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

History of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement , No . 256 . ——( Continued ) .

( By Bro . HENRY SADLER , Sub-Librarian to the Grand Lodge of England ) .

branches and Offshoots of the Simulation Hodge of Jmprovemenf .

( Con 11 n lied . ) THE fees although merely nominal , being one shilling for joining and three pence each attendance , yet , with an average of 30 at each meeting , they amount to

a considerable sum in the course of the year . Whenever the funds will admit , ballots for Life Subscriberships to the Masonic Institutions are participated in by those members who have attended at least 25 meetings during the preceding year . Several Lodges of Instruction and at least two regular

Lodges have emanated directly or indirectly from this Lodge of Instruction , notably the Downshirc Lodge , X o . 2437 , and the St . Michael-le-Querne Lodge , Xo . 26 97 . THE LODGE OF PROGRESS , NO . 1768 . The following brief sketch is kindly supplied by Bro . W .

Alfred Dawson , P . A . G . D . C . : — Amongst the off-shoots of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement , the Lodge of Progress may be mentioned as being entirely built from materials provided by that excellent Institution .

Till-: HON . SIR IIKNUV T . I'RINSKP , HIST , ( i . MASTER , lilONOAI ., Chairman oflhe J- ' e . «/ inil in Is ^ l . In 1878 some of the most regular and proficient Masons attending " Emulation " applied for a Warrant for a new Lodge , their object being to create a Lodge in which the

work would be carried out in strict conformity with what they had been taught at " Emulation , " and the funds of which should be mostly devoted to charitable purposes . The Lodge of Progress was consecrated at Freemasons ' Hall on the 17 th October , 1878 , by the late V . W . Bro . John Hervey , G . S ., assisted by the late Bros . Charles A . Murton ,

P . G . D ., as S . W ., and Thomas Fenn , P . G . D ., as J . W ., all three being then members of the Committee of " Emulation , " and subsequently becoming Honorary Members of " Progress . " The first officers of the Lodge were Bros . W . Alfred Dawson , W . M . ; Francis R . Spaull , S . W . ; Alfred C . Spaull , J . W . ; Elias Legg , Treasurer ; Edward Hornblower , Secretary ;

Edward G . Tattershall , S . D . ; Armand W . Duret , J . D . ; Thomas W . Ockenden , I . G . ; Albert Marvin , D . C . ; William G . Kentish , Steward ; and Henry Sadler , Tyler , Bro . Sadler at that time being the Ty ler of " Emulation . " The object of the Founders has , so far , been very

successfully attained . With but few exceptions , all past and present officers have been masters of their work according to the "Emulation" system . For many years , one or more of them worked sections at the Annual Festivals : indeed , on

one occasion five of the seven sections worked were given by members of the Lodge of Progress . The Masonic Charities have been well supported , as regularly each year one or other of them has received a donation from the Lodge funds , and also from individual members . A Benevolent Fund has also been established , out of which substantial relief has been given in special

cases . As the Lodge funds are not used to provide refreshment for the members , a supper club has been formed , to which any member of the Lodge may belong , if so minded . It provides a simple meal after each Lodge meeting , and intending candidates are invited , so that members may

become acquainted with them before their names are put up for ballot . An installation banquet is held each year , and only those members who attend it contribute to its cost . The connection between " Progress " and "Emulation " has been , and is still , very close . Shortly after Bro . Thomas

Fenn became Treasurer of " Emulation , " on Bro . John Hervey ' s death , Bro . W . Alfred Dawson was elected on the Committee of " Emulation " and filled the place vacated b y Bro . Fenn . Later , Bros . Francis R . Spaull and William G . Kentish were successively its Secretary for many years ,

and most of the members of the Committee of " Emulation " have been Honorary Members of " Progress . " Bro . Fenn always took a very great interest in the Lodge of Progress . He visited it frequently , and has been heard to declare that no regular Lodge rendered the " Emulation " working more accurately .

It is satisfactory to record that although the initiation and joining fees are above the average , and that all possible care is taken in the selection of candidates , the active members of the Lodge now number about forty , including seven of the original Founders . Equally gratifying is it to be able to state that the funds of the Lodge are in a most flourishing

condition . The following is a list of the present officers and Honorary Members : —Frank A . Nash , W . M . ; Major Allan Smith , I . P . M . ; F . J . Rebman , S . W . ; G . F . Emery , J . W . ; the Rev . C W . Servante , P . M ., Chaplain ; W . A . Dawson , P . M ., P . A . G . D . C , Treasurer ; W . G . Kentish , P . M ., P . G . Std . Br .,

Secretary ; C . F . Frood , S . D . ; E . J . Steegmann , J . D . ; J . E Beggs , I . G . ; A . W . Duret , P . M ., P . D . G . S . B ., D . C . ; A . Fyson , P . M ., Steward ; the Rev . G . F . Irwin , Assistant Steward ; G . C . Harpour , Organist ; and J . W . Freeman , Tyler . Honorary Members : Sir Edward Letchworth ,

Grand Secretary ; R . Clay Sudlow , P . A G . D . C . ; A . A . Richards , P . G . Steward ; F . T . Rushton , P . G . Steward ; F . R . Spaull , P . M ., P . P . G . Registrar Salop ; and Joseph Russell , P . G . Std . Br .