Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

2 qo , Prov . G . D . ; T . C . Hope , 302 , Prov . G . S . of W . ; W . D . Quarmby , 208 , Prov . G . D . of C . ; Thos . Norfolk , 600 , Prov . A . G . D . of C . ; Thos . Uttley , 307 , Prov . A . G . D . of C ; Caleb England , 910 , Prov . G . S . B . ; Wm . Haigh , 1283 , Prov . G . Std . Br . ; John Constable , 2259 , Prov . G . Std . Br . ; Edwin Blllington , 1462 , Prov . G . Purst . ; Jos . W . Barber , 1648 , E . J . Massie , 1513 , John Dawson , 521 , Thos . Brayshaw , 2091 , and W . E . Smithies , Prov . G . Stwds . ; Thos . Leighton , 139 , Prov . G . Ty ler ; and Thos . Chester , 904 Prov . A . G . Tyler .

, Of the many Past Prov . Grand Officers present may be mentioned—Bros . T . Bateman Fox , J . P ., 20 S , P . P . G . W ., Chairman of the West Yorkshire Charity Committee ; W . C . Lupton , 974 , P . P . G . D ., Vice-Chairman ; Wm . Stott , P . P G . D . ; John Barker , P . P . G . S . of W . ; F . Walker , P P . G . R . ; Mark Newsome , P . P . G . D . ; R . H . Armitaee . P . P . G . P . ; T . Ruddock , P . P . G . Treas . ; Wm . Fitton . P . P . G . D . C . ;

R . Williamson . P . P . G . D .: Jas . Lawton , P . P . G . S . of W . ; John E . Craven , P . P . G . Reg . ; 1 . C . Malcolm , P . P . G . Reg . ; Cl .. Mason P . P . G . T . ; D . R . Glover , P . P . G . D . ; W . F . Tomlinson , P . P . G . D . C . ; ] . W . Monckman , P . P . G . D . C . ; Thos . Rilev , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; B . Broughton , P . P . G . W . ; C . Maurice Wilson , P . P . G . Reg . ; W . Wroe , P . P . G . D . ; and other brethren far too numerous to particularise . The Halifax members mustered up very strongly as well as those in the immediate neighbourhood , amongst whom were : —

Bros . Riley Patchett , W . M . 61 ; R . Hodg-son , W . M . 448 ; David Bradley . Vv . M . 307 ; Wm . Woodiwiss , W . M . 40 S ; J . Rhodes , W . M . 1231 ; A . Brisrirs , W . M . 12 S 3 ; T . Fawcett , W . M . 1301 ; Wm . Bailey , W . M . 1302 ; and Greenwood Howard , W . M . 1736 . The Prov . Grand Lodge having been opened , the Deputy Prov . Grand Master and the officers of Prov . Grand Lodge , Present and Past , were saluted .

In a few preliminary remarks Bro . HENRY SMITH explained that however desirable it might be , it was found to be impracticable to entertain their distinguished visitors to dinner on a scale which would enable the brethren generally to join , and that the Halifax Committee had reluctantly abandoned a scheme with which they were in entire sympathy , out of consideration to representations which had reached them from various

quarlers . The Deputy Grand Master , Bro . Lord Mount Edgcumbe , who is also Prov . Grand Master of Cornwall , accompanied by the Grand Officers previously named , then entered , and was received with hearty applause . The Deputy and Officers of Grand Lodge were saluted . Apologies were received from Bros . Sir John B . Monckton , P . G . W . ; Col . Le Gendre N . Starkie , P . G . W . ; the Rev . W . C . Spencer-Stanhope , P . G . Chap . ; J . Woodall Woodall , P . G . Treas . ; Peter de Lande Long , P . G . D . ; and

George McKay and J . H . Sillitoe , P . G . Std . Brs . ; also from the present Grand Treas ., Bro . Samuel Cochrane , and a large number of Prov . Grand Officers and distinguished brethren . The D . P . G . M ., Bro . HENRY SMITH , then addressed the meeting . He said : Brethren , it is my gratifying duty to introduce to you the Right Hon . the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe , R . W . Deputy Grand Master of England and Provincial Grand Master of Cornwall , a worthy and distinguished

nobleman , whom it has frequently been my privilege to see preside with dignity and efficiency in the assemblies of the Grand Lodge of England—a brother Mason , whose services to the Craft are more or less known to all of you . He , I may tell you , has come forward at a very brief notice to discharge the duty which our Pro Grand Master , Lord Lathom , had undertaken , and I , personally , cannot let this opportunity pass , without offering my heartfelt thanks to him , for the cheerful promptitude with which he has

helped us out of what would otherwise have been a serious difficulty . Some of the Freemasons of West Yorkshire , R . W . Sir , have a most pleasing recollection of your hospitality and courtesy when the Associated Chambers of Commerce , of which many brethren are members , visited Plymouth ; nor shall we , I assure you , any of us forget your kindness on this occasion . We shall look upon this as an auspicious day , a day upon which we have not merely made a Masonic acquaintance , but upon which we feel confident we have gained a true Masonic friend .

The following address was then presented to Lord Mount Edgcumbe b y Bro . J . Matthewman , P . M ., acting Prov . G . Sec , but the reading of it , owing to the time which would be needed for organising the procession , was postponed until after dinner :

To the Right Honourable the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe , Right W . Deputy Grand Master of England , Right W . Prov . G . Master of Cornwall , Greeting . Rt . W . Sir , We , the Freemasons of West Yorkshire in Prov . Grand Lodge assembled , most heartily welcome your presence amongst us , and gratefully acknowledge your kindness in coming here to-day .

We welcome you , first , as representing our Most W . Grand Master , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales : next as one who , with true Masonic feeling , has stepped into the breach and cheerfully come forward to fulfil the engagement which the Most W . Pro Grand Master , Lord Lathom , had undertaken , but which an unfortunate illness has prevented him from carrying out ; and , lastly , we welcome you in your capacity as Provincial Grand Master of distant Cornwall , and as an honoured guest , who , Masonically speaking , has ventured for the first time to visit this hilly and picturesque district of the West Riding of the County of York .

" Yorkshiremen , " wt are told , " are stern of mood , but they do » ot fail to recognise and appreciate the spirit of Charity , in which you have undertaken the noble duty before you , and they trust and believe , that on the foundation you will shortly lay , a superstructure will arise , not only creditable to the builder , but which , inaugurated by the munificence and supported by the willing contributions of all classes of its inhabitants , will also be an honour to the old town of Halifax and a blessing to suffering humanity within and around its borders .

We would include in our Yorkshire welcome those other distinguished oflicers of Grand Lodge who have honoured us by accompanying you . We yield to no province in our allegiance to the Grand Lodge of England and in our loyalty and devotion to the person of our Most Worshipful Grand Master , both as heir to the throne of these realms , and as head of the Craft over which he so beneficently rules .

We humbly pray that his life may long be spared to us ; that our Most Worshipful Pro Grand Master may speedily be raised from his bed of sickness , and that you , Right Worshipful Sir , may long live to grace the office , the duties of which you are so eminently qualified to fulfil .

Signed on behalf of the Freemasons of the Province of West Yorkshire this 17 th day of June , A . L . 5893 , A . D . 18 93 , HRNRV SMITH , Deputy in Charge . The Right Hon . thc Earl of MOUNT EDGCUMBE , on rising to reply was received with great applause . He said : W . Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Bro . W . L . Jackson , Provincial Grand Master designate , and brethren . ( On Bro . Jackson ' s name being mentioned the cheering was tremendous , showing the popularity of thc Right Hon . Member for l . eeds amongst his brethren in West Yorkshire . ) Owing to a break-down in the

Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

train by which we travelled this morning , our journey was impeded , and our arrival here was consequently delayed . This I regret very much , as it will prevent me saying all I should have wished , in reply to your cordial greeting and to the address , a copy of which was courteously forwarded to me . I am here , brethren , to-day at the express request and desire of our M . W . Grand Master , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , who was most anxious

that you should not be disappointed , and that the success of the event of the day should not be spoiled by the unfortunate illness of Lord Lathom . 1 fear , however willing I may be , I shall be but a poor substitute for Lord Lathom . In the first place , he is Pro Grand Master , and directly represents our M . W . Grand Master , whilst I am simply Deputy ; and , secondly , he is a North countryman , one much more thoroughly acquainted wilh tne

manners , character , and virtues of the brethren of the North than myself . I come from the South—from "distant Cornwall "—and this is onl y the second time I have visited even for an hour any of the busy towns of the West Riding . " Yorkshiremen " may be , as the quotation in your address to me declares , " stern of mood ; " but there is a firm , unmistakable grip in the hand of a

Yorkshiremana grip which 1 have many times experienced to-day , which tells me that , determined as he is , he is also steadfast and true , that he is full of energy and that no amount of opposition prevents his dogged perseverance from succeeding in the end . And therein he is not unlike t e Comishman ; there is , in fact , a rather close analogy between the one and the other . 1 trust that should any of you , my Yorkshire brethren , be travelling through

that remote county , you will not fail to make his closer acquaintance . It is true . Cornwall is perhaps of small repute , is on the way to nowhere , to Land ' s End in fact , yet it is sometimes deemed worthy of a visit , and should you be disposed to try it , I assure you my Cornish brethren will , with grip as strong and grasp as true , extend to you a hearty welcome . I must not omit to mention that 1 have to-day received a telegram from Lady Lathom , who

tells me that her husband is almost convalescent , and that she is taking him down to the sea to recruit ; that he sends a hearty greeting to his West Yorkshire brethren , and regrets that he was not able ' to fulfil his engagement . And now , brethren , let me thank you in my own name and in that of the Grand Officers present to-day , for your most hearty salutations , and your genuine Yorkshire welcome . The Deputy Grand Master , on resuming his seat , was loudly cheered .

Bro . HENRY SMITH announced that he had received a letter from the R . W . Bro . Thos . Wm . Tew of a most sympathetic character , and in itwas a cheque for £ 5 , thus making the £ 100 which had been raised by the lodges of Halifax to place on the stone into that number of guineas . The lodges then filed out , juniors first , followed by the members of the

Provincial Grand Lodge , the officers of the Grand Lodge of England bearing the richly chased gold vessels , and in full regalia came next , the Deputy G . M ., Lord Mount Edgcumbe , preceded by his Grand Sword Bearer bringing up the rear . A very long procession was thus formed , which by a different route from that of the trades' societies and inhabitants generally , reached the site of the building after half an hour ' s walking .

When all had taken up their allotted positions , the President , Treasurer and Honorary Secretaries of the Infirmary Committee were introduced to the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe . Bro . RILEY PATCHETT , W . M . Probity Lodge , next addressed the Deputy Grand Master . He said : In the absence of the Rig ht Hon . the Earl of Lathom , we tender our sincere thanks to your lordship , and all our brethren

who may join in this ceremony , for the generous and unhesitating manner in which you accepted the invitation . It shows the great interest which your lordship and the Grand Lodge have in the welfare of your fellowcreatures , and in carrying out one of the grand principles on which our Order is founded . Towards the fund which has been subscribed by numbers of people in the parish , the Freemasons have subscribed , £ 5000 , and when

the time comes to-day , we shall lay still another purse upon the stone to mark the honour of your lordship ' s presence . I have now the honour to request your lordship to lay the stone , and may the Most High prosper the undertaking , and may , upon the foundation now laid , be raised a structure perfect in its parts and an honour to the builder . The stone was then raised from its bed and the Deputy Grand Master

said : Ladies and brethren assembled here to witness this ceremony , be it known to you , that we be the lawful Masons , true and faithful to our country , and engaged b y solemn obligations to assist in the erection of buildings for the service of the brethren and to the glory of God , the Great Architect of the Universe . We have among us , concealed from every eye , secrets which may not be revealed , and which no man has discovered , but these secrets

are lawful and honourable , and not repugnant to the laws of God or man . They have been handed down in peace and honour to Masons in antient times , and having been faithfully transmitted to us , it is our duty to convey them unimpaired to the latest posterity . Unless our Craft had been good and our calling honourable , we should not have lasted through so many centuries , nor should we have so many distinguished brethren in our Order

to promote our laws and to further our interests . We are assembled now in the presence of you , and in the sig ht of the Most High , to erect a house provided by the munificence of your fellow citizens , and among them the members of our Fraternity , in which the poor , the sick , and the suffering may receive relief and comfort ; a house which we pray that God may

prosper as seemeth best to Him . And as it is the first duty of Masons m any undertaking to invoke the blessing of the Great Architect of the Universe upon their work , I call upon you all now to rise and join with <> i ' Grand Chaplain in an address to the Throne of Grace , and all uncover . The Grand Chaplain , Bro . the Rev . Canon BULLOCK , then offered prayer , after which .. . . „

The DEPUTY GRAND MASTER said : By command of H . K . ri . " ' Prince of Wales , the Most Worshipful Grand Master of our Order in England and the Dependencies of Great Britain , and also in the lamcnite absence of the Pro Grand Master , Lord Lathom , I desire now that tn

stone be laid . . _ . The Grand Secretary , Bro . E . LETCHWORTH , read the following ins cr w tion on a brass plate : " This stone was laid by the Right Hon . the Ear ' Mount Edgcumbe . R . W . Deoutv G . M . of England , R . W . Prov . G . Mft

Cornwall , assisted by Officers of the Grand Lodge of England , and Grand Officers and Brethren of the Province of West Yorkshire , June 1 w > A . D . 1893 , as a Memorial of the liberality with which all classes of the c munity contributed to the cost of erecting this infirmary . " . . a A bottle containing coins and newspapers having been deposited receptacle cut out of the lower stone , the Grand Secretary placed the p , face downwards over the top , cement was spread over the lower stone , the Deputy Grand Master levelled thc mortar with an ordinary trowe