History Of The Lodge Of Emulation, No. 21.

He received the honour ol" Knighthood about the year 1821 . The portrait of a boy in ( he picture , to whom Sir Francis is directing attention , is that ol" Master David Humphreys , an orphan pupil in the school established in 1808 , who seems

to have possessed remarkable powers of oratory , and was presented by the Duke of Sussex with three medals at different anniversaries of ( he Institution . The large cup or tankard so convenient to the elbow of Bro . Daniel was probably placed in that position more for

exhibition than actual use . It doubtless represents the silver cup , valued at . £ 20 , given him by the Royal Naval Lodge on July 6 th , 1808 .

SIR FRANCIS UOLUilHINE DANIEL , GRAND STEWARD FOR THE I . OIKiE OF EMULATION , 1 S 0 . 5 . Without this explanation , it might possibly be thought that the habits of the worthy knight tended in some degree

towards conviviality represented in the shape of a constant and liberal supply of liquid refreshment . At the end of the year 1801 there was a balance in the hands of the Treasurer of £ " 24 4 s . 2 d . with forty-two subscribing members on the books .

1802 , March 15 th . — " Resolved that the Fee to be paid by Brethren visiting this Lodge be seven shillings ( instead of live shillings ) to take place on the next night of meeting . " During the previous year several Germans were initiated , four at an Emergency meeting on 20 th July , one from Cassel ,

two from Frankfort and one from Hamburg which probably led to the initiation , at a Lodge of Emergency on Oct . 4 th , 1802 , of one who subsequently attained world-wide celebrity , as the founder of the London branch of the firm of Rothschilds . The transaction is thus recorded in the minutes by W . H .

White : — " Bro - Norris proposed Mr . Nathan Mayer Rothschild of Manchester , Merchant , aged 26 , and Mr . Nehm Beer Rindskopt of Frankfort , Merchant , aged 21 , to be made Masons in this Lodge this Evening they being about to leave the kingdom immediately , which being seconded by

Bro White they were ballotted for and declared unanimously approved , and were accordingly initiated into the first , passed into the second , and raised to the third degree , and paid their fees to the Treasurer . " Notice was ordered to be given to the Grand Secretary

of the Brothers having passed the three degrees this Night on emergency . " Neither of these gentlemen became members of the Lodge of Emulation , they may have subsequently joined some other Lodge , but I can find no record of such joining .

The romantic historv of the house of Rothschilds having been ably and , to all appearance , faithfully recorded , it may not be deemed out of place if I venture to quote a passage from its pages relative to the very distinguished member of our Order who sought and received Masonic Light in the

Lodge of Emulation . ' " The first step towards extending the business of the original house in Frankfort was taken in 179 8 by Nathan Mayer , the third and most remarkable of all Mayer Amschel ' s sons , who in that year started for England with the object of creating a business of his own . To Nathan Mayer may

be ascribed much of the subsequent prosperity of the family , as , by his splendid financial abilities and untiring energy , he contributed far more than any of his brothers towards raising the firm to the brilliant position it has held for the last fifty years . He it was who , by his vast schemes and far-reaching

speculations , gave the firm its cosmopolitan character , whilst the great services which he , in common with his brothers , rendered to all the Governments of Europe in turn gained for his family a reputation and a consideration such as no other firm has ever enjoyed . "

Nathan Mayer Rothschild ('' N . M . R . " ) was born Sept . 19 th , 1777 , and was advanced by Imperial Letters Patent dated at Vienna , Sep . 29 th , 1822 , to the dignity of a Baron of the Austrian Empire . He died July 28 th , 18 3 6 , at Frankfort , but his remains were brought to England for interment .

1802 , Nov . 15 th . — " It was proposed by Brother Pugh , that in future no Brotlnr shall be permitted to smoak tobacco either in the Lodge or in the Supper Room when the Brethren have retired to Refreshment , and that this shall be entered in the Book of Bye-Laws , which was seconded by Brother Whitford , and on the Question being put was carried with only one dissenting voice . "

1803 , March 21 st . — " Resolved unanimously that in future the Fee to be paid by any Gentleman on being made a Mason in this Lodge should be Five Guineas and a half including the Registering Fee , and the Fee to be paid by any Brother joining the Lodge as a Member shall be Two Guineas . "

1804 , Nov . 19 th . — " B - Bryant Barrett moved , That this shall become a Dinner Lodge , carried in the affirmative . B - Barrett also moved that the Annual Subscription shall be Three Guineas , instead of Two , in consequence of this becoming a Dinner Lodge ; " Resolved , That the Bill be called Three hours after sitting down to Dinner . "

There was no other business before the Lodge , and the Brethren had evidently decided without due deliberation , for at the next meeting after the minutes had been read , W . H . White moved , and Bro . Norris seconded , that they be Rejected , which was carried in the affirmative . J 805 , Feb . 18 th . —" The Lodge proceeded to ballot for

Mr . Lucas Birch who was unanimously approved of , and he being in attendance was regularly initiated . " " Resolved , That in future the Fees on Initiation be Four Guineas including the Registering Fee . " Brother Birch having been informed previous to his

initiation that if he was made this Night the Fees would be One Guinea and an half more than he would pay if he waited untill the next Evening of Meeting , he expressed his wish to be made this clay , as he considered the money would be applied to Charitable Purposes , whereupon on a Motion

made , it was Resolved unanimously , That the One Guinea and an half be be paid to the General Fund of Charity . " The brother who thus early evinced his iitness for reception into the ranks of Masonry was the proprietor of the celebrated old catering establishment ( now Ring and

Brymer's ) in Cornhill , in which business he was succeeded by his son , Samuel Birch , Colonel of the First Regiment of Loyal London Volunteers , Lord Mayor of London , 1814—15 , who attained some celebrity as the author of several musical dramas performed during the latter part of the 18 th century .