History Of The Emulation Lod Ge Of Improvement, No . 256.——(Continued).

History of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement, No . 256 . ——( Continued ) .

( By Bro . HENRY SADLER , Sub-Librarian to the Grand Lodge of England )

ON the 4 th of October , Bro . Sudlow announced to the brethren that he was wearing a jewel that had been presented by the Emulation Lodge of Improvement to the late Bro . Thomas Fenn , on his retiring from the office of Secretary of the Lodge in 1863 . Having been presented with this jewel by the executors of the deceased brother ,

he intended wearing it at all meetings of the Lodge as a mark of his high appreciation of the original owner , hoping that this practice might be continued by his successors . At the same meeting , on the motion of Bro . Charles Lewis , seconded by Bro . Lander , a hearty vote of congratulation

was passed to Bro . Sudlow on his promotion to the rank of Past A . G . Director of Ceremonies . Bro . Sudlow proposed , and Bro . Lewis seconded , a similar vote to Bro . Joseph Russell , Secretary , on his appointment to the rank of Past Grand Standard Bearer .

THE EARL OF LATHOM , PROV . U . M . WEST LANCASHIRE . Cliiiiriniiii of / lie I'er / iml ill 1 S 0 C . Bros . Sudlow and Russell suitably responded ; the latter warmly acknowledged the gift of his Grand Lodge clothing , hoping that for many years he might worthily represent the

Emulation Lodge of Improvement , to which he owed his preferment . The executors of Bro . Fenn presented also to the Grand Lodge museum the handsome jewel , set with brilliants , voted to him by the Grand Lodge on his retirement from the office

of President of the Board of General Purposes , after having served in that important post from 188 4 to 18 94 . 1902 . The Committee and executive were all re-elected to their several posts . At the meeting held on February 21 st , Bro . Sudlow , on

behalf of the Lodge , congratulated the Y . W . Bro . Edward Letchworth , Grand Secretary , on his approaching marriage , begging his acceptance of a silver cigar cabinet , subscribed for by some of the members as a small token of their regard . Bro . Letchworth gratefully acknowledged the present .

lhe Annual Festival was held on the 7 th of March . Bro . R . Clay Sudlow , as usual , presided as W . M ., with Bros . Charles Lewis , as I . P . M . ; George Rankin , Preceptor of the Kirby Lodge of Instruction , as S . W . ; and J . F . Roberts , Preceptor of the St . Bride Lodge of Instruction , as J . W .

The work was the Second Lecture . The ist Section was given by Bro . A . M . Barnard , P . M . No . 19 6 4 ; the 2 nd by Bro . W . R . Bennett , P . M . No . 1965 ; the 3 rd by Bro . H . A . D . Jowett , J . W . No . 1965 ; the 4 th by Bro . J . H . Jenks , P . M . No . 8 , P . G . Stwd . ; and the 5 th by Bro . T . W . Allsop ,

P . M . No . 88 , P . P . G . D . C . Bucks . The work , it is almost needless to say , was perfect , being given not only with accuracy , but with a depth of feeling " and masterly elocution which showed that the working brethren appreciated the importance of the solemn ceremonies

which illustrate Freemasonry At the conclusion of the work , Bro . Sir Augustus Webster proposed a vote of thanks to the five brethren , who had so ably and admirably assisted the W . M . in the work of the evening . It had never hitherto

been his lot to witness what he might be allowed to call so very great a Masonic treat . Bro . the Rev . Sir Borradaile Savory , G . C ., seconded the vote , which was unanimously carried by the brethren , and suitably responded to by Br . Sudlow .

On this occasion the Committee , after mature deliberation ,, had seen fit to make a considerable change in the arrangements for the Festival . In the writer ' s earliest recollection of Emulation Festivals , every member paid one shilling and visitors one shilling and sixpence for admission to the working , the price of a supper ticket being half-a-crown in

addition ; it was therefore quite optional whether a brother remained after the Lodge was closed . Some years ago , however , the price of the tickets was increased to five shillings , including admission to the work , for members as well as visitors . This answered fairly well for a time ,

but it being utterly impossible to comfortably provide for the many hundreds who desired to partake of refreshment after labour , the Committee determined to issue two kinds of tickets , one for the work only at two shillings , and the other as usual for the work and the dinner , which had the expected

result of enabling the brethren to dine together in one room and under one chairman , instead of having recourse to overflow rooms , as had been the case for several years past . This change was generally acknowledged to be a decided improvement , for although the Grand Hall was , as usual ,

filled by an enthusiastic and appreciative audience , the banquet , presided over by Sir Augustus Webster , Bart ., Provincial Grand Master for Hants and Isle of Wight , was partaken of with comparative comfort .

The usual preliminary toasts having been disposed of , the Grand Secretary proposed the health of the Chairman of the Festival , and tendered the thanks of the Committee and the brethren generally for the honour he had done them in presiding over them that evening . Sir Augustus Webster warmly acknowledged the

compliment paid him and proceeded to propose the next toast , that of " The Emulation Lodge of Improvement . " He said : " It was very gratifying indeed to him that he should be asked to preside this evening over a Lodge founded seventy-nine years ago — a Lodge to which

the whole Craft under the English Constitution owed the deepest debt of gratitude . For many years the ritual had been handed clown pure and unsullied exactly as it was