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

the English Prayer Book he knew of no ritual and no variety of language in which the English tongue was set before them so purely or grandly . As a mere study of style for a man who had a taste for literary exercises , there could be no better study than the stately ritual of Freemasonry . In the race and

THE EARL OP LIMERICK , PROV . G . MASTER , BRISTOL , Chairman of the Fertinil ill 187 ( 1 . work of life , in the trials which beset us all , in the hours of temptation , whether in prosperity or adversity , there were times when the word in season came in , and the language

they had learned in the Masonic Lodge , though we might not have thought of the application of it when we heard it , had come home to us , and it would come home to the youngest brother , whether in trials or success . There was no more powerful teaching or stronger appeal to the human heart than in our

Masonic ritual . The brethren , the working officers of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement , were the conservators of that magnificent ritual . Long might it be preserved by them and their successors , and might the principles and tenets of Freemasonry , which they had all been taught , be transmitted

pure and unsullied through these brethren and those whom they had taught from generation to generation . " 1884 . The year 188 4 may be described as uneventful , nothing appearing in the minutes of the Lodge beyond the records of the ordinary weekly meetings , the Committee and

permanent officers being all re-elected for another year . The Festival was held on the 29 th of November , in the Grand Hall , and was presided over by Bro . Thomas Fenn , as W . M ., who , since the preceding Festival , had been promoted to the distingushed office of President of the Board of General Purposes . The Wardens' chairs were occupied by Bros . Sudlow and Dawson .

The First Lecture was worked by the W . Master , assisted by Bros . W . Hicklin , W . M . No . 1261 ; G . L . Kennaby , D . C . No . 1420 ; N . Goodwin , No . 1768 ; H . Pritchard , S . D . No . 1415 ; J . j . Black , S . D . No . 1564 ; and A . C . A . Higerty , No . 1714 . At the conclusion of the business " A letter was read from

Bro . Alderman R . N . Fowler , M . P ., J . G . Warden , who was to have taken the Chair , expressing his regret that he was prevented from attending , " and Bro . Fenn announced that Bro . Philbrick , Q . C ., Grand Registrar , had kindly consented to act in his stead . The attendance of members and

visitors was considerably in excess of the previous festival , 235 being present , including 24 joining members . 1885 . No change was made this year in either the Committee or executive officers , Bro . John W . Freeman , P . M . of No . 147 , was elected Tyler on the retirement of Bro . Henry Sadler .

On the 6 th of November , the following resolution was proposed by Bro . Thomas Fenn , seconded by Bro . W . A . Dawson , and carried unanimously : — " That the Treasurer be empowered to pay over from the funds of the Lodge to the Trustees of the ' John Hervey Memorial Fund' a sum not exceeding XS os . od ., for the

purpose of bringing up the amount of that Fund so as to enable the Trustees to purchase Aiooo Stock in the New Three per Cents . " The Festival was postponed to the last Friday in February , 1886 , probably on the recommendation of the Committee , as I find no mention of such

postponement in the minutes of the Lodge . 1886 . The Festival was held on the 26 th of February , and was fairly well attended , 219 being present , including a number of Grand Officers and Past Grand Officers , who were invited as guests of the Lodge . Bro . Thomas Fenn

presided over the Lodge , with Bros . Sudlow and Dawson as Wardens . The Second Lecture was worked by the following brethren : —C . Bassano , P . M . No . 66 ; A . Marvin , P . M . No . 1768 ; A . Gibbings , W . M . No . 6 3 ; C . W . A . Trollope , W . M . No . 1826 ; and J . E . Hunt , W . M . No . 1768 ; 50 propositions for membersnip were received . The Marquess of Hertford , Senior Grand Warden , presided at the banquet table .

On the 14 th of Ma } ' " It was proposed by Bro . Thomas Fenn , seconded by Bro . F . R . Spaull , and carried , that the sum of Ten Pounds be given from the funds of the Lodge , Five Pounds to the third highest unsuccessful Candidate for election on the 21 st of May , 1886 , to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons , and the

remaining Five Pounds to the third highest unsuccessful female Candidate . " It will be remembered that the first and second unsuccessful Candidates benefitted by the Hervey Memorial Fund . On the nth of June it was resolved that By-Law 15

be altered so as to include the first Friday in April as one of the nights on whicli the ceremony of Installation should be worked .

TH . K KAHL Of DONOUOHMORE , PAST SUNK . O . WARDEN , Chairman of lhe Eer / iral in 1 S 77 . On the 18 th of June a letter from Bro . James Terry , Secretary of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , was read , acknowledging the receipt of the before mentioned

grants , in which the writer says : " I need hardly say how much this gift was appreciated by the recipients , coming so unexpectedly to them and alleviating , to some extent , the feeling of disappointment at their 11011 success . " The letter was ordered to be entered on the minutes . ( To be Continued ) .