History Of The Emulation Lod Ge Of Imp Rovement, No . 256.——(Continued).

"Bro . Robert Clay Sudlow , P . M . 26 3 and 1965 , P . Prov . G . D . Kent , in response , said , as the mouthpiece of the ollicers of the Lodge , he rose at once to express their thanks for the toast which had just been given , and also for the compliment that had been passed on the work'of the night . It was no light task to undertake a Section at those festivals

, and the officers were very proud indeed to think that the prestige of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement had not suffered at their hands . It was not easy to understand how it was that so many Masons who took pains to make themselves more or less perfect in the working of their

beautiful ceremonies neglected altogether the study of their equally beautiful Lectures . He ventured to hope that the spirit of emulation was abroad that night , and that many among their followers would feel themselves called upon to make- —he was going to say—a daily advancement , but ,

considering that the Emulation Lodge of Improvement met only on the Friday , he would alter a little the usual phraseology , and say , make a weekly advancement in Masonic knowledge in the direction he had indicated . " A notable feature on this occasion was the introduction

of music while the brethren were assembling and after the Lodge was closed . Bro . J . H . Maunder played some excellent voluntaries on the Grand Lodge organ . At the meeting ol the Lodge on the 2 nd of May , Bro .

Thomas Fenn presented to Bro . Frank R . Spaull , on behalf of the members , a very beautiful Jewel , which had been specially made from the design of Bro . Col . Shadwell H . Gierke , Grand Secretary , for which Bro . Spaull returned his sincere thanks .

1891 . The executive officers were again re-elected , as was also the Committee , with the exception of Bro . W . A . Dawson , whose professional engagements frequently necessitating his residence abroad and thus preventing his attendance at either the Lodge or Committee meetings , it was deemed advisable to select another brother in his place .

Bro . Frederick T . Rusliton , Past Grand Steward , P . M . of the British Lodge , No . 8 , who had been a member of the Lodge for the last fifteen years , was elected to the post .

SIR WALTKH W . 1 IURRKLL , DART ., PROV . C-S . "M . SUSSEX , Cliiiirmiiu nf the Vitlirnl ill 1 KXO . The Festival on the 27 th of February was attended by

upwards of 400 brethren , including 38 Present and Past Grand Officers . The veteran Bro . Thomas Fenn again acting as W . Master , having as Wardens Bros . R . C . Sudlow ,

G . Std . Bearer , and F . T . Rushton , Past Grand Steward .

The First Lecture was worked by the following brethren : — 1 st Section by Bro . J . C . Mortimer . 1044 . 2 nd „ „ W . H . Kirby , S . W . 1963 . 3 rd „ „ J . Pullmann , W . M . 8 . 4 th „ „ W . P . Reynolds , W . M . 7 .

5 th „ „ J . J . Black , P . M ., Sec . 1564 . 6 th „ „ T . C . Martin , S . D . 1768 . ' 7 th „ „ C . W . A . Trollope , P . M . 1826 .

THE MARQUESS OF IIKRTFOHn , PAST S . O . WARDEN , Chairman of Ihe J- 'rt / inil in ISSfl . The Lodge was then closed , and the brethren adjourned to supper at Freemasons' Tavern , under the presidency of Lord Cremorne , Past Senior Grand Warden . On account of

the large hall not affording sufficient space for the great gathering , a supplemental supper was provided under the chairmanship of Bro . R . Clay Sudlow , G . Std . Br ., in the drawing room . The noble Chairman was by no means a novice at the

" Emulation working , " having joined the Lodge in 1880 and frequently attended the weekly meetings when learning his duties as an officer of his Lodge . In briefly responding to the toast of his health , he gratefully acknowledged the very valuable assistance he had received thereby . When

proposing the toast of " Success to the Emulation Lodge of Improvement " his lordship , speaking from personal knowledge of the subject , was very happy in his introductory

remarks , a few of which we venture to repeat : — " Of course there were plenty of other institutions of that nature , and probably they might fairly justify their existence and influence , but the position of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement was a peculiar one , and it stood out apart from other institutions of a similar character ; for that Lodge not

only instructed , it did more—it gave a tone to the whole Masonic ritual ; it was accepted as a standard for ceremony , and in these clays , when Masonry was spreading and spreading every day , the necessity for one central standard to which all ceremonial could be referred , it was obviously all

the more necessary . It was essential to guard against additions which were unnecessary , against mutilation and improper deviation ; it was necessary for the maintenance not only of words , but of forms and ceremonies , and in both those matters the Emulation Lodge of Improvement fulfilled

a great duty to the Craft at large under the constitution of the Grand Lodge of England to begin with , and in some degree he believed of foreign Constitutions as well . " ( To be Continued ) .