Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

Now we are meeting under the banner of the Friendly Lodge as you know , and although there is not very much to tell with regard to the lodge in the past , I am indebted to the Provincial Grand Secretary for a few facts , to which I may refer in passing . The first Barnsley Lodge , of which we have any authentic record , met at the Cock Inn , in Shambles-street , and was warranted on the ist April , 1777 , by the great rival London Grand Lodge ,

known as the "Atholl , or "Ancient" Grand Lodge , and which united with the premier or parent Grand Lodge in 1813 . The Iodge does not appear to have had any distinctive title , as the naming of lodges was not practised generally until the closing portion of the last century . A lodge was generally identified by the name of the public house at which it met for the time being . This old lodge appears to have had but a brief history , as

it is reported to have ceased working about 1778 . The next lodge recorded was opened at the King ' s Head , in Market-hill , in 1 S 16 , by the authority of the present United Grand Lodge ot England , under the name of the Friendly Lodge , and numbtred 521 on the roll of that period . A warrant of confirmation was granted on t"e nth March , 1824 . The last payment of dues to Grand Lodge rtcorded was made in 1 S 25 , and the lodge was

erased from the Grand Lodge roll in 1 S 32 . A second Friendly Lodge , numbered 716 , and warranted on the ist October , 1842 , also met at the King ' s Head . It was erased from the Grand Lodge roll on December 3 rd , 1857 . The third Friendly Lodge ( numbered 1513 ) , to which wa are indebted for the hospitable meeting at Birnsley to-day , wis consecrated on ( he ioth Dtcembtr , 1 S 74 . in the Temperance ' Hall , Pjtt-street , by our

lamented Brcther Bentley Shaw , the then Deputy Provincial Grand Master , acting as Right W . Provincial Grand Master . Our worthy and distinguished Brothtr Ensor Drury , of Sheffield , then installed as the first Worshipful Master the Mayor of Birnsley , our late Brother Richard Carter , a Past Master of Lodge 61 , and Past Provincial Senior Grand Warden , Bro . John Sample being invested as first Senior Warden , and

Bio . Thos . Braithwaite as first Junior Warden . Among the other founders were Bros . Joshua G . Johnson , Francis R . Bsardsall , John Sutton , William E . Carnley , James Gration , and James Henry Gration . Our veteran Brc . Htnry Smith , the Past Dep . Prov . Grand Master , and Bro . Robert Armison , of Sheffield , Past Prov . Grand Warden , were also present . We are glad to learn that Bro . John Sutton is yet with us . The Royal

Arch Chapter attached to this lodge was consecrated in 18 S 0 , and its present roll of membeiship is a satisfactory indication of the zeal and activity of those brethren to whom the welfare of the chapter has been entrusted . The numerical strength of the chapter is favourable as compared with the number ot members in the lodge , but it is to be hoped that many of the lodge brethren who have not yet joined the chapter are

entertaining the intention of becoming Royal Arch Masons at an early date . As a matter of local patriotism every member of the Friendly Lodge , where practicable , should be imbued with the determination to see the Friendly Chapter continue in a prosperous condition . This Prov . Grand Lodge last met at the Mechanics' Institute in Barnsley , on the 15 th of January , 18 79 , our late brother , Sir Henry Edwardes , presiding in his capacity of Prov .

Grand Master , his Deputy , the late Bro . T . W . Tew , being present . The Friendly Lodge , like all other lodges , has some good Masons on its roll , and I mention one or two , who are no doubt much missed by the members to-day : Bros . Richard Csrter , P . P . G . W . ; Jas . Henry Gration , P . P . G . Treasurer ; and the venerable Thos . Wm . Embleton , who was such a generous donor to the Masonic Charities , as well as to the Provincial Grand

Lodge Library , and the Friendly Lodge . The Bros . W . R . and E . J . Massie are still active members of the lodge . You will remember that the corner stone of the new Masonic Hall , in Great George-street , Leeds , was laid by the Right Worshipful the Deputy Grand Master , the Earl of Warwick , on the 18 th July , and I am pleased to tell you that he was supported by nearly 20 Grand Officers and upwards of 500 Prov . Grand

Officers and brethren . I hope that the new hall , when opened , will prove to be a source of comfort to all the brethren who will make use of it , and that it will become a centre of usefulness , The injunction of the noble earl to proceed with the work of building has been faithfully attended to , and the roof is now partly on . An interesting incident has taken place in the presentation to one of our brethren , who I know is extremely popular , and

deservedly so , in the province , of Grand Lodge clothing and regalia to Bro . W . C . Lupton . He has been for a very long time—about 16 years—a member of the Charity Committee , and during that period he was of the greatest service to the Masonic Charities . When he was a Vice-Chairman of that Committee he rendered great service in raising £ 4500 at the time I had the honour of presiding at the Boys' Festival in 1894 , and again as

Chairman of the Charity Committee he materially assisted in breaking all previous records in Masonic Charity , when £ 6200 was raised in this province on behalf of the Boys' Centenary Festival in 1 S 98 . I may say that this splendid donation was the largest sum ever given by any province to any Masonic Charity . I deeply regret that I was prevented , by what I suppose I must call circumstances beyond my control , from being present

on that occasion , but I am greatly indebted to Bro . Wm . Blackburn , the present Chairman of the Charily Committee , who took my place and made the presentation to Bro . Lupton . I am , and I am sure you are all , rejo ' ced at the fact that the Most Worshipful the Grand Master found himself in a position to bestow a Grand Lodge collar on a brother in West Yorkshire , and that he should have selected such a distinguished and worthy

brother as Bro . W . C . Lupton , and we hope that he will live many years to wear the regalia , which is but a sli ght acknowled gment of the high esteem in which he is held by his brethren . The small gift , I know , Bro . Lupton values very highly , and his brethren on the Charity Committee have had better opportunities of judging the valuable services he has rendered to the Craft than

others of his brethren . I have seen it stated in the newspapers that Bro . Lupton has filled the office he now holds , as Mayor of Bradford , with such satisfaction and dignity , that he has been asked to take it for another year . ( Applause . ) You were good enough at the last Provincial Grand Lodge to make a grant of money in aid of the special fund that was being raised for the relief of our brethren who are members of lodges in the Transvaal , and 1 suppose of other brethren who are not members of those lodges . I

understand that nearl y £ 10 , 000 has been given to that special fund , to which this province has contributed no less than £ 467 . As you know , large amounts have been raised by local funds and by the Mansion House Fund in London , Ihe total sum raised being £ 1 , 016 000 . I havea letter from another brother , whose absence , I am sure , you all deeply regret to-day , and I think I cannot . , do better than read it to you . It is from my most excellent Deputy , Bro . Richard Wilson . ( Applause . )

Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

Westfield , Armley , Leeds , 24 th October , 1900 . Dear Provincial Grand Master , I must ask you and the brethren to excuse my attending Provincial Grand Lodge at Barnsley next Friday , but I am glad to say that Bro . J . C Malcolm

has kindly agreed to act for me . My broken leg is healing remarkably well , although to my mind slowly , and my general health has not suffered . Directly tha accident happened , I received my first support from a brother , and during my voyage home I was witched over , attended to , and cheered by many who gave as their title to do so their Masonic Brotherhood .

Will you accept my thanks to yourself , the Charity Committee , lodges , chapters , and brethren of the province for the great sy mpathy and good wishes which have been expressed to me . With hearty fraternal greetings , I remain , yours faithfully and fraternally ,

RICHARD WILSOM . I am quite sure I am but voicing the sentiments of everyone throughout the whole province , not only in this Provincial Grand Lodge to-day , when I say it was a matier of creat regret to all of us to learn of the accident which happened to Bro . Wilson in the very early stages ot what was intended to be a well-earned holiday , and it is gratifying to learn that he is making

satisfactory progress . Bro . Wilson has been obliged to cancel for a time all his engagements , both Masonic and others , and I know he looks forward with pleasure to being able to take up his work again . Although he has been unable to move about , he has been in touch with the Provincial Grand Secretary , and with the work which is going on . I am sure you will all join with me in earnest wishes for his speedy recovery , and in sympathy with him

in his sufferings . ( Applause . ) There is on the agenda paper a motion which will come before you in the name of W . Bro . William Watson , the Honorary Librarian . There is , however , another matter which I must refer to . It was with extreme sorrow that we learned that our Standard Bearer of this year , Bro . Charles Lingard , died suddenly in Barnsley a day or two ago Bro . Lingard was initiated in the Friendly Lodge in 1 S 83 , and was elected

W . M . in 1 S 93 , and as you know at the beginning of the year it was my privilege to invest him with the collar of Standard Bearer of Provincial G . Lodge , he having been recommended to me as being eminently qualified for the office . I am sure to those who have been connected with him our sympathy goes out at his sudden and lamented death . The only other matter I shall mention to you is the question which our excellent Grand

Secretary always keeps to the fore at this period of the year , and that is with regard to the returns of the lodges relative to the work UD to the 31 st December in each year , and which are due to be made to " him early in January . We are just entering the period when the lodges elect for the coming year their Worshipful Masters to preside over them . I need hardly say how important it is for the well-being and the welfare of the province

that the brethren chosen for that distinguished position should be eminentl y qualified both by their character and knowledge of the work . I always feel this confidence in connection with this matter that I know the Worshipful Masters , as a rule , have the unanimous confidence of their respective lodges . I am sure so far as this province is concerned there is generally a feeling of good fellowship prevailing . We shall have , of course , little

individual causes of disturbance , but I tm sure by the quiet tact and influence of Bro . Richard Wilson they will , whenever they arise , soon be smoothed over . I sincerely trust and hope the elections you may make may be of those who will help the well-being of the lodges in which they may be installed , and may the blessing of the Great Architect of the Universe rest upon them during their year of office .

Bro . W . BLACKHURN , the Chairman of the Charity Committee , in moving the report of thc committee , said that in presenting his half-yearly report he would be as brief as possible . In the first place he had to thank the Charity members of the lodges for the energy they had displayed in advocating the cause of the Masonic Charities . They had been commendably successful in their efforts , and he also thanked the brethren for their

generous support when asked to subscribe towards those Charities . When they considered that large sums of money had been subscribed individuall y and collectively to the local war funds , and the Indian Famine Fund , the result of the subscriptions to the Masonic Charities might be regarded as satisfactory . The total amount received from the province was £ 3553 That was a larger sum than he anticipated , and he felt it to be his duty to

thank the brethren who had assisted the Charity Committee with such a large amount , not only himself , but on behalf of his colleagues of the Executive Committee . During the last year for the elections in April , May , and October , they had seven cases which were all elected . Those elections had cost a total of 33 S 06 votes . That was an enormous amount of voting power . The Chatty Committee already had before them for the elections

in April and May , 1901 , live candidates , one boy from 1231 , Elland ; one girl from 264 , Bdtley ; one man from 1239 , Sheffield ; one widow from 139 , Sheffield ; and one from 173 d , Halifax ; and he could not tell what other candidates they might have before the elections took place . He urged that the brethren would have to subscribe even more liberally than they had done in ths past in order to maintain their position in Grand Lodge and in the

country , and he should not like the province to lag behind . This year they had contributed to the three great Masonic Chirities £ 2881 , of which £ 1841 was contribu ' . ed to the Royal Masonic Institution fur Aged Freemasons and Widows , to the Girls' School £ 384 , and £ 45 6 to the Boys ' Institution . Still , when he told them that the province had received from those Institutions value amounting to £ 2725 , they would clearlv see that

they were only £ 15 6 to the good during the year . In addition to these sums , the brethren ' had subscribed £ \( i - ) to the Transvaal Fund , and £ 183 to the West Yorkshire Fund . The Benevolent Institution was established in 1842 , and it would be interesting to know what had been gained from that and the other' London Charities . Since the establishment of the Benevolent Institution , 1723 annuitants had been elected , and 490 were now on the

funds . They would , doubtless , remember that tne liirlof Warwick told them that in 1901 he would be the Chairman of the Festival in connexion with that Institution , and wished them to support it on that occasion . The Girls' School was established in 178 S , and since then 1992 girls had passed through the School , and 26 3 were now being educated , clothed , and maintained . During the past year the province had two girls to elect , and he

suggested to thu Committee that they should not place them first and second , but should elect them both by as near cq . ial voting as they possibly could . Through the exertions of the Prov . Grand Secretary , they had positively elected those two children with the same number of votes , 3521 , and such a thing had never before been known in Masonry . That was due to the Prov . Grand Secretary , who should have all the credit fur the accuracy of his