The Clerkenw Ell Priory Of The Hnights Ho Spitallers Of St. John Of Jerusalem.

There is hardly another spot in London richer in historical and literary association than . St . John ' s , Clerkenwell . King John resided there a month in the spring of 1212 , and whilst there , knighted Alexander , son of the King of Scotland . Twenty-live years later the Hospitallers sent their Prior ,

Theodorie , a German , wilh a body of Knights and a large sum of money to the Holy Land . Edward L , in 1265 , spent his honeymoon with his wife Eleanor at the Priory . In 1399 , Henry , Duke of Lancaster , on the eve of his accession as Henry IV ., was entertained by the Knights for a fortnight .

ST . . lOIIX'S PKIORV AS IT AITHAIir'I ) IN Hilll .

Henry V . lived at the Priory for some time in the year 141 1 , and it was here that Richard III ., after the death of his Queen in 1485 , publicly denied the well-founded rumour that he intended to marry his niece , Elizabeth of York . The St . John's Gate is famous for its literary associations . At one time it was used , like the Priory , in connexion with

the office of the Queen ' s Revels . In 173 1 it was bought by Edward Cave , who set up his printing press in one of its rooms and published "The Gentleman ' s Magazine , " a periodical which , though somewhat altered in character , still

exists as a monthly magazine . Here Goldsmith resorted and Dr . Johnson , whose writings in the "Gentleman ' s Magazine " were for many years his principal support , his first effort being a copy of Latin complimentary verses , March , 173 8 . David Garrick , through his intimacy with | ohnson , was also a

frequenter at the Gate . Here , too , came Richard Lauder , Milton ' s detractor , Dr . Hawkesworth , author of " Belisarius , " and many other lesser literary lights who shared Cave ' s patronage , while many members of both Houses of Parliament constantly met at the Chile , so that the literary lame of

the old Priory may be said to have rivalled its chivalrie . In 1886 the Gate passed into tlie hands of the Knights of the Revived Orderof St . John of Jerusalem , to whom it now belongs . Looking at the busy and populous district of St . John ' s ,

Clerkenwell , now , it is difficult to conceive that where the old Priory once stood were green pasture fields , with clear ( lowing streams which drove mills , while hard by was a well or fountain , where from time to time the clerics acted miracle plays , hence the name Clerkenwell . BAYARD C . DIXON .

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 Smulation Bodge of Jmprovement .

( Couliiitietl . ) SINCE 18 92 Bro . Sucllow has paid several visits to Birmingham , in order to remove from our teaching anything inconsistent with Emulation working . We

now pride ourselves on the accuracy and perfectness of our work , and we venture to think that our ritual differs in no respect from that of the Lodge from which we derive it . The Lodge meets every Friday night throughout the year , except on Good Friday and during ( he months of July and

August , at 3 . 15 and 7 . 15—lha ! is lo say , the work appointed lor the day is rehearsed twice each evening . The early meeting was introduced a few years ago owing to the great increase in the number of the members of the Lodge . At the present time our members number 140 , nearly all of whom arc Worshipful Masters or officers . We draw members from

at least 25 Lodges , that is from nearly all the local Lodges . The consequence of this is that the Emulation ritual alone prevails in Birmingham . The present success of the Lodge is due to two causes . In the first place the local Masonic authorities lake very great

interest in its fortunes . Among these authorities we would mention particularly as earnest supporters of the Lodge , W . Bro . George Beech , P . G . Std . Br . England , the present Dep . P . G . Master , and W . Bro . Francis G . Swinclen , the energetic P . G . Secretary . In the second place the Preceptor has been aided in the management of the Lodge by a series of

excellent and business-like Secretaries , not the leasl earnest or least enthusiastic of all of them being the present Secretary , Bro . William Henderson , Machen Lodge , No . 1782 . We learn , with satisfaction , from an excellent code of

by-laws , ( he brevity and simplicity of which are highly commendable , that this Lodge of Instruction follows closely the lines of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement . A Committee of Management is elected annually , ol which all Preceptors of other Lodges who have joined this Lodge are