West Yorkshire.

WEST YORKSHIRE .

rpHERE was a large gathering of Freemasons at Halifax on I Wednesday , the occasion being the annual meeting of the Pro vincial Grand Lodge of West Yorkshire . The proceedings took p lace at the Mechanics' Hall , and were held under the banner of the De Warren Lodge , No . 1302 .

The Provincial Grand Master Bro . the Right Hon . W . L . Jackson , M . P ., was supported by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master Bro . H . Smith , many of the present and past Provincial Grand Officers and representatives of nearly all the seventy-six Lodges in the Province .

As a mark of respect to the memory of the late Provincial Grand Master Bro . T . W . Tew , a portion of the Lodge furniture was draped in black . The Provincial Grand Master , in acknowledging the salutations of the Brethren , alluded to the fact that the De Warren

Lodge this year completes the twenty-fifth year of its existence , having been consecrated in June 1870 , by Bro . Bentley Shaw . He mentioned that during the past seven years seven Lodges in West Yorkshire had celebrated their centenary , and reminded the Brethren that next month the Alfred Lodge , Leeds , No . 306 ,

would attain the completion of its hundredth year . Referring to the fact that the Charity Committee had recently appointed Bro W . Harrop as its chairman , and Bro . W . C Lupton as its vicechairman , Brother Jackson commended the valuable work that had been done by that committee for the Masonic Charities . As

an illustration of the extent of the work that had been done by the three great Masonic Institutions , he stated that during the past ten years no less that £ 621 , 400 had been contributed to those charities , and said that in all such efforts West Yorkshire had always been to the forefront .

The Provincial Grand Master paid a touching tribute to the memory of the late Bro . Tew , in whom , he said , the Order had lost one of its distinguished and most prominent leaders . Bro . Tew filled the various positions which he occupied with honour to himself and with satisfaction to every one with whom he was

brought in contact . Whether they looked at his life and career in his commercial , magisterial , or Masonic capacity , they would find that in each of them he was actuated by the highest motives and by the tenderest sympathy . The Queen had no more loyal subject , the Church had no more devoted son , and Masonry

had no stronger adherent and no more liberal and enthusiastic supporter . Bro . Jackson expressed his deep regret that it was impossible for him to attend Bro . Tew ' s funeral , but stated that he had taken the opportunity of writing to Mrs . Tew and conveying to her his sympathy and the sympathy of the Brethren

of West Yorkshire . He moved a resolution offering to Mrs . Tew and her family the earnest condolence and heartfelt sympathy of Provincial Grand Lodge in the irreparable loss they sustained by the death of Brother Tew . The resolution was agreed to in silence .

In presenting the report of the Charity Committee , Brother Harrop stated that last year the contributions of West Yorkshire to the three Masonic Charities were £ 6 , 673 14 s 6 d , including a " presentation" to the Masonic Benevolent Institution ,

amounting to 1 , 200 guineas , given by Brother George Eaton , of Heckmondwike . Fifty-one persons connected with West Yorkshire were now receiving the benefits of the three Institutions .

On the motion of Bro . Thomas Richards , seconded by Bro C . L . Mason , Brother Major George Bolton , of Wakefield , Unanimity Lodge , No . 154 , was unanimously elected Provincial Grand Treasurer , and was duly invested . The Provincial Grand Master also invested the other Officers for the year .

In the evening about a hundred Brethren were entertained to a banquet at Banktield , by the Brethren of the De Warren Lodge . Bro . W . L . Jackson , M . P ., should have presided , but duties in Parliament compelled him to leave at the close of the

afternoon meeting . In his absence Bro . Henry Smith Deputy Prov . Grand Master P . Grand Deacon of England , occupied the chair . The Mayor of Halifax ( Aid . M . Booth ) submitted the chief toast . The gatherings were of a most successful character . — " Yorkshire Post . "

"A Sprig Of Acacia."

"A SPRIG OF ACACIA . "

THE death of Bro . T . W . Tew , which occurred on the 29 th ult ., at Pontefract , has caused universal regret throughoutthe PrOVinP . ft Of WfiStYnrWaVllrO VuVlila nnruo . 1 a ^~' . l ,.. I — — ^ gouuicu

, ,, „ .. _„ u ...... w , ...... o j LujJiiiUiiy Hasoeen expressed in other parts of the country where the late Provincial Grand Master of West Yorkshire was known . Although Brother Tew had retired from the position of ruler of Freemasonry in his district , he was hardly less popular than at

sue time of his presidency , he having so thoroughly won the regard of the Craftsmen of the county , as is evidenced by the almost universal expressions of sorrow that have followed his .

"A Sprig Of Acacia."

demise . Bro . Tew was the senior partner of the well-known banking firm of Messrs . Leatham , Tew and Co ., which has branches at Wakefield , Pontefract , Castleford , Goole , Snaith , Knottingley , and other places , and he was very well-known and esteemed both in London and the Provinces in financial circles .

He was the eldest son of the late Mr . Edward Tew , of Crofton Hall , and was born on 8 th May 1828 , so that he was close upon sixty-seven years of age . About 1858 , says the " Yorkshire Post , " he married Miss Thompson , of Newark and the Isle of Man , who survives him . He leaves one son , Mr . E . G . Tew ,

who last year formed one of the Oxford crew m the Varsity boat race , and who , but for the sad event of last week , would have rowed in the Oxford boat on Saturday . There are also three daughters , the second of whom , Miss Mary Tew , is a member of the Carleton School Board . In his younger days

Bro . Tew was an engineer , and he superintended many works on behalf of the Midland Railway Company in the Midland Counties over forty years ago . During his stay in the neighbourhood of Pontefract he has published many literary works , chiefly for private circulation , but many of which have been a considerable

acquisition to people interested in antiquarian and archaeological research . For a long period Bro . Tew had been a most active justice of the peace of the West Riding , being the senior magistrate in Osgoldcross . He took a large and active interest in the management of the county business , and was a member of the old Police Committee of Quarter Sessions .

For a long period he was chairman of Stephen Cawood s trust , a considerable ecclesiastical benefaction for East Hardwick , and he was one of the chief workers in promoting the erection of the neat little church which was opened at East Hardwick in 1872 by the Marquess of Ripon—the last public function , our

contemporary believes , that the noble Marquess performed for the Angolian Church , prior to his secession to the Roman Catholic persuasion . The deceased was a familiar figure at the gatherings of the Yorkshire Union of Mechanics' Institutes , and was for many years president of the Pontefract branch of that

body , which was greatly indebted to him for its existence in times when , but for such an ardent supporter , the Pontefract Institute might have lapsed . Few gentlemen were more at home than Brother Tew in regard to the associations with which

Pontefract abounds , and no visit to the town of geologists , antiquarians , or members of kindred societies was complete without Bro . Tew ' s cordial welcome , guidance , and generosity . From the source already quoted we gather the following further details of Bro . Tew ' s career :

The deep interest which the deceased manifested in all that appertained to the welfare of Freemasonry , particularly in West Yorkshire , will entitle his services to the Craft to be long remembered with gratitude by his Brother Masons . One of the most important Masonic ceremonies promoted by the West

Yorkshire Freemasons was that at which , on the 24 th April 1885 , Bro . Tew was installed at Leeds as Provincial Grand Master of West Yorkshire in succession to Colonel Sir Henry Edwards , Bart ., CB . and D . L . The importance of that occasion drew Brethren from all parts of the Provinces , the assembly

numbering about 1800 . The choice of Bro . Tew for the high position mentioned was unanimous , and he was nominated by the Grand Master of England , His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales . Among the previous offices filled by the deceased , it may be mentioned , were those of Past Grand Deacon of England ;

Worshipful Master of St . Oswald's Lodge , Pontefract ; and Provincial Grand Senior Warden and Deputy Provincial Grand Master of West Yorkshire , which latter position he held for ten years . Bro . Tew was formally installed as Provincial Grand Master , on the occasion alluded to above , by the Rt . Hon . the

Earl of Lathom then Deputy Grand Master of England . Brother Tew continued with signal ability to discharge the duties of his hi » h office , until the autumn of 1893 , when he relinquished the honour in consequence of failing health , being succeeded by the Rig ht Hon . W . L . Jackson , M . P . The announcement of Bro .

Tew ' s resignation was received with sorrow on all hands , as his appointment was most popular . Lord Lathom gave expression to this sentiment when , in installing Bro . Jackson , he remarked that he was sure he re-echoed the feelings not only of all the Masons of West Yorkshire , but of those throughout

England , when he said that no better Mason than Bro . Tew existed in England . In his valedictory address the retiring Provincial Grand Master observed that Freemasonry as an institution for good must adapt itself to the progress of the times , and endeavour to meet the requirements of the vast social ,

religious , and political changes which marked the latter days of the expiring century . Without sacrificing one iota of its immortal principles or the grand and noble truths which were its everlasting heritage , Freemasonry , deaf to the cries of party ,

regardless of sectarian differences , could pursue its beneficent work of elevating , purifying , restraining , and enlightening humanity , and , above all , teaching the grand doctrine of Christian charity which , in the crowd of conflicting interests , seemed sometimes in danger of being thrown aside .