Centenary Celebration Of The Alfred Lodge, No. 300, Leeds.

The PROV . G . MASTER said : Brethren you have had to-night several toasts , one of which has been described as the toast of the evening . I believe that description was entirely inappropriate . I claim to have the honour now to submit to you the toast which in real truth can be described as the toast of the evening . The toast which I am going to submit to you , which I am sure will meet at your hands with a cordiality which will move the heart of my old friend , Bro . Blackburn , is that of "The Alfred Lodge and its Worshipful Master . "

Brethren , the toast as you will observe , naturally divides itself , or may be divided into two parts . One the lodge , and the other , the Worshipful Master , and I propose , with your permission , to say one or two words upon each . I will take first the lodge . The Iodge celebrates to-day—not perhaps on the identical day of the year—its one hundredth birthday ; but , at all events , the festival of to-day is the outward demonstration of the centenary . How much has happened during the period that the lodge has lived it is impossible for the mind to grasp . There

is , however , one aspect of our lodges ; they defy the ravages of time ; they never die . Nay , I may appeal to every one of you present to-night who listened to the short epitome of the history of the Alfred Lodge , and you must all admit that at loo years of age the vigour and energy of the lodge were never so great as at this moment . Therefore I may say that our lodges defy the ravages of time , and as they get olderj they get stronger . I have heard some men say that if sanitary science makes the progress in the next 50 years it has done in the past , you will

see men living to 120 or 130 years of age . If sanitary and medical science at the same time can preserve the energy and vigour which our lodges are preserving , I think you may all look forward , I do not say with much pleasure , to witnessing the celebration of the bi-centenary of your lodge . What will then happen , I wonder , to the younger men ? How the young men would wish their fathers would die off . But it is a fact that our lodges increase in strength with increasing

age , and you cannot have a better example of that than in the Alfred Lodge . I listened with great interest—and I am sure you must have done so—to the history of the lodge , and to some of the records which appeared in its minute books . How that at a certain period the books were not audited for 16 years , and I wondered what my friend the Deputy would think of that . I wondered what would have happened in these days if the books had not been audited for one or two years whilst Bro . Henry Smith was the Deputy Prov . Grand Master . Brethren , I think we have made a great advance in the science of bookkeeping

THE WORSHIPFUL MASTER . since then j I think we have improved very much , and although somebody suggested that possibly it was a sign of confidence in the Treasurer of that day that his accounts were never audited for 16 years , I beg of you not to indulge in any such confidence trick for so long a period in these days . We heard also that in the early times , the Alfred Lodge used to meet on solemn occasions ,

and following those solemn occasions we have it recorded that the brethren had ale and bread and cheese , I ask you whether you consider we have improved ° n that , and I would especially remind you of what was a curious feature of the ale and bread and cheese , that the expenditure on ale considerably exceeded the expenditure on bread and cheese . Another point which I am sure must have struck you . At one period of this lodge ' s historyit would be the period to which I have referred when the books were not

balanced—on one occasion there was a definite balance to the credit of the lodge , and that balance amounted to as . 9 'd . I think really that we have improved on that . Brethren , we owe to th ' ose connected with the Alfred Lodge a great debt for the position into which the lodge has been brought , a position which is worthily—•nay I say munificently—celebrated this night . I have said that our lodges do not die . The fact is , they are like nations—nay , they are like individuals , they have their vicissitudesthey have their days of difficultyand their days of

hope-, , fulness , and their days of prosperity . We have reached to-day , I think you will admit , the day of prosperity so far as this lodge is concerned . Our lodges are hke men ; some of us , I see , are growing old , are ceasing to live their own lives and are beginning to live through the lives of their children and grandchildren . So our lodges are refreshed and replenished by the additions which are brought '" to them from time to time , and thus it is that the Order to which we are so

proud to belong continues to prosper and to extend . Brethren , I have said this jnuch for the lodge . It bears the name of Alfred . It is , I believe , recorded of 'he king whose name it bears that he said on one occasion , " As long as I have hved , 1 have striven to live worthily . " May lhat be your motto in the future as 't has been in the past , and I am sure you will agree with me when I say that so Jong as we can put into the chair a man who can fill it so worthily as does our » ro . Blackburn so long will that high tradition be aimed at , and so long

Centenary Celebration Of The Alfred Lodge, No. 300, Leeds.

will the Order flourish . I must say a word for the personal aspect . Aly old friend—I do not mean that he is old in years , but that he is an old acquaintance and friend of mine—Bro . Blackburn , reminded me of something which occurred years ago which had passed from my memory , and I recognise him as a frien I of long standing , firm and reliable . I am sure I may say it without affectation , this has been a day to which he has long looked forward with some anxiety , possibly with some doubt , but certainly with some hope , that it would pass off

successfully . I can say sincerely on your behalf as well as on my own , lie may well be proud of it . It has been to him , as some one remarked , a red-letter day , and it has been interesting from many points of view . It has been interesting from the fact that to-day he has given to the Order , or rather I would say received into the Order another son of his own . Alay I say we trust that that son will bear this in mind—he is but a young Alason at present that upon him is placed a great responsibility , that is that , on no occasion will he dare to do

any act which will disgrace or discredit Freemasonry . I am sure if he follows in the foot-teps of his worthy sire that act svill never be done . It is also interesting from another point of view . The Alfred Lodge , as I have intimated , has had its vicissitudes and difficulties . It has had at one period of its existence a want of cordiality which resulted in the estrangement of men who were bound by the most solemn ties to treat their fellows as brethren in the Craft . Under the guidance—and I may say that to me it is of great

interest—under the skilful guidance of Bro . Blackburn the Iodge has been put in a different position , and I believe I am right in adding that on this occasion and at this board those who have differed in the past are either here present or have sent letters of apology for their absence . Therefore , I am gratified in saying that owing to our Bro . Blackburn , in Alfred Lodge to-day there exists peace and harmony throughout . 1 trust that will always continue . I need not say more to you on the personal aspect . To a brother who has restored harmony to such a

body we are under the deepest obligation . When he has rendered such service as Bro . Blackburn has to the Order it is absolutely unnecessary I should say anything in his praise to you . We recognise in him one who strives to live according to the high principles which we profess , and we wish in ali sincerity that both in his Masonic life , in his domestic life , and in his commercial life success may attend him now and always . I propose the health of the Alfred Lodge and of the W . M ., Bro . Wm . Blackburn .

The WORSHIPFUL MASTER said : Right Worshipful Prov . Grand Alaster and Brethren , —I thank you , Right Worshipful Sir , for the kind way in which you have proposed the toast of my health , and also for the noble words you have expressed with reference to the Alfred Lodge . I feel the position I now occupy to be most embarrassing . Your flattering remarks have been unworthily addressed to myself , but with respect to the Alfred Lodge they were all that is right and just . 1 have to respond to the toast of the Alfred Lodge , for my brethren who are loyal to Alasonry

and who arc determined whatever takes place that they will deviate in no way from the ritual which they love . It is my duty to give credit where credit is due , and I must recognise it in the person of the Senior Warden , Bro . J . C Alalcolm , P . P . G . Reg . Bro . Alalcolm will some day doubtless hold higher ofiice in the Craft , and however high that degree may be I deem him worthy of it . He came forward after retiring from Masonry , in order by his wisdom lo cement the breach if it were possible . He came forward at a very difficult crisis of the Alfred Lodge .

His lieutenants persuaded me to join them and I do not regret it . I came forward five or six years ago , and in joining them joined a righteous cause , for it proved with respect to the breach at the time , a righteous cause , and most of the credit of healing it is due to Bro . Malcolm . Then wc come to thc Junior Warden , a man who had laid by , but he said when appealed to , although he lived at Southport he would do his best to answer the summonses and attend the lodge . Next we have the Treasurer , a man who has held that position for several years , and I can assure you

hc will not allow his accounts to go on 16 years without being audited ; in fact he wants them audited before the end of the year . A short time ago I told him 1 wanted to send 200 guineas . He said : " I don't know where the money is to come from , but if you will sign the cheque I am sure it will be honoured . " Then comes our worthy Secretary , Bro . David Wedderspoon . I am delighted to know that his name is received with such applause , for a more worthy Secretary a Worshipful Master never had . He is diligent in all he does , persevering , and correct , and

depend upon it , at the end of my year of ofiice , a minute book will be presented , not only to the Alfred Lodge , but to the whole of the Craft in the province , which will be worthy of any man's perusal . If that new book ot over 700 pages—721 pages —is not filled at the end of his career I shall be astonished . He is determined to hand down to the brethren of the Alfred Lodge such a record of the centenary year that the brethren will have to sit up to the early hours in order to read a tithe of what he has recorded . Our Senior Deacon is our Charity Steward , and

he has occupied a unique position . Then we have a good Inner Guard in our Bro . Seanor , who is the oldest brother of the lodge . He hopes to retire with laurels round his neck , and 1 am sure he is worthy of them . But there is a party here to-night joining in our festivities whom I am proud to call attention to . I refer to some of the oldest Past Masters in our lodge . Amongst them are Bros . Freeman , Field , and Thrippleton , to whom I have offered thc hand of fellowship . They have taken it right loyally , and said that they rejoiced to see the centenary

in my day . It is a great pleasure to have these worthy brethren to unite with us on this occasion , and all our rank and file are loyal Masons . It is true we have had our difficulties , but . we have got over them . On behalf of those present , as well as those absent through illness , who , I am sure , will appreciate the kind words of the Provincial Grand Master , I thank you from the bottom of my heart . Bro . W . F . SMITHSON , P . G . D ., proposed "The Alasonic Charities . " In the outset he spoke in feeling terms of the death of Bro . Bateman Fox , late Chairman

of the Charity Committee . Having referred to the rapid advance which Freemasonry had made since the Prince of Wales had become Grand Master , Bro . Smithson also showed how the donations to the Charities had kept pace with that progress , and that our Institutions had been , and were being , munificently supported . In illustration of lodge efforts he would point out that the Alfred

Lodge had that year voted 100 guineas to the Girls and 50 guineas each to the Boys and Old People ; that the W . AL , Bro . Wm . Blackburn , had made himself Life-Governor of all three Charities ; that there were more than 20 brethren in this now flourishing lodge who had similarly qualified themselves this year for one or other of the Institutions , and that the Senior Warden , Bro . J . C Alalcolm , had added 50 guineas , reaching in all a total of nearly £ 500 .

Bros . F . R . W . HEDGES , J . M . MCLEOD , and J AMES TERKV , Secretaries of the three Alasonic Institutions , severally replied . "TheVisitors" toast was proposed by Bro . J DOI . IIV , and responded to by Bro . W . H . COWPER , P . S . G . W . North and East Yorks . The toast of "The Centenary Lodges" was entrusted to Bro . Canon BULLOCK , P . P . G . Chap . He pointed out that out of the 13 now in West Yorkshire there were representatives from nine present that evening .

Bros . G . H . PARKE , W . AL 154 , and W . S . VARLEY , 2 G 5 , made suitable replies . For the toast of " The VVorshiplul Alasters of the Leeds Lodges , " proposed by Bro . J . C MALCOLM , Bros . VV . BANKS , 1042 , and GWII . LA . M , 121 I , answered . The last toast was " The Ladies , " after which the meeiing closed .

The Alfred Lodge is certainly to be congratulated upon the excellent arrangements which they made for the comfort and entertainment of their very numerous guests . To the untiring energy and application of their Secretary , Bro Wedderspoon , P . AL , much of the credit is due , and the foresight and ability which he displayed prevented any hitch in the proceedings , and caused everything to pass off comfortably , smoothly , and in an eminent degree satisfactorily .