History Of The Lodge Of Emulation , No. 21 .

A motion by Bro . Berridge to expend £ 10 ros . on the -purchase of a safe for the better preservation of the Lodge Records Avas referred back to the Committee . Dec . 19 th . —On the motion of the Treasurer it Avas resolved that By-Law 19 be suspended for the forthcoming

Installation Banquet and that the visitor's fee on that occasion be £ 1 10 s . The reason for thus increasing the visitor's fee Avas that the Lord Mayor Avas to be installed as Master of the Lodge at the next meeting , and it had been customary on former

occasions when the banquet Avas expected to be of a more elaborate character than usual to pass a similar resolution . 1888 , Jan . 16 th . —Bro . Polydore De Keyset- having been duly installed in the Master ' s Chair , addressed the brethren to the following purport : " He wished to acknowledge the

EDWARD HRACKSTONE ItAKER , l' . M . OF THE I . OIH . E OF EMULATION , PAST G . DEACON EXG ., PAST S . G . WARDEN CANADA . ¦ great kindness of the Officers of the Lodge in standing aside to permit him to assume the Chair . For many years—not

less than twenty-six- —he had been a member of the Lodge , and he regretted that owing to his many engagements and the important work with which he had been occupied , it had not been in his power to devote much time to Masonry . Yet although he assumed the position with some feelings of

his own unworthiness , it was most gratifving to him at this particular time to be elected Master , and he expressed a hope that his occupancy of the Chair might not be without advantage to the Lodge of Emulation , and might also prove to be , in some measure , for the good of Freemasonry at

large . " This evening Messrs . Richard Leslie S . Badham and Sydney Willis were initiated , having been duly elected at the previous meeting . Another noteworthy event on this occasion was the appointment , for the first time in the history of the Lodge , of an Organist , Bro . H . Lindley Truman being -appointed to that office .

Feb . 20 th . — " The W . M . in the Chair ( Bro . Arthur Hill ) alluded to the very sudden death of Bro . Griffiths Smith P . M . P . A . G . D . C , and expressed the very great personal grief Avhich he , in common with so many members of the Lodge , felt at this painful loss . " The following resolution was then passed : " That this Lodge does hereby record its sincere

regret for the loss it has sustained by the death of Bro . Griffiths Smith , who , both in this Lodge and in the Craft at large , had earned much respect and distinction . That as a Past Muster of the Lodge , Past Grand Steward , and for several years Secretary , he had deserved well of his brethren .

That as a Past Grand Officer he had reaped the wellmerited reAvard of Masonic Industry and Charity—and that those honours nowhere afforded more satisfaction than among the brethren of his own Lodge . The Secretary was directed to convey these expressions of regret and esteem to the widow , and to assure her that she

has the sincere sympathy of the Avhole Lodge , AVIIO feel most deeply for her and her children in their sad bereavement . " 188 9 , Jan . 14 th . —The Audit Committee reported " That Bro . Sydney Willis had presented the Lodge with a case for the gaA'els given by his father in 18 39 he had also had the

, gavels renovated , and the silver symbols thereon restored , for Avhich the best thanks of the Lodge Avere due to Bro . Willis . " Feb . 18 th . —This night Bros . William J . Lancaster and Frederick Fisher , having been previously elected , Avere duly initiated .

Dec . 16 th . —" The Grand Secretary having discovered a Book of Ancient By-Laws of the Lodge of Emulation , dated 1775 , delivered them to Bro . Brackstone Baker who now presented them . The Book was ordered to be placed among the Lodge archives , and the Secretary was directed to acknowledge its receipt , with thanks . "

This is a very handsome folio A-olume bound in red morocco with gilt tooling , and , to be strictly accurate , it was the writer of these pages who discovered it in the archives of the Grand Lodge and handed it to the Grand Secretary for restoration to the Lodge of Emulation . It had probably got

to headquarters through the medium of W . H . White , or his father , William White . 18 90 , Oct . 20 th . — " Bro . Singer , P . M ., moved , and Bro . Grellier seconded , the following resolution , which was also supported by Bro . Swinfen Eady , J . W ., and carried

unanimously , ' The high position of Chief Magistrate of the City of London having been conferred on Bro . Alderman Savory , the Lodge of Emulation begs leave to congratulate him on the acquired dignity , and cordially invites him to accept the office of W . M . for the year ensuing , if elected . '"

This night Mr . William Hodson was initiated . Nov . 17 th . —The following letter from Bro . Alderman Savory was read : — " Dear Bro . Truman ,

I thank you for your kind note and very highly appreciate the great honour clone to me by the Brethren of the Lodge of Emulation in passing the resolution which you have forwarded to me . Should it be the wish of the Brethren that I should fill the Chair during the ensuing year I shall indeed be proud to do so ,

and have made a special note in my diary that the evening of January 19 th must be reserved . Believe me , Yours faithfully and fraternally , J . SAVORY . "

Dec . 15 th . —Bro . Savory was unanimously elected to the Master ' s Chair , and Bro . Robert Berridge to the office of Treasurer , vacated by Thomas Taylor , on account of ill-health , after thirty-one years' service . It was resolved to present Bro . Taylor with an engrossed and illuminated Address on his retirement , expressing the thanks of the brethren and

their heartfelt wishes for his renewed health and continued happiness . 1891 , Jan . 15 th . —At a Lodge of Emergency held this clay , Bro . Henry W . Brooke ( the present W . Master ) was initiated .

Jan . 19 th . —Bro . Joseph Savory was installed in the Master ' s Chair at this meeting , the arrangements made for the ceremony and banquet being similar to those made on the occasion of the Installation of Bro . De Keyset " . Thirtyfour members of the Lodge and forty-three visitors attended

the meeting . Oct . 19 th . — "A letter Avas read , dated 23 rd April , 1891 , from Col . Shadwell Gierke , Grand Secretary , in Avhich he stated that it was highly improper for the Tyler of the Lodge to supply Centenary Jewels to the Brethren as he had been doing , and the Secretary was requested to order him not to continue to do so . "