Supreme Grand Chapter.

because they did not live within a considerable period of each other , and could not , therefore , by any possibility , have been present together at any one time . Still , it is an interesting legend . It answers its purpose very well , and why not let well alone . It carries with it mail } ' serious and sublime truths , and , to use the very words of Comp . North at the last convocation ,

" II the members of Grand Chapter would take the meaning of the thing into consideration , they would find that the ritual would satisfy any reasonable enquirer . " I pray you , companions , to bear in mind that the removal of one stone from an arch endangers the whole structure . It is the thin end of the wedge wc have to dread—drive in the wedge , loosen one stone and the whole fabric of our ancient Royal Arch may fall to the ground .

Comp . the Rev . J . S . BROWNRIGG supported Comp . Fenn , and said that as Comp . Fenn had alluded to the late Duke of Sussex being a great Biblical scholar , and assisting in the preparation of the ritual , he might say there was an old tradition at Cambridge , which he believed was quite true , that the Duke of Sussex was assisted by the late Mr . Hall , Vice-Chancellor of Trinity . They worked very carefully . Although every syllable might not be right when tried by historical light , still there were no such glaring inaccuracies as Comp . North had pointed out . He thought it better to let

the ritual be as it now stood . Comp . W . A . SCURRAH said after the remarks of Comp . Fenn , he begged to withdraw the seconding of the motion . The Acting M . E . G . Z ., however , put the motion , which was then negatived , and Grand Chapter was closed .

The Masonic records of the brethren appointed to office in Grand Chapter have already appeared in connection with their Craft appointment , with one exception , viz ., Bro . George Read , who has received the collar as Grand Organist without a previous nomination to the purple , as is generally the case . His record , however , is an exceptionally long and formidable one , as the following particulars will show :

Bro . J RKAD was initiated in the Scientific Lodge , No . 88 ( then No . 104 ) , in 1856 ; joined the Panmure Lodge , No . 720 , in May , 1865 ; was founder of the Cama Lodge , No . 2105 , and W . M . from December , 1 SS 7 , to June , 1 S 89 ; joined the Friends in Council Lodge , No . 13 S 3 , in 1872 , Percy Lodge , No . 19 S , in 1 S 83 , and the Quatuor Coronati Lodge , No . 2076 ( Correspondence Circle ) , in 1887 . He is also P . P . G . Org . for Middlesex . In the Royal Arch he was exalted in the

Temperance Chapter , Deptford , in July , 1865 ; was founder and first P . Z . of the Panmure Chapter , No . 720 , in 1866 , founder of the Cecil Chapter , No . 449 , in 1890 , and founder and first S . E . of the Asaph Chapter , No . 1319 , in 1874 . He joined the Friends in Council Chapter , No . 1383 , in 1876 , and is an hon . member of the Gallery Chapter , No . 192 S , and the Windsor Castle Chapter , No . 771 ; likewise Prov . G . S . 13 . Herts , | iSgi 2-3 . He has also held various offices in Mark Masonry , st

and was Grand Or ^ an for three years under Bros . Beach , Raymond Portal , and Lord Limerick , filling the same office in the Royal Ark Mariners . He has filled the position of E P . in the Knights Templar , M . W . S . in the Rose Croix , 18 ' , being also a member of the 30 ° the Red Cross of Rome and Constantine , the Cryptic Degrees , the Royal Order of Scotland , and the Secret Monitor . Bro . Read is a Life Subscriber to the Benevolent institution , and a Life Governor of the Boys' and Girls' Schools .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF WEST YORKSHIRE .

The annual meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge was held in the Town Hall , Wakefield , on Wednesday , the 19 th ultimo , under the banners of Lodges Unanimity , 154 ; Wakefield , 495 ; and Sincerity , 1019 . Present : Bros . Henry Smith , Past Grand Deacon of England , Deputy Prov . G . Master , Acting Prov . G . Master ; William Harrop , P . M . 290 , P . P . G . W ., Acting Deputy Prov . G . Master ; the Rev . T . C . Smyth , D . D ., Prov . S . G . W . ; Richard Jessop , Prov . J . G . W . ; B . Broughton , Col . Joshua Day , T . Bateman Fox , J . P ., and W .

I <\ Smithson , P . P . G . D . of Eng ., P . P . G . Wardens . ; the Rev . B . Mayou , Prov . G . Chap ., as P . P . G . Chap . ; the Rev . A . H . B . Lees , Prov . G . Chap . ; John Gibbs , Prov . G . Treas . ; Chas . Letch Mason , Thomas Ruddock , Henry Oxley , and Thomas Harrison , P . P . G . Treasurers ; Capt . Joseph Bottomley , Prov . G . Reg . 1 as P . P . G . Reg . ; John Cooper Malcom and Jos . Binney , P . P . G . Registrars ; Herbert Geo . Ed . Green , Prov . G . Sec ; John Wm . Balme , Albert Walker , and W . C . Lupton , Prov . S . G . Deacons ; John Cass , J . P ., Prov . J . G . D . ; C . Tait

Rhodes , Wm . H . Pawson , Davis R . Glover , Wm . Gaukroger , J . P ., Jas . Bedford , George Mars ' iall , Chas . E . Rhodes , John Read Dore , T . Ibbetson Walker , Fred . C ' leeves , Wm . Ridgard Massie , and Fred Rand , P . P . G . Deacons ; Chas . Gott , John Barker , Thos . W . Roome , Reuben Castle , James Lawton , Wm . Watson , and W , Greaves , P . P . G . Superintendents of Wks . ; Tudor Trevor , Prov . G . Director of Ceremonies ; Sydney Thos . Steele , Prov . Deputy G . Director of Ceremonies ; Chas . A . Phillips , Prov . A . G . D . C . ; Austin Roberts , J . W . Monckman , Edmund Lord , Charles Howroyd , John Dyson , and James Jenkin , P . P . G . Directors of

Ceremonies ; Col . F . C . Wemyss , P . P . G . S . B ., as Prov . G . S . B . ; Wm . Wilson Macvay , John Jas . Rutherford , and John F . Tanner , P . P . G . S . B . ' s ; John Hey , Prov . G . Std . Br . ; Wm . Fitton , P . P . G . D . C , as Prov . G . Std . Br . ; W . Laycock , Wm . ^ sqiith , Robert Riley , Thomas Riley , Joseph Wilson , and Robert Fisher , P . P . G . Standard Bearers ; George Carbert , P . P . G . Org ., as Prov . G . Org . ; W . Ash , Max Blumc , and G . F . Carr , P . P . G . Organists ; Joseph Matthewman , Prov . A G . Sec . ; B . Fawcett Glover , Prov . G . Purst . ; Charles Shaw , Prov . Asst . G , Purst . ; George Althorp , F . W . Turner , Richard Cliffe , and many others .

The Provincial Grand Lodge having been opened , letters and telegrams of apology were received from Bros . ' !' . W . Tew , | . I \ , Prov . G . M . ; Col . Ihe Hon . \ V . T . Orde-Powlett , P . G . W ., D . P . G . M . ' North and East Yorkshire ; also from 46 Worshipful Masters , Past Masters , and brethren . 'l'he roll of lodges was called , and it was found that 70 out of 75 were represented . The minutes o' the Provincial Grand Lodge holden at Bradford en Wednesday , October 26 th , 1892 , were presented .

Bro . C . L . MASON , P . M . 304 , proposed " That the minutes be taken as read , " seconded by Bro . W . GAUKKOGKR , P . M . 61 , and carried . On the motion of Bro . J . C . MALCOLM , P . M . 306 , seconded by Bro . J . BINNKV , P . M . 139 , the minutes were conlirmed . The ACTING PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER then delivered the following address : Brethren , —It ii exceedingly gratifying to me to see our annual communication so numerously attended . It affords strong evidence of your continued interest in the

Craft , and at the same time enables you to lenew your acquaintance with old and tried friends , and to welcome the many new faces which are yearly to be seen at our gatherings . The Province of West Yorkshire—in its numbers , its organisation , its enthusiasm , and its generous acts of Charity—may be regarded , I venture to believe , as a successful Masonic combination . We are proud of it , and we try lo maintain its efficiency and to ensure its progress , and I trust that we , and those who come after us , will ever continue to do so ; but we cannot always expect to iustain this high tide of prosperity . As in all human institutions , founded though

Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

they may be even upon Masonic principles , we must expect change , and must be prepared in our turn for vicissitudes and for less prosperous circumstances . Unhappily , for the last two years , we have lamented the absence from our midst of our venerated Provincial Grand Master , Bro . Thomas William Tew . Without his guiding hand , his ardent enthusiasm , and his elevating influence , we have yet struggled on , for we have been buoyed up with hope—we have trusted that " Time , the great healer , " would restore him to us—that we should again see his

face , and hear his cheery voice in our assemblies . Brethren , it is my painful duty to quench that hope . Feeling that there is no prospect of his ever beinp ; able to discharge the duties of his exalted office in the way in which he considers they should be discharged , our R . W . Provincial Grand Master has already placed his resignation in the hands of the Grand Secretary , with the request that it shall be presented to the Most Worshipful Grand Master , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , at the earliest moment consistent with expediency and the convenience of this

province . Brethren , this is a great blow to West Yorkshire . It is almost impossible to rate too highly the splendid services and constant devotion of our Provincial Grand Master . Consider his strong personality ; his genial hospitality ; his unbounded generosity ; his entire lack of personal ambition ; his noble advocacy and support of our Charities ; his munificently fostering care of our Masonic library ; his unwearied efforts to elevate the character of our assemblies—to guide , to teach , and to sustain us . Consider , I say , all these attributes , and you will agree with

me that he is a Provincial Grand Master whom it is a calamity for us to lose , and whom it will be difficult , if not impossible , for us to replace . We , the Freemasons of West Yorkshire , owe a deep debt of gratitude to Bro . Thomas William Tew , for , by his efforts , he has not only secured the most cordial relationship between us and Grand Lodge , but he has placed us in the foremost rank of Provincial Masonic Communities . He has spared neither labour nor time in our service—for 11 s he has spent many an hour of study and research—on our

behalf he has often left his own domestic circle and , regardless of weather or season , has travelled many a weary mile—in a word , brethren , in the interests ot the Masons of his province , times without number he has sacrificed his health , his comfort , and his convenience . Devotion like this should not , could not fail to meet with appreciation . He has won the esteem , the respect , and the affection of us all , and I don't hesitate to assert that no more popular chief , and certainly none more deserving popularity , exists than our Right Worshipful Bro . Thomas

William Tew . Let us cherish the memory of his services , and revere his name ; and though we may not be able to open our hands so generously , or display so great practical benevolence , we can at any rate emulate his uprightness . his attention to duty , and his disregard of personal advantage or reward . Connected with this subject , though of considerably less consequence , I feel it my duty to say that the retirement of our Provincial Grand Master will also involve the resignation of his Deputy . For 23 years I have served the Craft , and have

endeavoured , whether as Secretary or Deputy , to improve its organisation , and maintain its reputation . Since the illness of Bro . Tew , I have had constant personal ommunication with him , and , to the best of my ability , I have administered the affairs of the province ; and on the appointment of his successor , I think I may claim to do what 1 have long contemplated , that is , retire from this onerous and important post . Should , however , it be the wish of the new Provincial Grand Master , and solely with the object of promoting the interests of

Freemasonry in West Yorkshire , I would , though very reluctantly , put aside any question of personal convenience , and consent to remain in office until our new chief shall have had time to make himself to some extent acquainted with the routine work of the province , and t > consider the question of- the appointment of my successor . Who our successors may be I know not ; some accomplished gentleman and true Freemason will , doubtless be found by our Royal Grand Master to take the place of Bro . Tew , and I venture to say that in the selection for that

ofiice , representations from this province will receive suitable consideration . Whilst on personal matters , let me take this opportunity of expressing the thanks of this province to our Very Reverend Bro . the Dean of York for his recent visit amongst us , and for the exceedingly practical and valuable address delivered by him in the Defence Lodge , 1221 , Leeds , on that occasion . The cordial and fraternal feeling which has so long existed between ourselves and the sister Province of North and East Yorkshire must necessarily be strengthened and increased by such

visits , and the bold and outspoken utterances—not by way of apology , brethren , nor of defence , for we need neither—the manly exposition of the rev . Dean of what Freemasonry is , and what it is capable of becoming , will find an echo in the heart of every brother worthy of the name , and will tend to remove the mistaken impressions of the outside world , which doubtless to some extent have been prejudicial to our Order . Our Provincial Grand Master applauds , too , the action of Acacia , Defence , St . Nicholas , and other lodges for their efforts to promote the progressof

Masonic knowledge , and is pleased also to see that our worthy librarian , Bro . W . Watson , is devoting some portion of his time to this useful work , and giving such lodges as mav seek it the benefit of his extensive and long sustained research into Masonic history and tradition ; all this shows that the seed which Bro . Tew has long and persistently sown is bearing fruit , and it is , I assure you , a matter of profound satisfaction to our Provincial Grand Master in his enforced retirement . And now to turn to less personal matters . From the report prepared by our

Prov . Grand Sec , we find that our numbers are 3655 , as against 3047 last year ; that 256 new men , 1 hope good and true men , have been admitted to our Order ; that 124 brethren , for reasons which were doubtless good , but which we cannot help regrelting , have resigned ; that the "icy hands of death " have removed from our ranks no less than 82 members of our Fraternity , thus forming gaps in families and lodges never again to be filled ; that there have been 42 exclusions ; and that 180 brethren remain in arrears . In relation to this last most unp leasant

item , I would only ask Treasurers if they have diligently and conscientiously used every effort to prevent brethren from falling into arrears . 1 have often impressed them with the necessity and the duty of asking for payment of subscriptions early in the financial year ; it is the only way in which a condition of affairs which is , to say the least of it , discreditable to us , can , in the future , be prevented . Then as to annual returns . Let me remind , or , if necessary , inform Worship ful Masters that on the Ist December in each vear . the Secretary of every lodge is supp lied

with the forms both for this province and for London , with special envelopes for each set . The forms for Prov . G . Lodge returns , I may also say , are carefully written out by our Prov . Grand Secretary in order to secure accuracy . This must be a material and valuable help to lodge Secretaries ; notwithstanding this it is yet the fact that , at the expiration of the fixed limit , viz , 31 st January of this year , 22 lodges had neglected this simple duty , and in some instances it took nun / days and much correspondence to obtain the returns . This should not be , a » d

indeed would not be , if only Worshipful Masters would read and carry out 1 rovincial By-law 46 , and otherwise fully acquaint themselves with the duties an " responsibilities of the ofiice they were elected to fill . One of the first duties of a W . M . for instance , after investing his officers , should be to sitfn the return of P ^ ' -Masters and Wardens , a return which should have been previously prepared by the out-going Secretary , and sec that it is sent off by post the following ' caV Chanir ' insr everv vear . how few Worshipful Masters know this or act upon't '

Again . This same By-law . |( i declares that a copy of every lodge summons shoiilO j month by month , be sent to the Prov . Grand Secretary . If this is neglected , •'" there can bono excuse fur Secretaries , as printed addressed envelopes are siipp l'J for-the purpose , information of the work and the progress- of the lodge is withhc 11 and particulars which have been found most valuable in supplementing or cin-1 " ing defective or doubtful returns are kept back from the office , and thus ''"'" . " . j correspondence , and expense are caused which might otherwise b : ii "" ' | l ( Unless Masters of lodges lake a personal interest in these Things , it is iiiipo . *