Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

no intention of discussing in detail the merits of the Athelstan legend , or what , for the purpose of distinguishing it from other Masonic systems , has been designated the Ancient York Rite . It is enough that irrefutable evidence is to be met with among our records of the establishment in Yorkshire at a ver )' early date of lodges organised as we know them and meeting for

precisely the same purpose as the lodges of the present day . Omitting from our consideration the Grand Lodge of all England at York , we find from Bro . Riley's work that the Grand Lodge of England in London granted a warrant for the constitution of a lodge at the Three Tuns , Scarborough , as early in its career as the year 1729 , while in 1738 , when according to our Grand

Lodge Calendar , a deputation was granted to Bro . William Horton as Prov . Grand Master for the whole of the county , the present Lodge of Probity , which now ranks as No . 61 on the roll of Grand Lodge , was constituted at the Black Bull , Halifax . In 1 740 , a Bro . Edward Rooke was appointed P . G . M ., and 23 years later , what is now the Lennox Lodge ,

No . 123 , Richmond , in North and East Yorkshire , was warranted . In 1765 , the present Britannia Lodge , No . 139 , was established , and in 1766 the Lodge of Unanimity , No . 154 . In 1771 , Sir Thomas Tancred was appointed P . G . M ., and in 1777 , tne present Lodge of Peace , No . 149 , Meltham , was constituted . In 1789 , the roll was extended by the

inatiguration of the St . George's Lodge ( now No . 242 ) , Doncaster , while in 1787 , the Prov . Grand Mastership was conferred on a Bro . R . S . Milnes , who , in 1805 , was succeeded by Bro . R . Pemberton Milnes , grandfather of the present Viceroy of Ireland . In the meantime other lodges had been established in the West Riding , of which there still remain on the roll of

Grand Lodge the Royal Yorkshire , No . 265 , Keighley , warranted in 1788 * , the Lodge of Harmony , Noi . 275 , Huddersfield , warranted in

1789 ; the Lodge of Fidelity , No . 289 , Leeds , warranted in 1792 ; the Huddersfield Lodge , No . 290 , and the Royal Brunswick Lodge , No . 296 , Sheffield ,

dating from 1793 ; the Lodge of Hope , No . 302 , Bradford , and the Philanthropic Lodge , No . 304 , Leeds , both of . 1794 creation ; the Alfred Lodge , No . 306 , Leeds , founded in 1795 ; the Lodges , of Prince Frederick , No . 307 , Hebden Bridge , and Prince

George , 308 , Eastwood , of the year 179 6 ; the Lodge Nelson of the Nile , No . 264 , Batley , dating from 1801 , and . Lodges Amphibious , No . 258 , Heckmondwike , and of . the Three Grand Principles , No . 208 , Dewsbury , both dating from 1803 . In

1812 , during the administration of Bro . R , P . Milnes ,, there was constituted at Saddlesworth -the . Lodge of Candour , No . 337 , which now meets at Uppermill . In 1817 the county was divided into two provinces , that of the North ¦

and hast Ridings being placed under the rule of Bro . the Hon . Lawrence Dundas , subsequently first Earl of Zetland , whilst the West Riding remained under the government of Bro . R . Pemberton Milnes , who , in 1 S 29 ,

was succeeded by Bro . Viscount Pollington , afterwardsthird Earl of Mexborough , some of whose descendants are , we believe , now members of the Craft . His lordship died in 1860 , and in thc following year Bro . the Earl of Zetland , M . VV . G .

Master , appointed the Earl de Grey and Ripon to the vacant office . On , the retirement of that nobleman from Freemasonry the post of Grand Master of this important province was once again

at the disposal of the Grand Master , and his Royal Highneis the Prince of Wales selected the late-lamented Bro . Sir Henry Edwards , Bart ., who was installed in office early in 1875 , shortly

THE RIGHT HON . W . I .. JACKSON , M . P ., PROV . GRAND MASTER .

before the Prince himself was installed at the Royal Albert Hall . Ten years later Bro . Sir H . Edwards , owing to failing health , determined to resign , and the Grand Master selected as his successor the respected Bro . T . W . Tew ,

who had held the important office of Deputy P . G . Master during the whole of his ( Bro . Sir H . Edward's ) administration . Bro . Tew in his turn , ' and owing , unfortunately , to the same cause , has now found it necessary to return his trust into the hands of the Grand Master , who has chosen a

most worthy successor in the person of the distinguished brother whose installation we shall now proceed to describe , premising merely that West Yorkshire ranks next to the two Lancashires in respect of numbers , while in the matter of zeal and devotion to the best and highest interests of Freemasonry it is surpassed by none , and therefore that having regard to its

. own merits , the splendour and impressiveness of thc gathering need create no surprise in the minds of those who took part in it . The ceremony was held in the Albert Hall , Leeds , which was adapted to the requirements ofa regularly formed and well-constituted lodge . The body of the hall was reserved for Masters , Past Masters , and Wardens , who wore

their aprons and Garter-blue silk collars , whilst the dais and eastern ! end were occupied by the Grand Officers , Prov . Grand Officers , Present and Past , and distinguished visitors . On the occasion of previous installations , the outside public have had an opportunity of seeing the brethren pass through the streets in procession to the parish or other church , in full regalia , but on this occasion that part of the ceremony was omitted .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

Lord LATHOM , Pro Grand Master of England , representing the Gran d Master , the Prince of Wales , performed the more immediate and prominent offices of installation with much dignity and facility . Eight years ago Lord Lathom undertook a similar ceremony in the same hall on the occasion of the installation of Bro . T . W . Tew .

The installation began with the , entry of Grand Lodge Officers , during which the brethren sang " Behold how pleasant and hoyv good . " The procession of Grand Lodge was heralded by bugle call , and amongst the various Grand Officers , perhaps , no figure attracted more attention than that of the patriarchial Bro . Embleton , who was assisted to the dais with the usual brotherly regard for the fathers of Masonry . The Prov . Grand Officers then entered , the , brethren singing "Hail !

Eternal , by whose aid . " ; < . ; Provincial Grand Lodge was opened by the Deputy Grand Master , Bro . HENRY SMITH , P . G . D . of England , who referred in very sympathetic

and complimentary terms to Bro . Tew , the late Prov . Grand Master . After prayer , and a portion of scripture , by , Bro . the Rev . J . DUNBAR and Bro . the Rev . E . EGERTON respectively , the Pro Grand Master was salutedin ancient form .

The Prov . Grand Master of East Lancashire , Bro . Col Le Gendre Starkie , D . L ., and other eminent officers , were then saluted , including the Deputy Prov . Grand Master , Bro . Henry Smith , P . G . D . of England . The roll of lodges was then called , and it was found that there was a response from every lodge in the province .

The minutes of the last Provincial Grand Lodge were taken as read , and several letters of apology for non-attendance were presented . The valedictory address of the retiring Prov . Grand Master was then

read , in which he referred to his connection with the province and Masonry generally with great kindliness of feeling and aspirations for' the continued prosperity of the Craft . A resolution was proposed regretting

the retirement of Bro . Tew , and expressing the deep and tender sympathy of the province in his long illness , with the hope that health may be restored to him , and that Freemasonry may yet benefit from his help and counsel . Here

it niay be mentioned that a telegram was received at a later period Of the proceedings from Bro . Tew in reply to one sent by his successor—oh the one hand expressing the sympathy of Prov . Grand Lodge , and on the other

congratulating the new Prov . Grand Master aiid the brethren . The ' Pro G . M ., the Earl of LATHOM , then took the chair , when an engrossed address of welcome was presented , expressing the thanks of theprovincc for

his kindness in attending to conduct so interesting a cer mony , and also congratulating him upon his recovery from an illness which had prevented him discharging someof his Masonic duties . The arrival of the Prov . G . Master

designate was then announced by sound of bugle .. The PRO GRAND MASTER demanded to see the patenter authority for assuming the office , and then a deputation of distinguished brethren produced the

patent , and introduced the Prov . G . M . designate , Bro . the Right Hon . W . L . Jackson . Bugles then sounded , and the brethren joined in singing "Hail ! Masonry sublime . "

The PROV . G . REG . then read the patent , and the Grand Chap ., the Rev . Canon BULLOCK , offered prayer . The M . W . PRO GRAND MASTER addressed the Provincial Grand Master

designate , and inquired if he could conscientiously undertake the duties of the office , and discharge the same with fidelity and zeal . After a reply in the affirmative , the Prov . Grand Master was invested with the apron , chain , and jewel of office , and conducted to the chair . He was proclaimed in the usual form , and a { a fitting-time during the proceedings referred to His predecessor in office in terms of admiration , and regretted the cause which had rendered it necessary that he should take the o * ffice . He

hoped that he might worthily follow in his footsteps , and that Masonry might flourish , as he believed it was now doing more beneficently than in its previous history . He relied upon the Deputy Grand Master and officers for that kindly assistance and instruction which would enable him to become a worthy successor to their late accomplished Grand Master , Bro . Tew . The Provincial Grand Master of East Lancashire then congratulated the Prov . Grand Master on his appointment by his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales .

The Deputy Prov . Grand Master , Bro . II . Smith , was confirmed in his oflice by the Prov . Grand Master , and the usual reply and salutations were

given . . A resolution of congratulation on the marriage of the Dukeof York with Princess May was passed with enthusiasm , and ordered to be sent to the Prince of Wales . The Provincial Grand Lodge was then closed , and whilst the Grand and Provincial Grand Officers were retiring frotrijihe hall the brethren sang " Now let my soul , Eternal King . "

The Albert Hall was filled with the brethren from the various lodges in the province . After such a function as that which occupied the afternoon , there is no *