Provincial Grand Lodge Of North And East Yorkshire.

' Trand Master and the acting Deputy Prov . Grand Master with grand honours . The Past Grand Officers of England were also saluted . The PROV . G . M . read a letter fr m the Deputy Prov . Grand Master , ressing j , ; ] ordship's regret at inability to attend through indisposition , 6 5 convey ing his sympathy with the objects for which Prov . Grand Lodge had been summoned . .

, , , „ , The PROV . G . M . then read the following Address to his Majesty King Edward VII .:

TO THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY . M AV IT PLEASE YOUR MAJESTV , We y ° Majesty ' s dutiful and loyal subjects , the members of the Provincial ' Grand Lodge of Antient Free and Accepted Masons in the North and East Ridings of Yorkshire , beg most respectfully to offer to your Majesty our sincere condolence and heartfelt sympathy in the great loss

which your Majesty has sustained by the decease of our late beloved Sovereign , her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria , whose long and glorious reign will ever form one of the brightest epochs of English History . As Freemasons , we would express our gratitude for the many benefits conferred upon our Order by your Majesty as our illustrious Grand Master

for the last 27 years , during which our Craft has enjoyed a period of unexampled prosperity , and we beg to assure your- Majesty of our profound attachment to your Majesty and to your Majesty's gracious Consort , with the other members of the Royal Family . Given at York this Sth day of March , 1901 . On behalf of the Provincial Grand Lodge .

ZETLAND , P . G . M . L . S . BOLTON , D . P . G . M .

The P . G . MASTER said that he did not think that it was necessary for him to add very many words of his own in order to ensure that the address which he bad just read to them would be received with harmony and unanimity . ( Applause . ) He would confine his remarks to saying ( and he was quite sure that all would agree with him when he made the observation ) that the reign of her Majesty our late Sovereign , was not

remarkable alone for the many years that she occupied the throne . If they looked back on past history he did not think that they would find any similar period where so many advantages had been gained , so much advancement made , and the prosperity of the people so thoroughly advanced and studied as during her reign . ( Applause . ) He felt that if he were to touch only slightly on a few of the chief characteristics

of her late Majesty's reign he would occupy their time unduly ; but he would say the rapid advancement in different spheres , whether they looked at science , whether they looked at education , or the prosperity of the citizens and the happiness of the country , all those circumstances were due to a very large extent to the knowledge of men and affairs , to the sound advice given to her Ministers , and to the tact and judgment which her late Majesty

possessed in such a remarkable degree . ( Applause . ) Again , her Majesty made herself endeared to the hearts of all her subjects by the kind sympathy which she extended so lavishly to people in all parts of her empire . They , as Freemasons , owed a deep debt of gratitude to the members of the Royal Family . They recognised in her late Majesty an extreme liberality to all cases of want and distress , and that liberality was extended to all charitable institutions . He was sure that the charitable institutions which were so

prominently connected with Freemasonry enjoyed the full sympathy of her late Majesty . ( Applause . ) They owed a debt of gratitude to the King for the able , impartial , and wise manner in which he had ruled over them as Grand Master for the last 27 years . ( Loud applause . ) He did not think that at any previous time in the history of Masonry that it had enjoyed a higher or more satisfactory position than it did at the present moment , and

he was sure that it was due to the knowledge , ability , discretion , and power and time which his Majesty the King had devoted to promote the interests of Freemasonry in this country . ( Applause . ) He might take that opportunity of saying that it was a matter of satisfaction not only to himself but to all belonging to the Craft , that the high position which * the

King was compelled to vacate owing to his accession to the Throne was to be filled by his illustrious brother , the Duke of Connaught . He had the utmost confidence that Freemasonry would continue to flourish under his rule . ( Applause . ) He moved the adoption of the address , and that it be forwarded to his Majesty through the Grand Secretary of England .

Bro . the Very Rev . the Dean of YORK seconded the resolution , saying that he did so with mixed feelings . He regretted that through the absence ol Lord Bolton it had fallen to his lot to undertake the duty , but on the other hand he felt highly honoured at being chosen to discharge that high office , and that it was a great , privilege in such an assemblage of Masons to second a resolution to the memory of the great Sovereign who had passed

to her rest , and also recording their confidence in , and anticipations for , the King . ( Applause . ) He noticed in the ante-room an address which had been sent to the York Lodge , No . 236 , from the York Lodge in New York , U . S . A ., which , in alluding to her late Majesty , spoke of her as a womanly Queen . Perhaps they would hesitate in a formal document to apply that phrase to her Majesty , yet he knew no other which so exactly expressed

wnat she was . ( Applause . ) there was no other epithet which accounted for the wide homage which her name received . They felt that in her were united all the qualities which they connected with the idea of woman . ( Applause . ) It was not that she had great power , it was not that she had s ; reat wealth , or that she was a woman of stupendous abilities , but it was that whatever happened throughout the world in which a word of sympathy aim

encouragement was required , it was sure to come from her . ( A pplause . ) The whole nation felt that the Queen was one of themstrlves , for she was in thorough touch and thorough sympathy W J" » them in all their joys and sorrows . ( Applause . ) They saw what a wonderful power she had by the unanimous voice sent out from

' quarters of the world , and how her character was appreciated and underwood . ( Applause . ) They could not help feeling that under God ' s good providence we were indebted in a great measure for the peace , prosperity , . ! ' , , 'y which the nation enjoyed , wh'Ist other nations were rent asunder , , J wonderful influence of her great character . ( Applause . ) If they uld _ describe her late Maiestv as a womanlv Oueen . he thought that thev

li , Th '" 1 ,: dward V 11 * a n * an * y Kin L - ( Applause . ) It seemed to him 'at he was a thorough man , and entered most cordially into all that affected t interests of mankind . They had had the pleasure of receiving his ¦ jesty in York more than once , and they had had experience of his govern-Wt | . •t 9 y them as Masons for something like 27 years , and they knew pretty flor at manner of ma " he was . Whilst they regretted that the great and £ > nous reign had come to an end , they could not help feeling thankful that

Provincial Grand Lodge Of North And East Yorkshire.

God , in the place of our beloved Queen , had raised her son , who possessed many of the qualities of his illustrious mother , and who had every intention of following in her footsteps . ( Applause . ) The resolution was carried , the whole of the brethren standing . The National Anthem was then sung , the solo by Bro . G . Potter-Kirby , P . P . G . D . C , and chorus by the brethren , accompanied on the organ by the Prov . G . Org .

The PROV . GRAND MASTER moved a cordial vote of thanks to the VV . M . and brethren of the York Lodge for the use of their Masonic Hall , which was seconded by Bro . T . B . WHYTEHEAD , P . G . S . B . Eng ., carried by acclamation , and appropriately acknowledged by Bro . E . S . ROBINSON W . M . of the York Lodge . The Provincial Grand Lodge was then closed in due form and with solemn prayer .

The following acknowledgment of the Address has been received ; UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND , Freemasons' Hall , Great Queen-street , London , W . C ,

nth March , 1901 . Dear Sir and Brother , I have received the Commands of the King to ask you to be so good as to convey to the members of the Provincial Grand Lodge of the North and East Ridings of Yorkshire , his Majesty ' s grateful thanks for their kind and fraternal expressions of sympathy with him in his great sorrow . I am , Dear Sir and Brother , Yours fraternally , •«, n L « - - , E * LETCHWORTH , G . S . W . Brother M . C . Peck , ' P . G . Std . Bearer , Prov . Grand Secretary N . and E . Yorkshire .

Scotland.

Scotland .

SUPREME GRAND ROYAL ARCH CHAPTER .

The annual Communication of this Supreme Masonic body was held in Edinburgh , on the 20 th instant , within the Royal Arch Masons' Hall . There was a large attendance of the companions , presided over by the Depute First Principal , Colonel Ivison Macadam . The CHAIRMAN declared the elective offices vacant , and then the Hon . Charles Maule Ramsay , who had been nominated as First Grand Principal , was introduced by the Grand Director of Ceremonies , and was informed of

his election to the chair . The Depute First Principal , in doing so , said that the members , in making the election , felt that they were honouring themselves , doing good to the Supreme Royal Arch Chapter , and that they trusted he would be long spared to rule over the Supreme . The FIRST GRAND PRINCIPAL accepted the office , and was installed and invested by the Depute , and afterwards thanked the comoanions for th *

honour conferred upon him , and expressed the hope that when he came to lay it down to his successor he would have acquitted himself to their satisfaction , and to the benefit and good of the Royal Arch Chapter . They were aware that he was already interested in , and identified with , another branch of Masonry , in which he had discharged his duties as faithfully as he could , and he assured them that he was very much interested in everything tnat

concerned Royal Arch Masonry . He looked with much pleasure and satisfaction upon the fact that now at last , thanks to the management and good care that had been taken of the affairs of the Supreme Royal Arch Chapter , it was lodged in a house of its own - ( applause )—and he trusted that , with the auspicious opening that took place a short time ago , and with the attendance of brethren from a distance there that dav which

he hoped , would be repeated at every quarterl y communication —( applause ) — they might look upon this as an omen that the Royal Arch Chapter was flourishing and in a general prosperous condition . ( Applause . ) He knew that in many places that was the case . He wished that all over the country it was beyond question that the chapters were working energetically and

looking out tor the future for themselves , and doing what was fair and legitimate to secure an increase to their ranks . ( Applause . ) He then requested Colonel Macadam , who had identified himself so thoroughly well with the interests and work of the Supreme Chapter , to complete the good work he had begun .

The other office bearers who had been nominated were then installed into office , the Depute First Grand Principal being Comp . James Kirkwood , Provost of Govan , * Second Grand Principal , Comp . Thomas Hope of Bridge Castle ; and Third Grand Principal , Comp . Alex . Bruce . Afterwards Colonel Macadam was thanked for his services , and that closed the business .

The companions thereafter celebrated the Festival of the Vernal Equinox . The company numbered about 70 , presided over b y the First G . Principal , the Hon . C . Maule Ramsay , who was supported right and left by the Grand office-bearers and others . After dinner the CHAIRMAN gave the toast of " The King , " to whom , he said , it must be a personal relief to know that he was really backed up by the loyalest people on earth . ( Applause . )

Comp . A . BRUCE proposed "The Imperial Forces , " for whom Colonel IVISON MACADAM replied . Comp . D . GUTHRIE SIIIELL , Prov . G . Scribe , Angus andMearns , proposed " The Grand Oilice Bearers and the Past Grand Office Bearers . ' "The Daughter Chapters" and "The Grand Scribe , Comp . R . S . Brown , " were also toasted .

Comp . KIRKWOOD , in proposing the toast of " The First Grand Principal , " referred to telegrams which had been received fro . n cnapcers in Forfar and Kincardine shires in reference to the election , and said no telegrams were required to assure the chapter of the soundness of their choice , lt was a well-known fact that the Dalhousie family had been identified with

t ' reemasonry for many years —( applause )—and it was very fortunate indeed that the mantle of Lord Panmure , Earl Dalhousie , had fallen on their friend . ( Applause . ) They wished him every success —( applause . )— and had no doubt that the success that had attended the Supieme Cuaptcr vtjald bs renewed . ( Applause . )