Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

over which he presided was in itself a most handsome contribution . It was his desire as far as possible to visit all the lodges , and sooner or later to complete the round , but the task was a heavy one , and pending its performance he claimed with confidence the indulgence of the brethren . They were not numerically so

strong as their neighbours in Lancashire , but great care should be exercised by every lodge and every brother as to the admission of new men into the Order ; their desire being not merely , unwisely , as he thought , to seek to increase their numbers , but to admit only such men as would have their heart in the work , and would reflect honour and credit on the Craft .

The Deputy Prov . Grand Master , Bro . HENRY SMITH , in the course of a brief speech , thanked the brethren for their congratulations on his return in restored health from his Canadian trip . He mentioned that that was the 16 th time Prov . Grand Lodge had been held in Sheffield . On that occasion it was under the banner of the Wentworth Lodge , which was consecrated in 186 S , since which time 25 new lodges had been added to the roll of the

province , no less than four of them being connected with the city . The Wentworth was now one of the most flourishing lodges in West Yorkshire , the names of upwards of 80 members appearing on its books , and he wished , on behalf of Prov . Grand Lodge , to thank Bro . Charles Stokes , the W . M ., and the brethren generally , for the admirable arrangements they had made . Bro . T . BATEMAN Fox , Chairman of the Charity Committee , having

been called upon for his report , explained that the half-yearly report was necessarily brief , and at once referred to the work done since the last meeting . In the May elections , he said West Yorkshire had three men candidates and one widow ; that the men were elected , and the widow very nearly so , practically , he might say , she was elected ; that in the election last week they carried two boys , but did not quite succeed with the third . It was his

p leasing duty to reiterate the thanks which the Provincial Grand Master had expressed to the brethren generally for extending to Bro . J ackson the largest amount of support which West Yorkshire had ever known . In 1 S 64 , Bro . Fox informed them the amount contributed was ^ 4500 , of which West Yorkshire sent ^ 1500 . This year the total was ^ 19 , , and this province had subscribed ^ 4500 . Bro . Fox also referred to the honour which had been conferred upon Bro .

W . F . Smithson by the Board of Management of the Boys' School ; and concluded by extending a hearty welcome to Bros . Chadwick , Prov . G . Secretary , East Lancashire , to Bro . Cowper , Prov . G . Warden , North and East Yorkshire , to Bro . McLeod , Secretary to the Boys' School , and to Bros . Wright and Walker from Derbyshire . The PROV . G . MASTER said the brethren of West Yorkshire would be glad to hear a few words from Bro . John Chadwick .

Bro . J CJIADUWCK , who had a very warm reception , . aid he rose with trepidation , yet with much pleasure . He came to West Yorkshire as frequently as he could , and seldom failed to learn something by so doing . He referred to the long and close association which had existed between himself and Bro . Henry Smith , and explained the part he look as far back as 1 . S 60 in drawing up the By-Laws of the Charity Committee , which By-Laws he had now extended to East Lancashire . " Though , " continued Bro .

Chadwick , " we number 108 lodges , we might come here and take a lesson from you . If our 50 Prov . G . Officers would , as your Prov . G . Master suggested , visit the lodges , it would largely add to their successful career , and I am convinced also that the Charities would materially benefit . " Bro . Chadwick , whilst thanking the brethren , expressed a hope that he might be spared to visit them many times , and to consult together for their mutual benefit and satisfaction .

Bro . Cowi'ER also expressed his thanks for the kind greeting and welcome lie had met , as did also Bro . J . Walker . Bro . J . M . MILEOH , P . S . G . W . Derby , Sec . R . M . I . for Boys , next called , said that he had come down specially to thank the brethren of West Yorkshire for the noble support they had given to the school of which it was his pride to be Secretary . He had , he explained , just two matters further

lo which to refer . The first was the honour so well deserved and he might almost add , too long delayed , of which Bro . W . F . Smithson had been the recipient . The Board of Management made him an Honorary Vice-Patron , not because of the very large sum of money which West Yorkshire had sent up at the recent festival , but . because of the time , care , and attention which llro . Smithson had riven to the Boys' School , and the warm and practically

useful interest he had taken in its improvement and success . The second point , Bro . McLeod said , referred to the disappointment the Chairman and the Executive of the Charity Committee experienced at the failure of their third boy candidate in the late election . He had very much pleasure in telling them that , in consequence of the withdrawal of one of the boys elected , the third West Yorkshire case , as being next in order , would tome

in , and that in point of fact the boy Brownridge was practically elected . He again thanked them . Bro . Fox expressed his surprise and satisfaction at this interesting news . He also took the opportunity to offer an apology on behalf of the Vice-Chairman , Bro . VV . C . Lupton , who had been prevented from attending the

meeting . An invitation to hold the annual meeting , in 1895 , at Halifax , was received from the W . M . and brethren of De Warren Lodge , No . 1302 . The Provincial Grand Master intimated that the invitation would have due consideration , and the result would be communicated to the brethren who had so kindly invited them .

This finished the business of the meeting , and Provincial Grand Lodge was closed .

1 he brethren afterwards , to the number of upwards of 90 , assembled in the Masonic Hall , Surrey-street , where , at five o ' clock , dinner was served , the Provincial Grand Master presiding . The usual toasts , loyal and Masonic , were given , and heartily responded to . There was also music , both vocal and instrumental , which , with the recitations , added very largely to the enjoyment of the brethren .

Consecration Of The Jordan Chapter, No. 201.

CONSECRATION OF THE JORDAN CHAPTER , No . 201 .

l'he consecration of the Jordan Chapter , No . 201 , took place at ihe Wildhall Tavern , Gresham-st ., E . G ., on Thursday the . ( th inst ., under 'avourable auspices and in the presence of a large gathering .

The Consecrating Officer , Comp . E . Letchworth , Grand Scribe E . ; was assisted by Comps . Dr . C ' ocklnirn , as H . ; Rev . J . Studholme Brownrigg , as J-l C . E . Keyser , as Scribe N . ; Frank Richardson , P . G . D . of C , as D . C . ; an 'l H . Sadler , Grand Janitor . The following are the founders : Comps . E . A . Il . uris , P . Z . 18 5 ; G . Ore-gory , l \ y _ , , s ; J . H . Frye , II . 1 S 5 ; A . Mc Dow . II , P . Z . 94 S ; S

Consecration Of The Jordan Chapter, No. 201.

Chaplin , P . Z . 51 ; M . T . Tuck , J . 1437 ; A . Barrett , A . S . 879 ; J . F Saunders , P . S . 1507 ; A . Davies , 185 ; H . J . Abrahams , 1540 ; Capt . Lurcott , 1745 ; J . R . Carter , 2374 ; T . Wallis , " 185 ; T . G ' ass , 86 ); J . Carey , 179 ; H . Berghoff , 975 ; G . C . Peacock , 1 S 5 ; C . G . Zander , 975 ; F . S . Gray , 1437 ; and J . R . Ubsdell , 975 .

There were also present : Comps . Cook , 1693 ; G . Davis , P . Z . 185 ; A . Weston , 1489 ; T . H . Lloyd , 2374 ; Dancyger , P . Z . 205 ; W . H . Hope , S 79 ; G . W . Knight , 2356 ; R . P . Angel , 179 ; VV . E . Poole , S 60 ; H . Jenkins , 1540 ; Capt . T . C . Walls , D . G . D . C , P . P . G . P . S . ; C . J . Coombs , P . Z . 975 ; B . E . Blasby , P . Z . 975 ; A . H . Robertson , 30 ( S . C . ) , Cummins , 1693 ; F . Hilton , A . G . D . C , P . Z . 1622 ; H . Harris , 185 ; A . Kenningham , 19 ; Skinner , 975 ; May , gi ; Haskins , P . P . G . O . Essex ; Barlow , 91 ; T . C . Edmonds , Janitor .

Comp . Letchworth and his assistants then proceeded to consecrate the chapter according to ancient form , after which he installed Comps . A . E . Harris , P . Z . 1 S 5 , as M . E . Z . ; Geo . Gregory , P . Z . 153 . 8 , as H .: and J . H . Frye , H . 1 S 5 , as J . The election of officers then took place , when the following were invested by the M . E . Z .: Comps . M . T . Tuck , J . 1437 , as

Scribe E . ; A . Davies , S 79 , as Scribe N . ; A . McDjwall , as Treasurer ; J . F . Saunders , as P . S . ; A . Davies , as ist A . S . ; H . J . Abrahams , as 2 nd A . S . ; H . Berghoff , as D . C ; Wallis , Lurcott , Carter and Zander , as Stewards ; and T . C Edmonds , P . Z ., as Janitor . The M . E . Z . then appointed Comp , S . Chaplin , P , Z ., as Acting LP . Z .

After a vote of thanks to the Consecrating Officers and their election as honorary members , the appointment of a Committee on bye-laws , and the hearing of several propositions for joining and exaltation , the chapter was closed and the companions adjourned to a banquet provided by the founders , after which the usual toasts were duly honoured , and a most enjoyable evening , enlivened by a selection of music by Comps . T . H . Lloyd , Selwyn Davies , A . Kenningham , A . Weston , and Dr . Haskins , was spent by the companions .

Comments On Bro. Jacob Norton's Masonic History.

COMMENTS ON BRO . JACOB NORTON'S MASONIC HISTORY .

The Masonic Review of Cincinnati contains the following article by Bro . H . Sadler , Sub-Librarian of the Grand Lodge of England , anent the controversy relating to the Royal Arch Degree which has been carried on in its columns : Without entering into the question of the various origins ascribed to the Royal Arch Degree dealt with by my friend J . \ ron NORTON ' , in the July issue of the " REVIEW , " I must take exception to some of his statements which appear to me to be contrary to established facts .

On page 339 , Bro . NORTON states that " Laurence Dermott brought tli ? Royal Arch Degree from Dublin to 1 . ondon somewhere between 174 ( 1 and 1750 , " thereby implying , I assume , that Dermott was the first to plant and promulgate this Degree in England . Now , we have no knowledge of Dermott ' s being in England prior to February , 1752 , when his name first appears in the Register of the " Ancients " as one ot the founders of a new

lodge , and as he took no part in the organisation of the " Ancient " body in July , 1751 , we may fairly assume that he had not then arrived in London . That Dermott brought the Degree from Dublin to London there cannot be the smallest doubt , for , having been , according to his own account , exalted in Dublin in 1746 , he could not well have come here without it , but I have

no hesitation in saying that there is not in existence a particle of evidence to prove that he evinced an unusual interest in Royal Arch Masonry itself or in its piomulgation until several years alter his arrival when the Degree was in active existence as an independent organisation warmly supported by his opponents , the adherents of the regular Grand Lodge of England .

I have already dealt with this phase of the " Ancient question at considerable length in " Masonic Facts and Fictions , " published in 1887 , but as Bro . NORTON appears to have forgotten that fact , or he deems my remarks thereon of little or no value , I will ask you to be good enough to re-print the following extracts , in the hope that with some of your readers I may be more successful :

" The earliest reference to the Royal Arch in the Grand Lodge records appears in the Minutes of a Grand Committee of the ' Ancients , ' September , 2 d , 1752 , when Dermott gave a lecture , ' and every part of Real freemasonry was traced and explained , except the Royal Arch . ' "The degree is not mentioned again in the Minutes till the 2 d March , 1 754 , when it was ordered , ' The Master of the Royal Arch shall be summoned to meet in order to regulate things relative to that most valuable branch of the Craft . '

" A still wider gap may be observed between the last reference and the following : ' 4 th Dec , 1771 , At a General Grand Chapter held on the above date , it was Resolved , That no person for the future shall be made a Royal Arch Mason but the Legal Representatives of the Lodge , except a broth : r that is going abroad who hath been twelve months a Registered Mason . '

"The first R . A . Register of the 'Ancients' was begun in 17 S . 3 by Dermott , whose name heads the list , and I have no doubt such of my readers as may have been led to believe that this Order was originated by that personage and his associates will be surprised to learn that , including himself , only eight brethren are entered as having bsen exalted prior to the end of 1770 . Of these , two are stated to have taken the degree in Ireland , in 1746

and 176 7 , two in Scotland , in 1768 and 1770 , and one in America in the latter year . " When the register was opened a Resolution was passed , ' That for the better preservation of the Supreme Degree of Freemasonry ( aforesaid ) the names of all the Regular Royal Archmen shall be recorded ( gratis ) in a particular Book prepared for that purpose . '

" Only twenty names of brethren from all parts are registered as having been exalted between the years 1770 and 1780 , so that , notwithstanding the early reference to the R . A . in the Minutes of the ' Anci-nts , ' it is evident that the degree was not at this period extensively patronised by that body . " The earliest known R . A . records of the ' Modems , ' show a striking

contrast to the torpid condition of the degree under the ' Ancient' regime , being the Minutes of an independent Chapter in full swing in 1 705 , supported by some of the rno-, 1 active members of tbe ' Modem ' Grand Lodge , several of whom afterwards became Grand Officers , a distinction which , at that time , none dared aspire to , save those who were blessed with a pretty