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

pleased to pay him . He could assure them that he had not resigned his office of Secretary without regret , but it had been an act of necessity rather than choice , owing to a change of residence , svhich rendered it inconvenient for him to attend with that regularity he had hitherto clone . He felt the less regrethoweveras he knew that in his successor , Bro . Murton ,

, , they svould have a most able and zealous Secretary . He accepted the elegant jesvel svith which they had presented him with diffidence , feeling that he had discharged the duties of Secretary for too short a period to merit so handsome a reward . He svas gratifiedhoweverif by the discharge of

, , his duties he had obtained the esteem of the brethren ; and though retiring from the office of Secretary he should be always happy to render any service in his power to the lodge , in svhich he svas proud to feel he had made some valuable and sincere friendships , and in svhich he had spent many

very pleasant hours amongst the brethren . The toast of " The Chairman " svas then given by Bro . Evans , President of the Board of General Purposes , svho remarked that he ( Bro . Evans ) svas one of the oldest members of the lodge , having been a pupil of Peter Gilkes , and svas glad to see its continued prosperity .

" The W . Master said he had considerable difficulty in returning thanks for the kind manner in svhich the toast had been proposed and responded to . He svas always- most anxious efficiently to discharge his duties to the Craft at all times and in all seasons , feeling that no one had a right to undertake office without being prepared properly and

conscientiously to discharge its duties . In all lodges , everything should be done svith exactitude and precision , and in none did they find their business better carried out than in the Emulation Lodge of Improvement , and those svho svere not prepared fully to discharge their duties had better keep

outside the Craft . He felt it a high honour to be allowed to preside over their annual festival , and svas most gratified by their kindness towards him . He trusted he might be able to meet them for many years to come , and be a witness of their increased and increasing prosperity .

The toast of the parent lodge came next in rotation , followed by that of " Prosperity to the Sister Lodge of Instruction , the Stability , " coupled svith the name of Bro . Henry Muggeridge , its excellent Preceptor . The toast of " The Sister Lodge of Instruction" svas

invariably given at every Festival of the " Emulation " until the year 1880 , when the veteran Bro . Muggeridge , by reason ¦ of age and bodily infirmities , had been compelled to refrain from active participation in the svorking of the Craft , and also to relinquish his Preceptorship , and there being no representative of the " Stability " present , the toast svas then omitted , and has not since been resumed .

It has been stated that the " Emulation " and " Stability " were called " Sister Lodges of Instruction , " because at one time they svere the only tsvo Lodges of Instruction in London . This is obviously incorrect , as at no period since 1823 have the Lodges of Instruction been reduced to tsvo . A more probable reason for their being so designated is

because they svere looked upon as the principal Lodges of Instruction , and while representing tsvo distinct systems of working—differing merely in form , both acknowledged to be equally correct—they worked in the same sphere of usefulness with the utmost harmony , the leaders on both sides being

seldom absent from the Annual Festivals , svhich svere frequently presided os er by the same Grand Officers . On the nth of December a vote of thanks svas passed to Bro . T . Fenn for the presentation to the lodge of a set of gavels .

186 * . The Festival for 186 4 svas held on the 25 th of November , when portions of the second and third lectures were worked by S . B . Wilson , assisted by Bros . C . A . Murton , A . A . Richards , E . Woodman , T . Fenn , G . Powell and J . Pike .

There svere present on this occasion eleven invited guests , eighty-four members , and eighty-three visitors , forty of whom svere elected members of the lodge at the following meeting . The banquet svas ably presided over by John Llewellyn Evans , President of the Board of General Purposes , svho svas

supported by the Grand Registrar , the Grand Secretary , and many other distinguished brethren . In the course of the es-ening , Bro . Elton Woollams , of the " Old Concord Lodge , '' delighted the company svith some choice pieces of vocal music

. 1 . RANKIN STUBBING , PAST GRAND DEACON , Clmiruin 11 of Hi ,- Fisliml hi ] . s ( S 2 . 1865 . The year 186 5 marks an important epoch in the

history of the " Emulation Lodge of Improvement , " as svell as in that of London Masonry generally . Hitherto the metropolis of England had been without a proper Masonic building in svhich the lodges and chapters could assemble , the meetings being held from time immemorial at various

houses of public entertainment , the Freemasons' Tavern having the largest share of patronage . In this respect London svas , and is still , far behind many provincial towns , very fesv of svhich but have accommodation for the Craft , quite independent of tavern influences . With

a view to remedy this omission the Grand Lodge had purchased certain house property adjoining the tavern , and on the 27 th of April , 186 4 , the late Earl of Zetland , Grand Master , laid the foundation-stone of the nesv buildings . Owing in a great measure to the active supervision of a

skilled committee , headed by the veteran John Havers , some of the new rooms were ready for use early in the ensuing year , the fact being brought to the notice of the " Emulation " at its weekly meeting on the 17 th of March , when the follosving notice of motion svas given by S . B . Wilson : — " That the

Committee for General Purposes be empowered to negotiate svith the Building Committee of Freemasons' Hall for the future place of meeting of the Lodge and of the expenses attending the same . "

At the meeting on the 28 th of April , John Havers , P . G . W ., presided , and having opened the lodge in the " Dalhousie " room , " stated that he had conceived that it svould be most appropriate that the first meeting in the nesv building should be that of the ' Emulation Lodge of Improvement , ' he , therefore , by the desire of Bro . S . B . Wilsonthe President of the

, Lodge , had taken the Chair for that purpose . " A cordial vote of thanks svas passed to Bro . Havers for his services in connection svith the building committee , " and for his urbanity and kindness in presiding over this Lodge on the present occasion at the opening , and in

commemoration of the inauguration of the Building for Masonic purposes . " Bro . Havers , having acknowledged the vote of thanks , " stated that he had to preside at the Festival of the ' Stability Lodge of Instruction , ' he , therefore , requested Bro . Murton to take the Chair . "