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

applied for , and obtained , the Grand Master ' s sanction for Avearing it at till Masonic meetings . In 1871 , Bro . Key , an old member , and for many years Secretary , of the Percy Lodge , being in needy circumstances offered to dispose of the jeAA'el to that lodge for the sum of one hundred pounds . Alter mature deliberation it was agreed by the members to

pay Bro . Key , in advance , tin annuity for the remainder of his life , on condition of his surrendering the jeAvel to the lodge , and in default of such payment " the said jeAvel to revert to him and again become his property . " These conditions having been faithfully observed , on the death of

Bro . Key in 1873 , the jeAvel became the property of the Percy Lodge . Peter Gilkes died on the nth , and was buried on the 19 th December , 18 33 , in St . James ' s Churchyard , Piccadilly . " The highest tribute of respect to departed merit was amply

offered in the number as well as by the character of a larger concourse of the Fraternity than Avere probably ever congregated at any Masonic meeting , Avhether of a public nature or upon any occasion of festivity . " In the following year ( 18 34 ) , a Committee was appointed to collect subscriptions

for the purpose of erecting a monument to his memory . As may readily be imagined , the many admirers of the departed brother soon enabled the Committee to carry out their wishes , and a most appropriate and handsome tablet ,

the gratuitous design of his friend and pupil , the late Stephen Barton Wilson , P . G . D ., Avas placed on one of the pillars in the South aisle of the above-named church , Avhere it can still be seen by anyone who cares to inspect it . No doubt the foregoing will sufficiently evince the esteem in Avhich this Avorthy brother was held by the Fraternity in

London , forming , however , but a very small portion of the Avell-merited encomiums bestowed upon him ; indeed , I question Avhether any single individual , either before his time or since , has attained to such distinction as a Masonic instructor . Gifted with an extraordinary memoryhe seems

, to have come to the front at a period when his peculiar qualifications were most in demand , and consequently fully appreciated . The following extracts from letters Avritten by the tAvo Grand Secretaries Avho were members of the Lodge of Reconciliation , will sufficiently indicate the official

estimate of his character and abilities : — " Freemasons' Hall , "Aug . 6 , 1818 . " In referring you to Bro . Gilkes , I mentioned he would instruct you in the correct method adopted since the Union ;

it is quite useless to enquire of me ' which is correct' ? More I cannot say in this mode of communication . " I am , Sir and Bro ., & c , & c , "E . ' HARPER , G . S . "The Lodge 49 8 , Shrewsbury . "

" F . M . Hall , 6 Sept ., 18 43 . " In reply to yr letter of the 5 th instant , enquiring whether any alterations have been made in the Ceremonies of Initiation , & c , since the late P . Gilkes was in the Country ; I beg to say ( Avithout knowing at what period that visit took place ) that no alterations have been made since the G . Lo .

formally approved and decided on them in the year 1816 . Br . Gilkes Avas fully Master of till the Ceremonies , and , I believe , most strictly observed them . " I remain , "W . Master ,

" Yours fraternally , "W . H . WHITE , G . S . " Lodge 523 , Kidderminster . "

I cannot Avell close my remarks on the career of Bro . Gilkes without adverting to his connection with the Emulation Lodge of Improvement , of Avhich lodge he is frequently designated the " Founder . " This is obviously incorrect , as he did not join the lodge until about eighteen months after it was established , and is the person referred to in the

Memorial of 1830 , which bears his own signature , as " the W . M . who now comes amongst us . " I have somewhere read that so far from approving of the plan on which it Avas

established , he at first strongly objected to it , on the ground that a lodge of instruction restricted to M . M . ' s , and Avorking the lectures only , on a new system , could not succeed ; he , IIOAVever , had reason to alter his opinion , for in May , 1825 , he joined the lodge , and continued an active , and I need scarcely say , the principal member of it the remainder of his life , thus showing that prejudice A \ -as not one of his failings .

]( KO . s . B . WILSON .

It will readily be conceived that so remarkable a character Avould be long remembered in the lodge Avith Avhich he had so strongly identified himself , and , up to a comparatively recent period , " The pious memory of the late Peter Gilkes " was the lirst toast given at the Annual Festival of the

Emulation Lodge of Improvement . His admirers and pupils were numerous , and , although familiar with the names of many Avhose merits I should like to notice , I think it better under the circumstances , to confine my remarks to those Avhom I have personally known , and Avith whose abilities the

brethren of the present generation tire best acquainted . According to Masonic tradition , the designer of the monument to Peter Gilkes succeeded him in the leadership of his favourite lodge of instruction . I am someAvhat doubtful on

this point , as there were much oloer and more experienced brethren intimately associated with the lodge for many years after Gilkes' time , as the folloAving paragraph from a report of the Anniversary Festival in 18 35 will show : — "The meeting AA'as , in particular , marked by the presence of the three leading lecturers on Masonry , upon whom , by

general consent as it were , the mantle of ' Peter Gilkes' may be saicl to have fallen . We feel an honest pride in our association with Brothers Dowley , Cooper , and S . B . Wilson and entertain so high an opinion of their value to the Society that Ave take the liberty of making as public as Ave can their

well-earned character for intelligence , grounded upon a careful adherence to the landmarks of the Order , for the strict observance of our 1 ; IAA * S and regulations , and still more for the modesty with Avhich they receive the homage so readily offered to their merits as individuals . "

From the fact of the names of Bros . Dowley , Cooper , and S . B . Wilson being mentioned conjointly as successors of Peter Gilkes in the guidance of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement , I should think it probable that the lodge Avas then conducted in a similar manner to that in A-ogue in the present day , i . e ., by a Committee selected by the members

from amongst the most experienced of the brethren that attend the weekly meetings . ( To be Continued ) .