Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Lancashire.

flags and decorations , the fruit , flowers , plate , and glass so tastefully arranged nn the tables , thc scene was altogether such as can seldom be witnessed at a Masonic gathering . To add to thc enjoyment of the banquet , a glee party , under the direction of Bro . Skeaf , the P . G . Organist , occupied the stage , and during the evening performed in capital style a selection of vocal music . The

band played during dinner , The first toast was the " Health of Her Majesty the Queen , " and the R . W . P . G . M . in proposing it spoke of her Majesty as a patron of the Craft . The noble Chairman next gave " The Health of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , thc Princess of Wales , and the other members of the Royal Family . " ( Applause . ) Thc

R . W . P . G . M . said he had before now told them how much he honoured his Royal Highness as their Worshipful Grand Master , and how he looked upon him as a very good Mason . He need not repeat that nor say that his Royal Hig hness continued so still . He hoped , however they would join with him in congratulating their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess upon Ihe restoration

to health of their eldest son . He could assure them that though little had been said of thc Prince ' s illness in the daily papers it had been greatly felt by the Royal parents , and had been the cause of great anxiety . ( Hear , hear . ) The health of the " Right Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon and the other officers of the Grand Lodge" was the next given , coupled with the name of Bro . Colonel Birchall ,

Past G . D . Bro . Birchall responded , and proposed the " Health of the Right Hon . Lord Skelmersdale , the R . W . P . G . M , " which was received with great enthusiasm . His Lordship , in responding , said Masonry in his province had grown , was growing , and would continue to grow . It was a great responsibility for any single

brother to hold , but he was thankful to say that his work was rendered comparatively pleasant by the harmony which universally prevailed in the province . ( Hear , hear , and applause . ) Unless this harmony prevailed it would be impossible for him to conduct the 77 lodges which were under his direction . He refeircd with pleasure to the glorious gathering that day , and announced that the sum

granted on that occasion to the Indian famine relief fund would be made up to £ 200 . ( Applause . ) " The Provincial Grand Officers , Past and Present" was next given , and wns followed by " The Worshipful Masters of the Lodges in the Province , " proposed by Brn . H . S . Alpass , Prov . G . Sec ; and responded to by Bro . John Vauehan , W . M . 8 fi ( Present ) , thc oldest lodge in the

province represented at the banquet . The " Charities of the Province , " proposed by Bro . Robert Wilson , P . P . G . J . D . ; and responded to by Bros . Robert Wylie , P . P . G . S . D . ; and Richard Brown , P . M . 241 ; whose names had been coupled with thc toast in a very complimentary manner , was next honouied , and the proceedings were brought to a close with the usual

toast" To all poor and distressed Masons . " A charming variety to the music . il programme wns furnished by Bro . H . Gill , roSd , whose fairy bell performance was loudly applauded . The musical arrangements were under the direction of Bro . J . Skeaf , P . G . O . ; and those who assisted were Bros . C . Haswell , | . P . Bryan , J . T . Pogmire , W . H . Quayle , J . Queen , G . A . VV . Ph ' illipps , VV . Forrester , and R . N . Hobart .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF WEST YORKSHIRE .

On Wednesday the brethren of West Yorkshire assembled in large force in the ancient ecclesiastical diocese of Ripon . Bro . Wm . Paley , M . D ., W . M ., and officers of the De Grey and Ripon Lodge , ( 837 ) , opened the preliminary Lodne , after which the Provincial Grand

Lodge entered , and was presided over by the Right Hon . Sir . H . Edwards , Bart ., Prov . Grand Master of West Yorkshire . The usual preliminaries having been gone through , the brethren cordially saluted the Right Worshipful Prov . Grand Master in ancient form . In acknowledging the compliment , Sir Henry Edwards

said , Brethren , —Accept my acknowledgments for the warmth of your salutation and the cordiality of your reception . My address to day must be brief , but there are a few remarks I desire to press upon your attention on the circumstances which have marshalled the Masonic body of West Yorkshire under the banner of the De Grey and Ripon Lodge ,

and occasioned this meeting in thc Town Hall of the capital of the Ecclesiastical Diocese of Ripon . I find the first visit of Provincial Grand Lodge to this city , was in July , 1863 , under the presidency of Bro . Bentley Shaw , when the brethren proceeded to Fountain Abbey in Masonic costume . The next visit here , was in October , 185 ( 1 , when the Marquis ot Ripon , then Lord de Grey and Ripon , was

the occupant of my chair , and whose retirement from the Craft , which he greatly adorned , we must ever regret . A third visit was paid in July , 1871 , and Bro . Bentley Shaw again presided over your deliberations , and the brethren of the province were again entertained at Fountain Abbey through the kindness of the late Provincial Grand Master . Again the fourth time , after an interval vi six years , the

province has been invited to hold its last quarterly meeting this year , in this romantic and interesting- locality . We thank the Worshipful Master , officers , and brethren of the Ripon Lodge , for this day ' s invitation and oft repented hospitality . Whilst we acknowledge the gratification in the renewal of our interest with the arlhilcctural edifices

ecclesiastical memories and ancient historic associations which the Royal Archrclogical Institute of Great Britain b rought to our notice in 1874 , we are reminded by the presence amongsl us of the well travelled Mayor of this city , the Worshipful Master of this lodge , thc Chaplain , author of the " Guide to Chambered Barrows and Pre-

Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

Historic Monuments . " and other members of No . S 37 , with whom we now claim to a more intimate acquaintance , as well as with their written discoveries in the hidden mysteries of nature and art . As might he expected in a city full of the works of our ancient operative brethren in Masonry , and equally famous in its relations to the ecclesiastical history of Yorkshire , wc find amongst its

most prominent institutions those relating to charitable endowments . I shall only touch briefly on their merits . There arc three- on which our operative brethren bestowed some care , and which in constructive skill te-tify to us of their genius as master builders as well as to their charity . The " Maison de Dicu , " an old asylum for eight poor women ; "the Hospital of St . Mary Magdalene , " for

lepers , which Lcland asserts , was , in thc 12 U 1 century , built by our brethren from Rome . The third which interests us to-day is "Jcpson's Hospital . " On behalf of this charity Bro . thc Rev-. Canon Burficld , of St . Mark ' s , Leicester , and Past Provincial Grand Chaplain of this province , has mtist kindly responded to my invitation to preach , witli the sanction of the dean and chapter , in the

cathedral , both of our much respected Provincial Grand Chaplains , who were otherwise quite willing to undertake that duty , being prevented by ancient statutes now in force , from occupying the pulpit in Ripon Cathedral on this occasion , being below thc dignity of canon . To the Bishop of thc Dioceses our obligations are due for placing his cathedral at thc disposal of

the authorities for a special service for this charity , This hospital was founded in 1672 , by Zacharias Jepson , a Freemason and apothecary at York , but a native of Ripon . This brother bequeathed to feofees thc sum of £ 3000 to purchase land for the maintenance and education of twenty orphan boys , sons of poor , but respectable freemen of Ripon . These boys were to be admitted at the

age of seven years or upwards , and to continue in the hospital until they should be fiftee'n and a-half years old . This benefactor desired that , as the master of thc Free School of Ripon should judge fit , certain boys were to be sent to Cambridge and to have £ 20 a year for seven years to maintain them , whilst certain others , having been above four years in the hospital , might have £ 5 to

bind each as " an entered apprentice" to a trade in hipon . You must remember our London Masonic Charities were not in existence in the . days of this louncUr , ami I am informed that this first ef f ort of Bro . Z- > . charias Jepson to establish a hospital of this kind , the want of which was so much felt by the C ' ra't in his time , hut now so well endowed as he intended , for upon an inquisition taken on

the rst May , in tlic 26 th ye-aroF King Charles the Second , before commissioners it was discovered that "the clear remainder of tile- testator's personal e-talc , above- his debts discharged and a moiety thereof , which his widow , Uabel Jepson , had taken to herself , amounted to £ 2275 3 s . yd ., " which was paid to the trustees . The number of bovs in the hospital was consequently reduced to tweUe . and the

number of scholars to be maintained at thc University reduced to one . Owing to injudicious invc-tme-nts of the original trustees , the number of boys was reduced to ten , which is the number at present on the foundation , and it is to enable the prese-m feofees to carry out the ori ginal Masonic scheme- that the- Dean and Chapter , an , I the Dc Grey aud Ripon Lodge have invited

tlic brethren to day , and will solicit your contributions ill thc Cathedral this afternoon . Allow me- to mention another circumstance in illustration of the charity and benevolence of our Orde-r . The- famine- in Southern India is a calamity on a scale to which European experience supplies no parallel . Thc Grand Lodge of England at its last quarterly meeting , believing that one- of the principles

of Freemasonry is that virtue- which never failcth—Charity —and that Freemasons arc ever ready to recognise thc claims of the poor and distressed , aud stay not to inquire as to creed , colour , or clime , anil that this fearful famine came within thc sphere of their fraternity , made a grant of £ 1050 to the Indian Relief Fund , £ 210 towards the relief of the suffticrs by fire at St . John ' s , New Brunswick , and

£ 10 5 for the sufferers from thc cataclysm on the coast of Peru . It gives nn- pleasure- to mention that thc Provincial Grand Lod ^ jc - of Dore-st has siipple-me-nled the- munificence of Grand Lodge- b y £ 120 , Provincial Grand Lodge of Cheshire by £ 100 , and our own Lodge of Excelsior , Leeds , £ 25 , and Philanthropic £ 20 to the Indian Relief Fund . During the present year , so far as it has gone , £ 40 , 000

have been collected for our London Masonic Charities . The report of our charity committee- informs us that this province has one boy for the October election , and I do assure you , brethren , it will take every vote the province can muster to carry him . Let me impress upon the charity representatives of each lodge to place the votes of their lodge without de-lay of a post , in the hands

tif the charity committee . Charity towards beilh combatants fighting in the- valley of the Danube must find a response from Freemasons . The savageness of the warfare- is fast rivalling in bitterness the thirty years' war . Blood is poured out like water . We- must weigh the day that will follow this tremendous struggle-. Let us hope that the harvest to be reaped will not be one of intensified mutual

hatred and mistrust , that philosophers , diplomatists , and statesmen may sow over those- now desolated regions , ere we again meet em the advent of a new year , " on earth peace , and good will towards men . " Charity induces Freemasons , at least , to believe- that the Turks , out of their great efforts of national defence , will strive after a purer and more earnest spirit of life , which may

lead Ihcm to assume ' a respectable-place among thc nations of thc civilized world , and a more hopeful future- in which the principles of Free-masonry can have full force , for two portions of the human race to whom has been e-ommitled the dominion of so large a share of thc earth . I appeal to your sympathies for our suffering and distressed brethren whercsovcr they may be , and that you will give to thc Dean and Chapter your cheerful help for this hospital , and

Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

to mark to-days' proceedings as a starting point of its creased usefulness . ' n " The Deputy Prov . Grand Master , ( Bro . T . W . Te \ after thanking the brethren for their cordial reception f himself , that as the year was fast drawing to a close th Secretaries of lodges should use all endeavours to mak ' eu their return as early as possible , so that a complete state * ment of the province mi g ht be presented at the annual

meeting . The roll of lodges was then called , when it Wa ascertained that out of 6 9 lodges ir . the province all Wer f represented but six , the brethren present numbering about 300 . Thc brethren were then marshalled in order of procession and being joined by the Mayor and Corporation of Ri '

pon ( in their robes ) , and headed by the Ripon Volunteer Rif ] e Band , proceeded to the cathedral , parading on their way round the Market-place , and presenting quite a gay and unusual appearance . Thc Rev . Canon Burficld , M . A ., vicar of St . Mark ' s Leicester , P . P . G . Chaplain of West Yorkshire , was the preacher , and selected for his text 1 st Corinthians , xiii . R

" Charity never failcth : but whether there be prophecies they shall fail ; whether there be tongues , they shall cease-- ' whether there be language , it shall vanish away . " It jj extremely unusual , ( the Rev . Canon said ) to find any contrast drawn in thc canons of the sacred law between the various gifts and graces which are to distinguish the character of the believer . Every grace should be cultivated

and there should be no envy or regret displayed because of some irregularity in the divine distribution . All have not thc same office , and in that Providence whose arrangements none can dare gainsay there is a divinity of order and privilege ; to one is given the word of knowled ge , to another the word of prophecy , to another divers kinds oi tongues ; but all workcth that one and the self-same spirit

dividing to every one severally as the will . The latter part of the test is of the nature of a contrast . It selects three of thc chief gifts of the Almighty , and shows that in one important particular charity infinitely surpasses the rest . Charity never failcth . In thc current language of the day our general idea of failure is associated with disaster ; but thc interpretation put upon the word of the text is that of

death . Charity never dieth . After an elaborate argument of this interpretation , and on the grace of charity picpondeiating in excellence over the other graces , in thc course of which the rev . gentlemen made a touching allusion to the late M . Thiers , he said : the channel with which he had ventured to direct thc thoughts of his Masonic brethren was not a novel one . Assembled from

all parts of the province in this city of Ripon , the very name- of which for many years struck thc chords of a loyal attachment in every Masonic heart , and of which no Masem , he fancied , even at this moment , thought without sympathies which are most closely allied to a tenderly regret . Wc shall miss to-day the cherished presence of one whose counsel it was constantly our happiness to

follow , and who , without revealing our Masonic secrets could bear witness , if he was allowed , that loyalty to the powers that be , benevolence to man , and reverence to the word of God are among the foundation stones on which every true Masonic edifice must always repose . Not to destroy , but to preserve the temple do they combine . Not to promote disorder but to foster unity and truth arc the lodges convened . Following out their noble principles ,

they had assembled , by permission of the Dean of Ripon , to .-ignalise this unity by a religious service , and to hallow an offering , not to one of their own charities , but for the support of a local charity . Thc rev . canon then made a stirring appeal for thc Jcpson's Charity , urging them to place- their offering for God ' s acceptance , under a conviction of its perpetuity ; for when the earthly lodges should be closed in harmony for ever , when one greater than Solomon shall reappear , this spirit of charily shall

survive . After service , thc precession returned to thc Town-hall in reverse order , when thc loelge was duly closed . A banquet , an account of which will appear in our next , held at thc Unicorn Hotel , followed the lodge , at which the Dean and Chapter of Ripon were present . The- usual loyal and Masonic toasts were duly honoured , and the day was thus brought to a happy close .

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

The General Committee of the Boys' School held their monthly meeting last Saturday , in the Board-room , Freemasons' Hall . Bro . Benjamin Head , V . P ., presided ; and there were also present Bros . S . Rawson , the Rev . A . F . A ,

Woodford , S . Rosenthal , John W . Dt-nnison , J . Wm . Dosell , George J . Row , A . P . Lilley , J . G . Chancellor , Wm . Roebuck , W . F . C . Moutrie , John Boyd , Joyce Murray , H . C . Levander , W . Mann , W . Paas , Jesse Turner , H . Massey ( Freemason , ) and F . Binckes ( Secretary ) . When the minutes were read , those of the House

Committee informed tte General Committee that a vote of thanks was passed to Bros . Bertram and Roberts for having on the occasion of the late cricket match between the boys of this Institution and those of the Grocers ' School , generously admitted all the boys to the Palace and grounds free of expense , and also provided them with a bountiful tea and other refreshments gratuitously .

The report of the Special Committee on increased accommodation was read , received , and adopted , the committee having reported that they had accepted the tender of Mr-C . Prout for the new buildings for £ 2497 . Thirteen tenders were received , viz .: Thcmas Brooks , £ 3708 ; G . S . Pritchard , £ 3548 ; C . Fish , £ 1 , 26 ; James Morter , £ 32801 M . Patrick and Son , £ 32 " 4 8 ; Andrew Killby , £ 3172 \< Waldram & Co ., £ 3075 ; Higgs and Hill , £ 3040 ; w . Brass , £ 2917 ; M . Larter & Son , £ 2885 ; H . A , Wagner ,