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

responded by deputing Bro . William Honey , P . M . of the Royal Athelstan Lodge , No . 19 , a pupil of Peter Gilkes , to offer his services ; which offer was gladly accepted , and after about two months tuition he pronounced certain of his pupils as being qualified to impart instruction , and also furnished evidence of their competency by working the several lectures and ceremonies with their assistance in the various

Birmingham lodges . In 18 49 we have a full report of the annual Festival , on the 16 th of November , of "this , the most celebrated Lodge of Instruction in the Craft , " and the editor refers in terms of wonderment to the unusually large number of brethren who attended"in all between fifty and sixty . " Bro . R . Daly

, presided as W . M . On this occasion a handsome and valuable testimonial was presented by Bro . S . B . Wilson , on behalf of the members , to Bro . Joseph William Mountain , P . M . 318 , in acknowledgment of his services as Secretary during six consecutive years .

The testimonial comprised " a richly embossed gold Secretary ' s jewel , and a splendidly chased tea service . " In the course of the evening several songs by Bros . Honey , Spencer , Marriott , and Whitmore contributed to the enjoyment of the brethren . The lodge work at this meeting

is not named in the report , but it was probably some of the sections . In 1850 the Festival was held on the 29 th of November . The W . Bro . John Hervey presided on this occasion , and was supported by R : W . Bro . John Fawcett , P . G . M . for Durham , R . W . Bro . W . F . Beadon , P . G . W ., and many other

distinguished members of the Craft , to the number of about seventy . The business of the evening was to have been the first Tracing Board , but owing to the indisposition of Bro . S . B . Wilson , who was unable to attend , the W . M . worked the third ceremony "in his usual impressive manner . "

The brethren then adjourned to the banquet , after which the customary toasts were given and duly responded to ; but as the speeches , or such portions of them as appear in the report , were of a personal character , containing no reference to the history of the lodge , they may well be omitted here .

ZAL'IIARIAH WATKIXS , P . M . OF THE HANK OF ENGLAND LODGE , Chtin-wmi nf Hi ,, F ,. » timl , ( MIJII-I- - '«(/ , Hill . The Festival for 1851 was held on the 18 th of November , and was presided over by the R . W . Bro . Beadon , P . G .

Warden , who had officiated as S . W . at the preceding Festival . He was supported by the R . W . Bro . Rowland G . Alston , P . G . W ., and upwards of ninety other brethren . The lodge having been opened in the Three Degrees , " Bro . S . B . Wilson gave the first Tracing Board in his usual

clear and impressive manner , to the great delight of all present . In the various addresses in connection with the toasts of the evening , the presiding officer and Br . Alston

expressed their great satisfaction with the accuracy manifested in the working of the lodge , as also their due appreciation of the important benefits it had already conferred , and was constantly conferring on the Craft . " In 1852 the Festival was held on the 29 th of November , but unfortunately we are quite in the dark as to what was .

done and who presided , as the report of the meeting was received too late for publication . The Festival for 18 53 was held on the 29 th of November ,, when the sections of the First Lecture were worked , S . B . Wilson in the chair . An unprecedented number of

visitors were proposed as members . Upwards of 150 brethren sat down to the banquet presided over by the Treasurer of the lodge , John Hervey , who , in response to the toast of his health , " regretted that the chair was not more ably filled , and stated that , in the absence cf the brother who was to have

presided over them , he had been most unexpectedly called on to fill his place . " On this occasion , " A very massive silver teapot was presented to Br . W . H . Absolon , " of the Mount Moriah Lodge , who had recently vacated the office of Secretary of the

" Emulation " on his removal to a country residence . In 18 54 the Festival was held on the 30 th of November ,, when the sections of the Second and Third Lectures were worked , Bro . Beadon , P . G . W ., in the chair , assisted by S . B . Wilson .

The Masonic business of the evening being concluded , the brethren adjourned to the banquet , after which the usual preliminary toasts were given . The Chairman then in a most eloquent and effective speech introduced " The health of Bro . Hervey , S . G . D ., " at the same time producing a splendid chronometer watch and gold chain , the result of the

subscriptions of the members in testimony of his extreme kindness to the brethren generally , his untiring assiduity to the interests of the lodge , and as a mark of appreciation of his seven years' service as Treasurer . In concluding his report of this meeting , the editor of the

Freemasons' Magazine ventures into the realms of prophecy , and his prediction has been since amply verified . He says : " We should be wanting in duty if , before closing this short report , did we not make some allusion to the very excellent arrangements of the Stewards ; the whole affair was certainly

a credit to them as well as to the Emulation Lodge of Improvement , and it is not to be wondered at , if such attraction and such entertainment are offered to the Craft , that the lodge is so well supported , and takes the distinguished position it so well deserves . Indeed , if matters proceed thus , we shall

not be surprised to find in a few years that the Grand Festival itself is not better nor more numerously attended than the annual Festival of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement . "

Those who attend both the festivals mentioned can beat testimony to the fulfilment of this prognostication ; indeed , the attendances at the " Emulation Festival" have for many years past far outnumbered the attendances of brethren at an ordinary Grand . Festival . The Festival for 1855 was held on the 30 th of November ,

Herbert Lloyd , S . G . D . ; in the chair of W . M . The sections of the First Lecture were worked by S . B . Wilson , assisted by Bros . Luis Artus , S . 13 . Wilson , jun ., Watson , Palmer , Absolon , Binckes , and Hervey . The claims upon the pockets of the members seem to

have been pretty frequent , for at this meeting a jewel was presented to Bro . John Palmer , who had served the office of Secretary for a few years . The Festival for 1856 was held on the 28 th of November , W . F . Beadon , P . G . Warden , in the chair , S . B . Wilson

acting as Past Master . The last named brother " gave the explanation of the first Tracing Board in a most able and impressive manner ; and , in order to relieve the proceedings from the charge of monotony , Bro . Wilson called on several of the brethren for the different illustrations .

This arrangement produced a happy effect , and appeared to give satisfaction to everyone . " Nearly 200 brethren sat down to the banquet . ( To he Continued I .