Prov. G. Lodge Of Staffordshire.

Masters Charles Fowke , Frank Bennett , George Batkin , and Reginald Podmore . An excellent sermon—distinguished , as Col . Gough afterwards remarked , for its universality , catholicity , and freedom from sectarian biaswas preached by P . G . Chaplain the Rev . W . F . Bradley ,

vicar of St . Peter ' s , Westbromwich , from the words " Man goeth forth to his work until the evoning " ( 103 rd Psalm , verse 23 ) . Tho prayers were said by the Rector of Stafford , the Rev . D . R . Norman , and tho Rev . Vincent Lichfield , Junior Chaplain , read tho lesson . The collection amounted

to £ 7 13 s 9 d . Of this sum , £ 2 10 s was subsequently voted to the P . G . Chaplain , for parochial purposes in connection with his parish , £ 2 103 in aid of the funds of the Staffordshire General Infirmary , and the balance to the Rector of Stafford , in aid of St . Mary ' s Schools .

After the service the brethren returned to the Borough Hall , and Provincial Grand Lodge was resumed . The Provincial Grand Master announced the receipt of a telegram from Colonel Bindley , who sent his loyal greetings aud heartiest fraternal regards to all tho brethren . With

respect to the nomination of Bro . J . Bodenham , Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies , Provincial Grand Senior Warden , as representative for the Province of Staffordshire on tho Board of Management of tho Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , Bro . Bodenham was thanked

for his past services , and the Provincial Grand Secretary was empowered to nominate him from time to time as occasion may require . The sum of twenty-five guineas was voted from the Prov . Grand Lodge in aid of the Boys'Institution . Tho question of establishing a fund for the relief of cases of distress within the Province was

raised by Bro . T . Taylor ( Hanley ) , aud a Committee was appointed to consider the subject and to formulate a report . The Committee were also instructed to consider tho relations of the Province with the Masons' Institutions and Charitable Associations , and to report upon the same .

Votes of thanks were accorded the following : —The Provincial Grand Chaplain , for his excellent sermon ; the Rector of St . Mary ' s , for the uso of his church ; tho Staffordshire County Council and tho Corporation of Stafford , for the use of the halls for tho Lodge aud the banquet . At

tho close of the proceedings in Lodge , a banquet was provided in the Shire Hall , tho catering arrangements being carried out in a very satisfactory way by Miss Perks , manageress of tho Swan Hotel . The P . G . M . presided . Following tho dinner , tho usual toasts were honoured ,

commencing with tho Queen and the Prince of Walos G . M . of England . Bro . Webberley proposed , and Brother Bodenham replied to tho toast , —tho M . W . tho Pro Grand Mastor tho Earl of Lathom , the Right Hon . the Deputy

G . M . the Earl of Mount Edgcumbo , and tho Officers of the Grand Lodgo of England present and past , and also proposed the health of the Provincial Grand Mastor , in terms of loyalty and devotion , concluding by applying to Col . Gough the poet ' s

words—No nonconforming sects disturb his reign , He always rales us by our own consent . His laws ore easy , and his gentle sway Makes it exceedingly pleasant to obey . Tho Prov . Grand Master replied in felicitous and graceful

terms , and then proposed the health of tho Deputy Prov . Grand Master and tho Officers of Prov . Grand Lodge Lodgo , present and past , for whom the Prov . Grand Chaplain responded . The Visitors was proposed by Bro . Pepper , and responded to by Bro . Massoy , of the

Freemason , and the Masonic Charities by Bro . INewuham , and responded to by Bro . Barker . The Prov . Grand Stewards wore also toasted , Bro . Frederick Taylor , of Stafford , upon whom tho great stress of all the arrangements had fallen , and whoso services wero very cordially acknowledged ,

responding . During the dinner tho brethren of the Noah ' s Ark Lodge , Tipton , provided some capital music , and their services were very heartily acknowledged by the Prov . Grand Master , who also expressed the grateful thanks of

the brethren to Brc . Dr . Taylor , of Stafford , for his services as Organist in the Lodge , in the absence of the Prov . Grand Organist . The Tyler ' s toast concluded the proceedings at the annual dinner .

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Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

— : o : — GRANDCHAPTEROFW.YORKSHIRE.

AT a Convocation of Grand Chapter , holden in the Salo Rooms , Low Street , Keighley , on Wednesday , 6 th May 1891 , at 3 0 p . m ., by tho invitation of Chaptor Judea , No . 265 , there were present : —Comps . Thomas William Tew , J . P ., Past G . Prin . Soj . Grand Superiutendent , Dr . T . C . Smyth , D . D ., P . G . Assist . Soj . H .,

Thos . R . Vaux as J ., Henry Smith S . E ., Mark Newsome , J . P ., as S . N ., John E . Wordsworth Troasurer , John Gerrard Registrar , Thomas Richards Prin . Soj ., George Hill 1 st Assist , Soj ., Edwin Lee 2 nd Assist . Soj ., Reuben Williamson as Sword Bearer , H . C . Pickorsgill Standard Boarer ,

J . W . Monckman P . Soj . as Dir . of Cers ., John Spencor Ass st . Dir . of Cers ., Thomas Admiral Marsh Organist , Herbert G . E . Green Assist . S . E ., Samuel Barrand Janitor , John Henry Roper as Steward , John Thrippleton Steward , Wm . W . Seed as Steward , James Jenkin Steward . Also

representatives from the Chapters of tho Province . Apologies for absence wero received from three Prov . Grand Officers and 150 Companions . Comp . Thos . Wm . Tew , J . P ., Grand Superintendent and Officers entered at 3 * 15 , and Prov . Grand Chapter was opened in ample form . Tho

Grand Superintendent and Prov . Grand H . aud J , wore saluted according to autiont custom . The minutos of the meeting hold at Dowsbury , on Friday , 7 th Novembor ,

wore presented for confirmation , when it was moved , seconded and resolved , " that they be taken as read and confirmed . " Tho Grand Superintendent then delivered the following Address : —

COMPANIONS , —My first duty to-day is to acknowledge the very kindly reception which the Companions of this Convocation have aocorded to the Provincial Grand Chapter of West Yorkshire , and to assure you how greatly your salntation is appreciated by yonr Superintendent and tho Exeoutive , as well as by the Present and Past Grand Officers of this Province .

It is a subject of congratulation to us to seo such a strong muster of the Companions , in spite of the influenza epidemic which has been , and still is , passing over this country , a di . iease , I regret to say , which has oansed much suffering to raatiy of us , and carried off many eminent personages .

Let ns , with humble hearts , pray the Lord Jehovah that of Ilia tender mercy it may please Him to assuage the sickness wherowith we have been and are so sorely afflicted , and to restore tho voice of joy and health into our dwellings . Being the Annual Meeting , my next duty is to place before you

the state of the Chapters under my superintendence . In the Province thero are thirty-eight Chapters—two not working . Of Z . ' B and P . Z . 's there are 363 , and of Companions there are 1 , 212 ; whilst daring the year wo have lost many members by death—no less , alas ! than 33 .

Such names as those of Companions Tozer , John Batlcy , Major R . W . Moore , Alfred Williamson , Dr . Bartolemo , and Robert Craig , are still familiar to our ears , and we miss them from our midst .

Their charitable works will long linger in our memories , and encourage ns to leave , like each of them , au honoured name , and stimulate us to follow in their footsteps of virtue , piety , and benevolence .

From deaths our numbers have decrensod somewhat . They aro less by eight Companions than on the 3 rd May last year ; aud our balance of income is 17 s less than in 1890 . Income for the year 1890-1 was £ S 9 19 M Id ; balance in bank , £ 199 17 s 3 d . But this Chaptor has had exceptional draws npon its resources , viz .: Library ,

£ 5 ; Standard , £ 10 10 s ; Girls'School Window , £ 13 ; BoyB * School Grant , £ 21 . I beg to remind you of tho most agreeable meeting holdon in Dewsbury , on tho 7 th of November laat , and how cordially thia Chapter was received by the Mayer , Companion George Clay ; how

we were shown over that masterpiece of construction , tho now Town Hall ; and how its symbolism was carefully explained to ns . If that was a remarkable occasion , this ono to-day may bo called equally sneb , from tho following facts . This is the 52 nd meeting of the Provincial Grand Chaptorand it

, has not yot hitherto assembled at Keighley . We have come hero to-day for a particular purpose , unique in West Yorkshire , namely , to celebrate the lOOsh yoar of tho unbroken history and continuous meetings of the Judea Chapter , No . 2 G 5 on tho Roll of the Supreme Grand Chapter of England .

It has afforded Prov . Grand S . B . and myself mnch pleasure to promote a memorial from the Companions of the Chaptor of Jude » praying for a Charter authorising them to wear a Centenary jewel , in accordance with the Royal Arch Regulations , Itnla 102 . At the Qnarterly Convocation of Supreme Grand Chapterheld on

, Wednesday , the 4 th February , this Memorial being iu form , and this Chapter having proved an nninterrnptod existence , which completed 100 years on tho 23 rd February 1 S 91 , tho Committee bavin . * recommended that the prayer thoreof b .- granted . j ^ is charter waa

duly confirmed by Supreme Grand Chapter , anil dated 23 ri February LS 91 . I shall shortly ask Prov . Grand Registrar to rc ^ d this document and then band it over to the Z of Judea , to bo . by him tranamittsd ,