Masonic Brotherly Love.

Bro . RICHD . HODOSON seconding , described the qualifications of Bro Bailey , and declared that he was eminently fitted for the position . Bro . E . BILI . INGTON also warmly supported the nomination . No other candidate being named , the Chairman put the proposition , and it was carried unanimously . At this stage of the proceedings , the R . W . Prov . Grand Master was announced . Escorted by Deacons and Stewards , Bro . C . Letch Mason entered the lodge and assumed his position .

At the call of the Prov . G . D . C , the brethren rose and cordially saluted the R . W . Prov . G . Master . After apologising for and explaining his late arrival and expressing his pleasure at seeing so numerous a gathering , the PROV . G . MASTER gave the following address :

Brethren , —We meet to-day under thc banner of Britannia Lodge , which was the first constituted in West Yorkshire by the Grand Mark Lodge of England . The date of its warrant is 1861 , which is five years after the formation of the Grand Lodge of England ( 1856 ) and 10 years before the constitution of the Province of West Yorkshire ( 1871 ) . At the date when Britannia received its warrant there were two other lodges existing in West Yorkshire , both claiming T . I . authority . These were the Old York , Bradford , and Prince Edward , meeting at Bottoms , near

Todmorden . To these warrants of confirmation were granted in 1 S 73 and 1862 respectively , but to the former only was the T . I . distinction given . How , when , or under what circumstances these lodges arose has not yet been fully investigated . Such investigation involves much laborious inquiry , and is beset with great difficulty , as the records either do not exist or are not to be found . The history of the Britannia Mark Lodge when it comes to be written will be free from drawbacks of this kind , and will doubtless present many features of interest . Sheffield , as

you know , brethren , is an old Masonic centre , its oldest Craft lodge , also called Britannia , dating back to 1765 . In 1793 Royal Brunswick was formed , and both these lodges have successfully demonstrated their continuous existence for upwards of a hundred years , and have observed their centenary celebrations in the usual jubilant spirit . It is curious that after Royal Brunswick was chartered no further lodge sprung up in Sheffield for 75 years , not , in fact , until 186 S , when the Wattworth Lodge was founded . Since that elate no less than five Craft lodges have

been added to the roll , so that Sheffield now possesses eight lodges , all , I believe , flourishing and prosperous . No second Mark lodge has as yet arisen . The needs of the Mark Degree have been sufficiently supplied apparently by the Britannia Lodge , to which , at some time or other , almost every eminent Mason in Sheffield has belonged . The founders of the Britannia Mark Lodge were Bros . William White , Ensor Drury , John Stephen Brennan , Graham Stuart , and Henry Webster . Of these one , I believe , alone survives—a brother whose name in Sheffield is a

Masonic household word , and whose reputation stands high , as it undoubtedly deserves—I refer to Bro . Ensor Drury . Of these founders the first two—Bros . W . White and Ensor Drury—are registered as belonging to the Phecnix Mark Lodge at Portsmouth , a lodge which was visited bv Bro . Thos . Dunkerley , and which , I am told , possesses the oldest minutes of a Mark lodge extant . The date of these minutes is 1769 . In Bro . Howell's interesting book on the history of the Phnni . x Lodge , a specimen is given of a series of Masonic minutes relating to the

Friendship Royal Arch Chapter , which was attached to this lodge , and which were written in Masonic cryptogram , which cipher-writing , as some of you will know , is closely associated with the Mark Degree . It is an interesting fact , then , to know that two of the founders oi Britannia were members of the oldest known Mark lodge . The remaining three founders , Bros . Brennan , Stuart , and Webster , are entered in the register as members of the Albany Mark Lodge . This is a T . I . lodge , and holds its meetings still , as it did in those days , at Newport , Isle of Wight .

Ihus Sheffield , apparently , owes its Mark Masonry not to any existing lodge in Yorkshire , but to brethren who hailed from , or at any rate belonged to lodges on the shores of the English Channel . The consecration of Britannia Lodge took place on theaist January , 18 C 1 , and on the 8 th March following there were three candidates for advancement . They were Bros . Henry Joseph Gamett , Wm . Henry Naylor and Gill . i 111 Moselcy . The two last appear to have severed their connection with Britannia after someyearsof membership , but the first , Bro . H . J . Gamett , remains .

To sptak of Bro . Garnett ' s Masonic abilities and Masonic service in Sheffield would be superfluous indeed , so well known and so valuable have they been . Bro . Gamett is here to-day , and I am sure you will join with me in rejoicing to see the first candidate advanced I' m Britannia Lodge yet amongst us , now nearly 40 years a Mark Mason , and to wish him continued health anel happiness . It is to the perseverance , the tenacity , and the energy of brethren like Bro . Gamett that many lodges owe their preservation , and Britannia will ,

I am sure , be glad to admit its obligation to Bro . Garnett and those other brethren who were inspired by his example . Ten years after the establishment of Britannia Lodge in 1871 , the Province of West Yorkshire was formed . It ' comprised the lodges , Prince Edward , 14 ; Britannia , 53 ; Fearnley , 58 ; Integrity , no ; Copley , m ; and Portal , 127 . In the same year , the Truth Lodge , No . 137 , was founded , and in 18 73 , Thc Old York , T . I ., joined in . The first Senior Warden of the newly-constituted Province

of West Yorkshire was Bro . Henry Matthews , W . M . of the Britannia Lodge , No . 53 , and the first Senior Deacon was Bro . Geo . E . Bennett , of the same loelge . It would appear then , brethren , that Sheffield came in for a fair share of Provincial honours from the first , and 1 think I may say that it has continued both to deserve anil to gain a succession of those distinctions . There is one thing that will always redound to the creelit of the lodge under whose banner we meet to-day and that is their consistent and generous support of thc Mark

Benevolent Fund . In the days before the West Yorkshire Charity Committee was formed and when the Mark Benevolent Charity was unhe lrd of by some and not understood by others , Britannia was always to the front , and led on by the example of several most generous brethren , has vied with the rest of the province in helping the Mark Fund . In the coming July , the festival of 1900 is to hi held , when the M . W . the Pro Grand Master , Lord Euston , will preside . He calls upon the lodges to support him , and judging from the list last issued , it is

evident he will not call in vain , and Sheffield bids fair to take premier place upon that illustrious roll , Let us all do our best , and on this point I will only add that it would give me great pleasure if every lodge in the province would see that by some donation—be it small or large—it was represented in the list . When I had ihe honour of presiding in 1896 West Yorkshire raised the handsome sum of , £ 741 . Since then we have increased the number of our lodges , and added largely to our membership . I am , therefore , hopeful that we shalljbe able to

contribute to Lord Boston's total a sum which shall be alike substantial in its character and creditable to the province . With regard to the general condition of the province , yuu have heard the report which has been made by the Provincial Grand Registrar . We have added 6 9 to our numbers during the year , and have lost through various causes 28 , making our net increase 41 . Of those whose names are removed ei ght were taken away by the hand of death . Whilst submitting to the inevitable , we

cannot fail lo mourn the departure of those evorthy brethren , who have filled in all instances honourable and in some places prominent positions amongst us . Of the most noted of these are Bro . Francis Smith and Hro . Charles Phillips . Bro . Smith was a P . M . of Prince Leopold Lodge , at Ripon , a Past Warden of the province , and , along with Bro . the Rev . W . C . Lukis and Uro . E . J . Crowe , was a founder of Prince Leopold Lodge , and one who from its foundation , in 18 S 5 , took an active interest in all its concerns . Bro . Phillips was a much younger Mason ;

Masonic Brotherly Love.

he was a founder of the Lcgiolium Lodge , Castleford , passed the chair in that lodge , and filled , in 18 9 S , the responsible position of Registrar of this province . He was in the very prime of life , and his loss will , 1 am sure , be deeply felt by the brethren of his lodge . And now , brethren , whilst thanking you for your salutations , let me add , in conclusion , that it is a great gratification to me to see the province in so harmonious and sitisfactory a condition , and still more so to feel that I can confidently rely upon you all in helping me in maintaining that pleasant and brotherly spirit which so long has existed amongst us .

The retiring officers then advanced to the dais , and gave up their collars . The Prov . G . Master appointed and invested , either actually or by substitute , the following brethren for the year :

Bro . Thos . Rowbotham , 53 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ Wm . Flockton , in ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ M . A . Brigg , 374 ... ... ... Prov . G . M . O . „ C . E . Rose , 58 ... .. . ... Prov . S . G . O . „ W . C . Fox , 53 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . O . „ the Rev . J . L . Brereton , 127 ... ... Prov . G . Chap . „ B . Sykes Bailey , 374 ( elected ) ... ... Prov . G . Treas . ,, A . Rowe , 137 and 493 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . ,, Joseph Matthewman , 110 ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ Jas . Simpson , 14 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ A . G . Mabin , 457 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . :, Wm . Chambers , 501 ... ... ... Prov . G . I . of W „ Robt . J . Smith , in ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . ,, R . F . Rogerson , 137 ... „ ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ Robt . Bridge , 39 S ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . ,, J . J . Simcox , 525 ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br „ Joe Sykes , 137 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ Joshua Hill ( T . I . ) ... ... ... Prov . G . I . G . „ Tom Ashworth , 1 4 ... ... ,.. " \ „ S . Krakauer , 127 ... ... ... t n / - e . J „ Theo . Barber , 393 |> Prov . G . Stwds .

„ W . Barstow Smith , 352 ... ... J The Prov . G . Secretary was then called upon to read . the Fourth Annual Report of the West Yorkshire Charity Committee . This document , which is for circulation in West Yorkshire only , detailed the proceedings for theyear and the success which had attended the efforts of the Committee , and made an urgent appeal to the brethren in support of the Chairmanship of the M . W . Pro Grand Master at the Mark Benevolent Festival in July .

Bro . W . E . SMITHIES , P . M ., G . Stwd ., Chairman of the Charity Com . mittee , moved that the report be adopted . This was seconded by the Vice-Chairman , Bro . T . ROWBOTHAM , Pro \ S . G . W ., and supported by the Prov . G . Master and others . The report was received with much satisfaction .

The W . Deputy , Bro . JOHN BARKER , then proposed " That a vote of 10 guineas from the funds of Prov . Grand Lodge be made to the Mark Benevolent Institution in support of the Chairmanship of Lord Euston , the same to be placed on the chair of the Prov . Grand Master . " This , seconded by Bro . G . H . PARKE , was carried nem con . The two Wardens and three Overseers were chosen members of the Board of General Purposes .

The W . Deputy , Bro . BARKER , on being invited to address the meeting , said :

Brethren , my words at this stage of the meeting shall be few . The business virtually is over . You have heard from the Prov . G . Master , the Chairman of the Charity Committee , and the Prov . G . Registrar , so what is there left that I can add r There is one thing I can do however , and it is both a duty and a pleasure . I can tender the warmest thanks of a grateful heart to all those who have so kindly sympathised with me and mine during my recent illness .

Brethren , I once thought , nay more believed , that it would never again be my pleasure and privilege to stand up before you in Prov . Grand Lodge . Through the mercy of the Great Overseer 1 have been spared to do this , and I trust I am humbly grateful . The numerous messages of kindness , and the anxious inquiries which were repeated to me as soon as I was in a condition to hear and bear them , filled me with an overwhelming sense of obligation . True , I had done my little

best , but who knew better than myself the true value to be placed on such service ' i At any rate , it was far beneath the kindly recognition and personal concern which it called forth . Well , brethren , I am not strong yet , but I am improving , and if spared I hope still to be able to do good work in Mark Masonry , and to show to you by renewed service how deeply I appreciate the kindness I have so recently experienced at your hands . At present I will not say more , but once more thank you .

Bro . BARKER next proposed a vote of thanks to the brethren of Britannia Lodge for their excellent arrangements .

This , on being seconded and supported , was carried by acclamation . Bro . GEO . EDWARDS , I . P . M ., in the absence of Bro . W . C . Fox , suitably replied . There were invitations for the autumn meeting from two lodges—the Lcgiolium , 457 , Castleford , and the Prince Leopold , 352 , Ripon . The first

was supported by Bro . J . E . Mann , and the second by Bro . W . B . Smith , the W . Ms , respectively . The suggestion that ladies should be invited and a visit to Fountains Abbey be made was very temptingly put by the latter , and when the Mayor of Ripon added that the Mayoress would attend to the ladies whilst the business of Prov . Grand Lodge was being carried on , there seemed to be a consensus of opinion in favour of Ripon .

The Prov . G . Master pronounced to that effect and hoped that the Lcgiolium Lodge would renew its invitation next year . There was no other business , and Prov . Grand Lodge was closed in due form with solemn prayer . About 50 brethren sat down to dinner later and a most pleasant evening was spent . The R . W . Prov . G . Master presided . He was supported by his Deputy and many of his Officers , Present and Past .

The arrangements were excellent and reflected great credit upon the P . Ms , and brethren of the Britannia Lodge .

GKN ' KK . VL SIR GKORUE WHITI-: has kindly promised to address the 350 boys of the Homes for Working Bjys at the ( Jueen's Hall , Langham-placc , on the 21 st instant . The boys will be entertained at dinier at S p . m ., and at a subseejuent meeting the F . vcX of Aberdeen will preside , at ej p . m . As in the case of many otner Societies , the Wir

funds have injured the income of the Hjines , and , unfortunately , the Committee have had to expend a large sum in fitting up a house in Queen-square , Bloomsbury , the lease of Rossre House in Limb ' s Conduit-street having recently fallen in . It is hopsd thit the friends of the Home will appro te of the dinner bsing given to the boys instead of to the subscribers , and will contribute freely to the special fund of . £ 2500 .