Leeds Masonic Local Relief Fund.

LEEDS MASONIC LOCAL RELIEF FUND .

THE Masons of Leeds are io be congratulated npon the splendid results uf their Local Belief Fund , whioh has now been in operation several year : ? . Previous to the formation of the society mnch ii . discriminate relief of ;> spasmodic character was given by brethren > it tbuir owu humus or places of business to travelling Muscn ? , und it was found that several of these unworthy brethren ,

having possessed themselves nf the list of members of the Lodger , made a rare harvest by p"t :

as tho cost ofiiuiniuiM 1 ration u vtvy small , this levy is found to cover about three years' relief . When a travelling Mason makes application for relief he is at onco referred to the Almoner , and if the man is in dire need a small sum for food is at once given to enable fall inquiry to be made into the case . IT inquiries are satisfactory , ample help is given to tide over present difficulties , and the brother is helped on

to the town in whioh his friends live . Imposture has beon consider . ably cheeked , and as the Almoner always errs rather on the side of mercy , the impostor is not able to make a second call on the fond ' . The annual meeting of this well managed Society was held atMSsonio Hall , Great George Street , Leeds , on tho Hh inst ., when Bro . Jose Richards , the president , oconpied the chair . The first business waa

the reception of the auditors report , which was as follows : — In presenting their annual report the auditors cannot refrain at the outset from expressing the deep regret of thia Society at the death of their painstaking und valued Almoner , the late Bro . S . Barrand . The duties that he so admirably performed havo been discharged by Bro . Tudor Trevor P . M ., to whom oar thanks aro due for his untiring

labours on our behalf . His part has been no sinecure , for a glauco at the accounts will show that great calls havo been made npon our funds , in tbe administration of whioh we have good reason to know great assistance bas been rendered in many apparently deserving oases . During the year there have been 40 acts of relief , to 37 diatressed brethren . Of this number 20 wore English , 10 Scotch , 3 Irish

and 4 foreign Masons . During tho year a levy of one shilling potmember has been made upon the 8 Lodges , whioh has produced £ 19 18 s , all of which sum bas been paid to the Treasurer . The amount remaining iu the Treasurer ' s hands at the end of the year is £ 15 9 s 2 d . We cannot conclude this report without regretfully alluding to the death of Bro . R . Craig , who at the time of his lamented decease was our Treasurer , a post he had occupied for

some years . His place has been filled by appointment of Bro . Trevor P . M . —J . J . Fretwell P . M . 2019 , T . B . Tomlinson P . M . 1221 , auditors . The report was unanimously carried . The following Officers were then appointed : —President , Bro . Trevor P . M . ; Vice-President , Bro . Lucas P . M . ; Treasurer , Bro . Richards P . M . Past President ; Almoner , Bro . Trevor P . M . ; Secretary Bro . Tomlinson P . M . ; Auditors—Bros . Fretwell P . M . and Clayton P . M .

It is always gratifying to recognise the perseverance and energy displayed by foreign brethren who take office in onr several Lodges to master the difficulties of our language . Bro . Heinrioh Heck , tho new W . M . of the William Preston , sets a laudable example . On the night of his installation he initiated a candidate , and later on , in proposing his health , addressed the Lodge , as follows : —

Brethren , —The toasfc I am now about to propose is one which on every such occasion is received with the greatest interest , and , aa a rule , with much enthusiasm . It is the health of our Initiate . In the first instance allow me , brethren , to thank you for the very kind and cordial manner you have received the candidate proposed

by mytelf , and seconded by Bro . P . M . Miller , also for yonr kindness in according him your unanimous votes . The selection of a new member for our Order is the most important duty any Lodge can engage in , and no members of a Lodge who are mindful of its wellbeing , as well as of the well-being of the fraternity afc large , dare

treat lightly the choice as to those they initiate . I say it is the most important step the brethren can take . On the one hand it preserves our Order from decay ; on the other it is the means of joining into the Order , true , honest and sincere companions . Onr Initiate to-day is an intimate friend of mine , of many years standing , and

from what I know of him I have every reason to believe his conduct will bo such as to give you no ground to regret having elected him a member of the William Preston Lodge . And now , my dear friend and Bro . Grille , I most sincerely congratulate you on your resolution to become a Freemason , likewise on the unanimous manner in whioh

the brethren of the Lodge have elected you . You have now become a member of the most ancient , und the most honourable society in existence . Its commencement may be traced almost from the beginning of the world . Ever since symmetry began , and harmony displayed her charms , onr Order has had a being . No art , no science ,

preceded it . Honourable it must be acknowledged to be , as by a natural tendency it conduces to make so those who are obedient to its precepts . No institution can boast a more solid foundation than that on which Freemasonry rests , —the practice of every moral and social virtue ; and to so high an eminence has its credit been advanced , that in every age monarohs themselves have been promoters of the

art , and have not thought it beneath their dignity to exchange the sceptre for the trowel ; have patronised our mysteries , and joined in our assemblies . Being founded as it is on brotherl y love , relief and truth , it has many advantages ; for where friendship is unknown jealousy and suspicion prevail ; but where that virtue provides the cement , true happiness exists . In every breast there ia a propensity

Leeds Masonic Local Relief Fund.

to friendly acts which , being exerted , sweetens every temporal enjoyment , and tends to alloy the calamities of life . Friendship in connection with the grand system of universal benevolence should be the aim of every trne Mason . Actuated by this sentiment each individual connects his happiness with the happiness of his neighbour , and a fixed and permanent union is established amongst men .

Masonry is a science , confined to no particular country , but extending over the whole terrestrial globe ; wherever art flourishes , there Masonry flourishes ; add to this , by secret and inviolable signs , carefully preserved among tlie Fraternity , it becomes a universal language ; hence many advantages are ga < ned ; the distant Chinee , the wild Arab , and the American savage will embrace a brother and know

that beside the common ties of humanity there is still ft stronger obligation to induce him to kind and friendly offices . Mutual toleration in religious opinions is one of the most distinguishing and valuable characteristics of tho Craft . Thus , through the influence of Masonry , all those disputes which embitter life and sour tbe tempera of men are avoided . From this view of our system its utility must

be sufficiently obvious . The nniversal principles of the art unite , in one indissoluble bond of affection , men of the most contrary opinions , so that in every nation a Mason may find a friend , and in every climate a home . Such is the nature of our Institution , that in the Lodge , whioh is confined to no particular spot , union is oemented by sincere attachment , and pleasure reciprocally communicated in

tho cheerful observance of every obliging office . Snob , my Brother , are the advantages of Freemasonry , but it does not follow that solely by your initiation into the Order you are entitled to tho same . You must prove yourself worthy thereof . The task we have imposed on ourselves is a great and glorious one , but the carrying out of the same is not easy , it requires the whole strength and perseverance of

a free and independent man to fulfil those duties he has solemnly engaged himsolf to fulfil . Arm yourself with fcho strong will of u free and independent man , and earnestly strive at such pursuits as may at once enable yon to become respected in life , useful to man . kind , and an ornament to the society of which you have this day become a member , and I have no doubt you will duly appreciate the value of Freemasonry , and imprint on your heart the sacred

dictates of Truth , of Honour , and of Virtue . That , my Brother , will be the best gratitude you can offer the brethren who have this day acknowledged yon as one equal to themselves , and may fche Greafc Architect of the Universe grant yon health and strength for many years to come , to enable you to discharge your duties as a Mason conscientiously , and may He grant me the pleasure to see you one day occupying the position I now hold , that of Worshipful Master of the William Preston Lodge .

The Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of England and Wales and the Colonies and Dependencies of the British Crown was held on tho 1 st instant , at Mark Masons' Hall , Great Queen-street . Bro . W . W . B . Beach . M . P ., Past Grand Master , presided .

Colonel the Hon . W . T . Orde-Powlett acted as .. Deputy Grand Master , Viscount Dungarvan as Senior Grand Warden , and Captain N . G . Philips as Junior Grand Warden . After some formal business had been disposed of , the Prince of Wales was nominated for re-eleotion

next March as Grand Master by Rear-Admiral Markham , Past Grand Steward . He was not only expressing his own feelings , bat those of every Freemason and . every Mark Mason , when he said that they sympatbised with his Royal Highness in his trouble and anxiety during

the present severe illness of ono of the members of hia family . Bro . Gordon Miller , Grand Treasnrer , nominated Sir Augustus Harris for the office of Grand Treasurer for the ensuing twelve months . Grand Mark Lodge was then closed . , ¦'¦ ¦ - ' ..-. ' . Vi *

, The Scotch Lodge , which was established in 1889 , held its regular meeting , at the Scottish Corporation-. Hall , on 27 th ult . There was a good attendance of members and visitors , under the presidency of Bro . Page W . M . The second degree was conferred by the W . M . on Bro . James

Duncan Balfour , and thereafter Bro . Thomas Secretary and Bro . Whitehead P . M . ( of Aberdeen Granite Works ) , informed tbe Lodge that Dr . Irvine Kempt Reid , of Aberdeen , who was initiated into Freemasonry in this Lodge at

nnEmergency meeting , and had left for Georgetown , British Guiana , on his appointment as Government medical officer , desired them to express his gratification at haying been admitted to the Masonic Order . The brethren celebrated

St . Andrew's Festival at this meeting . They partook of a capital Scotch dinner , which was succeeded by tbe rendering of Scotch songs and music ; and reels , with tbe bagpipes .

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