Provincial Lodges.

the day commencel by the AV . M . and officers of the Lodge of Probity , No . / 3 , opening in the three Degrees . The Provincial Grand Officers then entered in due order , ancl the Provincial Grand Lodge was opened inform , and AA-ith solemn prayer . Scripture AA'as read . The minutes of the last P . G . L . having been read and confirmed , various petititions were relieved by the votes of sums of money to be given to them in such amounts as their own Lodges might determine . Several truly fraternal letters having been read , it was proposed by Br . AV . G- AVarriner , P . G . S ., No . 727 ; and seconded by Br . Rev .

A . AVooclford , M . A ., P . P . G . Chaplain of Durham , and chaplain of the Lodge No , 382 , Leeds : That it be a bye-lawe of this Provincial Grand Lodge , that a committee of reference shall be appointed at every annual Provincial Grand Lodge , to which committee all doubtful and disputed points relative to the ritual or mode and manner of masonic Avorking , shall be submitted for decision and determination ; and every Lodge in the province shall nominate one of its members as a member of such committee , every such member being either the Worshipful Master or a Past Master of

such Lodge . Br . James Peace , P . P . J . G . AV . Avas re-appointed a member of the committee for receiving , arranging , and forwarding the voting papers of the brethren of this province to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for aged Freemasons and their widoAvs , and Br . Peace again impressed upon the brethren the necessity of sending their contributions early , and not later than April . A conversation having taken place on the subject of contributing to the Patriotic Fund , Br . Josh . Batley , W . M . of the Harmony Lodge , No . 342 , gave notice of a motion at the next Provincial

Grand Lodge to suspend the operation of bye-law 17 , in order that the funds of the Provincial Grand Lodge may be rendered applicable in suchAvise as that a sum therefrom may be granted to the Royal Patriotic Fund , The following additions to the bye-law 1 , of the Provincial Grand Lodge , was proposed and seconded : —Then and in such case , notice of such matter shall be sufficient , if transmitted to the respective AVorshipful Masters of Lodges in the Province , and it shall not be deemed expedient on such occasions to open the Provincial Grand Lodge , but the members thereof then

assembled shall hear and determine concerning any application for relief , and grant such aid as the case may warrant , and the laiv , as is hereafter set forth , allOAV . This proposed alteration Avas negatived almost unanimously , after some discussion . The Lodges were called over in order to ascertain , in accordance with the circular addressed to the several Lodges , what amount each Lodge had subscribed to the Royal Patriotic Fund , and the following Lodges were returned as direct contributors thereto : £ sd

. . The Probity - .- - No . 73 - - - - 10 10 0 The Britannia- - - „ 162 ... - 500 Tho Hope „ 379 - - - - 10 10 0 The Harmony- - - ,, 342 - - - - 20 0 0 The Alfred „ 384 - - - - 10 10 0 The Scientific- - - .. C « - - - 13 9 0

£ 09 19 0 And also ^ accordance with the request expressed in the circular , the following Lodges stated that the members thereof had contributed , as citizens , to the Royal Patriotic Fund , as respectively set forth hereunder : £ s . d . The Probity - - - No . 73 - - - - 100 0 0 The Three Grand Principles „ 251 - - about fi O t

The Amphibious - - „ 32 a - - - - 100 0 0 to £ l-5 f The lioyal Yorkshire - „ 3 TZ - - - - 25 0 0 The Hudderslielcl - - „ 365 - - - - 30 0 0 The Hope - - - „ 379 - - - - 270 0 0 The Harmony- „ 312 350 0 0 Tlie Three Graces - - „ 591 - - - - 7 2 6 The Scientific - ,. 642 22 10 0 The Truth - - - „ 763 - - - - 105 It 8 The Harmony- „ 874 - - - - 80 0 oto £ 100

Thus sheAving that the members of the above-named eleven Lodges , in the West Riding , have nobly contributed as citizens in their respective districts the sum of £ 1200 and upwards , to the Royal Patriotic Fund , and the brethren of nineteen other Lodges have subscribed to the Fund , but no return made of the amount to G . Lodge .