Provincial Lodges.

The minutes of the last Provincial Grand Lod ge holden at Halifax , on the third of January last was read and confirmed . The D . P . G . M . informed the Brethren that , as several applications had been madefor the Provincial Grand Lodge bye-laws , a number of copies had been placed in the hands of Br . Wm . Smith , P . G . D . C , and might be obtained from him at his establishment in Westgate , Huddersfield , at " each ; and turning to the second page of the Provincial Grand Lodge , bye-laws , he read as follows : — " The countof York wide in extent and

y , being large populated , was divided into two Masonic provinces , the north and east riding forming one , and the west riding forming the other province , and the Provincial Grand Lodge of the West Riding of the County of York was constituted at Wakefield , April 23 rd , 1823 , when the Right Hon . the Earl of Mexborough ( then Viscount Pollington ) was installed the First Provincial Grand Master ; " and pointing to a splendid portrait recently executed with great artistic talent , by Br . Samuel Howell , of the Lodge of Harmony , No . 342 , and the wall of the Lod

which was suspended on ge Room , he said , "Behold the portrait of your First Provincial Grand Master , who has . presided over you for the space of thirty-two years . " Br . J . T . Armitage , P . P . J . G . W ., immediately rose , and said that he wished to call the attention of the brethren to the subject of that portrait , for he had been in communication with Br . Howell in reference thereto , and he should now propose that every subscriber of one guinea for the portrait should be entitled to a lithograph , copy thereof .

Br , Dr . Feamley , P . P . S . G . W ., stated that the original design ought to be carried out , for at ^ the outset it was understood that the portraits of the R . W . Provincial Grand Master and his Deputy should severally be taken and become the property of the Provincial Lodge of West Yorkshire . The D . P . G . M . begged the brethren not to take any note of him , but to confine their attention exclusively to the portrait of their R . W . Provincial Grand Master . Br . C . S . Floyd , P . P . S . G . W ., supported Br . Dr . Fearnly ' s proposition , and said that he thought the D . P . G . M . manifested an unkind feeling in not complying with the wishes of his brethren .

The D . P . G . M . exclaimed , " I am honoured beyond measure , and I must bow to your will !" Br . C . S . Floyd said he should propose that , after the subscribers to the portraits had been severally supplied with lithographic copies thereof , the lithograph on the stones should be effaced , so that the lithographs should be rendered rare . A Committee was then formed for carrying out the resolutions relative to the

portrait . Br . J . Batley , W . M ., No . 342 , withdrew his proposition for the suspension of our Provincial Grand Lodge bye-law 17 , of which he had given notice the last Provincial Grand Lodge . Br . Richard Carter , P . P . S . G . W ., proposed , Br . Thomas Dewhurst , P . S . G . D ., seconded , and it was carried : — " That the Ritual Committee be known by the title of the West Yorkshire Lodge of Instruction and Referenceand that its first

; meeting be held this day month at the Harmony Lodge , No . 342 , at four o ' clock in the afternoon , circulars in the meantime being sent to each member by Provincial Grand Secretary . " Returns were then read from the various Lodges in the Province , amounting to 30 , showing that they possess 1150 contributing members , and 273 P . M . ' s . They also have 1814 votes for the R . M . B . Institution ; 22 for the girl ' s school , and 21 for the boys ' . The sum subscribed towards liquidating the asylum debts bthe lodof this

y ge division of Yorkshire , was 14 ? . lis . The P . G . T . produced his cash account with the vouchers , and the cheque book of Messrs . Beckett & Co ., and the D . P . G . M . announced to the brethren that , in addition to 500 ? . invested on mortgage , there remains in the bank a handsome sum—which sum , as will be shown by the Treasurer ' s account hereto annexed , now reaches the amount of 241 / . 15 s . Sd ., making with the mortgage , 741 ? . 15 s . 8 ( 7 . Br , Wm . Dixon was again unanimously re-elected Provincial Grand Treasurer .