History Of The Emulation Lodge Of Improvement, No. 256.—– (Continued).

"With every disposition therefore to yield to the wishes of the Brethren in all instances where that can be done without prejudice to the Craft , H . R . Highness is under the painful necessity of declining to comply with your present request . "With Fraternal regard , I remain , "Your Obedient Servant and faithful Brother ,

"W . H . WHITK , G . S . "The W . Bro . PETKU GII . KKS " and the other Members of the " Lodge of Instruction , attached to No . 7 . " Shortly after the receipt of the foregoing reply the Lodge

transferred its allegiance to the Lodge of Unions . " On the 20 th April , 1830 , Bro . Wittington having been deputed by the ' Emulation Lodge of Improvement , ' now held under the sanction of the ' Lodge of Hope , ' No . 7 , to solicit from the W . Master and Brethren of this Lodge , their sanction—Upon

TAIILKT TO TIIK MK . MOllY OK I'KTKIf WILLIAM UI LICKS IN ST . JA . MK . S'S CHURCH .

a motion duly made by Bro . John Mivart , that this Lodge do in future give its sanction to the ' Emulation Lodge of Improvement , ' held at this house . Seconded by Bro . Sheerman ; carried unanimously . " " The Freemasons' Quarterly Review for 18 34 contains the first report I have been able to find of a meeting of the

Lodge . Under date October 3 rd appears the following : — " The anniversary of the Master Masons Lodge of Instruction , Charlotte Street , Rathbone Place , was celebrated this evening with even more than its usual eclat . Brother Dowley , W . M ., in the Chair . Several members of the Lodge

of Unions , No . 318 , under whose sanction this Lodge of Instruction is held , attended to testify the pleasure thev felt in its prosperity , and the high sense they entertained of its value and importance to the Craft . The Master was also

supported bv a great number of the Fraternity from different Lodges . Bro . Dowlev was unanimously re-elected Treasurer , and Bro . France , Secretary . They severally returned thanks . Bro . Ouinton ,. of Lodge No . 2 , Dublin , distinguished himself equally bv an eloquent address as by the sweetness and delicacy with which he sang two songs , and the evening

passed to the entire satisfaction of all present . " From the fact that no reference is made in this report to Masonic work , we may fairly assume that at this period the annual Festival was devoted more to harmony and conviviality than to serious business . The same volume contains

a biographical sketch of the celebrated Masonic Instructor and worker , Peter Gilkes , whose portrait we present , and to whose zeal , ability , and fostering care , the early pre-eminence of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement was largely due . A few extracts from his biography may not

therefore be without interest to the present ' members of that Lodge . " An honest man ' s the noblest work of God . " " Brother Peter William Gilkes was born on the 1 st of May , 1 765 , in the neighbourhood of Carnaby Market , and baptised a Member of the Catholic church in the same

year ; he was named after the late Lord Petre , who had been an excellent friend lo his family The funeral of a distinguished brother , whom the Craft honoured by a public procession , first directed his attention to Masonry ; enquiry satisfied his mind of the utility and

benevolent views of the Order , and he was initiated in the year 1786 , at the age of twenty-one , in the British Lodge , now No . 8 . Delighted with the science , he devoted his energies and time to qualify himself for those honours which Masonry holds out for the deserving ( To be Continued ) .