Notices Of Meetings.

NOTICES OF MEETINGS .

St . Hilda Lodge , No . 240 , South Shields . —On Monday , l-lth instant , the ordinary monthly meeting of the brethren of the the above prosperous Lodge was held in the Freemasons ' Hall Fowler-street , when thero was a numerous attendance of members and visitors ; among the latter were Bros . F . Rearson 80 , John Bill 991 , Wm . T . Clarke 315 P . J . W . 1829 and P . S . 811 , Hugh Golder

S W . 119 , John Stokoe P . M . P . P . G . W . Durham ; there were also present Bros . J . T . Wilson I . P . M ., Jas . Roddam P . M . P . P . GS .., J . Potter P . M ., J . T . Appey P . M ., George Lawson P . M . P . P . G . D ., Thomas Conlson P . M . P . J . G . D ., & c . Lodge was opened in due form by Bro . G . A . Shotton W . M ., assisted by Bros . J . H . Thompson S . W ., Thos . Rinks J . W . and other Officers . Bro . J . S . Wilson P . M . Secretary ,

read the minntes of last meeting , which were confirmed . The ballot was then taken for John Thomas Henderson , Thomas Richardson Dawson , and John Dobbyn , and in each case the Worshipful Master declared the candidates to be dnly elected . Messrs . John Thomas Henderson and Thos . Fyall ( previously ballotted for ) being in

attendance , were duly initiated into the mysteries and privileges of Masonry by the W . M ., who performed the ceremony and delivered the charge in an exceedingly effective and impressive manner . Bro . Binks J . W ., gave the working tools impressively . Owing to the excessive heat no other business was taken , and Lodge was closed in harmony .

Royal Union Lodge of Instruction , No . 382 . —Held on Monday , tbe 14 th instant , at the Cheemers Hotel , Uxbridge . Present—Bros . Rowles W . M ., Cotton S . W ., Nicholson J . W ., Brooks S . D . Taplin J . D ., Duffin I . G . and Tyler , & c . After the usnal formalities , the ceremony of initiation was rehearsed , Bro . Brooks candidate . Bro . Duffin was interrogated and entrusted , and after the Lodge had been advanced to the second degree , was passed to that of F . C .

Bro . Cotton S . W . was unanimously elected to the chair for next meeting . It was resolved to secure tbe services of a distinguished brother in the district to rehearse the ceremony of installation , if possible , on the opening night of the next session which begins on the 4 th of September . Their being nothing more offering for the good of Freemasonry , Lodge was closed and adjourned until the 21 st of August .

United Pilgrims Lodge of Instruction , No . 507 . — Meeting , Friday , 11 th inst ., at the Surrey Masonic Hall , at 7 . 30 p . m . Lodge opened , Bros . A . R , Cranch W . M ., J . Bate S . W ., H . M . Williams J . W ., J . B . Sarjeaut S . D ., R . Poore J . D ., C . H . Phillips I . G ., John S . Terry P . M ., Secretary , James Stevens P . M . Hon . Preceptor , E . A . Frances , E . Bye , G . W . Knight , F . Thurston , T . 0 . Edmonds , and others . The Lodge was opened in the second degree , and the

ceremony of passing was ably rehearsed by the W . M ., Bro . Stevens as candidate . Bro . Bate delivered the charge to F . C . 's . The lecture on the second tracing board was effectively given by the Preceptor , who was assisted by Bro . Frances . Lodge was closed down and called off . Tho brethren took part in " Entry Drill , " and Lodge was called on . Bro . Bate was elected W . M . for the ensuing week , and Lodge was closed after two hours of very instructive working .

Tredegar Lodge of Instruction , No . 1625 . —At the Royal Hotel , Mile End-road , on Monday , 14 th inst . Bros . Maud W . M ., Stewart S . W ., M . Isaacs J . W ., Barnes S . D ., Hubbert J . D ., Oxley I . G . Lodge was opened in due form , with prayer , and the minntes of previous meeting were read and confirmed . Bro . Oxley being a

candidate to be passed to the second degree , answered the usual questions , and was dnly entrusted . Lodge was advanced , and the ceremony of passing rehearsed , Bro . Oxley candidate . Lodge waa opened in the third degree , and regularly closed down . Bro . Stewart was nnanimously elected W . M . for the next meeting . Lodge was closed in due form , with prayer .

Brixton Lodge of Instruction , No . 1949 . —The usua weekl y meeting was held on Tuesday evening last , the 15 th instant at Bro . Monk ' s , Prince Regent , Dulwich-road , East Brixton . Brother ¦ h . A . Francis Preceptor of the Lodge presided , and was supported by roore than twenty members of the Lodge , besides other Visitors . Lodge was opened and closed in the third degree and the ceremonies , of

initiation and raising rehearsed by the W . M . in a most efficient manner . A resolution was unanimously passed , conveyiuer the thanks of the brethren to Bro . Francis for the able manner in which he bad conducted the bnsiness of the evening , and ordered to be inserted on the minntes . Bro . Phillips , Treasurer of the Lodge , having been elected W . M . for the ensuing week , Lodge was closed in clue form and adjourned .

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

Patriotic Lodge , No . 51 . —The quarterly meeting of this Chapter was held ou Thursday evening , the 10 th instant , when thp pnly bnsiness on the agenda was the elpction of Officers for tlio ensn" > g year , which resulted as follows : —E . Onmns . T . J . Ratlins ? Z . E .

ttennemeyer H .. J . E . Wiseman J ., J . J . 0 . Turner S . E ., A . S B . sparling S . N ., W . Sowman P . S ., Marshall 1 st A . S ., Clowes 2 nd AS ., »• F . Lewis P . Z . Treasurer , S . Munson Janitor . The Companions norwards spent a pleasant hour at the festive board , under the preaideucy of the Z . elect .

Perseverance Lodge, No. 1643.

PERSEVERANCE LODGE , No . 1643 .

THE usual meeting of this Lodge was held in tho Masonic Hall , Ellison House ( Bro . Hall ' s ) , Hebbnru-on-Tyne , on Wednesday , 9 th instant , when there was a very numerous attendance of the members . The Lodge was opened by Bro . G . Hardy P . M . ( iu the unavoidable absence of Bro . W . Bewicke W . M . ) , assisted by Bros . J . Brodie S . W ., J . Chadwick J . W ., and other Officers . The minutes of the

previous meeting having been read and confirmed , Bro . Frederick West was examined and entrusted in the test of merit aud password , and retired . The Lodge having beeu raised to the second degree , Bro . West was passed to the second degree by Bro . Hardy P . M . There being no other bnsiness the Lodge was closed in harmony , the brethren adjourned to refreshments , and spent a pleasant eveninsr .

Our Earliest Craft Lodges.

OUR EARLIEST CRAFT LODGES .

FROM THE KETSTONE . I HAVE received from oar indefatigable Brother , the Rov . W . C Lukis P . M ., F . S . A ., some more jottings from his investigations of the Stnkeley Papers , and this time they are of unusual interest . They are extracts from Dr . Stukeley ' s Diary , and are valuable at being very early references to Masonio work in London . The question of where the doctor was made a Mason , is settled by the first

entry , as follows : " January 6 1721 . —I was made a Freemason at the Salutation Tavern , Tavistook-street ( London ) , with Mr . Collins and Captaiu Rowe , who made the famous diving engine . " [ I was the first person made a Freemason iu London for many ysars . We had great difficulty to find members enough to perform

the ceremony . Immediately upon that it took a run , and run itself ont of breath , through the folly of the members . ]" It would have been interesting if the writer had told us how many members were required iu those days to perform the ceremony . It is evident that a strict form was observed . " June 24 1721 . —The Masons had a dinner at Sfcatiouar ' s Hall .

Present—Duke of Montague , Lord Herbert , Lord Stanhope , Sir Andrew Fountaiue , & o . Dr . Desaguliers pronounced an oration . " The Grand Master Pain pronounced an old M . S . of the Constitn . tions , which he got in the West of England 500 years ago . He read over a newset of articles to be observed . The Duke of Montague chose Grand Master next year , Brother Beal Deputy . "

Beat is mentioned in the list of Lodges appended to the first Book of Constitutions as W . M . of Lodge No . 12 . Pain ( or Payne ) had been re-elected Grand Master iu 1720 , and Dr . Desaguliers was the Immediate Past Grand Master—a brilliant meeting . " December 27 1721 . —We met at the Fountain Tavern , Strand , and by consent of the Grand Master present , Dr . Beale constituted a new Lodge there , where I was chosen Master . "

Nothing is named about the qualifications for the Chair , aud as Bro . Stnkeley had not been twelve mouths a Mason , it is manifest that any Brother conld be chosen to preside , as also that the verbal consent of the Grand Master or his Deputy was sufficient to authorise the formation of a Lodge . " May 25 1722 . —Met the Duke of Qneensborough , Lord Dum . barton , Hinchinbroke , & c , at Fountain Tavern Lodge , to consider of Feast on St . John ' s . "

The Fonntain mast have beeu one of the leading Lodges to have made the rendezvous of these distinguished brethren . "November 3 1722 . —The Duke of Wharton ancl Lord Dalkeith visited our Lodge at the Fountain . " The Duke was Grand Master in that same year , and was followed in the chair by Lord Dalkeith .

" October 4 1723 . —I read my discourse of the Dorchester Ain « phitheatre at the Lodge , and delivered to every brother a copy . " Stnkeley was a great antiquarian , and one of the best classics of his day , and although his theories on various archaeological subjects are now known to be erroneous , he was a leader of thought in hia time , and even yet his correspondence aud close observations are of

great value . Bro . Lukis is at present engaged on a volume of ht 3 writing for the Surtees Society . " June 1726 . —Being sadly plagued with the gout , I retired to Grantham , & c . Here I set up a Lodge of Freemasons , which lasted all the time I lived there . " To this Lodge at Grantham I referred in a note a few weeks ago .

" 1728 . —Died , my landlord , Lambert , of the Fountain Tavern , Strand , where I was Master of a new Lodge of Masons . " In his autobiography , Dr . Stnkeley gives his reasons for becoming a Freemason . He says : " His curiosity led him to be initiated into the mysteries of Masonry , snspectinsr it to ba the remains of the mysteries of tho

ancients ; when , with difficulty , a number sufficient was to be found in all London . After this it b >* ca ne a pnblic fashiou , not only spread over Britain and Ireland , but of all Europe . " It will be observed that for some three or four years after the " revivnl" of Masonry , very little progress , if any , was made iu the Craft , which seems to have carried on a very feeble existence until

the year of the Dnke of Montague ' s Grand Mastership . There are two entries in the Diary , which are still more remarkable . They aro as follows : "Nov . 7 1722 —Orderof the Book instituted . " " Dec . 23 , 17 * 22 . —I din'd with Lord Hertlord , introduced by Lord

Winchelsea . I made them both members of the Book , or Roman Knighthood . " Does any one know anything of this Order ? Was ifc Masonic , or or simply a literary Brotherhood ? If Masonic , it shows how very soon our brethren began to hanker after more degrees . T . B . WHYTEHEAD .

J . E . SHAKO & Co ., Wine Merchant ( Experts aud Valuers ) . Well fermented old Wiuett ancl matured Spirits , i Albert Mansions , Victoria-street , Loudon , S . 'W .