Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Festival Of The Emulation Lodge Of Improvement.
best interests . He could only say , on behalf of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement , that they tendered Lord Skelmersdale their warmest and heartiest thanks for the honour he had done them in presiding over that festival . Bro . Lord SKELMERSDALE , in responding , said he always took the advice of his father about Masonry , which the brethren would think was the right thing to do . When he had the great pleasure of receiving a letter from Bro . Letchworth asking him if he would consent to preside that evening he happened to be at his
own heme , and he took the letter to his father , who said to him , "Do so ; it is one of the b-st institutions in Masonry . " He could only thank the brethren , and tell them it had given him the very greatest pleasure to be present with the brethren . He would say nothing further as regarded himself , but would g ive the toast of " The Emulation Lodge of Improvement . " Those who like himself were present in the lodge for the first time would all agree with him that the Emulation LocVe of Improvement set them a standard of working in Masonry
vh ch li ty cught all to try and follow . It might be—it was , he feared—that there w < re lodges , some of them old ones , some of them possibly a little careless , which did not follow the Emulation working . It was the desire of all present that the standard of the Emulation should be worked up to ; that the lodges should attain to the same perfection was perhaps a little too much to hope ; but that
they should try to attain to that perfection was very much to be wished for . That lodge was of the greatest importance . It was established in 1823 , after the great Union of all the lodges . It set itself to work to provide an unalterable standard of ritual . Those traditions , although now so long ago , it had always kept up , and , speaking for himself , he could only say how much he was impressed , interested , and delighted with the work of the evening .
Bro . R . CLAY SUDLOW , P . G . Std . Br ., replied . He said-. R . W . Brother Chairman and Brethren , —The honour of responding to this toast' really belongs to our chief , Bro . Letchworth , but , with the courtesy which distinguishes him , he has waived his right in my favour as the oldest member of the Committee . It was Bro . Fenn ' s custom on these occasions to give from time to time some information as to the origin of this lodge and the reasons why we claim that its system of ritual is authoritative . This has not been done for some time , and in
view of the fact that we are adding to the number of our members every week , it has been suggested to me that to-night I might well follow Bro . Fenn's example , and , indeed , very closely follow Bro . Fenn ' s words for the information of those who have joined our ranks during the last few years . You will remember that the union of the two Grand Lodges took place in 1813 . At that time there was a very material difference in the method of working the ceremonies , and it was deemed advisable to endeavour to arrange a uniform system acceptable to both
parties to the Union , which might be universally adopted . For this purpose a warrant was issued for the formation of a new lodge , to be called the Lodge of Reconciliation , and to consist of an equal number of Ancients and Moderns . The special duty to be carried out by this lodge was to frame a ritual based on the systems then in practice , to be submitted to the United Grand Lodge for its sanction and authorisation . In the year 1816 we li id , according to the minutes of Grand Lodge of that year , that two
special meetings were held under the presidency of the Duke of Sussex , at which meetings the ceremonies were rehearsed by members of the Lodge of Reconciliation . These ceremonies were , with a few alterations , sanctioned and ordered to be adopted . The system of ritual then sanctioned by the Grand Lodge has been taught in the Emulation Lodge of Improvement , from its foundation in 1823 right down to the present day ; in other words , there has been no variation for a
period of over 70 years . The reason of this is not difficult of explanation . Every brother who has occupied the position of Preceptor in this lodge has , by many years of diligent study under the teaching of his predecessor , mastered this particlar system , and has accepted it as a sacred trust to be preserved with the utmost integrity . It will interest you , I think , if I mention the names of these brethren . The first was the famous Bro . Peter Gilkes , who , by reason of his intimate knowledge of the authorised ritual , was elected the first Preceptor . At his death the
position passed to his friend and pupil , Bro . Stephen Barton Wilson , who presided over the lodge for , I believe , over 30 years . He was succeeded by our Bro . Thomas Fenn , assisted by Bro . Murton and Bro . Richards , as members of the Committee . Bro . Fenn , as you know , retained his connection with this lodge until last year . I need hardly say how delighted not only the Committee are , but every one in this room tonight is to welcome among us Bro . Thomas Fenn again , from whom many of us here present have learned all we know of
Masonry . Now , brethren , we come to the present Committee—Bro . Rushton , Bro . Kentish , and myself ; we foim , as it were , the fourth generation , and I need hardly say that we accept the trust reposed in us as a very sacred one , and we recognise to the full its unalterable character . When the time comes , brethren , for us to make way for others—and may I say just in this connection one word how much we miss the presence of one who filled the chair of Senior Warden at these festivals for many years r—I say , when the time comes for us to make way for others , we shall hand over our trust exactly as we received it . We are very
much encouraged in our work by this splendid gathering and by the presence 01 so many Grand Officers . For the support thus accorded to us , and for the kindly manner in which this toast has been honoured , I , speaking on behalf of the Committee whom I have the honour to represent , beg most heartily to thank you . At this point , Bro . Lord Skelmersdale had to leave to join the ball given by his regiment , at which Bro . Lord Wolsiley was to be present . He again expressed the pleasure and gratification with which he had witnessed the working of the lodge .
Bro . Lieut .-Col . J ALLEN BINDLEY , P . G . D ., proposed "The Lodge of Unions , No . 256 , " a toast which , he said , was of immense importance to all lodges working under the charter of the Grand Lodge of England , as it sanctioned the Emulation Lodge of Improvement . The brethren had already heard the name of that good brother , Peter Gilke " , who had gone before ; they had also heard of their Bro . Stephen Barton Wilson ; and they had also heard of their beloved Bro . Thomas Fenn , and long might he live amongst them to help , if he might sav , in
Masonry ; with all deference and no levity , might he live for ever among Masons . However , they bad a certain time allotted to them , aud when Bro . Fenn did go , it was to be hoped that his mantle would fall on some one who was no less than himself . The Lodge of Unions was the foundation of the present Emulation Lodge of Improvement . Perhaps he might be permitted to say he thought the Emulation had been the grand resuscitator of Masonry in England . The Lodge of Unions was simply the mother of the Lodge of Emulation , and he trusted that
the Emulation , as it went on now always embodied that charming word " Conciliation . " It did not enforce , but it led and conciliated , and that was the great strength of it , and he hoped it would last with it . He had been a Mason over a third of a century , and he had seen Masonry in many forms and ways , but he had never seen it worked as it had been that evening by Bro . Sudlow and his assistants : it was something not to be forgotten ; it was a thing to take down to the provinces and to be glad to hear .
Bro . J ALBERT FARNFIELD , P . A . G . D . C , 111 replying for the Lodge of Unions , said the great delight of the Lodge of Unions was to think that the Emulation Lodge of Improvement was its child and that it had prospered , and had spread Freemasonry over the four quarters of the globe . It was not that Freemasonry was only taught here , but brethren who learned it here emigrated to distant parls , ar . d Freemasonry as taught in the Emulation Lodge of Improvement was taught wherever the English language was heard . That the lodge might go on is \\ A prosper was the great desire of the Lodge of Unions , under whose warrant it woiked , and he hoped the child would never be ashamed of its mother .
Festival Of The Emulation Lodge Of Improvement.
Bro . J . E . LE FEUVRE , P . G . D ., proposed "The Masonic Charities , " and said the brethren had all had the pleasure that evening of listening to the ritual 0 f Freemasonry rendered in the most perfect manner , and Provincial brethren were glad to have the opportunity of carrying down into the provinces that ritual and setting it up as the standard and reproducing it as far as possible . Next to the perfect rendering of the ritual was the carrying out of Masonic princi ples inside and outside their lodges , and the cultivation of "that most excellent
gift of Charity" which was so well recommended in the lodges generall y . He had had placed in his hands the toast of " Our Masonic Institutions , '' and to ask the brethren to drink to "Our Great ; institutions , the Girls , ' the Boys , ' and the Old People , " and might the festivals of the Girls' and the Boys' in the coming months be as gloriously successful as was that of the Benevolent Institution on Wednesday , the 26 th ult ., when something just under £ 20 , 000 was raised . It would be £ , 20 , 000 before long . Let them hope that in the coming months of May
and June the festivals of the Girls' and the Boys' would make as much . Those two Institutions were admirably managed . The Committee of the Girls' School consisting of members of the highest rank in Masonry had the confidence of the Craft of the whole of the United Kingdom . He heard that the result of the examinations which had just taken place had been very successful and no failures had been suffered by the Girls' Institution ; all the girls sent up had passed , six had honours and 11 distinctions . With regard to the Boys' School the Craft
might congratulate themselves on the success which had followed the management , for during the last few weeks one of the boys had passed in the first list of the Matriculation in London , an honour they prized very highly , and it must redound to a very great extent to the credit of the excellent Head Master , Bro . Hebb . They had also received that day the results of the Cambridge Senior and Junior Examinations which had been a source of great satisfaction to the Boys ' School Board of Management . They sent one of the boys in the first and second
forms . There were 76 sent up , and the success of those boys was somewhat remarkable . A large number of honours had been gained by them , and out of 76 boys only eight had been unsuccessful , in gaining a pass or getting honours . Those boys had not been picked boys from the school but the whole forms had been sent up , and the result before the Craft that day pointed out the standard of the ordinary system of education carried out by the Head Master and the Board of Management .
Bro . C . E . KEYSER , P . G . D ., replying , very much regretted that they had not with them the Secretaries of the Masonic Institutions to respond . The duty devolved upon him perhaps as being more intimately associated with all the three Institutions than most members of the Craft . Bro . Le Feuvre had pointed out that all the Institutions had the confidence of the whole Craft as regarded their management , and it was in a great measure due to that the Institutions year after year met with such a magnificent response to the call for aid . The demands on
the Institutions were very large , and therefore it was necessary that a great effort should be made to provide the requisite funds . At least £ 19 , 000 a year was wanted for the Benevolent , but for the present year there was no anxiety on that account , as £ 19 , 511 was the result of the previous Wednesday ' s Festival . When they considered the bad times , and that without any special inducements as to votes and other advantages , such a sum could be accumulated by a body like Masons , it was clear that what was the essence of the institution of Masonry was followed
up by the brethren , and that they endeavoured to do their duty to their great Charities . Although the sums were large , and this year had been more than was required for the Benevolent Institution , it must be remembered that as the membership of the Craft increased and the number of the lodges increased , so it was expected that the growth of the Institutions must be added to , and during the last few years all the Institutions had adopted this principle . To be enabled to continue to do so , extra efforts must be made and extra money provided . With
regard to the Girls' School , its Festival would be in May ; £ 13 , 000 a year was required to keep up the maintenance of the 269 girls educated there . That number , he hoped would be increased as means would allow , but he was sure the splendid Festival of last year would be not only maintained , but improved upon . With respect to the Boys' School , it required . £ 13 , 000 or £ 14 , 000 a year to meet the demands made by the 278 boys it educated . Unfortunately , that Institution was very much cramped for room , and it would be almost impossible at Wood
Green to provide additional space for more boys . Therefore , they hoped that the large sums would continue to be submitted to the School , in order that , it an opportunity should present itself at a future time—and perhaps at an early date—they might remove to a site where there would be more room and fresher air . They had assembled that night to take part in an interesting ceremony , and the elucidation of the best sentiments of the Craft was put before the brethren in the most perfect manner . Bro . Sudlow
announced from the chair when he was asking for subscriptions from brethren wishing to join , that , with the exception of a small sum of money required for the expenses of the lodge , all the money received was spent in the cause of Masonic Charity , and that coming from the chair was a strong inducement for brethren to join . In echoing those sentiments , he could say it was the unanimous wish of the brethren to keep up the magnificent position the Masonic Charities held not only in the opinion of the Craft , but in the eyes of all those who took an interest in the Craft ' s proceedings .
Bro . GEORGE E . FAIRCHILD proposed "The Stewards . " Before referring specially to the Stewards , he would express , on behalf of all the brethren , his admiration of the splendid way the working of the evening had been performed in the Temple . Looking around the Temple , he was pleased to see that everyone came early with one object—to witness the working ; they did not come for the banquet ; they came to get the advantage of training in the perfection of ritual , which was so splendidly taught by the worthy Preceptor and the Committee . He
had been deeply gratified himself with the working , which every brother would allow was perfect . With regard to the management , it required much work , as he could testify through having taken part in the management of many festivals . The brethren should be deeply grateful to the Stewards who had taken such interest in all the details . Whatever Board of Stewards there might be , the bulk of the work fell on the Secretary and two or three others , and , on behalf of the brethren , he begged to thank those brethren most cordially and with deep gratitude for what they had done .
Bro . J OSEPH RUSSELL , P . G . Steward , Secretary , in responding , said it was impossible to pass over the high encomiums with respect to the arrangements of the evening . He could only say that Bro . Fairchild had somewhat misunderstood the nature of the toast , because he had assumed that the whole work of organisation of that successful meeting had fallen on Bro , Kentish and himself ( Bro . Russell ) . He begged to inform him that two-thirds of the work had been done by Bro . Kentish and one-third by him . On his own behalf , therefore , he begged to return thanks for the toast .
Bro . W . G . KENTISH , who was loudly demanded , said he thought it would ill become him to take up such a position as Bro . Russell in the kindness o [| his heart threw upon him . He did not know that he had had two-thirds of the work or anything like it . He had been very happy to share with Bro . Russell in trying to make that festival equal to the past ones . It delighted him as a member of the Committee to do everything he possibly could to strengthen the hands of their
chief , Bro . Sudlow . There was one thing about Bro , Sudlow ; when they said in lodge " In gratitude to our Master we bend , " they bent ostensibly to the Master in the chair ; but personally he always felt that that applied to Bro . Sudlow , ana as long as his ( Bro . Kentish ' s ) health was spared and he had the ability to do > t , he hoped he should be always at the service of the Emulation Lodge ot Improvement , because he felt it a pride and honour to be one of the trustees of that
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Festival Of The Emulation Lodge Of Improvement.
best interests . He could only say , on behalf of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement , that they tendered Lord Skelmersdale their warmest and heartiest thanks for the honour he had done them in presiding over that festival . Bro . Lord SKELMERSDALE , in responding , said he always took the advice of his father about Masonry , which the brethren would think was the right thing to do . When he had the great pleasure of receiving a letter from Bro . Letchworth asking him if he would consent to preside that evening he happened to be at his
own heme , and he took the letter to his father , who said to him , "Do so ; it is one of the b-st institutions in Masonry . " He could only thank the brethren , and tell them it had given him the very greatest pleasure to be present with the brethren . He would say nothing further as regarded himself , but would g ive the toast of " The Emulation Lodge of Improvement . " Those who like himself were present in the lodge for the first time would all agree with him that the Emulation LocVe of Improvement set them a standard of working in Masonry
vh ch li ty cught all to try and follow . It might be—it was , he feared—that there w < re lodges , some of them old ones , some of them possibly a little careless , which did not follow the Emulation working . It was the desire of all present that the standard of the Emulation should be worked up to ; that the lodges should attain to the same perfection was perhaps a little too much to hope ; but that
they should try to attain to that perfection was very much to be wished for . That lodge was of the greatest importance . It was established in 1823 , after the great Union of all the lodges . It set itself to work to provide an unalterable standard of ritual . Those traditions , although now so long ago , it had always kept up , and , speaking for himself , he could only say how much he was impressed , interested , and delighted with the work of the evening .
Bro . R . CLAY SUDLOW , P . G . Std . Br ., replied . He said-. R . W . Brother Chairman and Brethren , —The honour of responding to this toast' really belongs to our chief , Bro . Letchworth , but , with the courtesy which distinguishes him , he has waived his right in my favour as the oldest member of the Committee . It was Bro . Fenn ' s custom on these occasions to give from time to time some information as to the origin of this lodge and the reasons why we claim that its system of ritual is authoritative . This has not been done for some time , and in
view of the fact that we are adding to the number of our members every week , it has been suggested to me that to-night I might well follow Bro . Fenn's example , and , indeed , very closely follow Bro . Fenn ' s words for the information of those who have joined our ranks during the last few years . You will remember that the union of the two Grand Lodges took place in 1813 . At that time there was a very material difference in the method of working the ceremonies , and it was deemed advisable to endeavour to arrange a uniform system acceptable to both
parties to the Union , which might be universally adopted . For this purpose a warrant was issued for the formation of a new lodge , to be called the Lodge of Reconciliation , and to consist of an equal number of Ancients and Moderns . The special duty to be carried out by this lodge was to frame a ritual based on the systems then in practice , to be submitted to the United Grand Lodge for its sanction and authorisation . In the year 1816 we li id , according to the minutes of Grand Lodge of that year , that two
special meetings were held under the presidency of the Duke of Sussex , at which meetings the ceremonies were rehearsed by members of the Lodge of Reconciliation . These ceremonies were , with a few alterations , sanctioned and ordered to be adopted . The system of ritual then sanctioned by the Grand Lodge has been taught in the Emulation Lodge of Improvement , from its foundation in 1823 right down to the present day ; in other words , there has been no variation for a
period of over 70 years . The reason of this is not difficult of explanation . Every brother who has occupied the position of Preceptor in this lodge has , by many years of diligent study under the teaching of his predecessor , mastered this particlar system , and has accepted it as a sacred trust to be preserved with the utmost integrity . It will interest you , I think , if I mention the names of these brethren . The first was the famous Bro . Peter Gilkes , who , by reason of his intimate knowledge of the authorised ritual , was elected the first Preceptor . At his death the
position passed to his friend and pupil , Bro . Stephen Barton Wilson , who presided over the lodge for , I believe , over 30 years . He was succeeded by our Bro . Thomas Fenn , assisted by Bro . Murton and Bro . Richards , as members of the Committee . Bro . Fenn , as you know , retained his connection with this lodge until last year . I need hardly say how delighted not only the Committee are , but every one in this room tonight is to welcome among us Bro . Thomas Fenn again , from whom many of us here present have learned all we know of
Masonry . Now , brethren , we come to the present Committee—Bro . Rushton , Bro . Kentish , and myself ; we foim , as it were , the fourth generation , and I need hardly say that we accept the trust reposed in us as a very sacred one , and we recognise to the full its unalterable character . When the time comes , brethren , for us to make way for others—and may I say just in this connection one word how much we miss the presence of one who filled the chair of Senior Warden at these festivals for many years r—I say , when the time comes for us to make way for others , we shall hand over our trust exactly as we received it . We are very
much encouraged in our work by this splendid gathering and by the presence 01 so many Grand Officers . For the support thus accorded to us , and for the kindly manner in which this toast has been honoured , I , speaking on behalf of the Committee whom I have the honour to represent , beg most heartily to thank you . At this point , Bro . Lord Skelmersdale had to leave to join the ball given by his regiment , at which Bro . Lord Wolsiley was to be present . He again expressed the pleasure and gratification with which he had witnessed the working of the lodge .
Bro . Lieut .-Col . J ALLEN BINDLEY , P . G . D ., proposed "The Lodge of Unions , No . 256 , " a toast which , he said , was of immense importance to all lodges working under the charter of the Grand Lodge of England , as it sanctioned the Emulation Lodge of Improvement . The brethren had already heard the name of that good brother , Peter Gilke " , who had gone before ; they had also heard of their Bro . Stephen Barton Wilson ; and they had also heard of their beloved Bro . Thomas Fenn , and long might he live amongst them to help , if he might sav , in
Masonry ; with all deference and no levity , might he live for ever among Masons . However , they bad a certain time allotted to them , aud when Bro . Fenn did go , it was to be hoped that his mantle would fall on some one who was no less than himself . The Lodge of Unions was the foundation of the present Emulation Lodge of Improvement . Perhaps he might be permitted to say he thought the Emulation had been the grand resuscitator of Masonry in England . The Lodge of Unions was simply the mother of the Lodge of Emulation , and he trusted that
the Emulation , as it went on now always embodied that charming word " Conciliation . " It did not enforce , but it led and conciliated , and that was the great strength of it , and he hoped it would last with it . He had been a Mason over a third of a century , and he had seen Masonry in many forms and ways , but he had never seen it worked as it had been that evening by Bro . Sudlow and his assistants : it was something not to be forgotten ; it was a thing to take down to the provinces and to be glad to hear .
Bro . J ALBERT FARNFIELD , P . A . G . D . C , 111 replying for the Lodge of Unions , said the great delight of the Lodge of Unions was to think that the Emulation Lodge of Improvement was its child and that it had prospered , and had spread Freemasonry over the four quarters of the globe . It was not that Freemasonry was only taught here , but brethren who learned it here emigrated to distant parls , ar . d Freemasonry as taught in the Emulation Lodge of Improvement was taught wherever the English language was heard . That the lodge might go on is \\ A prosper was the great desire of the Lodge of Unions , under whose warrant it woiked , and he hoped the child would never be ashamed of its mother .
Festival Of The Emulation Lodge Of Improvement.
Bro . J . E . LE FEUVRE , P . G . D ., proposed "The Masonic Charities , " and said the brethren had all had the pleasure that evening of listening to the ritual 0 f Freemasonry rendered in the most perfect manner , and Provincial brethren were glad to have the opportunity of carrying down into the provinces that ritual and setting it up as the standard and reproducing it as far as possible . Next to the perfect rendering of the ritual was the carrying out of Masonic princi ples inside and outside their lodges , and the cultivation of "that most excellent
gift of Charity" which was so well recommended in the lodges generall y . He had had placed in his hands the toast of " Our Masonic Institutions , '' and to ask the brethren to drink to "Our Great ; institutions , the Girls , ' the Boys , ' and the Old People , " and might the festivals of the Girls' and the Boys' in the coming months be as gloriously successful as was that of the Benevolent Institution on Wednesday , the 26 th ult ., when something just under £ 20 , 000 was raised . It would be £ , 20 , 000 before long . Let them hope that in the coming months of May
and June the festivals of the Girls' and the Boys' would make as much . Those two Institutions were admirably managed . The Committee of the Girls' School consisting of members of the highest rank in Masonry had the confidence of the Craft of the whole of the United Kingdom . He heard that the result of the examinations which had just taken place had been very successful and no failures had been suffered by the Girls' Institution ; all the girls sent up had passed , six had honours and 11 distinctions . With regard to the Boys' School the Craft
might congratulate themselves on the success which had followed the management , for during the last few weeks one of the boys had passed in the first list of the Matriculation in London , an honour they prized very highly , and it must redound to a very great extent to the credit of the excellent Head Master , Bro . Hebb . They had also received that day the results of the Cambridge Senior and Junior Examinations which had been a source of great satisfaction to the Boys ' School Board of Management . They sent one of the boys in the first and second
forms . There were 76 sent up , and the success of those boys was somewhat remarkable . A large number of honours had been gained by them , and out of 76 boys only eight had been unsuccessful , in gaining a pass or getting honours . Those boys had not been picked boys from the school but the whole forms had been sent up , and the result before the Craft that day pointed out the standard of the ordinary system of education carried out by the Head Master and the Board of Management .
Bro . C . E . KEYSER , P . G . D ., replying , very much regretted that they had not with them the Secretaries of the Masonic Institutions to respond . The duty devolved upon him perhaps as being more intimately associated with all the three Institutions than most members of the Craft . Bro . Le Feuvre had pointed out that all the Institutions had the confidence of the whole Craft as regarded their management , and it was in a great measure due to that the Institutions year after year met with such a magnificent response to the call for aid . The demands on
the Institutions were very large , and therefore it was necessary that a great effort should be made to provide the requisite funds . At least £ 19 , 000 a year was wanted for the Benevolent , but for the present year there was no anxiety on that account , as £ 19 , 511 was the result of the previous Wednesday ' s Festival . When they considered the bad times , and that without any special inducements as to votes and other advantages , such a sum could be accumulated by a body like Masons , it was clear that what was the essence of the institution of Masonry was followed
up by the brethren , and that they endeavoured to do their duty to their great Charities . Although the sums were large , and this year had been more than was required for the Benevolent Institution , it must be remembered that as the membership of the Craft increased and the number of the lodges increased , so it was expected that the growth of the Institutions must be added to , and during the last few years all the Institutions had adopted this principle . To be enabled to continue to do so , extra efforts must be made and extra money provided . With
regard to the Girls' School , its Festival would be in May ; £ 13 , 000 a year was required to keep up the maintenance of the 269 girls educated there . That number , he hoped would be increased as means would allow , but he was sure the splendid Festival of last year would be not only maintained , but improved upon . With respect to the Boys' School , it required . £ 13 , 000 or £ 14 , 000 a year to meet the demands made by the 278 boys it educated . Unfortunately , that Institution was very much cramped for room , and it would be almost impossible at Wood
Green to provide additional space for more boys . Therefore , they hoped that the large sums would continue to be submitted to the School , in order that , it an opportunity should present itself at a future time—and perhaps at an early date—they might remove to a site where there would be more room and fresher air . They had assembled that night to take part in an interesting ceremony , and the elucidation of the best sentiments of the Craft was put before the brethren in the most perfect manner . Bro . Sudlow
announced from the chair when he was asking for subscriptions from brethren wishing to join , that , with the exception of a small sum of money required for the expenses of the lodge , all the money received was spent in the cause of Masonic Charity , and that coming from the chair was a strong inducement for brethren to join . In echoing those sentiments , he could say it was the unanimous wish of the brethren to keep up the magnificent position the Masonic Charities held not only in the opinion of the Craft , but in the eyes of all those who took an interest in the Craft ' s proceedings .
Bro . GEORGE E . FAIRCHILD proposed "The Stewards . " Before referring specially to the Stewards , he would express , on behalf of all the brethren , his admiration of the splendid way the working of the evening had been performed in the Temple . Looking around the Temple , he was pleased to see that everyone came early with one object—to witness the working ; they did not come for the banquet ; they came to get the advantage of training in the perfection of ritual , which was so splendidly taught by the worthy Preceptor and the Committee . He
had been deeply gratified himself with the working , which every brother would allow was perfect . With regard to the management , it required much work , as he could testify through having taken part in the management of many festivals . The brethren should be deeply grateful to the Stewards who had taken such interest in all the details . Whatever Board of Stewards there might be , the bulk of the work fell on the Secretary and two or three others , and , on behalf of the brethren , he begged to thank those brethren most cordially and with deep gratitude for what they had done .
Bro . J OSEPH RUSSELL , P . G . Steward , Secretary , in responding , said it was impossible to pass over the high encomiums with respect to the arrangements of the evening . He could only say that Bro . Fairchild had somewhat misunderstood the nature of the toast , because he had assumed that the whole work of organisation of that successful meeting had fallen on Bro , Kentish and himself ( Bro . Russell ) . He begged to inform him that two-thirds of the work had been done by Bro . Kentish and one-third by him . On his own behalf , therefore , he begged to return thanks for the toast .
Bro . W . G . KENTISH , who was loudly demanded , said he thought it would ill become him to take up such a position as Bro . Russell in the kindness o [| his heart threw upon him . He did not know that he had had two-thirds of the work or anything like it . He had been very happy to share with Bro . Russell in trying to make that festival equal to the past ones . It delighted him as a member of the Committee to do everything he possibly could to strengthen the hands of their
chief , Bro . Sudlow . There was one thing about Bro , Sudlow ; when they said in lodge " In gratitude to our Master we bend , " they bent ostensibly to the Master in the chair ; but personally he always felt that that applied to Bro . Sudlow , ana as long as his ( Bro . Kentish ' s ) health was spared and he had the ability to do > t , he hoped he should be always at the service of the Emulation Lodge ot Improvement , because he felt it a pride and honour to be one of the trustees of that