West Yorkshire.

Present and Past . Prayer was offered hy Bro . the Rov . J . Dnribar , and a portion of scripture was read hy Bro . the Rov . F . Edmund Ko-erton . After tho Earl of Lathom and other distinguished brethren hid been saluted in due and ancient form ,

The Dt-puty Provincial Grand M .-ister addressed the gathering . Ho remarked that ho was anxious to retire from the office which ho had held for over eight year * " * , nnd it was only at tho e rn * st , n qu" -= t of fche Provincial Grand Master designate that be siill retained iho position of

Deputy . Ho was thoroughly convinced that Bro . Jackson would steadily maintain tlio h ' gh Masonic standard which Bro . To . v hail s t up , and wonld ii a'l respects follow in tho footsteps of the worthy brother whom it wns his privilege to succeed . Bro . Jackson was a distinguished

gentleman , a nr . an of exceptional business capacity , nnd a highly esteemed member of tho Craft , and in his hands they might safely and confidently place Iho interests of Freemasonry in West Yorkshire . But they must not

forget him upon whom had fallen tho burden anti heat of tbo day , and ho asked tho brethren to joi-i with him in the expression of the hope that Bro . Tew mi ^ ht be spared to witness the skilful and judicious rule of Bro . Jackson .

An address of welcome ( read by Bro . Waugh Provincial Grand Registrar ) was then presented to the Earl of Lathom . Lord Lathom , in reply , said he camo with feelings both of joyfulnessand of sorrow—of joyfulncss because he had

to have tho honour of placing in tho Provincial Grand Master ' s chair a man who was thoroughly worthy fco occupy it , and who , ho was sure , would do credit to tho position , and of sorrow at tho thought that Bro . Jackson was

replacing so good and worthy a Mason as Bro . Tew . Ho was suro he echoed tho feelings not only of all the Masons of West Yorkshire , bufc of Masons throughout England , when he said that no better Mason than Bro . Tew existed

in this land . A valedictory address which had been sent by Bro . Tew was read by the Assistant Grand Secretary ( Bro . J . Matthewman ) . In it the retiring Provincial Grand Master said that Freemasonry , as an Institution for good , must adapt

itself to tho progress of tho times , and endeavour to meet the requirements of the vast social , religious , and political changes which marked tho litter days of tho expiring century . Without sacrificing one iota of its immortal principles or the grand and noblo truths which were its

everlasting heritage , Freemasonry , de . if to the cries of party , regarding less of sectarian differences , could pursue its beneficent work of elevating , purifying , restraining , and enlightening humanity , and , above all , teaching the grand doctrine of Christian charity , which , in the crowd of

conflicting interests , seemed sometimes in danger of being thrown aside . In passing on the symbols of his office to his successor ho had the consolation of recollecting that though he ceased to fulfil the duties of the position , he would still have the happiness of living in the midst of

the brethren , and he would ever esteem it a pnvdege to be of service to them in advoaating their interests , advancing their influence , and promoting in every possible way their lasting welfare and prosperity .

On the motion of Bro . Edwin Woodhouse , seconded by Bro . Canon Bullock , a resolution wns adopted expressing profound regret at Bro . Tew ' s resignation , gratitude for the beneficent way in which he had exercised his

jurisdiction , sympathy with him in his long illness , and the hope that ho might be restored to health , aud thafc Freemasonry might benefit by the help and counsel which he had so generously proffered in his valedictory address .

At this point tho Pro Grand Master took the chair ; and in a few minutes Bro . W . L . Jackson , accompanied by a deputation of Present and Past Provincial

Officers , entered tho hnll and was conducted to the pedestal . Certain formalities having beon gone throngh , the new Provincial Grand Master took the obligation , and Bro . Colonel Le Gendre N . Starkie Provincial Grand

Master of East Lancashire invested him with the apron and other emblems of office . Amid enthusiastic cheering Bro . Jackson took the chair , and Colonel Le Gendre Starkie , in a few well-chosen sentence ? , offered him his sincere congratulations .

The Provincial Grand Master was cordially received on rising to address the company . His appointment to the position , he said , was quite unexpected by him , and w , » s wholly unsought on his part , but it was represented to him that it was the wish of tho brethren that ho should accept

West Yorkshire.

it and it was therefore his duty . It was difficult to succeed so distinguished a man as his predecessor , bufc to the beat of his ability ho would devote his energies to tho work ol tho Province . Whether they applied the test of the extent

and character of tho work , tho progress of the Order , or fc' o charitable contributions that had been made , thero had never been a period in the history of the Craft in which so great an advance had been m-do as the period during which Bro . Tew had held the office of Provincial Grand

Master , and ho had earned , as he received , tho esteem and ' ¦ fft'ct ' on of every brother in the Province . Ho ( Brother Jackson ) bad the good fortune to bo called upon to take the office afc a time when he conld liom stly say that the affairs of the Craffc never stood higher or were in a moro

satisfactory condition than now . He would endeavour to follow on the lines upon which his predecessor had proceeded , for ho fidt that only in that way could the high position to which the Order had attained be maintained . Bro . Henry Smith was appointed by tho Provincial Grand

Master ns his Deputy , and briefly acknowledged tbo compliment . It wns afterwards decided to present an addiess of congratulation fco the Prince of Wales on the occasion of the marriage of the Duko of York and Princess May . Before the Ledge was closed a telegram was read

from Brother Tew expressing gratitude for the sympathy that had been shown , and congratulating his successor on his appointment . A touching reference was made to' the

death of Bro . J . W . Davis , late Mayor of Halifax , and Bro . Smith invested Bro . Tom Garnett , of Slaidbnrn , as Provincial Grand Junior Warden in place of fcho deceased brother .

In the evening 570 brethren in tho Victoria Hall at fche Town Hall sat down to dinner , excellently served by Bro . A . Powolny . Tho newly elected Provincial Grand Master presided , and at the cross table were some ' of the principal Present and Pasfc Grand and Provincial Officers . Musio

was admirably rendered by au orchestra conducted by Mr . J . Sidney Jones . During tbe speech-making , Mrs . and the Misses Jackson and many other ladies occupied seats on the platform . The toasts of the Queen and the M . W . the Grand Master his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales wore first

given . Bro . Jackson spoke of Her Majesty as " Our Queen and our Patron , " and of the Prince of Wales as a Grand Master to whom Freemasons owed a deep debt of gratitude for fche way in which ho had " prospered fche art " and farthered the cause they all had at hearfc .

Proposing the toast of the Pro Grand Master the Earl of Lathom , the Deputy Grand Master and Grand Officers , Bro . Jackson remarked that at no time in the history of the Craffc had fche relations with Grand Lodge been more amicable than afc the present time , and as far as West

Yorkshire was concerned nothing should be wanting to preserve a continuance of those satisfactorily relations . Few men had done more for Masonry than Lord Lathom

and he hoped his Lordship wonld recognise that in West Yorkshire they were determined , as far as in them lay , to make the principles of Masonry a real living and vital force in the social life of this country .

The Earl of Lathom , in responding , recalled his visit to Leeds over eight years ago when he installed the late Provincial Grand Master , and said that the kindness with which he was then welcomed had been repeated on this occasion . He mentioned that this year was his coming of

age as Provincial Grand Master of . West Lancashire , ! and that he had been a Mason since 1856 , adding that be had never regretted for a single moment the day he wa-j initiated . He expressed bis great satisfaction afc fcho way in which Masonry was prospering throughout the country ,

and afc the facfc that they were more aud more getting the right sort of men into the Order . The idea of the Craffc being merely a Benevolent Institution was , he was happy to say , dying out , and men were joining the Order because they wero likely to do good , and not for the benefits they

might derive from it . His Lordship then proposed the health of fche Provincial Grand Master of West Yorkshire , the Right Hon . William Lawies Jackson , M . P . He moat heartily congratulated the West Yorkshire Freemasons that the Prince of Wales had chosen Bro . Jackson to be

their leader . Bro . Jackson ' s record was one which would carry him very far ; he had done well in everything he had undertaken , and he hoped he had a great field before him yet . They were not allowed to talk anything bufc Masonry at that gathering—and ho bad every confidence that the