North And East Yorks.

NORTH AND EAST YORKS .

THURSDAY , the 5 th inst ., will be regarded as a red letter day in the annals of Freemasonry at Hull , for after a lapse of a quarter of a century the Provincial Grand Lodge assembled within the precincts of the historic seaport . It was held on the invitation of the W . M . and members of the Minerva Lodge , No . 250 , and the place of meeting was St .

George ' s Hall , Story Street , which had been converted into a handsome Lodge room . The members of the Minerva Lodge are to be warmly congratulated upon the admirable arrangements that were made for the reception of their distinguished guests , and upon the generous hospitality which they accorded them .

The Marquis of Zetland ' Prov . G . M . presided , supported by Lord Bolton P . G . W . Eng . D . P . G . M ., and many other distinguished Masons . The minutes of the Provincial Grand Lodge held at

Guisbrough , on 12 th July 18 99 , were confirmed , and the annual accounts , presented by Bro . M . C . Peck , adopted , as was also the report of the Board of Benevolence , which showed that during the past year grants to the amount of / So were made .

On the motion of Bro . Mark Scott P . P . G . W . it was unanimously resolved " That the Provincial Grand Secretary be authorised to renew , from time to time , such of the Provincial Grand Lodge regalia as may have become old and worn out . On the motion of Bro . C . Judge , seconded by Bro . T . Morrill , Bro . J . Y . Torr ( Minerva Lodge ) was unanimously elected Provincial Treasurer ,- and Bro . Torr thanked the Brethren for the honour conferred upon him .

Bros . S . Border 256 and W . Tesseman 57 were elected Representatives of Prov . G . L . on the Charities Association ; and Bro , E . Corriss 57 P . P . G . R . and Bro . J . E . Walker P . M . 250 were re-elected Auditors . The following Brethren were elected on the Provincial Board of General Purposes : —Bros . J . S . Rymer ( Lord Mayor of York ) , T . B .. Whytehead 2328 , W . Watson 602 , H . Toozes 57 , and Rose 660 .

The Prov . G . M . then invested Bro . E . Taylor W . M . Sykes Lodge with the Grand Lodge Charity Jewel , Bro . Taylor having qualified for that distinction by his generous gifts , to . the three Masonic Charities , as well as to the Educational Fund .

The following were invested the Provincial Grand Officers for the ensuing year : Bro . J . S . Rymer - - - - - Senior Warden J . W . Tindell .... Junior Warden Rev . F . G . James - - - | n , „ . . Rev . 0 . H . Sheet - . - - - Chaplains

J . T . Torr ..... Treasurer G . H . Harrowing .... Begistrar G . M . Peck ..... Secretary J E . Jones - - - " ¦ - * ¦ ' . 1 Senior Deacons

J . R . Lane - - - - - j T . _ S . Wallgate } Jtmlor Deacons John Thomas .... Superintendent of Works J . Gr . Wallis ----- Director of Ceremonies W . Wilkinson - - - - Deputy Dir . of Oers . T . C . Turfcon ----- Assistant Dir . of Cers . J . Watson - - - - - Sword Bearer

E / rAnson ' . '¦' . ' . . ' . " } Standard Bearers B . Kilvington - - - - Organist T . B . Redfearn .... Assistant Secretary J . White - - - . - Pursuivant C . Laking - - - - - Assistant Pursuivant Preston Cobb - - - -

J . R-Porter 57 - - - V . G . Hobaon 294 - . . . a , , . . J . P . Atkinson 312 - - . . I stewards W . Newson 561 - - - - C . Foster 2134 - - - - I 0 . Travess ..... Tyler .

The annual communications of the various Lodges in the Province were then received . The Prov .. G . M .,. in accordance with custom , gave a brief resume of the events of interest which had occurred in the Province during the past year . He said that Grand Lodge had voted £ x , ooo to the Mansion House Transvaal War Fund , an example which many Lodges had followed , and

1 , 000 guineas' to the South African Masonic Relief Fund . At the annual Grand Festival , on 25 th April , a resolution was passed expressing the thankfulness to the Great Architect of the Universe of the Freemasons throughout the Empire for delivering H . R . H . the Prince of Wales Grand Master from the hands of an assassin , and congratulating his Royal Highness on his escape from the infamous attempt upon his life , The Provincial Grand Master thanked the Brethren of

North And East Yorks.

the Minerva Lodge for the excellent arrangements made for the convenience of the Provincial Grand Lodge , and for the hospitality they had extended . His Lordship announced that he had received an invitation for Provincial Grand . Lodge to meet in Scarborough next year , which he had great pleasure in accepting . Lodge was then closed .

The banquet was held in the Station Hotel ,, and in the unavoidable absence of the Marquis of Zetland and Lord Bolton , the Lord Mayor of York Bro . J . S . Rymer presided . The toast of the Queen and Craft having been duly honoured , the Lord Mayor proposed H . R . H . the Prince of

Wales M . W . Grand Master , Earl Amherst Pro G . M ., and the Earl of Warwick Deputy G . M . He said it was a great pleasure to him to propose the health of the Prince of Wales ,, for a fortnight before he had the honour of proposing his Royal Highness ' s health in his presence . They knew the

great interest the Prince of Wales took in Masonry , and how pleased he was to see it prospering as it was at present . One of the reasons for its prospering was because his

Royal-Highness took such an interest in it , and so identified himself with all its work and details . They knew that the Orderwas prospering , and it deserved to do so because there was nothing in it but what was good .

The Lord Mayor of York next proposed the Most Hon . the Marquis of Zetland Prov . Grand Master N . and E . Yorks , and the Right Hon . Lord Bolton Deputy , which was received with due honour . Bro . A . Tones ( Sheriff of York ) proposed the W . M . of

the Minerva Lodge , No . 250 , and alluded to his connection with the Lodge some years ago . Whilst he was S . W . of the Lodge they were visited by Brethren from all quarters of the globe , which showed the universality of Masonry . Brother Frank Hall W . M . responded , and said it gave

them great pleasure to entertain the Provincial Grand Lodge that day in Hull . It was twenty-five years since it was . entertained by the Minerva Lodge before , and it was very gratifying to the members to hear the complimentary words of Bro . Tones . He hoped that twenty-five years would not

elapse before they had the honour of entertaining the Grand Lodge again . Bro . Watson I . P . M . also replied to the toast . Bro . H . Foster ( York ) proposed the Masonic Charities . He said it was a subject which commended itself to the

hearts of all Masons . The Charities were one of those things by which Masons were known outside its immediate body . When they were asked what they did , and why they existed , they could always point to the Charities , and when they did that no one could venture to say that Masonry was no good .

Bro . M . C . Peck responded , and said he knew a great deal about the Masonic Charities , which were the very essence and cream of Freemasonry . A Freemason who might become Master of his Lodge , an expert ritualist , antiquarian , and an educated Mason on every subject , failed in his duty and

became but sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal if he knew nothing about Charity , which was the brightest jewel in the Masonic diadem . At their last Festival , held in York , they raised over £ i , ooo , which was highly creditable to the Craft , but there was nothing deducted for charges , and the whole went to the objects for which it was intended . They had

now twenty-six children on the books , and they proposed to enlarge their grants . The greatest care and discrimination was used , but every deserving case was immediately relieved . They did not expect men to join Freemasonry with the object of obtaining charity , it was only intended for those who were overtaken by unavoidable misfortune .

Bro . Watson proposed the Visiting Brethren , which was replied to by Bro . E . Taylor 289 . The Lord Mayor of York proposed the health of Bro . Sylvester Sage , who had taken the trouble to fetch a splendid

phonograph , which greatly entertained the Brethren between the speeches by reproducing in a marvellous manner a number of popular songs and instrumental pieces . The toast was heartily received , and duly acknowledged by Bro . Sage . The parting toast concluded the proceedings .

Berkshire.

BERKSHIRE .

THE Provincial Grand Master Lord Wantage , V . C ., Lord Lieutenant of the county , who was appointed by the Prince of Wales to succeed the late lamented Duke of Clarence as Provincial Grand Master of Berkshire , received

the Officers and Brethren of the Provincial Grand Lodge and also a number of distinguished Masons from adjacent Provinces , as well as from the Grand Lodge of England , at "his charming country residence , Lockinge House , near Wantage , situate in the heart of King Alfred ' s district , on