Celebration Of The 150th. Anniversary Of The Lodge Of Emulation, No. 1.

he was equally respected as his forefathers . These facts being brought before the brethren must convince them that the Lodge of Emulation occupied a glorious position in the annals of Masonry . Few lodges could enumerate three families who had been in them for such a

lengthened period , their descendents still continuing , and he hoped , would continue , for many years to come , members of the lodge . That the Emulation Lodge would continue to hold a high rank in the Craft he ^ thought none of them would venture to dispute , and in giving " Health and

Prosperity to the Emulation Lodge" he felt it was not only a toast which might be called the the toast of the evening , but one which they would all drink with the most cordial feeling , and with the highest aspirations and hope for the future of the lodge . It was a pity the trains

would not allow them to remain long , happy and jolly as they had been , but he could not allow them to separate without making one further remark . He must associate this toast with the health of one who was equally revered in the lodge with those he had already mentioned ,

" Bro . Wing , "—( Cheers ) , the father of the Lodge of Emulation , who was looked up to with the kindest feelings , not alone by the members of the lodge , but by the Craft at large . He had had the honour of knowing Bro . Wing for a great number of years , and although Grand

Chaplain and Bro . Glaisher had not been able to settle which of the Grand Officers should return thanks at the bi-centenary " of the lodge , he trusted Bro . Wing would be present to hear whoever might then propose success and continued prosperity to it .

Bro . Wing said that every member of the lodge must be proud of being present that day , and hearing the gratif ying observations that had been so kindly made by the Grand Secretary One hundred and fifty years was an extraordinary age for a lodge to attain ! Grand Secretary had

kindly wished success and continued prosperity to the lodge , but he was sure no one could more cordially wish the same than the Past Masters . Such a long course of prosperity must prove that the lodge had been well conducted , and that Freemasonry had been carried out faithfully by

those who had had to instruct the members of the lodge . He hopffd that the lodge would always be as well managed , and he had not the slightest doubt that those to whom they would leave their duties would not be unmindful of the great things that had been achieved by their

predecessors . The proceedings of the evening had been exceedingly gratify ing to him , and he thought it a great compliment that so many visitors had travelled such a distance from London to honour the celebration by their presence . Bro . George Singer then proposed "The Health

of the Visitors . " The lodge had always been glad to receive visitors , and it was no less rejoiced on the centenary and a half of its existence to see such a goodly array of brethren from other lodges . He sincerely hoped that every individual

had enjoyed himself , and he further desired that every member of the lodge would always endeavour to sustain the character the lodge had hitherto enjoyed of extending hospitality to their brethren .

Bro . J . A . Rucker : It seems such a treat to return thanks for the visitors this evening , that I hardly like to say I wish it had fallen to some one else . I therefore feel that I cannot do otherwise than express that feeling . Our Bro . Singer has waited upon you with a flood of

compliment to us that really has almost overpowered me , and I hardly think that I can worthily , as far as the feelings of those brethren standing up with me are concerned , respond to it . Worshipful Master , I am sure I may say this for every one of those brethren that when

you are celebrating the 150 th anniversary of this lodge , and we concur entirely in the expressions that have fallen from your oldest member and father of the lodge , that a lodge must have been well conducted from the first that could

have continued to this day in such prosperity as the Emulation Lodge does now exhibit ; and we feel that having inscribed our names in the book as being present on this anniversary we have contributed to sending our names down to posterity , together with the members of the

Celebration Of The 150th. Anniversary Of The Lodge Of Emulation, No. 1.

Emulation Lodge . We thank you all , brethren , cordially and heartily , for the opportunity you have given us of being present on this very happy occasion . We thank you for the splendid hospitality with which you have treated us . I cannot say , as I have often heard it said , that we

hope to be here at the bi-centenary ; that is a joke too often played upon to-night ; but I may say this on behalf of myself and my brother visitors , that whoever may be present , we trust that the Emulation Lodge may very long continue to exist an honour to the Craft of

Freemasons in England . We again thank you for the kindness you have shown in inviting us , for the hospitality you have displayed to us , and for the cordiality with which you have received this toast :

Bro . Taylor , P . M ., proposed , " The Masonic Charities , " which he said the Emulation Lodge had always supported . He congratulated the Craft on the enormous subscriptions which those Institutions obtained , which he contrasted with

what were collected by institutions which were not Masonic . This one fact spoke for itself—Masons were eminently charitable ; and for the information of those distinguished brethren who were present he would say , that whereas the contributions to the Fund of Benevolence were

fluctuating and dependent on accidental circumstances , they had by a resolution of the lodge placed it upon a secure and firm basis , having decided that they should give one-tithe or tenth of their income for the purpose of Masonic benevolence . That the Lodge of Emulation might

continue to prosper , and that it would be able to send members to support the great charities was not only his wish , but the wish of every member of the lodge . He would couple with the toast the name of Bro . Joshua Nunn , the Vice-President of the Board of Benevolence , who

as well as Bro . Rucker , had distinguished himself as a supporter of the charities . Bro . Joshua Nunn , P . G . S . B .: —In the name of the Masonic Charities I thank you for the kind , expression that have been used by your Treasurer . I may say that the Lodge of

Emulation has done for the Chanties what few lodges have been able to do ; and when we are told by your Treasurer that one-tenth of its revenue is to b ( i devoted to that purpose , it shows how highly you appreciate those peculiar views all Masons should take , and which are the mainstay and

backbone of Freemasonry . I think I may say with pride that there is no other charity in the world that can show the return the Masonic Charities have this year . Over £ 22 , 000 have been collected for ourthreegreat Charities , and when you know that every month the Board of Benevolence

distribute from £ 400 to £ 500 to those that are needy or distressed , some to the widows and the orphans , some to those who through misfortune , not their own fault , have fallen into decay , I am sure it must give pleasure to our hearts , and prove that the brightest jewel in Masonry is

charity . It is true I have been connected for years with Bros . White and Rucker , in the Charities of the Order , and I have felt great pride in being so connected with them . I am glad to hear that the Emulation Lodge are going to set aside a tenth of their income for the

purposes of Charity , and I hope it is an example which will be followed by other lodges . In the name of the Charities , I thank you . Bro . Hubbuck proposed " The Health of the P . M . ' s" and informed the brethren of the great service they had been to the lodge .

Bro . G . Smith replied , and said that all the Past Masters were proud that the chair of the lod ge was occupied this 150 th year by the great grandson of an old P . M ., not only because he was a good Mason and a good man , but because he had ingratiatetl himself in the alfections of

the other members of the lodge . When the W . M . retired into the rank of Past Master , he hoped they would still spend many happy years together . Bro . Brackstone Baker proposed the " Health of the Officers , " to which Bro . Stoltenhcif

responded , and the W . M . then gave " The Health of Bro . Sewell and Bro . Godden , " the former ol whom had obtained the excellent band which had played , and the latter of whom had had all the hard work of Secretary to the Committee for getting up the celebration .

Celebration Of The 150th. Anniversary Of The Lodge Of Emulation, No. 1.

Bro : H . J . Godden , P . M ., responded , and was glad that the efforts which he and Bro . Sewell had made had met with the approbation of the W . M . and brethren . The party then broke up , and the brethren re-.

turned to town . A beautiful selection of music was played , at intervals during the evening by the band , of the Royal London Militia , by permission of Col . Sir W . A . Rose and the officers of the regiment . Bro . C . T . Speight , the respected Tyler of the lodge , performed the duties of toastmaster most satisfactorily .

Mark Masonry And Bro. F. G. Tisdall.

MARK MASONRY AND BRO . F . G . TISDALL .

BY BRO . WILLIAM J : HUGHAN . [ From Mackey ' s National Freemason . ' ] A friendly correspondence , relative to the Masonic claims of the Grand Mark Lodge of England , between F . G . Tisdall and W . James Hughan , was published in Pomerou ' s Democrat

New York , the first portion of which appeared in the issue of the 30 th March , 1872 , but in reality the matter in dispute commenced from the 17 th February , when Bro . Tisdall , as editor of the " Masonic Department , " made some remarks adverse to the propriety of Grand Chapter ' s

affiliation with the Grand Mark Lodge by representation . As , however , the legal status of the latter body was admitted , and its right to the government of the degree in question was fully recognized , we do not think it necessary at this time to again refer to the arguments pro and con .

for the reciprocal appointment of representatives by the two grand bodies . The views of those unfavorable to affiliation by representation , although at the same time heartily supporting recognition , were abl y expounded by Bro . Tisdall in the paper mentioned , as also in the Freemasons '

Monthly Magazine for May , 1872 , by the veteran editor , Bro . Charles W . Moore , and the Evergreen for March , 1872 , in an article by Bro . Parvin , Grand Secretary of Iowa . We endeavoured to make known the arguments which might fairly entitle the Mark Grand Lodge to affiliation

by representation , as well as recognition , by all Grand Chapters which adopt the Mark Master ' s degree as preparatory to exaltation , ( which all do wherever the English language is spoken , save in England , ) and we were assisted by our Bro . Langridge , the junior editor of the Evergreen ,

( Grand Secretary of the Grand Chapter of Iowa , ) and Bro . V . D . Taylor , of Fort Madison , chairman of " Foreign Correspondence Committee , Iowa . " The Grand Chapters of Pennsylvania , Iowa , Canada , & c ., having extended the right hand of fellowship in a most hearty and fraternal

manner , we intend to let the matter rest for the time , and desire to witness practically how such friendly interchange of representatives will affect the general interests of Capitular Freemasonry . In the discussion Bro . Tisdall made one or two observations which to us seemed somewhat

apocryphal , and we had intended to reply to them , but unfortunately our courteous disputant ' s health gave way in the interim , and , in order to assist his recovery , all literary correspondence and editorial duties were for a time rigidly abstained from . So the question remained in statu quo until lately , when we received from the author

the " Centennial Celebration of St . John ' s Lodge No . 1 , " 1870 , including an address by Bro . V G . Tisdall , W . M ., 1857 , which we were assured would prove our position historically , the Mark Master ' s Masonry to be erroneous . Accordingly we have examined the evidence , and now submit the result of the ancient Craft .

The historical sketch by Bro . Tisdall is most interesting , and so well written , that it really seems a pity to disturb it by the cold hand of criticism ; but it is desirable under present circumstances to do so , and therefore we will proceed with our task . Our brother tells us that " one hundred years ago this evening ( 7 th December , 1857 ) , by

virtue ol an authority emanating from the Grand Lodge of Ancient Freemasons of England , St . John ' s No . 2 Prov . No . 272 English , and now No . 1 New York Registry , was instituted , with authority to enter , pass , and raise , having also also annexed a warrant with power to make Mark Masons . "