Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

political events of this country ; a town alike interesting in its remote history and exceeding importance from its situation in the West Riding and the energy and industry of its residents . To this day of our present meeting , under the united banners of three Masonic lodges , it is a town of corn , coal , wool , iron , when the whizz of the steam engine breaks

momentarily upon the ears of the citizens , when the people are steady in their attachment to the cause of patriotism and independence—phases in its progress and prosperity from generation to generation , which , with the magnificence of its public edifices , intelligence , hospitality , and charity of its inhabitants , combine to make Wakefield not the least of many pleasant

towns in West Yorkshire , and render it inferior to none of equal extent and equal population in the kingdom . ( Hear , hear . ) It is a matter upon which I wish to congratulate you , the annual assembly to-day under the united auspices of the three lodges—Unanimity , Wakefield , and Sincerity . I thank these lodges for the invitation so kindly sent in November of last year , and

also the Mayor and Corporation of this town for so readily giving their consent for the use of this Town Hall , opened during the mayoralty of Bro . W . H . Gill , the founder of the Lodge of Sincerity , an edifice which is a lasting monument of Wakefield ' s energetic spirit , for the benefit of her citizens and for the public business requirements . ( Applause . ) On April

5 th , 1876 , Unanimity Lodge invited us to meet under its banner , and when Bro . Edward Green was VV . M ., a name I cannot mention without eliciting feelings of respect . On the 25 th of November , 1876 , I was present when Bro . Col . J . C . D . Charlesworth laid the corner stone of your grand new Clayton Hospital , for ever a work of your charity and benevolence , and now

affording comfort and consolation to many . On the 9 th January , 1878 , Sincerity Lodge invited Provincial Grand Lodge to meet under its banner in the Corn Exchange , whose corner stone was laid by the Right Hon . the Earl of Mexborough , R . W . Prov . Grand Master of West Yorkshire , on the 24 th May , 1837 , the Rev . M . T . Naylor , D . D ., of No . 179 , Unanimity

Lodge , and the Rev . Charles Clapham , of No . 364 , Fidelity , being the Chaplains . On the 9 th January , 1878 , 1 alluded to certain lodges desirous of emancipating themselves from " small and inconvenient premises to others specially adapted for Masonic purposes , either as a hall or temple for the exclusive use of the Craft in the different towns of this province . " I must ,

therefore , mention that in 1 S 79 effective measures were taken by the builders assembling in Zetland-street to build an edifice worthy of the Craft in this town . The foundation stone was laid by my deputy Bro . T . W . Tew , with public Masonic ceremonial on the 26 th May , 1880 . On the 13 th December , 1881 , my deputy was invited to an inaugural gathering

of the three lodges within the walls of the new temple , and on the 5 th April , thisyear , my deputy had the satisfaction of being present at its " dedication " for ever for Masonic purposes . I heartily congratulate the lodges and the chapters on those unity of views , which by unity of action have brought about the consummation of this operative Masonic work , and within

the walls of which " unanimity , sincerity , and confidence , " may ever be the guiding princip les of the brethren therein assembled . Let me quote a saying of Lord Ripon ' s " that the spirit of the Craft is to be judged by the fruits which it bears in institutions like these . " I shall tell our Royal Grand Master , at a fitting opportunity , of the splendid hall Wakefield has added to

the list of halls on the roll of the Grand Lodge of England . Let me revert briefly to the kind response the lodges have made to the Annuitants ' Festival on the 2 nd February , when Bro . General Brownrigg took the chair . Your contribution of ^ 450 was the second largest announced out of a total of £ 13 , 047 subscribed . Our 24 th annual

charity report tells us that three widows , three males , two boys , and one girl seek admission to the London Charities . At your charity meeting in March , at Sheffield , you came to a judicious selection of candidates for our votes . With 57 deaths in our ranks in 1 S 82 and a consequent loss of votes , it is a matter of grief that our efforts must be limited to ~ a

choice of candidates ; an opportunity is afforded to us , however , of doubling our votes by supporting the " Boys'Preparatory School Building-Fund , " to which are attached special privileges and extra votes . £ 700 is now promised to the Boys' Festival ; could you not make it £ 1000 ? Viscount Holmesdale , of Kent , takes the chair in June . I thank Bro . Michael Mullen

for his entertainment at Bradford for this Charity . And now a word or two about the Masonic Schools : first , the Boys—at the Christmas local Cambridge examination , 1882 , out of 18 candidates sent in every one of them passed : twelve in the honour list and six passes . From thc Girls' School , out of fifteen candidates sent forward to the same examination there were

fourteen passes , four in third honours and two with distinction for religious knowledge . These are satisfactory results of education which no language can diminish . ( Applause . ) My prerogative and function from this chair is to appeal to your benevolence , " which , like its sister mercy , is not strained , but blesses him that gives as well as him that receives . " I can do no more

than ask those lodges who have not given anything to help us , if only with small subscriptions from each member , and I request the W . M . ' s of the lodges to bring this to the notice of their lodges , and I scarcely anticipate that any of those brethren will fail to respond to this my earnest appeal . Again I quote Lord Ripon , that " These institutions do not rest , ought not

to rest , upon the generosity of the few , but on the broad and staple basis of thc general support of the Craft . " My next comment is that Grand Lodge on March 7 th , 1883 , received the report of the Board of General Purposes , which stated that 800 amendments to the proposed revision of the " Book of Constitutions " had been submitted to Grand Lodge on the 6 th

September last , and that Grand Lodge referred all these amendments to the Board to consider and report on . I am unofficially informed that West Yorkshire amendments will be most favourably considered . I shall watch the course of events , and , if necessary , consult our amendment Committee thereon . Is a result of the defeat of Bro . Clabon's motion , December 6 th , 18 S 2 , the

Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

grants of the Lodge of Benevolence in March were reduced to about onehalf of what they were in previous quarters ; so that we may hope receipts and expenditure may , in future , be in equilibrium . But I am glad to notice Bro . Thomas Collins , of Lodge No . 275 , received a grant of £ 50 . This same lodge on December 30 th last granted ten guineas to endow in

perpetuity the Chaplain ' s chair in the lod ge in the name of the late Bro . the Rev . Abraham Smith , as governor of the Royal Masonic Annuity Fund , and Bro . George Motley Ward , in filial affection , and as a tribute to the memory of his father , has arranged to be paid to the charities the handsome sum of 230 guineas . There are several other most generous contributors to

the various charities , such as Capt . Wordsworth , Bros . John R . Armitage , George Scarborough , and Geo . Newton , whose munificent donations to our Masonic charities are beyond all words of praise . We have to lament the death of Bro . Joseph Wrigglesworth Sykes , of Westgate , Huddersfield , on the ist March , in his 47 th year . His remains were interred in Kirkheaton

Church on the 5 th of the same month . He was well known to many of us . On Good Friday Bro . Wainman Holmes , W . M ., was taken from this mortal life . I now approach the most difficult , and perhaps the most heart-burning duties of a Provincial Grand Master—namely , that of distributing the collars to the new officers of this Provincial Grand Lodge . The services of

the 868 Worshipful Masters and Past Masters in this province have been considered carefully , and would that I could confer a compliment on every one of them ; but the favours at my disposal are very few for so large a number who have passed the chair , or will shortly do so . Therefore those brethren who are about to receive the appointment of office must , under the

difficult circumstances in which I am placed , accept the smallest office as equivalent to the highest acknowledgment I am able to give of their Masonic services to this Provincial Grand Lodge . Before I close my remarks , I ask the outgoing Provincial Grand Officers to accept their duties in the office they have held and the support they gave to

our " Advice Committee on the Book of Constitutions . " Our obligations are due to the three Wakefield lodges for their invitations that day and the excellent arrangements they have made for this meeting and we wish them in their magnificent new hall prosperity and happiness until it be again too small to harbour the Craft in " merrie Wakefild , " and necessity arises to

enlarge their Zetland-street premises , when another Provincial Grand Master and another Deputy Provincial Grand Master may be as cordially welcomed therein as you have welcomed us and other officers whenever you have invited us to your ancient town on the banks of the River Calder . It only remains for me to ask vour attention to the agenda paper

and charity report , and to thank you one and all for the salutation and hearty reception you have this day given to me as your Provincial Grand Master , and to my much beloved and inestimably esteemed Deputy , Bro . Thomas William Tew , whose services in the Craft are and have long been beyond all human praise and value to the Masonic interests of the West

Riding . ( Applause . ) Bro . TEW , D . P . G . M ., in acknowledging his salutation spoke of the heavy affliction under which Sir Henry Edwards was at present suffering in the

serious and protracted illness of Lady Edwards , and this circumstance elicited a very general expression of sympathy with Sir Henry , and hearty wishes for the speedy restoration of his good lady . The officers for the ensuing year were then appointed .

Among the other business of the province was the appointment and expression of satisfaction of the Committee of Revision of the Book of Constitutions , and after some petitions for relief had been disposed of and the next meeting place of Provincial Grand Lodge considered , the meeting was closed and followed by a banquet .

Freemasonry In York.

FREEMASONRY IN YORK .

The old centre of Freemasonry in the north , after a series of years of more or less lethargy , seems to be coming to the front again and displaying an unusual amount of Masonic vigour . About a century ago three Masonic lodges were at work in York , but early in the present century the strength of the present Order had sank back to one lodge which seemed to be sufficient

for the wants of the brethren until as late as the year 1876 , when the Eboracum Lodge was formed . This lodge has had , so far , a remarkably successful career , and has gained a reputation both for working and charitable exertions second to few lodges in England . Probably had it not been forthe establishment of a military district centre at York the York and

Eboracum Lodges would have afforded abundant scope for the energies of the local brethren , but with the advent of the military staff came a large accession of Masons . It is well known that our brethren of the military profession , both combatant and noncombatant , suffer under considerable Masonic disabilities . Many of them are good and earnest Masons , and

more of them would be of the same character had they proper opportunities for the exercise of their energies . Unfortunately , however , in the nature of things , they are mostly birds of passage and live in a glorious condition of uncertainty as to where they may find themselves from one day to another , consequently thev find great difficulty in securing the

advancement in the Craft lo which their labours should entitle them . When a military Mason is ordered to some town or station he perhaps joins the local lodge , and it may be that in the course of a year or two he is offered and accepts office , still , however hard he may work , it is to the last

degree unlikely that he will be stationed in the same place long enough to enable him to pass the chair , and so after two or three removals and as many disappointments he gives it up as a bad job , falls out of the Order and becomes an unaffiliated Mason . It is in order to provide some remedy for this state of things that the Agricola Lodge , No . 1991 , has been floated ,