Prov. G. Lodge Of W. Yorkshire.

holden at Huddersfield , on Wednesday , fcho 16 th October 1889 , were presented . It was moved by Bro . T . Bateman Fox P . M ., and seconded by Bro . R . Arnison , " That tho minntes bo taken as read , and confirmed . " This was carried . The Provincial Grand Master then delivered the

following address : — Brethren , —At onr Antnmn Meeting in 1889 , nt Huddersfield , I had to decide between two places for the Assembly of this Provin . oial Grand Lodge for its Annual Meeting for the current year . After mneh thought , and considering the growing importance in numbers of these Meetings and matters tor our deliberation ,

I decided to accept the invitation to visit Sheffield . Oar obligations are due to Bro . Edward Tozer , the present W . M . of Britannia Lodge , No . 139 , J . P ., late Mayor , and Past Master Cntler of Sheffield , for the cordial welcome with whioh he and his brethren have greeted Prov . Grand Lodge , and for the provision of this handsome hall for the purpose of this gathering . The previous occasion on whioh Prov .

Grand Lodge met here was on 14 th April 1886 , under the Banner of Britannia , the premier Lodge in Sheffield , and tbe second on tho roll in the Province . Time was when Britannia headed the Lodges in the number of members on its roll . During the pasty ear , the returns show 14 resignations , some having gone to other Lodges , and three deaths . Bro . William Brewin Alderson , of H . M . Probate Court , Wakefield

passed away on 14 th March last . He was a Past Provincial Grand Deacon and Past Assistant Secretary . By his arduous and unwearied labours , extending over many years , he rendered most important services to tbe Craft , and his name will be long remembered amongst ns as that of a true and faithfnl brother . It is a matter of satisfaction to feel that the other five Lodges in Sheffield , having amongst

them 240 members , are progressing satisfactorily !; headed by Bro . Hayes , they have already six names as Stewards at this year ' s Charity Festivals . We thank them heartily for their renewed liberality in promoting the welfare of our three great Institutions . The state of the Province shows progression over the previous year . The returns to the 31 st December give 3531 members , of whom

1044 are Worshipfnl Masters and Past Masters . There have been initiated 305 Masons into our 75 Lodges , whilst 125 havo resigned or retired ; 56 have died , 58 have been excluded , and 164 yet remain in arrears , being 74 fewer members under this head than was the case last year , and leaving ns an increase of 90 members and 40 . Past Masters . With regard to Provincial Grand Lodge Funds , we had at

onr bankers , at Leeds , £ 1020 on 31 st March , and the quarterages show an increase of £ 16 , the highest amount ever reached in West Yorkshire . It is satisfactory also to notice that all the Lodges have made their returns np to 31 st December , and , with ono or * two exceptions , these returns were both more accurate and moro prompt than has previously been the case . The readiness on the part of

Lodges to comply with our laws and regulations is highly appreciated by myself and my Deputy . The Officers of Provincial Grand Lodge desire to thank nil Worshipful Masters for bringing about this improved state of affairs . May we hope that with a continuance of industrial prosperity , and the settlement of strikes , whioh disorganize the trade of tho Empire , and injure every workman engaged

therein , we may look forward to tho time , and that at no very distant date , when , like the two Lancashires , we also shall consecrate our one hundredth Lodge in West Yorkshire , and continue to show aloyal united and powerful Province in the roll of Grand Lodgo of England . Wo welcome hero to-day the Lodge of Saint Laurence , No . 2330 , consecrated at Pudsey on tho 17 th December 1889 . It has endowed

its W . Master ' s chair by subscription , with £ 10 10 s , to the forthcoming 92 nd Boys' School Annual Festival . I have much pleasure in formally acquainting this Prov . Grand Lodge , after its expression of opinion , on 16 th October last year , against a retiring pension of so large a sura as £ 350 a year to the Secretary of the R . M . I , for Boys , that although it was carried by a small majority , at the

Quarterly Court , on the 25 th October 1889 , it was not placed npon tho agenda paper for confirmation at the Quarterly General Court , held in London on tho 31 st January 1890 , and that tho other notices , No ? . 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 , and 7 , having various modifications thereto , were either rejected , negatived , or withdrawn . As tbo pension principle was not generally approved , the Provisional Management

Committee recommended a scheme by which a sum of £ 2500 should be raised by subscription ? , by the payment of which , to the Secretary , the B . M . I , for Boys becomes free from all liability on this account for over . This scheme was taken np and unanimously adopted at a special meetiug of our Charity Committee , held at Leeds on the 21 st December 1889 , and it was agreed that the snm of two hundred

guineas should be raised in support of this fund by voluntary contributions of the West Yorkshire Lodges . I am pleased to inform you that this money has been subscribed , and on the 17 th Murch was handed over to Bro . Joseph D . Langton , Hon . Seo . of the Provisional Management Committee . Of tho other Provinces some have already voted their quotas from their funds , whilst others are . raising the

amount by subscription . Tho £ 2500 will bo paid over to Bro . Binckes on tho 30 th Jnne next , when ho will retire from the office of Secretary , after his 29 years' service . Tbe recommendations of the Report of the Committee of Investigation will havo thou beeu achieved , and we can look forward and hope that those Schools will regain their popularity and carry out tho work of education uudei

the new staff ! J tho satisfaction of tho Craft . For this generous support of the scheme , aud for your prompt response to tho circular sent out by myself and my Deputy , wo offor our warmest thanke . To the Charity Committee for their co-operation in this scheme tho obligations of this Piovincial Graud Lodge aro also largely due . Personally , what you have dono is the greatest compliment you could

offer to the occupant of this chair , and I consider it to bo one of tho highest marks of loyally and devotion which a Provincial Grand Master could receive from his brethren . Tho 31 st annual report of our Charity Committee tells ns that we subscribed in 1 SS 9 , to tho three Charities , £ 1 G 09 . Oar contributions for 1 SU 0 aro already £ 1360 , but we mast not forget th & fc there wre 70 We Yorkshire recipients

Prov. G. Lodge Of W. Yorkshire.

of the benefits of these Charities . At the Festival of the Aged Freemasons and Widows Annuity Fund , when tho Right Hon . the Lord Mayor of London had hoped to have presided , £ 13 , 096 was announced , the West Yorkshire contribution being £ 552 . Our total contributions to the three Charities since 1870 amount to £ 40 , 000 .

It having been resolved by the Building Committee that the windows shall form a characteristic feature iu the Centenary Hall of the Girls ' School , we , with other Provinces , are invited to fill a light with coloured glass , representing our distinctive coat of arms , and I ven . tare to hope that this Lodge will vote the sum required for that

purpose , notice to propose which appears on tho agenda paper . Tho library at Wakefield is rapidly progressing , a valuable collection of rare and costly Masonio books having recently been added . A report of the books and manuscripts will be presented by the Librarian to this Prov . Grand Lodgo . As a consequence of the formation of a good

and comprehensive library , Masonio Literary Societies have been formed , and lectures have been given at Wakefield , Bradford , Thorne , and other towns , by snch excellent Lecturers as Bros . Speth , Whyte . head , Ramsden , Riley , and others . I desire in every way to encourage these lectures , and to obtain your co-operation for thia

purpose , and I most sincerely thank Bros . Matthewman , Watson , Monkman , and others for their labours in this direction . And now , the onerous part of my duty to-day will shortly commence , viz .: — to distribute the honours amongst the 1044 Past Masters of this Province . 1 have done my best with the few collars at my disposal ,

there being so much merit deserving recognition . With , I hope , the utmost impartiality , I have selected for these compliments brethreu as widely scattered as possible , and I trust that those who are reoi pients of even Stewards' Badges may consider them as of equal value with thoso of Wardens ' . We have amongst na to-day the V . W . the

Rev . T . V . Bussell Deputy Prov . Grand Master for Notts , also Bro . Colonel Wemyss P . M ., who has just enlisted under our banner by joining Lodge Probity , No . 61 ; as well as Bro . F . R . W . Hedges , the Secretary of the R . M . I , for Girls . To these and other Visitors

we offer a cordial Masonio welcome . I thank you for the salutation you have accorded to me and my Deputy to-day , and the very kind reception you have given to the Officers of thia Prov . Grand' Lodge , and for the splendid arrangements made for our reception and accommodation , and may God preserve the Craft .

Bro . W . F . Smithson P . M . 1211 , Chairman of the West Yorkshire Charity Committee , presented and read tho annual report , and moved its adoption and confirmation This was seconded by Bro . T . Bateman Fox , Vice-Chairman , and carried nnanimously . Bro . A . W . Stanfield , J . P .,

P . P . G . R ., presented and read tho report of the Sub-Committee appointed by Provincial Grand Lodge at Leeds , on Wednesday , 10 th April 1889 , in relation to tho Masonic Boys' School Inquiry , and moved that it be received and adopted . This was seconded by Bro . Binney , and carried

nnanimously . Bro . John Leach P . M . 61 Provincial Grand Treasurer , then presented a statement of the receipts and disbursements of the Province for the year ending 31 sfc March , and pointed out that whilst the balance in favour

of the Province at the commencement of the year was ¦ £ 993 13 s 8 d , it now amounted to £ 1019 19 s 4 d . Brothor Leach ' s balance sheet was received most favourably , aud , on the motion of Bro . C . M . Wilson Provincial Grand

Registrar , was unanimously accepted . Bro . Wm . Watson PM . 2069 Provincial Grand Superintendent of Works , presented the inventory of tho property aud regalia of Provincial Grand Lodgo , and reported its condition to be satisfactory . This , on the motion of the Provincial Grand

Master , was unanimously adopted . Bro . Watson then presented his report as Hon . Librarian of the Province , accompanying which was a printed tabulated list of the

donations , & e ., to the Provincial Grand Lodgo Library . Ho also moved that a grant of £ 10 be mado to tho Library Fund . This was seconded by Bro . J . R . Dore , and carried nem con . Tho Provincial Grand Master then moved : —

" Thafc this Provincial Grand Lodge accept the invitation of the Building Committee to placo the Coat of Arms of this Province , with an inscription , in ono of tho stained windows of tho Centenary Hall of tho Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , afc a cost of £ 13 . " This was

supported by Bro . F . R . W . Hedges , Secretary of the Royal Masouic Institution for Girls , and carried unanimously . Tho election of Treasurer then took place . Bro . John Leach , the retiring Treasurer , briefly , bat very pleasantly , proposed as his successor Bro . Thomas Harrison P . M . 296 .

This was seconded by Bro . Harold Thomas W . M . 296 ; supported by Bro . H . T . Garnett P . M ., and carried unanimously . Ou being invested the new Treasurer returned thauka to the Brethren for thia mark of their confidence . The Provincial Grand Master then appointed and invested his Provincial Grand Officers for tho ensuing year , as follow : —

Bro . Edward Tozer , J . P ., W . M . 139 ... Sonior Warden Thos . Crossloy P . M . 1311 ... Junior Warden Rov . J . H . Evans , M . A ., C . 20 ! iU .. *) _ , . . Rev . B . Mayou , M . A ., Chap . 971 ... j otuv l >! ain Thos . Harrison P . M . 296 ... Treasurer Harold Thomas W , M , 2 ^ 6 ,,, Eegistrar