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

Further substantial aid is also given to these Institutions through the Lodge contributions , those members who have attended at least twenty meetings during the current year being permitted to participate in a ballot for Life Subscriberships as the funds will allow .

JOHN \\\ FREEMAN , P . M . No . 117 . Tyler of the Emulation J . odi / e of Imiiroreiiieiit . —( Photo Elite Portrait Co . ) The Lodge now meets at the Midland Grand Hotel , St . Pancras , every Tuesday evening at 7 . 30 . The joining fee is two shillings , which sum includes the visiting fee for the

evening . The contribution of members is sixpence each attendance . The visiting fee for a brother who does not join the Lodge is one shilling . Managing Committee : Bros . George Rankin , P . M . 2397 , 2508 , 2818 , Preceptor ; D . D . West , P . M . 108 , 2818 ; W . R . Bennett , P . M . 19652705 ,

, 2397 , 2 7 , 2818 ; A . M . Barnard , P . M . 1964 , 2818 ; and J . H . Jenks , P . G . S ., P . M . 8 , 26 3 , 7 , 2818 . Treasurer : Bro . H . S . Wellcome , P . M . 3 , 2397 . Secretaries : Bros . F . W . Ward , 31 , P . M . 250 S , and H . Billinghurst , 2508 . Curator : Bro . V . Codina Langlin , P . M . 2458 .

Eleven successful Annual Festivals have been held of the Kirby Lodge of Instruction , presided over by the following eminent brethren : —In 1890 , 1891 and 18 93 , R . Clay Sudlow , P . A . G . D . Ceremonies ; 18 94 , Sir Joseph C . Dimsdale , P . G . W . and P . G . Treasurer ( No Festival meeting in 18 95 on account

of the death of Bro . Kirby ) ; 18 9 6 , Sir Edward Letchworth , Grand Secretary ; 18 97 , Charles Edward Keyser , P . G . Deacon ; 18 9 8 , Ven . Archdeacon Sinclair , P . G . Chaplain ; 1899 , Sir Forrest Fulton , K . C ., P . Dep . G . Registrar ; 1900 , Harry Manfield , P . G . Treasurer ; 1901 , Sir John B . Monckton , P . G . Warden ; 1902 , Sir Horace Brooks Marshall , P . G . Treasurer .

From this Lodge of Instruction has sprung the " Kirby " Lodge , No . 2818 , constituted 9 th July , 1900 . This Lodge bids fair to become as great a success on the roll of regular Lodges as has its progenitor on that of Lodges of Instruction . The ceremonies of consecration and installation were performed by the Grand Secretary , the Founders all

being active members of the " Kirby " Lodge of Instruction , headed by Sir Forrest Fulton as first Worshipful Master , W . R . Bennett consented to act as I . P . M ., but found little scope for his abilities in that capacity , the Worshipful Master doing his own work and very

seldom being absent from his post . George Rankin , Preceptor of the Lodge of Instruction , was the first Senior Warden ; W . H . Oldham , Junior Warden ; F . T . Rushton , Treasurer ; D . D . West , Secretary ; J . M . Payne , S . Deacon ; H . Wakerell , J . D . ; Arthur Slee , I . G . ; Charles Lewis , D . C . ;

John Curran , Organist ; Albert G . Wedmore and H . R . Appleton , Stewards . Bro . Rankin was duly installed in the Master's chair by his predecessor on the 5 th of October , 1901 . The Founders of this Lodge wisely followed the good example set them by the Lodge of Progressthe 7 th By-law

, being the following : — "No refreshments are to be supplied to the Members out of the funds of the Lodge . " A proper performance of the ceremonies and clue support of the Charitable Institutions are considered of more importance than sumptuous banquets . The brethren , however , are not

entirely unmindful of creature comforts , nor do they send their guests empty away : they believe in moderate refreshment after labour , a plain repast being provided for all who can , or care to , remain . The present officers of the Lodge are David D . West ,

W . Master ; James M . Payne , S . W . ; Henry Wakerell , J . W . ; William R . Bennett , Treasurer ; George J . V . Rankin , Secretary ; Arthur Slee , S . D . ; Albert G . Wedmore , J . D . ; Arthur M . Barnard , P . M . No . 19 64 , I . G . ; Thomas W . Allsop , P . P . G . D . C . Bucks ., D . C . ; Morris B . Evans , P . G . S .,

and Reginald Hughes , P . P . G . Deacon , Herts , Stewards . Honorary Members : Sir Edward Letchworth , G . Secretary ; Rev . Canon Brownrigg , P . G . Chaplain ; Sir Joseph C . Dimsdale , Bart ., P . G . Warden ; Frank Richardson , P . Dep . G . Registrar ; Charles E . Keyser , P . G . Deacon ; Richard Clowes , P . G . Std . Bearer ; Henry Sadler , Grand Tyler .

THE GENERAL LODGE OF INSTRUCTION , NO . 5 87 . We are indebted to Bro . Arthur W . Adams , P . P . S . G . W . Warwickshire , for the following : — This Lodge of Instruction was founded at Birmingham about 18 4 8 by the members of the St . Paul's Lodge , No . 43

, one of the four Lodges then existing in that city . In 1851 the Howe Lodge , No . 587 , was consecrated , and shortly after that year we find that this Lodge of Instruction was working under its sanction , as it does still . The form of ritual taught in the Lodge has been always

that of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement , London . It was received in the first place from Bros . Honey and Vernon , members of that Lodge , who paid a visit of several weeks ' duration to Birmingham in 18 4 8 . The first Preceptor of the Lodge of Instruction was Bro .

Isaac H . Bedford , P . P . S . G . W ., P . M . Nos . 43 , 587 , 739 , from whom the Bedford Lodge , No . 925 , consecrated in 1862 , takes its name . He was succeeded by an excellent and successful teacher , Bro . John Pursall , P . P . G . S . W ., P . M . Nos . 74 , 1163 , who held the office of Preceptor till his death

in the early pait of 1890 . Bro . Pursall received great assistance during his preceptorship from Bro . Thomas Hawkins , P . P . S . G . W ., P . M . No . 4 68 , a most earnest exponent of our ritual . In May , 1890 , the vacant post was entrusted to the present Preceptor , Bro . Arthur W . Adams , P . P . S . G . W . Warwickshire , P . M . 16 44 .

The Lodge of Instruction has had a somewhat chequered career . At times its members have been few in number , and it has had a severe struggle to continue its existence . At other times it has been in a very satisfactory and prosperous condition . It is , we are happy to state , at the present moment in a more flourishing position than ever before .

When Bro . Adams was first appointed Preceptor it was thought desirable by the then Dep . P . G . M ., W . Bro . James T . Collins , P . G . S . B . England , that the teaching of the Lodge should be thoroughly revised . In order to effect this object , in 1891 W . Bro . R . Clay Sudlow was invited to attend a

meeting of the Lodge and act as Preceptor during the rehearsal of nearly the whole of the ritual . He also paid a similar visit in 1892 . It is admitted by old Masons that in the course of 40 years or so many errors had arisen in the ritual as taught here , and many unauthorised additions had

been made to it . These , it is needless to say , were objected to by Bro . Sudlow . The brethren who knew the Lodge in its early clays willingly acknowledged that the alterations suggested by Bro . Sudlow all tended to bring the ritual back to the form taught ' 30 or 40 years before . ( To be Continued ) .