History Of The Lodge Of Emulation . No. 21.

Although the author of the foregoing tribute , with characteristic modesty , concealed his identity under a noni de plume , there can be no harm in stating that to the best of my belief it emanated from the jien of the late talented brother , Robert Wentworth Little , formerly in the Grand Secretary ' s Office , and later , Secretary of the Royal Alasonic Institution for Girls .

18 43 , April 27 th . —A Special Lodge was held for the piupose of jiassing a resolution of sorrow and regret at the demise of the Duke of Sussex on the 21 st instant , which resolution was entered on the minutes of the meeting . 18 4 8 , Jan . 13 th . —At the audit meeting held this day there

was due to the Treasurer the large sum of £ 45 os . c ; d . The Committee therefore recommended that each member should at once subscribe 40 s . to reimburse the Treasurer for the advances he had made . The Committee further recommended , that , in consequence of the state of the funds , the

banquet in Alay and October be dispensed \ vith for the ensuing year . Both of these recommendations were adopted by the lodge . 184 c ; , Jan . 12 th . —The report of the auditors contains the following : —" The Pursuivant of the Grand Lodge having objected to the collars worn by the Alasters and Wardens of

this Lodge from the colour of them being much darker than those worn by other Loclges , we would suggest the jirojiriety of purchasing an entire new set , as those now in use tire very old and have been cleaned and dyed until the original colour is quite lost . " Feb . 19 th—At this meeting a letter from Henry Shute ,

P . G . AI ., Bristol , was read and entered on the Alinutes , the jiurport of which was , that he had intended visiting the Lodge in order to personally thank the brethren for their very liberal donation towards the purchase of an annuity for the late most respected and venerable Brother Husenbeth , many

years Deputy Provincial Grand Master of that jirovince , whose death had occurred before the subscrijition could be completed . Being , however , unable to remain in town for the meeting of the lodge , he had left the . £ 5 with the clerk at The Albion , for delivery to the Alaster , and desiring an acknowledgment by post .

" The Secretary was ordered to reply to the above note and state that it would give the Lodge much pleasure to see Bro . Shute at their next banquet . '' At-ay 21 st—A most unusual event is chronicled at this meeting . " There not being sufficient Brethren jiresent the Lodge was not opened . " This had only occurred thrice in

the history of the Lodge , the hist occasion being on Oct . 19 th , 1807 , when live brethren attended , but there being no jiarticular business , the Lodge was not ojiened . On this occasion the Alaster , a Past Alaster , and the Secretary only , juit in an ajipearance . I don ' t like to suggest that the omission of the banquet had anything to do with the -absence of the members .

18 50 , Jan . 7 th . —The auditors again reported a deficit , £ 66 12 s . cjd . being due to the Treasurer , and the usual " whip round " of £ 2 jier head was recommended and adopted .

Alay , 2 ist— "At the close of the Banquet , Bro . Taylor , P . M ., on behalf of himself and the friends of Bro . S . C . Norris , Treasurer , presented him with a watch as a mark of their esteem . On the back of the watch the following was inscribed : — " Stephen C . Norris , P . J . G . D ., from the Brethren of the Lodge of Emulation , as a mark of their personal regard and esteem . "

PAST MASTKU ' S JEWEL OF THE LODGE OF EMULATION ' , Designed by Thoimis &¦ tirylls , OfjfimjU ^ ^ /? ' t / % 1852 , April 19 th— "An important letter was read of which the following is an exact cojiy : — " Royal Freemasons School for female Children , St .

George ' s Fields , 25 th Alarch , 1852 . " Dear Sir and Brother , " On examining the registry of this Institution I find the Lodge of Emulation , No . 21 , is entitled to three Life Votes by the payment of the following sums within the

sjiecilied time of three years : — 1811 £ 10 ios . ) . _ . _ . , „ •* " £ 21 . 1 Vote . 1814 ,, 10 10 s . I - 1828 „ 10 1 os . ) o - -A , 21 . i Vote . 1831 ,, 10 10 s . )

-18 35 „ 10 ios . ) 00 \ £ 21 . 1 Vote . 18 3 8 „ 10 ios . ) ~ " I am , Dr . Sir , " Your obedient Servant , " To the W . AI . " FHAXCIS CKICW , Supt .

of the Lodge of Emulation , No . 21 . " ( 7 b he continued )

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