Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

Direct , advise , reprove if ne ^ cssarv * , and ; f you cannot get matters accomplished as promptly or as satisfactorily as yon would wish , why do them yonrdeJf rafcbtr than suffer tho stigma of noifieot or indifference to be connected or associated with the Lodgo of whieh you are the head .

The chief reason why our Prov . Grand Muster has not called 113 together quite threo weeks ago has been , that the returns camo iu so late , it was impossible to get matters into train earlier . As fco arrears , I must again say we urn in a condition whioh permits of much improvement . One Lodge has no less than 12

members in thia condition . There are others with 11 , 10 , 9 , 8 , 7 , respectively , 2 with 6 , and so on , making a total of 165 brethren who have failed to pay their dues . It is the earnest wish of our Prov . G . Master thafc something should be done to alter this . Tbe remedy is simple . Give all reasonable notice or warning , and then apply that remedy .

During the year 1890 the increase on our lull was 82 . This year it amounts to 36 . The figures stand thus : — New . Resigned . Dead . Excluded . In Arrear . Total Nos .

1890 . . 800 113 69 36 161 3611 1891 ... 286 126 89 40 165 3647

I notice thafc whilst some Lodges have been very active and added ai many as 10 , in one instance 11 , new members , there are , on the other hand , 5 who have had neither an initiation nor a joining brother to increase their numbers thronghout tha entire year . I do nofc complain of this , if the reasons are satisfactory . Better be without candidates than introduce unsuitable ones . But , brethren

( I will not say I very much fear , that would ba a subterfuge ) , I fcnoui that those reasons , in some oases , are not satisfactory—that they will nofc bear going into . I want to lay down a principle whioh I think cannot be gainsaid , and that is , that no Brother haa the ri ght to blackball a candidate against whom no objection , Masonic or otherwise , has been taken ,

merely for the purpose of satisfying his o * vn feeling of animosity , revenge , or pique . By doing this he not only obstructs the progress and advancement of his Lodge , but he throws everything ont of gear ; he strangles its very life , and what is worst of all , he inflicts the greatest possible injustice upon those—most probably the majority , who have no concern

in his quarrel , aud have taken no part whatever in bringing about tbe difficulty nnder which the Lodge labours . All true Masons take a pride in their Lodge ; they are jealous of its reputation and honour ; they delight in the efficiency of its W . M . and Officers ; they are wishful to increase its numbers and influence ; they congratulate themselves when peace and concord reign within

its portals , and they are willing , nay anxious , to do all in their power to maintain this satisfactory condition of affairs ; aud yet in spite of all their zeal and efforts , in some unhappy instances , a few discontented brethren will spoil everything—will for peaoo substitute discord , and for ordtr bring about chaos ! This being our Annnal Meeting , ib will shortly be my duty to

invest with collars those who have been selected for office . Brethren , this conferring of honours is a most difficult task—a task the burden of which year by year increases . Our R . W . Provincial Grand Master has gone mosfc carefully into this matter , be has diligently considered tbe names of those who may be fairly deemed eligible for the purple , and he has selected according to the

best of his judgment . His award can scarcely be expected to give universal satisfaction ; there are many , doubtless , who will be dis . appointed , bub I ask you to believe that Bro . Tew has been actuated by the highest motives , that he has striven to be jusfc aud impartial , and I know that he has the fullest confidence that you , brethren , will loyally abide by his decision .

There is ai other aspect of this question I should like to glince nt . In an ordinary Craft Lodge a Brother ' s r .. uk is an important matter , as the higher ho gets the more neatly does he appnach the chair—the goal of his ambition . As , however , the office of Provincial Grand Master is beyond the reach of most of us , it seems to me that to obtain a Provincial Collar , ' of any rank , is an honour

with which oue might reasonably be satisfied , aud that the distinctions in Provincial Grand Lodge are more imaginary than real . Ifc is impossible to confer what is deemed high office upon all , and the Brother who is considered by hit Provincial Grand Master worthy to wear fche Collar of his Province , does rot need to trouble

himself much as to the jewel that hangs therefrom . As to the duties which are associated with the various office-- , they are clearly laid down in our Provincial By-Laws . I would wrongly enjoin the brethren appointed carefully to acquaint themselves with those duties , with a view to their effectual

performance . I would further suggest that a very valuable method of assisting the executive might be organised , if fche Proviucial Officers would at intervals systematically visit the Lodges , more especially those that lie remote from some great Masonic centre . The brethren visited wonld value the honour , and a closer and tuoro intimate association

wonld result , which I am suro would be prodnqti » e of good and conduce to a more g neral spirit of brotherhood in the Provineo . I commend these suggestions to your sound sense and good feeling , brethren . I fear I am detaining yon rather long , bnt there is only one thing more I would add . Onr Library , under tbe supervision , experience and fostering care

of Bro . Watson , is now rapidly becoming a most valuable im-titntior The Province owes much to our Librarian , and whilst I propose to offer him an opportunity to give us some account of tho results ot his labours , I yet feel that this acknowledgment of his services is justly his due . The support which he receives from our Rt . W . Provincial Grand Master is another evidence that his work is highly appreciated .

And now , Brethren , I have done . Death has claimed its victims since I last addressed you , but thafc is in the ordinary course of events .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

I trust that when we next meet , I shall stand ou a lower step , to the right of the Chair , and that ths place of houour will be occupied by him who has so wotfchily filled it , whoaa interest in the Craffc is warm as hia owu warm h « art .

I know how it will rejoice him ( if spared ) to visit you again , and greit though thafc pleasure may be to him , it will not exceed tha gratification and delight which it will afford yon to see him amongst yon once more .

Tho address was listened to which marked attention , and the Brethren showed their appreciation by frequent applause . On its conclusion , Bro . W . H . Brittain rose to thank the Brethren for their cordial greeting . In referring to the Address , he said that it combined both

poetry and prose , that it was graf-efal as well as practical , and that in all his experience he had never listened to an Address which so happily combined firm treatment with delicate handling . He spoke in feeling terms of the death of H . RH , the Duke of Clarence , and concluded a

very effective speech by proposing the following resolution : "That this Provincial Grand Lodge of West Yorkshire recognises , with the deepest regret , the great loss which the Craft and the Nation have sustained by the death of H . R . H . the Duke of Clarance and Avondale , K . G ., P . G . W .,

R . W . Prov . Grand Master Berks , on 14 th January last , and takes the earliest opportunity of recording on its minutes their profound sorrow and sympathy with Her Most Gracious Maiesty the Queen , their Royal Highnesses the

Prince and Princess of Wales , Her Sereno Highness the Princess May of Teck , and the rest of the-Royal Family in their sad bereavement . " This -was briefly seconded by the Rev . T . C . Smyth , D . D ., P . M . 2069 P . G . Chaplain , & c , and carried .

Bro . T . Bateman Fox , Chairman of the West Yorkshire Charity Committee , then addressed the meeting . After complimenting the acting Prov . Grand Master npon fche fearless and outspoken terms of the address which they had inst heard , an exposition of Masonic principles and conduct

with which he thoroughly agreed , Bro . Fox presented the Annual Report of the Charity Committee . In proposing its adoption he pointed oufc the advantage of accumulating votes upon chairs , recommended the Boys' and Girls ' Schools to the special charitable consideration of the

Province , and gave particulars as to the leakage which had occurred in relation to the voting papers in the late election . He urged the Charity members to be untiring in their exertions in collecting and sending in the votes , and strongly deprecated receiving papers twenty-four hours after the elections to which they referred were concluded .

Bro . W . C . Lupton , Vice-Chairman , seconded . Whilst most highly commending the brethren for their munificent subscriptions to the R . M . Benevolent Institution , he urged upon them tho desirability of promptly redeeming their promises by the actual payment of the money , pointing oufc

how strongly votes wore needed for the forthcoming Annuitants' election , and that ifc was only by securing this additional voting power thoy could hope to carry the candidates whom the Committee had adopted . That the

election was on the 20 fch May , and that it waa desirable , iu order to give time for the i . ssue of new voting papers , thafc the donations should be sent in not Liter than the 10 th of that month .

On the motion " That the Report of the Charity Committee be adopted" being put from the Chair , ifc was carried untnimously . Bro . C . Phillips , from fche hody of the room , inquired what the average cost per hoy was iu the Royal Masonic

Institution for Boys * . Bro . W . F . Smithson , Ex . Chairman of the Charity Committee , and a member of the Board of Management , replied , that for educating , clothing , and maintaining tho boys in the School , the average cost per head was a few shillings over £ 40 a year .

Bro . Wm . Pepper Provincial Grand Treasurer then presented his balance sheet , and moved its adopt inn . This , a printed copy of which had l . eeu issued throughout ; the Province , was seconded by Bro . T . B . Fox , aud carried .

Bro . John Gerrard Provincial Grand Superintendent of Works presented an inventory of furniture , regalia , < tc , belonging to Provincial Grand Lodge . On h ' u aasurance that all was in good order and preservation tho iuventorv was received .

Tbe Chairman next called upon Bro . "Win . Watson Provincial Grand Libraria-i . Bro . Watson said he bad piopared a report , which would be duly circulated , that during the past year that most valuable aud important books aud MMS . had been added to the Library , that in consequence