Dalcho's Conflicting Opinions About Masonry.

saint . He did not know that there is no evidence whatever thafc the system of dedicating Lodges is older than 1723 , nnd he did not notice that in Anderson ' s form of dedicating Lodges , the St . Johns are not mentioned . To which I must O 7

add , that wo now havo fivo Masonic rituals , ranging between the years 1723 and 1730 , each containing an O . B ., and each O . B . is minus of the words " dedicated to St . John . " Hence w e may rationally infer thafc Lodges were

not dedicated to St . John even as late as 1730 ; at what precise period the fashion of dedicating to tho Saint began I know not , perhaps Bro . Gould , who discovered several early rituals , will be kind enough to enlighten us upon the

subject . Any how , ifc cannot be denied thafc Dalcho did not know as much about Masonic history as we know now . But , on the other hand , when we take into consideration the historic cloud of darkness in which the Craft was enveloped in

the tune of Dalcho , wo shonld not feel surprised at what Dalcho did not know , but at what he did know . Dalcho may truly be called the pioneer of Masonic rationalism ; for his conclusions have since then been confirmed by the best Masonic historians of Germany , Scotland , and England .

Bro . Dalcho also called attention to a paper written by Sir Christopher Wren in the Philosophical Transactions , which paper was criticised in the Quarterly T \ evieiv , Yo \ . 24 , p 145 ( should be Vol . 25 ) . In thafc paper Sir Christopher

ascribed the origin of tho Masonio Fraternity , nofc to Adam , nor Solomon , nor the Saints John , nor King Athelstan , noi to a religious , moral , or philosophical society , but he says " That the holy war gave the Christians , who had been

there , an idea of the Saracenic works . . . . The Italians ( among whom were yet some Greek refugees ) , and with them tho French , Germans , and Flemings , joined into a

fraternity of architects , procuring papal bulls for their encouragement . . . . They styled themselves Free Masons , and ranged from one nation to another , as they found churches to he bnilfc . "

In HalliwelFs poem ifc is stated that Aubrey received the above tradition from Sir William Dugdale , and that the said event took place about tho time of Henry III . of England . Sir Christopher , therefore , most probably got

the above story from Aubrey . Whether this story is true or not is immaterial , bnt it furnishes presumptive evidence thafc whoa Sir Christopher wrote thafc paper ho wa 3 not a Mason , for otherwise he would at least have referred to the

old Masons' legends . I took tho trouble to consult tho Quarterly Review , but I could nofc learn the year when Sir Christopher wrote the said paper . But anyhow , whether Wren was a Mason or not , ifc is certain that ho did nofc believe in our so-called " Masonic traditions . " BOSTON , U . S ., 25 th December 1885 .

Notices Of Meetings.

NOTICES OF MEETINGS .

SAMSON LODGE , No . 1068 .

rnHE regular meeting was held on Tuesday , 12 th ult ., at the 3 - Cafe Royal , Regcnt-street , when a proudly number attended . The Lodge was duly opened by the W . M . Bro . If . W . Casp rd , assisted by Brothers R , A . Kinsbury S . W , B . Fold J . W . , J . S . Miller S . D ., S . Lancaster J . D ., T . Levy I . G ., 'Fast Master Baron

D . Barnett Secretary and Organist , Moss D . C , A . OberdoerfFer Tyler . Visitors—Bros . A . J . Martin I . P . M . 188 , Newton Trnscott 1593 , J . Wynman W . S . 188 . After the minutes had been COD firmed , it was proposed by Bro . Clahon nud seconded b y tho W . M . that a vote of sympathy and condolence should bo placed ou tho minutes with

regard to fne death of a son of Past Master Baron D . Barnett , which was unanimously agreed lo . A / forwards I he ballot was taken foi Mr . Isaac Reel , propn .-. ed for i n ' tiation by Bro . Levy , arid seconded by llro . Lancaster ; Mr . A If re 1 IT . Mark .- ! , proposed by Bro . Inne ••) . ' = fc-r , recondod by Bro . L < uyj Mr . Jacob Benjamin , proposed by

Lro . I'lilo , seconded oy 'Bio . 1 ' - niotf . Tho initial ion wax conducted by tlie . W . M . in a wos-t impressive manner . Bro . Joseph Van Praairh , after having answered the nsn ; J questions in a perfect mann-r , was passed . Hero ao , 'ai , o the workiuir was < xcollent . Sotuc other bu-iness hnvinjr ijeeti disposed of , Lodizo was closed , and the b . ' -erlnvr :

; . dj' . ! inied to bnni . pw . Toe W . M . pr ., po-o , ] , !> o usual Loyal toasts ' . Bro . Past Jfnsfer Loev . enstark . in responding for ( he P > s ! Masters , thanked tie ; W . M . for his k ' ndnes-i in proposing the tr .-ar 4 ; ho bar ] the pleasure to inform ih .- > h'vtbrea Iio was the first , W . M . of the Samson Lodgo and war , dnliifh ' ed to F' -e ft sn prosperous the ex .

collent ¦ workimr of the W . M . that , evening had » iven s / ivat salisfaetion . Oi her P . M . 's also implied . Tho W . M . next , proposed th » hoah h of tlio thiee Initiates ; b \ - ( he earnest attention they had shown

taut ev-fiiiuy there was no donbe that in duo time they would , oecnpv h , nourati ' o positimsin the Craft . A'tor suitable responses Jja . I hrt > r , Hindu , Br-.. Quincey P . M . proposed the health of tho W . M ., -. vhic ' , was most cordially received and responded to ; Bro . Jaqucs Wvumari

Notices Of Meetings.

making special allusion to the compliment paid by the W . M ., who had spoken of him as one of the representatives of the FREE . MASON ' CFIROXIC & E . Sonera by Bros . Moss , Miller and othors added to the enjoyment of a very pleasant aud enloyablo evening .

ALBEET ED WAT ? D LODGE , No . 1780 .

T tho meeting held in tho Masonic Hall , Sonthampton , on Tnes . t \ . day afternoon , the 5 th instant , Bro . W . A . Algan was duly 'nstalled Worshipfnl Master , nnd afterwards invested his Officers , as follow : —Bros . P . M . James Ireland I . P . M ., J . W . Bailey S . W ., Geo , TTeatbcote J . W ., W . Foster 8 . D ., E . Warren J . D ., G . Longshaw I . G ., W . Berry Secretary , James Ireland Treasurer , B . Tanner D . of 0 .,

Tam ^ s MeKie and H . Hussey Stewards , and Vero Tyler . The installation ceremony was performed by Brother P . M . Berry , and there were present the Past Masters of the Royal Gloucester , Peace and Harmony , Southampton , Clansontnm , Shirley , Aldershot , Lyrnington , and other Lodges . The brethren afterwards sat down to

a banquet , supplied by Bro . Dartmell , of which 60 partook , including the Mayor of Southampton , Bro . H . Coles , and ex-Mayor , Bro . James Bishop . Bro . P . M . Ireland was unable to be present on account of an accident ho received about a month ago , and the Sheriff of Southampfcon , Bro . E . Brown , also sent a letter of apology for inability to attend .

CHISWICK LODGE , No . 2012 .

THE brethren of this Lod ^ e celebrated their annaal meeting ou Monday , at the Star and Garter Hotel , Kew Bridge , nndor tho presidency of Bro . Charles H . Everett , tho W . M . of the past year , who was supported by Bros . Geor-re Everett I . P . M ., George Gardner S . W ., Richard Harvev J . W ., F . Lawvanee Treasurer , Harry Price Secretary , W . Gomm S . T ) ., W . A . Dowling J . D ., J . Brown D . C , H .

Furze I . G :, C . Riechelmann Organist , A . H . Strong Steward , T . 0 . Walls Hon P . M ., Georgo Rowe Tyler , and the following Visitors John Jacobs W . M . 1614 . S . Hewett * 1 ( U 4 , E . A . Tilbury 975 , Arthur Willinms I . G . 20 . 90 , A . TT . Shepherd T . G . 781 , D . P . Cama W . M . 2105 , H . J . Stollery S . W . 209 , L . A . Da Costa J . D . 1319 , E . Ayling P . M .

9 . 95 , H . Jackson 7 S 0 , J . A . Blount 1471 , R . J . Petley 1471 , W . Johnson P . M . R 65 , C . A . Walter P . M . 865 P . G . D . Middlesex-, R . Whitley 946 P . P . G . D . C . Middlesex , L . Hollingsworth 1501 , E . F . Crowe 1828 , W . M . Adamsen P . M . 834 , TT . E . Price 1744 , G . Reynolds I . G . 1614 , W . Canston P . M . 162 , N . Defries P . M . 185 , G . A . Payne P . M . 933 ,

V . Wim ? J . D . 1585 , G . Thomas I . G . 1191 , A . Pringle J . W . 92 , E . Gilbert , P . M . 1326 , J . E . Riach 1150 , W . H . Norman 144 , Alfred Burden W . M . 11 . C . Parnacott 115 , W . R « geatur 14 , F . Binckes P . G . S ., John Edwards' W . M . 1662 , R . Whito P . M . 26 , G . T . King W . M . 749 , and others . Tho bus ness before the Lodge comprised the confirmation

of tho minutes , the reception of the Auditors' report , tho admission of Lord Geor

of tho Lodge , performing tho work in a very graceful manner . Tho following wore appointed as the Officers : —Harvey S . W ., Gomm , J . W ., Dr . Lawranco Treasurer , Furze Secretary , Dowling S . D ., Brown J . D ., & c . The installation ceremony having been completed , in due course Messrs . Alfred James Murray , Frederick Will Dodson ,

and Richard Newton Stollery wero introduced as candidates for initiation . Brother Gardner admitted th ? rn to tho mysteries of Masonry in regnlar form , and then proceeded to close the Lodgo . Two propositions were handed in from gentlemen desirous of being initiated . A hearty vote of thanks was passed to Brother Georgo

Everett for the way in which ho had that day performed the ceremony of installation . A voto of ten guineas wag mado from the funds of the Lodgo to tho Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , for which Charity Brother Gardner W . M . will act as Steward at tho nest Festival . A vote of thanks was also passed to Brother H-m'y Price

for the way in which he had fulfilled the duties of Secretary . In proposing this tho Worshipful Master felt that the brethren would regret , with him , that Brother Price found his numerous encasements p-collided him continuing iu o'Rja . Lolgo was then closed and the brethren repaired to banquet . At its conclusion the

usual toasts wore honoured . The Worshipful Master made a special toast of tho newly affiliated member , Brother Lord George Hamilton , who he was pleased to welcome as a member of English Craft Masonry . lb was an especial pleasnre to receive him in their midst , because ho came of so good a Masonic family . His late father had

reigned for the last ten years of hi ? life as the Masonic ruler of Ireland , and had been followed iti that cilice by hu son , tho older brother of the r joining member that evening . This was the only instance , but on" , in which a son hr . d succeeded big father as a Grand Mast /' r cf Freemasons in tho United Kingdom , tho other instance b" : eo- when the Dnko of Atholl succeeded his f ; : ther as

Grand Master of England . It was an especial honour to the , Chiswick Lod e that so di--ffngufshcd a farnilv should be represented on its roll , aed the Worshipfnl Mister hoped that they might prove them-« "lves worthy of the honour . Lord Georgo Hamilton , in tho course of his i-pplr , thanked tho Worshipfnl Mas " ! ' for havi"g deviated from

his programme in order to allow him to leave somewhat early . He - - 'h' > T ]! d have no o'ljc-tion to spend I In jovial evening with 'hemshould rather enjor it . —but other business had to lie attended to and he was obliged to leave . As their Maxtor had said , his family had taken a great interest in Freemasonry for many years pist . lie and

his brothers had been initiated , and had taken their several steps in t-ho Order in Ireland , where , especially in the Northern part- * , no in-« t ! tution tended more to unite men together in good fellowship than did Freemasonrv . Referring to tho universality of Freemasonry Lord G . Hamilton snid that duringlast autumn he and his brother had been travelling in America . Among other places thoy visited Chicago