Provincial Grand Lodge.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE .

The brethren then adjourned to the Drill Hall , where the Provincial Grand Lodge was held . The room had been superbly decorated , and was crowded by thc targe gathering of Masonic brethren , many of whom had been present at the Iuichcon . Thc Prov . Grand Master , the Duke of Connaught , presided , and the Prov . Grand Officers present were :

Bros . Sir W . T . Marriott , Dep . Prov . G . M . ; Richard Clowes , Acting Prov S . G . W . ; A . M . Brooklield , M . P ., Prov . j . G . W . ; Rev . ] . A . Rivington , Prov . G . Chaplain ; Rev . R . Wood Loosemore , Prov . G . Chaplain : J . M . Reed , Prov . Grand Treasurer ; T . P . Harker , Acting Prov . Grand Registrar ; V . P . Freeman , Prov . G . Secretary ; T . Burne , Prov . S . G . D . ; F . V . Paxton ,

Prov . J . G . D . ; W . E . D'Albrac , Prov . G . D . of C ; H . Endacott , Dep . Prov . G . D . of C . ; M . Lelcw , Prov . G . S . B . ; B . Burfield , Asst . Prov . G . Sec . ; H . Cheal , Prov . G . Purst . ; G . C . Vernon Inkpen , W . Carless , and E . Histed , Prov . G . Stwds . ; H . H . Hughes , Prov . G . Tyler ; and many Present and Past Prov . G . Officers of Sussex and other provinces .

The PROVINCIAL GRAND SECRETARY called the roll of the lodges in the province , and it was ascertained that each lodge in the province was represented . The report of the Board of Finance , with the Treasurer's accounts , and the report of the Charities Committee , were presented and adopted .

The PROVINCIAL GRAND SECRETARY read statistics showing that the brethren in the province numbered 1332 . The PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER then addressed the brethren as follows : Brethren , —Once more I have lhe p leasure of being present amongst you to congratulate you upon the quiet prosperity of the Provincial Grand

Lodge of Sussex , and am more particularly pleased to c 3 able to pay a visit to the town of Worthing , which , having gone through a period of great distress , is now showing signs of a return to prosperity , which will , 1 truiti be rapid and satisfactory . The returns do not exhibit a large increase in the number of members , but steady progress has been made . I do not

want the lodges to be anxious to receive any but those who express a desire to join , and are likely to prove worthy . The number of initiates has been quite satisfactory . I am glad to find that the alterations in the byelaws , providing for four meetings during the year of the Board of Finance and of General Purposes , has had good results . I quite agree that

the books signed by the members should not hi available for the use of the Press . I sympathise with those who object to the publication of names so freely , and fully endorse the precept ; at the same time , I think it is a question which must be left to the good taste of the various Masters , and do not feel that I should exercise my authority by actually prohibiting

any particulars of the proceedings from being published . The report of the Provincial Grand Lodge Charities Committee is most satisfactory , and must be a source of considerable congratulation to the Secretary , Bro . J . M . Reed , whose enthusiastic efforts in the cause of the Masonic Institutions are so highly appreciated . The amount subscribed is very large in comparison

with the number of members , and more especially so when I am told that the amount is arrived at much more by the renewal of old subscribers than by the receipts from new ones . I know that many young Masons are brought into the list every year , but I should like to see a still further addition to the number of those who take a monetary interest . in those remarkable and valuable Institutions . I am informed that a Masonic Club for the

Province of Sussex has now been started in Brighton . I sincerely trust it will prove a means of uniting the brethren of the various lodges in daily intercourse , and strengthen those bonds which should bind the Craft .

Bro . J . M . Reed was unanimously re-elected Provincial Grand Treasurer . The Provincial Grand Master then appointed his officers for the ensuing year , and invested them with the insignia of their respective offices as follow : —

Bro . W . E . Morrison , P . M . 916 , 1110 , 2-534 Prov- S . G . W . „ J . Ewart , W . M . Si 1 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Rev . P . Crick , P . M . 851 ... ... " )„ r r , „ Rev . R . Wood Loosemore , P . M . 1184 ... j rov' u > ^ ha P s-„ J . M . Reed , P . M . 732 ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ W . Carless , P . M . 1848 ... ... ... Prov . D . G . Reg . ,, V . P . Freeman , P . M . 315 , 732 ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ C . E . Saunders , P . M . 1465 ... ' } Prnv S G D = „ R . L . Thornton , P . M . 2459 ... J n-ov . S . d . Us . „ R . Piper , P . M . 851 ... ... - ) pnv I G Ds „ H . Pearce , P . M . 1797 ... ... 3 1 rov . J . G . Ds . „ G . C . V . Inkpen , P . M . 3 8 ... ... Prov . G . S . of W . „ E . Histed , P . M . 732 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . ,, J . H . Longman , P . M . 56 ... ... 'Prov . D . G . D . C . „ A . F . Lamette , W . M . 1947 , P . M . 2187 ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ R . Weston , J . W . 311 , P . M . 1303 ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ F . C . Edwards . P . M . 40 ... ... ) r > r- o . 1 n " j . Crefchton , P . M . nio I ? WV' G ' StcL Brs ' „ W . C . Newsam , P . M . 1821 ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ B . Burfield , P M . 1821 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Sec . „ C . J . King , P . M . 1141 ... ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ W . Hosken , P . M . 1610 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . Purst . ,, Smith Stone , P . M . 311 ... ... ... ~ ]

,, J . N . Meters , P . M . 341 ... ... | „ J . H . Whatl-rd P . M . 916 ... ... I „ , . ~ . „ W . E . Rap .-,- . P . M 1184 [ Prov . G . Stwds . „ ] . Wend , P . M 1636 ... „ R . P . Clowes , P . M . 2201 ... ... j

Prov . Grand Lodge was then closed . A word of praise is due to the Stewards , Bros . G . C . Vernon Inkpen , E . Histed , R . Piper , H . Pearce , and W . Carless , for their admirable arrangements . Necessarily the burden of the work fell upon Bro . R . Piper , ex-Mayor of wonhing , who , in conjuction with the Mayor and the brethren of the Worthing Lodge of Friendship , had laboured with energy and zeal to

Provincial Grand Lodge.

make the visit of H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught a success , and it is gratifying to record lhat their united efforts proved a triumphant success . The Duke was escorted to the station after the gathering by a large crowd , who cheered him heartily as he look his seat . The Mayor accompanied his guest , and , sinking hands with the Duke , expressed the great pleasure it had given him to welcome him to Worthing . As the train left the station the people cheered again most lus . ily .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF WEST YORKSHIRE .

A meeting of the above Provincial Grand Lodge was held at the Masonic Hall , Sheffield , on Thursday , lhe ist inst ., under the banner of the Britannia Lodge , No . 53 . Present : Bros . Charles Letch Mason , P . G . M ; John Barker , D . P . G . M . ; W . E . Smithies , P . S . G . W . ; Charles Woollons , P . J . G . W : ; John Unwin , jun ., P . P . G . W . ; Vernon

G . S . Dearden , P . G . M . O . ; Thomas Myers , P . G . S . O . ; J . E . Darling , P . P . G . O ., as P . G . J . O . ; Rev . Geo . H . Stock , M . A ., P . G . Chaplain ; Capt . H . G . E . Green , P . G . Treas . ; A . E . Kikham , P . P . G . Reg , as P . G . Reg ]; Joseph Matthewman | P . G . Sec ; G . H . Radcliffe , P . P . G . O ., as P . S . G . D . ; E . Billington , P . P . G . O ., as P . J . G . D . ; H . I . Garnett , P . G . D . of E ., P . P . G . W ., P . G . I . of W . ; Thomas

Robertshaw , P . G . D . of C . ; J . P . Hewitt , P . P . G . Reg ., as P . A . G . D . C . ; William Cockroft , P . G . S . B . ; H . S . Holdsworth , G . S . B . of E ., as P . G . Std . Br . ; John Brook , P . G Org . ; George Edwards , P . P . G . Org . ; George Wragg , P . P . G . Org . ; F . Cleeves , P . G . S . B . of E ., P . P . G . W ., as P . G I . G . ; T . G . Howell , as

P . G . Swd . ; M . J . Dodworth , William Senior , and Charles Middleton , P . G . Stwds . ; and J . H . Newton , Ty ler . Also W . Ms ., P . Ms ., Wardens , and Overseers from Lodges Old York , T . I . ; Prince Edward , 14 ; Britwnia , 53 ; Feirnley , 58 ; Integrity , no ; Copley , ni ; Portal , 127 ; Truth , 137 ; St . Chad , 374 ; and Danum , 398 .

Bro . Charles Letch Mason , Pro . G . Master , presided , and the Prov . Grand Lodge was opened in due form . The roll of lodges was called , and all the lodges in the Province were represented except one . Bro . J OSEI ' MATTHEWMAN , Prov . G . Sec , in presenting the minutes of

the Provincial Meeting held at Halifax , on the and May , 18 94 , which had been printed and circulated , called attention tothe fact thit the name of Bro . T . W . Embleton as the donor of 10 guineas for the endowment of the Senior G . Warden ' s chair in the Mark Benevolent Institution , had

inadvertently been substituted for that of li o . Fred Cleeves , by whom the money had actually been given ; That he ( the Prov . G . Secretary ) had made the alteration , and that with that correction he presented the minutes for confirmation .

Bro . H . J . GARNETT then proposed " that the minutes with the correction be taken as read . " This was seconded by Bro . V . S . DEARDEN , and carried . The minutes were confirmed on thi motion of Bro . JOHN BARKER , seconded by Bro . EDWIN BILLINGTON . The PROV . G . MASTER then delivered an address , in which he

congratulated the brethren of West Yorkshire on meeting again in the City of Sheffield , and under the banner ofthe Britannia Lodge , No . 53 , and the more so under the peculiar circumstances that had arisen on that occasion . As they all knew they hoped to have had the pleasure of a visit from the Pro Grand Master , the Earl of Euston , but as that visit was , in the first instance ,

in connection with another Order of their honourable Craft , great difficulty arose in fixing the day . Their thanks were specially due to the brethren in Sheffield for so readily waiving their claim for the meeting in favour of Leeds , and then , when the visit of the Pro Grand Master fell through , so kindly renewing their invitation . Since their last meeting at Sheffield they had to

mourn the loss of Bro . William Kelly , for 34 years Prov . G . Master of the Province of Leicestershire , Northamptonshire , Rutland , and Derbyshire-He was appointed at the constitution of the province in 1858 , held the position of Prov . G . Master up to the day of his death , and was the senior Prov . G . Master under the English Constitution . Bro . Kelly was a worthy

representative of their Order , and one they felt it hard to part with . With all reverence , he hoped that when he presented his life ' s work to the Great Overseer , he was found worthy to form part of that spiritual temple , that " house not made with hands , eternal in the heavens . " He was happy to announce that their Provincial Grand Secretary , Bro .

Matthewman , had opened a register of the donations of the brethren to the Mark Benevolent Fund , and it was much to be desired that all subscriptions in the future should be sent through the Provincial Grand Secretary , although it did not necessarily follow that promises must go through the same channel . Referring to the 26 th annual Festival of the Benevolent Fund , which took

place in June under the presidency of the Etrl of Yarborough , Prov . Grand Master of Lincolnshire , and which resulted in £ 18 94 being collected , he said that of that sum West Yorkshire sent up £ 112 Os ., more than one-half of which was contributed by the lodge under whose banner they were assembled . He , the Prov . Giand Master , fully described the objects and

working of the Mark Benevolent Fund , and strongly urged upon the brethren the desirability of giving a regular and steady support to that Charity . In conclusion , he said there was one other subject to which he must refer . At the suggestion of his Deputy , and entirely without his knowledge , a sum was raised , and the chair of that province endowed in support of the Royal

Masonic Institution for Boys . That very handsome donation , to which every one of the 12 lodges in the province contributed , amounted 1050 guineas , ano conferred five votes upon the Provincial Grand Mark Master for the time being in perpetuity . He thanked the brethren for that further proof of their confidence . It was very gratifying to him also that the Mark brethren ol this province should so unanimously have helped in raising the noble amount