The Province Of West Yorkshire.

THE PROVINCE OF WEST YORKSHIRE .

West Yorkshire , through its esteemed Past Provincial Grand Master ( Bro . T HOMAS VV . TEW , J . P . ) has done far more than any other Province to stimulate Masonic study and research . Thanks to Bro . TEW and the Honorary Librarian ( Bro . WILLIAM WATSO . Y , oi Leeds ) , the one providing the means without any stint , and the other giving time and study without any

remuneration , all the copies of the " Old Charges " in Yorkshire—excepting those at York— -have been transcribed and published , and in many ways else these brethren have co-operated with others in making the Province the chief

Masonic literary centre , out of London , of Masonic activily and research . AH the warrants in the Province have been photographed , and already this novel , but excellent scheme has been proved to be useful , in consequence of a disastrous fire having led to the destruction of one of the charters .

Another instance of activity and originality is to be found in a volume just issued from the press of Messrs . 'BECK and INCIIIIOI . I ) , of Leeds , viz ., the " Record of the Installation of the Rt . Hon . W . L . Jackson , M . P ., kc , as the Prov . G . M . of the West Riding of Yorkshire at the Albert Hall , Leeds , 27 th September , 1 893 , " by thc Earl of LATHOM , M . W . Pro G . M . of

England . This imposing-looking work has an introduction by Bro . WILLIAM WATSON , P . M . 61 , & c , of sn important character , dealing as it does with thc origin of the Grand Lodges of Hnglnnd , the formation o ! the Provincial Grand Lodge for ( he West Riilinir in 173 8 ( not Yorkshire , as is generally

supposed ) , and the progress of the local Craft from the fourth decade of last century down to the present year of grace . Bro . WATSON also furnishes " Notes on the Leeds Lodges , " beginning * u ith the jear 1 754 , and ending wilh the latest lodge of A . H . 18 S 4 . Few could accurately have written this part , and ur . dcubtedly the compilation adds much to the interest and value ot the publication .

The . esteemed Provincial Grand Secretary , Bro . HERBERT G . K . GREEK , has likewise written for this choice volume , " Historical Notes , " which in chronological ' order give all the chief Mnsonic events in relation to the Province of West Yorkshire from 1738 to November 27 th , 181 ) 3 , occupying nearly 30 pages , and being of considerable utility ami exceptional imp rtance .

Of the account of the inslallalion we need say nothing now , save to remark that it is well done , awl most complete in character ; and the volume being illustrated , adds much lo ils artistic effect , as well as general inleic-t for liie brethren . It is the best work of ils kind ever issued , and though some 1500 copies have been printed , we understand thc edition is nearl y exhausted . .

New Masonic Hall For Northumberland.

NEW MASONIC HALL FOR NORTHUMBERLAND .

Although thc Province of Noithumberfand has long held high rank as one of the most charitable provinces ; one likewise noted for correctness and perfection of its " work , " and one where the most lively vigour and earrcuncss m the Craft is phenomenal , yet , strange to say , it does n A possess a Ml or building of sufficient size or arcommod . ition to permit c f ih-j

assembling of the Provincial Grand Lodge , or where Masons can meet in large numbers or hold their annual festivals . True , several years ago a beautiful but small Masonic Hall was erected in Maple-street , Newcastlc-on-Tuie , out it soon proved far too limited in size for any purpose save for ordinary , and not too largely attended , lodge meetings , and fui thermorc—being situated far from the centre cf the town—only about one-li-fli * of the Newcastle lodges fid chapters met there , whilst tic other half had to be conlcnt with meeting jn the upper room of a building in G'ainger-strcet West , while Provincial "rand Lodge had lo be accommodated at miblie Assembly Rooms .

' lie whole Fraternity for long had therefore felt this state of ihings lo be || ' ' 0 . molous * but " •was only wncn lnc L-normous groiiih of the Cmh which has . - " ^ g Ine last decade taken place in the provinie demanded a very great "e . ise in accomm datiun , lhat the brethn n were compelled lo lake slops w « ire for themselves a much larger and more suitable hall in some ceniral

suVu " ' WherC thC £ '' ' JW , n £ Wilnls of thc , oc ] tfes a |) cl chapter .- ** - , kc , could be u * abl y mci , and to creel a large ceniral hall or temple worthy of the Craft . cccrdingl y , at a representative gathering of all the lodges , a Com mitt re ( J - ""Ppon- ited lo see what could best be dene in 1 his d . reel ion , and \( possible s ^» re a suitable site centrally situated . lunate "" Wn SpC "' '" '' '"' * blU a * , ; lst a Sub-Commillce was forvery , " 0 Ufil * to scci "'e four propcities adjoining-each other—situated in the imp lean of l J city—at a very reasonable figure , having regard lo this ant P ° sition , and occupying an area of over 800 square yards .

New Masonic Hall For Northumberland.

Straightway upon these several properties being secured a limited liability company was formed , having for its Honorary Chairman the R . H . and R . W . Bro , Sir Matthew White Ridley , Bart ., Provincial Grand Master of Northumberland ; as Chairman , Bro . Alderman R . H . Holmes , J . P ., the Worshipful Deputy Provincial Grand Master ; and for a Board of

Directors an assembly of brethren representing all the Newcastle lodges . Competitive plans were advertised for , these plans submitted to an arbitrator ( Bro . C . Barry , P . G . S . of Wks . Eng . ) , and the successful architect found to be Bro . J . Johnstone , of Queen Yiclora-street , London , who was at once appointed Architect to the Company .

It may be stated that the reason for fixing upon Newcastle as the most suitable place for a building for the province arose out of the fact that it is the only large town in the province , and contains over one half of the Masons of Northumberland ; but , besides this , the outer or Allied Degrees of

Masonry , in which Northumberland takes a foremost place , are all " worked " in Newcastle , and their annual assemblies and convocations held there , and , as the new hall had to afford facilities for the whole Masonic and Allied Degrees , no other place than Newcastle could possibly be fixed

upon . Bro . Johnstone ' s plans were subsequently , and after most careful consideration under direction of the Board , materially altered and extended , and as a consequence the new erection will prove to be one of the finest and most suitable Masonic temples in the kingdom , and in design and adaptability excelled only by the Freemasons' Hall , in Great Oueen-street , London .

As a lew words about the new hall will be interesting to the general Fraternity , we add a short description of the interior arrangements , i-Vcc , and hope later on to send a sketch view of the exterior for reproduction in your valuable paper . The front of the building is to be in Pilgrim-street , which will ultimately

be one of the main thoroughfares of the city , and it will be of imposing appearance . The grand entrance leads direct by " seven " steps to the central lobby , ancl to a spacious corridor leading to the retiring rooms for b . ith laelies and gentlemen , for the whole of thc ground lloor is devoted to

public reception and ball rooms . Ihe large ball room is 72 feet long , 3 ( 1 feet wide , and 25 feet high , and it is arranged , not only for use as a dancing room , but for large meetings , concerts , lectures , kc , and for Masonic banquets . It will accoinino-jate between 51111 and fioei persons for meetings , 150 to 200 couples for dancing , and for 2511 diners at banquets .

A ball supper room a-d Masonic committee rooms , kc , occupy the cnlrcsol lloor , while large doors shut off the upper portion of the building , which is exclusively devoted to Masonic uses . The first floor contains : Provincial Grand Lodge room of the same size as tbe large ball room below , Tylers' rooms , assembling rooms , smaller lodge room ( over half the size of Provincial Grand Lodge room ) , See .

The second and third lloors contain Mark Masters' lodge rooms , R . Achapter rooms , K . T . encampment rooms , with all necessary offices , while over all , in the h ' ghest storey , are the kitchens and larders / and connected by lifts with each lloor of the building . The entire hall will be lighted with the electric light , warmed by hot air ,

and th ? mo ! approved system of ventilation will be adopted . The cost of the hall , exclusive of the site , will be from £ " 14 , 000 lo £ 15 , 000 , and from these figures , and thc short description here given , some idea of the magnitude of the work may be gathered . Perhaps a word about the company itself may here be of advantage .

The directors have laboured incessantly for nearly two years at the work of forming and formulating their plans , and the greatest conceivable difficulties have bcen met with , only , one after the other , to be , by patience and

perseverance , overcome , until now the directors are in the happy position of being able to sign the contract for tbe building with Messrs . J . and R . I . owrey , one of the best and most trustworthy firms of builders in the North of K ' tgland .

The whole capital of the company is not yet subscribed on account of so large a sum as £ 35 , 000 ( the total nominal capital of tbe company ) being somewhat difficult to arrange in so limited ( having regard to the size of the province ) an area as Newcastle , and many of the country lodges having small halls of tl cir own ; but sufficient shares have been taken up , and

sufficient money borrowed on debentures , to enable the work to be commenced at once , and to carry it on to successful completion , while an assured income of over £ 1500 per annum can safely bc relied on as soon as the hall is finished ,

and ready fjr occupation and letting . Tlie company and directors are to be congratulated also upon their selection of site , as since the purchase was effected the value of it has materially increased , anel will continue to increase year by year .