The Craft In North And East Yorkshire.

THE CRAFT IN NORTH AND EAST YORKSHIRE .

North and East Yorkshire has been extremely fortunate since it was constituted as a separate Province in 1817 . In that year Yorkshire , which had become apparently too large , owing to the increase in the number of its lodges and the difficulties of transit , to be presided over by one brother , was divided into two . the

West Riding remaining in charge of Bro . R . PEMBERTON MlLNES , who had been appointed Prov . G . Master of the whole county in 1805 , while the North and East Ridings were formed into a second Province under Bro . Lord DUNDAS , who was created Earl of ZETLAND at the QUEEN ' S Coronation , and died

the year following . In 18 39 , THOMAS , second Earl of ZETLAND , who in 18 43 succeeded the Duke of SUSSEX as M . W . Grand Master , succeeded his father as Prov . Grand Master , and in 18 74 the present Earl was installed in the chair which had been so ably filled by his uncle and grandfather . If , however , the

Province has been fortunate in its rulers , still more fortunate must it be regarded as comprising within its limits the ancient and venerable city of York , in days long gone by the political , as it is still the ecclesiastical , metropolis of the North , and , what is even more important to us Masons , the home of that early legend

which forms the starting-point of Masonic history . In more recent times , also , York was the head-quarters of the Grand Lodge of all England , as it elected to designate itself in contradistinction from the more powerful and still existent Grand Lodge of England , which had its quarters in London , and from

which nearly all the Grand Lodges now existing derive , either directly or indirectly , their Constitutions and Laws . Thus , though there are many Provinces in England which are numerically stronger than North and East Yorkshire , there is none that surpasses it in point of well-being and the interest which must always centre -round the city of York and its earl y Masonic associations .

But if it is not one of our strongest Provinces , its organisation is very perfect , and the encouragement it gives to Masonic literature , and especially to anything in the nature of Masonic

antiquarian research , is most generous , while from time to time we hear of pleasant little gatherings in connection with the consecration of some new lodge . Thus , on the 26 th ult ., a new lodge was added to the roll of the Province under

circumstances that were well calculated to excite a special degree of interest . In the first place , the lodge was appointed to meet in the city of York itself , and in the next it was to be known henceforth as the Albert Victor Lodge in honour of Prince ALBERT VICTOR of WALES , the eldest son

of our illustrious GRAND MASTER , who , during his recent sojourn in York on military duty , has endeared himself to all classes of the community , and especially to the members of our ancient Fraternity , in whose labours he has more than once exhibited a

deep and kindly interest . Lastly , it was knoivn that the new lodge would start into existence under the auspices of that experienced and cultured Mason , Bro . A . P . PUREY -CUST , Past G . Chaplain of England , and Very Rev . the Dean of York , as its first W . Master . Such a combination of favourable

circumstances is rare at the birth of a new lodge , and no wonder therefore that the muster of the brethren to witness the solemn ceremonies of consecration and—in the case of those qualified to be present—installation was so large . LORD ZETLAND was unfortunately unable to preside , but the ceremony was very ably

conducted b y Bro . the Hon . W . T . ORDE -POWLETT , D . P . G . M ., and on his vacating the chair , through indisposition , his place was abl y filled b y that most diligent of Masonic northern rulers , Bro . T . W . TEW , Prov . G . Master of West Yorkshire . Bro . Rev . T . CARTWRIGHT SMYTH , D . D ., P . G . Chaplain , delivered a most

eloquent address , in which he passed rapidly in review the bases on which our Society rests , the moral lessons it is so well adapted to inculcate in the minds of its members , and the recognised benefits it has conferred upon mankind by its steady example as a God-fearing and neighbour-loving Fraternity . At

The Craft In North And East Yorkshire.

the banquet which followed there was much rejoicing over the success attending the inauguration of this new lodge , and we cordially endorse the hope expressed by Bro . the Dean of YORK , who presided at the festive board as W . M ., "That the lodge ,

which was yet a mere sapling , would take root and grow , and that it would be the means of spreading forth those branches of grateful shade and grateful nourishment which Masonic trees , wherever they were planted , did spread forth . " For ourselves , we congratulate our North and East Yorkshire brethren on the

successful establishment of this new lodge , nor have we a scintilla of doubt that it will more than realise the hopes and wishes that have been so warmly and so generously expressed for its future well-being .

The East Lancashire Charitable Institution.

THE EAST LANCASHIRE CHARITABLE INSTITUTION .

The report presented to the Governors of the East Lancashire Systematic Masonic Educational and Benevolent Institution at their meeting on the 29 th ult ., immediately after the half-yearly communication of Provincial Grand Lodge , showed clearly what this important Province is capable of effecting in behalf of its own Charitable Association when an extra amount

of zeal and energy is infused into the labours of the Committee and officers . Thus , owing no doubt , as Bro . CHADWICK , the Secretary , took care to explain , to the heavy amount contributed by East Lancashire to the Centenary Festival of the Girls ' School , following so closely as it did upon its still larger

contribution to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , the receipts in aid of the Provincial Charity fell off very considerably during the year 1888 . In these circumstances , a letter was addressed by the Provincial Grand Master to all the lodges calling their attention to a resolution adopted by the Governors , to the effect

" that it is desirable to give to our local Institution during the next year our first consideration and principal support , " with the result that the total obtained in 188 9 from lodges , individual brethren , and other sources was considerably more than double as compared with 1888 . In 1888 , from 1 st

January to 1 st November , the lodges contributed ^ , 114 3 s ., and individuals ^ 153 14 s . ; the total from all sources being £ 57 6 14 s . 7 cl . During the same period of 188 9 the figures under the same three heads are £ 520 18 s . nd ., £ 409 8 s ., and /" 1208 ns . respectively , and Bro . CHADWICK added that since

the 1 st November , a further sum of £ 150 had been received . On the other hand , the expenditure had been less , while the sum in bank , which in 1888 amounted to £ 119 12 s . nd ., was for 188 9 £ 1038 6 s . 6 d . So great an increase as is indicated by the figures we have quoted is most creditable both to those who put forth

the extra energy in order to obtain it and those who responded so generously to the appeals made upon them . Bro . CHADWICK , however , was quite justified in urging upon the individuals of the province the claims upon their support of their local Charity . As he clearly put it , "its usefulness was capable of continued

extension , while the help it was bestowing by the education given to the children of many of their late brethren was , they believed , incalculable . " We believe these local Charities have an important future before them , and that it is to their greater development we must look for relief from the serious and ever-increasing demands which are being made upon our Central Institutions .

The Province Of Wiltshire.

THE PROVINCE OF WILTSHIRE .

Considering that Wiltshire is one of our smallest provinces , the record it is able to show for the past twelve months is in the hig hest degree creditable . The annual meeting was held , as our readers have no doubt already gathered from the report

we published last week , at Trowbridge , and thougn it is to be regretted that Bro . Lord METHUEN , the Prov . Grand Master , owing to his absence abroad , was unable to preside , his place was ably filled by his worthy and popular Deputy , Bro . Sir GABRIEL GOLDNEY , P . G . W . The several reports which were