Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

Bro . J . W . MONCKMAN , P . M . Old York ( T . I . ) , P . G . S ., as one of the oldest Alark Alasons now living in the province , most heartily joined , and asked the brethren to join in the recommendation of Bro . Mason ' s name . He pointed out how much West Yorkshire owed to Bro . Alason , the great

work lie had done , and the flourishing condition of the lodges under his rule . No other name having been submitted , the DEPUTY PROV . GRAND AIASTER asked the Prov . Grand Secretary to take the proper steps when the time came to give effect to the recommendation of this Prov . Grand Lodge .

Bro . AIASON , in a few appropriate words , briefly thanked the brethren for this mark of their confidence .

The election of the two Wardens and three Overseers to serve on the General Purposes Committee finished the business of the meeting . The Pio Grand Master and officers of Grand Lodge retired , and the Prov . Grand Lodge was closed . The Prov . Grand Alaster , Bro . C . L . Alason , subsequently presided at lhe banquet , which was held in the same hall .

The toast of " Her Alajesty the Queen and Mark Masonry " having been proposed and duly honoured , The CHAIRMAN said the next toast he had to submit to the brethren was that of " His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , K . G ., & c , M . W . Grand Master . " Those of them who had been privileged to be present at the installation of His Royal Highness as Grand Alaster of the

Alark for the present year would not forget that day , and he was one of those privileged individuals . Through the forethought of some enterprising brother , a photograph was taken of the scene , and he had the honour to appear in the picture . It was a most enjoyable meeting , and only those who were present could realise the interest which His Royal Highness took in Mark Masonry . It was a great advantage to Alasonry that the heir to a

throne like that of England should take an interest in the Order ; it showed that he appreciated its importance . It was an institution of which the more they knew the more it was valued . The PROV . GRAND AIASTER said that the toast he had next to propose was one he was sure they would receive with the greatest enthusiasm . It was " The Health of the Right Hon . the Earl of Euston , M . W . Pro Grand Alaster , the Right Hon . Viscount Dungarvan , R . W . Deputy Grand Master ,

and the test of the Grand Officers , Present and Past . " He considered it a great honour that their Alost Worshipful Pro Grand Alaster had paid a visit to West Yorkshire that day . It had given great eclat to their proceedings , and a deep dept of gratitude was due to him for the honour he had done them , especially when they considered his numerous engagements . On Sunday and Alonday he was informed the Pro Grand Master went into

Dorsetshire , to-day ( Wednesday ) he had travelled to West Yorkshire , and to-morrow lie was going to Northampton to perform his duty as Prov . G . Supt . of Wks . ; from which they , must come to the conclusion that Lord Euston was a busy man in Masonry . He believed their Alost Worshipful Pro Grand Alaster was one whose heart was thoroughly in Masonry , who valued it for its own sake , and who was anxious to do all he could to

promote its welfare . He duly recognised the great honour that had been done to West Yorkshire that day , and he was sure he should not fail to rouse their enthusiasm when he asked them to drink with all their hearts , " Long life , health and happiness to the Earl of Euston , and the Officers of the Grand Lodge , Present and Past . " Bro . the Earl of EUSTON , whose rising to respond was the signal for

renewed cheets , again and again repeated , said : Right Worshipful Prov . Grand Master and brethren , I thank you , Right Worshipful brother , for the very hearty , kind , and flattering terms in which you have proposed my health , and I thank you , brethren , from lhe botiom of my heart for the reception you have given to the toast . As far as I am concerned in Alasonry , and I almost confine myself to the Alark Degree , it is not difficult to

travel from one end of the country to the other . Railway Companies are very kind ; they give you comfortable carriages and convey you rapidly at a minimum of expense . As to engagements , there are those made beforehand which are covered ; and there are arrangements made off hand , such as " Yes , I'll come , " and when the moment arrives you find that you cannot carry out your promise . It is impossible for anybody in a public position like

mine in Alasonry , to accept invitations unless I know long before hand . Then I can be ihere . If I make a promise , only such family affairs as come before Alasonry , prevent my keeping it . You have given me the most hearty and cordial welcome I have ever yet received in any province in Hnglanel . I shall long remember my visit to West Yorkshire . Alay I only say one thing . I am most pleased , most delighted to see your provincial meeting to-day . The

absolute harmony which prevailed , the love you bear your Prov . Grand Master , and finally the unanimity which pervades the brethren were most gratifying , and go far to prove the good and efficacy of Alark Alasonry . All I can say in thanking you for your kind reception of me this evening is , that if at any time it is necesrary that I , or any of the other Grand Officers should visit West Yorkshire , I am ceitain we shall be most happy to do so

at any time , if within the length of our cable tow . I wish jou all , brethren , every success you can possibly desire , and may you increase steadily as you have done since your R . W . Prov . Grand Alaster took the chair twelve years 3 g ° . A steady progress is better lhan a sudden increase . Let us remember when admitting brethren into our Order that we are admitting men about whom we know somewhat , and let us take the greatest care as to those whom

we advance to the Mark Degree . I urge it upon the Alark lodges of this province , that they cannot exercise too much caution . Anything I can do to help forward Alark Masonry I shall be happy to do , and I am sure 1 am speaking also for my Bro . Matier . Breihren , this day will long live in mv memory . J The Earl of EUSTON next said he had a task before him much more difficult than the one he had just discharged . He was quite certain that the toast he was going to proposethat of "The Health of Bro . Charles

, tl ? ]^ ason ' ^ eir Prov . G . Alaster , " would be received even with greater e . us ' ? l ^ 'hat with which they had honoured him . But it was only right that it should be so . Their Prov . G . Alaster had ruled over them some 12 years , and they by their unanimous vote in Prov . G . Lodge had selected mm for another three years . He assured them that he should stay on and lo M if d tllem - t 0 Join him '" com P 'menting their Prov . G . Alaster or all his work in the past , and in showing how they honoured and respected lim . He wished their Pmv . C \ l . i <; tpr hanninpsq nnd nrnsnurlf ,. nr . rlfV . of

Th , p e '' ye t 0 rule ovcr them in Wcbt Yorksh ' re . I ? j ' * - *• MASTKK said he thanked them all most sincerely for the J ' <' manner in which they had responded to the toast which had been a ° ? " 'yProposed by their M . W . Pro G . Master . He could assure themhe h _? P ' ^ ' those who knew him in Alasonry would testify to it—that naa onl y one wish , and that was to promote the honour and prosperity

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

of their ancient Society ; but especially did he try to advance the welfare of the Order , to preside over which they had recommended him to the M . W . G . Master of Fngland that day . He assured them that there was a great deal to do in Mark Alasonry which devolved upon the W . Ms , of the several lodges , and it was through their loyalty and ' co-op-ration that the welfare of the Order had been so satisfactory . They had had , fortunately , in the province

also some very able and efficient Grand Secretaries , brethren who had discharged the work devolving upon them most successfully . They had only had three , and he was pleased to say that all three were living , and that though the oldest of them , through ill-health , was unable to be with them that evening , they had the other two amongst them . In responding to the toast , he must bear testimony to the support and untiring energy which the

Secretaries had shown , and to them was largely due the success of the province of West Yorkshire . He could dilate upon Alark Alasonry and its peculiar characteristics in many ways , and he would like to say one thing in the presence of the Secretary of the Alark Benevolent Fund , Bro . Alatier . He did not wish to trespass upon the ground of the brother who was to propose the Benevolent Fund later on , and as their Prov . G . Master he did

most heartily commend it to their consideration and support . There was one point , however , in which he and some other members of West Yorkshiie differed from Bro . Alatier . He should like to see the Alark Charities on the samefooting . andgranting the same annuities as theRoyal Benevolent Institutions . The argument against it was that they had not sufficient funds ; but he confidently believed if the authorities would agree to make the change ,

the Alark Alasons of England would rise to the occasion and more liberally support the Charities . That was a point he felt very deeply upon . They knew that in the Masonic Institution , to Males they gave £ 40 , to Widows £ 32 . In the Mark Charities the grants were less . What was the consequence ? Those who managed to get placed on the greater Charity threw the Alark Charity on one side . He believed if they would launch forth they

would have nothing at all to fear as to the future ; they would have larger support , and would thus indirectly advance the interests of Mark Alasonry . Bro . CLEEVES , P . AI . 53 , P . G . Std . Br . England , proposed "The Visitors . " This was responded to by Bro . J . WOODALL WOODALL , P . P . G . M . of N . and E . Yorks , who thanked the brethren present on behalf of the

province , of which West Yorkshire was the big brother . West Yorkshire had assisted them loyally and generously in the big Charities . At the last meeting of the province they actually handed over to them the presentation to one of the Schools . He assured them that if they visited Scarborough the lodges there would give them a welcome such as they had given to him that day .

His Honour Judge MASTERMAN , D . P . G . M . of Notts , said he had not long been a member of Masonry in the Shires , but he had been long enough to know that Alasonry was a great bond of union . He was a Londoner , born and bred , but he had found brethren both in the Craft and in the Alark , and the kindness and cordiality with which he had been received in Nottingham and elsewhere were astonishing to him . He returned thanks for the hospitality of West Yorkshire , and assured the brethren that if he was invited to come there again he should find it difficult to refuse .

Bros , the Rev . MANLEY POWER and MORTON , P . G . Sec . Lincolnshire , also responded . Bro . M . J . DODWORTH , Prov . J . G . W ., proposed " The Mark Benevolent Fund . " He said that Charity was an institution in Alark Masonry . By Charity they were judged by the outside world , who knew nothing else of them , and he hoped never would . When they saw from the extract of their

accounts that a sum amounting to , £ 60 , 000 had been contributed in one year by the Masons of England for the amelioration of the distress of their brethren and their families , Alasonry was raised in the estimation of the world to something like the estimation in which they themselves held it . Knowing the feeling which had existed in West Yorkshire for a great number of years , he failed to see how it was that the Alark Benevolent Fund could

not be organised on something like the same lines as those upon which the Charities of the Craft are worked . Why should they not have in each lodge a Charity Steward , and for the province a Charity Committee ? He thought it would greatly enhance the amount realised . The lod ge of which he had the honour of being a Past Master had liberall y responded to the appeals made on behalf of the Alark Charities . He was pleased lo know that there

was no falling off in Sheffield in that respect , and he believed the subscription from that city this year would exceed the handsome contribution they sent up in 18 94 . That would gladden the heart of their distinguished Hro . Matier , who would respond to the toast . The R . W . Prov . Grand Alaster had pointed out among the advantages of the Fund the small cost of management , and the little difficulty there was in getting candidates

admitted to its benefits ; in confirmation of which be might mention that on the first appeal , the widow of a Past Alaster of his ( the speaker ' s ) lodge was made an annuitant . He thought that had stirred up the bretliren in Britannia Lodge , and he was of opinion that if the suggestions which had been made were carried out , it would greatly increase the popularity of the Alark Benevolent Fund .

Bro . MATIER , who was very cordially received , said , in returning thanks for the foast which had been so heartily and warmly proposed by ihe Pnvincial Junior Grand Warden , and accepted by them , he must any that in his dual position as Grand Secretary of the Order and chief executive officer , he had no other wish than to be at the control of the Craft , and he thought their Alost Worshipful Grand Alaster would say that he was always

amenable to reason . As regarded his position as Secretary of the Alark Benevolent Fund , he confessed he approached that part of the toast with fear and trembling . He was not a nervous man , but he could not forget that he was in the presence of the brethren of West Yorkshire , who had for so many years lifted the banner of Charity in connection with the great Imperial Institutions , and to such an extent that the question " What is West

Yorkshire doing ? " became proverbial . He was about to ask them what was West Yorkshire going to do ? Their Festival would be held on the 10 h July , and the Chairman would be Lord Skelmersdale . When their Prov . Grand Master went into the room that afternoon he knew onl y of 50 guineas being subscribed to the Benevolent Fund , whereas now he was informed it was ^ over 100 guineas , and he hoped lhat sum would ba largely increased . They could not compete with the Imperial Charities . The

Girls' School produced at the last Festival the g igantic sum of , £ 16016 ; whilst at their last Festival they obtained for the Mark Benevolent Fund ^ 1894 . He was also to a certain extent upon his trial . Their Provincial Grand Alaster and Secretary had sent in certain noiices of motion with reference to altering the Book of Constitution-., to enable the General Board to give the same amount as that given by ihe Craft . In place of giving £ 26 to give £ 40 , and in place of giving £ 21 to give . £ 32 . With regard , however , to their Benevolent Fund , where the Craft have gigantic sums at their