Annual Festival Of The Emulation Lodge Of Improvement.

ritual was not possible or desirable , it was at all events necessary that a standard , of perfection should be shown . The brethren of the lodge might fairly claim to have worked out that standard of perfection and shown it to the world at large as year by year Masonry continued to increase , and as Englishmen they should be proud of the way in which they had guarded the Craft from danger . Englishmen had a habit of guarding their institutions from dangers which in other countries would have swamped and upset them . They knew the principles on which they

hsd erected the Craft , and how faithfull y they had adhered to those principles . While m some other countries the Craft had suffered greatly , in England , in the United States , and in the Colonies the Craft remained higher than ever in the estimation of all . ( Applause . ) True , it was a secret society , and the history of secret societies , qua secret societies , was a curious and not always an edifying one . If they looked at a few celebrated secret societies of the present day , like the Mafia in Italy , they could say that those secret societies Masons had never

followed . What the difference roughly speaking between them and Masons was that those societies with their secret signs and mysteries were founded to upset the laws of the land , on bloodshed and crime , while Masonry was founded on the worship of the Almighty and on a determination to maintain the throne and the laws of the great country to which we had the honour to belong . ( Applause . ) There was another great point with regard to Masons , that they took care , or should take care , that worthy men , and worthy men alone , were admitted

to the Masonic mysteries —( hear , hear)—and that was one of their great safeguards ; the brethren could not be too careful or too anxious to see that that precept was invariably and always carried out . ( Hear , hear . ) Talking of secret societies and secret signs and mysteries carried him back but very shortly to the twc great secret societies of the 13 th century—the Guelphs and the Gbibelines ; their customs entered into their daily life , and formed part of it ; one wore their feather on one side , and the other wore it on the opposite ; one cut their fruit

from right to left , and the other from left to right ; the one wore white roses , the other wore red ; the daily life of the citizen was so eaten up by his secret signs , both in eating and drinking , in swearing , in passing in the street , in the ordinary conventionalities of life there was always some secret sign or a mystery . If the brethren wanted to follow this he could not recommend to their perusal a better work than that of Addington , who told how jealous they were of guarding their secrets : there was one , Bergamot , who murdered the whole of his guests

at one banquet because they sliced their gsxlic the wrong way . ( Laughter . ) Even as late as the 13 th century the Ghibelines tore down a cross of the Saviour because it was going on the wrong shoulder . This showed to what extent the secrets or mysteries were carried . But what was the end of all these societies , carried on by secret signs , founded in wealth by followers of art—and they were followers of art in those days ? They perished and fell away ; and for this reason—the principles they worked on were wrong ; they were principles of bloodshed and of working against the laws of the land ; while Masonry—a great guild

founded on principles of religion and virtue—remained , and ever would remain , as long as she followed her ' present course , a great instrument for good in the world . It was only when men were initiated and began to know the work Masonry carried on that they fully appreciated the duties of Freemasonry . Long might that Craft flourish , long continue to increase , and , intimately connected with it , long might the Emulation Lodge of Improvement continue to'flourish , and to set the standard of excellent working 1 With the toast he coupled the name of Bro . Sudlow . ( Applause . )

Bro . R . CLAY SUDLOW , P . G . Std . Br ., in acknowledging the toast , said : Colonel Lockwood and Brethren , —In this year of change from 1800 to 1900 —I am very careful to avoid any reference to the century—it is very gratifying to the Committee to find that the Emulation Lodge of Improvement stands as high in the favour of the Craft as at any time in its long car eer . ( Hear , hear . ) Inasmuch as this year is in a sense an exceptional year , it seems to me that it may not be inopportune to review the present position of the lodge , particularly as the

result cannot but be agreeable to the well-wishers—and they are many—of this institution . ( Hear , hear . ) To begin with—we were to have had as our Chairman this evening the Deputy Grand Master of England . For a long series of years these festivals have been presided over by Maso ns of very exalted rank ; but so far as I know in the history of the lodge this is the first time the position of Chairman has been accepted by the Deputy Grand Master . I should like to take this opportunity of repeating the thanks so eloquently given by our brother Treasurer ,

the Grand Secretary , to Col . Lockwood for his extreme kindness in coming among us this evening . ( Hear , hear . ) We all , the Committee , members , and visitors alike , appreciate his great kindness in taking the Earl of Warwick ' s place . ( Hear , hear . ) You may perhaps remember that in the lodge room I stated that the funds of the lodge , after paying the working expenses , were given to the three Masonic Charities . By the courtesy of the Secretaries of those Institutions , I am able to tell you that from the founding of the lodge in 1823 we have paid over to the Old

People , to the Girls , and to the Boys a total sum of £ 1634 —( applause)—which gives an average of over 20 guineas for every year that the lodge has been in existence . It is also interesting to note that for the first 55 years , that is to say , from 1823 to 1878 , our average annual contribution was . £ 13 ; for the 21 years from 187810 1899 , our average annual contribution has reached £ 43 . I cannot but think that those figures must be eminently satisfactory , as they indicate that we get stronger as we grow older . ( Hear , hear . ) 1 must not forget to refer

to the fact that the adoption of the Emulation system is gradually extending . Not only is this true of London , it is also true of the provinces , and we are receiving even from abroad an increasing number of letters from brethren who tell us that they are anxious to bring their working into harmony with the Emulation system—( hear , hear)—and to that end they invite us to give information upon this or that point of ritual . Last ot all , I must speak of the standard of working of this lodge . This , brethren , is a matter of extreme

importance , because , according to the traditions of the Emulation Lodge , every brother who takes ofiice acts as an instructor for the work that he undertakes . Undoubtedly , year by year advance is made towards absolute accuracy in that work . I may say that it is now no uncommon occurrence for a brother who occupies the Master ' s chair to rehearse the whole ceremony without a single slip —( hear , hear )—( I borrow the phraseology of one of the Sections to-night ) , a circumstance particularly marked by the member of the Committee who

occupies the Past Master ' s chair , and by him is permanent ! v recorded , and , I believe , in a manner which is very highly appreciated . ( Hear , hear . ) I would like to say just one word to the brethren who have passed in their names to-night as joining numbers . Don ' t let that accuracy of working to which I have alluded deter you from coming among us ; rather let it be an incentive to attend every one of the weekly meetings . That accuracy will be extremely helpful to you . If you know our system and desire to enter into the woik it will give you an ideal to which you can aspire . If on the

other hand you prefer simply to listen and to watch , you will learn how the work , not only ot the Master , but of every inferior office , exactly how every little detail , ought to be carried out . Brethren , when the 21 st century shall come round let me express the hope that the brother who stands in my place and responds to the toast of " The Emulation Lodge of Improvement" so ably proposed from the chair , so cordially received by this grand assembly , and will be able to speak of as generally satisfactory a condition of things as Ihave put b .-fore you to-night . ( Applause ) .

Bro . Admiral ST . CLAIR proposed " The Lodge of Unions , " to which Bro . CRAWFORD , the W . M ., responded . Bro . LENNOX BROWNE , P . D . G . D . C , proposed "The Masonic Charities , "

Annual Festival Of The Emulation Lodge Of Improvement.

which brought an excellent reply from Bro . J . M . MCLEOD , P . G . S . B ., Sec . R . M . I . B ., and Bro . Col . BINDLEY , P . G . D ., croposed " The Stewards , " which was replied to by Bro . J OSEPH RUSSELL , P . G . S . The Tyler ' s toast was given by Bro . FREEMAN , P . M ., before the brethren separated .

The Craft Abroad.

The Craft Abroad .

FREEMASONRY IN THE WEST INDIES . We are indebted to W . Bro . Robert J . Clinckett , Past D . S . G . Warden , District Grand Secretary Barbados , W . I ., for the following account of the constitution and consecration of the Abercrombie Lodge , No . 2788 ( E . R . ) , at the Town of Castries , in the Island of Saint Lucia , by him and other District Grand Officers from Barbados on Thursday , the Sth ult . : The Most Worshipful Grand Master having issued a warrant or charter

to sundry brethren resident in the Island of Saint Lucia , W . I ., constituting them into a lodge called the Abercrombie , No . 2788 ( E . R . ) and No . 5 Barbados District , the Deputy District Grand Master , Bro . Robert Haynes ( in the absence from the island of R . W . Bro . John Locke , the District G . Master ) , issued a mandatory commission empowering Bro . R . J . Clinckett , Past D . S . G . Warden , to proceed to the Island of Saint Lucia for the

purpose of establ-shing the lodge and installing the W . Master designate . Accompanied by Bros . John C . McQueen , D . S . G . W . j Valdemar Hauschell , Past D . G . W ., as D . J . G . W . ; and the Rev . J . G . Clark-Holman , D . G . Chap ., he left by the Royal Mail Steamer on the 5 th ult ., and on the Sth ult . the proceedings began by a Masonic service at the Anglican Cathedral , in Castries , at 2 p . m . The brethren , who numbered nearly 4 . 0 ,

assembled in the school room , within the church enclosure , and having there put on their regalia formed up in procession , passed round the side of the church and entered by the western porch , the brethren formed in two lines facing inwards , and the Dist . G . Lodge Officers , preceded by the Sword and Standard Bearers , passed through their ranks and took their allotted places .

The service was intoned by the Rev . Mr . Hatton , the Chaplain to her Majesty ' s Forces at Saint Lucia , and the lessons were read by the Rev . Mr . Bascom , the Rector of Castries , and the anthem , " Comfort ye My People , " from Handel ' s " Messiah , " having heen beautifully and faultlessly sung by Bro . McQueen , the D . G . Chaplain ascended the pulpit and preached an eloquent and impressive sermon , the offertory being devoted to the " Reservist ' s Fun d . "

The church was packed to its utmost capacity , and Bro . Carruthers , of the R . E . Department , presided at the organ , and the choir was augmented by a good many ladies and gentlemen . The brethren re-assembled at 4 o ' clock p . m ., at the Masonic Hall in and consecrating the lodge was carried out by Bro . R . J . Clinckett in the fullest manner as prescribed for such occasions .

With the assistance of Bro . McQueen , the W . M . designate , Bro . the Hon . David Gloster Garraway was duly installed , and Bros . Alick C , Robinson ( Lieut . R . E . ) and John Wm . Elliott invested as S . W . and J . W . respectively . The other office-bearers were then respectivel y invested

permanently or pro tem ., as they were charter members or not . Quite a large number of joining members and initiates were proposed , and after votes of thanks to the District Grand Officers , " Hearty good wishes , " & c , had been tendered , the Charity-box was passed round , and the lodge was then closed .

The brethren afterwards adjourned to the banqueting room , where the Manoel-street , Castries , where the ceremony of constituting , dedicating , usual Masonic toasts and sentiments were expressed . The " Soldiers of the Queen " having been sung , the Dist . G . Chaplain went round with the hat , and £ 21 105 . was again got together for the " Reservists' Fund . "

The movement for opening a lodge at St . Lucia met with very uncompromising hostility from the Roman Catholic priests there , who even went so far as to refuse mass to one of the petitioners for the warrant , who belongs to their Church , and to threaten all the members of their sect if they dared to join the lodge ; hence the Dist . G . Chaplain and Bro . Clinckett deemed it advisable to offset their opposition by a Masonic service at the Anglican Church prior to establishing the lodge .

Knights Templar.

Knights Templar .

¦ ¦ * Camden Preceptory , No . 163 . The installation meeting of the above preceptory was held at And ' erton ' s Hotel , on Tuesday , the 27 * ult . Amongst those present were Sir Knights Edwin Styles , E . P .: N . Goodchild , P . E . P . j R . C . Leversedge , P . E P . ; John Read , P . E . P . , ; Major T . W . Richardson , P . E . P . 117 ; Alfred Molony , Richard Barnes , j . H . Smyth , F . T . Larkman , John Dean , Henry Humphries , and others . . The preceptory having been opened , the minu tes were read and confirmed . At the

r " ! o , he Em" > ent Preceptor , the chair was taken by Sir Knight Major Richardson . The Preceptor elect , Sir Knight Alfred Molony , was presented and duly installed as Preceptor , the following were appointed as officers for the ensuing year : Sir Knights I . Brittain , ist Constable ; W . Baddeley , 2 nd Constable ; F . J . Larkman , Treas .: ?/ " u i G ? £ u * u , y R f corder ! R- Barnes , Chaplain ; I . L . Barrett Marshal ; W . H . Holroyd , Almoner ; J . H . Smyth , Herald ; Rev . J . H . ?! Mew and John Dean , Standard Bearers ; and H . Humphries , Captain of the Guard . ine oaiiut

navmg proved unanimous in favour of Comp . H . H . M . Hancock he was admitted and installed as a Knight of the Order by the new Eminent Preceptor . It was proposed by Sir Knight Alfred Molony , E . P ., and seconded by E . Sir Knight Edwin Styles , P . E . P ., "That a hearty vote of thanks be recorded on the minutes of the preceptory to E . Sir Knight Major T . W . Richardson for the assistance he had si kindly render td on this and other occasions and that he be now elected an Honorary Member of the

preceptory . " This was carried unanimously . Sir Knight Major Richardson returned thanks , and stated what a pleasure it was to him to be able to help the Camden Preceptory in working the Degree . The Recorder read apologies from several members and two candidates who were unable to be present . Sir Knight E . Styles Was presented with a Past Preceptor ' s jewel on vacating the chair . The preceptory was closed , and the knights subsequently dined together . At the next meeting , in September , it is proposed to hold a Priory of the Order of Malta .

BRO . SIR BLUNDELL MAPLE , BART ., M . P ., has been re-elected a member of the council of University College , London .