the loyal and patriotic toasts , which were responded to with enthusiasm . In proposing " The Queen , " he said that her Majesty ' s Jubilee coincided with the Jubilee of the Grand Lodge , and he was sure that no body of men throughout the world rejoiced more than the Masons of Scotland at the fact that her Majesty was able to celebrate the Jubilee of her reign during the present and incoming year ( Cheers . ) Sir J AMES BUCHANAN , Dumbarton , replied for " The Navy , " Lord SALTOUN for "The Army , " and Col . HENRY LUMSDEN , of Pitcapel , for " The Reserve Forces . "

Bro . M . H . SHAW-STEWART , M . P ., proposed "The Grand Master Mason and the Grand Lodge of Scotland . " He asked the brethren to compare the position of the Grand Lodge now to its position in 1836 , the date the last Jubilee . Fifty years ago there were only 320 lodges on the roll of the Grand Lodge , and now there were 600 working lodges . ( Cheers . ) Fifty years ago there were only 12 lodges abroad , and now there were 218 lodges . The average number of initiates fifty years a $ ro was 060 , and

now the average number was 5000 . ( Cheers . ) What he thought most important of all was that , while fifty years ago there was no fund for benevolence , there was now a fund of the kind , which distributed annually from £ 4 °° to £ 500 , and which had a reserve fund , he thought , of £ 6000 . ( Cheers ) . Therefore , they had good cause to congratulate the Grand lodge for having wiped away the load of debt which was hanging over it , and for having instituted a system of benevolence and Charity . That remarkable

gathering testified to the loyalty and affection which was borne to the Grand Lodge . Long might it be the same , and long might the Grand Lodge prosper , was , he was sure , the heartfelt wish of every one there . ( Cheers . ) He added that he thought their Grand Master was everything that a Mason should be . ( Cheers . ) They all knew that he had a warm heart and generous mind , and they all knew that he pursued with unflinching determination and energy every good and useful work which he put his hand

to . ( Cheers . ) The CHAIRMAN , in reply , also gave statistics showing the increase of Freemasonry . In 1836 , he remarked , there were no lodges connected with the Grand Lodge of Scotland in their great colonies . Now they consisted of alarge number . In all there were 2 i 2 colonial lodges which owned the sway of the Grand Lodge of Scotland . ( Cheers . ) The Grand Lodge now , he was glad to say , found itself without debt and with jC-io . ooo worth of

property . ( Cheers . ) The entrants during the year had been 4709 . New charters had been given to twelve lodges , and the gross income of the year came to about £ 4800 . As to the Benevolent scheme , he hoped and trusted that before long the Grand Lodge would be able to do more than it had done in the past , and to do it in a manner which might be a good to all Masons and Freemasonry generally . What , he proceeded to ask , did their Order teach them 1 Thousands of years ago , when the wise Grand Master ,

Solomon himself , organised this great Body—when he was laying the foundations of the Temple of the Lord—he could not conceive in the wildest flights of his fancy to what an extent their Order was to grow . ( Cheers . ) He did not think that he could have foreseen that in the isles of the West , girt about by the sounding sea , they should find the true homes of Masonry —( cheers)—that in a free people , owning free laws , Freemasonry should flourish as it had done . It had grown with the growth of the nation . It came as a flower , budding forth ; and when the time came in Providence ' s

hand that they should go forth and occupy the waste places of the earth , Masonry went also . ( Cheers . ) Masonry now , in the lodges that they had planted all over the world , called to them there , and asked them to remember their devotion to the laws , and to the Institutions which they had founded upon the Book of Faith , which had gone forth . Founded in unity , it asked them to remember unity also . ( Cheers . ) And he might say , that ne trusted before long that they , as Britons , would be able to look around and see that teaching which their Order suggested brought about in the great Empire