History Of The Emulation Lod Ge Of Improvement, No . 256.——(Continued).

The Second Lecture was worked by the W . M . and the following brethren : — ist Section by Bro . H . Pritchard . 2 nd ,, „ J . C . Mortimer . 3 rd „ „ W . H . Kirby . 4 th Black

„ „ J . J . . 5 th „ „ W . P . Reynolds . About 375 members and visitors attended , 37 of whom were distinguished by the purple of Grand Lodge . A record number of propositions for joining were received , no less than I 2 i , the candidates being all elected at the following

meeting . At the conclusion of the labours of the evening Bro . Fenn informed the brethren that Viscount Dungarvan , P . G . M . Somersetshire , who was to have presided at the supper , was regretfully compelled through illness to be absent ; but

that Sir John B . Monckton , P . G . W ., had kindly consented to fill the vacancy caused by his lordship's absence . On this occasion , Bro . Edward Cutler , Q . C ., Grand Organist , favoured the Lodge by an appropriate performance on the organ while the brethren were assembling , and also at the closing of the Lodge .

The genial Chairman , in proposing the first toast of the evening , set an example of brevity which the speakers who followed him might well have imitated . " The Queen who ' s the pride of us all , and the Craft that we practise and love . " 1893 . No alteration was made this year in the Committee nor the executive officers .

On the 3 rd of February , " Bro . Henry S . Wellcome offered for the Lodge ' s acceptance , in token of his appreciation of the great services the Lodge had rendered to the Craft in general and to himself in particular , a most handsome and curious Abyssinian poniard mounted in silver . " In accepting the gift on behalf of the LodgeBro .

, Sudlow expressed his thanks for this token of Bro . Wellcome's devotion to Masonry generally , and moved that the best thanks of the Lodge be given to Bro . Wellcome for his handsome presentation .

THE EAIII , OF SIILLTOtrX . K . P ., p . u . w ., ( 'liairmau af the 7 'V > 7 // -, // in 1 S 87 . " This was seconded by Bro . F . T . Rushton , and carried unanimously . " The Festival was held on the 24 th of February , when

upwards of 400 brethren , including 44 Grand and Past Grand Officers , attended . The veteran Bro . Thomas Fenn presided as W . Master , being the last occasion on which he filled that exalted position in the Lodge .

Bro . R . C Sudlow sat as I . P . M ., Bros . W . H . Kirby and F . T . Rushton filling the Wardens' chairs . The brethren who assisted the W . Master in working the First Lecture were Bros . Temple C Martin , D . D . West , Henry Pritchard , J . C . Mortimer , J . J . Black , W . P . Reyolds , and W . G . Kentish ; 102 brethren were proposed for joining and

subsequently elected members . The R . W . Bro . William Wither B . Beach presided at the banquet table in the large Hall , and Bro . R . C . Sudlow in the overflow room .

Bro . Edward Cutler , Q . C ., Grand Organist , with his customary kindness and well-known ability , undertook the musical portion of the programme . We believe that Bro . Cutler has officiated in like manner at every Festival of the Lodge down to the present time , with one exception , when the Lodge was indebted to Bro . J . H . Maunder .

We find no mention in the minutes of the repeated and gratuitous services so freely rendered by these talented brethren , probably owing to the extra work devolving upon the Secretary , but we venture to suggest that official recognition in the shape of a vote of thanks , either on the

Festival night or at a subsequent meeting , would doubtless be appreciated . The preceding toasts having been given and responded to , the Chairman proposed that of "The Emulation Lodge of Improvement , " coupled with the name of Bro . Thomas

Fenn . We have been compelled by want of space , sometimes reluctantly , to omit several good Masonic speeches ; others , although possessing more or less merit as oratorical efforts , have been omitted because they have no bearing on the history or working of the Lodge , but as this was the last occasion on which Bro . Fenn addressed the Emulation

Lodge of Improvement at any length , no apology will be needed for reproducing in its entirety his latest effort in support of his favourite Lodge . Much of the information therein has already appeared in these pages , notably the two very important letters referring to the Masonic qualifications

of Peter Gilkes , yet in view of the peculiar circumstances under which the address was delivered , and the rapt attention with which it was received , the writer would feel himself guilt } - of something like sacrilege were he lo attempt to mutilate or subject it to alteration .

We are greatly indebted to the Freemason oi March the 4 th , 18 93 , for having found space for what , to the best of the writer ' s recollection , is a full report . Bro . Thos . Fenn , in replying to the toast , said : R . W . Bro , in the chair , —In former years it was the custom for the brother , whose duty it was to respond lo this toast , to give

an account of the origin of this Lodge of Improvement and some justification for our claiming that the . ritual it teaches is that which received the authority of Grand Lodge after the Union , and which was ordered to be used throughout the Craft . I have had the honour of representing the Committee

on these occasions for some years , and I followed the custom up to three years ago , when I was advised to discontinue it on the ground that the reputation of this Lodge was so firmly established , and the excellence of its work was so generally recognised , that a repetition of the story was

unnecessary . I am , however , this evening about lo revert to the old custom for two reasons , first , because I have been asked to do so by a provincial brother , present here to-night , who is desirous of introducing our mode of working into his province , and wishes to be armed with the means

of combating opposition , and secondly , because , while I have a retractation to make , I have a new story to tell , and some further proofs , in support of our claim , to bring under your notice , which , ( o mv mind , are incontestable .

I must premise that at the Union of the two rival Grand Lodges in 1813 the method of working the ceremonies was found to dilier materially , and it became necessary that a uniform system should be agreed to , which would be acceptable to both parties , and which could , without sacrifice of principle , be universally adopted . In

accordance , therefore , with a special provision in the Articles of Union , a warrant was issued tor the formation of the " Lodge of Reconciliation , " to consist of an equal