First Festival Of The Clarence Lodge Of Instruction, No. 263.

FIRST FESTIVAL OF THE CLARENCE LODGE OF INSTRUCTION , No . 263 .

On the 4 th instant the brethren of this important lodge of instruction held their first festival , meeting as an exception at the Horse Shoe Hotel , where the items comprised in a first-class menu were enjoyed by between 70 and 80 of the members , together with a fair number of visitors .

Bro . R . Clay Sudlow , G . Std . Br ., occupied the chair , and Bro . Henry Sadler , G . Tyler , the vice-chair . The CHAIRMAN proposed in a brief but very telling way the toasts of " The Queen and the Craft " and "The Most Worshipful Grand Master . " The former was immediately followed with musical honours , and

in his eulogies of the excellent qualities possessed by his Royal Highness , Bro . Sudlow alluded to the thoroughness of his actions in conformity with Masonic principles , remarking that even if he had never been initiated , still the Prince of Wales would have been at heart a Freemason . Among many remarks with which the Chairman proposed " The Deputy Grand Master

and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past , " he made delicate allusion to the gratitude that all Masons who adopt the working of Craft Masonry , as practised in the Emulation Lodge of Improvement , must feel to Bro . Fenn ( Pres . Board of Gen . Purps . ) , who had done as much or more than any other Mason for the benefit of the ritual of Masonry .

In proposing the next toast , the CHAIRMAN said it was refreshing to find among the toasts of the evening one which was different to the regulation toasts which were always so loyally responded to in lodges , and the one he alluded to , which relieved the monotony of the usual toasts , was as printed upon the

programme , " Success to the Clarence Lodge of Instruction , " but he thought it would be well to amend this , and drink to the continued success of the Clarence Lodge of Instruction . Bro . Sudlow further remarked : I believe that it is less than 12 months ago that this lodge of instruction was started by a few earnest

Masons , headed by our esteemed Bro . Sadler . They came , as I think , to a very wise determination , for they decided that they would adopt in their lodge of instruction the system of working recognised by the Emulation Lodge of Improvement . After they had obtained that very necessary document the warrant , they sought

about for a suitable Preceptor , and I think I may say , with your concurrence , that they were fortunate enough in securing the corporation of our brother who sits upon my right—Bro . Kirby . I am pleased to see that though the beginning was a very , small one , at the present time the subscribing members to the Clarence Lodge of

Instruction numbers 80 . In a lodge of instruction a great many brethren come forward who know absolutely nothing of the ceremonies or any part of them , and so it has been in the present case ; but great strides have been made in the working , as I can personally testify . Not only do I find that the brethren are coming

on in-the ritual of the ceremonies , but they are also taking up ( and this , I think , is a great test of progress ) the study of the lectures , and during the last nine months no fewer than 10 out of the Fifteen Sections have been carefully worked in this lodge . Now , brethren , to what are we to attribute this very marked

success of the Clarence Lodge of Instruction ? I think to several reasons . First , perhaps to the very united spirit that animates the members of this lodge . Every time I have had the pleasure of visiting it I have been struck with the enthusiasm of all the members who come week by week to this lodge of instruction . I

think we may also say that a great deal of credit is due to the Committee of the lodge and the executive officers—the Secretary and Treasurer—and I certainl y should be wanting , failing in my duty if I did not refer particularly to the great assistance which has been given by a very distinguished honorary member of this

lodge , Bro . Blundell Maple . From the very first he has taken the very warmest interest in this lodge , and in a great number of ways has shown and proved that interest , and I know he watches over this lodge of instruction with a great deal of enthusiasm . Last and not least , brethren , we look for an

explanation of the success to our Preceptor , Bro . W . H . Kirby . It may seem to many of you to be a very small and easy thing to sit in the Past Master ' s chair and g ive the necessary corrections , and supply the required words , or pull up when a mistake is . made , but to those who think the position an easy one I say try it . The

duties of a Preceptor are at once difficult and delicate , they require a vast amount of tact in addition to a very thorough knowledge of the work . Now , Bro . Kirby has par excellence proved himself an admirable Preceptor ; he can give a correction in such a way that it does not disappoint or dishearten but it encourages

, aad there really lies the gist and secret of the whole thing . It was thought , brethren , that the completion of the first year of work of the Clarence Lodge of Instruction would be a very fitting opportunity to present to our esteemed Preceptor a little offering at the hands of all

the members of this lodge to show their appreciation of his great services , and Bro . Kirby , in the name of this lodge of instruction I have to ask your acceptance of your certificate and portrait framed in a most handsome manner as a small token of the affection and

esteem in which your are held by every member of this lodge . I think , Bro . Kirby , that you will feel with me that the great charm of this presentation lies not so much in its intrinsic value as in the kindl y feelings which promoted it and the enthusiasm with which it

First Festival Of The Clarence Lodge Of Instruction, No. 263.

has been carried through . Personally , I am delighted to have been chosen as the medium through which this presentation is made to you , and perhaps I may be allowed to add this further remark , that as you have endeavoured to frame the members of this lodge in the methods of working the ritual , so now you see in

their turn they have framed you . Bro . KIRBY , in replying , referred to the diffidence he experienced as to his ability to make an adequate response to the many kind words which had fallen from the Chairman ' s lips relative to both the Clarence Lodge of Instruction and himself . As regarded the

former , he heartily thanked everyone present for the cordial success they wished the lodge , and many of them for the hearty support they had given it during its short existence . He concurred with the Chairman ' s remarks , that unanimity and personal enthusiasm were the factors that had exalted that lodge of instruction to

its present position , and personally felt much encouragement from the several associations of that pleasant evening . In acknowledging the kindly conceived presentation , Bro . Kirby assured the brethren it was a mark of esteem and affection he had not anticipated would have been shown him . The work performed at

the lodge was a labour of love , and he had been more than rewarded by possessing the friendship of the first rate men and Masons who had attached themselves to that lodge , and in that way had become known to him . He likewise acknowledged the unbounded pleasure he derived from receiving the presentation through the

medium of his highly respected and esteemed friend , Bro . Sudlow . It was a special gratification that that first recognition of his services in connection with Freemasonry should be received through him , for Bro . Sudlow vvas responsible first for the desire which overcame Bro . Kirby fouryears ago to join the ranks of the

good men and true to vvhich he recognised Bro . Sudlow belonged , then for introducing him to the Craft , then by teaching him sufficiently the rituals as to allow him eventually to recommend him as Preceptor to that lodge . He thanked Bro . Sudlow and the brethren , one and all , for the happiness and gratification he had felt

throughout the whole of that most enjoyable evening , and assured them that so long as his services were acceptable they might rely upon his doing everything in his power to conduct the lodge through what promised to be a prosperous and successful future .

When proposing the toast of "The Visitors" the Chairman extended to them , first , a hearty welcome and then thanks for assisting by their presence to produce the very happy occasion on which all were gathered together that evening . He specially thanked those visitors who had come forward to assist the

members with music , which music had been of so excellent a quality . * Bro . G . L . KENNABY expressed special pleasure in remarking the progress of that lodge , inasmuch as he vvas one of the principal officers of the Bank of England Lodge , by whom the warrant was issued under which

the Clarence Lodge met . It was his desire the next opportunity he had to visit the lodge , and become enrolled among its members . Bro . P . J . REYNOLDS congratulated the lodge , not only on their success , but upon their having decided to work the ceremonies in the most perfect form , that is , as

they are done at the Emulation Lodge of Improvement ; and he vvas sure the excellent way the lodge was conducted had produced the most favourable report they had heard that night . Bro . G . SLYMAN testified bypersonal experiences to the difficulty of making lodges of instruction a success , and

keeping the members together , and considered the prosperity of the Clarence Lod ge phenomenal , and prophesied that its future would be such as to place it in the rank of the foremost , best , and most powerful lodges of instruction in the City of London . Bro . BARRETT said it was in his experience a great

difficulty to get such an average attendance as he found attended the Clarence Lodge , especially with a life of only one year , and he thought one of the reasons vvas that the working was strictly on the system recognised by the Emulation Lodge of Improvement , which vvas daily becoming more and more popular .

Bro . HENRY SADLER , Vice-Chairman , in proposing " The Health of the Chairman , " remarked : This toast requires no recommendation . It is the easiest toast of the evening to propose . So many present know Bro . Sudlow ' s excellent qualities ; but in duty bound I must state one or two facts for the information of those who

are not so well acquainted with him . I must tell you it is mainly due to Bro . Sudlow ' s Masonic kindness that vve are able to meet as a lodge of instruction . In the first place Bro . Sudlow , as a prominent member of the Bank of England Lodge , was pleased to interest himself and get us our warrant . In my efforts to find

a good Preceptor , Bro . Sudlow at once recommended a brother whose abilities , gentlemanly conduct , and good sense you have evidence of to-ni ght , so we have much to be grateful to Bro . Sudlow for . I need not allude to those brilliant qualities he shows as Preceptor at the Emulation Lodge of Improvement , because they are

world-wide and well known , and they are recognised , I am happy to say , by our M . W . G . M . His appointment as Grand Standard Bearer in the earl y part of the year vvas a great pleasure to me , because I discovered a great many years ago in Bro . Sudlow the germs of those brilliant qualities as a Masonic teacherwhich he

, has so ably and beautifull y displayed to the benefit of many brethren here present . I will not stand longer between you and the feast of harmony , so will ask you to drink the health of your Chairman in your best way , for he is a good Mason , a good man , and a jolly good fellow .

First Festival Of The Clarence Lodge Of Instruction, No. 263.

Bro . SUDLOW , in response , said : I thank Bro . Sadler for the more than kind words he has spoken to-ni ght , and you , brethren , I thank very , very heartily for the way in vvhich you have received the toast of your Chairman . I am very proud to have occupied this chair to-night . I think it a great honour that the

Committee of this lodge asked me to take the chair on the occasion of their first festival . There are many men whom you might have asked ; one I mentioned in the earlier part of the evening—Bro . Blundell Maple but you have been so kind as to fix on me . I heartily appreciate your kindness , for I not only think it an

honour , but it is a great pleasure to me to have been present to-night , and have seen the hearty way in which you have received your Preceptor , Bro . Kirby , whom I think I may call a pupil of mine . To find him installed as a Preceptor of a lodge that has already made a name in the Masonic world , to find he has carried out his

duties to your satisfaction , to find that with his able assistance the lodge has achieved a great success , is , indeed , a very proud thing for me ; but , apart from that , I have to thank you one and all for the friendly way in which you have received me , and I am very glad indeed if I have in any way contributed to the great

success of this evening . A capital selection of songs was rendered during the evening by Bros . F . Ball , F . Bull , C . F . Cox , D . G . Imlay , W . H . Kirby , Alison Lister , and If . H . Nudihg . Bro . Sudlow gave one of his many humorous recitations— " Mr . Barker ' s Picture " —and the accompaniments were admirably rendered by Bro . Delma .

Masonic Lecture By Bro. Stevens.

MASONIC LECTURE BY BRO . STEVENS .

At the regular meeting of The Great City Lodge , No . 1426 , Bro . C . T . Smith , W . M . —held at the . Cannbnstreet Hotel , on Saturday , the 13 th inst ., Bro . James Stevens , P . M ., the first W . M . of the lodge , delivered his latest lecture on the Ritual and Ceremonial of the Symbolic Degrees in Freemasonry , now creating

considerable interest in both metropolitan and provincial lodges . Every officer , and several Past Masters , members , and visitors were present , and there being no other business before the lodge , the full time allotted for the lecture ( two hours ) was utilised to the satisfaction of a most attentive audience . After a brief

introduction , having reference to the progress of Speculative Freemasonry antecedent to the date of the Articles of Union which constituted the United Grand Lodge in 1813 , Bro . Stevens ably expounded the system , or regular method and order , in which the ritual of the three Craft Degrees was prepared for

general practice in our English lodges by the brethren selected for that purpose by the Lodge of Reconciliation at the date named . He paid a high tribute to the ability of those brethren , naming , amongst others , Bros . Dr . Samuel Hemmings , Peter Gilkes , and Peter Thomson , who had gathered together the scattered

elements of the former work , and so arranged them as to produce the general " connection of the whole system " throughout the three Symbolic Degrees , and the relative dependency of their several parts . Dissecting the ritual , Bro . Stevens raised the veil of allegory which covers the hidden meanings of language and

action , and made plain the numerous symbols employed in our forms and ceremonies , pointing out in what respects many of the intentions of the original compilers had been , and still continue to be , perverted , not altogether from wilfulness , but rather for want of that necessary Masonic education which alone can secure a

due appreciation of the grandeur 01 the original composition . He truly remarked that acknowledging , as we do , that the princi p les of Freemasonry are coeval with the very beginning of human society , and are eternal , the forms by which expression is given to those principles might possibly change from age to

age , but the direction of those changes should be observed and controlled if the symbolic illustrations which have been accepted by our ancestors as Speculative Masons are to be preserved by our posterity . A more lucid and interesting exposition of our several Craft ceremonials could scarcely be expected , for Bro .

Stevens has made the subject an almost life-long study , and is , so far as we know , the only exponent , as a lecturer and author , in relation to the present " working " in our respective lodges . After the applause with which Bro . Stevens was greeted at the termination of the lecture had subsided ,

Bro . N . B . HEADON , P . M ., Treas ., proposed in highly eulogistic terms that sincere thanks to the lecturer should be accorded on the minutes of the lodge lor the intellectual Masonic treat he had afforded its members . This was warmly supported by several of the Past Masters and officers , and carried unanimously .

At a later period of the evening the visitors severally endorsed the congratulatory remarks made in the lodge room during the meeting , Bro . HODDINOTT , W . M . 901 , expressing his great satisfaction with the lecture , vvhich opened up freely subjects upon which a general agreement might be at once accorded , and others

fertile for discussion both in regard to the past history of ancient Masonry and the progress of Speculative or Free-Masonry during the present century . The brethren dined together after the lodge had been closed , and , under the presidency of the W . M . passed a pleasant evening in harmony and goodfellowship .

The Princess of Wales and the Princesses Victoria and Maud returned to Mailborough House from Windsor on Monday , having concluded their visit to the Queen . . The Duchess of Albany also left the Castle the same day , and returned to Claremont .