Consecration Of The Savage Club Mark Lodge, No. 469.

Institution living , and never so living as when they saw a new lodge consecrated such as the Savage Club Lodge . He knew something of the Club , and of the Masonic bodies they had had the spirit to institute and carry on , and he augured a very happy future for the Savage Club Mark Lodge . The wonderful amount of work there was to do at the next meeting meant that when some people were enjoying a holiday—he would not say Members

of Parliament , because they never had a holiday—the officers would be occupied in enlarging the number of members of that lodge . For the Grand Officers , of whom the Worshi pful Master had justly spoken in high terms , and for himself who was almost ashamed to speak in the presence of so many more capable of speaking , he thanked them for the kindly reception given the toast so well proposed by the W . M . The WORSHIPFUL MASTER , in proposing " The Consecrating Officers , "

said that those who saw the work done would feel how unnecessary it was and how impossible it would be for him to do justice to the excellence , the smoothness , and the complete manner in which it was gone through , indicating a very frequent rehearsal in the shape of new lodges . As it was not probable that the Consecrating Master was always assisted by tbe same officers it meant individual work welded together with wonderful " skill . The work had been so well done as to elicit delight from those more familiar with similar events than himself .

Bro . C . F . MATIER , P . G . W ; , Grand Secretary , in response , said that amongst the many responsibilities that a brother had to perform who consecrated a new lodge , not the least was the duty of adequately returning thanks for the services of those who had so kindly assisted him . The task was specially difficult that night , and he felt the weight of his responsibility most heavy . It was impossible to thank those who had so kindly assisted in the consecration of the lodge . To Bro . Richardson he owed a double

debt of gratitude for kindl y undertaking the duties of S . W . in the temporary absence in another place of Bro . Sir Reginald Hanson , and for discharging the duties of Installing Master . On behalf of all who assisted him he thanked the brethren , and might he say personally how much he was indebted for the kindly welcome of the W . M ., and ask them to drink , not a toast , but , in old-fashioned language , a sentiment— " Prosperity and Success to the Savage Club Lodge . "

Bro . FRANK RICHARDSON , P . G . W ., G . Reg ., submitted the toast of " The Worshipful Master , " and said they all knew perfectly well it was a very great honour for any brother to be selected as the W . M ., but it was a double honour amongst a number of brethren who were forming a new lodge to be elected as the first W . M . He remembered that their esteemed friend , Colonel Shadwell Clerke , in proposing this toast , always reminded

them that what they wanted was quality , not quantity . It would not , therefore , be out of place if he advised them to look carefully to those they brought in , for once they were admitted , although disagreeable , it was impossible to turn them out . He congratulated them on their choice of a W . M ., with whom he had had the pleasure of acquaintance for a considerable time . He had seen Bro . Chapman ' s work , and knew he was perfectly

able to guide the " Savages " in Mark Masonry as well as he had done in other Degrees . He had also had experience of the Worshipful Master ' s work in other places , for Bro . Chapman had many times helped him with a ceremony where it was necessary to have efficient assistance . With those who had already joined , and those proposed for . , advancement , this Savage Clubdiidgc was sure , before long , to take a very high place in the register of the Grand Lodge .

Bro . WILL E . CHAPMAN , W . M ., in response , said that in the past month he had thought much of the high honour conferred upon himself , by selecting a private Mason as the first Master . Somehow they generally looked for figure-heads , but on this occasion they would be much disappointed . It was the third time he had filled the chair of a Savage Club Masonic Society . When the Savage Club Craft Lodge was formed he was its first S . D ., and

had only previously filled the office of J . D ., as his profession took him away so much that'it was impossible to work higher . He felt proud of the position which he then 'Tell was arduous , but he endeavoured to do his work to the best of his ability , and for two successive years he was elected Master . He was the first H . in the chapter , and had now beaten the record by being selected as the Presiding Officer of the Mark lodge . He need not say he thanked

them , and they knew that what he undertook to do he did with all the ability he had . If he made mistakes , and did not come up to their ideal , they must consider them faults of the head and not of the heart . He had belonged to Mark Masonry for some years , and was made during one of his trips to America , where the Mark Degree was an adjunct of the Royal Arch , and his certificate Was dated 19 th June , 1873 . That he had not been able to follow it up was due to circumstances beyond his control .

When he returned to stay in England he worked in the Craft and the Royal Arch , and now that he had put nis shoulder to tne plough in the Mark he would do the best , he could for the brethren of the lodge . He hoped to receive from his officers , and the new joining members , some of whom were distinguished Mark Masons , every assistance and kind consideration , and should not ask in vain . He would do what he coul I , and trusted that when he resigned the chair they would be able to say , " He did his best . "

Bros . HUGH MACKINTOSH , P . P . G . W . Surrey , and GORDON SMITH , J . W . 454 , acknowledged " The Visitors , " and Bros . W . J . EBBETTS , S . W . ' , and W . J . FISHER . J . W ., replied for " The Officers , " after which the proceedings terminated with the Tyler ' s toast .

Provincial Grand Chapter Of West Yorkshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF WEST YORKSHIRE .

A convocation of the above Provincial Grand Chapter was held in the Music Saloon , Wakefield , on Friday , 24 th ult ., when there were present : Comps . Henry Smith , P . Z . 302 , PastG . P . Soj . Eng ., Prov . G . H ., acting Grand Superintendent ; William Harrop , P . P . G . J ., as Prov . G . H . ; John Fred . Tanner , Prov . G . J . ; Thos . R . Vaux , P . Prov . G . J . ; Henry Smith , Prov . Asst . G . S . E , as Prov . G . S . E . ; Wm . Fisher Tasker , Prov . G . S . N . ; John Wm . Balme , P . Prov . G . S . N . ; Fred . Rand , Prov . G . Treas . ; George Marshall , P . Prov . G . Treas ..

Henry Oxley , P . Prov . G . Treas . ; Wm . Hy . Steward , Prov . G . Reg . ; Edwin Billinfrton , P . P . G . D . of C , as Prov . G . P . Soj . j Cornelius Wheawill , P . as Prov . 1 st Asst . G . Soj . ; John P . Hewitt , Prov . 2 nd Asst . G . Soj . ; Samuel Slack , P . Z . 495 , P . Prov . G . Soj . i William Mathers , Prov . G . S . B . ; F . W . Turner , P . as Prov . G . Std . Br . j Wm . Hy . Milnes . P . Prov . G . Std . Br . ; John R . Fawcett , Prov . G . D . of Cers . ; John Haigh , Prov . Asst . G . D . of Cers . ; W . F . Smithson , P . G . Std . Br . of Eng , P . Prov , G . D . of Cers . ; John Barker , P . Prov . G . D . of Cers . ; James Milnes , Prov . G . Org . ;

Provincial Grand Chapter Of West Yorkshire.

George Carbert , P . Prov . G . Org . ; Alfred Scarth , P . Prov . G . Org . ; Thos . Chester , Prov . G . Janitor ; William Murphy , as Prov . G . Stwd . ; Alfred Gill , P . P . G . D . of C , as Prov . G . Stwd . ; Alfred Verity , Prov . G . Stwd . ; John Wordsworth , P . P . G . H ., as Prov . G . Stwd . ; also Principals , Past First Principals , and companions from Chapters in the province .

The roll of chapters and Present and Past Prov . G . Officers was called . The minutes of the Grand Convocation , holden at Pontefract , on Monday , 15 th May , 1893 , were presented , taken as read , and confirmed , and The ACTING GRAND SUPERINTENDENT then delivered an able and impressive address , in which he expressed his regret that Comp . T . W . Tew was unable to preside , he having temporarily taken up his residence at

Torquay by the advice of his medical man . He added that his health had somewhat improved , and that his mind was as active as ever . He took a deep interest in that branch of the Royal Craft , and looked forward with hope to having the pleasure of being able to be present at the annual convocation in May , 1894 . He also stated that Comp . Tew was much exercised by the knowledge that they were not possessed of rooms

sufficiently capacious , not only for their meetings , but for the refreshments afterwards , which experience taught should always be supplied in the same building ; and he strongly advised the companions of Wakefield , when opportunity offered itself , to seriously consider if anything could be done to bring about that very desirable object . Many of the chapters appear to be prospering , at which they greatly rejoice ,

but was sorry to confess that three at least were not only languishing , but at the point of extinction , and their charters being withdrawn . He named that circumstance with extreme regret . He had not had opportunity to confer with the Grand Superintendent on the subject , and the effect of the resolution of Grand Chapter on the 1 st November last , which , if confirmed in February , 1894 , would enable a Master Mason to take the Royal Arch

at the expiration of four weeks instead of 12 calendar months , as ordered by R . A . Regulations , Article No . 73 . His present impression was that it would not be prudent to reduce the interval to less than three months . It would then enable the candidate to obtain and produce his Grand Lodge certificate before exaltation . In that province they had upwards of 3600 members of the Craft . Of these , only 1257 , amounting to about one-third , were Royal Arch Masons , and of these perhaps 400 were either occupying

the chairs at the present moment or had already passed them . Their contributions that year to the three Masonic Institutions were as follows : Old People , . £ 508 3 s . ; Girls , £ 1323 3 s . ; Boys , ^ 372 15 s . ; makmg a total of £ 2204 is ., and for the last 23 years £ 49 , 984 19 s . In conclusion , he exhorted the companions to give every encouragement to the stud y and practice of that very beautiful and interesting branch of the Craft by endeavouring tc perfect themselves in the ceremonial .

At the conclusion of the address some discussion took place with regard to the change in the time of probation of candidates for exaltation which Grand Chapter proposed to reduce from 12 to one month . Comps . Parke , Harrop , Smithson , Rand , Vaux , Billington , Dawson , and Murphy took part . Considerable diversity of opinion was expressed on the subject , but no resolution was come to . Provincial Grand Chapter was then closed .

National Great Priory.

NATIONAL GREAT PRIORY .

A Great Priory was held at Mark Masons' Hall , on Friday , the 8 th insl ., when there were present : the V . H . and E . Great Prior , the Earl of Lathom , on the throne ; the V . E . Sub-Prior , the Earl of Fusion ; the V . E . Provincial Priors for Lancashire , Capt . Beswicke-Royds ; Staffordshire , Warwickshire and Leicestershire , C . Fcndelow ; Devonshire , the Rev . T . W . Lemon , D . D .:

North and East Yorkshire , Major J . Woodall-Woodall , and Kent and Surrey , Col . Noel Money , C . B . National Great Officers : Sir Knights the Rev . J . S . Brownrigg , as Prelate ; Col . A . B . Cook , Constable ; Frank Richardson , as Marshal ; Raymond H . Thrupp , Registrar ; the Officers , and many Past Great Officers , Past Officers and knights .

The Great Prior having taken his seat on the throne , opened the National Great Priory in ample form . The report of the Council was taken as read . Motions arising out of the report were made and carried . By command of the M . E . and Supreme Grand Mister , H . R . H . the

Prince of Wales , the Great Prior invested the following knights as Knights Grand Cross and Knights Commander of the Order of the Temple ; Knig hts Grand Cross—The V . E . Sir Knights the Earl of Euston , Cnpain Beswicke-Royds , Charles Fendelow , Col . Noel Money , C . B . M . E . Sir Knights the Rev . J . S . Brownrigg , the Rev . H . G . Morse , Viscount Dungarvan , and Col . A . B . Cook .

Knig hts Commanders—The V . E . Sir Kni ghts the Rev . T . W . Lemon , D . D ., Major J . Woodall Woodall , Col . Somerville Burney ; M . E . Sir Kni ghts Frank Richardson , R . H . Thrupp , Major-Gen . J . C . Hay , Lieut .-Col . Geo . Lambert , Ralph Gooding , M . D ., L . G . Gordon Robbins , Sir George D . Harris , C . F . Matier , Gordon Miller , R . Loveland Loveland , J . P ., and E . I . etchworth .

The Great Prior nominated and invested Great Pnury Officars for the Order of Malta . The Almoner collected the alms , and the Great Prior closed the National Great Priory . A priory of the Order of Malta , under the banner o ( the Faith and Fidelity

Preccptory , was afterwards opened . I he V . H . and h . Great Prior , the Earl of Lathom , occupied the throne , and M . E . Sir Knight R . Loveland Loveland took his scat at the cast table as Grand Prior . Six members of the Order 1 f the Temple were admitted into the Order of Malta . The priory was then closed .

The Great Prior , the Karl of Lathom , afterwards presided at the banquet at Freemasons' Tavern , supported by the V . E . Sub-Prior , the V . E . Provincial Priors for Devonshire , Staffordshire , Ike , N . and E . Yorkshire , Kent and Surrey , and many Great Officers , Officers , and other knights . It was notified that the next meeting 0 $ Convent General would be held in London on Friday , the I ith May next .