History Of The Lod Ge Of Emulation, No. 21 .

prominent features that have left impressions on my mind during my researches therein . Probably the most striking of these has reference to the charitable disposition of the brethren , exemplifying in its fullest sense the well-known Masonic mandate , " A Mason ' s Charity should know no bounds

save those of Prudence . " The instances already recorded of the benevolence of the members extended to their less fortunate brethren are comparatively few in number as will hereafter be seen . In the opening chapter of this book I have adverted at

considerable length to the voluntary support given by the Lodge to the General Fund of Charity in its early infancy , I find , however , that I omitted to mention that prior to the actual formation of this Fund , in 1729 , the usual mode of relieving applicants to the Grand Lodge for pecuniary assistance was by a collection amongst the members present ,

and this old practice was doubtless continued in private lodges long after it had been relinquished by the Grand Lodge . Hence it is not until thirty years

after the Lodge was constituted that we find the first record in the Treasurer ' s Book of a donation from

the Lodge Funds to a distressed brother . The item appears under date 27 th May , 1753 . " % Charity to Bro . Floyd 106 . "

By the aid of Bro . Joseph Taylor's Index of the Lodge Records , I find that during the next 100 years— say till about 1853—upwards of a

hundred applications for relief were considered , and only in one instance was the petitioner " sent empty away . " I think it highly

probable , that if the members of the Lodge were consulted , they might object to the good deeds of either

themselves or their Masonic ancestors being made public , but they must bear in mind that " example is better than precept , " and that this history is not for then - exclusive

perusal . Possibly it mayand I earnestly hope it will —come under the notice of others of our fraternity who have not had brought so forcibly before them that

virtue which we are taught "is the brightest ornament that can adorn our Masonic Profession , " and may tend to create and foster a spirit of emulation with beneficial results to the Charitable Institutions of our Order . The oldest of our Voluntary Charities was established in

178 S , as The Royal Cumberland Freemasons' School , so named after the Duchess of Cumberland , the wife of the then Grand Master , and its first Patroness , but its chief promoter , lirst Treasurer , and staunch supporter for many years was the Chevalier Ruspini , a former member of this

Lodge , a brief sketch of whom may be found on page 51 of this book . For the first few years the support given to the school by the Craft was not of a very ardent character , and although a plan of the undertaking was placed before the Lodge of Emulation , and its patronage solicited on 21 at April ,

1788 , the matter was then deferred for further consideration . On the 20 th September , 1790 , the Lodge unanimously voted £ 10 1 os . to the School , and this , so far as I have been able to

SYDNEY WILLIS , P . G . S ., W . M ., 1902 .

1 'AFEOND ClIAKLES . P . GS ., W . M ., ijxs .

WILLIAM T . EVANS , P . U . S ., W . M . , 18 U 9 .

WILLIAM HUDSON , l' . G . S ., II " . I / ., 1905 .

WILLIAM J . LANCASTER , P . G . S ., MM / ., 11 , 04 .

PAST MASTEKS OK THE LODGE OF EMULATION , No . 21 .

learn from official records , was amongst the earliest contributions received from Lodges . Since this period the Lodge has warmly supported the School whenever its funds admitted , but as previously stated , there were certain periods of financial depression when nothing could be spared for outside charity .

For man } years it has been customary for the Lodge of Emulation to be represented by a steward at each of the charitable Festivals , on which occasions a donation from its funds has invariably been voted for the steward ' s list . It may interest the brethren to know that during the

last thirty years an approximate sum of . £ 1 , 775 has been contributed to the Girls' School alone by the aid of the stewards , either representing the Lodge or unattached , whose names , as well as those who have served for the other Charities , will be recorded at a later stage of this work- ; and

that during the same period the Boys' School has benefitted to the extent of ^ 1 , 540 and the R . M . B . Institution has received upwards of

. £ 1 , 260 by similar means . Another striking feature of the Lodge , —one that indicates plainly its harmonious character , — is the

large number of its members bearing the same surname , many of whom were evidently connected by family ties , although it is

now somewhat 'difficult to define , in every case , the exact relationship . We may , however , fairly assume that in this respect the members of the present day are

anxious to follow the example of their Masonic ancestors in endeavouring to continue the Lodge of Emulation as a " Family

Lodge . " Thanks to the excellent Index of the Proceedings , we have little difficulty in ascertaining the names of

the members from the beginning of the existing records . Deeming it inadvisable to enter into too many details , I may merely mention that numerous

instances are recorded of fathers proposing their sons , and brothers proposing brothers or other relatives

for membership . 'I he earliest Lists of Members returned to the Grand Lodge are for the years 1723 , 1725 and 1730 , and although the names of these brethren are not in the Index of Members beginning in 1756 , I have thought it not unlikely , judging from the

character of the Lodge , that some of their descendants were members of it at that time , and have included these old returns in my examination , the result of which has been somewhat surprising . As may be expectedthe time honoured name of Smith

, heads the list , there being no less than hveuly-one different individuals answering to that familiar cognomen . The Jones ' s come next with a list of fifteen ; followed by the celebrated family of the Whites who number—ten , and anotherI believeshortly expected .

, , Edwards and Taylor have nine each ; Scott and Williams , —eight ; Baker , Brown , Davis , Evans and Hill , — seven ; Brooke , Cook , Harris , King , Moore , Morgan , Newman , Roberts and Wilson , —six ; Chapman , Clark , Cooper , Hum-