Annual Festival Of The Emulation Lodge Of Improvement.

The Stewards of the festival were * . Bros . 7 . E . Anderson , 18 , J . D . 255 ; W . Beattie , P . M . 142 ; H . Bud , J . D . 1 S 20 ; G . Brooke , P . M . 63 ; I . March Case , P . G . D . ; Col . Shadwell H . Gierke , G . Sec . ; J . H Davidson , 1 S 20 ; R . R . Davis , P . M . 25 G ; ; W . A . Dawson , P . M . 176 S ; H . J . P . Dumas , P . G . D . ; A . W . Duret , W . M . t 6 S , P . M . 1223 ; A . Escott , W . M . 1593 ; T . FennP . G . D . Treas . ; Montague Cosset , P . M . G 6 ; R . Grey , P . G . D . ; W . H .

, , lohnston , 1 S 20 ; J . W . Jones , J . D . 5 ; C . Loivther Kemp , 63 , J . D . 1924 ; W . G . Kentish , S . W . 1293 ; j . W . Lambert , VV . M . 1415 , P . M- 142 ; P * de L . Long , P . G . D . ; A . Marvin , J . W . 17 GS ; J . H . Matthews , P . Dist . G . D . Bengal ; Sir J . B . Monckton , Pres . Board of General Purposes ; C . A . Murton , P . G . D . ; J . Muzio , P . M . 1150 ; T . \ V . OckendenP . M . 1512 ; G . C . Pulsford , Sec . 1593 ; A . A . Richards , P . G . S ., P . M .

, S and SG 5 , P . Prov . G . J . W . Middx . ; J . A . Rucker , P . G . D . ; Sir Bruce M . Seton , Bart ., 6 ; S . W . Shaw , F-D-709 ; W . Smallpeice , P . M . 1395 , J . W . 9 G 9 , Sec . ; A . C . Spaull , P . G . Registrar N . Wales and Salop ; F . R . Spaull , P . M . 176 S , S . W . 1124 ; R Clay Sudlow , iS and 263 ; A . C . Tanoueray , 33 ; ] . Truman Tanqueray , 176 S ; Sir Erasmus Wilson , P . G . D . ; and S . B . Wilson , P . M . 50 .

The lodge was opened at six o ' clock , when the Second Lecture was worked by Bro . Fenn and the following brethren : ist Section Bro . J . W . Jones , J . D . 5 . 2 nd „ „ . J . Truman Tanqueray , 1768 . 3 rd ,, 1 . J- H . Davidson , 1820 . 4 th „ „ C . Lowther Kemp , 63 , J . D . 1924 . 5 th ,, ,, S . W . Shaw , J . D . 709 .

It is almost needless to say that all this work was done to perfection and fully maintained the character of the Emulation as a lodge of improvement for Master Masons . At the conclusion of the work , Bro . T . FENN said that the Emulation Lodge of Improvement was a very lar ^ e lodge , and met every Friday evening throughout the vear at seven

o ' clock . Some of the most eminent members of the Craft belonged to it . A subscription of half-a-crown constituted a life member , and the brethren who attended the weekly meetings paid one shilling each time they came ; or , if annual subscribers ol five shillings , sixpence . After paying the expenses of thc lodge the rest of thc expenses werc devoted to the Three Charitable Institutions of the Order , and these

contributions werc very large . Last year they contributed about £ 80 to the Institutions . They really contributed very largely . The LORD MAYOR , in proposing a vote of thanks to the brethren who had so ably worked the Sections that evening , said that all the brethren knew Bro . Thomas Fenn ; in fact his was a name known throughout the whole of Freemasonry as one of thc most distinguished and remarkable men , one whose devotion to the work of Freemasonry they could not praise

too much . Nevertheless , hc thought the } ' must congratulate him on having some very apt pupils . To him ( the Lord Mayor ) it seemed astonishing how the brethren learned their work so well , for they ali knew the acquisition of the long ancl difficult ritual must occupy a great deal of time . Such industry and perseverance must win the sympathy of all the brethren , who would , no doubt , accord a hearty vote of thanks . Bro . ] . M- CASE , P . G . D ., seconded the vote , which was put and carried unanimously .

Bro . T HOMAS FENN , P . G . D ., in reply , said although he could scarcely be called one of the working brethren , he believed it was usual for the Master in the chair to respond to this vote of thanks . He heartily thanked the brethren for cordially responding to the proposition so kindly made by

the Lord Mayor . The brethren would be pleased lo know that with thc exception of one of the brethren who had worked that evening this was the working brethren ' s first year , and he thought thc way they had acquitted themselves did them great credit , and also reflected credit on the Emulation Lodo * e of Improvement , where they got their knowledge .

The lodge was then closed , and the brethren adjourned to Freemasons ' Tavern to banquet . Thc Right Hon . Bro . the Lord Mayor presided . Afterwards the customary toasts were proposed and honoured . Those of " The Queen and Craft , " and " H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M . " having been drunk , The LORD MAYOR proposed "The Pro G . M ., the Earl of Carnarvon ,

& c , " and , in doing so , said this was a most appropriate toast for Bro . Bevan to respond to , because the Earl of Carnarvon had been the Minister for the Colonics , and the Colonies felt that in him they had a master mind . The Earl of Carnarvon was a man who had endeared himself to his countrymen by the honest labour of his life , by the true devotion of a powerful

intellect , although of not very strong physical frame , to thc interests of his country . The Earl of Lathom was well-known among the brethren as a freat agriculturist , and the name of Bro . Bevan , of New Zealand , lie was sure , would be received wilh pleasure , as he had just come fresh from that other world , ancl could give a great deal of information respecting it .

Bro . BEVAN , Dist . G . M . of New Zealand , who was received with loud applause , in reply , said he felt it a special and great compliment to be called npon to respond for those illustrious gentlemen , brethren connected with the Craft , whose names had been associated with his that evening and with the Grand Officers , Present and Past . Indeed , hc hardly felt equal to such an occasion vvhen coming lo the Emulation Lodge of Improvement . All he

could tell the brethren was that he would consider his journey to England had not been made in vain after he had met in such a brilliant assemblage a concourse of worthy and good working Masons . It was , indeed , with pride lhat he referred to the pleasures and associations of Masonry , for by experience lie found that il was one of the grandest passports in the world . It opened thc hearts of men ; it appealed to their sympathies and to the greatest

cf all virtues-Charity . Especially ltgathered togethcrmen of varied creeds and opinions , nnd all joined together in the one grand determination to make this grand institution of Freemasonry flourish in all corners of tlie earth . Even in the distant lands of the Colonies , that had been well referred to by thc Lord Mayor , the spirit of Freemasonry existed , nnd thc desire was there to promote its genuine influences ; and it had been instrumental in doing a

great deal of good in affording relief to those who werc in need , and in its humble mission doing it all without coming before the general public . He , indeed , felt vcry proud to have his name associated wilh those noble names mentioned to-night , but lie felt still prouder at being called a Freemason when he thought for a moment that the greatest minds of the universe felt proud at having their names associated with Freemasonry . When he found thc chief magistrate of the greatest city in the world presided at a Masonic

meeting , and was proud of being one of the body ; when they took up the morning papers and saw that Masons were guiding the destinies of nations ; that men in Parliament and other prominent positions were Masons , they must feel that Masonry was exerting its influence in every walk of lifc . Therefore , they had every reason to be proud of Masonry , and to attach themselves to its traditions . And was not it pleasant to come there and to find Masonry so well expounded in the Lodge of Emulation ? The greatest credit and

Annual Festival Of The Emulation Lodge Of Improvement.

praise was due to the W . M . and Preceptor of the lod ge and his officers , who had so effectually taught them . Without further dilating on the principles of the Craft and the kind reception the brethren had given his name in association with the names of the Grand Officers of Grand Lodge , he thanked the lodge very heartily for this compliment and honour .

The Rev . C . J . MARTYN , P . G . C , Dep . Prov . G . M . for Suffolk , in proposing " The Health of the Lord Mayor , " said he was very pleased to have had the honour of having that duty to perform . If any of the brethren had come into the room that evening ignorant of the merits of the Lord Mayor , if they judged of what he did by what he said , and the way he expressed himself would feel that in having selected him for the chief magistrate for

the year the Corporation of London had done a good and excellent thing . The brethren must all have been pleased and delighted with the graceful way in which he had introduced the various toasts that evening ; . but as Masons they must hail the presence of his lordshi p as a very great honour , the time was now very recent since he assumed that office which he so well and worthily filled , and it was a great compliment to Freemasons that so

soon after his acceptance of tbat office he had found time from all his numerous engagements , which they had some idea of , to spare to preside over this meeting . It showed the interest he took in Freemasonry , and although this was the first time during his mayoralty that he had made his appearance in Freemasonry publicly , he hoped and trusted it might not be the last . It was within his ( Bro . Martyn ' s ) recollection that there had been

Lord Mayors of London who had been Junior Wardens of Grand Lodge , and hc only hoped and trusted the omen mi ght prove a good one in this case . He ( Bro . Martyn ) had another very great reason to be exceedingly pleased at the high honour imposed on him , and that with a personal one to himself , viz . that he had the honour of being the grandson of a Lord Mayor , and although his grandfather was Lord Mayor a great many years

ago , he ventured to tell the Lord Mayor that his ( Bro . Martyn ' s ) grandmother , who was Lady Mayoress in 1 S 09 was living four or five years sinceshe was a past Lady Mayoress of London of seventy years standing . He hoped the Lord Mayor would tell the Lad y Mayoress " that when h ' e went home , as it might shew her that although dispensing the hospitality of the Mansion House the duty was not always such as to cause people to succumb

under its weight . Let the brethren in drinking this toast wish long life , health and prosperity , and a most happy year of office to the Lord Mayor , ancl might he be preserved from dangers and harms oi every sort and kind . The LORD MAYOR , responding , said he was vcry much delighted to hear of thc longevity of the Lady Mayoress just spoken of . " Charity hoped all things , " and perhaps the brethren ' s cliariry might extend to a hope that hc

might live as long as that Lady Mayoress . If he did he might add he most heartily wished that every brother he saw before him might live equally long , and that they would year after year—and certainl y if he could aid them in obtaining that end he would—have a Lord Mayor to preside over them . Of one thing hc was perfectly certain , that if they carried on this lodge in the same manner in which it had been carried on , if thev had such a \ V . M ., and

such Wardens , and such apt pupils as they had seen that night , then the Lodge of Emulation would remain for centuries—not for years—yet to come an example lo the other lodges of England ; and he was quite sure that there was no honour which could be conferred upon thc chief magistrate greater than that of asking him to take the chair on such an occasion as the present . Thc LORD MAYOR said lie had now to propose a toast which came a

little near home— " Success to the Emulation Lod ge of Improvement , " and he should couple with the toast the name of Bro . Thos . Fenn , the Treasurer . They all knew lhat Freemasonry was wisdom . The master in wisdom , Kin •* Solomon , was the originator of the Order of Freemasonry ; and they saw thc wisdom by the constitution of what were called lodges of emulation , or lodges in which the art and ritual might be learned . Hc knew of

no institution , until technical education came into vogue , which could vie with Freemasonry in the wisdom of that arrangement . The Emulation Lodge of Improvement was the best known and the most justly and highly esteemed of the lod ges of instruction . It was founded many years ago , and is now attached ' to a lodge bearing a high rank in the Craft , viz ., thc Lodge of Unions . He was not . learned

enough to describe what thc Lod ge of Unions was , but he understood the Lodge of Emulation was a lodge which had the greatest possible consideration of the Craff , and under the late Bro . Hervev , whose name he had only to mention to win thc respect it so well deserved , and also Bro . Murton , and subsequently under the accomplished Treasurer , Bro . Thomas Fenn , it had risen to a very high state of efficiency , and was considered in the Freemason

world as most useful in preserving the ritual of the Craft . When he got on his legs he was always anxious to make a long speech , but since he had been a Freemason hc had found it of the greatest possible use to be educated in the ritual of short speeches . He believed he had now said enough to imbrue the brethren with enthusiasm in . the cause of the toast which he then proposed , " Success to the Emulation Lodge of Improvement . "

Bro . THOMAS FENN , P . G . D . Treasurer , in returning thanks , said the office of Treasurer was not a very onerous one in that lodge , in fact at that moment hc might say they had given so well during the last year to the Institutions of Masonry that there was very little cash left in his hands . Hc was rather proud of that ; it was better than keeping money in their hands . But although thc duty of Treasurer was very light , there were other duties

connected with his olhce , which hc shared with the other members of the Committee of that lodge , which were not so light , and they looked to the brethren . to support them so far as they werc able , and to lighten the duties which devolved upon them . The constitution ' of this lodge was , as they werc aware , very peculiar . They numbered among their members a vast number of Freemasons ,

so vast , in fact , that hc did not suppose it would be possible to ascertain how many ihcy werc ; yet they met each Friday in comparatively small numbers , averaging perhaps not more than forty . Many of these brethren came for thc purpose of learning Masonry during the time they werc passing through their various offices in their lodges , and disappeared after learning all they wished lo learn . The voting power of thc lodge was , therefore , not a very changeable body . On the contrary , the Committee of the lodge had appeared as prominent and active members for many years ; in fact ,

there were three of the members of thc Committee who he might say had been active , and constantly active members of the lodge for a period of a quarter of a century . He alluded to Bro . Murton and Bro . Richards . He ( Bro . Fenn ) and they were all pupils under Stephen Barton Wilson , and had been staunch supporters of the lodge during that very extended period . He thought , therefore , they had a ri ght to ask this changing body to repose their confidence in thc Committee . The toast which had been proposed , and which he was now responding to , was "Success to thc Emulation Lodge of Improvement , " and hc was certain that success could not be belter achieved