West Yorkshire.

said : I am extremely obliged to you for your cordial salutation , and tlie very hearty reception you have given to me . I am , I assure you , very glad to be present , though yesterday there was an element of doubt as to whether I should be able to accomplish ifc . You may ,

perhaps , realise my feelings when I say thafc I found ifc difficult to decide , of two duties before me , which was the greater , and what was the proper course to pursue . It would have been a great disappointment to me had I not been here to-day , which , I take it , is the most

important meeting of the year , and I felt it my duty to be with you ; but , being here , I shall be compelled , I regret to say , to leave early . After going to bed at 2 o ' clock this morning , I yet left London by the 5 . 0 train ,

and I must return by the 5 . 0 train this evening , as a stern sense of duty necessitates that course . You will , I am sure , acquit me of any intention of discourtesy , and I rely upon your kindness to support me in carrying out what I believe to be an undoubted obligation .

I am very much gratified to see so large a gathering at this , my first presidency at your meetings . 1 know that Huddersfield has held for many years a prominent place as a Masonic centre . I know that many , very many , distinguished Masons have sprung from its midst ,

or associated themselves with its Lodges . Let me remind you that the Marquess of Ripon , one of Her Majesty ' s present Government , was a member of a Huddersfield Lodge ; and let me mention the name , still cherished and revered by every true Mason who knew him—the

name of Bentley Shaw , late Deputy Prov . G . Master of this Province , as one who was also a Huddersfield Mason ; and I could continue a long list , and I think I have shown that good and even illustrious men have arisen from this town .

And here let me say how deeply I regret the absence of our late Prov . G . Master Bro . Tew . I know , for I have seen him recently , I know that his heart is with us at this moment ; and I am convinced , from the eager

interest he displayed when we talked together , that his affection for his West Yorkshire Brethren is as warm as ever , and his desire to see the Craft prosper as strong as it was in his most vigorous times .

I must also express my obligation to the W . M . and Brethren of the Thornhill Lodge for the careful and painstaking efforts they have made to contribute to our comfort . It is , moreover , a pleasing feature , one which shows the happy and harmonious relation that exists

amongst the Huddersfield Brethren , that when almost the youngest Lodge in the town desires to have the honour of entertaining Prov . G . Lodge , and has nofc room under its own roof , that the oldest should lend this splendid hall in order that the hospitable endeavours

of the former might not be frustrated . Before our meeting closes we shall have with us , as visitors , Bro . Chas . E . Keyser P . G . D . of E ., Treasurer of the Boys School , and Bro . J . M . McLeod , the Secretary of that Institution , whom I am sure you will

heartily welcome . Brethren , as you all know , acting by the advice of those whom I consulted , and assured by them that whatever my inclination it was certainly my duty , I have undertaken "to preside at the Festival of the Boys School , in June next . It is a difficult

undertaking at any time , but it is especially so this year , and for two reasons—first , because Lord Lathom , Pro Grand Master of England , and Prov . G . Master of W . Lancashire , is to take the chair at the Girls School Festival , and he , a worthy and deservedly popular chief ,

will , of course , receive not only the support of the two large and powerful neighbouring Provinces in Lancashire , but a much greater general Masonic recognition than perhaps any one else could gain ; and secondly , because times are not opportune , because in the present

condition of trade , calls upon the pocket , Masonic or not , should not be too readily made . This last reason it was that largely caused my hesitation . But , Brethren , my doubts of the success of the experiment are entirely removed ; the generous , nay the noble , response which

the Brethren of West Yorkshire have given has not only done away with any hesitation I may have had , but also permits me , I venture to say , to regard that recognition as a testimony that you approve of the course I have adopted , and thafc you are determined to show thafc approval in a most satisfactory and substantial manner .

West Yorkshire.

I feel very grateful to you for this mark of your confidence . The Prov . G . Master then called upon the Chairman of the Charity Committee . Bro . Fox pointed out the liberal contributions which

West Yorkshire had made during tbe year just past , to the Masonic Benevolent Institution , and made special reference to the munificent donation of Bro . George Heaton , which he did not doubt would be fittingly recognised by that Prov . G . Lodge . He pointed out

that at the recent election they had one Girl candidate ( whom they of course carried ) , but no Boy on their list , and that for May they had three Men and two Widows . They could not hope to carry all , but he would assure them that they would do all that was possible in that

direction . Bro . Fox then referred to the Board of Management of the Boys School , and , after explaining its constitution , pointed out that with eight applicants for five places amongst the Provincial candidates , Bro . Smithson had been returned at the head of the poll .

It was not , he continued , necessary for him to plead at any length on behalf of their support of their Prov . G . Master ' s presidency at the Festival in June , but he hoped that before that time those Lodges which had not yet

contributed would come into line with the rest , as he was sure it would especially gratify their Prov . G . Master to be able to say that he had the entire and unanimous support of his Province .

Bro . W . C . Lupton Vice-Chairman seconded the adoption of the Charity Committee ' s Report . He pointed out how many votes were yearly lost by the papers not being sent in , gave useful counsel in respect to the Benevolent Institution , assured every Charity Steward

that a list of the votes would be sent to him , and begged them to relax no effort , as it was useless seeking subscriptions or issuing papers if , when the elections came on , the voting power of the Province was not utilised as it so w-ell might be . The report was adopted .

Bro . T . Bateman Fox then proposed , " Thafc the sum of 150 guineas be voted to further endow fche Provincial Grand Master ' s Chair , R . M . I , for Boys , in support of

our Rt . W . Prov . G . Master , who will preside at the Ninety-sixth Annual Festival on 27 th June next . " Bro . W . C . Lupton seconded , and it was carried nem . con . Tbe Deputy Prov . G . M . then addressed the meeting , receiving a very warm reception . He said : We commenced the year 1883 with 3655 subscribing members ,

and now that the full returns for that year have reached us , we find that our numbers at its close were 3725 , showing an increase of 70 . During 1893 we had new

members 293 , an increase of 37 ; resignations 127 , an increase of 3 ; deaths 65 , a decrease of 17 ; exclusions 33 , a decrease of 9 ; Brethren in arrears 191 , an increase oi 11 . We have also added one new Lodge to our roll

the White Rose of York , No . 2491 , Sheffield . And now I trust you will pardon me , Brethren , if I call your attention to what you must all admit is a most important matter , a matter which in my estimation is essential to the success of the Craft , and adds greatly to

the credit and reputation of the Lodges .., We are a large and powerful organisation , but it is only by the loyal co-operation of the W . M . ' s , P . M . ' s , Treasurers , and Secretaries , that that organisation can be fully and usefully maintained . I specially address myself to those

Brethren who aspire some day to occupy the W . M . ' s chair in their Lodges . It is not enough that they should qualify themselves , as so many eminently do qualify themselves , to carry out the ritual and ceremony of Freemasonry . Beautifully and most reverently as this

is very frequently done , it is not all—it is indeed to my mind but a small part of a W . M . ' s duty . In addition to this his obligation compels him to make a careful

study of the Book of Constitutions , in order that he may realise and understand fche position which his Lodge occupies in relation to the Grand Lodge of England , and to the Province of which it is a component part .

There is another matter I wish to mention ; and here let me say that , having seen this subject treated in a manner with w hich I thoroughly agree , I do not hesitate to use the words ( of the Grand Master of Iowa ) which so well describe my own views . They are as follows : " It is useless for Provincial Grand Masters to be continually urging upon Brethren the necessity of exercising caution in the acceptance of Candidates if , the moment