Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of North And East Yorkshire.

A large number of apolog i es were read , and the PROV . G . SECRETARY then read the report of the Biard of General Purposes , which showed an increase of seven advancements during the year , but a total decrease of 17 in ihe strength of members . A resolution vvas passed on the proposition of Bro . T . 13 . WHYTEHEAD P . P . G . W ., recondrd by Bro . Col . R . G . SMITH , D . P . G . M . Master , voting the Mim of £ 10 ios . to the Mark Benevolent Fund . The P . ov G . M . Master then appointed his Prov . Grand Officers for the ensuinsr yi nr as follows - .

Bro . VV . Holloway . P . M . 276 ... ... Prov . S . G . W . ,, \ V . A . WetvuVn . W . M . 291 ... ... Prov . JGW . „ J . E'gar , W . M 2 S 1 ... ... ... Prov . G . M . O . „ S . W * l gate , S . W . 277 ... ... Prov . S . G . O . „ F . Dunstan , J W . 276 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . O . ,, \\ f . v . E , A . B . P tman , Chap . 277 ... ... Prov . G . Chap . „ W . I M Tshall P . M . 277 ( re-elected ) ... Prov . G . Treas . „ E . W . Pu nell , W . M . York T . L ... ... Prov . G . Sec .

„ R . McBean , S . VV . 05 ... ... ... Prov . G . R . of M . ,, J . Harrovvintr . M . O . 337 ... ... Prov . S . G D . „ M . Gage , S . W . 291 " ... ... ... Prov . I G . D . „ J . L . Spetch , S . D . York T . I . ... ... Prov . G . Insn . Wks ,, S . Ridge , 297 .. ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ Dr . Grainger , J . D . 337 .. ... ... Prov . Asst . G . D . C ,, Ji o . Cooper , Treas . 281 ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ Dr . Buchanan , York T . I . ... ... Prov . G . Std . B-. ,, W . Peacock , 95 ... ... ... Prov . G . Orr / . „ F . W . Halliwell , Sec . York T . I . ... ... Prov , Asst . G . Sec ,, H . C . Godfrey , 291 ... ... ... Prov . G . I G . ,, W . S'ockdale , Tyler 277 ... ... Prov . G . Tjltr

Four Stewards to be nominated by lodges , Middlesbro ' , 276 . Drifelt , 291 , Fitzvvilliam , 277 , and Beverlac , 281 . The Prov . G . Auditor , and Board of General Purposes were re-elected . Bro . G . H . PARKE , P . J . G . W . West Yorks . as President of the Board of Stewards for the forthcoming Festival of the Mark Benevolent Fund ,

thanked th Prov . G . Lrelge for the handsome donation made that dav towards ihe funds of the Insiitution , and trusted that , as the Prov . Grand Mark Master of West Yorkshire , Bro . C . Letch Mason , would preside on the occasion , ihe biethren of the sister province would rally round and support him by their influence'and donations .

Piov . Grand Lodge vvas then invited to hold its next meeting at Scarborough , under tbe banner of the Star in the East Lodge . The PROV . GRAND MASTER then addressed the brethren , and , after thanking them for their attendance and support , expressed his great gratification at the presence of the distinguished visitors from West Yorkshire , as > howirg the kindly feeling that existed between the two provinces , and

Irui-t ' d that he might before long be able to return the compliment . After alluding to tie decrease in the number of members , he expressed the hope lhat , as there was plenty of good material to work upon , there would be a strong accession of members during the year . He expressed his pleasure at the Prov . Grand Treasurer ' s report , and was gratified that they had been able to vote the sum of 10 guineas to the Mark Benevolent Fund . He then

exptis ' ed the thanks of the Prov . Grand Lodge to the W . M . and brethren rf the York Lodge ( T . I . ) for their kindness in receiving Prov . Grand Lodge tha' day , and went on to ref ^ r to the services of the late Prov . G . Sferttary , Bro . A . W . Walker , vvho f-T 10 years had so ably steered the r-ffairs of Prov . Grand Lodge , and moved that the thanks of Prov . Grand Lodge be accorded to him for his services .

'i his was seconded by Bro . Col . R . G . SMITH , D . P . G . M ., and carried unanimously . Bro . A . YV . WALKER thanked the Prov . Grand Master for his kind remarks as to his services , and also the brethren for their hearty endorsement of the same , and trusted that his services to the Degree would not diminish in any way . The P . G . M . of West Yeirkshire , Bro . C . LETCH MASON , then thanked

the brethren for their kindly reception , and expressed the pleasure he had had in taking part in the proceedings , and , after alluding to the important position that Mark Masonry held in the Masonic world , concluded by misting that good feeling and unity would always exist between the two provinces . The Prov . Grand Lodge was then closed , and the Prov . G . M . retired with the visitors and c flicei s , and afterwards presided at dinner at the North-Eastern Hotel .

District Grand Lodge Of Barbados.

DISTRICT GRAND LODGE OF BARBADOS .

Pursuant lo a summons issued by command of Bro . John Locke , Dist , G . M . ( designate ) a special communication of the District Grand Lodge ol BirV-ados vvas holden under the banner of the Albion Lodge , No . 196 , K . R ., at the Masonic 11 , 11 in Sprv-street , on Thursday , the g ' . h ult ., lor the purpose of installing the Right Worshipful Brother as District Grand Master of BaiborJos . Bro . his Excellency Sir James Shaw Hay , Knight

Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of St . Michael and St . George , Governor of the Island , presided as Installing Master . The following officers and members of District Grand Lodge were present : — Bros . Robert Haynes , P . M ., Dep . Dist . G . M . ( d . signate ) , acting as Dist . G . M . ; J . P . d'Alberquerque , P . M ., Dist . S . G . W . ; J . W . Croney , P . M ., Dist . J . G . W . ; Alexander Bayley , P . M ., H . T . Armstrong , P . M ., F . N . A .

Clairmonte , P . M ., P . D . G . Ws . ; James Gibbons , P . M ., Dist . G . Treas . ; R . J . Clinckett , P . M ., Dist . G . Reg . ; H . Withstandley , P . M ., P . D . G . Reg . ; C . J . Lawrance , Dist . G . Sec ; B . E . Bynoe , P . M ., Dist . S . G . D . ; V . Hanschell , W . M ., Dist . J . G . D . ; E . F . S . Bowen , Dist . G . Supt . of vVorks ; J . ] . Warner , P . M ., Dist . G . D . of C . ; Capt . W . I . Smith , Dist . G . S . B . ; J . K , Valverde , Past D . G . S . B . ; A . S . Bryden , Dist . A . G . S . B . ; J . Collins King , Dist .

G . Std . Br . ; George Hoad , Dist . G . Org . ; W . H . Hutchinson , W . M ., P . D . G . Org . ; P . P . Spsncc-r , Dist . A . G . Sec . ; C . H . Stokes , Dist . G . Purst . ; W . T . Armstrong , P . D . G . Purst . ; and Evan St . John Greaves , Dist . A . G . Purst . There were also present the representatives and members of the lodges in the District , together with Bro . Sir W . Brandford Griffith , K . C . M . G ., No . 757 , ( Victoria ) , and other brethren .

The officers and members of Dist . G . Lodge , accompanied by Bro . his Excellency Sir James Hay , K . C . M . G ., the Installing Master , entered the /¦ iiii / c room in procession . The acting Dist . G . M . having taken ihe chair , and the D ' st . G . I . odge Offi .-ers their places , Hit : opening hy tin was ^ U"g a-ul Dis' .. G . Lodge wai opened in form .

District Grand Lodge Of Barbados.

At the call of Bro . J . J . WARNER , P . D . G . W ., Dist . G D . of C , the irethrtm present saluted ihe acting Dist . G . M . in the chair . C py of the notice convening the meeting vvas read by the Dist . G . Sec , Al ihe reque-t of the acting Dist . G . M ., the Installing Master , B-o . | , ij Excellency Sir J AMES HAY , assumed the chair in order to perform the ce" "i my of insull-tinn , and proceeded to deliver the following address : Worshipful Deputy District Grand Master , Worshipful Masters , Past Master-:

anil Brethren , —Before I proceed to address you on the immediate object of our mce'ing , with your permission ! propose briefly to refer to some points in the his ' ory of our Craft which are , I think , of interest . Time will not permit me to touch on the traditional portion of our history , nor to remind you but in the icr-ifst manner of the part played by the brethren in the Middle Ages , especiall y du-ing the time of the Crusades , at which period the Masonic life was full of energy . Nor is this to be wondered at when we remember what are the

fundamenial principles on which our Order is based . They are , as you are aware , the two great commandments , " Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all th y heart and with all thy strength , and thy neighbour as thyself . " It is therefore no matier for surprise that the Masonic world should have been deeply moved when an irresistible wave of religious enthusiasm swept over Europe . The intimate connection between the Order of the Temple and the then styled Guild of Masons should not be overlooked , the latter enjoying the protection of the

former as far back as the twelfth century ; and it is more than probable that the Templars left their impress on the Craft and influenced the Masonic formulary . Up to the beginning of the sixteenth century it is evident that the Guild of Masons was composed only of Operative Masons , but the Cologne Charter drawn up in 1535 at a reunion of Freemasons gathered at Cologne to celebrate the opening of the Cathedral is signed by Melanchthon , Coligny and others , which tends to show that the speculative element was

then being introduced , although , as far as I am aware , vve have no positive proof of such being the case . We have , however , undoubted evidence of the presence of a non-Operative or Speculative Mason at a meeting of the Lodge Edinburgh , on the Sth of June , 1600 , and as vvas not uncommon in those days , Bro . John Boswell , Esq ., of Auchinleck , vvas unable to write and affixed his " mark . " Passing over the 17 th century , we arrive at the period which has the most interest for us . For a long time previously , irregularities and abuses had been allowed to creep in , and a

determined and successful effort was made to correct the same by the inauguration of the Premier Grand Lodge of the World , at the Apple Tree Tavern , London , on the 24 th of June , 1717 , on which occasion the first Grand Master was installed . Four old lodges , for certain , and probably more , took part in its p'oceedings , and from that body so formed has sprung directly , or indirectly , every Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons in the universe working the Three Degrees . I should state that these old Masons were not , as far as I can trace , warranted so to

meet by any legal pap = r ; they were , when assembled , sovereign and independent of one another , yet governed by the Ancient Charges of Freematons , a most interesting subject on which much might be said did time permit . Where the four lodges to which I have just referred originated is not known , but some of them , doubtless , dated from the 17 th century . There were several other old lodges working by their own prescriptive rights in England during the second decade of last century , though they took no part in the new organisation at first ,

but after a short , separate existence , they gave in their adhesion . In such man . ner vvas the Grand Lodge of England formed , and we are now about to assist in the solemn and interesting ceremony of installing the brother selected by the M . W . Grand Master to be our District Grand Master . 1 have used the word solemn in connection vvith this evening ' s proceedings , though the term is applicable to all our meetings , having regard to the fact that the blessing of the G . A . O . T . U . is always invoked on our undertakings , and that our obligations are taken on the

V . of the S . L . ; but they are , I think , especially so on this occasion , when our respected brother assumes such grave responsibilities and anxious duties . Bro . Locke is , 1 think , called to his office at a difficult time . Thanks to the zeal and energy of our much-respected and esteemed Brother Elliott , the Craft under his administration has exhibited a vitality for long unknown in this District . Now that mysterious law of life from which there is no escape , and which from the earliest ages has compelled nations and races to a ceaseless struggle and

competition , a ceaseless and inevitable progress , is operating in our midst as powerfully as ever , and the same holds good in the Masonic life . There can be no halting , no resting by the way , but an ever pressing forward towards the light , for where progress ceases retrogression and decay rapidly follow . Now , in a small community like ours there will always be causes which militate against an extension of our sphere of usefulness ; it is , therefore , for that reason I think our much-respected brother is likely to find that the cares of his office will be by no means light . We have , however , in him a most worthy successor to a most worthy

chief , one who , deeply imbued with the true spirit of Masonry , will not be found ' Sg ' E ' the race , but who , by precept and example , will promote to the utmost the cause we have at heart , and I am convinced that he may ever count on the fraternal and loyal assistance as well as the sympathy and affection of the brethren . In what way , brethren , can we assist him ? I venture to answer , by cheerfully responding when summoned by our respective Masters for the discharge of duty , and by showing more and more to the outside world by our daily lives that Masonry is not confined to forms and ritual , but is in very deed and fact a powerful influence for good . So mote it be .

On the conclusion of the above address , Bro . J . J . WARNER , D . G D . of Ceremonies , moved that it be en'ered on the minutes of the meeting . This motion , having been seconded by Bro . ROUERT HAYNES , Dep . Dist . Grand Master designate , was carried unanimously . The DISTRICT GRAND DIRECTOR OF CEREMONIES , having announced the arrival without the lodge of bro . John Locke , District Grand Master designate

, Pte INSTALLING MASTER ( in the chair ) directed the District Grand Director of Ceremonies to retire and request the District Grand M ister ( designate ) to send in his patent of appointment . This command having been obeyed , the Installing Master examined the patent , and then appointed Bros . A . Bailey , F . N . A . Clairmonte , and H . Withstandley , P . Ms ., and Bro ; . W . H . Hutchinson and J . M . Gaskin , W . Ms ., as a deputation to

introduce the District Grand Master ( designate ); aud Bros . R . j . Clinckett and H . T . Armstong , P . M ., as Bearers of thu Regalia . The breth ren named , accompanied by the District Gaud D r <; ctor of Ceremonies , then retired from the lodge , and shortly afterwards returned escorting the District Gra- d Master ( designate ) , who was conducted to the pedestal , the clothing , chain , and jewel of his office being borne in front , the brethren present meanwhile all standing to order and a voluntary being p layed o '

tne organ . At the command of the Installing Master , the DISTRICT . Giw- ' SECRETARY read Brd . Locke ' s patent of appointment , the INSTALLING MASTER , addressing the District Grand Maste ^ ( designate ) , ii quired whether he could conscientiously undertake the dutit oi District Grand Master of Barbados ; and that question being answers

in the affirmative , that brother took the solem-i obligation . ¦ Ttic D . Mr . ct Grand Master was then invested with the clothingi cna ^ 1 and jcA-el 01 ollice , and duly placed in the chair by the Install ! ig Maste . , and j ^ rjclaimed and saluted in due form .