At The Sign Of The Perfect Ashlar.

The Annual Festival of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement was held at Freemasons' Hall , on Friday , March 4 th . The Deputy Grand Master , the Rt . Hon . T . F . Halsey , M . P ., had kindly consented to preside , but having received a summons to be present at the Speaker ' s official dinner , he

Avas unable to do so , and his place Avas ably occupied by the Bishop of Barking , P . G . Chaplain , who Avas supported by a large number of Grand Officers and other brethren . Bro . R . Clay SudloAV , P . A . G . D . C , occupied the Master ' s chair , and he Avas assisted in the rehearsal of the ceremonies by Bros . L . H .

Dear , W . E . Bennett , A . L . Collins , J . Jinks , and T . W . Allsop . It need hardly be said that in such hands the exemplification of our beautiful ritual was of the highest order , and that the standard of excellence Avhich for so many years has characterised this great school of Masonry , suffered

no diminution . In moving a vote of thanks at the close of the proceedings , the President expressed the unanimous opinion of the brethren present that a most pleasant and profitable evening had been spent .

© © © The Pro Grand Master is one of the latest subjects for the pencil of " Spy" in Vanity Fair , and although a characteiistic and recognizable sketch , it is not quite so happy as that of the Grand Secretary , which appeared some months ago . The

laconic biographer , "Jehu Juneor , " who epitomises the lives of the " great , Avise , and eminent , " who are the subjects of the artist from week to week , thus describes the popular Grand Master : — " William Archer Amherst , of Aracan , in the East Indies , third Earl Amherst , Viscount Holmesdale , of

Holmesdale , in Kent , and Baron Amherst , of Montreal , in Kent , was born eight-and-sixty years ago , though he still looks quite young . He began life at Eton , and real life in the Coldstream Guards , with AA'hom he served in the Crimea , winning a glorious if severe wound , and a thrice-clasped

medal at Inkerman . Since then he has been an officer of volunteers , and is a Deputy-Lieutenant and Justice of the Peace and other worthy things in Kent , Avhich county he IOA es and has lived with all his life . He is also a Knight of Justice of St John of Jerusalem , and before he AA as summoned

to the Upper House he served his county as a Member of Parliament for twenty-one years , representing first West Kent and afterwards Mid-Kent , about eight thousand acres of which county he OAAIIS .

" Outside Kent he is known the world over as Pro Grand Master of the English Freemasons , Avhile he has been Grand Master of Kent for four-and-forty years , and with the double exception of Lord Leigh and the Duke of Devonshire , he

is the oldest Provincial Grand Master in England . So popular and so good a Mason is he , that his King , AVIIO Avas then Grand Master , appointed him to the office of Deputy Grand Master of England eight years ago ; and when the great figure of the late Lord Lathom disappeared from among us i \ ve years ago , he Avas promoted to the great office which he IIOAV so worthily fills .

© © © " In the discharge of his Masonic duties he combines much dignity and urbanity Avith that most useful quality , tact . He is also remarkable for great quickness of perception , as he has shown on many occasions of difficulty and doubt ;

so that he is altogether , and most rightly , popular in the Craft . Outside Freemasonry he is a sportsman so keenly devoted to shooting , fishing , and golf , that he spends a great part of the year in his shooting quarters in Sutherlandshire , while he has excellent golf links of his own in Kent . He is altogether a worthy , upright , rather reserved man of much dignity . "

0 © © On Friday , February 19 th , at the Bridge House Hotel , the members of the Rose of Denmark Lodge , No . 975 , and their lady friends accorded the W . M ., Bro . George J . Ayling , and his Avife , a red-letter night in the history of the lodge , 125 being seated at the banqueting table , M . Callingham ,

proprietor of the hotel , having provided an excellent menu .. Amongst those present Avere P . M . Williams and Avife , P . M . White and wife , P . M . Campbell , Avife and son , the latter also being in the lodge ; P . M . T . Tatham Willcox , Secretary , and daughters ; P . M . Funge , Treasurerand Avife ; P . M .

, Bond , Hon . D . C , and wife : P . M . Parker and Avife , P . M . Barnicott and Avife , P . M . Williams , Avife and daughters . The officers present were Bro . Friend , S . W . ; Bro . Nelson , S . D . ; . Bro . Tribe , J . W . ; Bro . Alderton , I . G . ; Bro . Stello , Organist ; . Bro . Gilbert , Tyler . While among the friends of the W . M .

Ave re P . M . distance and Avife , Bro . Succerow and wife , Bro . j . H . Clasper and Avife , Mr . and Mrs . McNiel , Mr . and Mrs . Broomlield , Mr . and Mrs . Newcourt , Mr . and Mrs . Lloyd , Miss Bishop , Miss and Master Ayling , and Mr . and Mrs . Beer and Mrs . Ayling , of 42 , Grand Parade , Brighton , AvidoAV of the late Edward Ayling , an old Past Master of the Rose of Denmark Lodge , and prior to his retirement -

to-THK AVORSHIPFUL MASTER . Brighton live years ago , was D . C . of the lodge . After the banquet the company were photographed by Messrs . Fradelle and Young , who , later in the eA-ening , sent a proof

for inspection , which proved most satisfactory . The toasts of "The King and Queen" and "The Ladies" were duly honoured , and Mr . Broomlield ( AVIIO , by the way , was schoolmaster to the W . M . 26 years ago ) responded on behalf of the latter . An admirable concert was given under the able direction of Mr . Walter Fullertonof Catford . The artists were

, Miss Blanche Kettle , violinist ; MissWilley , Miss Bear , and Miss . Jessie Jolly , and Messrs . Fullerton , Debonnair , Briden , and Mr . Manatou , most of whom received Avell deserved encores , and an enjoyable evening came to a close at 11 . 30 . Much credit is due to P . M . WillcoxP . M . FungeP . M . WhiteP . M .

, , , Williams , who assisted in occupying the chair during the concert , P . M . Barnicott , and Bros . Little , RaAvlings , Hearn , Willey and Alderton . The ladies greatly appreciated the bottles of scent presented to each by the W . M .

© © © One of the many class lodges recently formed in the metropolis is the Philanthie , which is composed of members , of the Order connected with floriculture—mostly members of the National Amateur Gardener's Association . With the

editor of a popular weekly gardening paper as its first Master and a number of enthusiastic amateur florists as officers , the lodge should be a veritable arcadia . The gatherings of the " Hortus Lodge , " formed on similar lines a feAV years since ,, have become famous for their Horal decorations .