Provincial Grand Lodge Of Cumberland And Westmoreland.

was prepared and served , well deserved the commendations bestowed upon it . It took p lace in the Diocesan marquee , which was erected in the Fioshfield grounds , through the kindness of Mr . Carrick . The dinner tables were very elegantly decorated with flowers and evergreens from

Fioshfield . The Chair was taken by the Ri g ht Worshi p ful thc Earl of Bective , Provincial Grand Master , supported b y Bro . Colonel Whitwell , the Rev . W . M . Sehiiibben , Bro . Canon Porteus , Bro . Iredale , Bro . Lemon , Mr . J . Carrick , Bro . Jackson

Gillbanks , Bro . the Rev . W . Williams , Bro . E . H . Henry , M . D ., Bro . Dr . Jones , Bro . Captain Mott , Minor Canon Whitmore , and the Rev . J . A . Scott . On the withdrawal of the cloth , the Chairman proposal "Thc Queen , " followed by the toast of

"ThejPrinee and Princess of Wales , and the rest of thy Royal . family " after which the Chairman gave "The Bishop and Clergy of the Diocese , " each of which was received with much cnthusaism . After some of the speeches the band played appropriate airs . ' 1 he Rev . W . M . Schnibben was

the first called upon to respond for the Bishop and Clergy , and cordially welcomed the brethren to Wigton . He said he had had much p leasure in p lacing his church at their disposal , pleased to think that in their festivities they remembered the service in the Parish f ) hureh , although he

did not expect that his church was to be turned into a cathedral . ( Cheers . ) The Chairman then proposed " The Army , Navy , and Auxiliary Forces , " for which Colonel Whitwell , M . P ., Lieutenant A . C . Mott , A ' . A " ., and Ensign Carrick

returned thanks . Mr . Metcalfe sang his celebrated song " John Pel , " with much applause . The room was then , in the language of the brethren , "close styled , and the various Masonic toasts were given , according to the toast list .

The weather throughout the day was all that could be desired , and contributed very much to the success which has crowned the labours of the brethren of No . 327 .

The Emulation Lodge Of Im- Provement.

THE EMULATION LODGE OF IMPROVEMENT .

' file liK-iiibv rs ' . I ihe v ' ra . ' t ia i . edon ai till present day are so amply furnished w uh i ! n means of attaining a cornet know k . lee of th ;

an . . ..- ^ re . ear omv , mat u is dillicull for iax ' . hn ' a vliusc " i ' s .. s have fa ! ' -n in such pleasant places " to realise i ' .:.- fact tha : Lodges of Instruction were all but unknown fifty years ago . It is true ihat the Crai . u iStcwaids ' Lodao v . a . , ss ' e : icra ! lv ree . s-uiised as the

custodian ol ihe authorized working , and to some extent the able br . tl ' . ren of ihat distinguished lodge supplied the Masonic wants o ' the metropolitan bi ' vthren . Bin the grow hi' . ' popularity of Freemason ; ' ) , and ihe consi-qu .-nt increase oi ihe Gruh . soon rendered it cxp diem

to make iiiiliie : " j ) ri , visii , u lor ' e .- ; ic , ; : ; ig the m ; ml ) ers and uiuerrs of huh , . those duties which they would be called ; . ; en to \ .. < : ' \ , ; - > v , . Accordingly we iii' . i ' that about th-- \ ear i ! U ' . <\ -tain

/ . villous br : ' . h ;\! l cinic-eiYaig that th . e Maauiii ie- 'iures v . vre no ! worked yon a rrooerh' -. . ; u hilt d system . r- so ' r , e . i to me . ¦ . tio . vs-i io ; - miuua ais , ruction , 'j !; . •names of ih :: . ¦ I ¦ retina n de ScP . e to lie recordiik 1 . 1 a .-: ui eji as ih . v " , . re t ' a lol . odeif oi ihe now e . 'IvS d ' ¦ ' . ' ¦ e ¦ : '•¦•' , 1 ... 1 ,..,., ¦ .. I 1 : 1 . 1 i .. 1 . :. w .. e u : o u a u o I

, , , , : Lodge uf Improvement " io . - ; , ; .: , ; i : . \ , ' a--., ns . The ) ' wire Br ,, s . John Smyth , of the Burlington Lodge ; Jo-.- , pi 1 ticimls and ii . Y . ' kii ' . kf . uon , ol the" Unions ; ' | oh ; i Wllyi . u . of the "herey , " and Gervuse adargeii-. on , of the " Constitutional . "

The ) ' adu-rli .-od their Intention io meet at a house in Yfaruou ; -stre t . : ' ,. ., ho , red on the a ; ip . iintcd 1 vei . ing ; he room v . u- crowd .-d . M ; :: ' i ' . ' numbers of the Grand Stewards ' l . odao , who fancied that their immemorial rirsjit to " rule and

teach" was about , to be infringed , and also many Grand Ollicers , including tho Grand Seerclarv , attended lo watch the proceedings . Every ollice in the new Lodge of Instruction was abl y filled by experienced Masons , and so admirably were thc lectures and ceremonial illustrated , that all

The Emulation Lodge Of Im- Provement.

opposition , if such were intended , was at once and for ever silenced . Among the visitors at this inaugural meeting was the famous Peter Gilkcs , who subsequently became the Preceptor of the lodge , an office which he held up to the time of his decease . It is almost needless to

add that the Emulation Lodge of Improvement has not onl y sustained the hig h promise of perfection which it gave in 1823 , but is now regarded as one of the great exemplars of Masonic ritualism in England , and with the " Stability , "

its sister Lodge of Instruction , the " Emulation " divides the allegiance of every earnest worker in the Craft . A practical proof of this supremacy was afforded at the anniversary meeting of the lodge , on Friday , the 27 th November , when more than two hundred brethren assembled

under its irgis at Freemasons' Hall , to listen to as perfect a rendering of the sections in the first lecture as it has ever been our good fortune to hear . The chair was occupied b y Bro . John Hcrvey , Grand Secretary , who , in accordance with custom , put the questions to the sectionists ,

a duty which he discharged most abl y and impressively . The first section was worked b \ Bro . J . F . Muggins , W . M . 18 ; the fourth b y Bro . G . E . Wainwri'dit , S . W . 370 ; the fifth b ) Bro . W . Small p iece , S . W . 1393 ; the sixth In

Bro . I L Wood , and the seventh by Bro . J . A . Ruckcr , P . M . 66 . The earnest delivery and the elocutionary ability of these brethren were most marked , and richl y deserved the enthusiastic applause with which their efforts were received , and the thanks which were awarded them at a

later period . After the lodge had been closed , th . ' brethren adjourned lo the Freemasons ' Tavern , where the festival was held under tin presidency of Lord Tenterdeii , C . B ., Senioi Grand Warden , who was supported b y Bros . R . Scott , Dist . Grand Masi-r Trinidad ; A \ .. I .

Mclntyre . Q . C ., G . R . ; II . Lloyd , Q . C ., Pies . B . G . P . ; | . 1 , 1 . Evans , P . Pros . B . G . P . ; J . liervey , G . Sec .: | . F . Leith , ( J . C ., M . I ' . ; f . B . Monckton , S . G . i ) . ; E . E . Weiull , G . Sec . G . C ; T . Fenn , P . A . G . D . C ; C A . Murton , I . G . D . ; | . A . Ruckcr , V . P ., B . G . P . ; | . Brett ,

P . G . P . ; J . Boyd , ( LP . ; C . A . Cottebrune , A . G . P .: R . WYiiiworth Little , Sec . R . M . Inst . for Girls : Ii . J . P . Dumas , J . G . D . ; W . C Bacon , P . G . Steward : A . A . Richards , P . G . Steward : Ji . Muggcridge . and other well-known brethren .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION . Vii o ' . •Editor of The IrceiiH ' saii . Dear Sir and Brother , — 1 have read with much pleasure and interest a Master Mason ' s remarks in your edition of

the 9 ' iii ?\ ovember , respecting the condition o ! the pensioners , ami certainly fell surprised at Ea-1 Percy ' s ivmatk at thc fast Festival , for he is always considered a most benei ok-iit man . an :: ' could not have full y considered the subject when he stated ihat T . id per ami :. in , or 10 s . r . cr

Wee !; was an . ply : iiliicient' for a man ami Ids wife lo it-, e upon , ii ' the funds were low they might consider" a half loai ' i ; 'iter than no bread , " "d Y . 'U . u : ' . ' . of . hi .- •-. ¦ a c-- 'h ' . ays a " o auueuuei . d . an iiicrii . se mijdiv he made . par . icitlarlv when

iood and coals are so fri'dilf .. !!' . ' dear , and ife ami infirmity lenders it if ., p . ; ssii ;! e hi . ' a poor brother ; , ! earn ; : ii ii ! - to a Id to his annul . , . I happen to know :: case in pouit , a brother who » ' : S lie .. ! ' : ! V . ¦ ¦ '¦! : c , ¦ : ! e . ,, 'ei . ¦ ' , i !¦! ! -. o > , r , ie .- 'O- ! c

llie ' , i \ n <\ , at that time he cold earn ; i little extra and -o rur . k . e it do , but U . JW having laid much addiction is iiiiahle lo f . iliov . ' any omp ! lymeu be ' ug 7 .: years of a- o 1 lis family , that mUhi l : e

supposed to a . : 1 st id ;¦ : , have huge families and he ! the pressure of ihe lim . s and cannot . He u living in the I ' litiiiirv on . account of being able to get house rent toleiahly cheap , and better

accommodation than tlie two rooms of the alms house aii ' ord , although the inmates have gifts of coal ami other things which thc out pensioner have not . s I cannot help thinking that as age advances , the pensions ought to be increased , a man naturally becomcing more hel pless and infirm .

Original Correspondence.

Those who do not experience affliction many agree with his Lordship , but let us come to facts , Suppose a man and wife on an allowance of ten shillings weekly , their expenses on the lowest estimation , say rent 3 s . 6 d ., groceries , & c 2 S ., bread , 2 s ., meat , 3 s ., coals , is . there is n / 6 .

then nothing is left for shoes , clothing and medicines . This shows the necessity of practicall y benevolent men doing something to promote an increase of the pension and render the close of their days happy and comfortable . I remain yours fraternally , " P . Z . P . M .

UNITED GRAND LODGE . To the Editor of The Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — I see by my last week ' s Freemason that the Most Honourable the Marquis of Ripon has been , on the motion of Bro . F . A . Philbrick ,

P . M ., unanimously re-elected Grand Master for the year ensuing . Now Sir , I want to know wh y the Provincial Grand Masters are not elected yearly by the Provincial Grand Lodges in a like manner .

I see by the report , that Bro . J . R . Stebbing , P . G . D ., has made a very excellent motion , which ( if carried , as I have no doubt it will be ) will enable any lodge to getrid ' of an unworthy member in a very short and easy manner .

I should be very pleased if Bro . Stebbing , or some other member of Grand Lodge , would move that all Provincial Grand Lodges should annuall y elect their Masters , as all other Masters of lodges

are annually elected , which I cannot think would meet with any opposition . By giving this a place in your next paper you will oblige v

. „ ... , „ ., v .. Yours very fraternally , AN OLD SUU . SCIUBI : K

BRO . MORTON EDWARDS AND THE GRAND MARK LODGE . Oilice of the Grand Lod ge of Mark Masters , 3 , Red Lion Square , Hi gh Holborn , London , 3 th December , 1872 .

To the Edilur ( if The Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — 1 am desired to request the favour of the insertion of the enclosed letter in your next issue .

Yours faithfull y and fraternally . FivKtlKIvlCIv BJXCKKS , P . G , J . W . Grand Secretary .

( COPY . ) To the President , Vice-President , and Brethren of the General Board of the Grand Lodge of Mark Masters , Masons of England and Wales . Brethren ,

Referring to the communication addressed to me b y your authority by the Grand Secretary , under date 13 th July last , 1 hereb y express j . ny rcgn t furhaving conferred th . e degree ot Kni ghts Templar , and promise not

to coiii ' er such degree again , unless with the authority of the Grand Conclave of K . T . of England , and Wales , , S ; e .

i also liereny withdraw the Resolution No . 3 , as printed at page 41 of the Statues of Royal Ark Mariners , and purporting to have been adopted unanimousl y at a meeting of that body , held on theyih August , 1871 . " That havintr the power

b y Royal Warrant of 1 793 , to confer the original and genuine degrees of Mark Man , Marl ; Master , h . xceileiitand Super Excellent Master , these beat once added to ihe working of any lodge- of Royal Ark Mariners tint may desire to work them , " and

promise and undertake to insert . such withdrawal in any future edition of the Statutes that may be published , iit the same time exonerating the brethren nam . d in the ininuies of the said meeting

o ' oin naving Knowingly t . il . cn part 111 passing such resolutions , i also disclaim all power , from and after this dale , to grant warrants for the aim

negroes OL jinriv man marK . Master . I further authorise the publication of a copy of this letter in the next number of The Fremasoii . I am , brethren , \ ours obedientl y and fraternally , ( Signed ) MORTOX EIJWAKDS .