Provincial Grand Lodge Of Staffordshire.

the Shrewsbury Benevolent Fund . The report was received and confirmed , and on the proposition of the R . W . P . G . Master , who referred to the deep indebtedness ofthe province for the work he had done , seconded bv the V . W . D . P . G .

Master , Brother Bodenham , was unanimously reelected Tyler for the 39 th time . These two offices are the only ones in connection with which the lodge has power to exercise their choice of selection .

Letters of apology were read from Brother Col . Vernon , P . P . G . M ., and Brother Hovvells , P . P . G . Treasurer , the latter conveying his thanks to the brethren for the presentation of a jewel ordered by the last P . G . Lodge .

The R . W . the P . G . Master then proceeded to the appointment of his officers for the ensuing year , prefacing his selection by a few terse observations onhis endeavours to confer the various

appointments on those who Masonically merited them . After a few words of strong commendation , the R . W . P . G . Master re-appointed Brother Frank James , $ 39 , as D . P . G . M ., and re-invested him with the jewel of office . The following is a list ofthe Provincial Grand

Officers for the ensuing year . — Frank James , 539 Prov . D . G . M . Charles Trigg , 1039 Prov . G . S . W . J . F . Wileman , ^ 46 Prov . G . J . W . Rev . Brooke Lambert Prov . G . Chaplain . Rev . Charles Lea , 526 Prov . G . Chaplain . Francis Chaddick , 662 Prov . G . Reg .

J . Bodenham , 726 Prov . G . Treas . W . Cartwright , 460 Prov . G . Sec . Thomas Moore , 726 Prov . G . S . D . John Waterson , 483 Prov . G . J . D . W . Jones , H 520 ... Prov . G . S . Wks . S . Hill , 546 ' Prov . G . D . C . J . Payne Hall , 456 Prov . P . G . A . D . | ohn Lucas , 624 Prov . G . Swd . B . T . Bedsmore , 1030 Prov . G . Org . T . R . Bettely , 482 Prov . G . Purst . Richard Booth , 657 Prov . G . Std . B . H . Baggueley Prov . G . Tyler .

The R . W . P . G . Master , on presenting each jewel , accompanied it with some commendatory remark—in the case of Bro . T . Moore , as S . D ., he said " as a near neighbour I have had the pleasure of seeing the manner in which you have

conducted the duties of your lodge , and I give you this jewel feeling that you richly deserve it ;" and to Bro . W . Jones , as Superintendent of Works , he obseived , " you well deserve honour as the originator and first Master of the Shrewsbury Lodge . "

Some discussion then took place on the subject of the Shrewsbury fund , and suggestions were made as to the advisableness of concentrating the voting power of the Province , the result being the unanimous adoption of a resolution , earnestly

recommending W . M . ' s of lodges and also individual subscribers to forward their votes to the Committee of the Masonic Charities Association as the most likely method of concentrating and making effective the voting power of the Province .

The business of the lodge was then suspended and a procession took p lace to the Cathedral , headed by the band of the rst Staffordshire Militia , the brethren wearing their respective jewels and Masonic clothing . Prayers only were

read , in consequence of some established regulation by the Dean and Chapter , that none but prebends or clergymen connected with the cathedral are permitted to preach there . The Rev . Bro . Tozer , P . G . Chaplain , who had been

selected by the R . W . P . G . M . to preach , not having any local standing in connection with the sacred edifice , it was ruled by his lordship that tho sermon should be delivered on the return of the brethren to the lodge-room , and this was

subsequently done after the usual evening service ancl anthem at the cathedral . Before leaving the latter place a collection of t £ i 1 was made , and this amount was voted by the brethren , on their return to the lodge-room , in the following way : — £ 5 ajs . to the organ fund of St . Mary ' s Church ;

di ' s js . to the Rev . Bro . Tozer ' s schools ; and . se ? io ios . to the Shrewsbury Benevolent Fund . £ 30 was also voted from Provincial Grand Lodge to the Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widows ; and < SC ? II was granted to pay off the balance due to the fund raised bv the late Bro .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Staffordshire.

J . Pilling , for the purpose of providing Staffordshire ware to the Royal Institution for Boys , and also as a mark of respect to his memory . The P . G . Lodge was subsequently closed , and the brethren " retired from labour to

refreshment . " The banquet took place at St . George ' s Hall , which was decorated with banners , & c , belonging to various lodges in the province . The tables were arranged so that the brethren of each lodge had their respective positions assigned to them ,

the R . W . P . G . Master and several Past Provincial Officers being seated at a cross-table at the head ofthe hall , immediately in front of the stage or platform . The choristers of the cathedral , under the presidency of Bro . Bedsmore , who

accompanied on the piano , occupied the stage , and interested the company with singing several pieces ; and in the galleries were a large number of ladies , who appeared to take a deep interest in the proceedings , and to whom the Provincial Stewards served cake and wine .

Th-e dinner was served by Bro . J . Owen , of the George Hotel . "Non nobis Domine" having been sung by the choristers , the R . W . P . G . Master proposed , in suitable and loyal terms , the toast of "The Queen and the Craft . " "The Princess of Wales and the

rest of the Royal Family , "His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , Most Worshipful Grand Master of England , * " " The Right Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon , R . W . Pro Grand Master ; Lork Skelmersdale , Deputy Grand Master , and the Officers of Grand Lodge , Present and Past . "

These were all drank with enthusiasm . This was followed by the V . W . D . P . G . Master proposing " The Health of the Right Worshipful the Earl „ of Shrewsbury , Provincial Grand Master of Staffordshiie , " referring in the most flattering terms to his deep solicitude for the

furtherance of true Masonic principles in the province , to the interest he evinced in affording every facility for the brethren at the Albert Hall on the occasion of the installation of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , and to the influence and assistance he had given to the Masonic charities

in presiding at their annual festivals . The V . W . D . P . G . Master then alluded in happy terms to the marriage of the noble earl ' s daughter , Lad y Theresa Talbot , and stated that a substantial proof of the love and respect of the brethren of the province for their noble chief had

been shown by the handsome present to his daughter , now Lady Castlercagh . —The R . W . P . G . Master feelingly acknowledged the toast , expressing the pride he felt in wearing the medal which had been presented to him in connection with the Masonic charities , and his desire that every Mason in the province should carry out the the It

tenets of ^ Craft . was a gratification to him and his family to receive such numberless instances of kindly feeling on the occasion of his daughter ' s marriage . But latel y he had received a large deputation from his tenantry , whilst the school children , the servants , in fact everybody , seemed to be vieing with each other in expressions of kindness and good-will .

The toast of " The Very Worshipful Bro . Frank fames , D . P G . M ., " was next humourously proposed by Bro . Dr . Burton , P . P . D . G . M ., and responded to by Bro . James in his usually practical and eloquent manner . This was followed by the toasts of" The Provincial Grand Wardens

and other Officers of Provincial Grand Lodge , " "The Worshipful Masters of Lodges in the Province , " " The Visitors , " acknowledged by the Rev . R . Bigge , P . M . of 14 ( 5 ; "The Provincial Grand Stewards , " and " The Ladies , " acknowledged by Bro . James Rodgers . "The Tyler ' s '' toast closed the festival .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF WEST YORKSHIRE .

On Wednesday , 20 th inst ., notwithstanding a steady down-pour of rain the whole day , a goodly number of the brethren of West Yorkshire assembled at the Cutler ' s Hall , Sheffield , in connection

with the above lodge , about 50 out of < 5 r lodges being represented . The preliminary lodge was opened by the W . M ., Bro . F . M . Tindall , and officers of the Wentwofth Lodge , No . 1239 . Provincial Grand Lodge having been opened ,

Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

it was presided over by Colonel Sir H , Edwards , who , after the customary salutation , said it afforded him much pleasure to meet the brethren that day , the first time the Wentworth banner had borne the honour . It afforded him an additional pleasure because of the unmistakeable

loyalty the brethren had displayed on the occasion of the recent visit of H . R . H . the Grand Master of England and his amiable Princess in August last . He wished to express his gratitude to those who had lent them the use of the building for their meeting , and he was glad to learn that the

brethren of Sheffield were contemplating the enlarging and improving of their own hall . He trusted the time was not far distant when every lodge in the province would hold their meetings in a building dedicated to Masonry . He next addressed the brethren on the subject of the

Masonic Charities , and congratulated the province on the great accession of voting power it had attained this year . In the province of West Yorkshire no less a sum than £ 2000 had been subscribed during 1875 for the three great charities j but this amount has been contributed by only

174 brethren , leaving 2600 who had not directly contributed . As the Marquis of Ripon had often said , so must he—that he always found the same names in the list of subscribers . The province of West Yorkshire should do more . Never had such great exertions been required as

at the recent elections in London , when the province secured the victory for their two girls and one boy . Referring to the growth of Freemasonry , the Prov . Grand Master said as admissions into Freemasonry were greatly on the increase , especially in this province , he earnestly

urged W . M . s of lodges to use the greatest care as to who were admitted into the Order ; several Masonic clubs , he said , had been established in various towns by members of lodges , and he recommended that , whatever was the hour for closing public-houses in those p laces , that hour ought to be adopted for closing those clubs , as

any later hour in opposition to the laws of the country tended to bring Freemasonry into disrepute . The Right Worshipful Prov . Grand Master , before concluding , passed a high eulogium on the ability of the late Bro . Freeman , of Huddersfield , who had died since the last meeting , and paid a high tribute to his memory .

The Deputy Prov . Grand Master having been saluted , briefly responded , after which the routine business of the meeting was proceeded with .

Bro . Thos . Hill then made a report of the Charity Committee , and stated that in order to secure the election of a second girl the brethren of Huddersfield , from which district the girl came , had subscribed the handsome sum of 200

guineas . The next subject brought before the meeting was one "which engrossed the interest of all the brethren present ; it was a resolution brought forward b y Bro . J . Cawthorn , P . M ., on the subject of the management ofthe Masonic Boys ' School .

Bro . Cawthorn said became there as no man ' s champion , nor at the instigation of any one . He felt a deep interest in fhe educational work ofthe charities , as well as in the number of candidates who had from time to time been refused

admission , and it was as their champion that he stood before that meeting . He contended that the um of £ 6 j per annum par boy looked exorbitantly high , and if the Prov . Grand Lodge , by adopting his resolution , were instrumental in securing the same advantages for £ 37 which

they now got for £ 67 , and so secure a greater number of admissions to the school , they would attain a great work . He moved , "That this Prov . Grand Lodge of West Yorkshire take into consideration the necessity of thoroughly investigating the management and expenditure of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , to the end

that a more economic system of collecting and dispensing the funds of this institution may be arrived at , so that candidates who from time to time are excluded from its benefits by reason of the present system may , by a more judicious and less expensive management , be enabled to participate in the benefits of tha charity . " Bro . Isaac Booth , of Halifax , seconded the resolution , and in the course of an effective