Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF WEST YORKSHIRE .

VISIT OF THE M . W . THE PRO GRAND MASTER , THK EARL OF EUSTON .

The annual meeting of this flourishing province was held at Leeds on Wednesday , the 15 th inst ., under exceptionally auspicious circumstances . When it became known tp thc brethren that the Pro Grand Master , the Earl of Euston , had accepted thc Provincial Grand Master ' s invitation and intended to pay them a visit , no effort was spared to ensure to Lord Euston a hearty reception , and to make the gathering representative and successful . The result was one of the largest assemblages of Mark Masons which West Yorkshire has seen . It was not only numerous , however , it was brilliant .

Amongst those who accompanied or came together to greet the Pro Grand Master , in addition to Bro . Charles Letch Mason , Prov . Grand Master , and his Deputy , Bro . John Barker , were—Bros . A . Woodiwiss , P . G . M . Derbyshire ; John W . Woodall , P . P . G . M . N . and E . Yorks ; C . F . Matier , P . G . W ., G . Sec . ; W . Masterman , D . C . L ., Deputy P . G . M . Notts . ; Rev . Manley Power , M . A ., P . P . G . Chap . Berks and Oxon . ; F . Cleeves , P . G . Std . 3 r . ; H . S . Holdsworth , G . Std . Br . ; J . H . Gration , P . G . S . ;

J . W . Monckman , P . G . S . ; Geo . H . Parke , G . S . ( nominate ); W . R . F . Morton , Prov . G . Sec . Lincoln ; Tudor Trevor , P . P . G . Sec . W . Yorks . ; W . E . Smithies , P . M . 53 , Chas . Woollens , P . M . no , W . F . Wilkinson , P . M . 58 , and CT . Rhodes , P . M . 58 , Prov . G . Wardens ; Richard Hodgson , P . M . 58 , Thos . Myers , W . M . 111 , Thos . Gaukroger , P . M . 14 , John E . Craven , P . M . 14 , G . H . Radcliffe , P . M . 58 , W . Flockton , P . M . in , and E . Billingfon , P . M . 127 , Prov . G . Overseers ; H . G . E . Green , P . M . no , and Geo . F . Carr , P . M . 457 , Prov . G . Treasurers ; W . S .

Blackburn , P . M . 374 , and J . P . Hewitt , P . M . 53 , Prov . G . Regs . ; Joseph Matthewman , no , Prov . G . Sec ; J . J . Martin , P . M . no , Prov . G . D . ; Thos . Wrigley , P . M . 14 , Prov . G . I . of W . ; Thos . Robertshaw , P . M . 58 , and Thos . Norfolk , P . M . Old York , T . I ., Prov . G . D . of Cs . ; William Cockroft , P . M . 14 , Prov . G . S . B . ; Frederick Webb , P . M . 398 , and Dr . S . Jacob , P . M . 352 , Prov . G . Std . Brs . ; John Brook , 137 , Geo . Carbert , no , and Geo . Wragg , W . M . S 3 , Prov . G . Orgs . ; T . H . Pattinson , Prov . G . I . G . ; T . B . Wilson , P . M . 457 , M . J .

Dodworth , P . M . S 3 , W . Senior , P . M . 127 , and Chas . Middleton , P . M . in , Prov . G . Stwds . ; Geo . Jackson , W . M . 137 ; A . Armitage , 137 ; W . C . Fox , S 3 ; A . J . Forsdike , S 3 ; J . T . Thompson , 53 ; T . G . Howell , J . W . 137 ; J . Wood , 127 ; C . Sugden , 127 ; Chas . Lingard , P . M . 127 ; G . Hallas , 14 ; T . Rowbotham , S 3 ; W . Crabtree , 58 ; Wm . Laycock , J . W . Old York , T . I . ; Jos . Hartley , no ; W . N . Pearson no ; F . Stafford , no ; R . Bowman , no ; B . S . Bailey , 374 ; W .

tearnehough , 53 ; Wm . Walker , 53 ; W . A . Statter , W . M . no ; J . E . Mann , 457 ; J . H . Pawson , ^ g $ ; W . W . Clayton , I . P . M . 374 ; J . Naylor , Sec . 137 ; J . B . Parkin , P . M . 3 S 2 ; John Reed , 39 S ; A . Leach , I . P . M . no ; G . H . Clemons , W . M . 3 S 2 ; T . E . Greenhough , I . P . M . Old York , T . I . ; J . Hill , T . I , ; G . Patchett , W . M . 58 ; C . W . Hudson , T . I . ; A . Wilson , W . M . 457 ; J . W . Smith , Sec . 374 ; Henry Smith , Dep . P . G . Master ( Craft ) West Yorks , and many others .

A Mark lodge was formed by Bro . T . Myers , W . AI ., and the officers of Copley Lodge under whose banner , jointly with that of St . Chad Lodge , No . 374 , the meeting was held ; after which the Prov . Grand Master , his Deputy , and the ollieers of the province , entered and opened Prov . Grand Lodge . After the usual salutes , the M . W . the Pro Grand Master , the Earl of Euston , and other Grand Officers entered and were most cordially received and saluted by all the brethren present .

The roll of lodges was called ; all were represented , many of them very strongly , and of the Prov . Grand Officers only three were absent . The Prov . Grand Secretary presented letters of regret at inability to be present from , amongst others : Bros , the Earl of Yarborough , Canon Tristram , Hon . A . de Tatton Egerton , F . Richardson , Percy Wallis , lack

Sutcliffe , R . Berridge , E . Letchworth , Col . R . G . Smith , Col . A . B . Cook , R . B . Reed , T . B . Whytehead , Al . C . Peck , Chas . Byford , R . Newhouse , John Chadwick , aid the Right Hon . W . L . Jackson , M . P . Bro . Jackson , who has quite recently joined the Mark Degree , particulars of whose advancement appeared in our issue of 30 th March last , wrote as follows :

" House of Commons , May 14 th , 1 S 95 . My dear Bro . Mason , — I am greatly disappointed that I am unable to be with you to welcome and salute the Pro Grand Alaster of the Mark Masons . I have explained to you why 1 am detained in London , and therefore I need not go

into that question here . I beg , however , that you will be good enough to allow the Secretary to inform the brethren that circumstances of public business alone keep me away . —With my hearty good wishes to all , believe me , yours truly and fraternally , W . L . JACKSON . Rt . Worshipful Bro . C . Letch Mason , Prov . G . Al . of Mark Masons . "

The minutes of the Prov . Grand Lodge , held at Sheffield in November , having been presented and confirmed , the PROV . GRAND AIASTER rose and said : M . W . Pro Grand Master , R . W . Visiting Brethren , and Brethren of my own Province . It has been customary at our half-yearly gatherings to deliver an address , but , considering the auspicious occasion on which we are now assembled , it is not my intention to detain you very long , f desire , however , during the few

minutes at my disposal , to call your attention to some matters connected with this province . Our Provincial Grand Lodge of West Yorkshire was formed on the and of August , 1871 , to that next year we shall complete , as it were , our silver widding , or to speak more correctly , the first quarter of a century of our existence . At that time there . vere but seven Mark lodges in West Yorkshire , six of these urited at once to form the province , but one oid not come in until 18 74 . There are now 12 ledges . This cannot be called a rapid increase , but I think we

may say that it is steady progress , especially when we take into account the flourishing condition cf the lodges . Signs of activity in some places are remarkable , notably in Sheffield , Halifax , Leeds , and Bradford . We have recently had the plensure of advancing to ihis Degree the Right Hon . and Right Worshipful Bro . W . L . Jackson , M . P ., Prov . Grand Master of Craft Masonry in West Yorkshire . I may say that it is a very great disappointment to Bro . Jackson ( as you will have beard lrom the letter which has been read to you ) that he is not amongst

ua to-day , to join with us in giving a welcome to our M . W . Pro Grand Master . Although his Parliamentary duties keep him away , J know he is with us in spirit , and I hope we . shall see him on some future occasion . I desire to thank the breihren of the province for their kind help towards the benevolent fund , and moie especially would J remember our friends in Shellield . Last year we raised , in the province , i . 112 . For the coming festival , under the presidency of Lord

Skelmersdale , to be held on the ioth of July , I hear from our energetic Provincial Grand Secreiary that we shall not be far short of that sum this year , that vve may be able even to exceed it . Our Charities are worthy of support , and 1 commend them to your kind considetation . During the past year we fortunately have lost very few brethren by death , yet I fee / vve must express our sympathy with our Barnsley brethren in the loss

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

they have sustained by the decease of Bro . Fincken , P . M ., and our brethren of the St . Chad's Lodge in that of Bro . J . B Hargreaves , P . M . Both were good and worthy men , brethren who have in their time done excellent service to our Order . It is now my pleasing duty to give and ask you to join me in giving a most hearty welcome to our M . W . Bro . the Earl of Euston , Pro Grand Master of Engto and

land . I consider it a very hig h honour to have him amongst us -day , I am sure it is very gratifying that , notwithstanding the numerous engagements that press upon our M . W . Pro Grand Master , he has found time to come amongst us . We have prepared an address of welcome ,- sealed with the seal of the province , and , before I have the pleasure of banding it to Lord Euston , I will call upon our Provincial Grand Registrar , Bro . W . S . Blackburn , to read it :

It was in these words : PROVINCE OF W EST YORKSHIRE . To the Most Worshipful the Earl of Euston , Pro Grand Mark Master Mason of England and Wales and the Colonies and Dependencies of the British Crown . M . W . Sir , —We , the Provincial Grand Master , Prov . G . Officers , and brethren of West Yorkshire , tender to you a most hearty and sincere welcome on this your first visit to this prosperous and harmonious province .

As the distinguished representative of our M . W . Grand Master we can assure you that the Mark Masons of the West Riding of Yorkshire yield to none in their loyalty and attachment to H . R . Highness , and to the Officers of the Grand Mark Lodge of England . We esteem your presence here to-day , and that of the other officers of Grand and trust will

Lodge who accompany you , as a very high honour indeed , we you find , brief though your sojourn amongst us may be , that we endeavour faithfully to carry out the true principles of Mark Masonry , that we recognise our duties and obligations , and that we rejoice to extend to you that hospitality and kindly feeling , for which our county has obtained , we venture to hope , a not undeserved

reputation . Signed on behalf of the province , CHARLES LETCH MASON , [ S EAL ] Prov . G . Master . J OSEPH MATTHEWMAN , Prov . G . Secy . Leeds , 15 May , 1895 . The PRO GRAND MASTER , on ' rising to reply , was cheered vociferously .

He said : R . W . Provincial Grand Master and brethren of West Yorkshire , —I can hardly find words sufficiently strong in which to thank you for the hearty reception you have accorded to me . West Yorkshire I have always heard was proverbial for its hospitality , and I have indeed ample proof of the truth of it to-day . So far as 1 can judge , and as , in fact , I am informed , you are a powerful , prosperous , and harmonious province , and I can assure you it is a great satisfaction to me , as representing our Grand Master , that that is so . Much of the credit for this satisfactory condition lies , I do not

hesitate to think , in the fostering care and unremitting attention which your Provincial Grand Alaster , Bro . Charles Letch Mason , has bestowed upon the province over which he tells us he has now ruled nearly 12 years . Permit me to thank you most sincerely for your welcome , and let me add that whatever I can do to further the interests or advance the cause of Mark Masonry in West Yorkshire , or in any part of England , is always at the command of my brethren ; and if my presence here can produce influence for good to the Order , I shall be happy at some future time to visit you again . In the name of the Grand Officers around me , as well as in my own , I once more

thank you . The P . G . REGISTRAR , on being called upon for his annual report , said that , whilst four of the lodges had admitted no new members during the year , yet others had greatly increased , and especially was this the case with Britannia , 53 ; Copley , m j Fearnley , 58 ; and Old York , T . I . He regretted to find that the number in arrears was rather greater , but the resignations showed considerable deciease ; and whilst he could not quite consider the province to be enthusiastic , jet it might fairly be described as both vigorous and flourishing .

Bro . HERHERT G . E . GREEN , Prov . G . Treas ., after presenting his balance-sheet , which was adopted , proposed Bro . W . W . Clayton , P . M .

374 , as his successor . This , on being seconded by Bro . G . F . CARR , P . P . G . Treas ., was carried unanimously , Bro . Clayton ' s name being received with general approval . The retiring Provincial Grand Oflicers were then called to the dais and handed in their collars , after which the following brethren were invested for

the coming year : Bro . Thomas Wrigley , 14 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ Maurice J . Dodworth , 53 ••• Prov . J . G . W . „ Dr . Samuel J acob , 352 ... ... Prov . G . M . O . b

„ Thomas Norfolk , T . L , ... ... ... Prov . . U . O . „ Walter Hanson , 58 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . O . „ Rev . Geo . H . Stock , M . A ., 39 8 ... ... Prov . G . Chap . „ VV . W . Clayton ( elected ) 374 ... ... Prov . G . Treas . .. Chas . Aliddleton . in ... ... •¦• Prov . G . Reg .

,, Joseph Alatthewman , no ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ Thomas Uttley , 14 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ Wm . Jas . Alonis , 58 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ William Senior , 127 ... ... ... Prov . G . L of W .

„ AlfredLeach . no ... ... •¦• Prov . G . D . C . „ Thos . Bland Wilson , 457 ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C .

„ Tom Tomlinson , HI ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ Charles Lingard , 127 ... .. ... Prov . G . Std . Br . „ C . H . Wooohouse , 398 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org .

„ T . Earp Greenhough , T . I . ... ... Prov . G . I . G . ,, W . Aked Statter , 110 ... ... •• ~ 1 „ Geo . Jackson , 1 37 ... ... " I Prov . G . Stwds . ,, J . Brooks Parkin , 352 ... ... ... I ,, Geo . H . Clemons , 374 ... ... J „ J . H . Newlon , in ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler .

The next business was important . It was to recommend to the M . W . Grand Alasttr a brother of eminence and ability to occupy the position ol Prov . G . M . for West Yorkshire for the next thrte years . Bro . K . Ci . KKVj . s , P . AL 53 , P . G . Std . Br ., at once lose . He pointed out how lcrg and faithfully bio . Chailes Letch Mason had served the province ; lhat he was about to complete his fouith lerm of three years . He rtmirdtd tin hrtihitnof the coi . dition of Alastnrv 12 years aj > o , and beggt

them to bear witness lo its steady growth since . " I askjou , theiefore , biethren , " continued Bro . Clteves , " unanimously to agree to recommend t > 10-Charles Lttch Mason to our M . W . Giand Master lor a further term of three years . You know his merits ; it is quite unnecessary for me to go into them . 1 therefore leave the vei diet wilh jou , with perfect confidence as to t " result . '