Emulation.

EMULATION .

E > EARING in mind what we said in days long * - * gone by , when criticising the visitor who " had never seen work so admirably done as had been the case that day , " we felt it was first necessary to cast

around for an explanation of a somewhat similar theory we propose to lay down—the determination of the ordinary Brother , on being elected to the chair of a Lodge , to outshine all past Officers , and do something

in advance of what had been previously accomplished . It is , of course , one thing for a Brother to set himself the task of excelling all of his predecessors , and quite another for a visitor to get up and repeat the old stock

phrase , time after time , that the work had never been done better , nor a ceremony more impressively rendered , than at the Lodge of which he was at the moment a guest . One is evidence of a laudable

ambition ; the other is not only of questionable tasteunder circumstances which occasionally surround our gatherings—but very often defeats the very object for which it is uttered , by making the real delinquents

appear even more ridiculous than would have been the case had their shortcomings been simply glossed over . But as we have said , our desire being to maintain that every Brother elected to the chair of a Lodge makes

up his mind to do better than any of his predecessors , we had to search for a reasonable excuse for advancing such a theory of continued improvement ; and we find it in an article we quote elsewhere , in which it is pointed

out that every new Master has the experience of his predecessors to look back upon , and in determining to eclipse them he can profit by their mistakes , and avoid troubles which they had to face without previous note

or warning . Thus it is possible for each succeeding Master to do better than those before him , providing he has the spirit of emulation strong within him , the ability to

profit by the experiences of those he wishes to excel , and a fair share of those gifts of nature which are essential and necessary for all who desire to shine as rulers or leaders among their fellows . This being so

it is well to be able to recognise a strong desire among the Brethren of to-day to emulate the work of the past generation ; to even accomplish far greater things in

the future than have been done in the past , rather than to rest content with the mere knowledge of having been able to keep things up to the same standard as previously existed . "

The spirit of emulation is strong among us , and it is perfectly safe to say that "Excelsior" is the popular motto among members of the Craft . Ever upward , still higher , is certainly the ambition of the ordinary

Freemason , and , happily , usages of the Craft allow of the full exercise of that principle , by the promotions and preferment which regularly take place in our Lodges year by year . It is no ususual thing to hear the junior Officers of a Lodge promising to use every

Emulation.

effort to discharge their duties better than they were done by previous holders of the Office , and that , too , even in the presence of the Brethren referred to . But

no offence is intended or taken , and it may be the Brethren criticised are themselves of a similar opinion in regard to the higher duties before them , all of which sentiments must have a beneficial effect on the future

of the Craft , for the more emulation there is the more likely are we to have good and efficient Officers in years to come .

At a meeting of Worshipful Masters of Lodges on Friday evening , 14 th inst , in the Three Towns , held in the Freemasons ' Hall , Plymouth , and presided over by Bro . C . J . Moore Vv . M . of St . John ' s Lodge , No . 70 , it was unanimously decided that the concert to be given in Plymouth Guildhall , in December ,

on behalf of the Devon Masonic Educational Fund , should be held under the banner of Lodge Elms , No . 1212 , of which Bro . W . H . James is the W . M . Bro . W . Willoughby P . P . G . O ., who has conducted several concerts in previous years with marked success , has again consented to undertake the musical arrangements , and is preparing a very attractive programme .

* * * In connection with the celebration last year of the tercentenary of its consecutive minutes , the Lodge of Edinburgh ( Mary ' s Chapel ) , No . 1 , which according to the authorities is the oldest existing Freemasons' Lodge in the world , is

bringing out a new and limited edition of its history . The work , of which Bro . D . Murray Lyon Grand Secretary of Scotland is the author , will be published by the Gresham

Publishing Company , 130 Bath Street , Glasgow . A special copy is in course of preparation for H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , who gave his patronage to the first edition , and who has honoured the Lodge by requesting a copy of the present one .

We regret to learn that Bro . Richard Wilson Deputy Grand Master of West Yorkshire has met with an accident which will confine him to his house for some time . Bro . Wilson recently went to St . Petersburg on a holiday , but shortly

before disembarking there he slipped on deck and sprained his ankle . Pie was brought back to England as soon as convenient , and is now under treatment at his residence , Westfield , Armley . * * *

Official confirmation is given of the announcement that early in the coming year the Grand Master of England and the Princess of Wales will visit Ireland for the purpose of laying the foundation stone of the new Royal Victoria Hospital , at

Belfast , to be erected as a memorial of the Queen ' s Diamond Jubilee . During their Royal Highnesses' stay they will be the guests of the Marquis of Londonderry , at Mount Stewart , county Down .

* * * Even his nearest friends might fail to recognise Brother the Lord Mayor of Liverpool as Cohenydd , or the estimable Lady Mayoress as Mai Cohen , —die bardic titles conferred upon them by the gorsedd of bards , at the opening of the Royal Welsh Eisteddfod in the Mersey city this week .

The installation meeting of the Villiers Lodge , No . 1194 , will be held at the Mitre Hotel , Hampton Court , on the first Saturday in October , when we hope to be represented , and give an account of the proceedings .