Berkshire.

BERKSHIRE .

THE annual Provincial Grand Lodge was held in the Guildhall , Windsor , on- Tuesday , 29 th inst . The Deputy Provincial Grand Master in charge Brother John Morland presided , and many members of the Grand Lodge of

England as well as of the Berkshire and other Provinces attended . A' resolution was adopted recording the sorrow of the Brethren at the loss the Province had sustained by the deaths

of the Grand Master Lord Wantage , the Grand Chaplain the Rev . E . Adams , and the Grand Treasurer Bro . Charles Stephens , and condolence with their respective families was unanimously agreed upon .

West Yorkshire.

WEST YORKSHIRE .

THE hculf-yearly meeting of this Provincial Grand Lodge was held on Wednesday afternoon at the Church Institute , . Bradford . Bro . R . Wilson Deputy Prov . Grand Master presided , and there was a large attendance of members , only six Lodges being unrepresented .

The Deputy Prov . Grand Master , in addressing those present , dealt with the history of the Craft in Bradford . He remarked that-the-first authentic record related to the holding of a meeting in the town by the old Lodge from York in 1713 . The Hope Lodge was formed in 1794 , and

was followed by others , untu now there were eight Lodges in the city . While in other large centres of industry in the Province there had been sprinklings of failures during the past century Bradford stood out exceptionally strong , every Lodge having gone forward and prospered . Just

fifty years ago the Most Worshipful Grand Master of England the late Lord Zetland , accompanied by the Grand Lodge visited Bradford" to lay the foundation stone of the St

George ' s Hall . Speaking of recent events he mentioned that on the 8 th October the new premises of the St . Laurence Lodge , at Pudsey , were opened , and on the 22 nd the Regent Lodge at Barnsley was consecrated .

Bro . H . S . Childe ( Vice-Chairman of the Charity Committee ) , in presenting the report of the Committee , stated that in April they elected nine cases from West Yorkshire to the Masonic Institutions in London , and one was presented under the Heaton testimonial . A fortnight ago the

Committee elected two' boys and one girl . He urged the Brethren to qualify for Stewardships for the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys during the coming year , and intimated

that there were already twelve candidates for the elections , which would take place next April and May—a larger number than they had ever before at one time . The report was adopted .

The Deputy Prov . Grand Master then presented and invested Bro . H . G . E . Green Provincial Grand Secretary , on his appointment as Past brand Sword Bearer in the Craft and Past Assist . Grand Director of Ceremonies in the Arch , with his Grand Lodge clothing , which had been

subscribed for as a mark of affection by the eighty-one Lodges of the Province . In doing so Bro . Wilson spoke of the eminent-services of Bro . Green to the Province , and added that he regarded the appointments not only as an honour to Bro . Green , but to the Province .

Bro . Green , in thanking the Brethren , pointed to the progress Freemasonry had made in the Province during the sixteen years he had held office as Secretary . The number of members was now 4 , 339 , and during the sixteen years

there had been a complete change in the membership of the Province . Upwards of £ 75 , 000 had been collected and sent to London for the Masonic Central Charities , and * 70 , 000 of that had passed through his hands . In the same period they had elected 178 candidates to the Charities ,

West Yorkshire.

which had necessitated the collection and manipulation of 457 , 000 votes . The Hon . Librarian Bro . W . Watson thanked the Brethren for their support of the library . Bro . J . T . Last moved a resolution with respect to the

method of election of the Grand Treasurer of England , arguing that the present method of personally tendering votes was unsatisfactory , and entailed great inconvenience and expense upon the Brethren in the Provinces . Bro . Major Bolton seconded the motion , which , however , was ruled out of order , and was dropped .

The proceedings shortly afterwards terminated . A dinner was held in the Masonic Hall , Rawson Square , and was well attended .

Northumberland.

NORTHUMBERLAND .

THE annual convocation of this Provincial Grand

Chapter was held on Monday afternoon , 28 th ult , at the Masonic Hall , Grainger Street West , Newcastle , the Provincial Grand Superintendent the Right Hon . the Viscount Ridley presiding over a large attendance .

It was arranged that the next meeting be held under the Berwick-on-Tweed Chapter at Berwick . In the evening a banquet took place at the Central Station Hotel , a large number of Companions being present .

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

SOMERSETSHIRE . THE annual meeting of tire Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of Somersetshire was held on the afternoon of the 25 th ult ., at Y ' eovil , under the-banner of the William de Irwin Lodge , No . 162 , and the presidency of the Provincial Grand Mark Master Bro . R . C . Else .

The Prov . G . Secretary Bro . T . F . Elworthy first called the roll of Lodges , and every Lodge throughout the Province was found to be represented . Bro . Watts Prov . G . Treasurer presented the accounts for the year , showing a balance from last year of £ 80 19 s

1 id , and that the cash in banker ' s hands at the present time was £ 60 us 7 d , the reduction in amount being explained by the fact that a donation of £ i \ had oeen sent to > the South African Masonic Relief Fund . The accounts were adopted , and Bro . Watts was re-elected Prov . G . Treasurer , and heartily thanked for his past services .

The Prov . G . M . proposed that a sum of fifteen guineas be granted from the funds of the Prov . G . Mark Lodge to the Mark Benevolent Fund , and placed upon the list of the Brother who undertakes the Office of Steward at the 1902 Festival . Bro . Watts seconded the proposition , which was agreed to .

Bro . Else Prov . G . M . expressed his regret at the absence of Bro . Colonel Long D . P . G . M . who , he remarked , was now entering on his third year ' s active service in South Africa . For some time after he got there , Colonel Long wrote stating that he rather liked the climate and got on very

well , but unfortunately lately he had suffered from the heat , and his health did not seem to be as good as it was . His son too has been seriously wounded , and was now in Netley Hospital , and under those circumstances Colonel Lonp- would no doubt be p-lad to return home at no distant period . They

all sincerely hoped he wouid soon be able to do so , and that they might once more have the pleasure of shaking him by the hand . He had very great pleasure in again nominating Bro . Colonel Long as his Deputy for the ensuing year . The Prov . G . M , next proceeded to appointed invest the Officers ,