Emulation Lodge Of Improvement.

EMULATION LODGE OF IMPROVEMENT .

ANNUAL FESTIVAL . The annual festival of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement was celebrated in Freemasons' Hall , Great Queen-street , W . C , on the ist instant , being marked by an incomparable display of its excellent working , followed by a banquet in Freemasons' Tavern . Nearly 600 brethren were present at each function , the

former being presided over by Bro . R . Clay Sudlow , P . G . Std . Br ., as W . M . of the Lodge of Emulation , and the latter by Bro . the Right Hon . the Earl of Warwick , Prov . G . M . Essex , Deputy Grand Master . Among the wearers of the purple present were Bros . G . Richards , D . G . M . Transvaal ; the Rev . F . B . N . Norman-Lee , P . G . C . ; Matthew Clerk , P . G . D . ; Clement Godson , P . G . D . ; J . H . Matthews , President of the Board of

Benevo-~^ * " BED . THE RT . HON . IDE EABI / OF WARWICK , I'ROV . G . M . ESSEX , DKl'ul'Y GRAND MASTER , "" IVs- ^

'" ice ; Harry Hebb , P . G . D . j the Bishop of Barking , P . G . C . ; R . Clowes , P . G . S'd . Br . j J . A . Farnfield , P . A . G . D . C . C . 1 Tijou , P . A . G . P . ; Boulton , P . G . P . 5 J-E . Le Feuvre , P . G . D . j Robert J . Voisey , P . G , Std . Br . ; Harry J . Dumas , £G D . ; J . M . McLeod , P . G . S . B ., Sec . R . M . l . B , t F . Ernest Pocock , P . D . G . D . C ; c - F . Martin , P . A . G . D . C . ; VV . J . Mason , G , Std * Br , ; H . Loregrove , P . G . S . B . ; i- P . Griffin , P . G . D . ; J . H . Salter , P . G . D . ; and H . S . Clutton , P . G . D .

Bro . E . Cutler , K . C , P . G . Org ., presided at the organ with his accustomed anility , rendering the following selections as the brethren assembled 1 ( 1 ) Trauer Alarsch , "Siegfried" ( Wagner ); ( 2 ) Fugue in A Minor ( Bach ) ; ( 3 ) Andante '" G with variations ( Batiste ); ( 4 ) Overture to Samson ( Handel ) ; ( 5 ) andante in B flat ( Widor ) ; ( 6 ) d Andante Religioso and b Postludo in G toward Cutler ); ( 7 ) Entr' Act , "Lohengrin" ( Wagner ); ( 8 ) March , tannhauser" ( Wagner ) .

Emulation Lodge Of Improvement.

The lodge offices were held as follows : Bros . R . Clay Sudlow P . G . Std . Br ., W . M . ; Geo . Rankin , S . W . ; D . D . West , J . W . ; \ . H . lenks , S . D . ; T . W . AIlsop , J . D . ; and J . CoIIett Smith , I . G . The work was the First Lecture , performed in the following order : 1 st Section by Bros . G . R , H . Clark , W . M . ; 2 nd , by j . F . Roberts , W . M . 5 3 rd byM . V . Cassal ; 4 th , by J . H . Jenks , P . M . ; 5 th , by T . W . AIlsop , P . M .: 6 th , by J . CoIIett Smith ; and 7 th , by W . R . Bennett , P . M . At the close of the work Bro . the Earl of WARWICK bore testimony to the

grace and skill with which it had been accomplished , and remarked that Lodge 1965 should be proud of the distinction that it could contribute no fewer than three 'of its brethren ( Bros . G . R . H . Clark , W . M ., J . CoIIett Smith , and W . R . Bennett , P . M . ) , to assist in the grand ceremonial they had witnessed ,- and he proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the whole of the workers for providing them with that magnificent intellectual treat . Bro . Judge PHILBRICK , K . C , P . G . W ., seconded the vote in unqualified term 3 , and it was carried unanimously .

Bro . R , CLAY SUDLOW acknowledged the compliment . Subsequently a large number of brethren gave in their names for ballot as joining members . The lodge being closed , supper was partaken of In the great hall of Free , masons' Tavern , and the number of the brethren sitting down to the feast was so great that extra tables had to be laid in three adjoining rooms .

Bro . the Earl of WARWICK , in proposing "The King and the Craft , " saidi Brethren , the first toast I hav ithe honour to propose to you this evening Is one which , as loyal Masons , you will , I am sure , always welcome with the greatest cordiality . It is but two nights ago that saw the first occasion on which I had the honour of proposing "The Health of the King and the Craft " - »( Applause )— and in doing so now I am sure you will receive the toast with the greatest enthusiasm , because we Freemasons are , above all , loyal people and loyal sub ' j jects —( hear , hear)—for we know what has been dgne for Freemasonry b y out