At The Sign Of The Perfect Ashlar

At the Sign of the Perfect Ashlar

St . James's Palace was the scene of brilliant and bustling activity on Wednesday . Upwards of forty deputations from all kinds of societies and associations were afforded the privilege of presenting in person the loyal and dutiful addresses which had been voted , and a long procession broken only by the short space dividing the different bodies ,

passed into the audience chamber to hand the written document to His Majesty and to receive the written reply . To only three of the deputations was the privilege accorded of reading the address and of receiving the Royal reply viva voce , viz ., the representatives of the University of

Edinburgh , of Trinity College , Dublin , and the Grand Lodge of Freemasons , and His Majesty's reception of the latter wtis of the most gracious and cordial nature . The deputation was headed by the Most Worshipful Grand Master , His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught , who wtis supported

by " the M . W . Pro Grand Master , Earl Amherst , the R . W . Deputy Grand Master , the Earl of Warwick , the Right Hon . W . W . B . Beach , and nearly one hundred Grand Officers-A truly representative gathering of leading members of the Older . '

The address itself appeared in our last issue , and His Majesty ' s reply wtis tis follows : — " I am very pleased to have been able to receive in person the loyal address of sympathy and of dutiful and fraternal congratulations and good wishes presented to me by so distinguished and representative a deputation of Ancient Free

and Accepted Masons of England . " I have felt much regret at relinguishing the high and honourable post of Grand Master , which I have held since 1874 , and I shall not cease to retain the same deep interest that I have always felt in Freemasonry . '' As Protector of English Freemasons I shall continue to

watch over your interests , and rejoice over the prosperity and growth which I anticipate for you in future . '' It is a great satisfaction to me that my brother , the Duke of Connaught , litis assumed the post of Grand Master in succession to me , and that your interests tire in the hands of one who is near to me in blood and united in sympathy with the Fraternity . "

Considerable misapprehension appears to exist with regard to the forthcoming annual Grand Festival . By many it is thought that the installation of the new Grand Master will then take place , but although the Constitutions prescribe that the Grand Master shall be nominated tit the meeting in December , elected in March , and installed on the day of the

Grand Festival , the "Wednesday next following St . George ' s Day , " the exigencies of time , and suitable accommodation for such an important function , render impossible on this occasion a strict adherence to the letter of the law . No building of smaller dimensions than the Royal Albert Hall would be

capable of holding even a small portion of those duly qualified to -attend , and it may be safely predicted that its capacity would be strained to the utmost . Such huge gatherings moreover involve a vast amount of preparation , and assuming that His Royal Highness could himself arrange to be present

on the 24 th April , the time would be much too short for the work . The annual festival of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement took place at Freemasons' Hall , Great Queen Street , on Friday , the 1 st of March , and proved a function of exceptioiv . il interest and success , being presided over by the

Deputy Grand Master , the Earl of Warwick . The gathering of brethren and guests was of a most representative character , and it would take far more space than is tit our disposal to name a tenth of the prominent Masons present . The lodge wtis opened with Bro . R . Clay Sudlow , P . G . Std . Br .,

acting as Worshipful Master , and the First Lecture wtis admirably worked by the following brethren : —The First Section by W . Bro . G . R . H . Chirk , W . M . 19 6 5 ; the Second Section by W . Bro . J . F . Roberts , W . M . 76 ; the Third Section by Bro . M . V . Cassal , 1415 ; the Fourth Section b y W .

Bro . J . H . Jenks , P . M . 8 , P . G . Steward ; the Fifth Section by W . Bro ! T . W . Allsop , P . M . 88 , P . P . G . D . C . Bucks . ; the Sixth Section by Bro . J . Collett Smith , 19 6 5 ; and the Seventh Section by W . Bro . W . R . Bennett , P . M . 19 6 5 .

Bro . Robert . Clay Sudlow , who for so many years has been at the head of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement , which may be termed the College of English Freemasonry , wtis the immediate successor in that position of the late Bro . Thomas Fenn , who himself succeeded a long line of eminent

teachers and expounders of Masonic ritual , and it is no small compliment to Bro . Sudlow to say that he litis well and worthily preserved the traditions of this lodge . As far as it is practicable , the Emulation Lodge of Improvement may be considered as working under authority , and its

position therefore is one of great importance and inlluence . The responsibilities attaching to the brother who presides over its destinies tire considerable and of a far-reaching character , and it is a conclusive proof that Bro . Sudlow has succeeded in maintaining a high standard of excellence when we find that the " Emulation working , " which not so many

years ago shared the honours with the " Stability " and other systems , has come to be recognised as the fount of Masonic ritual .

HltO . HOISKItT Cl . AY Stnil . OW .

Bro . Sudlow wtis initiated in the East Surrey Lodge of Concord , No . 4 6 3 , Croydon , in 18 77 , and soon after joined the Bank of England Lodge , 1 V 0 . 26 3 , of " which he became Master in 188 5 , being re-elected to that office in the following year . Since then he has filled many positions both in

lodges and chapters , and in 18 90 he wtis selected by the M . W . Grand Master for the office of Grand Standard Bearer . He has served several Stewardships for the Boys' and Girls ' Schools and the Masonic Benevolent institution , thus showing his interest in the Charitable side of Masonry as well tts in its ritual and ceremonies .