Annual Festial Of The Emulation Lodge Of Improvement.

ANNUAL FESTIAL OF THE EMULATION LODGE OF IMPROVEMENT .

Annual Festival of the Fmulation Lodge of Improvelhe . ,. p | ace in the Temple of Freemasons' Hall , on ' ' J ! * i , pvenin-r , the 25 th ult ., under the presidency of the F !" u . n , m the Earl of Milltown , P . S . G . W . Punctually at •?' > bck ' Bro . Thomas Fenn , President of the Board of s i * ° Ji Purooses , and Treasurer of the lodge , took the Ge " Rro C . R . Lightbody being S . W . ; Bro . G . B . f ' ' , , I . W . ; Bro . G . L . Kennaby , S . D . ; Bro . H . ' - . '• IT , flD . ; and Bro . C . Bassano , I . G . The lodge then opened in the three Degrees , and the First I dure vvas worked by Bro . Fenn , assisted by the following

b ^ t Section by Bro . C . W . Blaxland , J . D . 709 . ' ., „ G . L . Kennaby , S . D . 1420 . 2 " ? ' „ \ V . M . Kirby , Stwd . 1965 . *>!? " „ H . Pritchard , W . M . 1415 . fri ; „ W . S . Lee , W . M . 17 GS . 6 th » » A * Combes » ' 47 ' - „ ,, 126

" £ ;; „ c . w . A . Trollope , P . M . S . The whole of the work vvas done so well , that it would be * idious to select any of the above-named brethren for '" ecial commendation . The whole was perfect , and if S P Sections were more impressive than others , the result S < " s simply duo to the fact that the later dealt vvith more " dvanced subjects than the earlier Sections . At the conwork

clusion of the , The Earl of M ILLTOWN rose and proposed a vote of thanks to the working brethren . His lordship said that he had never before had the pleasure of attending the Emulation Lodgeof Improvement ; but he could not think that even in that lodge the beautiful ritual of the Craft could have been delivered better , more effectively , and more irarressively trian it had been on that occasion . It had been

to him , as to all , a real treat , and he Begged to propose a hearty vote of thanks to those who had afforded it . Bro . Col . SHADWELL H . CLERKE , G . Sec , seconded the motion , vvhich vvas carried " nem . con . " Bro . T . FENN , in reply , said it was usual for the Master in the chair to return thanks forthe working officers , and he did it with the greatest pleasure , for it must be a great

satisfaction to them to hear his lordship s commendation , and to hear that their efforts had given general satisfaction . He thanked his lordship and the lodge in the name of the working brethren . , The lodge vvas then closed down in the three Degrees , - and the brethren subsequently supped together in the ¦ ¦ '¦ Great Hall in Freemasons'Tavern . Lord Milltown took

the chair , and proved an exceedingly good Chairman . In proposing "The Health of Her Majesty , " associated vvith "The Craft , " the CHAIRMAN said her Majesty had ever been a patron of the Craft . She vvas now about to celebrate the fiftieth year of her happy reign , and ¦ if there wss one thing more than another that one could wish for the more apt celebration of that Jubilee , it would

be that their gracious Sovereign would , as she vvas wont to do in the brave old days of yore , show herself among her people more frequently . He gave them " The Queen , God ' bless her , and tbe Craft . " ln proposing "The Health of H . R . H . the Grand Master , " ihe CHAIRMAN said that the Prince of Wales , like those initiates who had been referred to that evening ,

recently escaped two great dangers — that of being crushed by the earthquake in the _ one land , or by the s fugitives running away from it in the other . But the Prince stood his ground like a man . The panic had novv v subsided , and he ( the Chairman ) heard that the Prince was now proceeding on his way home , and he hoped they would ¦ soon sfe him among them again with his bright and genial

, lace , and that he would make himself , as he always did , the * right man in the right place . [ .. Ihe toast , vvhich vvas received vvith great applause , having been drunk , i The CHAIRMAN said the next toast he had to propose * : vvas that of "The Earl of Carnarvon , Pro Grand Master , Ihe Dep . Prov . Grand Master , the Earl of Lathom , and the

f rest of the Grand Officers , " and with that toast he should j' couple the name of the most energetic Grand Officer , his . Wend Bro . Shadwell H . Clerke . there could not be two F kings of Brentford , but when Lord Carnarvon was not _ present Lord Lathom vvas there , and vice versa . They did A their duty energetically , and we weremuch indebted to them . _; His lordship added lhat he was going to say something

A very high flown about the officers of Grand Lodge , when j : it suddenly occurred to him that he vvas one of them himjs- self ; and said he would simply propose their health . i .: Bro . Col . SHADWELL H . CLERKE said that , as by the f accident of the moment , it had fallen to his lot to return |; thanks for that important toast , he begged to say that he thanked them exceedingly for the kind way in vvhich it had

f been received , and hc vvas sure that the Grand Officers ! ¦ Were always grateful to theirless fortunate brethren , who had i "ot attained to the purple , for the cordial manner in vvhich E : 'hey vvere always welcomed . The G rand Officers , as all ; Working Masons , vvere most anxious to do all in their power 'o promote the old working of the Order , and therefore he y Was sure that the Grand Officers vvho vvere then present

had had a very great deal of pleasure in coming there to support , as far as their personal presence would , this grand °° dy , the Emulation Lodge of Improvement , which had e xercised so wonderful and successful an influence in preserving * the ritual and precepts of the Order . He could

' . assure them that he spoke the sentiments of his colleagues Who were present , that it had been a genuine pleasure to ;; '" em to be there that evening to witness the magnificent ; * ork that had been done , and they wished the Emulation ' :. ¦ Lod se of Improvement all the continued success that it Merited .

Br ° - SAMUEL POPE , O . C , M . P ., S . G . D ., said he vvas Permitted to ask them to drink "The Health of noble ? _ ¦ ' a- fc _ i rman ' the Earl oi Milltown . " He owned he had some ¦ vvlv , ence ** addressing an assembly , so many members of * ' AIt * ^ exllibited their accomplished ability in the I- elivery 0 f sentiments Jill must approve , but he should be •¦ bill ociiLUUCULS Hll must dpyiuvc , uui . 11 ^ OllUUtU U 6 ut

' (¦ A ^ . a sorry member of Ibis own profession , and but a poor ason , if he hesitated to comply with the request to pro-™ such a toast as that . Lord Milltown discharged nerous duties , and all ' well . It was his ( Bro . Pope's ) ¦ bvl ne j and again to address tribunals presided over of r Milltown in a qutisi judicial capacity as a member town mittees in the House of Lords ; and if Lord Mill-¦ ¦ ' ' ^ hn Was absent he should say that there vvas no Chairman •^ welcomed with greater cordiality and satisfaction n his name was seen in the votes of the House . As a

Annual Festial Of The Emulation Lodge Of Improvement.

Mason he had served the office of S . G . W ., and by his presence that evening indicated the interest which he took in the welfare of the Craft , and he had not merely served the comparatively ornamental duty of a Grand Officer , but he had passed through the chair of his own lodge , the United Lodge , and had discharged the oidinary duties vvhich fall to the lot of any member of the ( raft . He thought a great deal of the mark which one could not

help attaching to Lord Milltown's career which ; founded on the fact that his early training vvas that of a member of his ( Bro . Pope ' s ) profession . Lord Milltown vvas a barrister , and a very creditable barrister . If he had not been raised to the House of Lords he would have been a Q . C , and he vvas by no means sure vvhich vvas the greater dignity . ( Laughter and cheers . ) Anyhow , said he , having got a good barrister , and a good Mason , an excellent fellow , and a noble lord , let us drink his health . ( Applause . )

Lord MILLTOWN , in replying , said he could not express to the brethren how much obliged he vvas for the very kind manner in vvhich they had drunk his health , or how much he felt obliged to his kind friend and brother barrister Bro Pope . Bro . Pope had placed him on too high a pedestal , he never could have attained the eminence vvhich had been

attained by Bro . Pope . He never had much chance as a barrister . Possibly if another branch of the profession had had a clearer insight of men and manners things might have been otherwise , but as they had not he continued undistinguished till the time when he was compelled by circumstances to leave the bar , and he did not see how he had attained eminence in that profession vvhich Bro .

Pope adorned . Otherwise , he might have entered contests with Bro . Pope , and been beaten by him . In the Hou . ^ e of Lords he had the pleasure of seeing Bro . Pope frequently , and he vvas always glad to see him , because he spared them more than any of the others , and his brief orations vvere far more effective than the prolix orations to vvhich Committees were sometimes subjected .

He went on to say that it vvas a very great pleasure to him to be present this evening ; he did not know when he had been more delighted , and he wished with all his heart success and happiness to the Emulation Lodge . Perhaps they would allow him to conclude not with a song but with a toast which was " Good luck and success to the Emulation Lodge , " vvith vvhich he would propose " The

Health of Bro . Fenn , " to whom he could not help thinking that the lodge was greatly indebted for its success , and vvho had performed his part of that evening ' s programme vvith such admirable knowledge cf the Craft . Bro . Fenn vvas not only a good Mason but in every sense of the word a good fellow . He would therefore give " Success to our noble selves , coupling with it the Health of Bro . Fenn . "

Bro . FENN , P . G . D ., President Boardof General Purposes : My Lord and brethren , there are none present to-night vvho can wish with more earnestness success to the Emulation Lodge of Improvement than the Co . nmittee of the lodge whom 1 have the honour of representing in responding to this toast . I take the opportunity of expressing to his lordship , who occupies the chair , the deep sense the

Committe entertain of his kindness in coming here to-night under very painful circumstances . His lordship is by no means well . So unwell was he yesterday as to wish to avoid coming , but he put himself to some inconvenience and some personal pain to come , here to-night . It is usual on these occasions for the brother vvho responds to this toast to give some little account of this lodge ' s history , in order

to show the Craft the claim which vve have to consider the ritual vve teach , the ritual vvhich was authorised ijy the Grand Lodge of England . But it is so late that 1 fear i shall try your patience if I were to go through that history , so 1 will in as few words as I can tell you the origin of this lodge . At the union of the Grand Lodges the work vvas found to differ very considerably , and the Lodge of Reconciliation vvas

formed under the authority of the United Grand Lodge to collect together the various modes of working , and to bring before Grand Lodge a system of working which would be satisfactory to all , and vvhich might be adopted as a uniform system of working to be ordered by the Grand Lodge to be practised throughout the Craft . The Lodge of Reconciliation after some difficulty completed their task under Di . Williams ,

a task vvhich was commenced in the first instance by Dr . Hemming . The ceremonies of initiation , passing , and raising were rehearsed before a Special Grand Lodge , called for that purpose . They sanctioned the working and ordered that to be the uniform working and no other . The use of written rituals was by the articles of Union strictly forbidden . The Lodge of Reconciliation were , therefore , ordered orally

to teach this ritual by parties of three to the London Lodges and to delegates from the provinces . Very soon after the Lodgeof Reconciliation had performed their task this Lodge of Emulation vvas formed partly by the members of that lodge and by Bro . Peter Gilkes , vvho vvas known for his quick and retentive memory ; and he it was vvho was the ruling spirit of this lodge in the first period of its existence .

Bro . Peter Gilkes oied in about the year 1 S 33 and he vvas succeeded by his friend and pupil Bro . Stephen Barton VVilson , whose son is amongst us tonight . Stephen Barton Wilson continued to be the President of this lodge till his death , in 1866 . He vvas succeeded by the then Grand Secretary , Bro . John Hervey , Bro . Murton , Bro . Richards , and myself , who vvere all pupils of

Bro . Stephen Barton Wilson . I myself had the privilege of being taught all the ceremonies by him , and I think , therefore , we may consider ourselves within touch of the working of the Lodge of Reconciliation . Bro . Murton , on my left , and Bro . Richards , a little further to my left , and myself are within three generations of the oral teaching of the Lodge of Reconciliation ; so I think I may say that the

working of this lodge is the actual working of the Lodge of Reconciliation , vvhich was ordered to be worked throughout the Craft , his the duty of this lodge to transmit unimpaired those traditions to our successors , and though , in consequence of other engagements , I cannot now take the active part in its affairs that I did formerly , I am happy to think that there are those among the present Committee—and

especially I will mention Bro . Sudlow—who are thoroughly capable of carrying on the work as it has been done in the past , and it is a gratification to those whose age vvill in a short time remove them from among you , to recognise the fact that they have successors—some on the present Committee and others vvho are rising up among us—and who

have given samples of the work to-night , by whom the working of the Iodge will be maintained in the future as in the past . I vvill not detain you any longer than to thank you for . this toast which you have proposed , and to assure you that the success of this lodge is at the heart of every member of the Committee , and that they will do all they

Annual Festial Of The Emulation Lodge Of Improvement.

can to promote the success which you have wished them . ( Prolonged applause , succeeded by calls for Bro . Sudlow . ) Bro . SUDLOW said he vvas sure at this very late period of the evening the company would not expect a speech Irom him , paiticularly alter the very admirable and exhaustive manner in vvhich the subject of the toast had already been dealt with by Bro . Fenn . He could only say that he

thanked them personally for the very kind and cordial manner in which his name had been received by those present . Bro . PARKINSON proposed " The Health of the Lodge of Unions , " under whose banner the Emulation Lodge of Improvement worked . He said there might be this appropriateness in his having to discharge this duty in the

circumstance , that he vvas , perhaps , one of the oldest pupils in the room , of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement , during the interesting historical resume" which they had had from Bro . Fenn , his heart had thrilled to remember that it had been his privilege in his youth to sit under Stephen Barton Wilson . The purity of the working they had heard to-night , and the enthusiasm of the pupils vvho attended , vvere as visible novv , as in his time . It vvas not

only on show nights , but on the Working nights , they found the working maintained vvith skill and purity , under the hands of the able member of the committee , who directed the work . Bro . Parkinson concluded by proposing the toast , coupled with the name of the Master ot the Lodge of Unions . Bro . BERTRAM acknowledged the compliment . " The Health of the Officers of the Emulation Lodge , " vvas next proposed , and vvas responded to by the S . W . Bro .

LIGHTBODY . Bro . MURTON , P . G . D ., proposed "The Health of the Stewards , " and Bro . JONES , Secretary of the ludge , responded . Ihe CHAIRMAN then proposed "Success to the Masonic Charities , " coupled with the name of Bro . Binckes , vvho returned thanks . After vvhich the Tyler ' s toast brought the proceedings of the evening to a close .

Among the brethren present vvere : Bros . Samuel Pope , P . G . D . ; W . H . Perryman , A . G . P . ; Ralph Clutton , J . G . D . ; J . H . Matthews , P . G . S . Br . ; Shadwell H . Clerke , G . Sec . ; Rudolph G . Glover , G . D . C . ; J . C . Parkinson , P . G . D . ; Chas . A . Murton , P . G . D . ; Raymond H . Thrupp , P . A . G . D . C ; Robert Grey , President Board of Benevolence ; A . A . Richards ; E . Letchworth , P . G . D . ; H . Garrod , P . G . P . ; Thos . Cubitt , P . G . P . t

C . E . Willing , P . G . Org . ; Col . James Peters , P . G . S . Br . } F . Davison , P . S . G . D . ; VVm . Roebuck , G . S . Br . ; Sir G . Goldney , D . P . G . M . Wilts ; F . H . Goldney , P . G . D . ; Edgar Bowyer , P . G . S . Br .,- Bancroft ; H . j . Dumas , P . G . L ) . ; Right Hon . Fail of Milltown , P . G . W . ; T . Fenn , President Board of General Purposes ; Sidney M . Cooke , 1 S 72 ; T . W . Hancock , 395 ; Edward Cooper ,

73 ; N . Hizgerald , 2 i 6 S ; A . C . Langdall , 5 ; VV . W . Cnudleigh , 1 S 03 ; A . A . Angier , 17 ; A . A . Wilks , 1964 ; E . Partridge , 16 S 6 ; W . Bciiuist , 2060 ; Wm . Heseitine , 256 ; J . H . Goldney , 256 ; P . Jessop , 1261 ; A . Sauvi , 2 u 6 o ; T . E . Maishall , 72 ; G . Young , 63 ; F . L . Peikcn , 6 3 ; A . B . Lacosie , 2060 ; A . Courtney , 859 ; Sidney E . Sargent , 2077 ; A . F . Godson , Deputy

Provincial Grand Master Worctstershire ; J . VV . jull , 1414 ; W . Saegert , 548 ; L . Cabuzct , 2 ^ 60 ; A . Paillard , I S U ; M . Wyatt , 5 ; John L . Mather ; F . J . Sykes , 256 ; Thos . Harper , 1216 ; Edward Upton , 1878 ; Alex , oaume , 1 S 0 ; W . R . btephens , 90 ; J . Dcnnant , 2 7 1 j F . Ingle , 79 ; G . F . Cainegie , Mary '* , Chapel ; F . Pattison , 5 ; E . L . Bdtcambe , 2095 ; W . E . Sampson , 14 ;

H . T . Grey , jun ., 1820 ; Richaid Pye , 820 ; S . Wootton , 820 ; E . J . farrier , 1365 ; C . li . Bulling , 12 S 7 ; J . R . foster , 726 ; H Lovegrove , 1537 ; s . Nowakowski , 534 ; J . Nowakowski , 534 ; S . K . snort , 424 ; A . J . loop , 645 ; J . Draper , 534 ; VV . Walford , 1584 ; A . Tngart , 171 ; C . C . Fenner , 1401 ; C . L . ihompsun , 185 ; W . W . Sutton , 10 S ; J . H . Baxter , 194 ; K . Bui knt ,

1692 ; J . Sanders , 1692 ; W . G . Hibos , 1692 ; T . Jones , 1607 ; A . Verner , S 20 ; C . H . I ' . Whitcombe , 534 ; P . P . Langlord , 170 S ; F . H . Lyell , 5 ; G . urciner , 92 ; L . A . Mesrouze , 2060 ; VV . T . Day , 179 ; T . Artand , 1305 ; F . D . Williams , 2002 ; E . Brooke , 766 ; J . Brittain , 1385 ; R . Begg , £ 7 ; H . Giddings , 1624 ; C . Cotby , 957 ; W . G . Beatton , 463 ;

5 63 ; W . lay lor , 534 ; C . J . Itter , 217 ; VV . C Banks , 176 S ; A . C . Balec , 704 ; Walter J . Gregory , 73 ; J . Glenn , 19 ; P . Saillard , 2020 ; J . F . Moran , 749 ; H . Bell , 1 . 87 ; A . Christie , 15 S 7 ; VV . Kelly , 1446 ; C . Jackson , 534 ; VV . A . Dawson , F . R . Spaull , Hugh Langton , Alfred C . Spaull , W . H . Spaull , E . St . Clair , W . Lightbody , R . tri g's * ) J- Jennings , G . C Harpour , G . E . Bauu * , W . R .

Parker , J . E . Hunt , C . F . Hogard , James S . Palmer , R . C . Sudlow , G . T . Barkham , C . L . Holbcy , Thomas Cohu , Ernest T . Smith , A . Fysjn , J . Dale , K . Y . Barton , J . Whiteway , J . Burnell , J . G . Garson , G . F . Marshall , R . Goodwin , W . G . Uatest , W . D . Harding , J . S . Cumberland , A . J . Larkin , G . D . Stevenson , H . G . cubitt , C . M . Matthew , C E . Wilson , F . E . Smith , H . S . Ritchie , E . P .

Debenham , E . W . Davis , J . P . S . Roberts , C . VV . Blaxland , George Sawyer , H . Bue , J . G . Tongue , H . D . Marshall , W . H . Kirby , C . VV . A . Toollope , A . Combes , H . Summers , T . H . Edmands , A . Gibbings , C . Belton , F . Bennett , H . J . Wicks , H . Bertram , J . H . Hallett , C . A . Cooper , T . R . B . Hinks , W . McOueen , J . A . Farnfield , J . P . Haighton , W . Williams , W . f . Laws , J . S .

Kingston , R . Raymond , J . R . Dunlop , Philip Snarpe , VV . Lincoln , W . B . Glenn , W . J . Pegram , R . C . Hallows , A . Pocock , A . Marvin , A . Madeil , E . E . Harding , T . Orr , H . VV . Brooks , S . B . Wilson , H . M . Hobbs , G . Negle , F . VV . Oldfield , W . Hicklin , F . M . Noakes , J . Sadler Wood , G . H . Thrupp , G . H . Foan , G . Stacey , E . Monteuuis , J . W . Gaze , E . D . Waltord , W . P . Brown , VV . Tames , C .

F . Matier , A . Baume , F . Levick , VV . S . Lee , S . M . Southwell , G . J . Austin , J . T . Ashley , H . J . P . Dumas , J . Lancester , H . Glenn , H . Tatton Sykes , F . f . Reade , C . Mapleton , D . G . Imlay , G . E . Berlandine , F . W . Prior , G . Cook , D . Guedalla , E . H . Thiellay , E . Bond , F . R . Carter , J . E . Terry , F . A . K . Bull , Charles E . Cassal , F . N . N . Bramall , and William Saint .

The Lord Chancellor has appointed Bro . Wynne E . Baxter , J . P . for the Liberty of the Tower . TOBACCONISTS COMMEIVCINO . —An Illustrated Guide of no pages ' * how to open respectably from ^ 20 to jtiiouo ; " three stamps , H . Mjers & Co ., 109 , busvoiv-rd ., London . Telephone No . 1 C 41 . [ ADVI . 1