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Emulation Lodge Of Improvement.
King . We rejoice to think that , although he has ceased to be our Grand Master , he still remains the head of our Order under the title of Protector of the Order . ( Applause . ) We know that we have got a wise Sovereign now ruling over us , and that the seal has just been set to one of the most glorious reigns ever known in the history of this country . We know that our King is of the same flesh and
blood , and is animated by the same noble impulses and the same wishes for the welfare of his people that ever inspired our late Gracious Queen , for we have had it from Jiis own lips that the remainder of his life will be dedicated to the welfare of his people . I give you " The Health of the King and the Craft . " The toast was enthusiastically honoured .
Bro . CHARLES LEWIS , P . P . G . D . Essex , in giving the toast of " The Pro G . Master , the Dep . G . Master , and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past , " said it enabled them to show their loyalty to Grand Lodge as a body , and to express their desire to do special honour to the members of Grand Lodge assembled there that evening , foremost among whom was the Deputy Grand Master . ( Applause . ) In past years they had had many distinguished Grand Officers to preside at the' Festival , but this was the first occasion on which they had had for their Chairman so highly placed an officer as the Deputy Grand Master .
( Applause . ) It was very gratifying and very encouraging to see in the assembly of Grand Officers present the deep interest that they manifested in the work of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement . Some brethren there were who now visited them for the first time . He trusted that they would give them a hearty welcome , and that they might visit them again and again in the future . Included in the toast were two members of the Committee—Bro . Edward Letchworth , Grand Secretary , and Bro . R , Clay Sudlow , and he coupled with it the name of a brother whose Masonic position gave him a peculiar fitness to respond to it—Bro . Richards , District Grand Master of the Transvaal . ( Loud applause . )
Bro . G . RICHARDS , in acknowledgment , said that he had proved himself that night so excellent a listener that he would fain have gone on listening to the end of the evening . He knew that he would earn the approbation of his revered chief if he contented himself with thanking the brother who proposed the toast for the felicitous terms in which he referred to the Grand Officers . As one of
their scouts in the world of Freemasonry he ( Bro . Richards ) tried to do his duty , and it was a pride and a pleasure to him to be among them , and to have listened to the masterly rendition of the selections that evening ; and as long as life and opportunity presented themselves , he would always endeavour to bring that Lodge of Emulation within
the length of his cable-tow . ( Loud applause . ) He fervently hoped that great length of days and continued health and strength might be vouchsafed to their Preceptor , for it was due to his masterly guidance that the Lodge of Emulation had attained to the height of perfection which they had witnessed in the grand exhibition that evening . ( Applause . )
Bro . E . LETCHWORTH , G . Sec , proposed "The President of the Evening , " and in doing so said that there were many in that room who recollected that at that time last year they were looking forward to the pleasure of being presided over by their Chairman , the Prov . Grand Master of Essex . Circumstances beyond his control , unfortunately , prevented his being with them ; but he ( Bro . Letchworth ) was sure they would all remember how good a substitute they found in Bro . Col , Mark Lockwood , their Deputy Grand Master ' s personal friend . (
App lause , ) He felt sure that he was only expressingthe feelings of all present when he tendered to Lord Warwick their warmest thanks for the great honour he had done them in presiding there that evening . ( Applause . ) As had already been stated , it was the first occasion on which the Deputy Grand Master of England had presided over one of their festivals ; but he trusted it would not be the last , and he invited them to join with him in drinking health and long life to his lordship . The toast was received with great enthusiasm , and
Bro , the Earl of WARWICK , on rising to reply , was greeted with loud and prolonged applause . He said : Brethren , I need hardly say what very great pleasure it gives me to be able to come amongst you this evening ; the more so as that pleasure was deferred from last year when I very very much regretted that Jt was impossible for me to be with you . 1 had been suffering from ill-health at the time and 1 went across the sea to America ; and in my absence my Deputy Provincial Grand Master was good enough to take the chair for me . On my return ) he told me that he had been struck by the admirable manner in which the
proceedings had been carried out ; and when I told him the other day that you had again given me the opportunity of enjoying an exhibition of our ritual , he told me it would be one I should very much appreciate , and I am bound to say that I have in no way been disappointed , but very much the reverse . ( Hear , hear . ) I can only say that in all my experience I have never seen anything more perfect . We all know that every man in this room is a Mason , and that each one does hii best to act up to the principles of Freemasonry ; but it is not within the capacity
of every man to perform the work which has been done this evening in the manner displayed by our Bro . Sudlow and those other brethren who have assisted in giving us such excellent entertainment and instruction . ( Applause . ) The reason why I am in this chair to-night is doubtless due to my position as Deputy Grand Master . It is a post that I have had the privilege of occupying for a very short time . I feel its responsibilities ; and I assure you that my only regret has been my inability to meet you more often than 1 have done ;
for , from the bottom of my heart , and speaking with some experience of Masonry , and as a Provincial Grand Master of 20 years' standing , I say that my whole soul is in Freemasonry —( applause)—and that whatever it is in my power to do for the good of the Order , or for those individuals who unite under its banner , shall be done with the greatest pleasure . ( Renewed applause . ) The toast is my health , and therefore let me say , first of all , something about matters connected with me personally : I have the good fortune to preside over a province which I
have . seen increasing in its numbers and in importance by leaps and bounds . On my left , and sitting close beside me , is one who , in my early days of office , was to me as a real right hand . I refer to Bro . Philbrick —( applause )—and what success I have achieved in Masonry in Essex I attribute entirely to the sound judgment and able manner in which he performed his duties and educated me in the path which it has been my privilege to follow ever since . ( Applause . ) Masonry has vastly increased its sway since the beginning of the period of which
I speak , not only in Efsex , but throughout the kingdom , so that at the present moment we have something like 200 , 000 Masons under the jurisdiction of the Grand Master , and every year , I am told , we have no fewnr than 50 new lodges springing into existence . ( Applause . ) That must be regarded as a very satisfactory state of things , for it shows that Freemasonry is not cm the downward path , but very much on the upward incline . Now , let me turn to the Emulation Lodge of Improvement , whose health I am now going to propose , and to wish it every
measure of continued success . It appears to me to be a great boon to Masonry that We should have something to look up to , something that every lodge can turn to with respect and for example in the performance of the ritual as accomplished by the Emulation Lodge of Improvement . ( " Hear , hear . " ) We see , as we go about to different lodges , every Mason doing his best a . ccording to his ability ; but I confess I do not think it possible to surpass the efficiency of the working
which we have witnessed here this evening . ( Applause . ) It is interesting to reflect on this occasion that the Emulation Lodge , which was founded in 1823 by Bro . Peter Gilkes , has been presided over by several distinguished Masters , notable among whom was Bro . Fenn , whose name I mentioned in Grand Lodge With the greatest feeling of sadness a short time ago , and Bro . Sudlow , who propounded his qu ^ 'ion" to the different brethren to-night , and was never for a
Emulation Lodge Of Improvement.
moment at a loss for a word . I am quite sure that had there been a fault in the performance of any single brother he would have detected it at once . Now , I think that you will agree with me that it behoves us to do all we can to encourage a lodge of this kind , and so to uphold the standard of our ritual as high as we can . May I quote to you an instance of what I saw in Masonic enterprise in Germany recently ? I had the honour of being present at the opening of a Grand Lodge in Berlin , where it was my privilege to see their working . We visitors
were received with the greatest cordiality , and were amazed at the warmth of Masonic feeling that was shown towards us . The hall was one so large that it would have swallowed this one five times over , and no less than ; £ 100 , 000 was spent upon its construction . But what struck me most . in connection with those proceedings was this — the work was done entirely from paper , and , from my point of view , that considerably depreciated the value of the ceremony . ( Hear , hear . ) In this respect , at least ,
then , there is no need for us to vie with Germany ; while our Charities here in England are bright examples of the pleasure we take in supporting them . Of course , in Germany there is the greatest good feeling prevailing between one brother and another as in this country , though they have not all the privileges and advantages that we possess . The pursuit of our benevolent aims never diminishes in zeal . I may mention that only two nights ago at a gathering where-1 was Chairman there was subscribed the sum of over £ 25 , 000 to the cause of
benevolence . ( Applause . ) And so it is a great pleaure to see these evidences of the progress and power of Freemasonry in this country . Bro . Lockwood , who took the chair in my absence on this occasion a year ago , in a very able speech—which I had the pleasure of reading afterwards—made some interesting references to the history of secret societies down to the present time . Happy is the contrast between then and now ; and I think we may congratulate ourselves upon our faith in two of the great principles which inspire us—first , our belief in the Great
Architect of the Universe , and , secondly , our steadfast aim to be always true and loyal subjects of the Sovereign . ( Applause . ) We know well the passage in Scripture— " Render to Cesar the things that are Cesar ' s , " and we in that way , as Masons and good law-abiding citizens , do honour and homage to the King , who , although no longer actively ruling over our Order , is still our Protector , and he will always have the loyal and hearty support of every English Freemason . ( Loud applause . ) That to my mind is the great and
distinguishing characteristic between our secret society and those secret societies spoken of by Bro . Lockwood as founded on bloodshed and crime and opposed to all law and order . Here , at all events , Masons will be ever constant in their support to the Throne of England , whose present occupant has so long presided over the Craft and evinced so much interest in all our undertakings tor so many years . ( Loud applause . ) There is another point that I must touch upon , and that is , that we must look to it and see that
Masonic benevolence is not suffered to diminish in the future . There is a certain amount of rivalry between certain lodges ; but we must take care that this rivalry is not carried to such extremes as to pinch the poorer brother in the lodge by calling upon him to make larger donations than he can afford . ( Hear , hear . ) I will not detain you longer now than to repeat my earnest desire at all times to promote the best interests of Freemasonry , and f ask you to drink most heartily " The Health of this Emulation Lodge of Improvement , " coupled with the name
of Bro . Sudlow , who sits on my left . ( Loud and prolonged applause . ) Bro . SUDLOW , in replying to the toast , said : Right Worshipful Chairman and brethren , I have now for quite a number of years had the privilege of responding to the toast of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement , so kindly and so eloquently proposed on this occasion by our Right Worshipful Chairman ; and it has always been my good fortune in doing so to refer to the continued prosperity of this lodge . I am happy to say that to-night is no exception to the rule . ( Hear , hear . )
Judged by whatever standard you may be pleased to adopt , whether from the point of view of the appreciation of this lodge as an Institution by the Craft , or by the number of attendances at our weekly meetings , or by the amount of our donations to Masonic Charities , we can claim , in spite of our nearly 80 years of existence , that we are still making progress . ( Applause . ) Indeed , there are so many unmistakable evidences of unabated life and vigour in this lodge that the younger members , at all events , may with all confidence look forward to the celebration , in
due time , of the centenary of the lodge . ( Hear , hear . ) I think that it is generally understood and recognised why the Emulation Lodge of Improvement occupies such a strong position . It is simply because there is a very genuine ne ; d for an institution of this kind , and that the Emulation Lodge of Improvement exactly and fully meets that need . It is quite true that the number of lodges of instruction increases year by year , and we rejoice that it is so , because there is less and less excuse for any brother accepting office without knowing his duties .
( Hear , hear . ) Thanks to these lodges of instruction , we hope and believe that the day is fast passing away when Masters of lodges will be content to leave their chairs and let other brethren do their work . ( Applause . ) Yet , excellent though these lodges of instruction are , and worthy of the warmest support that can be accorded to them by the brethren for whose benefit they are formed , there is undoubtedly a tendency , as years go by , and as Preceptor succeeds Preceptor , towards differences and variations in them in points of detail . If there were no
recognised standard of ritual , these variations might in time develop into a very grave matter , but as there is this standard I do not know that these variations are of very great importance . ( Hear , hear . ) It is in this particular connection that the Emulation Lodge of Improvement demonstrates its value . It not only provides a system which absolutely never varies , but a system that has the stamp of authority—( hear , hear)—so that it may be taken as the standard with which other systems may be compared , and
by which , if thought necessary , those systems may be corrected . ( Hear , hear . ) If , therefore , the Emulation Lodge of Improvement occupies this unique position , it is essential that the brethren who are members of the Past Masters' Committee should be men who may be implicitly relied upon to be faithful—as our Right Worshipful Chairman has put it—to the very sacred trust committed to them . ( Hear , heir . ) And , inasmuch as some important changes have been made quite recently in the personnel of the Committee , I hope you will
allow me , very briefly , to refer to those changes . We have , unfortunately , lost the services of Bro . Kentish and Bro . Rushton—in the one case from pressure of other duties , and in the other from very serious indisposition . For a great number of years Bros . Kentish and Rushton have afforded the most valuable assistance in the conduct of this lodge —( applause )—and it was with the very greatest regret that the Committee received the resignation of these two brethren . But I wiJJ pass on to speak a word or two with regard to the two brethren who
have been elected to fill their places —( hear , hear)—Bro . Charles Lewis and Bro . Lander . They are old students of the Emulation system , and I am able to testify that they have completely mastered that system , so that they are deserving of the utmost confidence at the hands of every brother who attends our regulat meetings . Moreover , they are cognisant of , and I am sure they will be loyal to , the ancient traditions of this lodge . They know the unalterable nature of our system ; and they know that upon one pat "
ticular member of the Committee rests the supreme responsibility for the teaching of our system . You have heard from our departed Bro . Fenn that four brethren have , since the foundation of the lodge in 1823 , accepted this supreme responsibility . You know , brethren , their names — Bra-Peter Gilkes , Bro . Stephen Barton Wilson , and Bro . Thos . Fenn . » i brethren , this festival had only been held on the 1 st February , instead of the 1 st March , I should have been able to say , as I had hoped to do to-night , that
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Emulation Lodge Of Improvement.
King . We rejoice to think that , although he has ceased to be our Grand Master , he still remains the head of our Order under the title of Protector of the Order . ( Applause . ) We know that we have got a wise Sovereign now ruling over us , and that the seal has just been set to one of the most glorious reigns ever known in the history of this country . We know that our King is of the same flesh and
blood , and is animated by the same noble impulses and the same wishes for the welfare of his people that ever inspired our late Gracious Queen , for we have had it from Jiis own lips that the remainder of his life will be dedicated to the welfare of his people . I give you " The Health of the King and the Craft . " The toast was enthusiastically honoured .
Bro . CHARLES LEWIS , P . P . G . D . Essex , in giving the toast of " The Pro G . Master , the Dep . G . Master , and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past , " said it enabled them to show their loyalty to Grand Lodge as a body , and to express their desire to do special honour to the members of Grand Lodge assembled there that evening , foremost among whom was the Deputy Grand Master . ( Applause . ) In past years they had had many distinguished Grand Officers to preside at the' Festival , but this was the first occasion on which they had had for their Chairman so highly placed an officer as the Deputy Grand Master .
( Applause . ) It was very gratifying and very encouraging to see in the assembly of Grand Officers present the deep interest that they manifested in the work of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement . Some brethren there were who now visited them for the first time . He trusted that they would give them a hearty welcome , and that they might visit them again and again in the future . Included in the toast were two members of the Committee—Bro . Edward Letchworth , Grand Secretary , and Bro . R , Clay Sudlow , and he coupled with it the name of a brother whose Masonic position gave him a peculiar fitness to respond to it—Bro . Richards , District Grand Master of the Transvaal . ( Loud applause . )
Bro . G . RICHARDS , in acknowledgment , said that he had proved himself that night so excellent a listener that he would fain have gone on listening to the end of the evening . He knew that he would earn the approbation of his revered chief if he contented himself with thanking the brother who proposed the toast for the felicitous terms in which he referred to the Grand Officers . As one of
their scouts in the world of Freemasonry he ( Bro . Richards ) tried to do his duty , and it was a pride and a pleasure to him to be among them , and to have listened to the masterly rendition of the selections that evening ; and as long as life and opportunity presented themselves , he would always endeavour to bring that Lodge of Emulation within
the length of his cable-tow . ( Loud applause . ) He fervently hoped that great length of days and continued health and strength might be vouchsafed to their Preceptor , for it was due to his masterly guidance that the Lodge of Emulation had attained to the height of perfection which they had witnessed in the grand exhibition that evening . ( Applause . )
Bro . E . LETCHWORTH , G . Sec , proposed "The President of the Evening , " and in doing so said that there were many in that room who recollected that at that time last year they were looking forward to the pleasure of being presided over by their Chairman , the Prov . Grand Master of Essex . Circumstances beyond his control , unfortunately , prevented his being with them ; but he ( Bro . Letchworth ) was sure they would all remember how good a substitute they found in Bro . Col , Mark Lockwood , their Deputy Grand Master ' s personal friend . (
App lause , ) He felt sure that he was only expressingthe feelings of all present when he tendered to Lord Warwick their warmest thanks for the great honour he had done them in presiding there that evening . ( Applause . ) As had already been stated , it was the first occasion on which the Deputy Grand Master of England had presided over one of their festivals ; but he trusted it would not be the last , and he invited them to join with him in drinking health and long life to his lordship . The toast was received with great enthusiasm , and
Bro , the Earl of WARWICK , on rising to reply , was greeted with loud and prolonged applause . He said : Brethren , I need hardly say what very great pleasure it gives me to be able to come amongst you this evening ; the more so as that pleasure was deferred from last year when I very very much regretted that Jt was impossible for me to be with you . 1 had been suffering from ill-health at the time and 1 went across the sea to America ; and in my absence my Deputy Provincial Grand Master was good enough to take the chair for me . On my return ) he told me that he had been struck by the admirable manner in which the
proceedings had been carried out ; and when I told him the other day that you had again given me the opportunity of enjoying an exhibition of our ritual , he told me it would be one I should very much appreciate , and I am bound to say that I have in no way been disappointed , but very much the reverse . ( Hear , hear . ) I can only say that in all my experience I have never seen anything more perfect . We all know that every man in this room is a Mason , and that each one does hii best to act up to the principles of Freemasonry ; but it is not within the capacity
of every man to perform the work which has been done this evening in the manner displayed by our Bro . Sudlow and those other brethren who have assisted in giving us such excellent entertainment and instruction . ( Applause . ) The reason why I am in this chair to-night is doubtless due to my position as Deputy Grand Master . It is a post that I have had the privilege of occupying for a very short time . I feel its responsibilities ; and I assure you that my only regret has been my inability to meet you more often than 1 have done ;
for , from the bottom of my heart , and speaking with some experience of Masonry , and as a Provincial Grand Master of 20 years' standing , I say that my whole soul is in Freemasonry —( applause)—and that whatever it is in my power to do for the good of the Order , or for those individuals who unite under its banner , shall be done with the greatest pleasure . ( Renewed applause . ) The toast is my health , and therefore let me say , first of all , something about matters connected with me personally : I have the good fortune to preside over a province which I
have . seen increasing in its numbers and in importance by leaps and bounds . On my left , and sitting close beside me , is one who , in my early days of office , was to me as a real right hand . I refer to Bro . Philbrick —( applause )—and what success I have achieved in Masonry in Essex I attribute entirely to the sound judgment and able manner in which he performed his duties and educated me in the path which it has been my privilege to follow ever since . ( Applause . ) Masonry has vastly increased its sway since the beginning of the period of which
I speak , not only in Efsex , but throughout the kingdom , so that at the present moment we have something like 200 , 000 Masons under the jurisdiction of the Grand Master , and every year , I am told , we have no fewnr than 50 new lodges springing into existence . ( Applause . ) That must be regarded as a very satisfactory state of things , for it shows that Freemasonry is not cm the downward path , but very much on the upward incline . Now , let me turn to the Emulation Lodge of Improvement , whose health I am now going to propose , and to wish it every
measure of continued success . It appears to me to be a great boon to Masonry that We should have something to look up to , something that every lodge can turn to with respect and for example in the performance of the ritual as accomplished by the Emulation Lodge of Improvement . ( " Hear , hear . " ) We see , as we go about to different lodges , every Mason doing his best a . ccording to his ability ; but I confess I do not think it possible to surpass the efficiency of the working
which we have witnessed here this evening . ( Applause . ) It is interesting to reflect on this occasion that the Emulation Lodge , which was founded in 1823 by Bro . Peter Gilkes , has been presided over by several distinguished Masters , notable among whom was Bro . Fenn , whose name I mentioned in Grand Lodge With the greatest feeling of sadness a short time ago , and Bro . Sudlow , who propounded his qu ^ 'ion" to the different brethren to-night , and was never for a
Emulation Lodge Of Improvement.
moment at a loss for a word . I am quite sure that had there been a fault in the performance of any single brother he would have detected it at once . Now , I think that you will agree with me that it behoves us to do all we can to encourage a lodge of this kind , and so to uphold the standard of our ritual as high as we can . May I quote to you an instance of what I saw in Masonic enterprise in Germany recently ? I had the honour of being present at the opening of a Grand Lodge in Berlin , where it was my privilege to see their working . We visitors
were received with the greatest cordiality , and were amazed at the warmth of Masonic feeling that was shown towards us . The hall was one so large that it would have swallowed this one five times over , and no less than ; £ 100 , 000 was spent upon its construction . But what struck me most . in connection with those proceedings was this — the work was done entirely from paper , and , from my point of view , that considerably depreciated the value of the ceremony . ( Hear , hear . ) In this respect , at least ,
then , there is no need for us to vie with Germany ; while our Charities here in England are bright examples of the pleasure we take in supporting them . Of course , in Germany there is the greatest good feeling prevailing between one brother and another as in this country , though they have not all the privileges and advantages that we possess . The pursuit of our benevolent aims never diminishes in zeal . I may mention that only two nights ago at a gathering where-1 was Chairman there was subscribed the sum of over £ 25 , 000 to the cause of
benevolence . ( Applause . ) And so it is a great pleaure to see these evidences of the progress and power of Freemasonry in this country . Bro . Lockwood , who took the chair in my absence on this occasion a year ago , in a very able speech—which I had the pleasure of reading afterwards—made some interesting references to the history of secret societies down to the present time . Happy is the contrast between then and now ; and I think we may congratulate ourselves upon our faith in two of the great principles which inspire us—first , our belief in the Great
Architect of the Universe , and , secondly , our steadfast aim to be always true and loyal subjects of the Sovereign . ( Applause . ) We know well the passage in Scripture— " Render to Cesar the things that are Cesar ' s , " and we in that way , as Masons and good law-abiding citizens , do honour and homage to the King , who , although no longer actively ruling over our Order , is still our Protector , and he will always have the loyal and hearty support of every English Freemason . ( Loud applause . ) That to my mind is the great and
distinguishing characteristic between our secret society and those secret societies spoken of by Bro . Lockwood as founded on bloodshed and crime and opposed to all law and order . Here , at all events , Masons will be ever constant in their support to the Throne of England , whose present occupant has so long presided over the Craft and evinced so much interest in all our undertakings tor so many years . ( Loud applause . ) There is another point that I must touch upon , and that is , that we must look to it and see that
Masonic benevolence is not suffered to diminish in the future . There is a certain amount of rivalry between certain lodges ; but we must take care that this rivalry is not carried to such extremes as to pinch the poorer brother in the lodge by calling upon him to make larger donations than he can afford . ( Hear , hear . ) I will not detain you longer now than to repeat my earnest desire at all times to promote the best interests of Freemasonry , and f ask you to drink most heartily " The Health of this Emulation Lodge of Improvement , " coupled with the name
of Bro . Sudlow , who sits on my left . ( Loud and prolonged applause . ) Bro . SUDLOW , in replying to the toast , said : Right Worshipful Chairman and brethren , I have now for quite a number of years had the privilege of responding to the toast of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement , so kindly and so eloquently proposed on this occasion by our Right Worshipful Chairman ; and it has always been my good fortune in doing so to refer to the continued prosperity of this lodge . I am happy to say that to-night is no exception to the rule . ( Hear , hear . )
Judged by whatever standard you may be pleased to adopt , whether from the point of view of the appreciation of this lodge as an Institution by the Craft , or by the number of attendances at our weekly meetings , or by the amount of our donations to Masonic Charities , we can claim , in spite of our nearly 80 years of existence , that we are still making progress . ( Applause . ) Indeed , there are so many unmistakable evidences of unabated life and vigour in this lodge that the younger members , at all events , may with all confidence look forward to the celebration , in
due time , of the centenary of the lodge . ( Hear , hear . ) I think that it is generally understood and recognised why the Emulation Lodge of Improvement occupies such a strong position . It is simply because there is a very genuine ne ; d for an institution of this kind , and that the Emulation Lodge of Improvement exactly and fully meets that need . It is quite true that the number of lodges of instruction increases year by year , and we rejoice that it is so , because there is less and less excuse for any brother accepting office without knowing his duties .
( Hear , hear . ) Thanks to these lodges of instruction , we hope and believe that the day is fast passing away when Masters of lodges will be content to leave their chairs and let other brethren do their work . ( Applause . ) Yet , excellent though these lodges of instruction are , and worthy of the warmest support that can be accorded to them by the brethren for whose benefit they are formed , there is undoubtedly a tendency , as years go by , and as Preceptor succeeds Preceptor , towards differences and variations in them in points of detail . If there were no
recognised standard of ritual , these variations might in time develop into a very grave matter , but as there is this standard I do not know that these variations are of very great importance . ( Hear , hear . ) It is in this particular connection that the Emulation Lodge of Improvement demonstrates its value . It not only provides a system which absolutely never varies , but a system that has the stamp of authority—( hear , hear)—so that it may be taken as the standard with which other systems may be compared , and
by which , if thought necessary , those systems may be corrected . ( Hear , hear . ) If , therefore , the Emulation Lodge of Improvement occupies this unique position , it is essential that the brethren who are members of the Past Masters' Committee should be men who may be implicitly relied upon to be faithful—as our Right Worshipful Chairman has put it—to the very sacred trust committed to them . ( Hear , heir . ) And , inasmuch as some important changes have been made quite recently in the personnel of the Committee , I hope you will
allow me , very briefly , to refer to those changes . We have , unfortunately , lost the services of Bro . Kentish and Bro . Rushton—in the one case from pressure of other duties , and in the other from very serious indisposition . For a great number of years Bros . Kentish and Rushton have afforded the most valuable assistance in the conduct of this lodge —( applause )—and it was with the very greatest regret that the Committee received the resignation of these two brethren . But I wiJJ pass on to speak a word or two with regard to the two brethren who
have been elected to fill their places —( hear , hear)—Bro . Charles Lewis and Bro . Lander . They are old students of the Emulation system , and I am able to testify that they have completely mastered that system , so that they are deserving of the utmost confidence at the hands of every brother who attends our regulat meetings . Moreover , they are cognisant of , and I am sure they will be loyal to , the ancient traditions of this lodge . They know the unalterable nature of our system ; and they know that upon one pat "
ticular member of the Committee rests the supreme responsibility for the teaching of our system . You have heard from our departed Bro . Fenn that four brethren have , since the foundation of the lodge in 1823 , accepted this supreme responsibility . You know , brethren , their names — Bra-Peter Gilkes , Bro . Stephen Barton Wilson , and Bro . Thos . Fenn . » i brethren , this festival had only been held on the 1 st February , instead of the 1 st March , I should have been able to say , as I had hoped to do to-night , that