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

thirty years , notwithstanding the mutability incidental to Masonry in India , with its several Masonic jurisdictions and consequent various modes of performing the ceremonies . It has from the first been most warmly supported by the Dist . Grand Masters and the other officials of the District Grand Lodge , and has thus been enabled to greatly improve

the esoteric working of the Craft in Bengal , more especially in the Calcutta Lodges . Thanks to the energy and liberality of its Preceptors it has quite a respectable little Masonic Library attached to it . Long may it flourish !

WILLIAM HONEY , P . M . OF THE ROYAL ATHELSTAN LODGE , No . IU , A celebrated " Emulation " teorl-er untl Masonic Tnxtrartnr . THE LANGTON LODGE OF INSTRUCTION . The first Lodge of Instruction in London of whose connection with the " Emulation " we have any definite knowledge

is the " Langton , " No . 1673 . We believe this Lodge of Instruction was originally established under the sanction of the Lodge of Felicity , No . 58 , at No . ior , Queen Victoria Street , the premises of the London Masonic Club , which was opened with great promise of success on the 26 th of July ,

18 7 6 , by Lord Skelmersdale , then Deputy Grand Master ; but not meeting with the support which its founders had expected it was dissolved in 1881 . The first meeting of the Lodge of Instruction was held on the 13 th of November , 18 7 6 , when it was resolved ( we think inadvisably ) that it

should bear the name of the club where it was held and from which it had emanated . Like many other institutions * ' The London Masonic Club of Instruction " had its early ¦ struggles and differences , the latter arising chiefly on points of ritual and ceremonial , the Lodge not having decided upon

any particular system of work . The first brother elected to the post of Preceptor was an enthusiastic , but comparatively young , Mason , who , however , was not conversant with the ¦ " Emulation " working , and as several of the members who attended the weekly meetings were , the result may easily be imagined .

On the 22 nd of October , 1877 , Bro . William Smallpiece , Secretary of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement , was elected to the preceptorship , from which event may be dated the formal adoption of " Emulation " working . The early minutes of the Lodge not being available we are compelled to rely on the Masonic press for much of our

information . Judging from the printed reports a fair amount of success attended Bro . Smallpiece ' s efforts for several years . The mother Lodge , however , objected to the publication of the proceedings of the Club of Instruction , and after formally protesting , eventually withdrew its sanction

111 January , 1881 . Its next public appearance was under the name it now bears , having obtained the sanction of the Langton Lodge , No . 1673 , a Lodge founded in 1877 at the London Masonic Club by some of the promoters of that institution . On the 10 th of March 1881 , a meeting of the Langton

, Lodge of Instruction w as held at the Mansion House Station Restaurant , when Bro . R . Clay Sudlow was unanimously elected Preceptor . Bro . Sudlow had already attained distinction as an able and careful worker in the Emulation Lodge of Improvement , and the knowledge of the abilities

there displayed prompted the writer , when consulted as to the preceptorship of the Langton Lodge , to mention his name as the most suitable brother of his acquaintance to fill the post . Never having undertaken so important an office , Br . Sudlow , with that natural diffidence which invariably

betokens real merit , and being then but a young Mason , hesitated , expressing some doubt as to his own ability , but at the suggestion of the writer he eventually consented , with the result that the Lodge felt itself strong enough to hold a festival on the 3 rd of November following . Several

prominent members of the " Emulation" attended this memorable gathering , including Bro . Thomas Fenn , who performed the Ceremony of Installation . Bro . A . W . Duret was elected Assistant Preceptor , to act in that capacity in the absence of Bro . Sudlow .

At the next festival , held on December 13 th , 1882 , Bro . Sudlow presided as Master , and with the assistance of other well-known Craftsmen , worked the Sections of the first Lecture . Bro . Thomas Fenn , in the absence of Bro . Charles A . Murton , presided at the dinner . In proposing the toast , " Success to the Langton Lodge of Instruction , " the chairman

said he was present at the lirst festival , and the work had been so fully carried out that evening that he felt the success was assured . Let them hope that it would be continued ; and so long as it was under the able management of Bro . Sudlow he had no doubt that it would be continued . The

work was so strictly in accord with that of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement , that he could not but look upon it as a very useful branch of that important institution .

. MARTIN PALMER , P . M . OF THE ROYAL ATHELSTAN LODGE , No . 1 !) , Secretary of the Emulation f . odi / e of Improvement , IS ^ 'i-iiG . Ill 188 3 , Bro . Sudlow retired from the preceptorship , having been elected on the Committee of the " Emulation . " He was succeeded by Bro . J . T . Tanqueray , who , in 1885 ,

gave place to Bro . Hugh Marcus Hobbs , who filled the post of Preceptor most ably for several years , until declining health necessitated his virtual retirement from active Masonic work .