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

'' These traditions , transmitted to us through many generations and through many mouths , would have varied much more , were it not that there have arisen at all times and seasons , and in regular succession , true and trusty men , who , by no election , by no canvas , but by the universal consent of their brethren , have been recognized as

leaders and teachers . Among those teachers none have been found more true or more trusty than he in whose honour we are this evening assembled . It has been remarked that at the present day we possess but the traditionary remnant of what Masonry was in former times . In earlier days , in

addition to its moral power , it also possessed great political and religious power . Here we have to deal with its moral power only , and the wonder is not that so much of it has been lost , but that so much remains . " Instituted by the skilled artificers of old , in times of the most remote antiquity , when kings and princes

presided over us and joined in the work , Masonry passed through a great and glorious career of peace and prosperity ; since then , however , it has had to pass through many perils and contend with many difficulties . Attacked by base imitators , who , under the assumed name of Masons , carried out the wildest schemes of religious and

political intrigue ; wounded by the baser treachery of some of its own children , who endeavoured , for motives of unworthy gain , to expose its mysteries to the vulgar eye ; menaced by tyranny , persecuted by bigotry , its lodges scattered but not dismayed , itself proscribed but not

dishonoured , it still maintained its object ; relying on its truth , it wins its way , folding in its embrace men of all climes and all tongues , and possessing within itself a tie nowhere to be found out of the pale of Masonry . It is not in the busy hum of cities , or by our own domestic firesides , that this tie is felt in its full strength . All the histories we have read go to show that in far distant lands and on mid-ocean it is—in

times of danger , distress , and misery—that Masonry possesses a chord of sympathy which finds a responsive echo in the heart of every brother . " In this country , accepting from our ancestors the . ancient Degrees , we know no change in the form of Masonry . And here I would observe that the whole

history of the Order shows that it has been in times of discord that the greatest changes and innovations have occurred , and that innovation has been most frequent under Masonic jurisdictions of the most recent origin . Here we have been content to abide by the ancient charges and

landmarks , and therefore it is that we find the Grand Lodge of this country the arbiter and judge in all cases of doubt and difficulty . To whom is the glory of that high position to be ¦ ascribed ?

'' It is not alone to the patronage and the labours ot the great and mighty . It is to the patient teaching of zealous and good Masons who have made it the work of their lives , and who , scattered throughout the country , have , in such lodges as the present , spread a knowledge of the true principles of the Craft among the brethren generally . They ,

I say , have been the means of raising Masonry in England to its present high position . As chiefest among the lodges of the world is the Grand Lodge of England , so , chiefest among the lodges of instruction , which have contributed to place her there , has been the labour of the Emulation Lodge of

Improvement ; and need I say that among the labourers of that lodge stands out in boldest relief the worthy brother whom we are delighted to honour this evening . " As the master builder selects with patient care the stones which are to form the intended structure ,

animating , instructing , and guiding the workmen employed under him , so with equal diligence and zeal does our Master builder arrange , adapt , and preserve our ancient fabric , animating , guiding , and instructing the brethren ; he , in fact , carries out in speculative Masonry all those

duties of the master builder of old , and possesses , in an eminent degree , those qualifications we require in a Master . Of him I may truly say that he is " of good report , true , and trusty , and held in high estimation amongst the brethren and fellows . " Thus have I endeavoured to trace

. IOIIX HAVERS , I'AST G 11 ANI ) WAR 11 I . X , Cliitiruiuii uf Ihe Festiml , Xin-nubrr Will , ISM .

" Following in the footsteps of your illustrious predecessor , you have voluntarily and disinterestedly laboured for the good of this lodge ; you have skilfully executed the work ; and you have , with no ordinary talent , maintained the great trust reposed in you ; you have

increased its value , and you have extended its usefulness . Hence our present meeting . To say that this is the only particular in which you have deserved well of your brethren , would be to do you scanty justice . You have ever practised those sublime lessons which you have taught here .

As teacher in this important lodge , you have naturally acquired a great influence in the Craft . That influence you have used well , not to your own advantage , but to the advantage of the brethren . You have curbed the impetuosity of the young and inexperienced ; you have been the adviser

of those of more mature years ; you ever studied—in support of order and of regularity—to maintain the authority both of the Master in the chair and of the Grand Master upon the throne .

" Rigid as a disciplinarian—and no man has succeeded in a great object who has not strictly enforced subordination —trusted and acknowledged as an authority , you found yourself the honoured member of many lodges , and the leader and teacher of this , the most important lodge of instruction in the world . By your labours here von have

consecrated your name in our memory , and to future ages , as a benefactor to the Craft . Well and worthily have you been honoured by the Grand Master . Never was honour more worthily bestowed , and never was the bestowal of it hailed with greater satisfaction by the Craft .

the advantage which may arise to the whole of the society from the labours of even a single individual . " Bro . Wilson—in the name of this assembly of eminent and influential Masons—I beg your acceptance of these gifts , possessing in themselves a certain degree of intrinsic value , but still more valuable and honourable as carrying

with them the expression of the kind will entertained towards you by your Masonic brethren . Gifts , I am well aware , may be in themselves but of small value , and yet be most valuable to the receiver , as showing the direction of the current of good will and

approbation . To you the brethren of this lodge are greatly indebted—you they recognize as their leader and master . Educated , sir , as you have been in that profession to which Masonry is most allied , you have the skill to compare what is speculative to what is operative , and you have the ability to explain that comparison to your brethren .