Cornwall.

that the Prov . Grand Master had expressed his great pleasure at the numbers with which the Brethren had supported him both in Lodge and at that luncheon . He did not think there had ever before beeu so large an attendance .

Later in the evening , Bro . Heath , who is leaving Eedruth for South Africa , was presented with a purse of <* old and an illuminated address at the Masonic Hall . — " Western Morning News . "

West Yorkshire.

WEST YORKSHIRE .

AT the invitation of the Wentworth Lodge , No . 1239 , and under its banner , the half-yearly meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of West Yorkshire was held on the 17 th , at the Cutlers' Hall , Sheffield . The old Banqueting Hall had been suitably prepared fo * the occasion , and therein assembled a large number of Brethren representing every Lodge in the city , and most

of those in the Province , in readiness to receive in due and ancient form the Eight Worshipful Prov . Grand Master Bro . the Eight Hon . W . Lawies Jackson , M . P ., and the Officers of Provincial Grand Lodge present and

past . Brother Chas . Stokes W . M . of the Wentworth opened tbe Lodge , assisted by his Wardens , Bros . M . J . Dodwoith and T . E . Barker , and the arrival of Prov . Grand Lodge was then announced .

After the completion of formal business , the Prov . Grand Master , who was most cordially greeted , delivered an address . He said it was customary for the Prov .

Grand Master , on such occasions , to take the opportunity of addressing a few remarks to the Brethren concerning the work that had been , and that still remained to be done in the Province . As they knew ,

his piedecessor , Bro . T . W . Tew , under such circumstances , delivered many most valuable and interesting addresses , a large portion of which had been collected and presented in a form in which they were capable of ready reference , and they were much prized by the Brethren . That was done under the direction of the

Prov . G . Assistant Secretary , with great care and great ability , and he was glad to know that they would soon have an opportunity of seeing a second , but he feared he must add concluding , volume , which they might with confidence expect to be not less interesting than- the

first . There had , moreover , recently been given to them other Masonic literature in a very concise , readable and valuable form—he referred to the histories of four Lodges in the Province which had lately celebrated their centenary , and they were greatly indebted to those

Brethren who had taken considerable pains and been at no little labour to so present the history of their formation and career . The four Lodges were the Eoyal

Brunswick , of Sheffield ; the Hope , of Bradford ; the Fidelity and the Philanthropic . It was his privilege to be present and take part in the celebration of the centenary in connection with three of the four , and

in the valuable records which brought before their minds what had been done by their predecessors in fche Craft . Much had been lost through lapse of duties in times gone by , arising through negligence in duly keeping records . His work of examining the details of the

organisation of which they had done him the honour to put him at the head had , at times , been much hindered by the absence of continuous and careful

though he did not intend to enter into details he might say that the occasions weie such as would not be readily forgotten . In connection with the subject of Masonic literature he ought to remark thafc there was , belonging to the Province , a central Library , the work of which was most carefully and ably done by Bro . W . Watson ,

who was much assisted by the late Provincial Grand Master . Although he himself did not feel competent to render the same assistance that was given by Bro . Tew , yet he was glad to take that opportunity of saying that he should be glad , to the best of his power , to help the

librarian at any time and in any way . He wished to point out how essential it was tbat the records of every Lodge in the Province should be faithfully and accurately kept . Next year the Albert Lodge , of Leeds , would celebrate its centenary , and the very fact that they were growing older year by year should increase their interest

West Yorkshire.

records , and he desired to impress upon the Secretaries of Lodges throughout the Province the imperative necessity of discharging their duties iu this respect promptly , faithfully , and well . He also wished to draw the attention of Treasurers to the subject of arrears ,

and to beseech the holders of such office fco be prompt , persuasive , and , like the widow , very importunate . The Brethren of the St . Oswald's Lodge , Pontefract , had recently completed the erection of a handsome Masonio Hall , an achievement on which all fche Brethren would

congratulate them . Bro . Tew , his predecessor in that chair , was a founder of the Lodge and the first W . M ., and they would all be glad to hear that , notwithstanding great physical infirmity and weakness , he was able to

carry out efficiently the opening ceremony , for it must be . gratifying to them all to know that he was able to sustain such a part in connection with the work to which he had devoted his life . He could not conclude without

gratefully acknowledging the assistance and support accorded to him by every individual Lodge in the Province in connection with his Presidency of the Boys Festival in London . Every Lodge in West Yorkshire

was represented , not a single name being absent from the list . The total sum given was very large , and the portion from the Province over which he presided was in itself a most handsome contribution . It was his

desire , as far as possible , to visit all the Lodges , and sooner or later to complete the round , but the task waa a heavy one , and pending its performance he claimed with confidence the indulgence of the Brethren . They were not numerically so strong as their neighbours in

Lancashire , bufc great care should be exercised by every Lodge and every Brother as to the admission of new men into the Order , their desire being not merely , unwisely as he thought , to seek to increase their numbers , but to admit only such men as would have their heart in the work , and would reflect honour and

credit on the Craft . The Deputy Prov . Grand Master ( Bro . Henry Smith ) , in the course of a brief speech , thanked the Brethren for their congratulations on his return in restored health from his Canadian trip . He mentioned that that was the sixteenth time Prov . Grand Lodge had been held in Sheffield . On this occasion it was under the banner of

the Wentworth Lodge , which was consecrated in 1868 , since which time twenty-five new Lodges had been added to the roll of the Province , no less than four of them being connected with the cifcy . The Wentworth was now one of the most flourishing Lodges in West

Yorkshire , the names of upwards of eighty members appearing on its books , and he wished , on behalf of Provincial Grand Lodge , to thank Bro . Charles Stokes the W . M ., and the Brethren generally , for the admirable

arrangements they had made . Bro . T . Bateman-Fox Chairman of the Charity Committee presented his half-yearly report , which

showed that out of £ 19 , 000 collected for the Boys Festival , £ 4 , 500 came from the Province of West Yorkshire , or more than the total amount of contributions throughout the country thirty years ago .

Bro . J . Chadwick P . G . Sword Bearer England Prov . Grand Secretary East Lancashire , Bro . W . H . Cowper P . G . S . W . North and East Yorks ., and Bro . J . Walker P . P . G . W . Derbyshire briefly acknowledged the cordiality of their reception , and other business having been

transacted , and an invitation to hold the next meeting in Halifax having been tendered , Provincial Grand Lodge was closed in due form . An adjournment was then made to the Masonic Hall , where about 100 Brethren sat down to a banquet ; admirably served by Bro . Turner . The Prov . Grand

Master presided , supported by his Deputy , and most of the present and past Officers of Provincial Grand Lodge who had been in attendance at the earlier proceedings . The usual Loyal and Masonic toasts having been given from the chair , Bro . Charles . Stokes W . M . of the Wentworth Lodge

proposed fche health oi the ± 4 ight Hon . Win . liawies Jackson , M . P ., Prov . Grand Master of West Yorkshire . He gave to the Prov . Grand Master and to the Prov . Grand Lodge , on behalf of the members of the Wentworth Lodge , a most cordial welcome to Sheffield under their banner . He alluded to the frequent visits to the city of the Prov . Grand Master , this being the third