Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

last election . It was a heavy election , but the Committee succeeded in electing all their cases . He seconded the adoption of the report , and also that the grant of ^ 20 be made to a brother of Lodge 1211 . The motions were carried unanimously . The ACTING PROV . GRAND MASTER said : When it came to our knowledge that the Most VVorshipful the Grand Master of England was going

to confer Grand Lodge honours on our worthy Prov . Grand Secretary , Bro . Herbert Green , I felt—although he could not take any action himself—I should be remiss if I did not give an opportunity to every lodge in . the province to show their appreciation of the services he has rendered , and the g reat pleasure they felt that the Grand Lodge should have conferred an office upon him . For that purpose I sent out cards giving them an oppor-r

tunity to subscribe a sum which I calculated would cover the expenses of the Grand clothing , the clothing belonging to the Arch , and also the fee of honour for the office . I am glad to say that every lodge h as responded . We have already bought the clothing—it is there ( pointing to a table in front of the dais ) , and I will proceed to invest Bro . Green with part of it .

I find , however , that in conferring past rank there are no fees of honour , so that there is a larger balance than I thought I should have . I have paid for all the clothing , and the balance I give to Bro . Green for his expenses in going to receive the honour . The acting Prov . Grand Master proceeded to invest Bro . Green .

Continuing , he said that they all felt that in conferring that honour on Bro . Green the Grand Lodge had honoured West Yorkshire . They all acknowledged the ability and courtesy with which Bro . Green had carried out the duties of Provincial Grand Secretary , and wished him health , long life , and happiness in wearing the clothing . Bro . H . G . E . GREEN said : Right Worshipful Prov . Grand Master in

the chair , officers and brethren , during the war in South Africa you have frequently heard of the poor fellows , brethren and fellow citizens , being in a tight corner , but I doubt whether any of them were ever in sucii an extremely tight corner as I am now—simply because I am not able sufficiently to lhank you for the handsome present you have given to me today . But before I quite get to that point , I should like to mention one or

two facts and figures with regard to the province with reference to what has taken place since I was connected with it . During the 16 years I have been Secretary there have been initiated or joined 4792 Masons , resigned 1955 , died 1121 , and excluded 775 , necessitating Sf > 43 entries in the Provincial Grand Lodge Registers . The number of members now 1 * 5 4339 , while the number of members who have been initiated or joined during the 16 years

has been 4792 , so that it will be seen that during that period there has been a complete charge in the membership of the province . The number of members when 1 first began to assist in the work of the province in 1 S 74 was 2841 , and of Masters and Past Masters 625- As I have already stated , the present membership is 4339 , while there are 126 9 Masters and Past Masters . During the period 1 have been acting as Assistant Secretary and

afterwards as Secretary , upwards of . £ 75 . 000 has been collected and sent to London to the Masonic Central Charities , besides a great deal of money in other ways , such as testimonials , and so on , has been raised . That is a large sum of money , and of the amount I have mentioned £ 70 , 000 will have passed through my hands . During this period of 16 years we have elected 1 S 8 candidates for the Masonic Charities , and this has necessitated

the collection and manipulation of 457 , 000 votes . I received my appointment on the 21 st June , the longest day of the year , and may tell you it was the proudest day of my life . I fully recognise that the ofli ; e was not conferred on me for anything I have done , but on the province and for your regularity in making your returns , and the manner in wlvch you attend Grand Lodge . Your duties in your various lodges is fully known in London

and recognised . I wish to thank sincerely and gratefully the Masters of the 81 lodges throughout the province , and through them the 4339 brethren , for this handsome gift of the Grand Lodge regalia of the Craft and Arch , and assuie them I appreciate their generosity . I do not promise to redouble my efforts in the province , because that is impossible , but I can assure you that I shall not rela * x them in the slightest degree . I have the greatest affection

for and pride in my province . It has always been my earnest endeavour to do everything that lay in my power to carry out the duties of the office I have the honour to hold , and to assist any brother , whoever he may be , in any part of the province , to the best of my ability . Sometimes things become a little awkward and across , and the Prov . Secretary is onlyhuman , so that he gels put about , and occasionally speaks and writes a

little more sharply than he should do to those with whom he has to do . You must forgive me , for it is only from a desire to serve your best interests , to keep you in the right path , and the province in good order . If I have offended you , I wish sincerely to apologise . Until the moment I read my official letter of appointment I had not the slightest idea there was anything of the kind in store for anyone in the province , and therefore it came to me as a great surprise . Who has moved in the matter , or how it came about ,

I am not up to the present aware , but if any are present who have exercised influence with respect to my appointment I hope they will receive from me my heaitiest , warmest , and most grateful thanks . To Bro . Richard Wilson , the acting R . VV . Prov . Grand Master iu the chair , who kindly undertook the raising of this testimonial , I also offer my sincere and grateful thanks , snd assure him that I am and ever shall be full of gratitude lcr what he hss done for ire . I sincerely thank you all .

Bro . J . T . LAST , P . M . 2 . 321 , P . P . G . Reg ., having given notice that he would call attention to the method of election of the Grand Treasurer of Kngland , and move a resolution thereon , referred to the various methods of election under different Constitutions , especially that of America . In Kngland , however , he said all the members of Grand Lodge , consisting of Present and Past Masters , and actual Wardens , had a right to vote at th ; election of Grand Treasurer , which was , therefore , regarded as the blue

ribbon of the Craft . Ninety per cent , of those who were qualified to vote in Grand Ledge had never exercised the franchise , because it was necessary for them to attend the meetings in London and fill up the voting papers . ¦ I hat gave the members in London a great advantage , because it not only necessitated the expenditure of a great deal of the time of the Provincial brethren , but also of from three to five guineas out of their own pockets in going to and staying in Louden for the elections . It also debarred many

Provincial brethren from becoming candidates for the oflice . They had onl y one Past Grand Tteasurer in Yoikshire , and many of them would remember how they went up to London in force and succeeded iu carrying the election of Bro . Major Wocdall , while there were a number of brethren in West Ycikihire woithy cf the cilice . He thought those breihren who w £ re qualified could equally well fill up their papers at home , without being under the necessity ol journeying to London ior the purpose , lt was used as

Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

an argument that it would greatly increase the work of the Grand Secretary to have so many voting papers pass through his hands , but he pointed out that this work was done several times a year with respect to the Charitable Institutions . He concluded by moving the following resolutions .- " That it is the opinion of . this Provincial Grand Lodge that the election of Grand Treasurer of the Grand Lodge of England should be so conducted that the

members of the Grand Lodge have the opportunity of exercising their privilege of voting at any such election of the Grand Treasurer without it being requisite personally to attend the meeting of Grand Lodge , and so avoid the expense ( often considerable ) and loss of time incident to attending the Grand Lodge . " " That it is desirable that any necessary steps bs taken by this province to act in conjunction with other provinces favourable

to such a movement , to bring about such an alteration of Rule 19 of the Book of Constitutions as will give effect to the object of this resolution . " " That copies of this resolution be printed and sent by theprovincial Grand Secretary to the Provincial Grand Secretaries of the various Masonic provinces of England and Wales , and report thereon to the next or soma future meeting of this Provincial Grand Lodge . " Bro . Major BOLTON seconded the motion .

Bro . HENRY SMITH , P . D . P . G . M ., remarked that as no notice had been given of the text ot the resolution the Prov . Grand Lodge was not in a position to vote upon it . They could not legally do so . It was the old difficulty of voting for Grand Treasurer , the entailing of a great cost , but they could not go in face of their bye-laws . He appealed to the Prov . G . Registrar if his view of the case was not the correct one . The PROV . G . REGISTRAR said he agreed with that view .

The ACTING PROV . G . MASTER said that his attention had been called to the subject , but he thought it desirable that it should be brought before that meeting so that the brethren might have the information which Bro Last had gathered , even if they could not pass the resolution . He thought it was important to the Freemasons of England that they should tike part in the election of Grand Treasurer . Rule 27 of the Prov . Lodge , however ,

distinctly stated that the proposer should give no less than 14 days' notice of the terms of his resolution , and that resolution had been placed in his hands only just before the meeting . Personally , he had no objection to anything that might occur there , but he did not think they should settle such ai important resolution at a minute's notice , which by its wording might give

offence to Grand Lodge . He thought the wisest course would be to wait until other people had expressed an opinion . As the Prov . Grand Registrar had held that the resolution was out of order because of the want of notice , he ( the acting Prov . Grand Master ) must decline to allow a vote to be taken .

I he discussion dropped . Bro . LAST gave notice that at the next Prov . Grand Lodge he woold move a resolution with respect to the election of Grand Treasurer , and added that he would take care to hand the resolution in in tima . Bro . WM . WATSON , P . P . S . G . W ., Honorary Librarian , expresssd thanks for the hearty and spontaneous response which had been given to his

appeal during the last 12 months , for funds towards publishing the Library Reprints , somewhere near three-fourths of the lodges in the province having subscribed . The handsome sum thus raised had enabled him to treat th-j subscribers very liberally with regard to the number of copies issued to them , the initial cost pro rata for producing each copy being much less when a large number could be ordered . He remarked that he wojld bs saved much unnecessary work and correspondence if ths lodges wmld

promptly acknowledge receipt of the parcels he sent out , many having omitted to do so at all . He was pleased to say that many favourable comments had been made with regard to the " ' n Memoriam " obituary notices on distinguished West Yorkshire brethren deceased , which had been issued to members of Provincial Grand Lodge with the summons for that mseting , under the auspices and cordial sanction of the Deputy Provincial Grand Master . West Yorkshire was the first province to adopt the idea , and everyone thought it to be a step in the right direction .

Bro . J B . YRRACLOIGH , P . G . D ., stated that it was intended to invite the Prov . Grand Lodge to hold its next meeting at Leeds , but , after the intimation of the acting Prov . Grand Master , the invitation would be postponed . The ACTING PROV . GRAND MASTER proposed a vote of thanks to the W . M ., officers , and brethren of the Acacia Lodge , No . 2321 , forthe provision made for the accommodation of Prov . Grand Lodge on that occasion .

Bro . J . C . MALCOLM , P . D . P . G . M ., P . G . D ., seconded the motion , which was carried . Prov . Grand Lodge was then closed . Forty-four brethren afterwards dined together at the Masonic Hall , Rawson-squarc , the acting Prov . G . M ., Bro . Wilson , presiding .

Scotland

Scotland

GRAND LODGE . The quarterly meeting of the above Grand Lodge Was held in Freemasons' Hall , Edinburgh , on the 7 th inst . The Hon . James Hozier , M . P ., G . M ., presided , and was supported by Bros . J ohn Graham , of B-oadstone , G . M . Depute ; W . A . Dinwiddie , Prov . G . M . Dumfriesshire ; Col .

Campbell , Prov . G . M . East Perthshire ; Mijor F . \ V . Allan , P . S . G . W .- lames Caldwell and William Officer , P . G . Di . ; W . VV . Robartson , P . G . Architect ; R . K . Inches , P . G . Jeweller ; J . Dalrymple Duncan , P . S . G . W . ; David Reid , G . Sec . ; and E . A . Chisholm , G . Treas . The Wardens ' chairs were filled by Bros . A . A . Speirs , S . G . W ., and W . Munro Denholm , J . G . W .

The GRAND MASTER , before entering on the ordinary business , made an appropriate reference to the assassination of President McKinley , and proposed the following resolution : " We , the Freemasons of Scotland , in Grand Lodge assembled at Edinburgh , desire , on behalf of ourselves and on behalf of all Scottish Freemasons at home , in India , in the Colonies , and in foreign parts , to place on record our deep and heartfelt sympathy with Mrs . McKinley , ,-ind wilh the people of the I ' n ' tied States , in the terrible domest C and national loss which they have sustained by the cold-blooded murder of a President so illustrious , and a man so bsloved . "