Bro. T. W. Tew And The Province Of West Yorkshire.

BRO . T . W . TEW AND THE PROVINCE OF WEST YORKSHIRE .

Every one will be glad to know that Bro . T . W . TEW , the respected Prov . Grand Master of West Yorkshire , whose health has been very seriously affected for some short time past , has happily made some slight progress towards recovery , but his

medical advisers have declared it to be absolutely necessary that he should take " entire rest from business / ' as it is only by adopting this course that he can " hope to resume , at a not unreasonable date , his accustomed position" amongst his West Yorkshire brethren . Under these circumstances

he has , in accordance with the provisions of Article 8 4 , Book of Constitutions , " formally appointed his W . Deputy , Bro . HENRY SMITH , to act in his place , and has commanded " that officer " to inform the brethren , through the W . M ' s . of their respective lodges , that all the powers and authority of his high

office are , during his illness , vested in his Deputy . We most sincerely trust that the rest which Bro . TEW will thus obtain will ultimately bring about his complete restoration to health . Bro . TEW is among the most capable and energetic of Provincial rulers . He succeeded to office in 1885 , after an experience extending

over 10 years as Deputy of the late Bro . Sir HENRY EDWARDS , Bart ., P . G . M . He must , therefore , during this long period of 16 years , have acquired an experience of West Yorkshire Masonic affairs which it is given to few men to obtain . His has been no perfunctory administration . He has made it his chief aim

to become familiar with the condition of all the lodges in his province . As Deputy Provincial Grand Master , that no doubt constituted the principal part of his duty , and we know that he fulfilled it most conscientiously . As Provincial Grand Master , however , he might , had he been so disposed , have contented

himself with a general supervision of the province ; but instead of doing this he has been as strict and conscientious—and , as a matter of course , more competent—in the discharge of his important office , as when he occupied the subordinate position . Nor has he been content with merely

ruling those placed under his authority . He has been , indeed , their "guide , philosopher , and friend " at all times and under all circumstances , and we are not exaggerating when we state that few men could or would have acquitted themselves with the same untiring energy , the same ability , the same kindness and consideration towards those under his

charge , and as efficiently as Bro . TEW . Our West Yorkshire brethren , however , have this to console them during the temporary—and let us hope it will turn out to be the very brief—absence of their chief . The conduct of their affairs will be in the hands of one who is thoroughly conversant with the duties and

responsibilities which for the time being have been entrusted to his charge , namely , Bro . HENRY SMITH , the D . P . G . M ., who , like his worthy chief , is a consistent observer of Punch ' s famous injunction , " When you want a thing done well , do it yourself . "

He , too , knows our West Yorkshire brethren , and under his temporary guidance we have every confidence that the affairs of the Province will be conducted in the same spirit and with almost the same success as if Bro . TEW himself were conducting them .

The Provincial Grand Lodge Of Berkshire.

THE PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF BERKSHIRE .

It was only in December of last year that Berkshire was fully organised as a province separate and distinct from its worthy associate and neighbour , the county of Bucks , and its present urand

- > uv . Master , H . R . H . the Duke ot CLARENCE and AVONDALE , had the honour of being installed in office by his illustrious father , the M . W . G . M . Yet even in the short time that has elapsed the Province has been able to establish an excellent

record . It has but the small number of 13 lodges on its roll , and yet in February it raised £ 146 3 s . 6 d . for the Old People , While in May it followed suit with £ 9 8 14 s . for the Royal Masonic

The Provincial Grand Lodge Of Berkshire.

Institution for Girls , and in June with £ 140 3 s . 6 d . for the Boys ' School at Wood Green . These figures give a total of £ 385 is . contributed towards our three Masonic Charities during the brief period the new regime has been in existence . We may rely , therefore , with certainty on Berkshire maintaining

and even extending the reputation as a diligent and regular supporter of our Institutions which it enjoyed when it formed part of the late Province of Berks and Bucks . As regards the less evident work which is done by the lodges within their own lodge rooms , the Provincial Grand Secretary ,

Bro . J . W . MARTIN , was in a position to render a most satisfactory report at the recent annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge at Newbury , as reported in our last week ' s issue . The appointed duties had been well and regularly discharged in all cases , while in respect of numbers and monetary circumstances ,

there was every reason to be satisfied with the returns of membership which had been handed in to the Provincial authorities . We shall , therefore , avail ourselves of the opportunity of tendering our warm congratulations to the brethren of Berkshire on the present

state of the Craft in their newly-organised Province . They are extremely fortunate in having the eldest son of his Royal Highness the GRAND MASTER to preside over them as Prov . Grand Master and safeguard their interests . They are similarl y fortunate in having such zealous and able Masons as the Deputy

Prov . Grand Master—Bro . JOHN T . MORLAND—and Bro . J . W . MARTIN , to whom allusion has already been made as Prov . Grand Secretary , for their chief executive officers ; but very much of their present prosperity is due to their own exertions in attending lodge , and looking studiously after

the interests of our Institutions . Nor must we omit to add a word or two of commendation in respect of the services rendered by the Provincial Grand Secretary . He has worked hard

and successfully , and thoroughly deserves the testimonial that was presented to him at the recent meeting at Newbury . We trust that the result of next year ' s annual gathering will prove as gratifying .

History Of Freemasonry And Concordant Orders.*

HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY AND CONCORDANT ORDERS . *

THIRD NOTICE . : In this work we have not merely an addition to the literature of Masonic Templary , but a treatise in itself . Not simply a book , but a library . New matter to a large extent is profusely spread before us , and valuable information too , which has been

anxiously desired by numerous students for many years past . The Degrees extra to our English Grand Lodge system have been more especially a terra incognita to most brethren , and the fine volume now given to the Craft , is a distinct advance on all previous works of the kind .

The Royal Order of Scotland , the Order of the Temple , the Ancient and Accepted Rite , and the Cryptic Degrees , it is needless to say , are known historically but to only few brethren indeed , most meagre and scant knowledge being generally available .

The History of Freemasonry and Concordant Orders , if only to treat authoritatively upon these subjects , would be a boon to the Craft , and its authors deserve our gratitude . A somewhat novel and striking feature is that the editors or contributors

have appended their autographs ( in facsimile ) to their several articles , which was the happy suggestion of Bro . Stillson , Editorin-chief . The idea of the publication itself must be credited to the Fraternity Publishing Company .

We look through the pages , and not in vain , for the signature of one brother , whose name for nearly three decades has been a household word amongst us as an indefatigable writer , worker ,