-
Articles/Ads
Article BOARD OF BENEVOLENCE. ← Page 2 of 2 Article PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF WEST YORKSHIRE. Page 1 of 2 Article PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF WEST YORKSHIRE. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Board Of Benevolence.
Henry W . Kiallmark , P . G . D . ; W . H . Caton , Edward Terry , P . G . T . ; Major Henry Wright , Charles Henry Stone , E . W . Pillinger , fames Ellinger , William Pannell , George Gray , Frederick Hunt , James Robert Whittle , James W , Burgess , Albert E . Purkis , James D . Graham , Lorenzo Faull , W . M . 619 ; Edwin George , P . M . 14 S 9 ; John Hoig , J . V . Vesey Fitzgerald , H . Massey , J . S
Pointon , Charles Atkins , Robert D . Cummings , George J . Dunkley , William H , Stock- ; , Walter Gripper , F . W . Golby , W . M . 22 ; Alfred G . Moring , P . M . 53 8 ; Frank V . Catt , S . C . Kaufman , A . Duret , William Humfrey , F . Sear , William Lipscombe , P . M . 507 ; F . W . Downes , P . M . 1138 ; W . Lovel Bonnett , W . M . 90 S ; and Robert H . Gowan , P . M . 1929 .
The brethren first confirmed recommendations made at last November meeting , which the Grand Master had since approved of , to the amount of £ 280 . The rtew list contained names of the enormous number of 47 petitioners who were qualified through lodges in the London district , and at Bellary , Rawtenstall , Halifax , N . S ., Sheerness , Liverpool , Twickenham , Jarrow , Lancaster , Amble , Barrow-in-Furness , Prestwich , Poona , Rhyl , Rugby , Church , Saltash , Murree , Bromley ( Kent ) , Windsor , Witney ,
Wymondham , Middlesbrough , Grand Lodge of New South Wales , Umballa , and Cambridge . One of these was dismissed , and five were deferred . The remainder were voted a total of ^ 1240 . Grand Lodge was recommended to sanction . £ 100 each in two cases , and £ 50 in one case . The Grand Master was asked to sanction £ 40 in nine cases , and ^ 30 in 13 cases ; ^ 20 was voted to each of six petitioners , ^ 10 to each of four petitioners , and ^ 5 each to four cases .
The following is a comparative statement of the grants made each month in the last three years by the Board of Benevolence with the number of cases relieved :
189 S . 1899 . 1900 . No . of No . of No . of Month . Cases . Amount . Cases . Amount . Cases . Amount . January ... 30 ... ^ 850 ... 18 ... £ 460 ... 20 ... £ 535 February ... 29 ... 850 ... 22 ... 530 ... 28 ... 830 March ... 3 8 .. 1125 ... 39 ... 930 ... 38 ... 1125 April ... 28 ... 715 ... 24 ... 515 ... 25 ... 785
May ... 40 ... 1155 ... 25 ... 785 ... 37 ... 1070 June ... 29 ... 755 - IS ... 515 ... 21 ... 570 July ... 19 ... 55 s ... 24 ... 690 ... 1 3 ... 410 August ... 14 ... 43 s ... 13 •••395 •••17 •••42 ° September ... 13 ... 315 ... 13 ... 313 ... 13 ... 360 October ... 29 ... 725 ... 25 ... 895 ... 3 8 ... 101 5 November ... 44 ... 990 ... 42 ... 1075 ,., 26 ... 720 December ... 24 ... 615 ... 26 ... 700 ... 41 ... 1240 337 £ 9 5 28 ( 5 £ 7803 317 £ 9080
Provincial Grand Chapter Of West Yorkshire.
PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF WEST YORKSHIRE .
A meeting of the above Provincial Grand Chapter was held at Freemasons' Hall , St . John ' s-place , Halifax , on Wednesday , the 28 th ult ., under the banner of the Sincerity Chapter . No . 61 , Halifax , when there
were present—Comps . Richard Wilson , P . Z . 2 S 9 , H ., Past G . Soj ., as Grand Superintendent ; William Gaukroger , J . P ., P . Z . 61 , Past J ., as Prov . G . H . ; Jno . A . Godwin , J . P ., P . Z . 3 S 7 , Prov . G . J . ; Thos . Richd . Vaux , P . Z . 208 , and George Buckley , P . Z . 61 , P . P . G . Js . ; Major H . G . E . Green , P . Z . 154 , Prov . G . S . E . ; Thos . Brayshaw , P . Z . 26 5 , Prov . G .-S . N . ; Jno . Wm . Balme , P . Z . 61 , P . P . G . 3 . N . ; Charles Stokes , P . Z . 1-MI , Prov . G . Treas . ; I . Corrin Bell , P . Z . 1283 , P . as Prov . G . Reg . ; Geo .
Hy . Robinson . P . Z . 275 , P . P . G . R . ; Geo . Hoyle , P . Z . 61 , Prov . G . Prin . Soj . Wm . Barrow Wall , P . Z . 290 , Prov . ist A . G . Soj . ; S . A . Bailey , P . Z . 302 , Prov . 2 nd A . ( J . Soj . ; John Seed , P . Z . 448 , John Shoesmith , P . Z . 521 , Alfred Robert , shaw , P . Z . Oi , j . W . -Monckman , P . Z . 600 , Wm . Watson , P . Z , 304 , and T . Ibbetson Walker . P . Z . 448 , P . P . G . Sojs . ; Henry Marsh , P . Z . 289 , Prov . G . S . B . ; Joseph Bradbury , ? . '/ .. 337 , Prov . Dep , G . S . B . ; Abm . Armitage , P . Z . 521 ,
P . P . G . S . B . ; Alfred Cccker , P . Z . 1283 , Prov . G . Std . Br . ; F . W . Turner , P . Z . 408 , W . D . Shoebridge , P . Z . 448 , Hy . Beaumont , P . Z . 1283 , and J . P . Browne , P . Z . 600 . P . P . G . Sid . Brs . ; John Dawson , P . Z . 521 , Prov . G . D . C ; James Parker , P . Z . 264 , Prov . A . G . D . C . ; Walter Davey , P . Z . 1000 , Prov . G . Or ); . ; E . Rowe Dickinson , P . Z . 308 , P . P . G . Org . ; J . R . Barton , P . Z . 306 , P . A . G . S . E . ; Thos . Leighton , Jan . 139 , P . G . Janitor ; Joseph France , P . Z . 904 , F
Smith , P . Z . S 37 , Henry Harrison , P . Z . 458 , and J . B . Mays , P . Z . 1042 , P . G . Stwds . ; and acting Principals , Past First Principals , and Companions ot the following chapters , viz . : fii , 139 , 154 , 208 , 242 , 258 , 264 , 265 , 275 , 289 , 290 , 302 , 304 , 30 Q , 3 o 8 337 , J 87 , 408 , 44 S , 458 , 521 , 600 , O 03 , S 37 , 904 , 974 , 1001 , 1042 , 1214 , 1239 , 1283 , 1 G 45 , 206 9 , and 22 G 1 . Unrepresented : 296 , 307 , 380 , 495 , 652 , 827 , 910 , 1917 , 1462 , 1513 , and 2491 .
Apologies were received from Comps . the Right Hon . W . L . Jackson , M . P ., Grand Superintendent ; W . H . Starey , P . Z . 29 6 , Prov . Dep . G , Reg . ; Wm . Varley , P . Z . 307 , Prov . Asst . G . Std . Br . ; Martin Eismann , P . Z . S-7 ; and Joseph Barber , P . Z . 652 , Prov . Asst . G . D . of C . ; ) ohn C , Malcolm , P . Z . y ><> , Past G . Soj ., P . P . G . H . ; Henry Smith , P ' . Z . 302 , Past G . Soj ., P . P . G . H . ; Wm . Blackburn , P . Z . 306 , Chairman of tne Charity Committee : and about 43 other Zs ., P . Zs ., and companions .
Comp . Richard Wilson , P . Z . 2 S 9 , Past G . Soj ., Prov . G . H ., acting Grand Superintendent , accompanied by the Prov . Grand Officers , entered at 4 . 10 , and Prov . Grand Chapter was opened in due form . The acting Grand Superintendent , the Prov . Grand H . and J ., and the Prov . Grand tjUlcers were saluted .
fhe roll of chapters and of Present and Past Provincial Grand Officers was then called . The PROV . G . SCRIIII : E . presented the minutes of the half-yearly meeting , held at Bradford , on Wednesday , irtth May , when it was moved , seconded , and resolved : "That the minutes be taken as read and confirmed . "
The ACTING GRAND SUPERINTENDENT remarked that the Grand Superintendent had fully intended to preside at the meeting which was fixed tor that day . In order that he ( the speaker ) mi ght also be able to attend , he had put oil the meeting to the latest day he possibly could in November . On Friday night , however , he received a letter from the Gn-. n . i Superintendent stating that he would not be able to be present . The acting Giand Superintendent proceeded to read the letter .
Owing tothe death of Comp . Ellis Pickersgill , P . Z , 495 , the Prov . G , Reg ., since the last meeting of the Prov . G . Chapter , the acting Grand Superintendent invested Comp . Robert Moffat Kerr , P . Z . 91 , with the collar cf the of / ice .
Provincial Grand Chapter Of West Yorkshire.
The ACTING GRAND SUPERINTENDENT , in an address to the companions , said : I have made no preparation personally to address you to-day beyond this : that I was thinking the other day that the pleasure of meeting at Halifax for the Grand Superintendent and for those those who care to come , would not be because of the business on the agenda . But , thinking it over , I don ' t think it would be wise to forego those half-yearly meetings on the ground that we have
not sufficient business . I am certain that if we did so , the Grand Superintendent and myself would take the opportunity of remaining away ; and directly we entertain such feelings with regard to these meetings , it would be a loss to the province . I would ask , if the business has been so purely formal , that our meeting and greeting of each other should be all the more cordial ; and if we have little business , let us compare notes , telling each other what good we are doing in our several chapters and lodges , saying how we trust they are doing
similar work , and to add that we will do anything to advance their interests . We have at Leeds a remarkable library connected with the province , and I wish it were made more use of by the members than it has hitherto been . Those , however , who wish to find out for themselves matters of interest with respect to Masonry , know where ( 0 go to look for them . Although the companions cannot be expected to make deep researches into all that there is to be known with respect to these matters , they will find ample material for io minutes '
or a quarter-of-an-hour's address , which would be a great advantage to those who would not take the trouble , or had not the opportunity , of studying the subject for themselves . I have obtained some facts which , I think , will be of interest to the companions . We do not , as in the case of Ancient Craft Masonry , find traces of Royal Arch Masonry in the far distant past , and there is a singular contrast as to the " nature" of the earliest evidence extant in each case . We have traditions of
Craft Masonry , more or less shadowy , handed down to us from remote periods of time , but our actual and more substantial evidence rests upon ancient MSS . ( such as those with which West Yorkshire is now so richly endowed ) , minutes of old lodges , whose origin is lost in the mists of time , and sundry other records . But it is not until A . D . 16 S 6 that we have mention , in "print , " of Freemasonry . Now , our first known record of Royal Arch Masonry is a " printed " one , and is not heralded by tradition or a gradual succession of written allusions . It has
recently been brought to light by that indefatigable worker and eminent author , Dr . Crawley , of Dublin , lie states that the first mention of the Royal Arch is in a paragraph contained in the leading Dublin newspaper , of the year 1743— " St , John ' s Day , celebrated by the Lodge in Youghall , No . 21 . Imprimis , the first salutation on the Quay of Youghall , upon their coming out of their Lodge Chamber , was the Ships firing their Guns with their Colours flying , & c , & c . " Then follows an interesting description of the procession through the streets , of
which one portion only immediately concerns us to-day . " Fourthly , The Royal Arch carried by two Excellent Masons . " Thus is disposed of the conjecture that the term "Arch " was used in the sense of "chief "—such as archbishop , & c . — and derived in that way , for here the arch was represented in its " material" and " architectural " form . Allusions to the arch are made illustratively earlier , both in the English and the Irish Books of Constitutions , and the figure of an arch with keystone is shown in the background of their respective frontispieces . But
we have no earlier direct evidence , at present , of the actual use of the Royal Arch in our cermonial , than in the above quotation . The Third Degree , or Degree of a Master Mason , was known to have been practised at an early period after the constitution of the Grand Lodge , A . D . 1717 , putting then into dramatic form what was possibly an old and secret legend of the Craft , confined to a few who were privileged to receive it . We can , therefore , easily believe that the construction and working of the Royal Arch Degree , containing , as it does , the
esoteric sequel of the Third Degree , would quickly follow , if not having already really formed a section ot the original Third Degree . The next known reference to the Royal Arch is contained in that exceedingly rare volume known as Dr . Dassigny's " Enquiry , " published at Dublin in 1744 . Of this work but three copies are known to be in existence , viz ., an imperfect copy each in the respective libraries of the Grand Lodge of Iowa , U . S . A ., and the Rosicrucian College at Newcastle-on-Tyne ; the one copy perfect ( save for lack of frontispiece ) being the
property of the Prov . Grand Lodge of West Yorkshire . Our Librarian has had prepared a reproduction in facsimile of the three most interesting portions of the work , and a copy will be presented to each member of the Sincerity Chapter in attendance here to-day . The next really well authenticated allusion is that contained in the Records of 1752 , appertaining to the " Ancients " or "Atholl" Grand Lodge , the powerful London rival to the parent Grand Lodge . But the first minute of real work in a Royal Arch chapter ( or lodge as it was then called ) is ,
singular to say , found in the Records of Fredericksburg , U . S . A ., dated December 22 nd , 1753 . Then we have the celebrated Dunckerley ' s statement of having been exalted at Portsmouth in 1754 , and the minutes of meetings at Bristol in 175 S . In the minute books of the old Grand Chapter at York , now extinct , there is an entry of 17 G 2 . Coming nearer home , our lamented Bro . Herbert Crossley gives an extract from the minutes of Probity Lodge "Jan . 9 th , 1765 , Resolved that the ist proposition for establishing a Royal Arch Lodge be adopted . " The
first meeting , Bro . Crossley tells us , was held 30 th January , 1765 . This is the earliest known record of a Royal Aich chapter in West Yorkshire or elsewhere in the North of England , save that of York . Other districts have also records of the same year , but it is unnecessary to quote them . In 1780 we have the record of the opening of a chapter at Rotherham under the authority of the now extinct Grand Chapter at York , and this event is especially interesting , as the chapter is the only one known to have been
established in West Yorkshire by that body . It has been erroneously stated that no records of that chapter survive , but copies of the petition signed 25 th February , 17 80 , by Josiah Beckwitb , John Hassall , and James Simes , of the warrant dated 6 th July , 1780 , and of a number of minutes are , however , mill extant . Of the rival organisations of the last century , but two survived until iSi 3 , the York Grand Lodge and Chapter having previously disappeared . In 1813 took place the great historical Union of the " Antients , " or " Atholl , " Grand
Lodge and the " Moderns , " or parent , Grand Lodge , founded respectively in 1751 and 1717 , their respective Royal Arch organisations being absorbed into one Grand Chapter in 1 S 17 . Previous to this every chapter had a separate and detached existence , with its own number on the roll , but each of them was now required to attach itself to some lodge and take its number . Henry Sadler , the G . Lodge Sub-Librarian and eminent author , in speaking of the ceremonial of these two Grand Chapters , says : "In my opinion , there were , at least , two distinct
systems of Royal Arch working . ... In substance I have no doubt but the Royal Arch of both ' Antients' and ' Moderns' were pretty much alike , although in detail they probably differed materially . ... It was not until Sth February , 18 34 , that a Committee of Nine was appointed by Grand Chapter to take into consideration and report upon the ceremonies for the installation of Principals of chapters , as well as the various other ceremonies ol the Order . This Committee made a report to G . Chapter on the 5 th November , iS 34 , and in May , 1835 , the Duke
of Sussex issued a warrant for a Chapter of Promulgation , and added 18 fresh members to the original Committee , viz ., nine Grand Ollieers and nine Zs . or P . Zs . The object of Grand Chapter in appointhg these Committees is stated to have been a desire ' to establish a uniformity of practice and working throughout the Order . ' " During last century a curious ceremony existed , called " Passing the Chair . " Many chapters required the candidate for exaltation to prove himself as a preliminary an Installed Master . To have refused admission to any but
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Board Of Benevolence.
Henry W . Kiallmark , P . G . D . ; W . H . Caton , Edward Terry , P . G . T . ; Major Henry Wright , Charles Henry Stone , E . W . Pillinger , fames Ellinger , William Pannell , George Gray , Frederick Hunt , James Robert Whittle , James W , Burgess , Albert E . Purkis , James D . Graham , Lorenzo Faull , W . M . 619 ; Edwin George , P . M . 14 S 9 ; John Hoig , J . V . Vesey Fitzgerald , H . Massey , J . S
Pointon , Charles Atkins , Robert D . Cummings , George J . Dunkley , William H , Stock- ; , Walter Gripper , F . W . Golby , W . M . 22 ; Alfred G . Moring , P . M . 53 8 ; Frank V . Catt , S . C . Kaufman , A . Duret , William Humfrey , F . Sear , William Lipscombe , P . M . 507 ; F . W . Downes , P . M . 1138 ; W . Lovel Bonnett , W . M . 90 S ; and Robert H . Gowan , P . M . 1929 .
The brethren first confirmed recommendations made at last November meeting , which the Grand Master had since approved of , to the amount of £ 280 . The rtew list contained names of the enormous number of 47 petitioners who were qualified through lodges in the London district , and at Bellary , Rawtenstall , Halifax , N . S ., Sheerness , Liverpool , Twickenham , Jarrow , Lancaster , Amble , Barrow-in-Furness , Prestwich , Poona , Rhyl , Rugby , Church , Saltash , Murree , Bromley ( Kent ) , Windsor , Witney ,
Wymondham , Middlesbrough , Grand Lodge of New South Wales , Umballa , and Cambridge . One of these was dismissed , and five were deferred . The remainder were voted a total of ^ 1240 . Grand Lodge was recommended to sanction . £ 100 each in two cases , and £ 50 in one case . The Grand Master was asked to sanction £ 40 in nine cases , and ^ 30 in 13 cases ; ^ 20 was voted to each of six petitioners , ^ 10 to each of four petitioners , and ^ 5 each to four cases .
The following is a comparative statement of the grants made each month in the last three years by the Board of Benevolence with the number of cases relieved :
189 S . 1899 . 1900 . No . of No . of No . of Month . Cases . Amount . Cases . Amount . Cases . Amount . January ... 30 ... ^ 850 ... 18 ... £ 460 ... 20 ... £ 535 February ... 29 ... 850 ... 22 ... 530 ... 28 ... 830 March ... 3 8 .. 1125 ... 39 ... 930 ... 38 ... 1125 April ... 28 ... 715 ... 24 ... 515 ... 25 ... 785
May ... 40 ... 1155 ... 25 ... 785 ... 37 ... 1070 June ... 29 ... 755 - IS ... 515 ... 21 ... 570 July ... 19 ... 55 s ... 24 ... 690 ... 1 3 ... 410 August ... 14 ... 43 s ... 13 •••395 •••17 •••42 ° September ... 13 ... 315 ... 13 ... 313 ... 13 ... 360 October ... 29 ... 725 ... 25 ... 895 ... 3 8 ... 101 5 November ... 44 ... 990 ... 42 ... 1075 ,., 26 ... 720 December ... 24 ... 615 ... 26 ... 700 ... 41 ... 1240 337 £ 9 5 28 ( 5 £ 7803 317 £ 9080
Provincial Grand Chapter Of West Yorkshire.
PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF WEST YORKSHIRE .
A meeting of the above Provincial Grand Chapter was held at Freemasons' Hall , St . John ' s-place , Halifax , on Wednesday , the 28 th ult ., under the banner of the Sincerity Chapter . No . 61 , Halifax , when there
were present—Comps . Richard Wilson , P . Z . 2 S 9 , H ., Past G . Soj ., as Grand Superintendent ; William Gaukroger , J . P ., P . Z . 61 , Past J ., as Prov . G . H . ; Jno . A . Godwin , J . P ., P . Z . 3 S 7 , Prov . G . J . ; Thos . Richd . Vaux , P . Z . 208 , and George Buckley , P . Z . 61 , P . P . G . Js . ; Major H . G . E . Green , P . Z . 154 , Prov . G . S . E . ; Thos . Brayshaw , P . Z . 26 5 , Prov . G .-S . N . ; Jno . Wm . Balme , P . Z . 61 , P . P . G . 3 . N . ; Charles Stokes , P . Z . 1-MI , Prov . G . Treas . ; I . Corrin Bell , P . Z . 1283 , P . as Prov . G . Reg . ; Geo .
Hy . Robinson . P . Z . 275 , P . P . G . R . ; Geo . Hoyle , P . Z . 61 , Prov . G . Prin . Soj . Wm . Barrow Wall , P . Z . 290 , Prov . ist A . G . Soj . ; S . A . Bailey , P . Z . 302 , Prov . 2 nd A . ( J . Soj . ; John Seed , P . Z . 448 , John Shoesmith , P . Z . 521 , Alfred Robert , shaw , P . Z . Oi , j . W . -Monckman , P . Z . 600 , Wm . Watson , P . Z , 304 , and T . Ibbetson Walker . P . Z . 448 , P . P . G . Sojs . ; Henry Marsh , P . Z . 289 , Prov . G . S . B . ; Joseph Bradbury , ? . '/ .. 337 , Prov . Dep , G . S . B . ; Abm . Armitage , P . Z . 521 ,
P . P . G . S . B . ; Alfred Cccker , P . Z . 1283 , Prov . G . Std . Br . ; F . W . Turner , P . Z . 408 , W . D . Shoebridge , P . Z . 448 , Hy . Beaumont , P . Z . 1283 , and J . P . Browne , P . Z . 600 . P . P . G . Sid . Brs . ; John Dawson , P . Z . 521 , Prov . G . D . C ; James Parker , P . Z . 264 , Prov . A . G . D . C . ; Walter Davey , P . Z . 1000 , Prov . G . Or ); . ; E . Rowe Dickinson , P . Z . 308 , P . P . G . Org . ; J . R . Barton , P . Z . 306 , P . A . G . S . E . ; Thos . Leighton , Jan . 139 , P . G . Janitor ; Joseph France , P . Z . 904 , F
Smith , P . Z . S 37 , Henry Harrison , P . Z . 458 , and J . B . Mays , P . Z . 1042 , P . G . Stwds . ; and acting Principals , Past First Principals , and Companions ot the following chapters , viz . : fii , 139 , 154 , 208 , 242 , 258 , 264 , 265 , 275 , 289 , 290 , 302 , 304 , 30 Q , 3 o 8 337 , J 87 , 408 , 44 S , 458 , 521 , 600 , O 03 , S 37 , 904 , 974 , 1001 , 1042 , 1214 , 1239 , 1283 , 1 G 45 , 206 9 , and 22 G 1 . Unrepresented : 296 , 307 , 380 , 495 , 652 , 827 , 910 , 1917 , 1462 , 1513 , and 2491 .
Apologies were received from Comps . the Right Hon . W . L . Jackson , M . P ., Grand Superintendent ; W . H . Starey , P . Z . 29 6 , Prov . Dep . G , Reg . ; Wm . Varley , P . Z . 307 , Prov . Asst . G . Std . Br . ; Martin Eismann , P . Z . S-7 ; and Joseph Barber , P . Z . 652 , Prov . Asst . G . D . of C . ; ) ohn C , Malcolm , P . Z . y ><> , Past G . Soj ., P . P . G . H . ; Henry Smith , P ' . Z . 302 , Past G . Soj ., P . P . G . H . ; Wm . Blackburn , P . Z . 306 , Chairman of tne Charity Committee : and about 43 other Zs ., P . Zs ., and companions .
Comp . Richard Wilson , P . Z . 2 S 9 , Past G . Soj ., Prov . G . H ., acting Grand Superintendent , accompanied by the Prov . Grand Officers , entered at 4 . 10 , and Prov . Grand Chapter was opened in due form . The acting Grand Superintendent , the Prov . Grand H . and J ., and the Prov . Grand tjUlcers were saluted .
fhe roll of chapters and of Present and Past Provincial Grand Officers was then called . The PROV . G . SCRIIII : E . presented the minutes of the half-yearly meeting , held at Bradford , on Wednesday , irtth May , when it was moved , seconded , and resolved : "That the minutes be taken as read and confirmed . "
The ACTING GRAND SUPERINTENDENT remarked that the Grand Superintendent had fully intended to preside at the meeting which was fixed tor that day . In order that he ( the speaker ) mi ght also be able to attend , he had put oil the meeting to the latest day he possibly could in November . On Friday night , however , he received a letter from the Gn-. n . i Superintendent stating that he would not be able to be present . The acting Giand Superintendent proceeded to read the letter .
Owing tothe death of Comp . Ellis Pickersgill , P . Z , 495 , the Prov . G , Reg ., since the last meeting of the Prov . G . Chapter , the acting Grand Superintendent invested Comp . Robert Moffat Kerr , P . Z . 91 , with the collar cf the of / ice .
Provincial Grand Chapter Of West Yorkshire.
The ACTING GRAND SUPERINTENDENT , in an address to the companions , said : I have made no preparation personally to address you to-day beyond this : that I was thinking the other day that the pleasure of meeting at Halifax for the Grand Superintendent and for those those who care to come , would not be because of the business on the agenda . But , thinking it over , I don ' t think it would be wise to forego those half-yearly meetings on the ground that we have
not sufficient business . I am certain that if we did so , the Grand Superintendent and myself would take the opportunity of remaining away ; and directly we entertain such feelings with regard to these meetings , it would be a loss to the province . I would ask , if the business has been so purely formal , that our meeting and greeting of each other should be all the more cordial ; and if we have little business , let us compare notes , telling each other what good we are doing in our several chapters and lodges , saying how we trust they are doing
similar work , and to add that we will do anything to advance their interests . We have at Leeds a remarkable library connected with the province , and I wish it were made more use of by the members than it has hitherto been . Those , however , who wish to find out for themselves matters of interest with respect to Masonry , know where ( 0 go to look for them . Although the companions cannot be expected to make deep researches into all that there is to be known with respect to these matters , they will find ample material for io minutes '
or a quarter-of-an-hour's address , which would be a great advantage to those who would not take the trouble , or had not the opportunity , of studying the subject for themselves . I have obtained some facts which , I think , will be of interest to the companions . We do not , as in the case of Ancient Craft Masonry , find traces of Royal Arch Masonry in the far distant past , and there is a singular contrast as to the " nature" of the earliest evidence extant in each case . We have traditions of
Craft Masonry , more or less shadowy , handed down to us from remote periods of time , but our actual and more substantial evidence rests upon ancient MSS . ( such as those with which West Yorkshire is now so richly endowed ) , minutes of old lodges , whose origin is lost in the mists of time , and sundry other records . But it is not until A . D . 16 S 6 that we have mention , in "print , " of Freemasonry . Now , our first known record of Royal Arch Masonry is a " printed " one , and is not heralded by tradition or a gradual succession of written allusions . It has
recently been brought to light by that indefatigable worker and eminent author , Dr . Crawley , of Dublin , lie states that the first mention of the Royal Arch is in a paragraph contained in the leading Dublin newspaper , of the year 1743— " St , John ' s Day , celebrated by the Lodge in Youghall , No . 21 . Imprimis , the first salutation on the Quay of Youghall , upon their coming out of their Lodge Chamber , was the Ships firing their Guns with their Colours flying , & c , & c . " Then follows an interesting description of the procession through the streets , of
which one portion only immediately concerns us to-day . " Fourthly , The Royal Arch carried by two Excellent Masons . " Thus is disposed of the conjecture that the term "Arch " was used in the sense of "chief "—such as archbishop , & c . — and derived in that way , for here the arch was represented in its " material" and " architectural " form . Allusions to the arch are made illustratively earlier , both in the English and the Irish Books of Constitutions , and the figure of an arch with keystone is shown in the background of their respective frontispieces . But
we have no earlier direct evidence , at present , of the actual use of the Royal Arch in our cermonial , than in the above quotation . The Third Degree , or Degree of a Master Mason , was known to have been practised at an early period after the constitution of the Grand Lodge , A . D . 1717 , putting then into dramatic form what was possibly an old and secret legend of the Craft , confined to a few who were privileged to receive it . We can , therefore , easily believe that the construction and working of the Royal Arch Degree , containing , as it does , the
esoteric sequel of the Third Degree , would quickly follow , if not having already really formed a section ot the original Third Degree . The next known reference to the Royal Arch is contained in that exceedingly rare volume known as Dr . Dassigny's " Enquiry , " published at Dublin in 1744 . Of this work but three copies are known to be in existence , viz ., an imperfect copy each in the respective libraries of the Grand Lodge of Iowa , U . S . A ., and the Rosicrucian College at Newcastle-on-Tyne ; the one copy perfect ( save for lack of frontispiece ) being the
property of the Prov . Grand Lodge of West Yorkshire . Our Librarian has had prepared a reproduction in facsimile of the three most interesting portions of the work , and a copy will be presented to each member of the Sincerity Chapter in attendance here to-day . The next really well authenticated allusion is that contained in the Records of 1752 , appertaining to the " Ancients " or "Atholl" Grand Lodge , the powerful London rival to the parent Grand Lodge . But the first minute of real work in a Royal Arch chapter ( or lodge as it was then called ) is ,
singular to say , found in the Records of Fredericksburg , U . S . A ., dated December 22 nd , 1753 . Then we have the celebrated Dunckerley ' s statement of having been exalted at Portsmouth in 1754 , and the minutes of meetings at Bristol in 175 S . In the minute books of the old Grand Chapter at York , now extinct , there is an entry of 17 G 2 . Coming nearer home , our lamented Bro . Herbert Crossley gives an extract from the minutes of Probity Lodge "Jan . 9 th , 1765 , Resolved that the ist proposition for establishing a Royal Arch Lodge be adopted . " The
first meeting , Bro . Crossley tells us , was held 30 th January , 1765 . This is the earliest known record of a Royal Aich chapter in West Yorkshire or elsewhere in the North of England , save that of York . Other districts have also records of the same year , but it is unnecessary to quote them . In 1780 we have the record of the opening of a chapter at Rotherham under the authority of the now extinct Grand Chapter at York , and this event is especially interesting , as the chapter is the only one known to have been
established in West Yorkshire by that body . It has been erroneously stated that no records of that chapter survive , but copies of the petition signed 25 th February , 17 80 , by Josiah Beckwitb , John Hassall , and James Simes , of the warrant dated 6 th July , 1780 , and of a number of minutes are , however , mill extant . Of the rival organisations of the last century , but two survived until iSi 3 , the York Grand Lodge and Chapter having previously disappeared . In 1813 took place the great historical Union of the " Antients , " or " Atholl , " Grand
Lodge and the " Moderns , " or parent , Grand Lodge , founded respectively in 1751 and 1717 , their respective Royal Arch organisations being absorbed into one Grand Chapter in 1 S 17 . Previous to this every chapter had a separate and detached existence , with its own number on the roll , but each of them was now required to attach itself to some lodge and take its number . Henry Sadler , the G . Lodge Sub-Librarian and eminent author , in speaking of the ceremonial of these two Grand Chapters , says : "In my opinion , there were , at least , two distinct
systems of Royal Arch working . ... In substance I have no doubt but the Royal Arch of both ' Antients' and ' Moderns' were pretty much alike , although in detail they probably differed materially . ... It was not until Sth February , 18 34 , that a Committee of Nine was appointed by Grand Chapter to take into consideration and report upon the ceremonies for the installation of Principals of chapters , as well as the various other ceremonies ol the Order . This Committee made a report to G . Chapter on the 5 th November , iS 34 , and in May , 1835 , the Duke
of Sussex issued a warrant for a Chapter of Promulgation , and added 18 fresh members to the original Committee , viz ., nine Grand Ollieers and nine Zs . or P . Zs . The object of Grand Chapter in appointhg these Committees is stated to have been a desire ' to establish a uniformity of practice and working throughout the Order . ' " During last century a curious ceremony existed , called " Passing the Chair . " Many chapters required the candidate for exaltation to prove himself as a preliminary an Installed Master . To have refused admission to any but