Gossip About Freemasonry; Its History And Traditions.

was taken into favour by Charles Martel , King of Franc * . The Ltlmd MS . gives it Peter Gower , who became a Mason , returned from his travels , dwelled in Magna Graeca , and established a Lodge at Groton , and thence brought it under the auspices of Charles Martel

into France . Separately these statements are nonsense . Weld them together , and you produce that which becomes possible and oven probable , and if so , valuable , as forming an historical inference as regards the status of Masonry at that period , and wo perhaps gain a glimpse

of that which may have been the base upon whioh these MS . statements were founded ; acting upon this suggestion we might get a version somewhat like thia . Pythagoras , tho Grecian philosopher , who had been at Jerusalem about the time of the building * the second Temple , settled at

Cretona , in Magna Graeca , a parfc of Italy then so-called , and theio established a Lodge for the purpose of Freemasonry , and it so happened that after the art had been there long established one of its followers found favour with Chiir ' es Martel , King of France , and induced that

sovereign to patronise Masonry ; to establish it in France , from whence it passed into England . The Krause MS . to which I have cursoril y alluded ( so-called after tho eminent German Masonic writer , who appears to attach much importance to ifc ) to a certain extent confirms my opinion ,

that some reading such as this would approach nigh to correctness ; as this MS . gives a view as to the feeling between English and French Masons in those times ; in it we read " Charles Martel sent many Masons over the sea to

Britain , as the Saxon King had desired him . " We also read " Athelstan also caused Masons to come from Gaul , and made them also wardens , and the constitutions of the Greeks , Romans , and Gauls which they had brought with them in writing were compared with thoso of St . Alban . "

I musi leave tho genuineness of this last MS . to be decided by the judgment of those more learned in Masonic Literature than am I . Before I part with tho namo of Pythagoras , one of the greatest of philosophers the world has known , you may bo interested to learn his end .

Thiough prejudice against his doctrines and teachings he was compelled to leave Cretona ; he sought refuge with the Lcerian ** , who lefused the shelter for which he pleaded , and bo eventually died at Metapontum , in the Temple of the . MUSH ** , tho Muses he had loved and served so well , —of fit' -i-Yatioi ' . ( To be continued . )

Notices Of Meetings.

NOTICES OF MEETINGS .

—* . o : — ALBION LODGE , No . 9 .

BRO . E . WALLER was installed as W . M . at fche Freemasons-Tavern W . C . by tho father of the Lodge , Bro . S . Vallentine P . M ., on ihe 7 th insfc . After the installation the new Master initiated Mr . A . J . Harvey ancl Mr . A . E . Izard as members of tt c Order , and subsequently presided at a banquet , afc which wore present ,

besides a hdet of visitors : —Bros . A . E . Hamlyn S . W ., J . H . French J . W ., IT . S . Friend P . M . Treasurer , L . W . Harvey P . M . Seoretaiy , C . Backer S . D ., A . G . Pritchard J . D ., W . Willey P . M . D . O ., Herbert Kettle I . G ., and S . N . Thompson P . M . Steward .

RELIEF LODGE , No . 42

TEE members held the annual festival of St . John on Monday , the 30 ih ult ,, when Bro . J . R . Barton S . W ., was installed W . M . for the ensuing year . There was a large , nnmber of brethren fronvothtr Lodges present . The ceremony of installation was mosfc impressively performed by Bro . J . Redfem , assisted by Bro . T . Rigby , who also invested tho officers , as follow—Bros . S . J . Robinson I . P . M ., W .

Moalowcroft S . W ., H . Arrowsmith J . W ., S . Cox Chaplain , J . Chadwick P . M . D . C , T . Carter Secretary , T . Rigby P . M . Treasurer , J . W , Mackie S . D ., P . Allen J . D ., J . Whowell I . G ., S . Nuttall and V . Brown Stewards , and Tborman Tyler . In tbe evening about 70 brethren sat

down fco an excellent repast afc tbe Grey Mare Hotel , provided by Mr , and Mrs . Duckworth . Tbe newly-installed W . M . presided , and he WAS numerously supported . Tbe usual Loyal and Masonio toasts were proposed and responded to .

MARQUIS OF GRANBY LODGE , No . 124

AT a well attended meeting of the members , held on fche 7 th inst ., at the Masonio Hall , Durham , the Rev . Thos . Randell , B . D ., the W . M . elect , was regularly and duly installed in tho chair of K . B . according to ancient custom by the W . M . Bro . Thos . Dnnn , who perform ! d the ceremony in an able and impressive manner . The newly .

installed W . M . then appointed and invested the following Officers of the Lodjre for the ensning year , viz . —Bros , T . Dunn I . P . M ., John Smith S . W ., Henry Palmer J . W ., Rev . F . Glanville Chaplain , Matt . Fowler Treasurer , T . Sarafield Secretary , W . H . Patterson S . D .,

Notices Of Meetings.

W . Gocdenough J . D ., Sam . Fenney Almoner , Sam . Pilling Organist , Colonel C . Rowlandson D . C , M . F . Holliday I . G ., H . A . Bywater S . S ., H . Brown J . S ., G . Hewitt Tyler . At the close of the business of the meeting Bro . J . Smith S . W ., on behalf of the brethren , called upon tho W . M . to present Bro . T . Dunn the I . P . M . with a beautiful and costly Past Master ' s jewel , suitably inscribed , fco mark fche close of a

successful year of office and as a token of esteem . In the course of his remarks Bro . Randell paid a high compliment fco Bro . Dunn for fche very excellent way in which he had discharged his important duties daring the pasfc year , and referred to the esteem in which ho is hold . Bro . Dunn in appropriate terms thanked the brethren for their kitdness and for their handsome present , whioh he would wear

with pride and pleasure , and he hoped thafc the proceedings of thafc night wonld create , if it weie necessary or possible , a still greater spirit of energy and esprit de corps amongst the Officers of tho Lodge and the younger members generally . Tbo brethren afterwords adjourned to the banqueting ball , and the rest of the evening wns spent in love and harmony .

HARMONY LODGE . No . 156

THE installation meeting was held on the 6 th instant , afc the Freemasons' Hall , Princess-square , Plymouth , when Bro . Thomas Parker S . W . was installed as W . M . for the ensuing year . The ceremony was ably performed , and fche charges eloquently delivered by the retiring W . M . Bro . W . H . Michell , who was complimented by those present on the admirable way in whioh he bad carried out tho

duties . Ifc was decided to present a P . M . s jewel to Bro . Michell in appreciation of his Masonio zeal and ability at the annual banquet of the Lodge on the 15 th instant . The W . M . invested the following brethren aa his officers for fche year ensuing : —Bros . W . H . Michell I . P . M ., W . E . Chapell S . W ., William Thomas J . W ., the Rev . W . Whitley Chaplain , Herbert F . Herle Treasurer , W . K . Michell Secretary ,

E . G . Hayward S . D ., W . James Newell J . D ., S . Jenkins I . G ., A . B . Manloy D . C , C S . Stebbidg A . D . C , G . H . Widger Organist , A . Hopkins Assistant Organist , P . S . Snoll S . S , W . V . Jones J . S ., R . Greefc 1 st Assistant Steward , Thomas B . Luke 2 nd Assistant Steward , and W . H . Phillips Tyler . Bro . F . G . Knight P . M . was appointed representative on the Committee of Petitions , and Bro . Georgo Whittley P . M . re-elected Charily Steward .

CHARITY LODGE , No . 223 .

THE installation banquet took place on the Gth insfc ., afc the Masonio Hall , Princess-sqnaro , Plymouth . Bro . J . A . Lavers , fche W . M ., presided , Bros . G . Payne S . W . and H . Rodgers . J . W . being in tho vice-chairs . Eighty-five brethren sat down to a wellserved b : \ nquet . Those present included W . Bros . Wm . Browning , J . M . IliQey , J . W . Cornish , T . C . Levvaru , F . R . Goodyear , S . R .

Anniss , H . J . Hill , R . Blight , J . Hoyten , all of 223 , S . J . Daniel W . M . 1255 , R . 0 . Wyatt P . M . 1247 , A Trout W . M . 1205 , W . Kino I . P . M . 70 , R . Pike P . M . 230 , W . Powell P . M . 1205 , A . W . Spinney P . M . 105 , J . R . Lord P . M . 1247 , J . B . Gover P . M . 70 , 0 . H . Cooper P . M . 105 , E . A . Davies P . M . 1099 , S . Edgcombo W . M . 105 . tho

Rev . T . \ V . Lemon P . M . 189 , G . Bray W . M . 202 , W . II . W . Maeey P . M . 18-47 , W . H . Williams P . M . 1847 , B . Elliot P . M . 1247 , T . S .

Eyre W . M . elect 1247 , S . Edgoombe W . M . elect 105 , 1 . A . Court S . D ., C B . Gale J . D ., Parnell Hanna ' ord I . G ., * * * . Yeomans D . C , W . Biscombe Organist , C . H . Soper Musical Director , C . H . Tozer S . S ., J . S . Hannaford , H . Membrey Junior Stewards , and W . H . Phillips Tyler . Ifc was intended to have presented

Bro . W . Stenlake the I . P . M ., with a P . M . 's jewel ( whioh was exhibited during the evening ) , bufc in consequence of hia absence through indisposition the event was poeponed . A nice musical evening was afterwards spent , those contributing including Bros . Blight , Payne , Revill , Hoyten , Eyre , Court , and Lemon .

HARMONIC LODGE , No . 252

THE brethren celebrated the festival of Sfc . John and fche instal * lation of the new Master on Tuesday , fche 7 th instant . The brethren of the Lodge and a large number of visiting brethren aasenv * bled in tho new Lodge room of the Saracen ' s Head Hotel , Dudley , Bro . Matthew Smith was installed Worshipful Master , the ceremony being impressively performed by the retiring Master , Bro . James

Warham . The new Master afterwards appointed and invested the following brethren to the duties of the Lodge for the year : —Bros . J . Warham I . P . M ., Thomas Chambers S . W ., E . J . Chambers J . W ., Rev . W . J . Down Chaplain , W . E . Walker Treasurer , Samuel Smith

Secretary , W . Hanson S . D ., James Jones J . D ., Robert Preece I . G ., Robert Stevenson D . C , E . Pewtress A . D . C , J . Sidaway Steward , A J . Baird Assistant Steward , William Stansfield Organist , Francis Garner Tyler , and Samuel Spittle Assistant Tyler .

ROYAL YORKSHIRE LODGE , No . 296

THE annual installation of officers aud banquet took place on the 7 fch instant . The new officers were—Bros . Abraham Sharp W . M ., Edward Sharp I . P . M ., G . W . Carter S . W ., J , Beeoroft J . W ., E . Leo Treasurer , W . Hunt Secretary , J . H . Roper Member of tho Provisional Charity Committee , J . Hudson S . D ., H . B . Summerscales J . D ., B . Grayson I . G . and Almoner , W . Mennell Tyler , J . Harrison J . S ., James E . Smith J . S . There waa a good attendance of the members .

ST . JOHN'S LODGE , No . 328

AT the monthly meeting of St . John ' s Lodge , No . 328 , afc Torquay , on the 6 th inst ., Bro . R . L . Mngford in the chair , Bros . R . D . Ronwick S . W . was elected W . M . for fche ensaing year , C J . Horland P . M . P . P . G . D . as Treasnrer , and G . Burt Tyler . Bro . W . Taylor P . M . and Secretary Prov . G . D . C was elected representative on the Committee of Petitions . The brethren afterwaids partook of refreshments , provided by Bio . Hamson .