Provincial Grand Lodge Of Staffordshire.

Bro . G . Piatt , P . M . 6 9 6 ... „ J . Charlesworth , W . M . 2149 „ E . Welsh WM . 1 S 87 Prov . G . Stwds . „ F . Skerrett , P . M . 460 „ T . Buxton , P . M . 1060 „ F . Taylor , W . M . 726 „ W . Twist , 526 ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Ty ler .

Bro . Col . GOUGH , addressing the lodge , said he was exceedingly well p leased with the muster , which , though not quite up to the best form , was yet a most creditable one . He returned his thanks to those officers and brethren who had gathered to assist him on three different occasions since the last annual meeting , when special meetings of the Prov . Grand Lodge had been held at Tunstall , West Bromwich , and Longton . He regretted the absence of his predecessor , Colonel Tudor , from ill health , and also referred to the absence of several other

distinguished brethren owing to their presence being required at the levee at St James s Palace or in Parliament . From some 50 visits that he had made to lodges during the past year he was able to state that the province was in a most satisfactory condition , and he was not aware of any want of harmony either in any one lodge or between any two lodges . He had had no occasion to complain of the work of any W . M ., and he was g lad to know that excellent progress had been made with regard to the formation and working of instruction lodges . He thanked the brethren for the admirable way in which they had seconded his efforts for the

establishment of instruction lodges . He congratulated Dr . Randall on the high honour of Grand Chaplain conferred upon him by the Grand Lodge of England , and cordially acknowledged the services of Bro . Bodenham—services which he could not recognise more effectively than by appointing him to the office of P . S . G . W . He also very heartily acknowledged the services rendered to the P . G . Lodge by Bro . Major Thorne , as Secretary . In conclusion , he mentioned the probability of a lodge being formed at Stone , which would bring the total number of lodges in the province up to 30 .

On this occasion , owing to the pressure of business , the usual church parade was dispensed with , an address in lodge by the P . G . Chaplain being substituted . Bro . the Rev . A . H . Talbot not being present to undertake this duty , his place was supplied by Bro . Dr . Randall , who , without any previous preparation , delivered an able address . Speaking from the words " Let brotherly love continue , " Bro . Dr . Randall said the great institution of Freemasonry was , perhaps , the finest illustration the world ever saw of brotherly love . Political friends very often disagreed , and very

much to the detriment , perhaps , of one or another . Men of different religious creeds , he thought , disagreed still more , and there was very little of brotherly love either among politicians or religionists . There they were assembled under the banner of Freemasonry , and he appealed to them whether they had not found in their experience of Masonry the greatest possible aid to brotherly love . Men of different politics and different reli g ious creeds , men of different ranks , could all meet together under that banner to promote those grand principles which were

enunciated in their Masonic ritual and practice . That , he was sure , was a grand matter for all of them in their several circumstances to endeavour to promote . He would venture to impress upon them that more attention should be given to their Masonic ritual . He knew that a vast improvement had taken place in this matter , and it was now almost a disgrace to any W . M . on vacating the chair not to be able to install his successor . In the same way they found the working of the different lodges in all its various departments was far better carried out than it

was in days gone by . Moreover , the attention given to that ritual ought to be of the greatest possible importance to each one of them in his social life . It should not be imagined that the work in the lodge comprehended the whole work of Masonry ; that was but a small part of it . They should be careful to carry out the principles there inculcated , and to show to the outward world the effect of those principles ; unless they did that they fell short of the great object of Masonry . One word more . In their lodges , in their ritual , and in all the teachings of their grand Society there was one thing that was especially impressed upon them ,

and that was the study of the volume of the Sacred Law . He trusted it would not come amiss from a minister whose dut y it was not only to study , but to promulgate and teach that Sacred Law , to impress upon his brethren a greater use and practice of that duty than perhaps was the case now among them . They could not expect properly to carry out the true principles of Freemasonry unless they studied the charter under which they had to act . With this study , and loyal to their obligations , zealous in their duties , and obedient to those who ruled over them , they would then , like himself , after 46 years' experience of Masonry , not only not regret being Masons , but would glory in the privilege .

A collection was taken in Prov . Grand Lodge , and amounted to . £ 10 7 s . 6 d . Of this sum , £$ was given to the fund for the erection of a new infirmary at Stafford ; £ 3 to the P . G . Chaplains' schools at Church Eaton ; and £ 2 7 s . 6 d . to St . Mary ' s Day Schools , Stafford . On the motion of Bro . Col . BINDLEY , Bros . Bodenham , Pepper , and Hales were appointed Auditors .

Bro . FRANK J AMES , P . P . D . G . M ., referred so the recent inquiry respecting the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , which had been materially assisted b y the North Staffordshire Committee , special reference being made to the names of Bros . Greatbach and Tunnicliff . The speaker alluded to the good results likely to arise from the inquiry , which it had been his constant endeavour to obtain

during the many years that he occupied the position of President of the Staffordshire Charitable Association . He was very pleased to know that it had at last been held , and he moved that the thanks of Provincial Grand Lodge be accorded to the North Staffordshire Committee , and particularl y to Bros . Greatbach and Tunnicliff , for their trouble in the matter . The motion was seconded and carried unanimously .

Bro . GREATBACH , in acknowledging the compliment , spoke of the difficulties they had to contend with at the outset , and although some brethren then looked with a certain amount of discredit upon their endeavours , he felt sure that everyone would now see that the inquiry had been the means of placing the institution upon a sounder basis than before , and that in the future greater confidence would be afforded to the subscribers , which would no doubt increase their donations . He concluded by proposing that the sum of £ 20 be voted from the funds of the Prov . G . Lodge of Staffordshire to the Binckes' Pension Indemnity Fund , and asked the P . G . M . to declare it a matter of urgency .

The proposition was seconded b y Bro . Bodenham , P . A . G . D . C , P . S . G . W ., and the P . G . M . having declared it a matter of urgency , the sum was unanimously voted .

The revised by-laws of the Prov . Grand Lodge were brought up by Bro . Bodenham , in draft form , and the Committee originally appointed to revise the same was , with some additional names , re-appointed to complete the revision . Prior to the Prov . Grand Lodge being closed , votes of thanks were accorded to the Town Council for the use of the use of the Borough Hall , to the County Council for the use of the Shire Hall , and to the Staffordshire Knot Lodge , No . 726 , for the use of their lodge furniture and regalia .

A banquet followed in the Shire Hall , which had been kindly placed at the disposal of the P . G . Lodge by the County Council . The number of brethren who were able to stay for the banquet was 141 . The catering was done by Miss Perks , manageress of the Swan Hotel , and was carried out in a perfectly satisfactory manner . Bro . Col . Gough presided , and was supported by most of the distinguished Masons who had been present at the Prov . G . Lodge . The toasts of "The Queen" and "The Prince of Wales , Grand Master of England , " having been duly honoured ,

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Staffordshire.

Bro . F . J AMES proposed The Pro Grand Master , the Earl of Carnarvon ; the Deputy Grand Master , the Earl of Lathom ; and the Officers of Grand Lodge , Present and Past . " He remarked that he could remember the time when Col ! Vernon was the only member of the Provincial Grand Lodge who was an Officer of Grand Lodge , but so high was the Masonry of Staffordshire now thought of that there were at this time four Present and Past Officers of Grand Lodge

belonging to the province . He thought there had been no appointment in Grand Lodge that had conferred such honour and obligation upon Staffordshire as the appointment of Dr . Randall to the office of Grand Chaplain of England . He ( Bro . James ) had believed that he was nearly the oldest Freemason in the province , but he found that Dr . Randall could give him three years . It was a subject

for the greatest gratification that , having been 46 years a member of the Craft their reverend brother could look back on his connection with it with such satisfaction , and say , in effect , that if he had seven times 47 years to look a-head he would again be initiated . There were few institutions of which a man could say with regard to them that he had never for a single moment regretted the step he took 46 years ago .

Bro . Dr . RANDALL , in responding , referred to the eminent and distinguished men in all walks of life that were met with at Grand Lod ge , and said there was no other institution but Masonry that could possibl y bring them together . The tenets of the Craft , he went on to say , were calculated for nothing but good , and any man who lived up to them must be a better man than he could ever be without a knowledge of the principles and tenets of Freemasonry . Dr . Randall

concluded by proposing , in terms of the greatest cordiality , " The Health of the P . P . M ., Col . Gough , " remarking that Col . Gough had b y time and study made himself thoroughly acquainted with all the principles , ritual , and everything , that could be known in Freemasonry , and b y his activity and punctualit y he set them all an excellent example . In these Masonic virtues he stood unsurpassed by any P . G . M . in the kingdom .

The toast having been drunk with every mark of esteem and regard Bro . Col , GOUGH returned thanks for the warm reception given to the toast and for the exceptional loyalty which was shown to him at all times . He proposed "The Health of his highly esteemed colleague and Deputy , Col . Bindley , " to whom he felt greatly indebted for having in the midst of his thousand and one other avocations undertaken the onerous and troublesome duties of D . P . G . M .

The toast having been very cordially honoured , Bro . Col . BINDLEY returned his acknowledgments . The other toasts were " The Officers of Provincial Grand Lodge , " proposed by Bro . F . TAYLOR , and responded to by Bro . BODENHAM ; "The Visitors , " "The Masonic Charities , " and " The Provincial Grand Stewards , " special merit being accorded to Bros . Batkin and Mousley , of the Staffordshire Knot Lodge , who , as the local Stewards , had carried out all the arran gements for the annual ' meeting with singular forethought and ability .

Between the toasts songs , part-songs , and glees were given b y brethren of the Noah's Ark Lodge , Tipton , to the great satisfaction of the assembled

company . It should be stated that during the banquet a collection was made on behalf of an athletic sports' fund in connection with the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys £$ being thus subscribed .

Provincial Grand Chapter Of West Yorkshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF WEST YORKSHIRE .

A convocation of this Provincial Grand Chapter was held in the Masonic Hall Leeds , on Saturday , 3 rd inst ., under the presidency of Comp . Thomas William Tew , J . P ., Grand Superintendent , when there were present Comps . Richard Carter , P . G . H . ; George Brooke , P . G . J . ; C . L . Mason . P . P . G . H John Wordsworth , P . P . G . H . ; Isaac Booth , P . P . G . J . ; J . D . Kay , P . P . G . J . ; Benjamin Broughton , P . P . G . J . ; Rev . T . C . Smyth , D . D ., P . P . G . J . ; T . Bateman Fox , P . P . G . I . Henry Smith , P . G . S . E . ; Robert Craig , P . P . G . S . N . ; Mark NewsomeP . P G . S . N

, Charles Lowrey , P . P . G . S . N . ; James Bedford , P . P . G . S . N . ; Henry Oxley , P . G . Treas Frederick Cleeves , P . G . Reg . ; J . C . Malcolm , P . P . G . Reg . ; J . K . Ibberson , P . P . G Reg . ; Joseph Dobson , P . G . Prin . Soj . ; John William Bailey , P . G . ist Asst . Soj . ; Thomas Riley , P . G . 2 nd Asst . Soj . ; William Schofield , P . P . G . Soj . ; Georg-e Althorp ' P . P . G . Soj . ; J . Y . Rideal , P . P . G . Soj . ; Jas . Lawton , P . P . G . Soj . ; W . VV . Macvav P . P . G . Soj . ; T . R . Vaux , P . P . G . Soj . ; Major R . VV . Moore , P . P . G . S B . as P G S B Jos . Hartley , P . G . Std . Br . ; J . VV . Monckman , as P . G . D . of C . ; Wm . Greaves PAG

D . of C . j H . N . Crowther , V . V . U . U . ot U . ; VV . Y . bmithson , P . P . G . D . of C . ; I . Read Dore , P . P . G . D . of C . ; George Henry Stallard , P . P . G . D . of C . ; Edmund Lord P . P . G . D . of C . ; Davis Richard Glover , P . P . G . D . of C . ; Thomas Gaukro ° "er PPG D . of C ; Thomas Barber , P . P . G . D . of C . ; Sidney Thomas Steele , P . P . G . D . of C .-George Frederick Carr , P . G . Org . ; George Carbert , P . P . G . Org . ; Herbert G . E . Green ' , P . Asst . G . S . E . ; Samuel Barrand , P . G . Janitor ; John R . Welsman , P . G . Stwd . ; John Gerrard , P . G . Stwd . ; H . C . Pickersgill , P . G . Stwd . ; Thomas Richards , P . G . Stwd . ; and others .

Comp . Alfred Scarth , Z ., and companions of the four Leeds chapters opened a private chapter at 3 . 0 p . m ., and at 3 . 15 p . m . Comp . Thomas William Tew , J . P ., Grand Superintendent , and officers entered , and Provincial Grand Chapter was opened in ample form . The minutes of the meeting held at Huddersfield , 13 th November , i 83 g , were read and confirmed .

The roll of Royal Arch Chapters and of Present and Past G . Officers was called . The GRAND SUPERINTENDENT then delivered the following address : — Companions , —I offer you my hearty thanks for the very cordial welcome you have given to me and to the executive of this Provincial Grand Chapter . We are very glad to meet in convocation the companions of the various chapters of this province , not in obedience to the calls of duty only , but in consideration of the ties of friendship . 1 have duly

considered the kind invitations received from Halifax , Ripon , and Leeds for the purpose of holding this annual chapter , and , in the interest of the greater number , have selected Leeds . Of upwards of 400 Masons in Leeds some 150 are members of chapters . I am very wishful that every duly qualified brother should take this Degree . In the province we have 38 chapters , 325 Z . 's , and 1220 companions , and during the past year we have lost 17 members from deaths . The quarterages amount to £ 6 9 6 s . The Treasurer announces a balance in our favour of £ 230 . This undoubtedly shows progress , but I

regret to say that the condition of chapter affairs at Cleckheaton is most unsatisfactory . Perhaps some active and enthusiastic companion will look into this and endeavour to resuscitate active life in this particular district , thus sparing us the humiliating duty of surrendering the charters to Grand Chapter . The chapters have taken up most warmly the proposal of Comp . W . Watson , P . Z . 304 , and P . P . G . Soj ., that copies of their charters , similar to those of Craft lodges , be obtained for the use of the executive and library at Wakefield . I am most anxious to have this most useful information

completed . With a view of making suitable additions to our library , I have ventured to ask you for £ 5 for the purchase of books . Every donor of books or manuscripts has received a copy of the first print of your library catalogue . It is gratif ying to the Leeds chapters to find that the services of Comp . Dr . Spark in the cause of music have met with due recognition both by her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen , as well as by his fellow-townsmen . May he long live to enjoy these compliments for his services

in promoting musical education in this county and town of Leeds . We deeply regret the recent and unexpected death of Comp . Alfred Williamson , member of Fidelity Chapter . At the last election to the Masonic Schools our West Yorkshire Committee were successful with two boys and one girl , at an expenditure of oyer 7000 votes . Our second girl candidate , Selina W . Booth , polled 2170 votes , which will be carried over to next election . Prov . Grand S . E . was Chairman of the Quarterly Court of the Girls' School on the 2 fith April , and was elected Treasurer of that Masonic Institution . He also attended a meet-