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Approaching Jubilee Festival Of The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.
APPROACHING JUBILEE FESTIVAL OF THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .
The first meeting of the Board of Stewards for the approaching Jubilee Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution was held at Freemasons' Hall on Friday , the nth inst . Bro . Sir John B . Monckton , P . G . W , occupied the chair , and there were present between 60 and 70 brethren , among whom vvere Bros .
Horace B . Marshall , J . P , P . G . Treas . ; C . F . Hogard , P . G . Std . Br . ; Geo . E . Fairchild , J . Newton , Major C . W . Carrell , Stanley J . Attenborough , Lennox Browne , H . J . Strong , } . M . McLeod , B . H . Paul , M . D ., P . D . G . D . C ; j . A . Farnfield , P . A . G . D . C ; F . Sumner Knyvett , P . G . D . ; C . E . Keyser . John E . Dawson ,
P . G . S . B . ; and James Terry , P . G . S . B . TheSECRETAKY of the Institution having announced that circulars had been issued to all lodges and chapters calling their attention to the near approach of the Jubilee Festival , the following brethren were appointed officers of the Board :
PRESIDENT : R . W . Bro . Sir John B . Monckton , P . G . W .
ACTING VICE-PRESIDENTS : R . W . Bro . Lord Brooke , M . P ., P . G . M . Essex . „ „ T . F . Halsey , M . P ., P . G . M . Hertfordshire . „ „ Col . Le Gendre N . Starkie , P . G . M . East Lancashire . V . W . Bro . Rev . C . I . Martyn , M . A ., Past G . Chaplain . „ „ Horace B . Marshall . J . P ., Past G . Treasurer . „ „ F . A . Philbrick , Q . C , Grand Registrar .
HONORARY TREASURERS : R . W . Bro . Sir Reginald Hanson , Bart ., M . P ., P . G . W . V . W . Bro . Thomas Fenn , President Board of General Purposes . CHAIRMAN OF LADIES' STEWARDS : W . Bro . Lieut .-Col . George Lambert , F . S . A ., P . G . S . B .
HONORARY SECRETARV : VV . Bro . James Terry , P . G . S . B ., Sec . of the Institution . It was further resolved that all Patrons , Vice-Patrons , and Vice-Presidents of the Institution , all Present and Past Grand Officers , and all Present and Past Provincial Grand Officers be Vice-Presidents , and that an
Executive Committee , consisting of 40 London and 40 Provincial Stewards , with power to add to their number , be appointed to make the necessary arrangements for holding the Festival ; Bro . C . F . Hogard , Past G . Std . Br ., to be the chairman of the said Committee .
It was also resolved that the Steward ' s fee be £ 2 2 s ., but in the case of Stewards from Foreign and Colonial lodges who are unable to attend the Festival and Ladies £ 1 IS . A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings .
Annual Dinner Of The Clarence Lodge Of Instruction , No. 263.
ANNUAL DINNER OF THE CLARENCE LODGE OF INSTRUCTION , No . 263 .
The second annual dinner of the above lodge of instruction vvas held on Thursday , the 3 rd inst ., at ia , Fitzroy-square , when Bro . R . Clay Sudlow , Prov . Grand Std . Br ., presided , and Bro . W . H . Kirb y , Preceptor , occupied the vice-chair . An excellent dinner having been thoroughly enjoyed
by the brethren assembled , numbering about 50 , the CHAIRMAN proposed the toast of " The Queen and the Craft , " vvhich vvas duly honoured , and that of " The Most Worshipful Grand Master" vvas then proposed . During his remarks upon this toast the Chairman did not think that anything vvas required to increase
the loyalty and devotion we all felt for our Grand Master . At the same time he believed that the sympathy of every member of the Craft had been with the Prince during the last few weeks , for our memories took us back to the time when the Prince of Wales himself vvas hovering between life and death , and now
we have seen him in his turn nursing his son through a similar illness , and for many anxious days bearing all the responsibilities of this trying period alone , and although they had drank to this toast many times vvith great cordiality , yet they must do so even more heartily on this occasion in consideration of the trials he has
had during the past few weeks . The VICE-CHAIRMAN proposed the toast of " The Pro Grand Master , the Earl of Lathom ; th ; Deputy Grand Master , the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe ; and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past , " and having mentioned some of the excellent qualifications
to be found amongst the majority of the eminent brethren who vvere our Grand Lodge Officers , and speaking of the great satisfaction experienced throughout the Craft at the way in vvhich matters of great moment were decided at their hands , he remarked that
the Clarence Lodge of Instruction certainl y felt open to congratulations , it being allowed to enroll amongst its very few honorary members two of the Officers of Grand Lodge ( Bros . R . C . Sudlow and H . Sadler ) , and moreover that those two were brethren who had in
time past , as well as in the present , identified themselves so closely with all that appertained to the perfect working of the ritual of our Order . He knew he was asking the brethren to support a toast which he was unable to introduce to them in sufficiently
powerful terms , but he relied on the enthusiasm of the brethren making up for his own inadequacy . He should couple with that toast the name of Bro . Henry Sadler , Grand Tyler . Bro . SADLER responded on behalf of the Officers of Grand Lodge .
Annual Dinner Of The Clarence Lodge Of Instruction , No. 263.
In proposing the next toast , the CHAIRMAN said Brethren , I am going to ask you to honour the toast of the evening— " The Clarence Lodge of Instruction . " You vvill remember when I proposed this toast to you about this time last year I commenced my remarks by savins * vve would drink to the continued success of the
Clarence Lodge , and I am prepared to believe it is in consequence of the enthusiastic manner in which that vvas drunk that this Clarence Lodge of Instruction has scored another big success during the past year , and , therefore , T feel anxious that vve should , so to speak , start it on another year of progress ,
advancement , and success . I congratulate the lodge most heartily upon the improvement in the present over the old place of meeting , and am delighted to find you so comfortably housed . Now I want you all to join vvith me in wishing continued success to this lodge , for good , honest , splendid Masonic
work has been done during the past year . Young Masons just taking their Degrees have been encouraged to come here to commence studying the ritual . I do not know anything more important than that young Masons before the first impressions wear off should be so encouraged and meet vvith a hearty welcome in a
lodge of instruction , for it is there they learn the A B C of the ritual , and qualify themselves for high posts in the Craft to vvhich they naturally wish to attain . Now I take it that you will all agree vvith me that though this lodge possesses a good Committee , a most energetic Secretary , and a splendid Treasurer , yet still
vve must and do consider that this pronounced success is due to our splendid , admirable , and esteemed Preceptor , Bro . Kirby . I do not want , brethren , to go over the old ground that I traversed last year , but I do want to say this , that in Bro . Kirby you have a Preceptor par excellence , one who knows not only when to give
corrections , but , vvhat is still more important , how to give them . Now perhaps I am presuming just a little , but I should like to make a suggestion , vvhich is that you should not only entertain the members of your lodge with a very capital banquet such as we have enjoyed to-night , but should exhibit to them and their
visitors a sample of the excellent Masonic work that so many of you are capable of doing . With this toast I couple the name of Bro . Kirby . Bro . W . H . KIRBY , responding , said : Bro . Chairman and brethren , —I am indeed grateful to you for your cordiality towards this lodge as also to myself evinced
by the hearty way in vvhich you have just supported the toast of the Clarence Lodge of Instruction , and as its Preceptor I recognise there is much responsibility resting upon me . In the first instance we have taken as our standard for working the Emulation Lodge of Improvement and in essaying to do work similar in quality
to that performed at " Emulation , " vve accept a difficult task , but though the toil at the outset was hard , f am greatly gratified to recognise that among our regular members at the present time we have several who are quite capable of working the ceremonies in such a way as to reflect great credit upon themselves as tractable
scholars , and upon the lodge as achieving that which is its motive for existence—the imparting of instruction . In this connection we claim vvhat we hope is an allowable pride , for I believe I am right in stating that the Committee of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement are gracious enough to consider in a species of training
school where brethren ambitious of shining as working members of the Lodgeof Improvement may make their earlier efforts and gain the confidence and experience so necessary to everyone before it is possible to work ceremonies up tothe standard required by our brethren at their meetings at Freemasons' Hall . Alluding to
the suggestion our Chairman has been kind enough to offer , 1 may say it was a strong desire on my part that vve should do some work on this occasion . The reason making this impossible vvas that we had no room available in these premises where vve could hold our lodge . We will hope some
arrangement can be made when next year comes round to perform one or a part of one of the lectures . I thank our Bro . Chairman very much for the flattering way he has referred to our lodge , and agree vvith him that a very large proportion of the success of this lodge is attributable to our Secretary and Treasurer , who are
first-rale men and Masons , and also to the Committee , who are always to the fore when any business requires their attention . I am sure the management will look upon the success of this evening and the kind words of encouragement that have been spoken vvith immense pleasure , and I am personally certain that events of
this description do much toward cementing our Masonic friendship and proving incentives to increase of energy for the future . The VICE-CHAIRMAN next proposed the toast of " The Bank of England Lodge . " He reminded the brethren he had spoken of one responsibility they , as a
lodge , accepted in regard to their work ; in connection with the toast he recognised they accepted another responsibility no less in character than the one already referred to . Inacceptingtheirwarrantempoweringthem to meet , the Clarence Lodge became allied tot he Bank of England Lodge , vvhich is a very old and hi ghly
thought of lodge , and its dignity and importance must be maintained by the Clarence Lodge as one of its limbs the same as if it were thc general body oi the lodge itself ; hence , having this responsibility and recognising its importance , it vvas a great pleasure to
him to propose the toast of the Bank of England Lodge , especially so as he could see amongst the assembled brethren several members of that respected lodge . Indeed , the Chairman was one of its Past Masters , Bro . H . Pritchard , on his immediate left , vvas the Secretary , Bro . Rushton , member of the Clarence
Annual Dinner Of The Clarence Lodge Of Instruction , No. 263.
Committee , was one of its prominent members ; several other brethren members of the Bank of England Lodge were in the room that ni g ht and among the members of the Clarence Lodge . He also had received a letter from the W . M . ( Bro . G . L . Kennaby ) , in vvhich he expressed regret that an important previous
engagement quite prevented him from being present , although he claimed the greatest interest in this lodge and its prosperity . He ( Bro . Kirby ) believed they were held in good estimation by the Bank of England Lodge , and desired that such mi g ht continue for a long time ; in fact , he would be pleased at any of their meetings to
receive visits of inspection from either the W . M ., Secretary , or any ot the Past Masters of the respected lodge to whom they vvere indebted for their authority to assemble . He associated the name of Bro . Henry Pritchard , Secretary of the Bank of England Lodge , with this toast .
Bro . H . PKITCIIAUD , responding , said he had great pleasure in acknowled ging the many pleasant things the Vice-Chairman had said of No . 26 3 , and on behalf of that lodge he thanked the brethren heartily for the way in vvhich the toast had been received . He regretted he was not able to visit the Clarence Lodge
oftener and see the work he heard about , but his interest in Masonry had latterly been manifested in other directions than that of stud ying its rituals . If the Clarence Lodge vvas proud of meeting under the warrant of the Bank of England Lodge , he could say that the Bank of England Lodge was very proud to have
such a lodge as the Clarence meeting under its warrant . He congratulated them on the method they had adopted of working their ceremonies ; he considered that lodges of instruction vvere the schools of Freemasonry , while the Emulation Lodge of Improvement might well be considered it *; college . . He considered it
vvas a right principle to adopt not to allow either smoking or refreshment in the lodge room , and he congratulated them upon the Preceptor they had , who was a pupil of Bro . Sudlow ' s , following the example he set as nearly as possible . He thanked them very heartily for the way the toast had been supported .
In proposing "The Chairman , " the VICE-CHAIRMAN remarked : I have . indeeda great pleasure now in introducing the next toast to your notice , our Chairman . In our Chairman of this evening we find a truly good brother , one who is a shining light even amongst tne pick of the Masons of the day . He is a good man and
true and distinctly an ornament of the Society to which he belongs . Personally I feel that 1 could do greater justice to this toast if JJro . Sudlow were not sitting at the other end of this table . My tongue would then teel loosened and I could extol him and sound his praises in a way that delicacy foroids my doing within reach
of his ears . However , in Bro . Sudlow I say vve find a worthy officer amongst those of Grand Lodge , he is also a prominent member of the Committee of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement . His geniality and kindness are traits of character known to all of us who frequently meet him , and I am speaking the
thoughts of all here when I state he is the brother whose services vve are most pleased to secure to preside over this , our annual dinner . His recommendations are worthy of every consideration , his hints cannot be otherwise than useful , and every word of
encouragement he speaks is indeed a refresher , urging us on to renewed hearty good work . Brethren , the night would not be long enough to allow my describing all the good points and Masonic virtues of our Chairman , so 1 will not attempt the hopeless task , but ask you to support this toast with true Masonic enthusiasm .
Bro . R . CLAY SUDLOW , P . G . Std . Br . , in his response , said the terms in which the last toast had been proposed had made him quite uncomfortable , and while Bro . Kirby was speaking he knew he vvas suffused with blushes . He felt it vvas a presumption on his part to occupy the chair at the annual dinner of this lodge two
years in succession , and he would like to see some one else take that honourable office next year . Although he spent many happy evenings in Masonry , yet there were occasions wnich brought with them special pleasures , and he vvas glad to tell the brethren that that evening was certainly one of those ocasioiis .
He found whenever he came to the Clarence Lodge he vvas always met with every kindness , and good fellowship was on every hand . As the hour was late , being after 11 o ' clock , he would not detain them by more than saying he was delighted to have presided over the meeting that night and was greatly obliged to
the brethren for the kind way they had responded to his toast , and before resuming his seat he would propose the lasttoast , that of "The Visitors . " He expressed how surprised he felt when early in the evening he claimed the pleasure of a glass of wine vvith the visitors to find that from among all those assembled only four or five responded . He therefore vvas able to conclude that the
lodge itself vvas present in strong numbers , but among the visitors he noticed there were some important brethren , and he extended to them a cordial welcome at that board , and only hoped it gave them as much pleasure to be amongst the brethren of that lodge as they ( the members ) felt in seeing them there . He should couple the name of Bro . Reynolds with this
toast . Bro . REYNOLDS responded in well-chosen and adequate terms . During the evening a capital selection of vocal and instrumental music and recitations was rendered by
various members of the lodge , the vvnole concluding with '" Auld Lang Syne , " which was sung by the energetic Scotch member of the Committee , Bro . D . G . Imlay , and he was fully supported by every brother present .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Approaching Jubilee Festival Of The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.
APPROACHING JUBILEE FESTIVAL OF THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .
The first meeting of the Board of Stewards for the approaching Jubilee Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution was held at Freemasons' Hall on Friday , the nth inst . Bro . Sir John B . Monckton , P . G . W , occupied the chair , and there were present between 60 and 70 brethren , among whom vvere Bros .
Horace B . Marshall , J . P , P . G . Treas . ; C . F . Hogard , P . G . Std . Br . ; Geo . E . Fairchild , J . Newton , Major C . W . Carrell , Stanley J . Attenborough , Lennox Browne , H . J . Strong , } . M . McLeod , B . H . Paul , M . D ., P . D . G . D . C ; j . A . Farnfield , P . A . G . D . C ; F . Sumner Knyvett , P . G . D . ; C . E . Keyser . John E . Dawson ,
P . G . S . B . ; and James Terry , P . G . S . B . TheSECRETAKY of the Institution having announced that circulars had been issued to all lodges and chapters calling their attention to the near approach of the Jubilee Festival , the following brethren were appointed officers of the Board :
PRESIDENT : R . W . Bro . Sir John B . Monckton , P . G . W .
ACTING VICE-PRESIDENTS : R . W . Bro . Lord Brooke , M . P ., P . G . M . Essex . „ „ T . F . Halsey , M . P ., P . G . M . Hertfordshire . „ „ Col . Le Gendre N . Starkie , P . G . M . East Lancashire . V . W . Bro . Rev . C . I . Martyn , M . A ., Past G . Chaplain . „ „ Horace B . Marshall . J . P ., Past G . Treasurer . „ „ F . A . Philbrick , Q . C , Grand Registrar .
HONORARY TREASURERS : R . W . Bro . Sir Reginald Hanson , Bart ., M . P ., P . G . W . V . W . Bro . Thomas Fenn , President Board of General Purposes . CHAIRMAN OF LADIES' STEWARDS : W . Bro . Lieut .-Col . George Lambert , F . S . A ., P . G . S . B .
HONORARY SECRETARV : VV . Bro . James Terry , P . G . S . B ., Sec . of the Institution . It was further resolved that all Patrons , Vice-Patrons , and Vice-Presidents of the Institution , all Present and Past Grand Officers , and all Present and Past Provincial Grand Officers be Vice-Presidents , and that an
Executive Committee , consisting of 40 London and 40 Provincial Stewards , with power to add to their number , be appointed to make the necessary arrangements for holding the Festival ; Bro . C . F . Hogard , Past G . Std . Br ., to be the chairman of the said Committee .
It was also resolved that the Steward ' s fee be £ 2 2 s ., but in the case of Stewards from Foreign and Colonial lodges who are unable to attend the Festival and Ladies £ 1 IS . A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings .
Annual Dinner Of The Clarence Lodge Of Instruction , No. 263.
ANNUAL DINNER OF THE CLARENCE LODGE OF INSTRUCTION , No . 263 .
The second annual dinner of the above lodge of instruction vvas held on Thursday , the 3 rd inst ., at ia , Fitzroy-square , when Bro . R . Clay Sudlow , Prov . Grand Std . Br ., presided , and Bro . W . H . Kirb y , Preceptor , occupied the vice-chair . An excellent dinner having been thoroughly enjoyed
by the brethren assembled , numbering about 50 , the CHAIRMAN proposed the toast of " The Queen and the Craft , " vvhich vvas duly honoured , and that of " The Most Worshipful Grand Master" vvas then proposed . During his remarks upon this toast the Chairman did not think that anything vvas required to increase
the loyalty and devotion we all felt for our Grand Master . At the same time he believed that the sympathy of every member of the Craft had been with the Prince during the last few weeks , for our memories took us back to the time when the Prince of Wales himself vvas hovering between life and death , and now
we have seen him in his turn nursing his son through a similar illness , and for many anxious days bearing all the responsibilities of this trying period alone , and although they had drank to this toast many times vvith great cordiality , yet they must do so even more heartily on this occasion in consideration of the trials he has
had during the past few weeks . The VICE-CHAIRMAN proposed the toast of " The Pro Grand Master , the Earl of Lathom ; th ; Deputy Grand Master , the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe ; and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past , " and having mentioned some of the excellent qualifications
to be found amongst the majority of the eminent brethren who vvere our Grand Lodge Officers , and speaking of the great satisfaction experienced throughout the Craft at the way in vvhich matters of great moment were decided at their hands , he remarked that
the Clarence Lodge of Instruction certainl y felt open to congratulations , it being allowed to enroll amongst its very few honorary members two of the Officers of Grand Lodge ( Bros . R . C . Sudlow and H . Sadler ) , and moreover that those two were brethren who had in
time past , as well as in the present , identified themselves so closely with all that appertained to the perfect working of the ritual of our Order . He knew he was asking the brethren to support a toast which he was unable to introduce to them in sufficiently
powerful terms , but he relied on the enthusiasm of the brethren making up for his own inadequacy . He should couple with that toast the name of Bro . Henry Sadler , Grand Tyler . Bro . SADLER responded on behalf of the Officers of Grand Lodge .
Annual Dinner Of The Clarence Lodge Of Instruction , No. 263.
In proposing the next toast , the CHAIRMAN said Brethren , I am going to ask you to honour the toast of the evening— " The Clarence Lodge of Instruction . " You vvill remember when I proposed this toast to you about this time last year I commenced my remarks by savins * vve would drink to the continued success of the
Clarence Lodge , and I am prepared to believe it is in consequence of the enthusiastic manner in which that vvas drunk that this Clarence Lodge of Instruction has scored another big success during the past year , and , therefore , T feel anxious that vve should , so to speak , start it on another year of progress ,
advancement , and success . I congratulate the lodge most heartily upon the improvement in the present over the old place of meeting , and am delighted to find you so comfortably housed . Now I want you all to join vvith me in wishing continued success to this lodge , for good , honest , splendid Masonic
work has been done during the past year . Young Masons just taking their Degrees have been encouraged to come here to commence studying the ritual . I do not know anything more important than that young Masons before the first impressions wear off should be so encouraged and meet vvith a hearty welcome in a
lodge of instruction , for it is there they learn the A B C of the ritual , and qualify themselves for high posts in the Craft to vvhich they naturally wish to attain . Now I take it that you will all agree vvith me that though this lodge possesses a good Committee , a most energetic Secretary , and a splendid Treasurer , yet still
vve must and do consider that this pronounced success is due to our splendid , admirable , and esteemed Preceptor , Bro . Kirby . I do not want , brethren , to go over the old ground that I traversed last year , but I do want to say this , that in Bro . Kirby you have a Preceptor par excellence , one who knows not only when to give
corrections , but , vvhat is still more important , how to give them . Now perhaps I am presuming just a little , but I should like to make a suggestion , vvhich is that you should not only entertain the members of your lodge with a very capital banquet such as we have enjoyed to-night , but should exhibit to them and their
visitors a sample of the excellent Masonic work that so many of you are capable of doing . With this toast I couple the name of Bro . Kirby . Bro . W . H . KIRBY , responding , said : Bro . Chairman and brethren , —I am indeed grateful to you for your cordiality towards this lodge as also to myself evinced
by the hearty way in vvhich you have just supported the toast of the Clarence Lodge of Instruction , and as its Preceptor I recognise there is much responsibility resting upon me . In the first instance we have taken as our standard for working the Emulation Lodge of Improvement and in essaying to do work similar in quality
to that performed at " Emulation , " vve accept a difficult task , but though the toil at the outset was hard , f am greatly gratified to recognise that among our regular members at the present time we have several who are quite capable of working the ceremonies in such a way as to reflect great credit upon themselves as tractable
scholars , and upon the lodge as achieving that which is its motive for existence—the imparting of instruction . In this connection we claim vvhat we hope is an allowable pride , for I believe I am right in stating that the Committee of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement are gracious enough to consider in a species of training
school where brethren ambitious of shining as working members of the Lodgeof Improvement may make their earlier efforts and gain the confidence and experience so necessary to everyone before it is possible to work ceremonies up tothe standard required by our brethren at their meetings at Freemasons' Hall . Alluding to
the suggestion our Chairman has been kind enough to offer , 1 may say it was a strong desire on my part that vve should do some work on this occasion . The reason making this impossible vvas that we had no room available in these premises where vve could hold our lodge . We will hope some
arrangement can be made when next year comes round to perform one or a part of one of the lectures . I thank our Bro . Chairman very much for the flattering way he has referred to our lodge , and agree vvith him that a very large proportion of the success of this lodge is attributable to our Secretary and Treasurer , who are
first-rale men and Masons , and also to the Committee , who are always to the fore when any business requires their attention . I am sure the management will look upon the success of this evening and the kind words of encouragement that have been spoken vvith immense pleasure , and I am personally certain that events of
this description do much toward cementing our Masonic friendship and proving incentives to increase of energy for the future . The VICE-CHAIRMAN next proposed the toast of " The Bank of England Lodge . " He reminded the brethren he had spoken of one responsibility they , as a
lodge , accepted in regard to their work ; in connection with the toast he recognised they accepted another responsibility no less in character than the one already referred to . Inacceptingtheirwarrantempoweringthem to meet , the Clarence Lodge became allied tot he Bank of England Lodge , vvhich is a very old and hi ghly
thought of lodge , and its dignity and importance must be maintained by the Clarence Lodge as one of its limbs the same as if it were thc general body oi the lodge itself ; hence , having this responsibility and recognising its importance , it vvas a great pleasure to
him to propose the toast of the Bank of England Lodge , especially so as he could see amongst the assembled brethren several members of that respected lodge . Indeed , the Chairman was one of its Past Masters , Bro . H . Pritchard , on his immediate left , vvas the Secretary , Bro . Rushton , member of the Clarence
Annual Dinner Of The Clarence Lodge Of Instruction , No. 263.
Committee , was one of its prominent members ; several other brethren members of the Bank of England Lodge were in the room that ni g ht and among the members of the Clarence Lodge . He also had received a letter from the W . M . ( Bro . G . L . Kennaby ) , in vvhich he expressed regret that an important previous
engagement quite prevented him from being present , although he claimed the greatest interest in this lodge and its prosperity . He ( Bro . Kirby ) believed they were held in good estimation by the Bank of England Lodge , and desired that such mi g ht continue for a long time ; in fact , he would be pleased at any of their meetings to
receive visits of inspection from either the W . M ., Secretary , or any ot the Past Masters of the respected lodge to whom they vvere indebted for their authority to assemble . He associated the name of Bro . Henry Pritchard , Secretary of the Bank of England Lodge , with this toast .
Bro . H . PKITCIIAUD , responding , said he had great pleasure in acknowled ging the many pleasant things the Vice-Chairman had said of No . 26 3 , and on behalf of that lodge he thanked the brethren heartily for the way in vvhich the toast had been received . He regretted he was not able to visit the Clarence Lodge
oftener and see the work he heard about , but his interest in Masonry had latterly been manifested in other directions than that of stud ying its rituals . If the Clarence Lodge vvas proud of meeting under the warrant of the Bank of England Lodge , he could say that the Bank of England Lodge was very proud to have
such a lodge as the Clarence meeting under its warrant . He congratulated them on the method they had adopted of working their ceremonies ; he considered that lodges of instruction vvere the schools of Freemasonry , while the Emulation Lodge of Improvement might well be considered it *; college . . He considered it
vvas a right principle to adopt not to allow either smoking or refreshment in the lodge room , and he congratulated them upon the Preceptor they had , who was a pupil of Bro . Sudlow ' s , following the example he set as nearly as possible . He thanked them very heartily for the way the toast had been supported .
In proposing "The Chairman , " the VICE-CHAIRMAN remarked : I have . indeeda great pleasure now in introducing the next toast to your notice , our Chairman . In our Chairman of this evening we find a truly good brother , one who is a shining light even amongst tne pick of the Masons of the day . He is a good man and
true and distinctly an ornament of the Society to which he belongs . Personally I feel that 1 could do greater justice to this toast if JJro . Sudlow were not sitting at the other end of this table . My tongue would then teel loosened and I could extol him and sound his praises in a way that delicacy foroids my doing within reach
of his ears . However , in Bro . Sudlow I say vve find a worthy officer amongst those of Grand Lodge , he is also a prominent member of the Committee of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement . His geniality and kindness are traits of character known to all of us who frequently meet him , and I am speaking the
thoughts of all here when I state he is the brother whose services vve are most pleased to secure to preside over this , our annual dinner . His recommendations are worthy of every consideration , his hints cannot be otherwise than useful , and every word of
encouragement he speaks is indeed a refresher , urging us on to renewed hearty good work . Brethren , the night would not be long enough to allow my describing all the good points and Masonic virtues of our Chairman , so 1 will not attempt the hopeless task , but ask you to support this toast with true Masonic enthusiasm .
Bro . R . CLAY SUDLOW , P . G . Std . Br . , in his response , said the terms in which the last toast had been proposed had made him quite uncomfortable , and while Bro . Kirby was speaking he knew he vvas suffused with blushes . He felt it vvas a presumption on his part to occupy the chair at the annual dinner of this lodge two
years in succession , and he would like to see some one else take that honourable office next year . Although he spent many happy evenings in Masonry , yet there were occasions wnich brought with them special pleasures , and he vvas glad to tell the brethren that that evening was certainly one of those ocasioiis .
He found whenever he came to the Clarence Lodge he vvas always met with every kindness , and good fellowship was on every hand . As the hour was late , being after 11 o ' clock , he would not detain them by more than saying he was delighted to have presided over the meeting that night and was greatly obliged to
the brethren for the kind way they had responded to his toast , and before resuming his seat he would propose the lasttoast , that of "The Visitors . " He expressed how surprised he felt when early in the evening he claimed the pleasure of a glass of wine vvith the visitors to find that from among all those assembled only four or five responded . He therefore vvas able to conclude that the
lodge itself vvas present in strong numbers , but among the visitors he noticed there were some important brethren , and he extended to them a cordial welcome at that board , and only hoped it gave them as much pleasure to be amongst the brethren of that lodge as they ( the members ) felt in seeing them there . He should couple the name of Bro . Reynolds with this
toast . Bro . REYNOLDS responded in well-chosen and adequate terms . During the evening a capital selection of vocal and instrumental music and recitations was rendered by
various members of the lodge , the vvnole concluding with '" Auld Lang Syne , " which was sung by the energetic Scotch member of the Committee , Bro . D . G . Imlay , and he was fully supported by every brother present .