Consecrations.

presence of distinguished members of the House of Commons , whether the example set by the London County Council in the formation of a Masonic Lodge might not possibly act with some advantage to the House of Commons . There was nothing more likely to oil the wheels of progress . He should look forward to

the meetings of their Lodge , which had been conceived in the fertile brain of Brother Nathan Robinson , whom he ventured to differ from on all subjects in the Council , and which had been carried into effect with the cordial co-operation of members of both parties , as no mean factor in the conduct of the public business of the people of London .

Lodge Of Eland.

LODGE OF ELAND .

ON Tuesday , 14 th inst ., an interesting ceremony took place at the Masonic Rooms , Northgate , Elland , in the consecration of a new Mark Lodge . As is known , a Craft Lodge has existed for some time , and , latterly , certain members have thought it desirable that a Lodge

for the working of the Mark degree should also be established . Accordingly , petitions were presented , and in due course a warrant was granted by the Most Worshipful Grand Master H . R . H . the Prince of Wa * les , and on Tuesday the consecration and dedication was carried out by the Grand Master Mason of West Yorkshire Bro . C . L . Mason , of Leeds .

The title adopted was taken from the name of the old family of Sir John de Eland . After the ceremony the Brethren adjourned to the Town Hall , and partook of an excellent dinner , served by the Misses Gibson . Bro . W . E . Smithies the Worshipful Master of the Lodge presided . —" Halifax Guardian . "

Staffordshire.

STAFFORDSHIRE .

THE annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge will take place at Hanley , on Wednesday , the 13 th of May . It is many years since P . G . Lodge was held in North Staffordshire , and though the number present can hardly be expected to equal the attendance at Wolverhampton on the occasion of Lord Dartmouth ' s installation , says the county "Advertiser , " probably it will fall but little short of that splendid gathering .

West Yorkshire.

WEST YORKSHIRE .

THE annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge was held on Wednesday afternoon , in the Mansion House , Doncaster , the Provincial Grand Master the Right Hon . W . L . Jackson , M . P ., presiding .

Greater interest than usual was taken in the gathering , owing to the fact that Bro . Henry Smith , of Wakefield , who for the past eleven years had held the office of Deputy Provincial Grand Master , and who had previously for fifteen years been the Provincial Grand Secretary , had signified his intention of

severing his official connection with the Provincial Lodge . A fund had been raised in the Province for the purpose of presenting to the retiring Deputy a testimonial of the appreciation of the Brethren for his long services to the Order . The sum subscribed amounted to £ 784 16 s , and , at the suggestion

of Bro . Smith , 200 guineas each were given to the Masonic Girls and Boys Schools and a similar sum to the Royal Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widows of Freemasons , to secure Governorships in perpetuity of these Institutions in

connection with the Deputy chair of the Province . A portion of the remainder of the sum raised was devoted to obtaining a beautifully illuminated address , a gold chronometer and guard , and a self-registering aneroid barometer , which were presented to Bro . Smith by the Provincial Grand Master .

The balance Bro . Smith -expended in the purchase of a set of silver-gilt consecration vessels , which he took the opportunity of presenting to Provincial Grand Lodge . The investiture of Brother J . C . Malcolm , the Leeds City

Coroner , and Past Provincial Grand Registrar as Deputy Provincial Grand Master was also regarded with considerable interest . These functions drew together a larger gathering of the Brethren than has taken place for some years , and the hall was filled to overflowing .

The Provincial Grand Master , in making the presentation , referred amid repeated applause to the eminent services of Bro . Smith to the Province , and his untiring efforts on behalf of the Charities connected with the Order , and expressed the good wishes of the Brethren towards him .

Dealing with the affairs of the Province , he remarked that they were in a satisfactory condition . There had been a large accession of members , although the death-roll had been a heavy

West Yorkshire.

one . During the year a new Lodge had been opened at Sheffield , and another would probably shortly be consecrated in the neighbourhood of Leeds . The retiring Deputy , who showed great emotion , acknowledged the gift in suitable terms , and handed to the Provincial Grand Master the consecrating vessels for the future use of the Province , amid loud applause .

On the motion of Bro . W . F . Smithson P . P . G . W ., seconded by Bro . W . Harrop P . P . G . W ., the sum of ten guineas was voted to the Boys Scholarship Fund . Bro . J . C . Malcolm was invested with the insignia of Deputy Provincial Grand Master . Bro . R . Jackson , of Leeds , was unanimously elected Treasurer for the ensuing year .

The Provincial Grand Master then proceeded to invest the following Officers for the year with their insignia :

Bro . H . Allen 1779 .... Senior Warden J . A . Godwin 1311 - Junior Warden Bev . L . S . Calvert 208 - - - " I P 1 , , i o 5 T . _ Bev . J . L . Brereton , M . A ., 1513 - - } O ^ plams H . S . Ohilde 154 - - - - Begistrar H . G . E . Green 1019 - - - Secretary

H . H . Bedford 139 - - - - " ) A . Bobertshaw 448 - - - - C Senior Deacons T . H . Tanner 337 - - - - ) W . B . Hinings 600 - - - - } T . Bates 308 - - - - f Junior Deacons H . S . Wood 439 - - - - »

T . B . Vaux 208 - - - - Superintendent of Works W . Watson 61 - - - - Librarian W . Wilson 1102 .... Director of Ceremonies J . Sugden 1301 .... T . ' Son ° 265 - - - - Deputy Dir . of Ceremonies D . White 149

T . Shaw 1514 .... Sword Bearer Dr . W . E . Bates 1522 - - - ) CS + „„ J „» J »„„»„« G . Hollies 971 - - - - / standard Bearers T . W . Handforth 2491 - - - Organist J . Matthewman 1019 - - - Assistant Secretary

J . Bleazard 401 .... Pursuivant A . Gill 264 ----- Assistant Pursuivant Dr . J . Mossop 974 - - - - \ J . Best 302 - £ -i l S ° £ 258- - - " I Stewards

H . Telford 387 - f """ ° W . Sharpe 603 J . Greenwood 1283 - - - - , T . Leighton 296 ' . - - - Tyler T . Chester 904 .... Assistant Tyler .

At the conclusion of Lodge a banquet was held in the Mansion House , which was largely attended . — " Yorkshire Daily Post . "

Masonic Sonnets, No. 116.

Masonic Sonnets , No . 116 .

By BRO . CHAS . F . FOESHAW , LL . D ., 2417 , 1242 , 295 ( E . C ) , 761 , 24 ( S . C . ) .

SO MOTE IT BE . PEACE , perfect Peace , throughout each coming day—Love , Holy Love , within each Mason ' s heart ; With bright-eyed Hope to shed its sunny ray On Faith that only can with Life depart . Friendship to slow within the noble breast ,

Prudence to check the rash and hasty deed , Belief for all by diresome woe opprest , And Charity to aid and intercede . Silence to guard and curb the bitter tongue , Temperance to stay our every downward pace ,

Justice to mete to all who would do wrong , And Fortitude to build upon this base A glorious Temple on our earthly lands So that we gain one built by perfect hands ! Winder House , Bradford , 15 th April 1896 .

We regret an unfortunate mishap occurred in connection with the report we published last week of the Westbourne Lodge . One of the members had composed a few lines of poetry in praise of the worthy Secretary of the Lodge , who was specially honoured on the occasion , and by some unaccountable blunder

the name of the Secretary of the Girls School came to be attached to them , as though he was their author . We are very sorry for the mistake , and again express regret for the annoyance we have caused Bro . Hedges in connection with the stupid blunder .

"A Sprig Of Acacia."

"A SPRIG OF ACACIA . "

CAPTAIN J . B . Husband , for twenty years a member of the Hauley Lodge , Dartmouth , and for a long time its Treasurer , was buried at Townstal , on the 16 th , his funeral being attended by many Brethren . Among several beautiful wreaths was one from the Lodge .