The Masonic Mirror.

her as the mother of a Mason . ( Cheers . ) Ho gave them the Queen and the Craft . ( Applause . ) The W . MASTER said that , having discharged their duty to the Sovereign of the realm , he must call upon them to testify their respect to the Earl of Zetland , M . W . G . M ., the sovereign and ruler of the Craft —( cheers)—who might be truly said to reign in the hearts of his subjects . ( Cheers . ) He had now rilled over the Craft for many years , and every year he more endeared himself to the brethren by the manner in which he discharged his duties , and his thorough English and Masonic qualities . ( Cheers . )

lhe W . MASTER said he had now to propose " The Health of the Earl de Grey and Ripon , Deputy Grand Master , and the rest of the Grand Officers . " In the Deputy Grand Master they had a nobleman who had earned the esteem of every Englishman by the talent and prudence with which he had discharged his duties in her Majesty's Councils , and of the brethren by his courteous hearing in Grand Lodge , and his attention to the duties of his office as Deputy Grand Master . ( Cheers . ) Of the

other Grand Officers , thoy were honoured with the presence of several , though not so many as he could have wished . On his right sat a brother ( Bro . Evans ) who had most important and onerous duties to discharge , and he could truly say that no brother could have brought to the performance of the duties of President of the Board of General Purposes , greater talent , patience , or courtesy , than Bro . Evans . He had often very unpleasant duties to perform in admonishing or awarding

punishment to members of the Craft , hut he always discharged them with courtesy and firmness , whilst lie was careful not to overstep his duties . There were , as he stated , various other Grand Ollicers present , who , he was sure , were careful in the discharge of the duties to which tho Grand-Master had called them , and who , he believed , deservedly enjoyed the respect of the brethren . With the toast of the Deputy Grand Master and the rest of the Grand Officers , lie would couple the name of Bro . Evans .

( Cheers . ) The PiiESinEXT or TUB BOARD oi' GENERAL PURPOSES felt that he need say nothing on the part ot the D . G . M ., whom they all knew so well and so highly respected . ( Cheers . ) With regard to himself and the other Grand Officers who stood around him , he could only say they were desirous and endeavoured to perform their duties to the best of their ability . ( Cheers . ) He endeavoured to bring to the discharge of the duties with which he hud been entrusted , all the y . eal , industry , and talent he possessed , and he hoped he had not heen found

wanting . ( Cheers . ) Once more he sincerely thanked them for the manner in which tliey had responded to the toast of the Grand Officers , whose humble representative lie then was . ( Cheers . ) The W . MASTER next gave , " Success to the Emulation Lodge of Improvement , and its able President and Preceptor , Bro . Wilson . " ( Applause . ) They all knew that the Emulation Lodge

of Improvement was looked up to as an exemplar of working , not only in London hut throughout the country . ( Cheers . ) lie understood that the lodge had been in existence upwards of 40 years , and of that period Bro . Wilson had presided over it for nearly 30 years . The Emulation Lodge of Improvement had been established with the view of preserving and inculcating one system of working amongst the Craft , and no brother had worked more zealously to that end than its able ancl talented

president . ( Cheers . ) They all knew the excellent qualities of Bro . Wilson , and he must be allowed to express a hope that he might bo spared for many years to preside over the lodge and direct their studies . ( Cheers . ) From what they had seen , however , of Bro . Wilson ' s pupils the } ' must he satisfied that when , full of years and honours , lie was removed from amongst them there would not he wanting fitting successors to

keep up the prestige and honour of the lodge , and preserve the landmarks and purity of their working . ( Cheers . ) Bro . WILSON , who was prevented speaking for some time by the applause , returned thanks to the W . M . and the brethren for the manner in which they had been pleased to propose and respond to the toast . He could only say in reply that he felt bound by his obligations to conveyas best he could

know-, , any ledge he possessed to brethren seeking instruction . The W . M . had been pleased to refer to the lengthened period his humble services had been given to the Craft . It was true that It was nearly thirty years since he became the president of that lodge , having succeeded that excellent Mason , llro . Peter Gilkes , who died in 1833 . He felt great gratification in being allowed to

preside over the lodge , and he was obliged to the Lodge of Unions for having given their sanction and support to the Emulation Lodge of Improvement . He trusted—nay , he believedthat the way in which the Lodge of Instruction had worked , bad met with the approbation of the parent Lodge , and he felt that if it had not , their sanction to its working would have been withdrawn . He was proud of the officers of the lodge and of the brethren who assisted him in the workingand he felt that

, the time was fast approaching when he must give up the presidency of the lodge to younger ancl abler hands ( No , no ); but whilst lie was amongst them lie should continue to do his best to merit their approbation . ( Cheers . ) The W . MASTER having asked Bro . Fenn , tho late Secretary of the lodge , to step forward , said that , in addition to their other qualities , they were not ungrateful for services rendered

by the brethren . It was very seldom , however , that they had to show their gratitude to a brother who so well deserved it as Bro . Fenn , their late Secretary . ( Applause . ) Bro . Fenn had most ably fulfilled his duties not only as Secretary , but at all times and upon all occasions lie was prepared and able efficiently to fill any position in the lodge which might be required—fromthe Inner Guard upwards . The W . M . then proceeded to present Bro . Fenn with a very handsome jewelleaving an appropriate

, inscription , assuring him that it was the free gift of the members , to mark their esteem for him as a brother and a diligent worker , and he ( the W . M . ) felt assured that it could not havebeen placed on the breast of a more able or worthy Mason . ( Cheers . )

Bro . IEXX , who was loudly cheered , said he could not sufficiently thank them for the compliment they had been pleased to pa \ ' him . He could assure them that he had not resigned his office of Secretary without regret , hut it hacl been an act of necessity ratherthan choice , owing to a change of residence , whicli rendered it inconvenient for him to attend with that regularity he had hitherto done . He felt the less regret , however , as he knowthat in his successorBro . Mui-tonthey would have a most

ahle-, , and zealous Secretary . He accepted the elegant jewel with 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 . Ho was gratified , however , if by thedischarge 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 which he felt proud to i ' eel he had made some valuable and sincere friendships , and in which he had spent many very pleasant hours amongst the brethren . ( Cheers . ) Bro . EVANS said that the brethren would agree with him that they were deeply indebted to any brother who undertook to preside over their annual festivals . The Chairman of a meeting like that hacl no easy task to fulfil—and how ably Bro .

Mclntyrehad discharged the duties they could all bear witness—and , indeed , all who hacl seen his tact and readiness in Grand Lodge , must be aware of the talents of their worthy president of that evening . He felt that to he the president of such a meeting was a proud position for any man , aud he was glad to see the chair so well filled . He ( Bro . Evans ) was one of the oldest members of the lodge , having been a pupil of Peter Gilkes , and was glad to see its continued prosperity . He gave them " The Health of the Chairman of the evening , Bro . G . Mclntyre . " ( Cheers . )

the W . MASTER had considerable difficulty in returning thanks for the kind manner in which the toast had been proposed and responded to . He was always most anxious efficiently to discharge his duties to the Craft at all times ancl in all seasons , feeling that no one had a right to undertake office without being prepared properly and conscientiously to discharge its duties . ( Cheers . ) In all lodges , everything should be done with exactitude and precisionand in none did they

, find their business better carried out than in the Emulation Lodge of Improvement ( cheers ); and those who were not prepared fully to discharge their duties , had better keep outside the Craft . ( Cheers . ) He felt it a high honour to be allowed to preside over their annual festival , and was most gratified by thoir kindness towards him . He trusted he might be able to meet them for many years to comeand be a witness of their

, increased and increasing prosperity . ( Cheers . ) Bio . STEIIBIXG had a difficult task in having to speak after their excellent Master . He had , however , a pleasing duty to perform , that of proposing prosperity to the Lodge of Unions , under the sanction of which the Emulation Lodge of Improve-