Provincial Grand Lodge Of Warwickshire.

The minutes of the last meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge having been read , , „ The P . G . S ECRETARY read the address which was presented to M . K . . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., on the occasion of his visit to Birmingham in July last , and also the Grand Master ' s reply .

The report of the Audit Committee was read and approved . The Worship ful Masters read their reports upon the state of their respective lodges , and the Provincial Grand Secretary read a statement compiled from thc above for the whole of the province . It was decided to ask Bro . Worrall to edit the Masonic Calendar for the province for 1892 .

Bro . Colonel Cox was elected Treasurer for the ensuing year . The Acting Prov . Grand Mastcr then appointed and invested his officers for the ensuing year as follows :

Bro . J . T . Collins ^ QPW „ T . R . Arter Prov . S . G . W . „ John Bowen ... ... ••••••Prov . J . G . W . „ Rev . W . H . H . Richards ... ... p _ G chaplains . ,, Rev . Llewellyn Wood ... ... •••) _ „ Colonel Cox ... ... ... ¦••Prov . G . Ireas . „ Montgomery Hooper ... ... ••¦ Prov . G . Reg . „ George Beech ... ... •••Prov . G . Sec . „ H . W . Sambidge ... ... " 1 Prov . S . G . D . 's . „ Frank Glover ... ... •••_) „ A . L . Shackleford ... ... - ] Prov . J . G . D ' s . „ Josiah Collins ... ... •••) .. H . Rrndc Harris ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of W .

„ Major Ash ... ... ... •••Prov . G . D . C . „ E . Boyce Podmore ... ... •••Prov . D . G . D . of C . „ Thomas Rowbotham ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ A . W . Adams , M . A . ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ Robert Barber ... ... •" ) Prov . G . Std . Brs . „ G . N . Milward ... ... ... j „•Walter Waters ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ Francis Towler ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Sec . „ Thomas Birkmire ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ J . F . Burke ... ... ... •••Prov . A . G . Purst .

„ Harry Paget ,, William Gay „ George H . Hooker ... ... •" I Prov . G . Stewards . „ W . C . Williams „ Frederick C . Thorne ... „ Herbert Spencer ... ... ... J .. Noah Burrows ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler .

Provincial Grand Lodge having been adjourned , the brethren then formed in procession and proceeded to the parish church at Nuneaton , where an excellent sermon was preached by Bro . the Rev . W . H . HOLLAND RICHARDS , Prov . G . Chaplain , and a collection was afterwards made in aid of the Warwickshire Masonic Benevolent and Pupils' Aid Fund , amounting to £ 1 $ 17 s .

The brethren having returned to the Town Hall , Provincial Grand Lodge was resumed .

A vote of thanks was passed to the Provincial Grand Chaplain and to the vicar of the parish church for the use of the church for Divine service . The following donations were voted : ^ 5 Ss . to the vicar of the parish church , Nuneaton , in aid of any charity connected with his parish he may wish it devoted ; £ 5 5 s . to the Endowment Fund of St . Mary ' s vYbbcy Church , Nuneaton ; £ 5 5 s . to Bro . Gould ' s Testimonial Fund .

The Provincial Grand Lodge was closed , and thebrethren then proceeded to the Newdcgate Arms Hotel , where a banquet was provided , Bro . J . T . Collins presiding .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF WEST YORKSHIRE .

A Provincial Grand Lodge was held in the Town Hall , Sowerby Bridge , on Wednesday , the 14 th inst ., under the banner of Lodge Ryburn , No . 1283 , when there were present—Bros . Henry Smith , P . G . D . Eng ., Dep . Prov . G . M ., acting Prov . Grand Master ; Wm . H . Brittain , LP ., P . G . S . B . Eng ., as Deputy Prov . G . Master ; W . F .

Smithson , P . G . D . Eng ., Prov . S . G . W . ; Capt . Arthur Tupman , Prov . J . G . W . Benj . Broughton , P . P . G . W . ; George Brooke , P . P . G . W . ; Thomas Crossley , P . P . G . W . ; Rev . Thomas J . McNulty , Prov . G . Chap . ; Rev . John H . Evans , P . P . G . C , as Prov . G . Chap ; Henry Oxley , P . P . G . Treas ., as Prov . G . Treas . ; Chas . Letch Mason , P . Prov . G . Treas . ; Thomas Ruddock , P . Prov . G . Treas . ;

Fred . Walker , Prov . G . Reg . ; Harold Thomas , P . P . G . Reg . ; Herbert G . E . Green , Prov . G . Sec ; Frederick Laxton , Prov . S . G . D . ; Fred Rand , Prov . S . G . D . ; John Hunt , Prov . J . G . D . ; Alfred Jubb , Prov . J . G . D . ; Wm . Gaukroger , P . P . G . D . ; Wm . Chas . Lupton , P . P . G . D ., James Bedford , P . P . G . D . ; T . Ibbetson Walker , P . P . G . D . ; Frederick Cleeves , P . P . G . D . ; John Gerrard , Prov . G . Supt . of Wks . ;

jas . Lawton , P . P . G . Supt . of Wks . ; W . R . Thompson , Prov . G . D . C . ; Jas . Jenkm Prov . D . G . D . C ; John Y . Rideal , Prov . A . G . D . C ; J . W . Monckman , P . P . G . D . C ; ' H . S . Holdsworth , P . P . G . D . C ; Joseph Dobson , P . P . G . D . C ; Edmund Lord , P . P . G . D . C ; John Dyson , P . P . G . D . C ; John Jas . Rutherford , P . P . G . S . B ., as Prov . G . S . B . ; Robert Thompson , Prov . G . Std . Br . ; Robt . Fisher , Prov . G .

Std . Br . ; Wm . Laycock , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; T . M . Holmes , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; R . Riley , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; T . Riley , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; G . F . Carr , Prov . G . Org . ; J . Matthewman , P . A . G . Sec ; J . Shoesmith , P . P . G . P ., as Prov . G . P . ; G . Blackburn , Prov . A . G . Purst . ; R . D . Kendall , P . P . G . Purst . ; Wm . Cockcroft , P . P . G .

Purst . ; F . Whiteley , P . P . G . Purst . ; F . Wm . Turner , P . P . G . Purst . ; Thomas Gaukroger , P . P . G . Purst . ; Albert Walker , Sydney T . Steele , John Hey , and Caleb England , Prov . G . Stewards ; Tom Garnett and Chas . Rayner , P . P . G . D . C , as Prov . G . Stewards ; T . Leighton , Prov . G . Tyler ; also a large number of Worshipful Masters , Past Masters , acting Wardens , and brethren from lodges in the

province . Letters and telegrams of apology for unavoidable absence were received from the Prov . G . Master , five Provincial Grand Officers , and sixtyfour brethren , as well as from Bro . John Chadwick , Past G . Sword

Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

Bearer England , Prov . G . Sec . East Lancashire ; Bro . j . Morrison McLeod , Prov . G . W . Derbyshire , Sec . R . M . I , for Boys . The Prov . G . M . wrote as follows : — To Herbert G . E . Green , Esq ., Dear Prov , Grand Secretary ,

It is a matter of the deepest regret and sorrow to me that I am unable through serious indisposition to undertake the honourable duties pertaining to the chair in Prov . G . Lodge on Wednesday . With perfect confidence , however , I leave the conduct of affairs to my faithful friend and deputy , Bro . Henry Smith feeling assured that he will extend to all the same measure of esteem and friendshi p

which both he and I have invariably received from the brethren of this province . Please express to the Prov . G . Lodge how greatly I appreciate the compliment it is proposed to offer to me to celebrate the Jubilee of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , by perpetuating my name through the purchase of a presentation to be styled the " Thomas William Tew Presentation . "

Also convey my obligations to the Charity Committee for their noble advocacy of the charitable and benevolent proposals which have come under their notice . Thank Bro . W . H . Thorpe and the brethren of Ryburn Lodge , No . 1283 , for the arrangements they have made , and for the trouble they have taken to further the comfort and convenience of Prov . Grand Lodge . I well remember the agreeable

reception and hearty hospitality extended to me on the occasion of my last visit to the Ryburn Lodge . I was then much impressed with the earnestness and enthusiasm displayed for the prosperity of the Craft in this important corner of the West Riding , and the presence of Prov . Grand Lodge under their banner on Wednesday will be a confirmation of the opinion I then formed .

In conclusion , perhaps I might ask the brethren of the province , if they have not already done so , to give their attention to some admirable letters which have appeared in the Freemason newspaper , touching upon the present position and future prospects of our beloved Craft . They are well worthy of the consideration of us all , and have resulted from a communication in the first instance from Bro . T . B . Whytehead , of York . Thanking you and the secretarial staff for your valuable assistance , believe me , yours faithfully and fraternally , THOMAS WM . TEW , Prov . G . M . West Yorks .

The minutes of Provincial Grand Lodge , holden at Huddersfield , on Wednesday , the 15 th April , 1891 , were presented . On the motion of Bro . Thomas Ruddock , P . M . 275 , P . P . G . Treas ., seconded b y Bro . C . L . Mason , P . M . 2069 , P . P . G . Treas ., it was resolved that the minutes be taken as read and confirmed .

The ACTING PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER then delivered the following address : Brethren , —The unfortunate circumstances in consequence of which I am called upon to address you to-day are known more or less fully to all of you . Our R . W . Provincial Grand Master has been for some weeks confined to his house by illness . You will have observed that for a considerable time he has

discharged his Masonic duties with great effort , and has , in fact , in his zeal for the Craft , exerted himself much beyond his strength . On many occasions , I will venture to say , he has left out of consideration his own health and comfort in order to be present at our assemblies . Through the careful attention of those around him , and the exercise of no little self-denial on his own part , he is you will all rejoice to know , making progress , not with that rapidity we would wish

but yet with , I trust , steady advancement towards complete convalescence . You will all join with me , I am sure , in the expression of hope that T . G . A . O . T . U . will speedily restore him to health , so that he may again appear amongst us , and take that warm and enthusiastic interest in Masonic matters generally , and this his beloved province in particular , which has for so many years especially characterised him . The good services of our R . W .

Provincial Grand Master , I have no hesitation in saying , are unequalled ; and the sympathy he has shown , and continues to show , with every one of us commends him to our hearts , and creates within us a respect and affection to which words of mine , brethren , altogether fa . il adequately to give utterance . You will doubtless wish before this meeting is over to place on record , by resolution , some expression of your feeling on this question . I leave it in your hands , assuring

you beforehand that it will have my hearty concurrence . In holding our Provincial meeting at Sowerby Bridge to-day , we have to some extent departed from what has now become almost our usual custom . It must be patent to all of you , brethren , that for the convenience of the greater number it is better that Provincial Grand Lodge should assemble in some central and populous place . Whilst recognising this tact , our Provincial Grand Master does occasionally deviate from this custom

and I may say . we have met here to-day at his express wish . It may , perhaps , be interesting to you to be reminded that so early as 1856 an important Masonic function took place at Sowerby Bridge . On Whit Monday of that year the foundation-stone ot the building in which we are at this moment assembled was laid , and laid with due Masonic pomp and honours . The members of the Lodge of Probity , Halifax , rallied round them brethren from all the neighbouring towns .

They were joined by the gentry , the trade societies , and the inhabitants generally . The Freemasons met at a place called , if I remember ri ghtly , Underbank ; a procession was formed , and , after marching to the site , the stone was duly and truly laid by our late Provincial Grand Master , Bro . Sir Henry Edwards , Bart . M . P . then , however , only plain Henry Edwards , Esq ., of Pye Nest , Deputy Lieutenant of the West Riding of the county of York . The Provincial Grand Mister of

those days was Bro . the Earl of Mexborough ; his Deputy was Bro . Chas . Lee , and I may add Bro . James Fielding , J . W . of Probity Lodge , then numbered 73 , Chairman of the Town Hall Building Committee , drysalter , of Sowerby Bridge ' , presided at the banquet which followed . These brethren , I regret to say ' , have all passed away from our midst . There was at that time of course , no Masonic lodge in this town . But what was the result i >

Seed was sown that day which brought forth fruit in due time . In 186 9 the Ryburn Lodge , No . 128 3 , was consecrated b y the then Deputy Prov . G . Master , Bro . Bentley Shaw , D . L . Of the original thirteen founders three only , I believe , survive-, they are Bros . Robert D . Kendall , Francis W . Crossley , and Joseph Senior . If any of those brethren are present I hope they will accept my congratulations on the success of the lod ge they established which has far advanced that it

so now numbers 40 brethren , and , for the first time has the honour of entertaining the Grand Lodge of this province . And now brethren leaving local considerations , I may say that the affairs of Masonic West Yorkshire are generally satisfactory . The brethren are loyal and enthusiastic , and the efforts of those responsible for the efficiency of their respective lod ges to support and supplement the work of the Prov . G . Secretary are very praiseworthy and gratifying . should likehoweverto take this

I , , opportunity of calling your attention to one or two matters which seem to me of the greatest importance—matters which concern not this province only , but the entire body of Freemasons . The great strides which Masonry has made of late years , its constantly increasing numbers , with the greater publicity consequent thereupon , have led many thoughtful and conscientious brethren to ask whether we are acting judiciously in thus so rapidly enlarging our borderswhether

— we are exercising that strict caution in the selection and admission of new members which our Society demands from us . Brethren , this is a vital question . The Marquess of Ripon , when Prov . G . Master , used to say , " The strength of a lodge does not consist in the number of its members , but in the quality of the brethren of which it is composed . " And what is true for a lodge is true for the whole Craft , which is simply an aggregate of the lodges . Lower the tone of your lodge by the introduction of