West Yorkshire.

After referring to the resignation of Bro . W . F . Stmthson as the representative of the Province on the Board of Management of the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Boys , he drew attention to the establishment of the West Yorkshire Educational and Benevolent Institution . He reminded the meeting that it -was forty-seven years since West Yorkshire commenced that

movement , and that for twenty years and more the subject of establishing a Provincial Institution had been discussed . A year ago a scheme was adopted by a large majority , but he understood there was some feeling of opposition to the scheme . He pointed out that the principle had already been decided upon , and that

all the meeting had to do was to resolve whether the bye-laws prepared for the new scheme should be accepted or not . He hoped the minority would be able to bring themselves into line with the majority , and that whatever action was taken would be for the best interests of the Province .

Bro . W . C . Lupton P . M . P . P . G . D ., as Chairman of the Charity Committee , presented and moved for adoption the 38 th annual report of that body . He said the Province had elected to the Eoyal Masonic Institutions during the year five girls , two boys , and two widows . To succeed in the elections they obtained 30 , 258 votes . At present the Committee had to support the election of three girls , two boys , one widow , and four men , and

he hoped they would succeed in carrying the majority of those cases also . Though the question of the removal of the Boys School would be uppermost in the minds of the Brethren , he was glad to say that so far as the Management of the Institution was concerned it was of a most satisfactory character . The boy who had taken the highest scholarship offered was from Harrogate , and the general reports of the boys from the Province in the School were very encouraging .

Bro . W . Blackburn ( vice-chairman of the Committee ) seconded the adoption of the report , which was carried . The reports of the Provincial Grand Treasurer , showing a balance in . hand of £ 963 8 s 4 d—an increase of £ 40 on the yearand of the Provincial Superintendent of Works and Honorary Librarian , were presented and adopted .

On the motion of Bro . J . W . Monckman , seconded by Bro . E . W . Tomlinson , Bro . W . Smith P . M . Goderich Lodge was unanimously elected Grand Treasurer for the ensuing year .

The Deputy Provincial Grand Master then proceeded to invest the following Officers : Bro . W . C . Lupton 974 ... Senior Warden G . H . Smith 61 - - - - Junior Warden Bov . F . D . Cremer 265 - - - ) „ , , . Bev . H . B . Harrison 910 - - - Chaplains

E . Hind 458 .... Begistrar H . G . Green 1019 - - . . Secretary Dr . J . Mossop 974 - - - - ) C . Pawson 296 - - - -J . Senior Deacons W . Blackburn 306 - - - - ) J . Jackman 139 - - - - ^

L . Lee 827 - - - - - v- Junior Deacons J . B . Whiteley 290 - \ F . Simpson 1019 - Superintendent of Works W . Watson 61 Librarian J . B . Fawcett 1214 - - - Director of Ceremonies J . Best 302 - - - - - . Deputy Dir . of Cers .

W . Oddy 387 - - - - > J . Wrigglesworth 1783 - - -J . Assist . Dirs . of Cers . J . H . Hartley 810 - - - - J T . B . Wilson 1542 .... Sword Bearer G . IUingworth 258 - - - - ] 0 . , , „ F . W . Crossley 1283 - - - Standard Bearers

T . Buckland 1231 - - - - Organist H . S . Goodyear 495 - - - Assistant Secretary W . Sharp 603 Pursuivant C . Cromack 2330 - - - - Assistant Pursuivant A . H . J . Fletcher 275 - - - \ G . Hesketh 1462 - - - -

B . Stock 2035 - - - - c . G . Thompson 1001 - - - f stewards P . B . Coward 904 - - - - | Dr . V . G . S . Dearden 2263 - / T . Leighton 296 - - - - Tyler T . Chester 904 - - - Assistant Tyler .

At the suggestion of the Provincial Grand Master , a Committee , consisting of the Prov . G . M ., the Deputy Prov . G . M ., and the Prov . Grand Secretary , with power to call together other Brethren , was appointed to carry out arrangements for celebrating

the long reign of the Queen . Bro . H . Smith P . D . Prov . G . M . proposed the re-election of Bro . W . E . Smithson as the representative of the Province on the Board of Management of the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Boys .

Bro . Smithson expressed his unwillingness to take the office , and entered into his reason for resigning , which was owing to the opposition shown to the removal of the Institution to another site . The motion was , however , seconded and carried almost unanimously . Bro . W . C . Lupton Prov . S . G . W . and Chairman of the Charity Committee , moved the adoption of the rules for the

West Yorkshire.

government of the West Yorkshire Educational and Benevolent Fund , which is established for the following objects : — ( a ) The maintainance , clothing , and education wholly or . partially of the children of necessitous or deceased Freemasons , ( b ) The making of grants towards the advancement of such children on their leaving School , ( c ) The making of grants and granting annuities to Aged and necessitous Freemasons and the Widows of Freemasons .

The motion having been duly seconded , Bro . E . I . Critchley P . P . G . W . moved as an amendment : — " That in the opinion of this meeting , it is not desirable to proceed further with the formation of an Educational and Benevolent Institution for this Province until the various Lodges have had an opportunity of expressing their approval or disapproval of the scheme , and that

it be an instruction to the Provincial Grand Secretary to obtain the opinion of all Lodges before the next meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge . He maintained that the Lodges in the Province had not had time to properly consider the proposal , and for that reason his Lodge , Three Grand Principles , No . 208 , Dewsbury , were unanimously opposed to the adoption of the scheme at present .

The Deputy Provincial Grand Master ruled the resolution to be out of order , inasmuch as notice had not been given , and the principle of the new scheme had already been sanctioned at the last Provincial meeting at Morley . He said , however , that an amendment could be moved postponing the adoption of the

bye-laws of the new fund . This was moved by Bro . Critchley , and seconded by Bro . T . L . Chadwick S . W . On being put to the vote there was a strong minority in favour of the amendment , but the original resolution was afterwards carried with a very small opposition .

A grant of £ 20 was made to a necessitous case , and the Provincial Lodge was closed . In the evening the Brethren sat down to a banquet at the Great Northern Hotel .

Consecration.

CONSECRATION .

ARTER LODGE .

THE consecration of this Lodge , numbered 2654 on the Eegister of the Grand Lodge of England , and an addition to the Province of Worcestershire , took place on the 19 th inst ., at the Moseley and Balsall Heath Institute , Moseley , in the presence of a large concourse of Brethren of Worcestershire and the adjoining Provinces .

The ancient and impressive ceremony of consecration was performed by Bro . ' Augustus Frederick Godson , M . A ., M . P ., P . G . D . England Prov . Grand Master and A . Greene Past Grand Pursuivant of England , assisted by Bros . T . E . Arter P . P . S . G . W . Worcesters . as S . W ., George Henry Williamson Prov . J . G . W . as J . W ., Eev . George Frederick Hough P . P . S . G . W . as Chap ., William Waldron P . P . S . G . W . as D . C , and John Millington Prov . G Pursuivant as I . G .

The Brethren having assembled in the Lodge room , the Lodge was duly opened , and the hymn " Hail Eternal by whose aid " having been sung , the Consecrating Officer addressed the Brethren on themotive of the meeting . afterwhichanumberofduly prescribed ceremonies were performed , the warrant from the Prince of Wales Grand Master of England was read , and an

oration on the nature and principles of Masonry was given by the Chaplain . After allusion to Bro . Arter , after whom the new Lodge was to be named , commending him to imitation , and referring to his charitable work in laudatory terms , he said the new Lodge , No . 2654 , was being consecrated in one of the most memorable years of th 6 whole Christian era , namely , that in

which our beloved Queen completed her record reign . The Queen had reigned on true Masonic principles . At her advanced age we could not hope to have her with us for any long period , but we might be thankful for the benefits already enjoyed under her beneficient sway . Some said that the time for Masonry had passed away ; but its principles were more than ever needful .

It was said that our civilisation had reached a height at which Masonry could be dispensed with . But in this age of selfsufficiency , when men seek new theories to replace the principles for which our forefathers bled and died ; at a time when education tends to become more and more secular ; when the agnostic paraded ancient beliefs as incomprehensible mysteries when men of learning speak together in congress and the name

of God is . not mentioned in connection with scientific inquiry ; when order is derided , and anything of the nature ' s law is said to be antagonistic to personal freedom—in such an age Masonry was calculated to be good for mankind . Men should make the Masonic principles the daily pursuit of their lives ; that is , they should live in love and charity with all men , not only with Brother Masons , but with the whole world .