The New Mason Hall, Leeds.

THE NEW MASON HALL , LEEDS .

From the time of the sale of the Masonic Hall in- Great George-street , where the majority of the lodges used to meet , considerable difficulty has arisen in respect to the provision of accommodation for the Leeds brethren . This has been to some extent overcome by the offer on the part of Fidelity Lodge , the owners of a second Masonic Hall in Leeds , situate at Carlton Hill , to temporarily give shelter to the homeless ones . Of course , this they

gladly actepted , but equally , of course , they recognised that it was impossible the arrangement could long continue . It was cbar that an effort would have to be made to provide another abode , and it was felt th ^ t should this be attempted , something must be done which should not only afford accommodation , if needed , for all the lodges in Lseds , but should also be more worthy of the Masonic body in a city of such great importance .

The Worshipful Masters of Philanthropic , 304 ; Goderich , 1211 ; Zetland , 1 3 11 , ' and Prudence , 206 9 , comprising Bros . John Barraclough , Charles Scriven , Edward L . Frazer , and James Buckley respectively , met together , in the first instance , to consider the question , and may therefore be said to have been the pioneers of the new scheme . They tested the opinion of the Fraternity in Leeds in respect to it , and soon found that they

would be supported by the brethren if a spirited effort were made . Other lodges joined with them , and it was speedily determined that a Masonic Hall Company should be formed in the City of Leeds . AsJ . he building it was proposed to erect was for the benefit of Leeds Masons only , it was felt that upon Leeds brethren alone could they expect to rely for help . No outside support was therefore sought , though should it be given it would no doubt be cordially accepted .

The Leeds Masonic Hall Company is now an accomplished fact . It proposes to iraise ^ 10 , 000 in shares of £ 1 each . Already upwards of £ 7000 has been subscribed . The directors , in addition to the four brethren named , comprise Bros . E . A . White , P . M . 304 ; R . J . Smith , P . M . 1042 ;

J . W . H . Brown , P . M . 1211 ; W . W . Clayton , P . M . 1311 ; T . Atkinson , P . M . 206 9 ; C . H . Wilson , P . M . 306 ; H . Whitfield , P . M . 1042 ; and Charles Fenton , P . M . 30 G ; with Bro . J . Barraclough , P . M . 304 , Chairman ; Bro . W . W . Clayton , P . M . 1311 , Vice-Chairman ; Bro . C . Scriven , P . M . 1211 , Secretary ; and Bro . Wm . Postlethwaite , P . M . 1311 , Solicitor to the

company . A most suitable site , containing 650 square yards , has been found on the south side of Great George-street , and purchased at a cost of ^ 3600 . Plans and designs have been advertised for , and those of Bro . J . M . Bottomley , architect , of Leeds and Middlesborough , have been accepted . The assessor appointed by the directors to make selection from the

competitors was Bro . J . Lane Fox , P . M . 20 S , Dewsbury , and we understand that the award was given more for the excellent internal arrangements of the building than for the beauty of its design or construction . The contracts have been let , and considerable progress has already been made , so that it is hoped that by the end of the year the building will be fairly on the way towards completion . The Hall will be classical in character , with a handsome facade in brick

and terra-cotta . Its position is central , yet quiet , and is in the immediate vicinity of excellent tramcar accommodation . In the basement are the strong rooms—one 14 feet by 9 feet and 10 others 7-i feet square—the wine cellars , larders , heating apparatus , and two large store rooms . On the ground floor , besides entrance , vestibule , reception-hall , and staircase , are two commodious rooms , which it is hoped will

be used as the office and library of the Province ; there are also a lodge room , 44 feet by 22 A feet ; instruction rooms , Steward ' s rooms , lavatory , lift , itc . On the first floor is the large dining hall , 61 feet by 29 !? feet , calculated to accommodate 130 persons ; a second dining room for about 80 persons , principal staircase , landing , & c . ; lounge and passenger and service

lift . The principal lodge room is on the second floor , and is 61 feet by 29 ^ feet . Here also are instruction rooms , cloak rooms , lavatories , kc . On the third floor are the hall Steward ' s apartments comprising sitting room , three bedrooms , bath , & c , also large kitchen , with extensive cooking apparatus , pantries , store rooms , kc .

Such in brief are the interior arrangements . The directors have so managed that two lodges can be held at the same time with separate dining or supper rooms . They have also kept in view the advantage of letting off a complete suite of rooms for dances or other social functions and have so contrived that a ball may be going on in one part of the building whilst a Masonic lodge may proceed uninterrupted and undisturbed in another .

Of the eight Leeds Craft lodges , six had their homes in the old Masonic Hall . These it is expected will at once become tenants in the new building on its completion . Of the other two , one , Fidelity , 289 , is the owner- of the Carlton Hill rooms , and the other , Defence , 1221 , an occupier of many yars' standing . Both will eventually , without doubt , join in with the new scheme and share in the superior accommodation which is being

provided for them . Light , warmth , and comfort have been specially studied we arc told , and it is to be hoped that proper ventilation has not been overlooked . A' supply of pure air unattended by draughts in Masonic lodges is as rare as it is desirable , and if the problem of preventing a vitiated atmosphere has been satisfactorily solved without

involving risks of serious consequences , the directors may , indeed , he congratulated . All this has , doubtless , been thought out and arranged as well as numberless other details designed to contribute to the general good , and we are prepared to admit that the grand result when complete will be that , Leeds will have a Masonic home second to none in the

country . The corner stone of the new building will be laid on Wednesday next by the R . W . Deputy Grand Master cf England , the E 3 rl of Warwick . He will be assisted by R . W . Bro . W . L . Jackson , Prov . G . Master for West

\ orkshire , and W . Bro . Richd . Wilson , his Deputy . Doubtless , other Crand Officers will accompany the noble Earl , and the officers of Provincial ' ¦ rand Lodge of West Yorkshire are sure to muster strongly in support of 'heir Provincial Grand Master . The- brethren will assemble in the Mechanics' Institute , which is in Cookridge-street , close at hand .

A Provincial Grand Lodge will be opened for the reception of the R . W . Dep . G . M ,, alter which a procession will be formed , and the brethren will '" arch in full regalia to the site of the new hall , where the stone will be laid with complete Masonic ritual . The Prov . G . Lodge is called for three p . m ., a 'id the ceremony will , therefore , be shortly after that hour . A dinner will subsequently take place , at which the Provincial Grand

The New Mason Hall, Leeds.

Master will preside . The R . W . Deputy Grand Master , the Earl of Warwick , and other Officers of Grand Lodge are expected to be present . Altogether it will be a great day , and no effort we are sure will be spared by the Masons of Leeds , in whose hands the arrangements rest , to make every possible provision for the comfort and convenience of the numerous brethren who may assemble to witness the interesting ceremony .

With eight lodges , four chapters , two Mark lodges , and sundry preceptories , councils , and conclaves , it may reasonably be expected that from rents and lettings good financial results will follow , and that the Leeds Masonic Hall Company will not only supply a long-felt want in the city , but will also become a successful commercial undertaking .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Northumberland And Durham.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF NORTHUMBERLAND AND DURHAM .

On Wednesday , the 4 th inst ., the annual meeting of the above Prov . Grand Mark Lodge was held at the Parochial Hall , Victoria-road , Darlington , Bro . the Rev . Canon Tristram , D . D ., Prov . G . M ., presided , and Bro , John Strachan , Q . C ., P . G . M . O . Eng ., officiated as Deouty Prov . Grand Master in the unavoidable absence of Bro . Col . W . M . Angus , D . P . G . M . ; Bro . J . Redhead was P . S . G . W . ; and Bro . R . A . Roberts , P . J . G . W The other officers present

included—Bros . T . M . Barron , P . P . S . G . W . ; Charles H . Backhouse , P . P . S . G . W . ; A . S . Fowler , P . P . [ . G . W . ; Thomas Coulson , P . P . J . G . W . ; John Robinson , P . P . G . M . ; G . W . Bain , P . G . Treas . ; J . Barker , P . G . G . ; Thos . Robinson , P . P . G . D . C ; John Deans , P . P . G . I . G . ; H . Lamb , P . P . J . G . W . ; Edward Hudson , P . P . G . D . C ; S . Pilling , P . P . G . O . ; J . Lawson , P . P . G . C . ; ] . M . Meek , P . P . S . G . D . ; Alex . Darling , P . P . S . G . O . ; W . Hodgson , P . P . S . G . O .

John Redhead , P . S . G . W . ; Michael Corbitt , P . P . S . G . O . ; John Cosans , P . G . S . B . ; C . F . Sutcliffe , P . P . J . G . D . ; Geo . Harland , P . P . G . R . of M . ; W . E . Moffett , P . P . S . G . O . ; Wm . Lear , P . P . G . R . ; W . C . Barron , P . P . G . M . O . ; J . R . Roberts , P . J . G . W . ; R . A . Luck , P . G . M . O . Eng . ; R . Luck , P . P . G . W . ; Dr . C . D . Hill Drury , P . P . S . G . W . ; John Heppell , P . G . Sec ; J . Smith , P . J . G . D . ; W . H . Nixon , P . P . G . R . of M . ; Wm . Barlow , P . P . G . D . C . ; John C . Moon , P . P . G . M . O . ; Wm . Towers , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; Will Hutchinson

, P . J . G . O . ; Richard Benson , P . P . J . G . O . ; John Holt , P . P . G . D . C ; j . Barker , P . G . O . ; Rev . J . Lawson , P . P . G . Chap . ; T . E . Greenhough , P . M . 124 , P . P . G . I . G . ; W . H . Nixon , W . M . 346 ; T . McCarthy , W . M . 39 ; Chas . T . Johnson , W . M . 122 ; Septimus Peacock , W . M . 124 ; Thos . Wood , W . M . 250 ; Jos . Rickerby , W . M . 356 ; J . R . Mabane , W . M . 3 62 ; J . U . Simpson , W . M . 346 ; W . J . Jobson , W . M . 293 ; F . W . Sykes , W . M . 463 ; and Thomas McCarthy , W . M . 39 . The following Prov . Grand Officers were then appointed and invested by the P . G . M .:

Bro . Col . W . M . Angus ( re-appointed ) ... D . P . G . M . „ J . Cartmel Ridley , W . M . 34 6 ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ John Smith , P . M . 135 ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ T . Wood , P . M . 250 ... ... ... Prov . G . M . O . „ C . J . Johnson , 122 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . O . „ A . Darling ... ... ... ... Prov . J . G . O . ,, Rev . W . M . O . Brady Jones , M . A . ... Prov . G . Chap . ,, George Washington Bain ( re-elected ) ... Prov . G . Treas . „ John W . Gibson ... ... ... Prov . G . R . of M . „ John Heppell ( re-appointed ) ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ T . E . Greenhough , 124 ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ T . McCarthy , 39 ... ... ... pr 0 v . J . G . D . „ J . Rickerby ... ... ... ... p v . G . S . of W . „ W . J . Jobson ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ F . W . Sykes ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ [ . U . Simpson ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . „ Jacob Barker , 356 ( re-appointed ) ,.. ... Prov . G . Org . „ J . R . Mabane ... ... ... Prov . G . I . G . „ Joshua Curry ( re-appointed ) ... ... Prov . G . T yler . It was agreed that Bros . R . A . Luck , Thos . Robinson , Thos . Coulson .

and Wm . Brown be the representatives on the Committee of General Purposes . Bros . F . H . Corder and Wm . F . Carmon were re-elected as auditors . The Prov . G . Master received an invitation to meet at Sunderland , from Bro . G . W . Bain , P . G . T ., and seconded by Bro . S . Peacock , W . M ., and the Prov . G . Master had great pleasure in nominating the Union Lodge , No . 124 , as that under which they would meet next year .

The PROV . G . MASTER thanked the Darlington Lodge and its members for their excellent reception of the Prov . G . Lodge that day . The PROV . G . MASTKR , in the course of a brief address , expressed his pleasure at their G . Master , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales ' s escape from an attempt which was made on his life at Brussels . At an informal meeting of the Prov . G . Lodge at Stockton , at which nearly all the Prov .

G . Officers were present , a message of congratulation was sent to the M . W . G . Master , and his Royal Highness , in answer to which they received a most gracious reply . They all , he was quite sure , sympathised with the great loss Bro . R . B . Reed had recently sustained . He sincerel y trusted that Bro . Reed might soon be restored , and be with them for a long time to come . He could not help expressing his disappointment that

their Dep . Prov . G . Master ( Bro . Col . Angus ) was unable to bs present , but they knew it w ; ys impossible for him to be with them , his regimental duties preventing him from being in their midst . The Dep . Prov . G . Master had shown keen interest in the affairs of Mark Masonry , as he had visited every lodge with the exception of one during the year , and with respect to that exception he ( Bro . Canon Tristram ) was present , so that it

might be said that every lodge had been visited during the year . He felt himself fortunate in having such an admirable Dep . Prov . G . Master as Bro . Col . Angus . He saw signs of Mark Masonry extending in the province , and he was given to understand that in all probability there would be a new lodge established at Bedlington and another at Blyth . There had

been a decided improvement and growth of interest in Mark Masonry and in the working of the lodges , and he must congratulate the officers of the various lodges in respect of the same . In conclusion , the Prov . G . Master referred in feeling terms to what he considered to be the unprecedented kindness shown to him by the brethren on the occasion of the celebration of his golden wedding at the earlier part of the year .

In the evening a banquet was held at the King ' s Head Hotel , which was presided over by the Prov . G . Master , Bro . the Rev . Canon Tiistram , There was a large number of brethren present .